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French Government to Ya Keng's request is taken to indicate that, if the Kwangchau Bay boundaries are marked according to the desires of the French, well and good; Yu Kong would, of course, be received with effusion. If not, then Yu Kong must expect to receive his pas sport and leave France at onse.
The following is also from the N. C. Daily News
It is reported in mandarin circles that one of the many demands of the French with re- ference to the "lease" of Kwangchan Bay or wan, is that for the large and populous island of Naotao, whose inhabitants are mostly daring, deep-sea fishermen, and hardy mariners who navigate their junks even as far as Borneo, Sumatra, and the Straits. They would make a splendid auxiliary force to the French if given over to the latter. It is for this reason and because Naotao is considered the key of the route between the three prefectures of Lei- chow, Kiungohow (Hainan island), and Liechow that the Chinese Government is determined not to give way to the French on this point, while it is obvions to any one that should Naotao be in the hands of an active and powerful Sea Power, Kwangohau Bay and its dependencies would be quite at its mercy. As Marshal Su has been personally commanded by the Empress Dowager not to give in on the Naotao island question and the French are just as determined in trying to get possession of the place, the only feasible way to settle the
matter would be for the Chinese Government
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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ants tried to get them to desist, but were in consequence roughly handled, one man being so injured as to necessitate his removal to hospital on the ship's arrival at Hankow. Finding the pirates were taking charge, the chief officer, Mr. Maundrell, was aroused by the compradore and with the assistance of the officer of the watch, the second and third engineers, and native crew the gang were after a hard strug- gle overcome and, with the exception of one who jumped overboard, handcuffed and secured in a spare coal bunker until the vessel's arrival | at her destination when they were handed over to the Police. The Chinese both at Kiukiang | and Hankow are delighted over the capture as the gang were well-known miscreants.
The men who were tried at the Mixed Court, Hankow, for attempting piracy on board of the steamer Payung, and found guilty, have been handed over to the Chinese authorities by whom it is expected they will be decapitated. N. C. Daily News.
CHINGWANTA().
In connection with the Northern Railway it would be as well to call attention to the scheme that is being put forward for converting the open roadstead of Chingwantao by means'fo a breakwater into a safe and commodious shipping port, as if ever this scheme comes to maturity it is bound to have very considerable entect
November 4, 1899.
necessary, and diverting the course of the river se above noted will prevent the sea from freezing inside the breakwater.
It will naturally be asked how a revenue is to be obtained suficient to pay for the enormous cost of this proposed scheme, where there is not a vestige of trade of any kind. The promoters of the scheme are of opinion that the develop. ment of the mineral wealth of the province will suffice for this in a great measure, and they pro- pose to centre the various industries that will arise from the production of coal. iron, copper, and other metals in various parts of the province at the newly established port. It is contended, for one thing, that the great coal-field of the Kaiping district is capable of immense development, and Mr. Delring has a re- cord of many borings made at different points which show seams of coal vary. ing from a depth of a few fest to one great one of thirty feet, so that apparently a second Staffordshire lies close at hand. Near to Shan- haikuan there is, according to the same autho rity, and an excellent seam of anthracite coal. This convenient production of coal will serv- for the manufacture of iron at Chingwantao, ne the ore can be brought by rail to the new pors without difflculty. This and other kindred int dustries will soon develop Ching wantao into an important manufacturing centre. In addition it is to be the great shipping port of the North, and take the place of Tangku, as it will have none of the disadvantages under accommodate steamers of great draught, and as the route from the Shantung Promon- tory is 50 miles nearer to Chingwantao than to Taku; it follows that not only will steamers pre- for to go there, but that vessels of much greater carrying capacity can be put on the line than is now possible for the Northern trade; and further that they will make the passage from Shanghai in 48 hours. In fact Chingwantao will not only become the great coal depot of China as Moji is that of Japan; but it is also intended to attract to the new port all the is required for mining machinery that and other industries in the North, and commodious fitting shops will be built for the erection and repair of same, to to be afterwards forwarded by rail to the desti- nation for which it is intended. Of course it is expected that pieos goods and other foreign im- ports will be shipped to the north vid Ching- wantao, whiob it is calculated will be open all the year round.
to give an undertaking, à la Chusan Archipe-pon the prosperity of the Tientsin to Shanhai-which that place labours. The new port will
lago, but to part with the island to any other Power but France, if the question of surrender. ing the place by China should ever come on the tapis. It is believed that Marshal Su will sug- gest this during his conference with the French
at Kwanchauwan.
RUSSIA CHINA AND JAPAN.
kuad section of the line.
The originator of this vast scheme is Mr. G. Detring, who has Chang Yen mac--or Chang Yi according to his official appellation-at his back. Mr, Detring has been officially appointed Commissioner of Customs at Ching wantao, but the appointment is purely nominal for the pressut, as he does not reside there, and there would be nothing whatever to do if he did live there, Chingwantae being at The Hupao received on 25th October a wire present represented merely by barren rock and a from its Peking correspondent to the effect that strip of sandy beach. As a port its existence the Taungli Yamen had received from the depende soley on future developments. Ching- Russian Minister in Peking a most haughty and wantao is a rocky island at the eastern extrem- aggressive dispatch sternly prohibiting theity of the small bay on the coast beyond Chinese Government from engaging Mr. Yano, Peitaibo, and is only 9 miles from Rocky Japanese ex-Minister at the capital, as Chief Point of the latter place, being separated Adviser to the Taungli Yamen, and also de- from the mainland by a narrow strip dry manding that the farther sending of Chinese at low water, The place is 12 miles west youths to Japan to study the military profession of Banghaikaan. It is proposed to build be at once stopped. The dispatch, it is stated, a oironlar breakwater from the end of this ended with mash threatening language similar islaud to a point in the little bay of such to that of a conqueror to his vanquished
a curve that it will enclose an area of two miles enemies. With reference to the proposed by one mile, Messrs. Wolfe Barry of London engagement of a Japanese official to not as sent ont an engineer to survey the place, and Chief Adviser to the Central Government, it to draw the plaus for the most prodigious and will be remembered that this paper was the ambitious scheme that was ever proposed by foreigners in Far Cathay. It must be borne in mind that no town exists there at present, so it is proposed to create one, and therefore on the plan of the new port appears & town well laid out on the American system, and this lies to the north of the port, where at present there is sandy beach. Between the rocky island on the east and the site of the proposed town is a large swamp, which it is intended shall be drained and turned into docks, as was originally done at Port Arthur, and the river, that runs into the sea at this point is to be diverted and find its course to the sea in the
first to make the intention known. This was at the time of the appointment of the Empress Dowager's two envoys to the Mikado, a part of whose mission, we stated, was to invite Marquis Ito to fill this important post. As the Marquis could ill be spared by his country, he recom- mended Mr. Yano instead for the post, and Mr. Tano being greatly liked and respected at Peking, the matter was quickly settled and a new Minister to Peking was appointed by the Mikado's Government. If the Hupao's oor- respondent is right, it is evident that relations between Russia and China are rather strained, especially as it is believed that the Taungli Yamen does not intend to give way to the Rus sian Minister's demands at present.-N. C. Daily News.
PIRACY ON THE YANGTSZE. A gang of thieves boarded the China Naviga- tion Co.'s steamer Poyang, bound up river from Shanghai, at Tatung about 10 o'clock on the night of the 13th October. In all twelve per sons embarked, three of whom were bona fide passengers who booked for Kiukiang. The remain ler not having their passage money had their clothes, as is customary, taken in pawn. The men, who showed no signs of combination, tɔok np berths in various parts of the Chinese steerage quarters and settled themselves quietly, However, about three hours later, just before the vessel reachel Ngankin, the nine men, who wera sullenly discovered to be armed with large kuives an 1 swords, mid› a raid on the Chinese passengers effects, The compradore's assist-
The capital for this enormons development is to be provided by London, but Mr. Dotring did not say what security the financiers would have for their investment or how long they would be willing to wait for any return for their advances. It is certainly a vast scheme, and if capitalists as sanguine of success as he is him. Mr. Detring can sncceed in making London self, some of the present foreign residents in China may live to see Chingwantan in all its glory as depicted on the plan.-N. C. Daily
News.
THE FREIGHT SQUEEZE AT SINGAPORE, -
Singapore, 20th October. In our remarks on the sudden rise in home- adjoining bay more to the east. There will be ward freights as the consequence of a meeting an opening in the breakwater, well to the east, of the Conference representatives in Singapore of 300 feet, so placed as to admit of three large on Wednesday, we stated that the rise of 5/ steamers lying inside the eastern pier to load brought the rate up to 35/. Measurement is and discharge, as the railway from the mainland now, as a matter of fact, 52/6 per ton. This will be extended to this eastern pier. Gen high rate is telling very hardly on shippers, and erally speaking there is a good depth of water talk is going round of meaus to circumvent the within the area enclosed by the breakwater, Conference. That is a matter that may safely especially close to the eastern pier, where a be left to commercial men, but it might be depth of 26 feet is obtained. Some parts of mentioned that an arrangement for a vessel the enclosed area will have to be dredged, carrying a cargo of coal here and freight home- especially towards the west, but the holding ward seems feasible, a fair all-round rate being ground throughout is good, as the bottom con- charged. We are told that the price of com sists of blue olay. It is contended that this here is higher than it ought to be in conse port will practically be free from ice, as it isquence of tramps refusing coal to Singapore, only for a few days each winter that the sea is because there is no chance of getting freight ever frosen in the neighbourhood, and the homeward.. oiroular shape of the breakwater will deflect floating ice brought up by the currents, the exact direction of which have been ascertained. Floating ice will be prevented from drifting into the entrance to the port by strong iron chains, which will be placed in position when
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The suddenness of the rise seems to have pressed hardest on those firms who do not com- bine shipping and produce business. They, of course, had no notice of the intended rise; they could not book freight to themselves in advance. and had to stand the racket of the increase.