Į
December 24, 1898.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
off. The burner used is cironlar in form, and | Mytho-Cantho, the two last named being the steam and oil meeting at the outlet, the iu Cochin China and running respectively latter is so, effectively sprayed or distributed east and west. In addition to the lines enu. that the resulting flames completely fill the merated, which are all in French territory, the furnace. The bunkers are specially stayed, and Lackay line is to be extended to Yunnan. For have been tested for oil tightness, but at the the five first named lines 200 million franes are same time are suitable for coal if required, the required, which sum it is proposed should be compartments intended to contain the liquid | guaranteed by Indo-China, and for the last fuel being separated from the stokehold by a named 70 millions, to bé guarauteed by France. space which may be filled with wuter ballast or This is the latest news to haud. Generally coal..
speaking the various projects are not well received by the public, and old residents especially express much doubt as to their utility.
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LADIES' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY,
The general meeting of the Ladies' Bene- The Saigon Mytho Railway, which is as yet volent Society was held in the City Hall on 19th the only line existing in Cochin-China, has not Dec. at noon. Mr. T. Jackson presided and proved at all a success, and it can contiune in there were present the Rev. R. F. Cobbold and the operation only through the Government pay. following members of the Ladies' Committee:- ing annually a heavy sum for the keeping Mre. Macgregor Forbes (Secretary), Mrs. Bell-in repair of the way. There is no goods Irving, Lady Carrington, Mrs. May, Miss traffic whatever on the line worth speaking of, Anderson, Mrs. Ritchie, Mrs. Master, Mrs. as in this country the staple article, rice, Hawkins, and Mrs. Hoare.
is always transported by water. Hence, the many doubts publicly expressed as to the ad. visability of entering upon large railway enterprises. The Goverument evidently has in view the ultimate linking up of all the proposed lines into a great trunk line from Saigon to Hanoi. Whether the money required will be forthcoming seems so far very uncertain. Most of the local papers violently oppose the schemes.
LATER.
Mr. JACKSON read the report aud said the balance carried forward was slightly better than at the conclusion of last year. As the port increased in size and importance, so would the necessitous cases increase. He did not know of any orgauisation so well suited to cope with the cases of distress as the Ladies' Be. nevolent Society, but he thought the list of subscriptions should total five times the amount collected. It was to be hoped the public would take the hint. He was very glad to say that H.E. Sir Henry Blake and Lady Blake bad consented to become members of the Society. In submitting the adoption of the report and accounts he might say that the community gen- erally were under a deep obligation to the Ladies' Committee of this Benevolent Society and he begged to propose a very hearty vote of thanks to those ladies.
Rer. R. F. COBBOLD-I most heartily second the proposition and most heartily endorse the words the Chairman has just spoken. The work of the Society has gone on in a very quiet way. and its very quietness has been its means of success. There is a very old maxim that we should not let our left hand know what the right hand doeth, and I think that principle bas been carried out with very good effect in the work of this Society. It does not do to be too loud in our works of charity. There is a certaiu class of people who pursue a calling of what I might call organized begging and who sometimes pretend that they are worse off than they are and by this means impose upon those people who are willing to give to charity. The only way to meet such organized begging is by organized relief, and that is exactly what this Society has done. It has organized its work and been able to meet the real necessitous cases. There has been a great amount of relief given, and some applications have been refused. I endorse the remarks of Mr. Jackson about the greater needs of the port, and think that the public should be re- quested to subscribe more liberally, a request which I consider a very reasonable one. I beg to second the adoption of the report.
Carried.
Mr. JACKSON proposed that the following
ladies be re-elected on the Ladies' Committee:- Mrs. Bell-Irving, Lady Carrington, Mrs. May. Miss Anderson, Mrs. Ritchie, Mrs. Master, Mrs. Hawkins, Mrs. Macgregor Forbes. and Mrs: Hoare.
Rev. R. F. COBBOLD seconded. Carried.
I must add that according to to-day's telegram the guarantee of the Government of France bas not been obtained even for the Yunnan live. How Mr. Doumer is going to raise the money with the guarantee of Indo-China only I fail to understand.
THE WORKING GF THE POST OFFICE.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, Mr. R. Chatterton Wilcox, Secretary of the
forwards for publication the following letter received from the Government in continuation of previous corresponder ce on the subject of the working of the Post Office :--
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 16th December, 1898. Sir,~ With reference to previous correspond- ence regarding the General Post Office, I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to acquaint you for the information of the Hong. kong General Chamber of Commerce that the Secretary of State was requested by His Excel. lency the Officer lately administering the of the Post Office in Great Britain to fill the Government to appoint an experienced officer
vacancy in the post of Assistant Postmaster- General occurring this month by the retirement on pension of Mr. G. Stafford Northcote, with
the Hongkong office. a view to securing efficiency in the working of
Under these orcumstances Sir Henry A. Blake does not see that any advantage will be gained by appointing a Committee of Inquiry and instructs me to state that in the meantime everything that can be done will be done to prevent the recurrence of such irregularities as have been the cause of complaint by your Chamber-I have the honour to be, sir, your
most obedient servant,
T. SERCOMBE SMITH, Acting Colonial Secretary.
R. Chatterton Wilcox, Esq., Secretary, Hong kong GeLeral Chamber of Commerce.
A hearty vote of thanks to the Ladies' Com. ThYING TO BRIBE AN INSPECTOR. mittes concluded the proceedings.
RAILWAYS IN IND •ÇÀ¡l`A,
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Saigon, 15th December.
The chief topic here of late has been the dif- ferent railway lines which our Governor-Gen eral, M. Doumer, proposes to construct and in connection with which he is now in Paris trying to raise 27 million francs by loan.
The railways projected are (1) Haiphong. Hanoi Laokay, (2) Hanoi-Namdinh-Vinh (both in Tonkin and running from Hanoi in a north-westerly and southerly direction res pectively), (3) Tourane-Hue-Quangtri (An- nam), (4) Saigon-Khanl.oa-Langbian, (5)
523
returned into his office and sat down at his desk. The first defendant followed him, and the asked the first defendant what he wanted, second defendant stood against the door, He and he replied,
"Let me
kill it." He again said no. The first defendant then
had given him a dollar said in Chinese that his master Yee Cheung with, and be asked the second defendant to buy drink
for it. The dollar was handed to the first defendant, who handed it to witness, who had them both arrested. The order from the Colonial Secretary was that when any animals were brought to the slaughterhouse and they looked sick they were not to be slaughtered until they had been inspected by the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon.
Other evidence having been given the defen- dants, who had nothing to say, were committed to take their trial at the sessions.
At the Magistracy op 19th Dec., before Com- mander Hastings, two Chinamen were charged with offering a bribe to Inspector Cotton, of the Animal Depot at Kennedytown. with a view to inducing him to allow a sheep which was sick to be admitted into the slaughter-house.
14
Tuk PERSEVERANCE LODVE.
INSTALLATION CEREMONY.
The annual meeting of the Perseverance Lodge of Hongkong (1165 E. C.) was held at the Freemasons Hall on Friday evening, 16th December, when Wor. Bro. A. Shelton Hooper was installed into the chair for the year 1899, The installation ceremony was performed in the most impressive manner by the R. W. D. G. Master, the Hon. C. P. Chater, C.M.G. There was a large attend nce of the local brethren and of visitors, including R. W. Brother Johnson, Past Grand Master of British Columbia ; and H. E. Brother General Wilsone Black, C. B., P. D. D. G. M. The following brethren were appointed by the Worshipful Master to take office in the Lodge during the ensning year Immediate Past Master
Junior Warden Senior Warden
Treasurer
Secretary
Senior Deacon
Junior Deacon Director of Ceremonies Organist Stewards Inner Guard
Tyler
Wor. Bro. F. W. Edwards.
Bro. F. W. Clark.
E. L. C. Berger.
19
J. W. Cumming.
J. Hooper.
A. H Botten-
heim.
A. G. Ward. L. S. Stansfeld.
Wor. Bro. W. Danby,
Bros. J. McKie & C. Birt. Bro. P. G. Anderson.
T
G. R. Grimble.
A cordial vote of thanks was passed and a Past Master's Jewel voted to Wor. Bro. T. J.
Hough, for his valuable services during the year as Acting Master of the Lodge, owing to the absence of Wor. Bro. F. W. Edwards in England.
The Worshipful Master having thanked the distinguished visitors for the at- tendance, R. W. Bro. Johnson responded by giving a very interesting address, in which he said that the Canadians were not only most loyal to the throne, but were also loyal masons, owning their allegiance to the D. G. Master, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, who was as popular among the Canadians as he was among the English and Scotsmen of the Dominion. R. W. Brother Wilsone Black, in responding to the remarks of welcoms from the newly-installed Master of the Lodge. gave a really eloquent address, dwelling upon the universality of Masonry throughout the world, and wherever the British flag was seen, Wherever he might be in the future, he would there they would find a lodge of Freemasonry.
always cherish most pleasant reminiscences of his stay in Hongkong, and the hearty welcome he had always received from all the Masons of the colony. A special telegram was received during the evening from Wor. Bro. F. W. Edwards and other friends in London, con- gratulating Wor. Bro. Hooper on his new appointment, and sending fraternal greetings to the Perseverance Lodge.
All the Brethren then adjourned to the Lower Inspector Cotton said that at noon on Satur- Hall, when an excellent banquet was spread, to day he was in the office at the Animal Depot at which ample justice was done. The hall was Kennedytown when the defendant came and beautifully decorated for the occasion, large asked. Will you allow me to kill a sheep "special masonic devices in electric lamps being Witness asked where the sheep was, and the de-arranged in a most skilful and artistic manner, fendant replied that it was down at the wharf. He told them to bring it up and he would inspect The tables were also laid out in an exceedingly and hung from the ceiling of the dining hall. it, and in about a minute they returned carrying pleasing style, with valuable and handsome the sheep, which had its legs tied. He saw that racing cups, coloured silk and flowers, the sheep was suffering from diarrhoea, and he said he could not allow it to come in. He then
•
toasts were duly honoured, some of the speeches After the supper was over, the usual Masonfo
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