April 22, 1899.)
psy duty on their salt; also that a house tax and other imposts will be levied. The wealthier people are not opposed to the British, but many of the poorer classes and all those concerned in the salt industry are. They say they know they are no match for the British, but that their existence is at stake and they must make a fight for it. Tungkun men have been engaged to help them, because the men of that district are the best fighters,
DISPERSING THE REBELS.
WALLED VILLAGES ASSAULTÉD.
PRISONERS BROUGHT TO
HONGKONG.
[SPECIAL REPORt from our own CORRESPONDENT.]
21st April. For the last two days the information published as to what has been transpiring at Taipohu and neighbourhood has been of the most meagre description, and with the object of learning how things were getting on I and a friend determined to visit the scene of the operations yesterday.
There being no other way convenient for reaching our destination, we crossed over by the ferry launch to Kowloon early in the morn. ing, and thence struck out via Yaumati to Kowloon city. Here we noticed that the bamboo fence which used to separate Chinese from British territory was being torn down, and that the Custom House building had been taken possession of by the police, Sergeant Wright and several Indian constables being
there.
After skirting the beach for a short distance we struck across some paddy fields and soon reached the rugged and at times steep path leading to the pass through the hills. Here we found some Indian police and several European soldiers. The messenger with despatches from Hongkong for the camp was also there await- ing the constable who was bringing up the despatches from Shatin and Taipohu for Hong. kong, the messengers exchanging packages at the pass. The path leading down to Shatin is quite as rough as that we had just ascended, but it is much pleasanter, being somewhat thickly lined with firs and other trees.
The Custom House Station at Shatin, like that at Kowloon city, is monopolised by the police, P. S. Ritchie, P. C. Smith, and several Indian constables being there. Shatin is some- what isolated, being practically an island, and consequently as there were signs of the enemy on the neighbouring hills the previous evening, the men lay down with their weapons of defence by their sides and naturally did not get much sleep, knowing that their position would not
be an enviable one should the rebels come their way. Deputy Superintendent Badeley and P. S. Ritchie had the honour of hoisting the British flag in front of the station on Monday evening.
We crossed over to Taipohn in the police pinnace, but in consequence of the shallowness of the water had to wade a considerable dis- tance before reaching dry land, or rather the beach, as there was not an inch of dry land to be seen, it having begun to rain in torrents. The Union Jack still adorned Flagstaff Hill, ́ón which several tents had been erected since Monday, and there were still tants at the foot of the hill. Col. The O'Gorman and his staff had gone several miles inland, where a military camp had been formed, from which parties set out to scour the country for rebels. At the base there were only a few men belonging to the naval brigade, the others having gone to assist at the front,” and a few Indians. Commander H. J. Davison, of the Humber, which, with the Pea- cock, lay in the offing, was in charge. The Humber got to Taipohu shortly after noon on Monday.
#
After the skirmish on Monday the two com- panies of the Hongkong Regiment, under Cap- tain Berger, the other European officer being Lieutenant Barrett, pushed on in pursuit of the rebels, who had fallen back over the ridge to a large valley leading to Pat-henng. Cap. tain Berger followed them to Wong-toi-shan and Pakngan-shek, where they made another stand, bat were driven back without much dificulty.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
From there Captain Berger followed them on to Pak-beung. He stayed for the night near here, but as it was pouring with rain all night his men did not get much rest.
of these had no doubt been impressed. Fou prisoners were brought in and these were sont to Hongkong on Wednesday, their queued hav. ing been previously cut off. : One of them in an old man of about 70 years of age (who says the rebels forced him to join them. When some of the men chaffed him by telling him that ha was going to be taken to Hongkong to have hla head cut off he coolly said "I 70 years old, and I no care." Several pieces of "cannor" wer captured, and extraordinary looking thinga they are. They will be an interesting addition to our local museum.
Captain Berger sent in an urgent request for reinforcements, which wore immediately des. patched. This left the camp with but a few men to guard it, and in consequence Colonel The O'Gorman signalled for the immediate assistance of the Naval Brigade, which was landed in about 20 minutes afterwards under the commander of Commander Davison, with Lieutenant H. E. Hillman, of the Humber; Lieutenant D. J. Snowdon, of the Peacock; Warrant Officers MoGill, Dawe, and John- Dr. R. T. A. Levinge and Dr. P. W. MacVean. The Naval Brigade pitched their tents on Flagstaff Hill. This was at about half-past five on Monday afternoon. There were then in camp seven men of the Hongkong Regiment and the Naval Brigade,the Europeans. which mustered about 96, so that a good defence
HOD;
was shown.
Colonel The O'Gorman specially wished that a convoy should be sent out the first thing with ammunition and provisions for the troops at the front, and it was arranged that the Naval Brigade should form that convoy, under the command of Lieutenant Hillman. At about half-past seven a party of some 200 men came in with Captain Berger, who said he had left 100 men encamped in a good position. A consultation, which the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart attended, took place, and it was decided that, after resting, the men should return to the front, Colonel The O'Gor Commander Davison to attend to the forward- man taking the command. The Colonel directed ing of ammunition and to keep open the line of communication as far as possible with the Naval Brigade.
consisted of 20 blue-jackets and 10 marines, with Warrant Officer Johnson, under the com- mand of Lieutenant Hillman. Twenty coolies, carrying a large quantity of ammunition and commissariat stores, eventually started for Pak- hueng camp, which was reached at 6.45 the following morning. Lieutenant Hillman had orders to return if not required, but Colonel The O'Gorman requested him to remain, and he and his men formed part of the attacking force which was to push on to the villages situ- ated in the southern portion of the Peninsula.
At about 12.30 the first escort was ready. It
In the meantime the rebels are still belig pursued, but their back being broken, some the troops are being sent back to the camp" Taipohu.
A great difficulty has been experiencă în getting hold of coolies, the villagers having boca threatened with death if they do anything for
The men at Taipohu and also those at the front had a rough time of it yesterday, as if rained heavily.
I was able to return to Hongkong in friendly launch.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
On the 13th April a meeting of the Hong- kong Legislative Council was held in the Council Chamber at the Government Offices, there being present:-
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR, (Sir Henry BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).
C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
His EXCELLENCY Major-General GASCOIGEN,
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK (Acting“ Attorney- General).
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master).
Hon. A M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Publis Works.)
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G. Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD, Hon. Dr. Ho KAI.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M,G, Hon. J. J. BELL-IRVING. Hon. Wer A YUK.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE (Clerk of Councils).. THE HON, E. R. BELILIOS GIVES NOȚION OF MOTION.
ing of 15 blue-jackets and five marines, under notice that at the next meeting of the Council
At noon on Tuesday another escort, consist-
The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-I beg to give Lieutenant Snowdon, reached the camp at Pak- heang with ammunition and stores, and joined I propose to ask a question to the effect as to the portion of the Naval Brigade which had whether or not the Government intend levying preceded him, so that the Naval Brigade at the customs duties on all commodities, exolusive of
opium, arriving in and leaving Hongkong.
front now consisted of two lieutenants, two war- rant officers, and 50 men. On Tuesday morning a further escort was sent out consisting of a non-commissioned officer and eight men of the Hongkong regiment.
In the meantime orders had been received from Major-General Gascoigne to push for ward. It had been proposed to remove the main camp from Taipohu to a place about two miles up the valley on a good ground for water, Taipohn Flagstaff camp to form a base for the supply of stores. Accordingly a large number of coolies and 10 blue-jackets, under Warrant Officer McGill, left with the tents, etc., which they erected in the evening, remain- ing there to guard the connecting line.
AS
*he
On Wednesday morning Commander Davison received a communcation from the Colonel asking that the Naval Brigade should return, was able to detach parties of his Own men to take charge of the respective points. The whole of the Naval Brigade were thus at liberty to go to the front. The police went to the front on Wed- nesday afternoon, and returned with Captain Superintendent May yesterday morning. In the afternoon Mr. May returned home by way of Shatin and the overland route.
In the meantime the troops had been closely following the rebels, driving them out of Pat-heung, Ma-on-kong, and other villages, the gates, which were closed against them, being unceremonionsly blown down. We are not able to give the number of rebels killed, but they suffered severely. Several dead bodies were found along the line of march, but as a rule the rebels took their dead with them. Some of the rebels wore no uniform, and many
SANITARY BYE-LAWS,
On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, seconded by the DIRECTOR OF PUBLIO WORKS, the following resolution was passed: "That this Council approves of the repeal by the Sanitary Board of the Bye-laws made by the Sanitary Board on the 11th day of April, 1895, under section 13, sub-section 14, of the Public Health Ordinance, 1887, and approved by the Legislative Council on the 23rd day of May, 1895, such repeal to take effect from the date on the 27th day of February, 1899, which the new Bye-laws in substitution for those now repealed were approved by the Legislative Council."
THE HON, E. R. BELILIOS'S QUESTIÓNS - The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS- beg to ask the questions standing in my name. In doing so I may mention that these questions were sent in to the Clerk of Councils on the 20th of last month in two batobes of five questions each. Those referring to the typhoon warnings were sent in consequence of a letter I received
His EXCELLENOY—I am afraid the Hon. member is not in order in making that explana- tion just now. When the questions have been answered, perhaps, if he may wish to make an explanation, the Council may have no objection. The questions of which the Hon. E. B. Belilios had given notice were the following
(1.) Has the Government received a copy of a letter from the Director of the Manila Ob servatory, dated the 7th March, in which he complains of a letter addressed by the Dir of the Hongkong Observatory to the Bureau of the Government of the Un of America, in which the said