C
"
May 21, 1898.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
399
a public company will be formed, and a portion of the shares may be placed on the local market to afford investors in China aud Hongkong an opportunity of becoming in- terested in the undertaking. It is particularly appropriate and gratifying that Messrs. JARDINE, MATHESON & Co.'s name should again be associated with the Woosung Rail- way, as the firm owned the principal interest- in the original Woosung Railway, which was so unfortunately sacrified to the Moloch of fengshui and torn up twenty-two years ago.
We would suggest to the parties who have interested themselves in the proposed Canton and Kowloon Railway that the present would be a favourable time to again push forward their scheme. Possibly it might also be to their advantage to endeavour to secure an amalgamation with the syndicate which has obtained the north- ern concessions. Hitherto it has been found impossible to effect satisfactory ar- rangements with the local officials at Canton, but now that the Chinese Government has determined upon railway construction and is willing to sanction the employment of foreign capital under foreign direction it might be desirable to transfer the negotia- tions from Canton to Peking, and as the JARDINE and Bank combination already possesses a footing there it would pro- bably be in a better position than any one else to advance the scheme. It has been stated that in the recent arrange- ment arrived at between Great Britain and China, the right to construct a railway from Kowloon to Canton has been expressly granted, so it is very possible the promoters might for the mere sking obtain a ready assent to their proposals.
has shown the way.
It is stated that the the head of the administration. The de- cost of an all-British cable to connect Van- ferring of the new governor's arrival at couver with the nearest Australian port such a crisis almost suggests a doubt whe- | would be about one and a-half million ther he is to come at all, or whether some pounds sterling. The construction has, change in the system of government may indeed, been tendered for at that figure. not be in contemplation by which the Officer This would be the main line, with one Commanding the Troops would be per- branch to join the San Francisco proposed manently placed at the head of the civil connection with Hawaii, and another to administration. This is a change that has Japan, the China ports, and Hongkong, often been discussed, and although originally This would create a British network of cable the feeling of the community was very much communication which would, for many years against it there has of late been a tendency to come, we imagine, in conjunction with to regard it more favourably provided it be existing cables, provide for telegraphic com- accompanied by au extension of municipal munication, not only for the British Empire self-government. Whatever arguments may but between most other countries. There be advanced pro aud con on that question, ought to be no difficulty in financing so however, the Officer Commanding the Troops modest à scheme as this. If the Australasian is actually at the head of the administration colonies contribute one-third, Great Britain now, and we could hardly have a better man and Canada might readily guarantee the to deal with the critical questions that will remaining million, as with such guarantee come up for settlement during the next few the money would be forthcoming at once. months. The Kowloon extension will, it is The Times is of opinion that the scheme, understood, have to be taken over in though of wide utility, is of such modest June, when a large area with a not in financial dimensions that one rich man
considerable population will be added to could proceed to the construction of the the colony, and arrangements will have to cable out of the resources of a private for be made for the administration of the new tune, and that "it might be safely left to territory, a work that may be attended at "the operation of private interest but for first with some difficulty and for which a "the fact, that in the present somewhat considerable staff of officers will be required. exceptional condition of affairs, when all It is possible also that questions may arise eyes are turned to the Far East, time during the next few months in connection may become a question of importance." with the proposed Cauton and Kowloon This is exactly where the shoe pinches. Railway. Another difficult question that Time presses if British canal is to be first should be faced at once is the passing of in the field and British enterprise the first the necessary legislation to give effect to to put a agird round the world." It is the recommendations of the Insanitary sincerely to be hoped that the Premier of Properties Commission. It would be almost the Dominion will espouse this question with criminal to defer this matter until the arrival his utmost energy and induce Mr. CHAM- of the new Governor, for after our painful BERLAIN to recognise its importance with experience of the plague it must be recog- out a moment's needless delay. Such anised on all hands that no time should be lost cable would not only be of the highest in setting the sanitation of the colony in strategic and commercial importance but it order. Another military Acting Governor- would likewise be a most useful and prae- General CAMERON-was in office when the tical agent in binding together the principal first Public Health Act was passed, and he mond Jubilee celebration last year a peti- component parts of the mighty empire over grappled with the subject firmly and ably, tion was extensively signed praying for the which the union jack now so proudly floats. in the face of a good deal of opposition. It would also, and that is certainly a General BLACK, we have no doubt, will be permanent retention of the Polo Ground at Causeway Bay as a public recreation consideration, be a means, let us hope, of found equally ready to take the necessary ground. We are glad to hear that there is breaking up the monopoly now enjoyed by measures for the preservation of the public the Great Northern and Eastern Extension health, tedious and trying as the public disthe ground in question being permanently a prospect of the petition being granted and Telegraph Companies, who while deservedly cussions on the subject may prove.
dedicated to the use of the public. enjoying a high reputation for conducting present time is also a somewhat critical
There is no question of the the service with chiciency and despatch have one for the Government owing to the
of the ground being granted to nevertheless on occasions imposed on the Spanish-American difficulty and the endea- public changes in the tariff which have given yours of the Philippine insurgents to make Polo Club exclusively, as in the case of grave dissatisfaction. The primary benefits Hongkong a base of supplies.
Deep Water Bay and the Golf Club. The that might be expected to accrue from a BLACK, however, we have no doubt will be Polo Club does not desire such exclusive Pacific cable, however, are the stimulus it found fully competent to deal with all these rights, nor with General BLACK at the head would give to trade, the sense of security it various questions as they arise, and with of the Government, would it be likely to obtain them if it asked for them. would confer from the fact that the whole Mr. SERCOMBE SMITH as Acting Colonial service would be in British territory, and Secretary he has a good and safe lieuten- General BLACK, we believe, is a firm the link it would forge to bind together the ant, so that on the whole the prolonged in- upholder of public rights in such matters widely scattered sections of the Anglo- terregnum in the Governorship may be and has been associated with movements Saxon family.
regarded with equanimity.
THE INTERREGNUM IN THE GOV ERNORSHIP AND PENDING QUESTIONS.
|
The
General
|
RAILWAY CONCESSIONS TO A BRITISH SYNDICATE.
The granting of the Shanghai-Nanking and Shanghai-Woosung railway concessious to Mesars, JARDINE, MATHESON & Co. and the Hongkong and Shanghai Brok is good news for British interests in Chiun. There has of recent years been a good deal of talk about the granting of railway concessions to syndicates of various nationalities, and it is extremely satisfactory to find that after all a British combination is the first in the field. No definite information is at present available in Hongkong as to the terms of the concession or the interests represented, but it is believed that JARDINES and the
THE CAUSEWAY BAY RECREATION
GROUND.
It will be remembered that after the Dia-
for
use
the
the preservation of ancient foot- paths and rights of way in the High- lands of Scotland as against the encroach- It may ments of landed proprietors. therefore be assumed that the gallant General during his tenure of office in this. colony will be no party to shutting out the public from public recreation grounds. │The retention of the ground at Causeway Bay is not desired for the purposes of polo alone, but for recreation in general, and the Polo Club will be content to use it in com- mon with other clubs and the general public. We have on previous occasions written on the importance of preserving this ground from the builder and there is little that is new-to be said on the subject, except that our predictions as to the growth of manufactures in the neighbourhood is
As Sir HENRY BLAKE is now not expected to arrive before October General BLACK will have a more prolonged, tenure of the office of Acting Governor than was at first anticipated, and his responsibilities will be proportionately increased, for while it is natural that during a very brief interregnum the locum tenens should allow important matters to stand over until the arrival of the next substantive holder of the office, that cannot, with due regard to the public interest, be done when it is known that the inter- regnum is to be a long one. And just at present the colony has reached an important Bank are the nominees of a powerful London | receiving steady fulfilment and that the
point in its history which calls for the exercise of able statesmanship on the part of
syndicate, and that the present concessions are but the forerunners of others. No doubt
necessity for a recreation ground becomes proportionately more accentuated.
The