128
A notification has been issued by Capt. King Hall, R.N., and Mr. Consul Hopkins, Commis- sioners for Weihaiwai, that no sales of land on the island of Linkungtao or within the Inner Zoue on the Mainland, made since the 24th of May last, will be recognised as legal, until it has been referred to the British Commissioner or Administrator for approval, What about recent transactions in land in the territory shortly to be taken over at Kowloon ?
Early on Thursday morning, 28 h July, James Robertson, chief engineer of the British steamer Asphodel, lying at Quarry Bay. was missed. On Saturday morning Sergeant Gauld found the body of a European lying on the beach at Hung- hom and it was removed to the mortuary. The face was unrecognisable and as the man only wore a sleeping suit the means of identi. fication are few. It is believed, however, that the body is that of Robertson.
MISCELLANEOUS,
Mr. C. Talbot Bowring was to leave Shang- hai on Sunday last for Ichang to assume the post of Acting Commissioner of Customs.
The Macao Independente has ceased to exist, but a notice issued by the proprietors states that a new journal is shortly to be established to take its place.
to
The French Consul at Manila has gone Saigon. It is probable, a French contemporary says, that he will not return to his post until peace has been concluded.
In a health notice issued by the Shanghai Municipal Council the following passage occurs-Flies, mosquitoes etc., carry disease. hence fly-corers should be always used over cooked food.
A Seoul despatch of the 22nd July, to the Japanese papers says the Korean Government has signed a contract permitting a British mer. chant to select a mide and work it. The mine must be chosen within a year from the date of the contract.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Further examination of the French cruiser Jean Bart has revealed the fact that she was much more extensively damaged in the recont collision with the Helen Brewer than was at first thought. Her decks were pretty completely swept by the bowsprit of the sailing vessel; at least eight of her forward plates, both above and below the water-line, will have to be replaced; and it is considered extremely likely that had it not been for the warship's steel protective deck, she would have been cut in two by the stem of the Helen Brewer. The latter vessel lost her bowsprit aud jib-boom and sustained other serions in juries between wind and water, while her stem is badly bent.-China Gazette.
Referring to Mr. Bourne, who is expected at Shanghai by the incoming Empress boat, the N. C. Daily News says:-Mr. F. S. A. Bourne, newly appointed Consul and Assistant Judge at Shanghai, was presented to the Prince of Wales at the Queen's Levée on the 13th dlt. He undertakes the duties of Assistant Judge, Consul in charge of the Land Office, and Assessor at the Mixed Court. Mr. Bourne is a very able man and a hard worker, but even he will find it physically impossible to cope with all these duties. Have the powers that be any clear idea of what Shanghai is, and of the extent of the duties that her Majesty's Consulate General and Supreine Court have
to fulfil?
will be completed (if sufficient paint is forth- coming) at Kobe or Yokohama.
[August 6, 1898.
In view of the opening of Yochou, Hunan, to international trade the gentry and notables of that city have decided to establish a thoroughly efficient body of police, in order that when for- . eigners shall begin to flock to Yochou there may be a reliable force of men to give proper protection to the "strangers from afar." In addition to engaging a properly qualified officer (Chinese preferred) to command the Yochou Police, six natives who have served some years in the Han- kow Municipal Police have recently been en- gaged by a weiyuan specially sent to Hankow for that purpose, and these men are to be ap. pointed sergeants to drill and teach the recruits the duties of their profession.-N. C. Daily News.
The Peking and Tientsin Times says: Reports reach us from Peking, and we hope that they are based upon fact, that a firm stand has been taken by China in favour of the British construction of the Shanbaikwan- Newchwang line. As we recently stated, very strong objection was raised by the Russian representative in Peking to the Hongkong and Shangbai Bank financing this extension of the line, and M. Parloff went so far as to state that if China did not cancel this arrangement his Government would require Eli in Manchuria as an offset, and added some dark and signific- ant threats about leaving the capital. There' appears to have been a twitching of the Lion's › tail in connection with the crisis, which made it advisable in the opinion of the Chinese Gor- ernment not to break faith with the British contract, and we are informed that the arrange- ment for the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank to finance the line will be adhered to. We trust this is correct.
COMMERCIAL..
TEA.
Messrs.
The Nagasaki Press of the 30th July gives the following naval items:--H.M.S. Centurion Admiral Seymour's flagship, arrived here yes! terday morning from Weihaiwei, and left in the afternoon for Kobe and Yokohama. H.M.S Victorious and Narcissus, with the torpedo-boat destroyers Hardy and Whiting, also left for the same ports yesterday afternoon. H.M.S. Bona- venture will remain here for about a fortnight in order to repair damages to one of her bilge- keels. We understand that the present piebald condition of H.M.S, Fictorious is not the first
SHANGHAI, 30th July. (From step towards a new method of painting the Welch, Lewis & Co.'s Circular.)-From Han- British fleet, nor it is the outcome of an experi-kow we learn that the second crop has reached mental investigation as to which side of the
a total of 130 700 half-chests, against 65,000 half- All Singapore friends of Jack Collinson of ship is the cooler, the black or the white. The chests last season, again showing the wonderful the old "Steelbacks" will be pleased to note vessel is in a transition stage from black to elasticity of the quantity which can be brought that Lieutenant Colonel Collinson, of the North-white, and the change, begun at Weihaiwei, to market as soon as prices reach a paying level, amptonshire Regiment, who served in the
The third crop was expected to be short owing. Zulu War and the Trausvaal campaign, has
to drought, but with Shuntaams at Tls. 104 to been appointed to the command of the 4th
Tls. 11 and Niprusze's at Tis. 13 apicul every Egyptian Brigade, which is to take part in the
Javailab'o leaf will probably be packed for Foreign advance. A Brigadier, no less-Free Press.
use, until the market weakens. The d mand is Newchwang is becoming more and more Rus
stentively Russian. Black Tea.—Teas which have attracted most attention are the 2nd crop sianized in appearance. Russians are swarming
Keemuns, the balk of which have been into Manchuria all along the line, and the port,
secured by one buyer. Prices range from Tls. 22 which is already Russian by fond anticipation.
jo Tls. 26 a picul, buy they are exceptionally good is full of "booted Cossacks." We hear that a
this year.
A fair number of Ningchows have also branch of the Russo-Chinese Bank is being
been placed. It is worthy of remark that no opened in Kirin.-Peking and Tientsin Times.
Teas are on offer under Taels 17 a picul. The The Yokohama b okers, remarks "Looker
usiness doing is not as might have been expected of the Japan Gazette, have reduced their
after receipt of news of a favourable reception of rate of commission and thereby given rise to
the first cargoes in England and America, but this is accounted for by the profits being chiefly much public curiosity and speculation. Rumour
confined to fine Teas which are not now procur- has it that the announcement published by two firms was the result of "under cutting by
able. other members of the craft. Whatever the cause it is interesting to note that they can see their way to get along on half their former mish." "How long will it last?
on
17
?
FC com-
As the Kiangfoo was coming down the River on her last trip, says the N.. Daily News, thir. teen thieves got ou at one of the stations, and attacked the passengers with the intention of robbing them, just as the next station was reached. Capt. Basselt mustered all hands and attacked the thieves in turn, capturing eight of them, five escaping in the boats that cam alongside at the station. On arriving at Shang- hai, Capt. Bassett handed over his captives to the French police, who recognised fire of them at once as well-known old river-thieves.
The N. C. Daily News of the 27th July saysThe case of the Bank of China, Japan,
and the Straits against certain Chinese share. holders has been postponed on account of the recent Joss-House trouble. The case will be heard before the Taotai and the British Consul General. Messrs. Dowdall and Hanson appear for the Bank and Mr. T. R. Jeruigan for hareholders. Mr. Jernigan, we are told, is a lawyer of more than fifteen years' practice, and his been entrusted with some important cases in the Courts of his own country, having re- ceived his license from the Supreme Court qualifying him to practise in any Conrt of the United States.
At Saigon the other day, we read in the Courrier, the remains of 1,343 Chinese were exhumed by the Canton guild, under the superintendence of the police and by authority of the Lieutenant-Governor, and are to be sent to China. In an account of the procedure usual on such occasions our contemporary says-On the day appointed by the priests the heads of the guild, followed by the families of the defunct, proceed to the cemetery. The bodies are exhumed with order. placed in a shed in rows, and carefully ticketted. Here the bones usually receive a wash. They are then placed in cases of wood or metal bearing the family name and description of the de ceased, and the usual religious rites having been observed the funeral societies carefully close the cases and despatch them as parcels to the respective provinces in which the relatives reside.
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Settlements reported are: ---
Ningchow...3,822 -chts, at Tls. 18 to 25 picul. Keemun.. ... 2,598 Wenchow
223
"
22 to 26 164 to 164
J
6,643 -chts. Stock, 12,158 balf-chests. Green Teas.-There is a general disinclination to do business both on the part of native Teamen and foreign buyer. Pingsneys.-Natives do not like to face the loss which present offers would entail and hope for a better demand when stocks in the United States are getting so low that duty paid Tea must be used. Foreigners see very lile prospect in the near future of any material advance in the Home markets and prefer to wait. The buyer is usually king, but the seller is mak ing a bold fight for it, and feels just confidence in the quality of the article he has to sell. A
Macao has had a little sensation in the shape of an elopement, of which the Echo Macaense gives the following account:-Senhor Antonio Vicente da Silva, a clerk in the Treasury and the son of Senhor José da Silva, editor and proprietor of the Independente newspaper, wished to marry Senhorita Maria Cabral, the eldest daughter of Seubor Joao Albino Ribeiro Cabral, the Treasurer. Being unable to obtain the father's consent to the marriage Senhor Silva determined to leave for Hongkong with his betrothed, in company with the mother of the latter, who, it seems, was not of the same mind as her husband. The party accordingly nutionary telegram has been received about left on the 28th July on the steamer Kwai- lam. It is said that the girl's father im- mediately telegraphed to the Consul at Hong. kong requesting that the Romeo and Juliet might be arrested, also that this request was endorsed in another telegram despatched by H.E. the Governor. Evidently the reply of the Consul must have been a non possumus. The case is a lamentable one, but prudence suggests that the best expedient is silence, because it is to be supposed the marriage will shortly take place and, notwithstanding the abduction, throw a veil of oblivion over the incident.
common lines "not being up to standard.” If any shipments yet made this season are rejected it will prove conclusively how impossible it is to adigit or reject Teas by standard without gross injustice. No purer Teas have ever been shipped from China and to reject any of them would be an injury and a wrong. We hope no such a misuse of power will occur. Moyunes.-A few small chops have arrived, but we prefer not to offer any opinion of the crop from these. Tienkais. --Considerable quantities from these districts have been detained for want of water in the waterways, but they are coming to hand now;