*
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water is not very much to rejoice over, but it is better thau nothing, and will doubtless prove a very welcome change to those who are pent up in Shanghai month after month, year after year.-Mercury,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
A CHINESE NATIONAL LOAN,
We (N. C. Daily News) translate below the the following Imperial Edict issued on the 4th instant:-
We have received the report of the Board of THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND Revenue, made in obedience to our commands,
TALIENWAN,
with reference to a memorial by Huang Sze- tion of the Heir-Apparent, in which is recom- jung, a member of the Supervisorate of Instruc- manded the issuance of Government Bonds for the purpose of raising funds for the Imperial Exchequer. The said Board having gone carefully and minutely over the memorial in question agree with tho views con- tained therein recommending that "the sail Board of Revenue shall print one million Bond eertificates (of Tls. 100 each) to be styled "Sincerity Bonds," and distributed for sale at Peking and in the various provinces of the Empire, the said Bonds to bear interest at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, the same to be all redeemed by the Imperial Government within the period of twenty years, interest to be paid up to date of redemption. The said Bonds are to be also saleable and transferable at all times within the above period and their actual value shall be guaranteed by the Imperial Govern ment. At the several periods set for the re-
We can state on excellent authority that the British Government never actually pressed the opening of Talienwan upon the Chinese Govern ment in the definite and peremptory manner that has been alleged. What happened, in brief, is that in discussing China's position and her ability to repay a British loan, the ad- visability of opening several new ports in order in increase China's trade and afford additional facilities to international trade was suggested by Sir Claude Macdonald. Talien wan was amongst the ports so suggested, but the Chinese pointed out what we know to be the case, namely, that Talienwan has no trade whatever and the hinterland in that region is miserably poor, barren, and unpopulated, and to open it would do China or anybody else no good at present. It was then pointed out that in the near future the Siberian railway would probably have its terminus at Talienwan when in the interests of commerce generally China would do well to declaredemption of the said Bonds the holder thereof the port open to international trade. The open ing of Talienwan just now would be only a very nominal gain to commerce, and recognizing this fact the British Government assented to the question of opening Talienwan being postponed until the advantages would be more tangible, and so the matter remains with the understand. ing that when the railway approaches it China will declare Talienwan an open port. Such we believe is the case in a nutshell.-China -Gazette.
THE MURDER OF A SENTRY AT
KIAOCHAU BAY,
The following account of the recent murder of a German sentry comes from Kiaochau Bay. Disquieting news having been received from Chimo, a detachment of German sailors who had been garrisoning Kiaochan city started thence for Chimo. When they got near to Chimo, in the evening, they missed their way, and knocked up a house in a village in the neighbourhood, and persuaded the master of the house, an old man, to guide them to their destination. The old man's son, who lived at Chimo but, with his wife, had been
spending the New Year with his father, and was very angry at his father being taken off, followed the detachment. When he got to Chimo, he found that his shop, an opium resort close to the city gate, had been robbed during his absence. This increased his rage, and seizing a big knife, like an execu. tioner's sword, he rushed at the German sentry at the gate from behind, and with one blow nearly severed his head from his shoulders, cut- ting through the jugular vein. It is inexplic- able how a small, feeble-looking man could have dealt such a blow. The sentry ran about ten paces, firing off his gun, and then fell down dead. The shot attracted some of his comrades, who came running up, only to find him dead. They arrested the murderer, who was still a prisoner when the Darmstadt left Kiaochau Bay. Thus the murder was an act of private vengeance, and had no political significance. N. C. Daily News.
THE.
ANARCHY IN HAINAN.
72
ON THE WARPATH. BRAVES
It is reported that something like a state of anarchy exists around the city of Kiachow, in
shall have liberty to use the said Bonds in pay; ment of land taxes and salt duties. The said
Bonds shall be distributed and sold to all classes of the country, beginning from the Princes, Dukes, and Nobles downwards in Peking and from the Tartar-Generals, Viceroys, and Go- vernors in the provinces down to their civil and military subordinates of every rank, grade, and class, whether substantive or expectant. These shall buy up and pay cash for the said Bonds so as to set an example to the business men of the country. Those of the business classes and others amongst the people of the Empire having shown a desire also to buy the said Bonds shall have perfect liberty to do so, in which case it shall be the duty of the Governor of the Imperial Pre- fecture of Shuntien, at Peking, and the various Tartan Generals, Viceroys, and Governors in the provinces to proclaim at once to the people at large the regulations settled upon by the said of said Bonds. The said High Authorities shal- Board of Revenue governing the issuance and sall
the true nature of the said Bonds and any ate also appoint deputies to explain to the people tempts by the said deputies to take advantage of the occasion to extort and force the sale of the said Bonds upon the masses must be strictly prohibited. The deputies charged with the sale of the said Bonds to the people who shall suc ceed in obtaining large sums therefrom will be rewarded with extraordinary promotion in recognition of their energy and ability."
The said Board having agreed to the above quoted proposition we hereby command that the same be forthwith regarded as Law.
In a crisis like the present when the Imperial Exchequer is depleted, we feel sure that our Princes, Dukes, Nobles and Ministers in the Capital and the high authorities in the pro- vinces who have been the recipients of our special Bounty will surely show their gratitude to the Throne by heartily responding to the needs of the Government, Nay, even the down geutry, notables, and business men to the common people must surely know their duty and loyalty to the Imperial dynasty and hasten to the succour of the Throne at this moment of emergency. Finally, as it is decided by the said Board of Revenue that the present movement is entirely different from the former methods of calling upon the people of the Empire to render help to the Imperial Government, nor will any force be permitted to compel the masses to buy the said of a commercial transaction where a regular interest shall be paid at stated intervals, we trust that there will be no delay in encompass- ing the object of this loan and that our people will not simply look on and remain indifferent [to the needs of the Empire]. Let the above be promulgated to all the people of the Empire.
(February 19, 1898.
THE N.Y.K. AND CHINESE MERCHANTS.
As already reported in these columns, the and perhaps at Kobe, have entered into a com- Chinese merchants in Hongkong, Yokohama, pact not to load their goods in the ships of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha in their transportation between Hongkong and the respective Japan ports, and this agreement has been put into Mary, which left Yokohama on the 22nd ult. practice commencing with the steamer Inaba-
Shanghai is not included in the compact, for for London via ports. It appears, however, that
shipped a large quantity of marine products goods several prominent Chinese firms at this port by the steamer mentioned above. The cause which has led the Celestial traders to adopt such Kaisha is not clear, but it is stated that there a severe measue against the Nippon Yusen exist certain commercial customs among the hitherto been dealing with them according to Chinese in Hongkong, and the N.Y.K. has these customs. The Company, however, finding decided to dispense with them in the future. it unremunerative to adhere to the usages, has This gave umbrage to the Chinese and drove them to the union stated above. Mr. Mihara, Manager of the Hongkong office of the N.Y.K., affair, and it is hoped that a compromise will be has arrived in Japan in connection with this. arrived at before long.-Japan Gazette.
HONGKONG.
The annual race meeting, Supreme Court the case dealing with transactions in shares, and the weather have been the important topics of con- versation this week. The race meeting was efficiently conducted, the races were nearly all most interesting, the finishes for the most part close and very exciting, and the ponies were previous years. The share case looks as if it on the whole of a better class than those of would be prolonged into as great a length as given on Saturday, the 12th inst., in favour of the synagogue case, in which judgment was
the defendant. The weather has been more like May than February. It was dull and
since. The only public meeting held during lammy on the first day of the races and it has been getting duller and clammier every day
the week was the meeting of shareholders in the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Cor- poration, which took place on the 12th inst. and Nethersole Hospitals begs to acknowledge The Hon. Treasurer of the Alice Memorial
with thanks the following donation to the funds of the Hospitals-Tai Shing Paper Manu- facturing Co., Limited, $25.
We are glad to observe that shade trees are being planted down the centre of Connaught Road. This will greatly beautify the neigh- bourhood and add to the comfort of pedestrians during the heat of the sun.
A Chinaman, who looked as if he ought to know better, was charged at the Police Court Inspector Moffatt said that on Wednesday on 11th Feb. with recklessly riding a bicycle, afternoon the defendant, who is a clerk in Messrs. Robinson and Co.'s music store, was recklesly riding a bicycle in Ice House Lane. Although he had no brake he lifted his feet off the pedals and lost control of the machine, Victoria Hotel. Fortunately the coolie was which collided with a coolie near the New
not very much hurt and he was discharged from the hospital the same day. The defendant was fined $5 and ordered to pay $2 compensa-
tion to the coolie.
The following returns of the average amount of Bank notes in circulation and of specie in reserve in Hongkong during the month ended
the respective Banks, are published :-
the island of Hainan where thousands of rioters, Bonds, the present scheme being on the basis 31st January, as certified by the managers of
14
including a great many disbanded braves," have broken into revolt against the mandarins. No less than eleven military camps and twenty. eight villages are reported to have been burnt down, while the marauders are plundering the peaceable inhabitants. The remaining troops were led against the rioters who inflicted a signal defeat upon them, putting the troops to Aight. It is now reported that the authorities are endeavouring to muster a greatly superior force to crush the rioters, who, however, are greatly favoured by the mountainous nature of the country which will embarrass the soldiery.- China Gazette.
The course for the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club's race on Sunday will be from the Police Pier, Kowloon, round Kowloon Rock, mark boat at Lyeemun, Meyer's Cast buoy, Channel Rocks, all to starboard; 12 miles.
Banks.
1.
Average Specie in Amount.' Reserve.
$3,051,947 $2,000,000
Chartered Bank of·
India, Australia and China, Hongkong and Shanghai Bank- ing Corporation, $8,126,528 National Bank of
China, Limited,
Total
$3,000,000
449,740
$11,628,215
$205,000
,205,000
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