July 15, 1899
SUPREME COURT.
7th July.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
The Viceroy, in a letter dated December 16th, demurred to this, contending that the area of exemption from likiu was confined to the foreign concessions at the different ports-in the case of Canton to Shameen-and requesting that Messrs. Banker and Co., should be forthwith GOOD-directed to close their shop "so that complications
may be avoided.”
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION. Before His Honour W. MEIGH
MAN (ACTING Chief Justice)
CLAIM- FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT.
Consul Mansfield, however, having received his instructions, was determined to act upon them to the letter, and informed His Excellency Messrs. Harling, Buschmann, and Menzell that any attempt to levy likin on Messrs. Ban claimed from the Societé Nouvelle de Kebap theker's goods or to interfere with their business sum of $15,641,99 and interest in respect of a
would oblige him to institute olaims against charter party of the steamship Prosper.
any Chinese official who might make such an Mr. Slade (instructed by Mr. Gedge) appeared attempt. At the same time the Consul wrote for plaintiffs.
Messrs Banker to the effect that they were at liberty to open their business as soon as they pleased.
established, for Messrs. Banker and Co. have not been interfered with since and their business in the Young On, where the piece goods shops are situated, has become considerable. Three German firms have since opened shops in Can- ton for the sale of piece goods, and two or three American firms engaged in the flour trade have also established themselves in the city.
Mr. Slade explained that the writ had been duly served on defendants, and as they did not put in an appearance in the court an order was There is some further correspondence on the made to proceed ex parte. Mr. Slade then pro-
same subject, but the right of foreigners to ceeded to read the petition, from which it ap-open business premises in Capton seems to be peared that defendants carried on business as miners and sellers of coal in Tonkin, in the French colony of Indo-China. By: a time charter party dated 4th April, 1898, plaintiff chartered the steamship Prosper to defendants for 10 calender months from the 12th April, 1898 and defendants agreed to pay plain tiffs as charter money for the use and hire of the said steamship the sum of $6,250 Hong- kong currency per calender month, payable in Hongkong, half monthly in advance.
De- fendants in breach of the said charter party failed to pay the charter money due and owing to plaintiffs for the use and hire of the said steamship from the 27th September, 1898, to Feb. 12th, 1899, whereby plaintiffs had suffered damage to the amount of $15,641.99. Plaintiffs therefore prayed for defendants to be ordered to pay the sum of $15,641.99, together with $238.45 as interest at the rate of 8 per cent. per annum on the sum due, and also the costs
of the suit.
Mr. C. A. Tomes, of the firm of Messrs. Shewan, Tomes and Co., said his fim were formely the agents for the Society. He believed his firm had sent down a general statement of expenses to the Societé, which Le believed had gone into liquidation.
Further evidence having been given the order asked for was made.
THE OPENING OF CANTON,
FOREIGN BUSINESS FIRMS ESTABLISHED
IN THE CITY.
One of the most interesting chapters in Lord Charles Beresford's book "The Break-up of China" is that dealing with Canton, in which appears certain correspondence as to the open- ing of a shop in the city for the sale of piece goods by Messrs. Banker and Co., of Hong. kong.
In a letter dated August 10th, 1898, to Mr. R.W. Mansfield, H. M. Consul at Canton, Sir Clande MacDonald, H.B.M. Minister at Peking,
wrote:-
It is scarecely necessary for me to inform you in reply to your despatch No. 24 of June 21st, that Messrs. Ban er and Co. are clearly entitled under treaty to establish a shop in the city of Canton, and in carrying on the businessf such a shop to exemption from all duties and exactions that are not authorised by treaty. As foreign goods imported into Can- ton are free, so long as they remain within the limits of the port, from all taxation except the tariff duty, Messrs. Banker and Co. should re- sist any attempt on the part of the Chinese au- thorities to levy likin on such goods within the Chinese city If likin is levied in contravention of the treaty, or if Messrs. Banker and Co.'s business is interfored with, it will become your duty to give them every lawful assistance and to exercise the utmost vigilance in defence of treaty privileges,"
On receipt of this letter Mr. Mansfield wrote the Viceroy asking His Excellency to "issue instructions to your subordinates that the goods of Messrs. Banker and Co. are not to be in any way molested on their way from the steamer wharves to their city shop; nor can any duty beyond the Customs import duty be levied on these goods so long as they are in the port or city of Canton, whether while in the hands of Banker and Co., or of those who purchase goods
of them.
INDEPENDENCE DAY IN MANILA GENERAL celebration tTHROUGHOUT The
CITY.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.].
Manila, 5th July.
:
It would be rather odd if some of these phrases were found in Aguinaldo's next pro clamations; but that has nothing to do with the Fourth in Manila.
Hon. O. F. Williams, ex.-U.S. Consul, de livered a timely address, rendered in his usual eloquent manner, and was honestly applauded by foreigners and Americans alike.
EXERCISES ON THE LUNETAS At noon the guns of the 1st U.S. Artiller lined up on the Luneta driveway and out the salute to the Union, quickly followed by the gaily dressed warships in the harbour. A Spanish gauboat anchored off the breakwater was covered with flags from stem to stern, and received many a hearty round of cheers as the ferries passed her.
At four o'clock the drive was a mass of moving colour rendered so by the hundreds of carriages through which the three or four hundred school children had considerable dif- fioulty in making their way. Several bands played patriotic airs, but the music of the native musicians was most appreciated. It was attempted to have the school children sing but the voices weakened and the bands thundered America, My Country, 'tis of Thee," and so on,
out, drowning all possible song and hiding the deficiency.
44
It was a peculiar scene, unusual and odd in many ways. Here were numbers of native drilled in American songs, while perhaps half children, carrying American flags and being
of their brothers and fathers are out on the lines potting away at the American defences,
the evening, at which the English and Spanish Many receptions and balls were given during
families were largely represented.
Fortunately the Filipinos appropiated the day“ and very considerately made no attacks to dis- turb the general peace. Beyond a few hilarious soldiers who found great fun in shooting their revolvers through the roofs of the earromatos, and in one or two instances wounding à couple of fellows in a friendly fashion, there were no unpleasant features to mar a very successful celebration.
A TRIP TO WUCHOW. On Saturday last, at 12.15 p.m.. Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's new steamer, the Sam- shut, Captain Summers in command, left Hongkong on her maiden trip to Wuchow, having on board a small party of Europeans who took advantage of this exceptionally favourable opportunity for seeing the much talked of Sikiang, or West River!
Aguinaldo is credited with having become father during the last week, and it is not hard to believe that he will soon send his family into Manila has been treated to a day of celebratives of his Generals who are known to be here
Manila, along with those of many of the rela tion and excitement that has quite eclipsed to-day; and probably he will have a good kick anything she has experienced in her long his coming if the American Government fails to tory, in the way of noise and more or less ua- provide for them. But then this is an odd war bridled hilarity. Americans turned themselves loose on the Fourth of July and fireworks and at anything.
nyway, and people who know are not surprised celebrations continued from early dawn until broad daylight the following day. Decorations and other preparations had been arranged during the two or three days previous, and on Indepen lence Anniversary the city looked almost as gay as in the old days of Spanish fiestas. Nearly every building in the Escolta was covered with flags and bauuers or wreathes and lanterns. Many of the English, Spanish, and other foreign firms dressed the national colours together, producing the most happy effects. Carriages, carromatas, and the dozen nondescript vehicles which are peculiar to Manila, were togged out in various buntings arranged according to the taste of each driver to represent flags of almost every nation, and on a few traps the red, white, and blue of Aguinaldo held a doubtful position, Some enterprising merchants of the peddler class imported a stock of fireworks from China and sold out at fabulous prices to the soldiers, who displayed a keen enjoyment in entering saloons and setting off great bundles of crackers, under the chairs of unsuspecting drinkers. The streets were fairly sprinkled with bits of red and yellow papers and the fiery little ponies were put through a lively time that they will not forget, in spite of the fact that any living thing about Manila should be more than fami liar with "bum bum." For Hongkong readers it is enough to say that the Fourth mild dose of Chinese New Year's week.
The regular exercises (practically the same all over the States) began at ten o'clock at the Soldiers' Institute with a few remarks by Colonel Denby, of the McKinley Commis sion. More speeches and the reading of the Declaration of Independence followed. As the only ones present who could understand the proceedings were Americans and Englishmen this last part of the programme was not exactly as happy as it might have been; but then the declaration is always read on the Fourth and Manila is hardly the place to change the preced. ent. In view of the harping that is being done on Anglo-American alliances and blood and water comparisons, it can hardly be pleasant for either party to have a person read to the assemblage: "The history of the present king of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpation.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burned our towns, and des- troyed the lives of our people,” etc., stc.
*1
was a
The Samshui was built by the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co., and is a twin-screw: boat with engines of 300 indicated horse-power. She is 165 tons register, 133 feet in length, 23 feet beam, and draws seven feet of water.
The cabin and saloon accommodation designed by Mr. Ramsay, Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's Marine Superintendent, is admirably arranged, and passengers will in future be able to make the journey to West River ports with as much comfort as if they were on a mail steamer. Everything is on as mall scale, of course, but all is there.
The boat will shortly be fitted with the electris light, the plant being now on its way out from England. It may be confidently anticipated that in
fature a large number of Europeans will avail themselves of the excellent opportunities pro- vided, and enjoy what is a really delightful trip and at the same time see a portion of Southern China which bas hitherto been visited by bat few foreigners Messrs. Butterfield and Swire intend placing another boat on the run, when the departures from Hongkong for Samahni and Wuchow will be tri-weekly.
We left the Douglas Wharf at 12.15 p.m., went through Capsuimoon, and then across the Canton River to Wangmun Channel, which is one of the many mouths of the West River, and about forty miles from Hongkong. A stron