privileges, 188 it appreciably decreased their sales; and, emboldened by the oft-re- peated assertion of those in a position
"
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. SCHEMES FOR THE FUTURE. OF CHINA.
13
+
The
come
Kiaochow to Germany, and in consequence Port Arthur to Russia and Weihaiwei to know better, that our markets are not
Britain. With Chinese officialdom it overcrowded, they combined and complained
(Daily Press, 23rd January.)
flagrant injustices must constantly In response to an invitation from our Lon. and we cannot see that the abolition of of this competition. The gist of their prayer don evening contemporary, the Globe, Mr. tra-territoriality will mend this. is that these outside licences be forthwith ARCHIBALD LITTLE has written from officials must be reformed first and this abolished, that their stall-rents be lessened Chungking to that paper, giving an aperçu of change cannot be made with the stroke or that they themselves be permitted to the situation in China. He entitles it "Aa pen. The proposed abolition may c share in this trade beyond market bounds. Plea for the Chinese," and attempts to answer in the future, but to precipitate it will Careful study of the minutes appended to a the question, what is to be the next step? assuredly be most impolitic. In default of translation of this remarkable document, Judging by the past, he says, our own his first scheme, Mr. LITTLE sees absolutely printed in extenso in our report of the authorities are the last people to answer this no course open but the Egyptianising of last Board meeting, shows that there is an
question. inexplicable diversity of opinion on this They have ordered their nationals out committee sitting in the capital, be it Tek- They drift, waiting on events. China; either through an international highly urgent subject of market space. Mr. LADDS, despite his lengthy local experience,
"of the field, but how are they going to ing or Nanking; or by a division into frankly favours the petitioners, and would has excited the minds of the people, who roys in the respective provincial capitals.
bring them back?
This exodus national spheres acting through the Vice- have these shop-licences rescinded, unequi-"now think, ignorant that they are, that We hope never to see the division into rocally affirming that the markets are amply sufficient for the sale of meat of all and they certainly will not now lightly prelude to that partition of China which is the missionary incubus has been removed, national spheres, for it cannot but be the kinds. The Hon. Director of Public Works, take it on again.' who is also President of the Board, is much exodus
As to the reason of the dread of all the wisest minds who have Mr. LITTLE more diplomatic; and, without either ad- enough, why was the great expense and affairs. It is not seriously to be entertained asks, pertinently devoted themselves to the study of Chinese mitting or denying that the buildings at our stoppage of business incurred, and by whose that any empire-seeking Power—and it is not disposal are too small for our needs, thinks authority? In June last the British Go two or three Powers alone who deserve the that any possible pressure on existing space vernment, through Mr. CONSUL M. F. A. epithet-is likely to mange a s can be effectively controlled by the judicious FRASER, instructed all British subjects to five years and then hand
sphere for allotting of outside shop licences. The clear out of the three Western provinces of China. This would only postpone & general it back to prominent and undisguisable fact that, Szechuan, Yunnan, and Kweichau. Other conflagration for five years, whereas our duty at the present moment, every available nations followed, but the merchants stayed is to avoid it altogether, if we stall in the markets of the Colony is behind, and so did the French. The reason idea of an international committee sitting can. ***** The handsomely let, seems to render nugatory given for the flight was the coming of hos in the capital of the Empire is feasible, but and even to stultify, alike the statements of tilities on the Lower Yangtze, but now it it presents enormous difficulties. China the petitioning tradesfolk and Mr. LADDS appears, says Mr. LITTLE, that nothing of will not lend itself to true Egyptianising, " minute thereto; while, at the same time, it the kind was contemplated by the British for the Chinese are very different from the gives both sharper point and added weight Government. The affair has had its effect on Egyptian fellaheen. Moreover, Egypt has to the contention of Dr. CLARK and others, the Chinese, and, failing an object lesson only been managed successfully since it that increased market space ranks as one of demonstrating the might and determination practically became a possession of one our most pressing needs. There appears of the European, the writer doubts the country, which does not propose to evacuate to have been unexpected difficulty in the refugees being again able to live safely it. Reform in China to be lasting must proper supervision of these shops with fresh pork licences; accordingly, after discussion, the Board has recommended the Govern- ment to let the licences lapse without re- newal. Meantime, they urge the building of makeshift matshed markets on uns occupied Crown property, in such centres of native population as stand most in want of them. We heartily commend this emin- ently sensible step, and trust the Govern- ment will lose no time in carrying out the suggestion. No great outlay would be in curred a few hundred dollars at most; while, as an offset, an immediate income in
the shape of monthly rent would accrue to the Treasury coffers. As anyone can testify who has ever walked through China-town an hour or 80 before the time when either of the two chief daily is taken, the relief that such
scattered through the interior, even should they be allowed a peaceful return to their now abandoned homes. Granted, then, that such object lesson is needed, he says how can it be best carried out? It will not be sufficient to make the Chinese officials once more responsible for the lives and property of Europeans in Western China. You may make the officials responsible, the officials have not the power to "but when the populace gets out of hand, control it, even if they have the will. Chinese officials are powerful as long as they act in consensus with public opinion, such public opinion being expressed by the local gentry and elders, but they cannot defy this public opinion without a strong armed force at their back, which, in the "remoter parts, they do not possess."
Mr. LITTLE has a scheme, or rather two These are either to grant China, by common agreement among the Powers, absolute inde- pendence, including the abolition of extra- territoriality, such as have been granted to Japan, or else to administer the country as a protected State. The first alternative he con siders the ideal plan, and, by watchfulness on the part of Ministers and Consuls, backed The two following items are from the Foochow by an appeal to force in the case of flagrant Echo of the 12th inst. We learn that the injustice or oppression, be declares it not to French and United States Consuls have secured be so impracticable with a civilised people satisfactory indemnity from the provincial authorities for property destroyed at Shaonnas ninety-nine out of a hundred Europeans in July last, belonging to the Roman Catholic will assert it to be. Mr. LITTLE is indeed and American Board Missions. Some forty sanguine. Japan was in a very different
"
come from within. By all means let there be as much foreign assistance as can be given and as is acceptable to the best Chi- nese statesmen. But can this assistance be given from an international, committee sit- ting in the capital? The scheme is too vague as put forward in the Globe.
:
THE MOURNING FOR THE LATE QUEEN.
OFFICIAL NOTICE. In a Government Gazette Extraordinary cir- culated on Thursday morning there was pub lished a Government Notification to the fol- lowing effect ---
has to an.
With deepest grief the Governor nounce that Her Majesty the Queen passed away at 630 p.m. on the 22nd instant. His Excellency requests that the Inhabitants of the Colony will wear mourning for a time to
extra must inevitably effect would schemes, for saving the situation in China. be specified in a future Cazette.“
be most pronounced and most welcome. This done, and the stringency of existing market areas being thereby experimentally proven, the construction of substantial and more permanent buildings should be actively undertaken.
;
PUBLIC REFERENCES.
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Blake, G.C.M.G.) convened a special meeting of His Excellency the Governor (Bir Henry. the Hongkong Legislative Council for Thursday afternoon for the purpose of submitting a vote of condolence in connection with the death of the Queen-Empress. There were present H.E. the Governor, H.E. Major-General Gascoigne, C.M.G (Commanding the Troops), the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G. (Colonial Beero- tary), the Hon. A. M. Thomson (Colonial Trea
rer), the Hon. R. D. Ormsby (Direstor” of Public Works), the Hon. Basil Taylor (Acting the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, the Hon J. Tharburn, the Hon. J. J. Keswick, the Hon. R. M. Grey. the Hon. Wei A Yük, and Mr. B. F. Johnston (Acting Clerk of Councils).
The minutes
* of the previona ( me the Council having been formally
thousand dollars was : olaimed by the two position when she obtained the privilege Harbour Master), the Hon. C.P. Chater, CMG missions, but a smaller sum was finally socepted. which he proposes should be given to China. “The Kokumin Shimbun of the 20th Dec. The watchfulness of Ministers and Consuls that the Viceroy's. Yamen of Minches, as has been proved over and over again,
has applied to the Bank of Formosa for loan of 5,000,00 yen, offering as security"
a very doubtful quantity on which to part of Mamoi docks near Foochow rely; and the appeal to force is the cause Soyeda, President of the Bank, was expected to to which the previous wrongs done to start from Talhoku for Tokyo on the 20th, in Chinese by foreign Powers have been due.
His Eror connection with the application." --We are in- was the appeal to force for the flagrant formed that there is no truth in the above state-injustice in the murder of German
have nary which led to China losing you formally
ment.
GOTERK