514
ARMED ROBBERÝ AT:
WONGKOKBUI.
At the Magistracy on Saturday four men were charged with entering a house at Wong: koksui, between Shaukiwan and Quarry Bay, at two o'clook on the morning of the 9th inst. and stealing clothing to the value of $150. They were armed with knives and revolvers and threatened to kill the inmates if they interfered with them. On Friday night eight men aus. pected of having been concerned in the robbery were arrested by Inspector Cuthbert. Two were identified by the occupants of the house, and two were found to have some of the clothing in their possession. The other four were allowed to go. Defendants were committed for trial.
ANOTHER JUNK ROBBERY NEAR A CHEW ISLAND.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE OMARGES AGAINST A BANK SHROFF.
Another junk robbery has taken place near A Chew Island, and one the depredators was brought before Mr. T. Sercombe Smith at the Magistracy on Saturday morning. After the occurrence the master of the junk made his way to Tai-ho (Lantau Island), which is some 15 miles from the scene of the robbery, and re- ported the matter to Inspector MoHardie. The Inspector forthwith set out with him in the police pinnace for A Chew Island, and on arriving there they saw a man running over. the hills. He was captured, and identified by complainant as one of his assailants.
His Worship (to defendant)-Did you go on board this junk at A. Chew Island ?
Defendant-Yes, sir, my master told me to go there to get fish.
His Worship-You went on board and took the fish, did you?
Defendant Yes,
His Worship Did you pay for it? Defendant-My master told me to go on board and take the fish and he would pay for it. Complainant said he was the master of the licensed junk number 2,198. On the 15th inst. he was at A Chew Island. Two women were with him. He had three piculs and 18 catties of salt fish with him. He was at anchor at the time on account of the wind. At about 5 p.m. a big sampan containing four men came alongside the junk. Two of them, including defendant, came on board and removed his fish, which he valued at $82, on to the sampan. They had no weapons with them. He went and asked the men's master for payment the next morning, but he refused to give him anything, and then he reported the matter to the police.
His Worship-Did you allow these men to take this fish away thinking you would be paid for it?
Complainant-They took the fish away with. out saying a word.
His Worship Did you try to stop them? Complainant-I did not. Defendant said his master offered payment to complainant, who refused the money, saying that he wanted the fish back. Defendant added,
'I am not guilty, it was my master."
His Worship sentenced defendant to six months' imprisonment with hard labour.
AN AMELICAN BLUE-JACKET FOUND DEAD.
At about five o'clock on the morning of the 16th
Junea European constable was on duty in Staveley street when he saw the naked body of a white man lying just off the footpath. There were two wounds on the forehead and two streams of congealed blood for some distance from the body; The body was conveyed to the mortuary and enquiries were at once instituted. It was dis- covered that the body was that of an American blue-jacket from the Concord named Macpher son, aged about 25. An examination of the spot where it was found led to the conclusion that the deceased had been in one of the houses in the neighbourhood and when in a state of frenzy had run out and fallen, striking his fore head against the knobs of a sewer cover. The
police were unable, however, to find out in which
house he had been during the evening.
At the Magistracy on Tuesday Young Cheung Un, alias Young Kwan, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for stealing a bank book the property of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, and was committed for trial on the charge of making false entries in a bank pass book with intent to defraud.
THE PLAGUE.
The epidemic this time last yearwas rapidly diminishing, but this year it unfortunately seems more persistent. The following table gives the numbers of cases and deaths in the corresponding weeks of the two years:-
1899 Cases. Deaths. 1898 Cases. Deaths,
7 April 2
45 40 106 87 97 92 127 109 119 114 164 133
April 1
8
16 16
9
15
10
4
16
"J'
J1
22-
31 31
23
11
"1
29
28 34
30
13
"
May 6
64 55
May 7
13
89: 69
14
179 157
H
20
87 70
21
112 · 107
1.
27
143 134
28
63
61
19
June 3
92 97
June 4
68
63
10
11
20
"+
11
97 191 17 109 117
18 15 12 The returns for the present week are Sunday, 30 cases 27 deaths Monday. 2 cases 21 deaths Tuesday, 21 cases 21 deaths; Wednesday, 22 cases 21 deaths; Thursday, 13 cases 14 deaths. Friday, 23 cases 18 deants.
THE CONGKONG RIFLE ASSOCIATION.
90
LONG RANGE CUP AND SPOONS,-17TH JUNE, 700. 800. H'cap. Total. Corpl. Hills, R.E. * Mr. A. H. Skelton * Mr. W. Toller Mr. A. Watson
*
45
45
48
42
90
** 44
40
88
42
43
85
42
39
31
12
36
Sapper Clarke, R.E.
C.S.M. Wallace, R.E. 43 Corpl. Jenner, R.E. 39 Ar. Sgt. Blair, A.O.D. 45
Corp. Hills, R.E., Winner of the Cup.
* Winner of Spoons.
16 Entries.
CORRESPONDENCE.
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by our correspondents. ]
THE HAINAN LEKIN FARM.
31
(June 24, 1899.
stacles were placed in the way of European importers, whether in their sales for local consumption or in their forwarding the oil to the interior markets, nor even when they sent it to the mainland on the other side of the Strait under transit pass; the native purchasers were no longer bullied, and the whole business was carried on smoothly, to the satisfaction of every... body concerned.
On the first day of the fourth moon of this year the Lekin Collectorate passed into the hands of a new syndicate, at the head of which It is generally known that there is British sub- jest under an assumed name who holds five of the ten shares. This is sbandalous, and the British Consul should leave no stone unturned in order to bring him to task. No notice of the change of the Collectorate has been given to the public, which was taken by surprise when the under. lings of the new farmers went round to take stock of goods already imported, on which no more lekin was to be imposed. It was only then that people knew of the change, and they were astonished to find that thenceforward they would have to pay the exorbitant tax of twenty cents lekin on each case of kerosine oil! You may well imagine how great a hardship is thus imposed on the consumers.
Herewith enclosed I beg to forward to you a copy of the contract entered into between the Taotai and the new syndicate and a copy of the notice posted up at the office of the Collectorate. at the door of which are hung up the nsual two boards giving official character to the ill-gal business. In these documents you will observe that in many places Europeans are aimed at.
The natives are now threatened that should they purchase kerosine from Europeans and convey it under transit pass to the interior they will have to pay lekin all the same at the ter minus up to which the oil is covered by the pass, or if the oil or any portion of it be dia. posed of on the way the same lekin will have to be paid, under penalty of imprisonment and confiscation of their goods. In this way the transit pass becomes worse than useless not- withstanding the extra half-duty of 24 per cent. ad valorem paid to the Customs; it would be safer for the natives to submit to the lokin at the collectors' shop before starting for the interior than to do so on the spot where it becomes liable and where the collectors are probably a set of cruel squeezers who, under threat of confiscation and imprisonment, would no doubt exact much heavier payments.
Another evil consequence of the new lekin is the following The importation of kerosine for the second quarter (April-June) last year was 167,360 gallons, or 16,736 cases, or 5,578 cases per month. During the 30 days of the fourth moon this year, the first month of the operation of the new farmers (10th May to 8th June) the importation was-
May 11, per Triumph, 200 cases
Hating, 700 Hongkong, 150
Hailan, 700
14, 17,
"
11
"
"
Hanoi,
19
June
19
200
Hoihao, 150 Hongkong, 100
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “ DAILY PRESS,'
Sir,-With reference to the proclamation issued by the head Lekin Office of the Kwang- tang Province which appeared in your issue of the 26th May last, please allow me space in in your columna to ventilate the grievance to which merchants at this port (Hoihow) are sub- jected in regard to trade in kerosine oil. For many years past the Lekin Collectorate has
Total 2,200 cases been farmed to five guilds formed of the prin- showing a falling off of 3,378 cases, on which oipal native merchants of five districts, called the steamers running on this line lost in freight, the Kwan, Nam, Chew, Ko, and Fokien, repre- at the rate of twelve cents per case, $105.36, and senting Canton, Hainan, Chinchew, Kochow, the Customs are prejudiced in their revenue to and Fokien respectively. These merchants
the extent of 8391.84 duty. I may just as well have all along imported kerosine oil to supply mention that these losses will be the smallest, the market, charging themselves three (3) cents for the month under review comes within the per case to raise funds to pay $7,50 ) per annum taxes on kerosine, cotton, and botton yarn, the Report). In 189360 amp pl Jane, 16,736, to the Taotai for the privilege of collecting slackest quarter of the year (vide Customs Trade balance of the taxes thus collected, after pay-July-Sept., 24,225; Out.-Dec., 3),259 cases.
March quarter 23,369 cases; Apl.-June, ing the Taotai, reverting to their own pockets. The public was thus overcharged three cents only per case for their oil and did not grudge it The contract between the Taotai and the farmers was for six years, renewable for a simi. lar term, the last term ending with the third moon of the present year.
tered the field as importers of the oil. Upon Since February, 1897, Europeans have en- the first sales being effected the monopolists tried to enforos lekin on native purchasers of the oil thus imported, but the French Consul at once made representations to the Tsotai and the impudent pretentions of the monopolists were put a stop to. After that no more ob
demand has been supplied, since the importation The question suggests itself as to how the usual has been reduced to less than the usual
the Customs do not keep cruisers around the Taland to prevent clandestine trade at the
the Government any stations at those places. numerous spots where junks can safely load and discharge their merchandise, much less have By importing the oil by junks and landing it at those spots the article pays less freight, no Customs duty, nor the obnoxions lekin. - Of course trade by fanks is more ris y than by steamers, but the enormons difference in the
quantity? The explanation was simple:
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