July 29, 1898.1
was to blame for any unpleasantness that oc- cared, and he has refused to dismiss M. Mont- mittonet. Meanwhile, Mr. Robyns has been sent north on a special mission, and is other wise treated with every mark of favour. He says that six hundred Laotians whose cames were on the French lists tore up their papers, and preferred to be Siamese subjects. He says that, in some of the caravans which were forced to start, there were women with child, and newly born infants who could not be expected to survive the long and painful journey before them. The French account has it that over 4,000 Laotians bare passed the Mekong this year owing to the brow-beating policy of M. Montmittonet, and they say that this great success explains the hostility shown to that rising diplomatist. It is quite certain, however, that the relations between the French Legation in Bangkok and the Siamese Government are extremely strained at the present moment.
On May 23rd Prince Devawongse wrote as follows to the French Chargé d'Affaires :
"The conduct of M. Montmittonet has reached such a point that it has become impos. sible for the delegates H.M.'s Government to hold any further intercourse with him." The letter goes on to say that M. Montmittonet, while in the house of Mr. Robyns, one of H.M.'s delegates, went so far as to whip a Siamese subject in the presence of Mr. Robyns, of the Governor, the latter's colleague, and of several other persons, after. which he refused to leave Mr. Robyns's house, and the Prince con- tinues :-" I shall refrain to characterize such a breach of courtesy at the hands of a delegate of your Legation towards the delegates of H.M.'s Government; and I have the honour to request you to recall immediately M. Montmittonet to Bangkok, pending such ulterior steps which it may be the duty of H.M.'s Government to take with regard to that official."
M. Montmittonet, however, will not be re- moved; and it is said that the conduct of the Siamese officials with whom he had to deal left much to be desired.
Perhaps the most serious aspect of the affair is this: The Siamese Government has com- plained that M. Montmittonet has urged the Laotians to leave without Siamese passports. And the letter goes on to state that the Siamese authorities will stop such people, and it hints that if they resist, force will be used.
In a letter dated May 22nd, Prince De- vawongse writes as follows to M. Lorgeon, the French Charge d'Affaires :—“ I used not point ont to you the danger there would be, if immigrants were instructed to start on their journey without Siamese passports. It would be the duty of the Siamese authorities to stop them on their way, and, in case they refused | to comply with the orders of the authorities difficulties might arise for which the respon- sibility would be on your Legation.”—Straits Times correspondent.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
demise was merely a question of time. The operation of extracting the bullet was performed soon afterwards, and the patient lingered until about 4 p.m., when he expired.
CANTON NOTES,
83
[FROM THE CHUNG NGOI SAN PO”. As plague has died out in Canton all the matsheds erected as plague hospitals were destroyed on the 19th instant. It is said that over fifteen thousand people have fallen victims to the post during the recent epidemic.
It is said that a foreign company has been established to run six steam-launches between Canton and Fatshan. The fare "is to be ten cents for each passenger and there is to be a departure once an hour. This service has been a long felt want and will be a great con-
venience.
A big fight has broken out between the vil- lages of Yuenkächong and Taitonheung, on the borders of Tungkwon and Chingahing dis- tricts. Over two hundred people have been killed and a great number of houses destroyed on both sides. The fight is going on daily under the eyes of the authorities who have been
HONGKONG.
Investigation as to the cause of the suicide has resulted in very little that is explicable. Outwardly, Mr. Tennant has always been a cheerful man, fond of out-door sports, and po pular among the majority of those who enjoyed his acquaintance. It is, however, stated by his intimate friends that of late he was subject to fits of depression, though nobody is able to offer any reliable suggestion as to the nature of the trouble from which he was suffering. He continued his professional duties up to Saturday evening, and was in the company of Mr. R. Hay, sub-editor of the Gazette, until a late hour on Sunday night. His manner at that time was much the same as usual. His suicide, nevertherless, was pre meditated, since we learn that he has left a letter addressed to Mr. Hay, which proves this fact conclusively, although it affords no satis-sent to restore order. factory explanation of the writer's motive in taking his own life. It contained directions as to the disposition of his property and was signed by the terribly significant words "in Torment." As a circumstance, which may or may not have had any connexion with the subsequent tragedy, it is learnt that on leav- ing the office on Saturday his parting words to his colleagues were "good-bye," instead on "good evening," which was his habitual form of ad- dress, and the departure was noted at the time as somewhat unusual. Mr. Tennant was notoriously a hard worker, devoted to the inter- ests of his paper, and it is probable that the continued strain and anxiety which his profes. sional duties involved were a factor, if not the chief one, in determining his melancholy fate. Deceased was in the prime of life, and unmar- ried. He was, we believe, a native of Cornwall, England, and leaves an aged mother to mourn his loss. The whole affair is at present shrouded in mystery, which may possibly be to some extent dissipated at the inquest-should the latter be considered necessary. At the time of going to press no information on this point could be obtained.—Japan Herald.
There were 1,788 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 174 were Europeans. It is notified that registered letters are now accepted at the Kowloon and Western branches of the Post Office.
Several Americans are at present in Hong- kong awaiting an opportunity of getting down to Manila, where they purpose opening an hotel.
On Tuesday afternoon the funeral of P.C. Faherty, who died on Monday in the Govern- ment Civil Hospital, took place, being attended by a large number of members of the force.
On Saturday morning the roof of the drying room at Mount Austin Barracks was discovered to be on fire, but fortunately the flames were extinguished before much damage was done.
The Hon. E. R. Belilios and Mrs. Belilios de- sire, through our medium, to gratefully ao- knowledge the numerous expressions of sym pathy they have received in their recent bereavement.
Subject to audit the Hongkong and Shang-, hai Bank intends paying a dividend of £1 58. An inquest was opened on the 12th July, per share, placing to the reserve $1,000,000, when medical evidence was given by Dr. writing off bank property $250,000, and carry- Wheeler and Dr. Munro, who had made a posting forward to next half-year about $380,000;" mortem examination. On opening the brain it was found that there was chronic meningitis of some standing. Meningitis is inflammation of the coverings of the brain. No doubt it was a factor in producing the melancholia from which Mr. Tennant seemed to have suffered lately. The meningitis would be quite sufficient to cause, in certain moods, a temporary unhing. ing of the mind.
THE SHASI RIOT AND THE JAPANESE CLAIMS.
THE DEATH OF MR. H. TENNANT, telegram from vernacular papers:-
OF YOKOHAMA.
The foreign community of Yokohama was profoundly shocked and startled to hear of the
sad death by his own hand of Mr. H. Tennant, editor of the Japan Gazette, who shot himself through the right temple on Monday, 11th July, in his private sitting room, No. 133-a, Bluff. When the news was first circulated, shortly before noon, it was scarcely credited,
but investigation proved that it was only too
true. The weapon used was a revolver of small calibre, the bullet of which was little larger than a pea, but none the less it inflicted a terrible wound, passing through the skull in a diagonal direction, and flattening itself against the inner wall of the occipital region. The wound of entry presented a horrible appearance, the muzzle of the revolver having apparently been held in close proximity to the temple. The report of the revolver was heard by one of the house boys, who on entering the room found Mr. Tennant stretched upon the floor in a pool of blood. Assistance was rapidly summoned and the unfortunate man, not yet dead but an conscious, was conveyed to the Yokohama General Hospital, where Dr. Munroe did all that was possible under the circumstances. It was obvious, however, that Mr. Tennant was beyond the reach of medical aid, and that his
The Kobe Chronicle translates the following
Peking, 9th July,
Negotiations over the demands of Japan on China in regard to the Shasi disturbance have been settled upon the following terms :--
1.-That the Chinese Government shall issue a proclamation warning the officials and people.
turbance, and the officials who neglected to
2. That those who took part in the dis suppress the disturbance, shall be severely punished.
3.-That the Chinese Government shall pay 10,000 taels as compensation for the damage the construction of embankments at the Shasi done to property, in addition to 50,000 taels for
settlement.
4.-That the price of land in the Shasi settle ment shall be reduced; public roads made free from taxes; mixed residence of Chinese and Japanese allowed; and a building erected and handed over to the Japanese authorities free of cost, to be used as a Japanese Consulate.
5.-That when Yochau and Samsha Bay are opened, a settlement solely available by Japa-
nese shall be established.
6.A further conference shall be held with regard to a Japanese settlement at Fuchan, and a decisión arrived at after consideration of the situation of affairs there.
The following is an extract from a private letter received by the last mail:-"I was walking along the Thames Embankment one day last week when I saw a cab approaching. I thought the 'fare' was the Prince of Wales, but my defective eyesight deceived me. The gentleman was Sir William Robinson. I did not see him in time to stop the cab, but I could see that Sir William was, as usual, beaming with boisterous joviality and looking the picture. of good health and pension-begotten content- ment. He has been spreading himself lately on the Kowloon extension."
The quarterly polo match, which should have been played before the end of last month but was postponed to give the gunner team, which had recently received a large accession of strength, an opportunity of buying and getting used to the China puny, is to commence next. Monday, the first tie being between the civilian team, captained by the Hon. T. H. Whitehead, and the Gunners, captained by Captain Burney, who has taken such a leading part at polo and
teams are fairly level, and a good game may be of gymkhanas during the last three years. The expected. The members of the Polo Club will be" At Home" to their friends at the ground that day.
It is with regret we have to announce occurred on Tuesday morning, the cause being the death of Captain Matthews, R.A., which
sunstroke or heat apoplexy. The deceased officer appeared to be in his usual health and spirits on Monday, and his sudden death is much regretted by his brother officers and the corps to which he belonged. He leaves a widow and one child to mourn his loss. The funeral took place on Wednesday morning at the The Protestant Cemetery, Happy Valley. cortége, headed by the band of the King's Own Regiment, consisted of a firing party of the Royal Artillery, his own company, a com- Royal Engineers, and one of the Hongkong pany of the King's Own Regiment, one of Royal Artillery. The officers of the different corps were also included in the procession.
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