January 13, 1900.] -
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE ALLEGED SHELL-FISHING
MONOPOLY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,'
Sir,We forward to you herewith an amended notice to take the place of the notice published in your issue of the 6th instant.
In the latter notice the term "Monopoly" is used, which is an incorrect translation made in your office of the term for "lease" used in the Chinese notice published in the Chinese Mail. This Company has no monopoly, but are lessees of the Government.
We shall be glad if you will insert this letter as a correction in your next issue.—We are, sir, your obedient servants,
LEE HING & CO. Hongkong, 9th January, 1900,
French DESIGNS AT HOIHOW.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
11
not look at either that or the "blue-funnel ' agency. As the big firms did not care for such unimportant agencies, they went to the then unimportant firm of Windsor, Rose and Co.; and Windsor's has both itself been made by, and has had a big share in making, the ship ping trade of Bankok. The fact that this firm will continue to take the same leading position | lation in which all in our cosmopolitan centre in that trade is at least a matter for congratu-
can join. By the way, Germany may be ex. pected now to join in keeping an eye on the fate of Hainan, so that we fancy the long threatened French descent on that island will really have to be postponed to a dim and distant future.
TIENTSIN.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Tientsia, 22nd December. The nomination of Li Hung-Chang to the important position of Viceroy of the Liang Kwang took everybody by surprise, and is the chief topic of the hour in Peking and Tientsin native circles. As the vacancy in the post was Hoihow, 20th December. quite unexpected, the political quid nuncs had The French seem to be aggressive in this not even begun there speculations as to Tan's part of China; the Taotai and several minor successor. A very well informed and intel. officials are still held as prisoners by them on ligent official tells me that the appointment is board a war vessel at Kuangchouwan. The dus to three motives, (1) the desire to have an French Consul who left Hoihow when the capable and competent man, as well as a person a ture of the offioials was made has returned, a grata. to deal with the French in the ever more French gunboat is in the harbour of Hoihow, complex frontier questions, (2) the necessity of and a party of marines has been lauded for the a powerful resolute man to deal with incipient protection of the Consul. A British gunboat Beditions in the Two Kwangs. (3) the desire to is also on hand in the harbour to watch pro- get Li out of Peking. ceedings.
A French doctor has arrived, and there is talk❘ of a hospital being opened by him. There come to be a general belief that France is ready and willing to take Hainan as soon as a favourable orportunity offers.-N. C. Daily News corres pondent.
BANGKOK OPINION ON THE TRANSFER OF THE SCOTTISH
ORIENTAL STEAMERS.
The Bangkok Times says:-The often re- peated prophecy that the Scottish Oriental steamers would follow the old "blue funnel” line into the hands of the Germans, has been regarded with a good deal of scepticism even by those who attered it; and the news that the deal is already concluded has taken British residents here somewhat aback. For years the shipping of the port of Bangkok has been British, and we British have been in the habit of referring to the fact with considerable complacency, possibly some people would say boastfulness. In 1898 over 14 per cent in value of the exports and over 88 per cent. of the imports were carried in British bottoms. Now British and German shipping will practically change places. They stood as 396 to 31 in 1898; in 1900, according to the present outlook, it will probably be nearly the other way about, 31 to 396. Some six months ago 33 per
cent of the British shipping went, and now the sale of the Hongkong liners will represent about another 33 per cent. This announcement has certainly added an éclat to Prince Henry's visit that it was not generally expected to have been would be absurd to suppose that British residents here regard the change with indifference. It is not only the shipping that has gone; the value of the British imports will also suffer. At the same time it is absurd to cry out as if some unfair ad. vantage had been taken. The whole thing is a matter of business. The Scottish Oriental Com.
pany owned what we believe to be a first-class busi- ness, but they got a tempting offer, an offer that, as business men, they though it wise to accept. No one can fairly say they have done what they shouldn't have done, Britishers
sannot ask for more than a fair field and no favour; and the future of our shipping here will be watched with interest, The bulk of our
trade is done with the two nearest British colonies, and we should think that as that trade grows British vessels will secure at least a fair share of it. It is curious to recall the fact that the agency of the Scottish Oriental line was at
one time going a-begging for over a month in Bangkok, and that the Borneo Company would
The fact that Li is personally extremely un.. popular in the south is known in Pesing, but no great importance is attributed to this fact. The personal popularity of an official is a very small matter with the Peking people; they are far more concerned with the fact that Li, unless enervated with age, will be the mau to deal vigorously with the Cantonese. When he came to Tientsin twenty years ago, this city had an evil reputation all over the empire for the row. diness of its inhabitants, bat the rowdies soon
found that Li stood uo nonsense; and certainly during the last twenty years Tientsin has been quieter than most great Chinese cities. A man who had to quell the Taipings with treatment more severe than their own was not likely to be hindered by scruples. Barring the questions of age and the efficiency and loyalty of the southern troops, then can be no doubt that rebels and pirates will probably have a bad time under Li's regimé.
It is not understood that the new appoint. ment quits Li of his recent office as Minister of Commerce. Whatever his merits or demerits eritic and legislator in all the numerous ar as a Viceroy proper, he will be su intelligent rangements that will have to be made in the opening up of the West River.
CANTON NOTES.
29
(FROM THE ***
CHƯNG NGOI BAN PO.” H.E. Tan Chung Lun, late Viceroy of two Kwangs, left Canton on the 7th inst, by the steamer Anping, belonging to the China Mer- obants Steam Navigation Company, for native senntry in Hunan. His Excellency bas Shanghai, and thence he will proceed to his
been granted two months' leave, at the expira- of which he will proceed to Peking to have an Imperial Audience. His luggage, which of course amounted to a great number of packages, was sent by another steamer, some days pre- riously. When the luggage was removed from his yamen to the steamer, it was escorted by several hundreds of soldiers, and Mo Wing Tye, the commandant of the military forces of Kwangchow, guarded the steamer day and night with a good number of soldiers till her departure, for fear that the robbers who some time ago asked the Viceroy to pay them $300,000 as blackmail, might make an attack on the luggage, which was of great value. It is said that His Excellency has made a sum of about two million dollars during his term of office of four and half years, exclusive of the amount made by his elder son.
Chau Ping Kwan. Toatai of the profectures of Likin. who was arrested and detained by the French on account of the disturbance in Kwanchauwan, has been released by the French, and arrived at Canton on the 8th inst.
It is reported that an Imperial decree has been issued ordering the dismissal of Wang Chuen Sien. late D rector-General of the Likin Barean, and that he be deprived of all official rank as a result of his having been consured by some causors for making squeezes during his term of office.
It has been Iceedingly cold in Canton dur- ing these last few days. On the night of the 5th instant rain, accompanied by thunder aud lightning, fell in torrents, and on the following night snow made its appearance. Some beg. gars in Tangkanchenag au in Namkwan have died of starvation.
H.E. Li Hang-chang is expected to arrive at It is reported in official circles in Canton that
Canton on the 16th instant, and that he has appointed the 17th instant to take over his seal.
The 20th instant has been appointed as the date for closing the official seals for the obser- vance of the China New Year holidays. They will be re-opened on the 18th proximo.
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On the 29th ultimo a big fra broke out in #dragg st's shop in Kinkiang. Over three hundred and ten houses were burnt to the ground The cause of the fire is not known. The damages amount to over a million dollars, most of the houses barut being big shops,
HONGKONG,
It is intimated that the Board of Directors of
the Hongkong Land Investment and Agency Co, Limited, haved cided, subject to undit, to pay a final dividend of 7 per cent, making a total of 12 per cent. for the year 1599; and to place $250,000 to an equalization of dividend - fand, carrying forward $2,352.94 to new profit
and loss account
Ata Marine Court of Euquiry held at the Harbour Office on Weinesday, before COM.. mander R. Murray Rumsey, J. Smith and R. Power, A. B's on board the British ship King Arthur, were sentenced to seven days' imprison ment for disobeying the lawful orders of Cap-.
My once chief misgiving about Li originate in the fact that he is now very old man. nearer eighty than seventy-five. I doubt bis energy to deal with serious troubles. The lat. ter years of his Tientsin satrapy were cursed by the rag-tag-and-bobtail which he gathered around him as sub-officials. A greedier, more corrupt: and more incompetent lot of parasities nerer buttoned on to a patron. His old friends did not hesitate to ascribe this to the dulness of age: true then, it is likely to be much worse now.
Our normal trade has stopped, and only the "
"Ping" bosts keep up our connection with the outside world. Three of them were Their next inward trips are to be to Chung-tain Robertson. in Tongku together this week, storm stayed.
wangtao, near Peitaiho, where they will, 15 in the last two winters, land mails, passengers, &o. Only once or so in ten years does littoral ice prevent all communication. The overland Courier service is organised as usual, but it is un lorstood that it is not to be used as long as Chungwang is not closed. old-fashioned Christmas seems to be on view. To-day we have a heavy fall of snow, and an The Chinese are in a great state of delight. This snow is our only gift from the clouds for four months. Apart from its known benents to agriculture, the Chinese ascribe all sorts of
merits to it.
The pursuit of social pleasure is our chief business for the next two months; unless local politios distract us.
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On the 4th instant Mr. J. J. Spooner (Chief Excise Officer in connection with the Opium Farm) and a party of police and some biness Excise officers made a raid at Kwai Chung, a village behind Stonecutters Island. In a house for which they had a search warrant they found evidense which led them to conclude that opium
amining some prickly pear bushes in the vicimity boiling had been carried on there, and on ex- they found the implements there. From Kwai Chung the party went to Chin Wan, where they came sorces a complete set of boiling inplementa and a quantity of opium, both raw and prepared. Two arrests ware made, and at the Magistracy yesterday a fine of $10), or three months, was imposed by Mr. Hallifax in the one case and › fine of $10 in the other,