166
The curfew law the 19th inst.
Manila was revoked on
The latest report on railway construction in British North Borneo thus describes progress on the Jesselton-Beaufort section:-Up to the end of December, 22 miles of railway have been surveyed, 22 miles cleared, six miles of timber bridging constructed, 11 miles of track laid, earth-works 15 miles, ballasting 3 miles, and telegraphs 19 miles completed. Two engines have arrived and are being set up, together with the cars called for in the contract.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
M. Dabsil will fill the post of M. Harmand French Minister at Tokyo, when the latter goes on leave, as he does at the end of next month, leaving Shanghai by the Ernest Simons.
The following appointments have been made at the Admiralty:-Lieut. A. H. Oldham, to the Pigmy, in command. Assistant Paymaster G. Solfleet, to the Argonaut, to date Jan. 17.
Two wireless telegraph instruments, said to be the most powerful ever made, are to be shipped from New York to Japan. They were made especially for Japan, and will be installed on two of the fastest Japanese cruisers. It is expected that they will be able to trausmit messages at least 125 miles.
6
The proposed scheme for the segregation of lepers on an island on the west coast of the Peninsula is very unpopular among the lower orders in Pahang. A rough census of these The Peking correspondent of the Shanghai miserable creatures, taken in 1899, gave their New Press telegraphed on the 15th inst. that numbers at between 150 and 200, the majority
Field Marshal Count von Waldersee now, being in the coast districts of the State. The makes no secret of the fact that he is sick and disease is believed to be spreading in the Pekan tired of the way things are going in China, and district (and certainly from the number of has wired to Berlin urgently requesting per- them seen down there, good grounds for the mission to go back to Europe as quickly as pos- belief ́exist), and it seems probable that, unpo-sible." The projected expedition seems to offer pular though segregation would be, it may the required distraction. become necessary. Both the Sultan himself and the Regent aro in favour of it.
With regard to the current report at the Soochow yamêns that Governor Nieh is to be Minister at the Court of St. James, the N.-C Daily News says:- The appointment of this prominent Reform official to this high post, if it be true, will be received with profound satis- faction by foreigners, as it will place him in a position to learn the power of Western civilisa- tion, and be able to to lead his nationals at the present crisis. Governor Nieh; it will be remem- bered, was Taotai of Shanghai, and was a very aceptable official in every way. His wife is a sister of the late Marquis Tsêng.
It has been suggested, and apparently with good reason, says the Bangkok Times, that the prevalence of cholera at this early season of the year may in part be traced to the cremations. The great crowds that day after day throng she Premane ground, pollute the water of the ad- jacent klong, and then drink it. Not a few have had to be carried off the ground, and that fact is no doubt to be accounted for in this way. Condensed water is now being supplied to the royal palace. It is unfortunate that like every other place in Bangkok the royal palace has got no proper system of drainage and cannot be considered in a really sanitary state. Under present circumstances no drainage at all is perhaps safest in Bangkok, for a defective system is worse then none at all.
A telegram from Formosa, received by the Japanese Home Department at Tokyo, states
that on the 27th ult. eight cases of plague with six deaths occurred at Tainan-ken and six cases at Tuihoku-ken. . On the following day. seven cases, with five deaths, were reported at the former and one fatal case at the latter place. This makes a total of 83 cases, with 59 deaths, in the island since the beginning of this year.
A large number of bandits invaded the town of Taichu, Formosa, on the night of the 1st inst. at about 9 o'clock. Forty of them sur- prised a police box and killed or wounded the policemen. They burnt down fourteen houses. Another company of bandits surprised the barracks of the Japanese infantry and the military hospital and set fire to the former building, destroying two rows. A few of the infantry and engineers were wounded. The bandits were driven off at 10.30.
31
A Honan Refugee writes to the P. & T. Times :-The story told in North Honan about the Acting Viceroy of Chihli who was, sometime ago, found guilty of the massacre of foreigners and beheaded at Paotingfu, is to the effect that he was executed (presumably by Chinese au- thorities) for having embezzled the public funds. This is a striking example, showing the need for publishing everywhere, by means of pro- clamations, the true version of the cause, gress, and results of the present outbreak.
(February 23, 1901.-
Mr. Hayashi, Japanese Minister to Seoul, at the beginning of the month took the Grand Order of the Chrysanthemum for the Crown Prince of Corea, and the Grand Order of the Rising Sun for Sei An Kun, which were pre- sented to them by His Majesty the Emperor of Jann.
Shanghai the following telegram, dated Taiynan
r. Timothy Richard has received at fa, Shansi, 10th February, and signed by two thoroughly reliable native Christians:--" Relief has been given (by the officials) in the countries give relief in the other countries before the- of Yangku and Taiyuan, but it is difficult to
Christians scattered in 15 places. Their houses end of the (Chinese) year. There are 4,000 and property are destroyed and they are nearly dead with starvation. The Baptist Mission this money be given in relief. There were has money in the Bank (here). We beg that four mission school girls carried away by the Boxers. We beg that the officials will order their restoration." A telegram was sent back to say that some of the Church money could be used.
for China, Japan, Corea, and Siam will have plenty It is expected that H.B.M.S.'s Office of Works
of work on its hands this year in the restoration of the British Legation at Peking, which suffered so much in the siege. The Legation was, immediately the siege was over, put into temporary habitable condition for the winter, and now the permanent work of restoration is to be undertaken. It is probable, says the N.-C. Daily News, that the Legation compound will be considerably extended, and doubtless effective means will be take to prevent the possibility of Its being fired on again from close quarters. If a scheme for a European Reservation in Peking is completed, the British Legation will form the north-west corner of it, and the defences will doubtless bo on a par with those of the outer lines of the Reservation, which include, it is said, a clear circular space or zone of about 100 yards' breadth round the Reservation.
We have already had by telegraph the news that it has been decided to continue the Siberi-
Rivers. It is now stated that from Stretenek, an Railway along the Shilks and the Upper Amur
churian Railway, the Siberian Railway will be which is the point of departure for the Man-
which the Amur River becomes navigable dur- continued as far as Pokrovka, a small village at pro-ing the spring and summer. The continuation The Ostasiatische Lloyd published an Extra The "Society for the Rescue of the Native of being extended to Khabarovsk, isolated the of the Siberian Railway on Chinese soil, instead on the 14th inst., of which the following is a Jews in China." which was formed a few months translation. It is signed by Dr. Knappe, ago in Shanghai, has received a reply from the shensk by the Chinese bands of robbers showed basin of the Amur, and the attack on Blagovest- Consul-General for Germany:-"Notice. The native messenger they sent to Kaifengfu convey-clearly the danger of this isolation. During the Legation quarter in Peking will in future being intelligence that the spirit of unrest was pro- bounded as follows: The Tartar wall, the Baron nounced in the city, and everyone was on the qui von Ketteler Street, the Boulevard des Italiens vive expecting trouble. (the street of the old Austrian Legation), and impracticable, and it is impossible for any one At present peace is the Chienmên Street. German subjects and of the converts to leave the place. A second those under German protection who claim to messenger has been sent to Kaifenfu, but has own property in this quarter must forward title not returned, and much anxiety is felt at the or other proof of ownership to the German non-arrival. Minister at Peking before the 25th of this month. Only claims to property acquired before the 20th June, 1900, will be recognised. I am ready to be the means of forwarding claims."
t
The Jiji publishes some telegrams about a new Russian demand for a concession in Cores. A despatch dated Seoul, 10th February, says: "When the Russian Minster to Scoal was re-
The following items are from the Foochow ceived in audience by the Corean Emperor the Daily Echo of the 9th inst.:We learn that the Ministers and chamberlains in attendance were seals of office of the late Tartar-General will all sent out of the Hall. The audience lasted be formally taken over by H. E. the Viceroy over one hour. Details of the audience are un- to-day and held by him until other arrange-known; but the demand for the lease of Chiu- ments have been made. The commence- ment exercises of the Anglo-Chinese Col- lege this year were held in the New College Hall on the 6th inst. We regret to have to record the death of Mrs. Franz Schönfeld which took place at her residence last evening after but a short illness. Mrs. Sohonfeld was the widow of Mr. Franz Schön- fold who died in July 1894 and sister of Mr. Werner Krohn who met his death by drowning in February 1897.-If the late changeable weather and sudden changes of temperature had anything to do with the starting of the influenza from which so many residents are now suffering, the complaint ought not to spread as the last week has been without intermission settled and fine. The usual Saturday afternoon hockey was to have been abandoned for a gymkhana, but this was postponed by express this morning on account of the death of Mrs. Schonfeld.
I
kaiwan was one of the subjects discussed. It is also reported that the Russian Minister advised the Corean Emperor to recognise that Corea would not be able to maintain the integrity of her dominions if assisted by any country but Russia." The same paper's Tokyo correspon- dent telegraphed on the 12th inst.:-" A report was received from Seoul recently that the Russian Minister was received in audience by the Corean Emperor and applied for the con- cession of Chinkaiwan. The affair is not of recent date; but it was discussed at the time Masampo was ceded to Russia. The Corean Government at the time negotiated with the Russian Minister and an agreement was entered into, forfeiting all Russian claim at Chinkai- wan. Consequently the Secul despatch regard- ing the Russian demand for Chinkaiwan is un- derstood to be a mere rumour; but it is a fact that the place is being frequently surveyed ly the Russians.”
of a railway engineer made part of a survey for summer of 1900, a Russian expedition in charge
dorsk, near the mouth of the River Ob, to Belk- the construction of a line of railway from Ob. oveskaryn Gouba, one of the bays on the Kara Sea. The survey had to be interrupted owing to the approach of winter, but it will be resumed and completed this year.
The survey so far carried ont shows that the construction of rail- ways across the marshy plains of North-Western Siberia will present no insurmountable difficulties. and it will play a very great part in the export- The projected railway will be built by a company,
world. ation of Siberian corn for the markets of the
COMMERCIAL.
CAMPHOR. *Hongkong, 22nd February.—Still no arrivals,
RICE.
standstill on account of the China New Year, and HONGKONG, -22nd February.-Business is at á the prices are the same as when last reported. Quotations are--- Saigon, Ordinary.........
»
Siam,
17
$2.85 to 2.00 Round, Good quality ......... 8.05 to 9.10 Field mill cleaned, No. 2
Long:** ***FALLÕPUAK 3:15 to 3.20
Garden,
White..
Fine Cargo
2.95 to 3.00 No. 1 ...... 8.25 to 8.30
8.75 to 3.80.
4.05 to 4.10