THE JAPANESE IN FUHKIEN,
*
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Recently a sketchy rumour reached Tokyo to the effect that Japanese subjects had been roughly handled by Chinese in Ching-chiu. Details are now published. Since Japan ob. tained from China promise that the province of Fuhkien should not be alienated, the Fuhkien- ese, it is said, have become persuaded that their destiny is to pass under Japanese rule, and they accordingly devote themselves assiduously to currying favour with the Japanese. The effect of this new disposition has been mani- fested strongly in the domain of religious propagandism, The Buddhist of Hongwanji have representatives in Fahkien who are ao- tively engaged in the work of proselytizing, Of late that is to say, since the non-alienation engagement-marked success has attended the efforts of the propagandists. They have now a thousand converts in Amoy, eight hundred in Chiong-chiu and six hundred in Tswanchiu. On the 20th of January, two Japanese engineers who had been engaged surveying the new set- tlement in Amoy paid a sight-seeing visit to Chiong-chin, and were shown round by their countryman, the Buddhist priest. While pass- ing through one of the streets, they were set upon by a number of native Roman Catholics, dragged from their palanquins, hauled off to the Roman Catholic Church, and treated with great indignity in the presence of a Spanish padre. The engineers shook the dust of Chiong-chiu off their feet as speedily as possible, but the Buddhist priest insisted on remaining, despite the argentadvice of the Japanese Consul in Amoy. Finally the Consul sent his constable to compel the withdrawal of the priest. Bat after the latter had retired to Amoy his former pari- shioners made constant applications for his re- turn, and finally he went back to Chiong-chiu, the Consul having obtained an engagement from the local authorities of that place that they would protect him. Such is the story told by Tokyo newspapers. It is the first example of Japanese religionists encountering difficul- ties which are only too familiar to Western pro- pagandists. Japan Mail.
PRESENTATION TO MR. E. F. ALFORD.
In view of his departure from Shanghai, the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, on the 7th April, convened a special meeting for the purpose of presenting Mr. E. F. Alford, the ex-Chairman of the Chamber, with an Address as a mark of the Chamber's apprecia- tion of his services. The proceedings took place at the Offices of the Chamber, Kiukiang Road. Mr. W. D. Little presided, and amongst those present were Messrs. Wade Gard'ner, J. Chapsal, A. Korff, J. C. Bois, C. Brodersen, J. H. MoMichael, A. Werth (Committee), F. J. Maitland, C. J. Dudgeon, E. Davies, J. F. Seaman, D. M. Moses, S. A. Hardoon,
[April 22, 1899.
front of general efforts, aimed at safeguarding | FRENCH AND BRITISH INTEREST commercial interests, not only in Shanghai but throughout all China.
AT FOOCHOW.
"The radical changes which, during the past three years have taken place in China have made your period of office one requiring excep tional vigilance for the protection of foreign trade in this Empire.
“The thoroughness of your work in keeping watch upon events in their relation to trading interests it is especially desired to recognise, in the further development of the present complex vices as co-adjutor is felt by all of us as one situation, the loss of your able and valuable ser- which it will be hard to replace."
voyage home. In our hearty wishes for your We trust, Sir, that you will have a pleasant happiness and prosperity in the future, we desire to include Mrs. Alford and your family. I fear our words have not adequately expressed our feeling towards you, but I assure you that our wishes are sincere. (Applause.)
Mr. Alford in reply said-Mr. Little, and gentlemen, I do not known how to express my appreciation of the honour you have done me, or my thanks for the kind words you have uttered and the souvenir which I understand you are kind enough to present to my wife and myself. When three years ago I was asked to undertake the Chairmanship of this Chamber I did so with much reluctance, because I doubted my own fitness for the office, but I may say I was reassured on that point by the confidence shown me by the Committee. I think it is to that confidence and assistance, given me both by the Vice-Chairman and the other members, that the usefulness of the Chamber has been increased, and I hope maintained, rather than from any personal efforts of my own. That there have been periods entailing a sacrifice of time and of labour is, of course, undeniable, but when work is a pleasure to the worker it almost becomes a pastime, and I think the thanks are more due to those who gave me the opportunity of occupying the position rather than to me for the manner in which I have occupied it. I do not know how to thank you, for I feel naturally what is probably the termination of my career in Shanghai, as I think it is unlikely, except ander very exceptional circumstances, I shall return. I feel it very difficult to express my. self at the severance of the ties of friendship and association which have lasted with me for over thirty-one years. It was in 1867 that I first came out to Chins and was employed by the firm with which it has been my good fortune to remain and become a partner. Thirty-two years is a long time to look back upon, and think of the difficulties and, perhaps, one of the first difficulties I recollect was being called into the private office by the senior in Hongkong and told that my handwriting was good enough for a servant, but I was not paid to spoil the books. (Laughter.) With the aid of a broad pen, how. ever, I overcame the caligraphic difficulty, and
The Avenir du Tonkin has an article on the Foochow Arsenal, in commencing which it says: "We believe we are correct in saying that Lord Charles Beresford made strong representations to the Peking Government that the management of the Foochow Arsenal should be taken away from the French and given to the English. The following was the plan concocted with Sir Claude MacDonald: An inquiry into the new French management of the Arsenal was to be demanded by the Empress, An unfavourable report would be made. The Arsenal would then be temporarily replaced in the hands of Chinese engineers, and afterwards given definitely to the English, who would undertake to construct for the Chinese Govern- George ment a complete fleet. The "cavalry of St. would then play its customary part. We would be evicted from Fooohow, in virtue of the programme Lord Beresford was com- missioned to apply when visiting all the coast defences of China. The English wish to take charge of all these defences, including the Foo ohow Arsenal." Our contemporary then goes on to refer to the organisation and resources of the Arsenal, and concludes as follows:-"]
-"Having like to derive the sole benefit. been reorganised by the French, England would It is the vobis, But по
11
eternal Bic 008 non
hope that the French Government will pro- toot the work of our nationals. The Fooohow Arsenal is a French glory which onght to remain French while rendering great services to China. If our Fokien establishment is endangered, we will be driven out of the province, and from Shanghai to Canton the English will no longer encounter any obstacle. The intrigues which are going on about Foo- chow are graver than is generally supposed. It is not a question of whether a factory shall work or shall not work; it is the irresistible influence exercised upon the Chinese mind by the order, the clearness of conception, and the honesty of the French engineers that is st stake. One cannot but hope that this influence may contiune to be exercised. An attempt is being made everywhere to substitute English influence. Shall we permit it p"
HONGKONG,
There were 2.303 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 222 were Europeans.
Medical inspection of vessels arriving at Shang- hai from Hongkong is enforced at Tsung-pao-sha Island, outside Woosung, from the 22nd inst.
The maximum temperature last month was 80.1, on the 30th, and the mimimum 52.8, ou the 31st, the mean for the whole month being 64.9, The rainfall amounted to 0.815 in.
It is notified in the Gazette that Surgeria. Captain F. O. Stedman, Hongkong Volunteer Corps, has been granted twelve months' love of absence with effect from the 1st May.
H.M.S. Alacrity with Admiral Seymour on
H. R. Hearn, Komura, J. Henningsen. I have got over many other difficulties. But I board arrived at Shanghai on the 7th April. -
R. Inglis, R. W. Little, C. 8. Addis, Vander Stegen, J. L. Scott, J. W. Harding, E B. Skottowe, W. S. Jackson, J. S. Fearon, M. Rohde, C. M. Dyce, G. A. Matthews, Max Adler, and Drummond Hay (Secretary).
The Chairman said-Gentlemen, we are met here to-day to say good-bye to one who has been our Chairman for the past three years. Mr. Alford, it was our intention to present you with an item of Chinese manufacture, that might serve to remind you of Shanghai and the members of the Chamber of Commerce, This souvenir is not yet ready. It was further
Intended that the Address-which we are about to offer you should have been suitably got up and signed by the members. Time has not permitted, but I hope to have the pleasure of forwarding it to you shortly. Meantime, with your permission, I will read it :--
"On the occasion of your going home, the members of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce desire to express appreciation of services rendered during three years of your occupancy of the onerous post of Chairman.
"During your term of office the power and influence of the Chamber, representative as it
of the
e cosmopolitan nature of this Settle- ment, has been maintained and strengthened, and it is largely by your hard work and zeal
She left Hongkong on the 23rd ul, calling at the Formosa ports, Wenohow, and Chiuhai en
route.
Governor has been pleased to appoint Captain It is notified in the Gazette that H.E. the
E. D. Sanders, Hongkong Volunteer Corps, to be Honorary Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency with effect from the 9th inst.
did not come here to mention personal matters of that kind, and I will take the opportunity to again urge upon the Chamber, as I wrote in the memorandum to the Committee, the desirability of continued support and adhesion to the one body which represents the interests of all nations. It has been a pleasure to me to work fellow-countrymen, but composed of men who I on this Committee not only composed of my
The number of cases of communicable disease think have become my personal friends of Am-notified as occurring in the colony last week erican, French, German, and Russian nation-
was as follows:-Bubonic plague, 10 csses, ality, and I can look back with satisfaction deaths; enteric fever, 1 case (at the Peak); on the fact that in all our relations during puerperal fever, 1 case; smallpox, 4 cases. the past three years there has never been one word or one thought which was distasteful or painful to any one of those nationalities. Gentlemen, I really do not know what I can say more than that I thank you from the bot tom of my heart. I appreciate grealty the honour and compliment yon have paid me, and I can only trust that the future of the Chamber all interests and all nations. Gentlemen, I will continue to be as useful and satisfactory to again thank you. (Applause)-N. G. Daily
News.
A Fazette Extraordinary was issued on 19th April notifying the Governor's assent, given in the name and on behalf of the Queen, to the Hongkong Extension Exemption Ordinance, the Local Communities and Tribunals Ordinance, and the New Territories Regulation Ordinance, passed at the meeting of the Legislative Council
on the 18th. ·
Mr. W. H. T. Davis, Manager of the Hong- kong branch of the Straits Insurance Co., Limited, informs us that he has received from the head office, Singapore, a telegram giving the following results of last year's working :---- Net premiums $650,000, het losses $260,000, commissions $20,000, expenses $190,000, net H.M.S Woodcock left Hankow for Ichang on amount of marine losses paid on account of 1897
that the Chamber cccupies a place in the fore. ~ the 10th inst,
and previous years $516,000, interest $28,000,