December 8, 18981
Section 6 (b) is the correct and common sense way of measuring the depth of a house.
I respectfully suggest that all property owners in the colony should join in a combined petition to H.E. the Governor, stating their views on the subject of this proposed Ordinace, and also that His Excellency would be pleased to have it so altered and amended as to be brought more in line and in accordance with the English Acts referring to insanitary dwellings,
Yours truly,
WM. DANBY.
Hongkong, 25th November, 1893.
LORD CHARLES BERESFORD AT, SHANGHAI,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
As
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Perhaps I exaggerate, but I do believe if our what the people out here who know their country is going to allow our people to be | business und trade think themselves, so that I squeezed out of China, or if we continue our can focus it and let the electorate know at home. trade without further developing it, I do believe With regard to your trade I believe I am right it will be the beginning of the end of our great in saying at present it is very good. I have empire. (Cheers.) Therefore I hold that the got no complaints to go home with. There interests of the Far East are immeasurably may be some individual industries that will not superior to the interests of the Near East. agree with this, but the volume of trade as I But there is this point to be remembered, that understand it is not at all bad at present. I the people at home are mos: crassly ignorant of also believe that, so far as development goes, the situation of things in China. I cannot people are not inclined at all to do anything to quite blame them for that because I must develop their trade largely because they do not plead guilty mysef, to being one of those ignor- see what policy the Government is going to ant persons before I came out here and cousul put forward at home, and, as far as security ted those people who know the facts in this for trade and commerce goes, both from what country. But i would respectfully subunit to you │I have been able to learn and also from that in many parts of our great empire circum- what I can see for myself, I would say there The annual dinner of the Shanghai Branch stances occur, as in China, when people come to is absolutely none in this conutry whatever. of the China Association took place at the believe that the British empire is centred in that There are two things to my mind that loom Shanghai Club on the 19th November, Mr. C.
locality. Therefore I would say, with great very black in the near future for trade and J. Dudgeon, Chairman of the Association, pres-respect, though we have felt very warmly tow. commerce in China. One is the dominant and iding, with Lord Charles Beresford, B., R.N., ards the Cabinet and country, we must look at military position of Russia in the North, and the guest of the evening, on his right, and Sir things broadly and us affecting the empire. The the other is the absolutely effete condition of N. J. Hannen, Chief Judge of the Supreme empire is a very large one, aud difficulties have the Government of this country with regard Court, on his left hand. Mr. E. F... Alford,
to be contended with in various countries. The the four hundred million inhabitants Vice-Chairman of the Association, was in the
Cabinet have considerable difficulties on the they can in no way control, while at any mo- vice-chair, with Mr. Byron Breuan, C.M.G., north-west frontier of India, the west ment, if you put up stores or trade centres in British Consul-General. on his right, and Captain coast of Africa, in Jamaica, in British the country, they may be destroyed or burnt, Pottinger, R.A., on his left hand.
Gniana, the Cape, and lately in the Soudan, and the government of this country will have The proceedings were so protracted, Lord
to which the military officer uo control over those who do it. Those are Charles Beresford speaking for an hour, to the (Captain Pottinger) has made a most excel- two great points I see in the future, and if I great delight of his audience, who would willent speech. But let me point this out; am wrong perhaps someone will correct me. lingly have heard him at still greater length, would it have been quite wise of our Cabinet, Now, with regard to Russia, I have said in the that we can only give this morning in full the
at a moment when there might have beeu a House of Commons, and I say here, I have no speech made by his lordship. The first tost doubt as to the ultimate success of that expedi blame whatever to attach to Russia. I think was "The Queen," proposed by the Chairman. tiou-supposing some one had made a mistake, that every Government of a country is bound to and drunk with the greatest enthusiasm to the
and what was a brilliant victory had been, I will use every effort it can in the direction it thinks strains of "God save the Queen!" by the band. not say a defeat, but a reverse, we should have is for the interest of its commerce and people, The second' toast was
The Navy, Army, and had to send large reinforcements to make the but what I do say is this, and say strongly, that : Auxiliary Forces," proposed by the Vice-Chair-thing secure-would it have been wise, I say, while other countries take these precautions man. Capt. Cochran, R.N., replied for the for the Cabinet to have embarked on some great and use this efforts, we must be very careful Navy, Capt. Pottinger, R.A., in an extremely enterprise in this country? I do not think it that they do nothing that will hurt our inter- well-conceived and well-delivered speech, for
would have been wise, but this I will say, that ests. I know that Russia has moved by leaps the army, and Major B. A. Clarke. S.V.C. all these questions have been more or less settled and bounds into positions that are 1,200 miles for the anxiliary forces. Then came the health
now, and so far as my endeavours go, if you will further than they were twelve months ago, and of the guest of the evening, Lord Charles Be-only support me, I will do all I can to make one of the curious features I have found here is resford, proposed by the Chairman in a very
my countrymen see that they have got to do that nobody is so astonished as the Russians to neat speech.
something in this country, and that we cannot find themselves in the position they are in at Lord Charles Beresford, who on rising was go on with the policy of drift, as we have been present. (Haar, bear.) I do not think it wise to received with continued cheering, said Mr.doing. (Loud cheers.) There is another point say what has been or what might have been, it Dudgeon, and gentlement of the China Associa- I must mention relative to the case in Crete. is always better to say, what is and see what we tion, I have to thank you. Sir, very warmly for I as a naval officer feel, and my brother unval are to do in the future, but with regard to the remarks that you made when proposing my officers will join with me in finding the most Russia, if I were a Russ an I should use the health, and I have also to thank you, gentlemen, supreme satisfaction that a bold, fruuk and very best efforts I could to place myself in Pek- for the undoubtedly enthusiastic way in which honest seaman has settled the difficulty which ing and then the Yangtze, provided I had no you received them. I had not intended to make has puzzled the whole of Europe and all its more opposition than they have found at present any remarks during my cruise round the British Cabinets. I refer to Admiral Noël, (Cheers.) in getting to Newchwang and Port Arthur. What communities in this country; I was going to One word more on this question. With regard did I find at Newchwang? I was alarmed to find reserve those remarks for a proper report to the to your Ministers in China, I would respect the British community there rather hapless. Associated Chambers of Commerce, also to the fully submit to your Press here- I know it is They were sitting down and saying: Cabinet, and even to a more important body- very dangerous to attack the Press, because what do you think we will get out of our property the electorate of our great country at home. the Press always has the last word, but I am when Russia owns Manchuria? Do you think (Hear, hear,) You spoke of hard work, Sir, but not, being an Irishman, very careful whom I Russia will allow us to do this and that? Would that was my business, and it is the business of attack if I get a thing in my head (laughter)~ you take home a resolution to say that we hope every Britisher never to undertake to do a thing I would ask the Press in all fairness to remem. Russia will allow ns this and that ?” I remarked, unless he does it with all his might and main ber that it is not quite the way to win an action we do not hold the British empire, by such fem- and to the best of his ability. But I think that
Sit to attack the agent Attack the principal, notinine policy as that! (Cheers.) I said: this is the first time that your great trading the agent; pitch into the Cabinet and Govern- down and draft a strong resolution
the Gov. communities of this country have had a fairment, but, after all, we do not know what ernment and tell them how things are, and if
...
chance of placing your views, why you hold them, what you fear, and why you fear it in the future, before the great electorate of the people at home. (Hear, hear.) I am very well aware that your Consuls have sent many trade reports home; I am very well aware that this great and powerful association has sent very many reso lutions home, but, so far as I can gather; these reports and resolutions have been relegated to some of those pigeon-holes where so many things are forgotten. (Hear, bear.)o far as ny mis sion goes, I dare say you know what my reference was.
It was to come out here to find out the ideas of the trading commu- nities,
es, how far they thought they could develop the British trade at present going on, and more than all, what security they can have for the future of their property, or indeed their lives, in this country. (Cheers) I do not disguis) from you or from myself that I find a unanimous opinion among these British communities—an opinion that is based on great anxiety, considerable nervousuess as to the fature, and considerable doubt as to whether any of them will invest additional further development of their trade of there being no scour.Lg for the futura. I have taken a very strong line on this quest on in England, both in the House and in the country
On
your agent's orders are, what the British Ministers orders are. He may be wanting, like a good horse to go straight over the country, take all the obstacles, and go a gallop. ing pace, but happens to have a nervous rider on his back who funks the fences, jobs him in the mouth, and brings him down. (Laughter and cheers.) With regard to your Minister, you will agree with me here that he is the first Minister you have had that understands this point, that he is not only here, for diplomatic notion, to write dispatches and protocols, but that he is here in the interest of trade and commerce as well. I venture to believe you have not had a Minister, and you will not have a Minister, who will be better than Sir Claude Macdonald in recognising that our interests in the East are those of trade and commerce. What I have endeavoured to do here is to find out from the communities wherever I have been what they want, why they want it; what they fear, why they fear it and what they think
to
Now
you want some definite and declared policy say what you want to be done in the future." That is what I told them. (Laughter, and hear, bear.) Again I say I do not blame Russia at all for what she is doing; I should certainly do the same if I were a Russian. (Laughter.) What I found was this, that the Russians are ignoring the Customs altogether, that is to say. steamers cousigned to them go in and no Cus tour officials go on board, and they are ordered. not to interfere with them in any way whatever, and the Russians have nothing to do with the Customs. Then I found there is no Consul e there; the only person is a military officer, and of course, if referred to in cases of difficulty, he would say he was not a Consul. The whole country I went through was full of armed Cossaoks. There may be necessity for some. supervision over the Chinese to protect the railway and see that they do not run away with sleepers-certainly one would imagine rather inconvenient things (laughter) but I heard no remedy for what may occur in the future, should be full of armed Cossacks. At Port Day for I have been very kindly treated by every body. | Arthur I hear there have been some seventyi necount I have got an enormous amount of information. | guns mounted, and there is feverish anxiety to somie, perha;s, more or Iss centradictory | get the railway finished. I asked one of the | (laughter), but, on the whol, I believe I have Russiaus I met they were everywhere most got a long way towards getting into my mind kind and courteous to me—what was the inean-
the best methods for | reasonable suggestion why the whole country