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be in the rear to work in harmony with the ever-changing economic condition of the a active market. The third and last method proposed and e
energetically recommended by our contem- porary as the best course under the present circumstances, is to appoint a certain big and powerful merchant, or merchants, with ample experience in the foreign trade, who will get the monopoly of receiving consignments of Government camphor on commission, and let him do the best he can on the foreign markets | under the superintendence of the Formosa Government.
Though the journal believes that this last method will meet with much censure and attack from the outsiders, yet it urges the Government to peremptorily proceed with what is thought best without heeding them at all. In short, the Taiwan Nichi Nichi thinks that a great thing can only be effected by a firm salf-deter- mination, disregarding outside criticisms, and strongly urges the authorities to adopt its theory. Seeing the opinion expressed by the Government orgau, it is natural that some people have commenced to doubt if the method advocated by the journal is not the one to shortly be adopted by the Formosa Government.
A HORRIBLE MASSACRE:
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A horrible event is reported to have occurred on the 7th ultimo in the vicinity of Taiko town, central district. While 30 villagers were ou their way to Taiko, savages, about 60 in number, suddenly rose from an ambuscade and directed a terrible charge against the uuarmed villagers. Out of a party consisting of 30 persons, ouly one person was able to save his life, while 29 men and women were cruelly massacred, every head being triumphantly carried off by the Bavage assailants. The sad news brought to the village by the terrified survivor and has since been creating a tremendous sensation among the Japanese as well as the natives. Strangely enough, the cause of the massacre is alleged to be a dispute between savage tribes regarding a love affair. A girl of a certain tribe got pregnaut by an unknown person and lately died on account of difficult parturition. As to the identity of the adulterer, suspicion has fallen ou a man of a neighbouring tribe, who consequently was greatly resented. and the alleged violated tribe demanded com- pensation from him. But he, postively denying his identity, peremptorily refused to make any compensation. The rupture of the conference was an appeal to the coveted headhunting by the tribe, as the only other way to prove their righteousness to their ancestors, by the success of the horrible expedition. It is said that wheu a Chinese interpreter paid a visit to the tribe to ascertain if they were not the harbetrators of the wicked crime, they were just indulging in a debaucherous feast. with the newly-hunted human heads arrayed side by side on a board. Up to date, however, we are unable to ascertain how the authorities will deal with the savage criminals.
CANTON NOTES.
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[FROM THE "CHUNG NGOI SAN PO."] On the 19th instant about thirty gentry be longing to the Kowloon New Territory pre sented a petition to the Governor of Canton, Luk Chuen-lim, when His Excellency was passing along a street, asking him to consult with the Hongkong Government and to request them not to lory so heavy a tax on land and houses, as it was rumoured that heavy taxes modelled upon those of Hongkong were about to be established. The Governor gave them back the petition saying that it was not within his power to interfere with the affairs of the Hongkong Government, and telling them to go and ask the mercy of the authorities of Hong. kong. On the 24th instant the same petition was presented to the Viceroy by the same party of gentry, but the Viceroy also declined to accept it.
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The heavy rain experienced in Canton lately is quite sufficient for the planting of the new crops. On the 20th and 21st instant rain fell iu, torrents in the distriots of Nambung aud Yingtak, causing the river to overflow its banks, which caused the destruction of all the tobacco trees on the neighbouring fields,
The new Tartar General held a general in- speation of the soldiers on the parade
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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ground on the 26th and 27th instant. His Excellency will inspect all the city walls on the 2nd May,
The Canton Government are going to send two officers named Wong Mo-to aud To Tsai-fon to visit all the countries in Europe for the pur- pose of studying their customs, ways of govern ing, and commerca, Twenty thousand taels will be paid to them for their expenses.
It is reported that a junk heavily laden with passengers. mostly women and children, foundered some days ago. The junk belonged to the village of Un Long in the Kowloon Now Territory and hor passengers were peaceful and rich inhabitants of the village in question. They wished to remove to some place of safety on ac- count of the recent trouble.
HONGKONG.
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[April 29, 1899.
It is notified in the Gazette that Police Ser- geant A. C. Langley has been appointed an Inspector of Nuisances.
The death rate last month was, for the British and Foreign community, civil population, 12,1, and for the Chinese community, 18.3.
On 27th April Tuspector Moffat returned from Shanghai bringing with him the man Hopkins, who was arrested at Shanghai on a charge of larceny of $1,000 at Hongkong.
It is notified in the Gazette that His Honour W. M. Goodman has been elected a member of the Church Body during the current year vioe His Honour Sir John W. Carrington, C.M.G., absent on leave.
It is notified in the Gazette that H.E., the Governor has been pleased to recognise, pro- cisionally and pending the arrival of the Queen's exequatur, Cavelieri Zanoni Volpicelli as Con- sul for Italy at Hongkong.
The return of the number of cases of com-
Museum last week, of whom 175 were Europeaus.deaths; enteric fever, 1 case; puerperal fever, 1 There were 1.615 visitors to the City Hall municable diseases notified as occurring last week is as follows:-Bubonio plague, 31 cases, 31 The appointment of Spencer Alwyne Olliver to be Acting Assistant Harbour Master is gazetted.
Mr. J. J. Keswick, of Messrs. Jardino, Matheson & Co., arrived by the French mail steamer Indus.
caso; smallp x, 5 cases, 2 deaths,
Mr. Granville Sharp left for the North on 27th⠀⠀ April by the Empress of India. After visiting Weihaiwej he will proceed to Japan and go on by the next Empress to Canada, where he will spend the summer, returning to Hongkong about October.
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A new time-table will come into force on the Peak tramway on the 1st May, ten extra cars being run on week days and foar on Sundays, the service being made practically a continuous Samshuipo were charged with gambling, at the At the Magistracy on 27th April six men from
one from the time the cars start running in the instauce of Inspector MacDonald. The two morning until they cease at night. It is antici-keepers of the honse were each fined $25 and pated that this increase of service will more the remainder 50 cents each. For street gam. than suffice to meet the requirements of the bling one man was fined $5 and another $1. travelling public for several years to come, but in any event, we are informed, the present Com. pany could, by increasing its capital, double the line on the north side, which would enable it to run cars every five minutes. We are inclined to think the traffic will increase more rapidly
than the management appears to anticipate, and that it would be good policy to proceed with the duplication of the line forthwith.
Cheng -San, of 3, Moon Street, who was charged with obtaining a dozen tins of cocos, viined at $19-2), from the Kwon 【 On Shop, with intent to defraud, on the 23rd inst,, told Mr. April that he was not guilty. The offender Sercombe Smith at the Magistracy on the 26th
wust have been a mau something like him. The nspector knew he was the
rong man. Mr. Smith : Well, until the right man is found you will have to go to gaol for four months with hard labour.
At the Magistracy on 22nd April Mr. T. Ser combe Smith gare a Chinese pawnbroker a lecturing for not making proper enquiries as to articles brought to him for pledging. A
T. travelling clock belonging to a European at the Government Civil Hospital had been fonud in bis shop, and as it had been stolen the police took possession of it.
He told Mr. Smith that
a Chiuaman brought it and said that it belonged to a European doctor who wished to pledge it. aud accordingly be accepted it and advanced -5. Mr. Smith told him that he considered he did not make proper enquiries, and therefore he should order hi to deliver it up without receiving any money for it. There was doctor in the place who wanted to pawu any. thing. The clock was accordingly handed over
to the owner.
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The ninth annual Convocation of the District Grand Chapter of Hongkong and South China was hold on the 26th April M.E. Comp. E. C. Ray, District Second Grand Principal, presiding, in the absence of the District Grand Superintendent, M.E. Comp. the Hon. C. P. Chater, C.M.G. The following officers for the ensuing year were appointed and invested :-D, G. Third Grand Principal, M.E. Comp. Wil
liam Baker; D. Grand Scribe E., M.E. Comp. A. O'D. Gourdin; D. Grand Scribe N., M.E. Comp. G. J. W. King; D. Grand Pre- sident Committee of General Purposes, M.E. Comp. G. C. Anderson; D. Grand Treasurer, M.E. Comp. J. Bryant; D. Graud Registrar. M.E. Comp. G. L. Tomliu; D. Grand Principal Sojourner, M.E. Comp. F. S. Smith; D. Graud First Assist. Sojourner, M.E. Comp. S. J. Han- isch; D. Grand Second Assist. Sojourner, M.E. Comp. C. S. Powell; D. Grand Sword Bearer, M.E. Comp. D. Macdonald; D. Grand Standard Bearers, M.E. Comp. R. Mitchell, M.E. Comp. H. A. E. Hoile, M.E. Comp. T. F. Hongh, and M.E. Comp. C. J. Lafreutz; D. Grand Director of Ceremonies, E. Comp. G. J. B. Sayer; D. Graud Deputy Dir. of Cer., E. Comp. A. Shel- ton Hooper, D. Graud Assistant Dir. of Cer., E. Comp. J. Bremner; D. Grand Organist, Comp. A. G. Ward; D. Grand Jauitor, Comp. J. R. Grimble. M.E. Comp. G. A. Caldwell and M.E. Comp. W. C. H. Hastings were elected District unofficial members of the Committee of Getieral Purposes.
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At the Magistracy on
a Chinese constable Sercombe Smith gay 26th April Mr. a lecture for not standing at attention when in Court. The constable, who is somewhat stout,
had got into the witness-box to give evidence This roused the ire of Mr. Smith, who told in a case and began to loll against the rail.
him he had frequently noticed him in a similar attitude when in chargs of the dock. He warned him that if he ever saw him offending in a similar way again he should ask the Captain Superintendent to cease sending him into the
court.
Tho first batch of law-breakers from the new territory appeared before Mr. T. Sercombe
mith at the Magistracy 25th April. Ins- pector Hanson and a number of Chinese detectives visited Kowloon city on Saturday night and, entering a gambling house, there arrested ten men whom they found engaged in playing potze. They admitted the offence, but pleaded ignorance of the law. The two keepers of the house were fined $50 each, and the others Twenty-three men and boys were $2 each. also charged with gambling af Shamshuipo and fined.
At the Magistracy on the 25th April a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps informed Mr. T. Sercombe Smith that at about balf-past eight on Sunday night he was passing Wellington Barracks on his return from church when he received a poke in the back with a stick. On turning round he saw a weinber of the Asiatic Artillery with a stick in his hand, his assailant immediately after- wards striking him on the back with a stick and then falling down. Complainant called to an Indian constable-No. 660-and asked him to arrest the man, but this he refused to do, but made a peculiar noise with his mouth, wereupon the man ran away. Corporal Ward, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, stopped him, and a civilian insisted upon his being arrested and also upon the number of the Judiau constable being taken.⠀⠀ Defendant said he was in drink at the time, and did not remem- ber having seen complainant before. A fine of $10, or 14 days, was imposed.