July 28, 1898.1
Linolow prefecture about one third of the inhabitants were Roman Catholics and the other two-thirds Pagans. The Christians wished to convert the ancestral hall of the villagers into a church. The Pagans objected and a fight, in which the Christians were worsted, arose out of the dispute. The Roman Catholic priest reported the matter to the District Magistrate, a native of Canton, sur- named Kom. Owing to strict instructions issued by the Viceroy of the Two Kwang provinces, to the officials under him, to the effect that they were to be careful to avoid giving any offence to Christians from which complications with foreign Governments might arise, the Magistrate took the part of the Catholics. His action so enraged the other side that they rose in arms and, seizing the Magistrate, carried him into the mountains, where he was compelled to kneel before the rebel chief, a youth of about eighteen. While kneeling, a chisel was driven through his skull and three lighted incense sticks inserted in the hole, and at the same time a lighted sacrificial candle was forced into a hole made in each shoulder of the murdered officer. That was the signal for a general outbreak, and the rebels, now numbering over ten thousand, have since captured three dis- tricts. A large proportion of them are armed with firearms which, although inferior to the quick firing rifles of the undisciplined troops sent against them, are more useful to them, because of the less difficulty in procuring
suitable ammunition.”
Our correspondent adds :-The rebellion may give the Chinese Government considerable trouble yet. Those engaged in it are natives of places no great distance from those whence most of the chiefs and the best fighting material of the Taiping rebellion sprang, and while the latter by their Christianty and their iconoclastic acts towards other religious raised feelings of antipathy against them, the former will have the sympathy of the people drawn towards them by the rapidly spreading rumour that they are the champions of their ancient forms of worship.
Hongkong, 21st July.
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“CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
MID-FORMOSA RELIEF FUND.
It will be remembered that in August 1896 an appeal was made, and liberally responded to, for the relief of the sufferers by the troubles in the centre of Formosa. Owing to the disturbed state of the country it was simply impossible to make any attempt to distribute the funds in the hands of the Treasurer until May last,
The Rev. W. Campbell, head of the E. P. Mission in Formosa, has at last completed the task, and in spite of many difficulties and some amount of danger, owing to the threatening attitude of the robbers still at large, has returned to Tainanfoo after a most successful tour. Mr. Campbell, it will be recollected, was entrusted with the subscriptions, raised in Hongkong, for distribution among the natives of the Pescadore islands after the lamentable loss of the Bokhara.
In his report to the Treasurer Mr. Campbell
says:---
the pleasure of your society and friendship. That you will have a pleasant voyage, and con- tinue to enjoy good health and prosperity is the sincere wish of your affectionate pupils.”
(Here follow signatures of pupils). To the above Mr. Summers responded in ap- propriate terms, and then followed a banquet à la Chinoise, at which were present many influential officials, and at which was served sharks' fins, birds' nests, and all the rest of the delicacies so dear to the Celestial palate; but which sets the "Barbarian" stomach wondering whether its owner has suddenly betaken himself to another planet.
H. G, BROWN AND CO., LIMITED, IN LIQUIDATION.
On Saturday, at noon, a general meeting of the shareholders of H. G. Brown and Company, Limited, in liquidation, was held at the offices of the Company, 27, Queen's Road Central, "for "After two months absence, I have just re. the purpose of laying before such meeting an turned from the Kagee country where I distri. account showing the acts and dealings of the bated among suffering poor the three thousand undersigned as liquidator of the above-named dollars with which you entrusted me. The dis- company and the manner in which the winding tribution was made at six market towns in that up of the above-named company has been con part of the country formerly called Hun-lim; duoted since the commencement of such wind. 584 persons in all receiving five dollars eaching up, and for the purpose of fixing the re- and a few of these who were in greater want, muneration of the liquidator and distributing through the loss of relatives and property two the assets of the company amongst the mem- years ago, receiving grants of ten dollars each. bers." Mr. J. Wheeley, liquidator, occupied I was greatly assisted in the difficult duty of the obair, and there were also present Messrs. finding out really deserving cases by the focal C. S. Sharp, A. G. Stokes, G. C. C. Master, T.F. officials at the various centres. Indeed, had it Hough, J. B. Coughtrie, G. C. Cox, and C. L.. not been for this willingly rendered service, it Gorham. Having read the notice convening would have been quite impossible during the time the meeting, at my disposal to have had the distribution made in anything like a satisfactory way. The poor people expressed much gratitude on receiving their little allowances, while others had no diffi- culty in understanding that the whole proceed. ings amounted only to a disinterested act of kindness towards those whom the Japanese themselves had already been assisting in a similar way."
Tainan, and the Japanese officials in the country, without whose assistance it is doubtful if Mr. Campell's journey could have been brought to such a satisfactory termination.
PRESENTATION 10 MR. SUM-
MERS, OF CANTON.
Canton, 14th July.
Mr. Campbell concludes his report with a cordial acknowledgment to the Treasurer for The Chung Ngoi San Po states that news having called on one of the members of the has been received to the effect that the city of E. P. Mission to take a share in the carrying Paklan, which fell into the hands of the out of the good work. The thanks of the sub- Kwangsi rebels, has been recaptured by Pun scribers are certainly due to him for the pains- Ying, chief, commandant of the garrisons in taking and businesslike way in which the dis- Kuchow, who was sent by the Viceroy of tribution has been conducted. Acknowledg. Canton with the soldiers under his commandments are also due to Mr. Isogai, Prefect of to co-operate with the Kwangsi forces in suppressing the rebellion. The defeated rebels fled to the district of Hing Ip, to the westward. Some hundreds of rebels are said to have been slaughtered in the recapturing of the city, while only a few soldiers were killed and wounded. The rebels being very poorly armed did not make much effort to fight with the soldiers. They are now being attacked from all sides. Two military officers, named Chu Kwok-on and Tso Chu, have been sent from Wuchow to meet the rebels, one going by land and the other by water. Colonel Kong Chi, with a large force, has gone from Loting chow for the same purpose. The gunboat Hak Lo has been recently sent from Canton to Wu. chow. The rebels in the city of Lukehuenhsien have escaped to the mountains in Kamshaniu. The city of Yunghsien, which was the first city taken by the rebels, has also been abandoned by them. This city has been reduced to a ruin, all the yamens and a good many houses having been destroyed. Two thousand soldiers have been sent by the Governor of Kwangsi to be stationed in Washow for the protection of the place. Private telegrams have been received by some shops in Fatahan saying that the rebels can be easily subdued, both on account of the greater number of the soldiers and the weakness of the rebels. The Governor of Kwangsi has sent a telegram to the Viceroy asking him to enlist ten regiments of soldiers of five hundred each, to be permanently stationed in Kwangsi, for His Excellency has discovered by the experience of this rebellion that the Canton soldiers are much stronger and braver than the Kwangsi soldiers.
It is notified in the Gazette that in pursuance of instructions from the Secretary of State H.E. the Acting Governor has been pleased to appoint Mr. W. Chatham to be Assistant Director of Public Works.
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An interesting event took place here a few days ago, when the scholars of the Tang Wen Kuan met to bid adien to their head master, Mr. Summers, who is about to leave for home on a well-earned furlough. During the time that Mr. Summers has had charge of the school hr seems to have rendered himself highly populae both with officials and scholars, so much so, in fact, that the latter subscribed and presented him with a very handsome silver flower-bowl, with an appropriate inscription and the following ad- dress-
:
“To J. A. Summers, Esq., head master of the
Tang Wen Kuan, Canton.
'Dear Sir,--On the eve of your departure from Chins on eighteen months" leave of absence we humbly beg your kind acceptance of a silver bowl as a mark of our esteem and respect. We are greatly indebted to you for the kindness with which you have treated us, and the instruction which we have received from you for the past six years. You have not only taught us English literature and Western customs, butalso moral and virtuous principles. We thank you most heartily for the great interest you have taken in the school, and the labour which you have spent in writing a book for the sole purpose of instructing us. In short, so much are we indebted to you for your kindness that we shall never forget it, but shall treasure it up in our hearts through our lives. It is hoped that you will, at the expiration of your leave, return to Canton, so that we may again have the benefit of your instruction and
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The CHAIRMAN said-With your permission we will take the report and accounts as read. The rebellion which broke out in the Philip- pines soon after the company was placed in liquidation hindered the winding up consider- ably, and made it necessary to carry on the business until this trouble was over, this being the only course that would prevent some of the assets being entirely lost to shareholders. I am glad to say that the result of these opera- tions turned out so far satisfactory that the profit on same has more than covered the expenses of liquidation up to the date to which the accounts are closed. The brig Enrique, you will notice still appears as an asset in the accounts. This vessel, which was under the Spanish flag, was chartered to the Spanish Admiralty to carry coals for their Navy, and has since been sunk, by the Spaniards, at the mouth of Subig Bay, to bar the entrance to the American fleet. The Spanish Admiralty at the time of the charter gave the guarantee for $12,000, in case the vessel should be lost, and I am informed that this sum will be duly paid. If you have any questions to ask me I shall be glad to answer them to the best of my ability.
No questions being asked,
The CHAIRMAN proposed the adoption of the report.
Mr. COUGHTRIE seconded, and the motion was carried.
M. STOKES-I beg to propose that Mr. Wheeley receive 5 per cent, of the realised assets for his trouble as liquidator.
Mr. GOBHAM seconded, and the motion was carried.
The CHAIEMAN-The warrants will be ready by Monday morning.
Mr. MASTER observed that they would see that the liquidation had been very successful, as the profit earned was sufficient to cover the costs.
Mr. SHARP said he thought they had done remarkably well.
The proceedings then terminated.
UNITED ASBESTOS, ORIENTAL AGENCY, LIMITED.
The second annual general meeting of share- holders in connection with the above company was held in the Hongkong Hotel on Tuesday afternoon for the purpose of receiving the re- port of the general managers, together with statement of accounts. Mr. Artane Anderson occupied the chair, and there were also present Mesars, E. 8. Whealler, Albert Ellis (secretary), Thomas Skinner, C. N. Young, G. H. Medhurst, E. J. Main, and T. F. Hough.
The SECRETARY read the notice convening 'the meeting.