:
84
The stamp revenue for the first six monthsof the present year amounted to $191,633, being an increase of $64,747 on the amount collected in the corresponding period of last year. There was an increase of $41,000 under the head of probate, $10,700 under the head of bank note duty, and $5,000 under the head of exchange and promissory note.
On Saturday morning, 9th July, the Kwany lee arrived at Shanghai from Hongkong, and was boarded by Dr. Cox, the Inspecting Officer. Everybody was called on deck and passed mu- ter, but when the doctor went below, all were surprised to find a dead man in one of the first class saloon cabins. The man had been seen alive at 1 am. The result was that the ship was quarantined till Monday, it being after wards ascertained that the deceased had taken opium.-Union.
On Monday the Hon. R. M. Rumsey held an enquiry into the circumstances connected with the collision between the steam launch Kam On (Pang Fat, master) and No. 4, police pin- nace. P.C. Moore said he was on the pinnace in question on the morning of the 13th inst, go ing west, intending to go to the Bank Wharf off Central Market for coal. The Kam On was coming from Kowloon and going into one of the bamboo wharves. When witness got to this wharf he slowed down. The Kam On was then 150 yards off. When about 30 feet from the Kam On he put his helm hard a-port. The Kam Ou came on and was running past as he cleared her till abeam when she took the stem of the pinnace and started it and some of the copper sheathing. The master of the Kam On said he was coming from Yaumati when the police launch was coming from the west. He had got close in and his boat touched the wharf when the police pinnace came and struck him on the starboard quarter. Commander Rumsey, to the interpreter-Tell him I will suspend his certificate for two weeks simply for lying. It is perfectly impossible to my mind for that to have happened. A European is not a madman, and nobody but a fool would have done that. I do not believe the constable is a fool, but that this man is lying. When he comes here next time I would advise him to speak as near the truth as he can.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
At the Harbour Office on Tuesday a Swede, named Nicholas Gustifsen, an A.B. on the British steamer Claverhill, was charged with assaulting Lewis Wigley, master of the said ship, while in Kobe harbour on the 30th June. Complainant said defendant signed on at Rotterdam in January last. On June 30th, when in Kobe harbour, defendant came to the cabin door and asked to see him. On witness replying that he was busy defendant came into the cabin with a stick and asked him to pay for it. He refused and defendant said that if witness would not pay for his stick he would knock his brains out. Complainant got ap to eject him.
defendant was making for the cabin steps he fell on to his back. On getting up he took hold of complainant by the throat, but with the assist- ance of the carpenter and steward he got clear of him. The cabin was on the bridge, and as defendant refused to leave the bridge com. plainant went ashore for the police. He went on board at half-past nine at night and found defendant marching round the cabin, ontside. When told to leave the bridge he left but came on again and remained on until half-past ten. Complainant could not prosecute defendant then as the ship was leaving the next day. At this point defendant said he could not under- stand English, and the case was adjourned. On the resumption of the bearing Wednesday, Thomas Rees, steward of the Claverhill, said he was washing up at about six o'clock on the evening in question when defend ant came to him and said he wished to see the captain to get him to pay for a stick. Witness told him he was drunk and that the captain would not see him. He next saw the captain pushing him out of his cabin. Defendant after wards caught the captain by the throat, and used bad language. Witness went to the captain's assistance. As defendant went downstairs from the bridge he threatened to put a knife into witness. When asked if he had anything to Bay; defendant commenced a long story, but as he admitted disobeying the captain's orders and catching him by the throat he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour.
on
|
We
We are informed that the Secretary of State for the Colonies has agreed to the proposition of the Hongkong & Shanghai Bank for an increased issue of Bank notes.
The usual Oxford local examinations--senior, junior, and preliminary-are now being held at Queen's College, the building being devoted for the necessary four days to this purpose alone, its usual classes enjoying a most welcome holiday. The schools of the colony are well represented. There are boy candidates from Queen's College, St. Joseph's College, Victoria English Schools And Diocesan School. The Victoria English Schools, the Belilios Public School, the Baxter Girls' School, etc., send representatives to the girls' examination. There are several private pupils of both sexes. The number of girls entering is growing year by year, and their separate ex. amination is presided over by ladies. In March last 71 candidates had entered-19 seniors, 24 juniors, and 28 preliminary. The Rev. R. F. Cobbold is the presiding examiner, and he is assisted by an able local committee of ladies and gentlemen.
At the Magistracy on Tuesday a special sessions of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace was held in the Justices Room, for the purpose of con- sidering an application from Henry Oliver for a publican's license to sell and retail intoxicating liquors at No. 13, Queen Victoria street, under the sign of the Travellers' Hotel." Com. mander Hastings, Acting Police Magistrate, presided, and there were also present Hon. F. H. May, Mr. D. R. Crawford and Mr. Duggan. There was no Police objection. Mr. E. J. Grist-I appear for the applicant. This man Oliver was the licensee of the same public house for something like four years and on account of ill-health was obliged to go home to Europe. Whilst away he let his furniture to certain other people for a certain rental. In couse- quence of these people not paying the licence money when due the licence was cancelled. Oliver has returned to the colony and I ask that the licence be regranted to him. I sub- mit it is very hard on him, now he has returned, to refuse this licence. There is absolutely nothing against him and there is no police objection. There being no objection, Com- mander Hastings granted the licence.
MISCELLANEOUS.
On the Fourth of July a large number of British and American residents at Tientsin met together at the United States Consulate and des- patched a congratulatory telegram to Admiral Dewey via Hongkong. Among the guests was the new Minister for the United States, Mr. Conger, who was accorded a splendid reception at Tientsin-Mercury.
44
We hear from a correspondent that the highest range of the thermometer at Kuling so far is 74 deg. and lowest 68 deg. Every day there has been a fine breeze blowing and at night a gale of wind so that it has been more than cool. It is estimated there are more than 400 foreigners here now and all steamers both ways are still bringing their contingents."-N. CDaily News.
A boating accident that might have resulted fatally occurred in Nagasaki harbour on Friday evening, 8th July. Captain Primrose, of the Taichow, with Captain Nicol (a pilot from Shanghai) and a fellow passenger, put off from the steamer in a small sailing boat belonging to the captain for the purpose of going on shore. The boat had proceeded a short distance only when a gust of wind struck the sail, at once capsizing the boat and throwing its occupants into the water. Captain Primose and his two companions were rescued by Japanese sampans which happened to be in the locality.
Captain Young, of the steamer Onsang, from Iloilo to Yokohama, reports that just off Luzon in the early morning of June 29th, he sighted five steamers.
The first of them threw a searchlight on his ship and then fired a gun. At this the Onsang stopped and burned a blue light as a signal, but another shot followed, and the warship approached more closely. After a close inspection, however, the searchlight was ex- tinguished, and the Onsang proceeded on her way. The war-vessel was probably the Charles- ton, convoying troopships to Manila.-Japan
Mail,
[July 23, 1898.
At Shanghai on the 14th July a motion was heard in chambers in H.B.M. Court before Chief Justice Sir Nicholas Hannen, Mr. H. Browett appearing for the officers and supercargo and Mr. H.C. Parkes for twenty-nine of the crew of the British vessel Amaropoora, the application being for the purpose of obtaining an order for the sale of the vessel to satisfy portage bills amounting to $15,000. The Court ordered an appraisement and sale.
The 14th July, the anniversary of the taking. of the Bastille, was colebrated by the French community at Shanghai with much enthusiasm. Count de Bezaure, the Consul, in the course of a speech he made on the occasion, said “he hoped that before long the whole question of the Ningpo Joss-house grounds would be solved to their complete satisfaction.' The question appears to have been since solved effectively, if not altogether satisfactorily, for it involved a riot attended with much bloodshed.
19
The following is from the Union :-A friend writing from Canton says he has seen the remarks in The Union about the discontent among Customs men at Kowloon.
He says this is as nothing to the discontent at Canton, and that many of the men would leave if they could find anything else to do. He says some. of the third class tidewaiters have been six, seven, and eight years at Canton, and that when a vacancy occurred for a second class tidewaiter was filled from some other port. Apparently, says our correspondent, the I. G. has forgotten there is such a place es Cauton. The promised increase of pay should have the effect of making the men more satisfied.
The China Gazette says - -We understand that the officers of the local mercantile marine are plucking heart of the grace from the recent large increase granted to the Customs" staff; and are asking for a somewhat corresponding addition to their own very meagre and inadequate salaries. We believe the chief mates want the present pay increased to $200, second mates $150, and third mates $120 a month, and seeing how profitable,the coasting trade has been in the past year, and how the cost of every com- modity, not to mention house rent, taxes, etc., has been increased, the sea-faring men are not unreasonable in their demands. We believe a similar step is in contemplation amongst the engineers, and the pilots and captains will doubtless follow suit on similar lines,
COMMERCIAL.
TEA.
CANTON, 8th July.-Tsatlees.-No business to report for Europe. The demand for Bombay has fallen off, but it is impossible to get refusals. Re-reels.-A fair amount of orders are on the market, but nothing has been done owing to the high prices asked by the dealers. Filatures.- Have been in good enquiry during the first part of the fortnight. From prices paid we quote: $775 for Kwong Shun Cheong 11/18, $745 for Miu King Lun 14/16. S.B. $740 for Hip Sam Choy, Cheong Kee and Sui Lon Hing 9/11, $735 for Han King Sing 11/13 and 11/13. $70 for How King Cheong and Hing Loong Kwong Lun Fung 11/13 $730 for Kwang Lun On Cheong 13/15, $690 for Yee Lutt Cheong 11/18, $680 for Yee Wo Loong 16/20, $670 for Victoria 16/20, $645/635 for Yee Wo Lun 11/18 and 13/15 $680 for Yee Wo Cheong 18/22. Short-reels.-- From prices paid wo quote: $725 for Kwong Sun On 14/16, $705 for Sun Yu Lan 14/16, $600 for Kwong Lun On 14/16 $685 for Poo Cheong Wo, Yee Lun Cheong, Min Tai Chương and Lan Seng 11/16 $660 for Cheung Sui Lun 14/16. Waste.—Quiet.
SHANGHAI, 16th July.-(From Me.srs. Welch, Lewis & Co.'s Circular.)-Our last "printed." Tea market advices were under date 4th instant. From Hankow we hear that there was, an active Russian demand for second crop Han kow district Black Tea at firm prices, and that the second crop is estimated at 125,000 half-chests against 65,000 balf-chests last season, Black Ton. Our market has been quiet, but steady. A few second crop Keemuns have found buyers at Tls. 2 at 23 per picul, but there is very little inclination to buy until news has been received of the new crop Teas from London and
New York.