April 13, 1901.]
TIENTSIN.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Tientsin, 25th March.
NO NEWS AND MANÝ RUMOURS.
The' situation is unchanged in its interna. tional and imperial aspects, and there is abso. lutely no progress to chronicle. We have every day the same crop of silly rumours that the Court starts for Peking next week, that the Empress has consented to abrogate her power and to become a pensioner, that she is at death's
1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
probable, and the wonder is that we have had so few of them during these troublous times. Be- tween Tientsin and Taku, on this side of the River, mounted maranders have been rushing | the villages, and making night attacks during the last six weeks. Robbery is almost the only course open to the scallywags of the disbanded soldiery; moreover the bad characters of this whole neighbourhood have for years lived by the piracy on the River, and now that little merchandise comes up they are finding times hard. The military transport is of course al ways guarded.
CITY AND RIVER IMPROVEMENTS,
CHANGE DOINGS:
305
The morrow of March Settlement,
Hongkong, 1901,
of
to
Phew! At last the Hettlement, that March Settlement which has been weighing on the Rialto mind for weeks past, that Settlement, which, it had been predicted, would surely cause a slump all round, has come and gone, and yet the market has kept its equilibrium. That it should have occurred on a Saturday was in it- self a serious disadvantage, but, thanks to the staff of the banks principally concerned, who door with an incurable disease, &c., &c.; but The Provisional Government will long be on this occasion, as on many othe
other occasions sane spectators of the game know that these are famous in Tientsin for its fine seal in the of emergency, were most obliging and accom- nothing but the creation of the newsmonger who has to justify his presence to his employers way of Public Works; indifferent in many modating, everything passed off like clockwork. Such a heavy Settlement has not been known and finds it a very hard thing to do if he confine other respects, this assembly of Colonels and himself to the tabulation of mere facts. Never Majors has really done more in six months since those never-to-be-forgotten days of 1888 before during a decade and a half in North for urban and river improvement than the and 1889, when the share mania was at its China have I known such a dearth of trust Chinese would have done in six centuries. The height. But what a difference between the mad speculation of that mad period, to recover worthy news on the subjects of the Court and old and useless city walls are down, and are Chinese affairs generally. The Japanese verna menade now runs for four miles down the Pei four bitter years, and the healthy investment being replaced by good broad streets; a fine pro- from the evil effects of which it took Hongkong cular press is especially the victim of false in- telligence in connection with things Chinese; Ho's right bank, and this week the Board has business of the present day! Instead of the one might safely postulate that two thirds of anticipated the action of others by devoting men of straw, who then constituted the bulk their telegraphic intelligence from China is Ts. 100,000 to a new form of River improve-speculators and who, for a time, were able wrong or speculative, and the other third ment, viz. the straightening of the channel by control the market to their own undoing, we trivial.
cuttings. At the end of the Tientsin Reach now have sober-minded solid business-men, who just below the Concessions a new bed is to be would not encourage undue inflation, and whe TAE END Of the local CRISIS. Our twofold local crisis is over, and we are
out through a neck of land one mile long, thus
can be depended upon in case of a panic. In- once more reduced nearly to normal calm. Connt obviating a circuitous bend of three miles and stead, too, of the shady ventures, such as
two very difficult and shallow corners.
tobacco companies, silver mines Several bogus von Waldersee was the deus ex machina in dis- of these great cuttings are wanted, but this is unknown lands, and others of the like kind, posing of the Railway excitement. With great the most urgent; and it is extremely creditable which were palmed off on a too trusting commonsense he suggested that both claimants should withdraw their guards, and leave things blem. Even if its work is absorbed in that of Colony, we now have sound productive concerns, to the Government that it has attacked the pro- public and took vast sums of money out of the exactly as they are till investigation be made the proposed Conservancy," it will still have all, judging from their published statements, into the subject of title. The squabble, as you the credit of inaugurating a great measure of in prosperous condition and attracting capital know, consists entirely in the right to a piece public, and almost national, importance. There here from all over the East. There can be no of land sold twice over. Even if fire has destroyed is abundance of water in the Fei Ho this question that it is to this last factor that we all documentary evidence, priority of possession
owe, in a great measure, our present easy can be determined by other means. Each side spring; Mr. de Linde's scheme is so far com- is confident that it is only claiming its own, and pletely successful, what is now wanted is to financial situation.
deepen and especially to lengthen the channel disclaims all intention of jockeying the other; in the acute bends. No vessel of over 200 feet if this be so, then a legal investigation under
can get round them at present. competent and impartial judges is an infinitely better method of establishing claim than by armed guards. In the present attitude of China versus Christendom and Japan a resort to force, until all other means have been tried, would be nothing but a transcendent crime:
ANGLO-FRENCH DIFFICULTY SETTLED,
|
THE AUSTRALIANS DEPART.
Later.
The Victorian half of the Australian Con- tingent left us this morning. There was a remarkable demonstration of good will on the
-1
in
The month has not been without its anxieties, but these were only transient, and were tided over without any difficulty. Settlement realisa- tions were generally profitable, but those came off best ho held on to the last, and who were not scared into parting with their hold- ings at the first sign of any slight momentary weakness. The stock which was mostly feared a very heavy Buod at the embarkation. General Campbell | was, of course, Banks, in which ́ ́ voiced the sentiments of all Tientsin, civil and business had been doing for some time past, but During the week General Bailloud, the military, in confessing our common obligation they held firm up to the last. A big line of second in command, has come down from Peking for their splendid services; the General said these shares bas found its way up North, but and has by a judicious mixture of tact and that in all his long service he had never been destined, I believe, for a more important market. strength, all but settled the Anglo-French associated with a finer and better disciplined There was, however, very little new business difficulty. He has persuaded his compatriots body of men, and that he and we parted with done during the month, only a few insignificant that the British action in excluding them from them with the greatest regret. The band of lots changing hauds on time, vis. --374 per cent. the British Concession was not the mere out- the Hongkong Regiment played them off, and to 372 per cent. for July, 365 per cent. to 383 come of an acute Gallophobia, but the direct almost every officer and man off duty in the per cent. for May, and 361 per cent. to 358 per result of the conduct of a few of their more garrison turned out to wish the men Gedent. for April. The cash rate closed at 353 thoughtless comrades; he pointed out the in-speed" home. The New South Wales contin- expediency of walking six abreast, and of prac-gent follows to-morrow from Peking. tical joking, and said that if he got the prohibi- I grieve to say the news of the tragedy to tion removed be hoped they would give no Mr. Stonehouse is confirmed, though no parti. Justification for reimposing it. Then he upculars are yet to hand. proached our people in a friendly way and under
a pledge or expressed confidence that the annoy. ance would not recur got the veto removed Our folk were only too glad to do it on every ground, among others that the French were making access to the Railway unpleasant, to say the least of it, and it is ever ungracious to be on
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.] A MEMORIAL TO THE LATE QUEEN.
bad terms with one's neighbours. It is to be understood that the temples of Aphrodite (Japonensis) are only accessible to the gallant
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS,” Gauls by a pilgrimage through our Settlement,
Hongkong; 8th April. hence many woes. We were just a little anxions yesterday when we had an abundance of this Colony intend to do something as me. SIR-I presume the British community of young British troops in the town. The Royal morial of our late Queen, though up to the Welsh were here en passant to Peking. There is present I have not heard of any steps having
no doubt that the Welshmen, especially in alli. ance with the New South Welshmen and
+
been taken.
I would propose a meeting te held in the Victorians, would not have wept over an occa- City Hall to elect a Committee who could sion for a little fight just to diversify the tedium invite suggestion as to what form the memorial of these prossic times. Things yesterday were should take, and when the matter has been in marked contrast to last Sunday, when an thoroughly considered a second meeting could Indian was badly mauled and more than one be held to finally decide.-Iare, sir, yours, etc., British officer hissed, hust'ed, or jostled on
B. K. LEIGH. the roads of the French Concession.
STONEHOUSA'S DEATH.
There is a report, which I have not been able. The funeral of the murdered Capt. Watts-' | disp
the Rev T. Stonehouse of the Jones, R.E., took place with military honours London
was two days ago brutally kill. at Peking on the 23rd ult. A large number of ed by a band of mounted bandits some half way oneers accompanied the cortége from the between. Peking and Tientsin” near Lo-Fi: Ch'yelf-fu hospital to the British cemetery out Such an incident, deplorable as it is, is highly side the wall of the Tartar City.
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per cent.
Docks kept steady but quiet during the greater part of the month. Latterly, however, there was again a brisk demand, fancy prices being paid for forward shares when obtainable, The old scrip is now in the hands of the Com- pany, to be exchanged for new. This change is a positive boon to small investors, who will now be able to put their savings in a concern which has been beyond their reach hitherto.
12
Shipping.---A steady business has been doing in Indos all throughout the month, the northern port being the principal buyer, both for cash
opposition on
and on time. The month's quotations varied very little, having been 8119 to 8121 for June, and $117 to 8119 cash, Steamboats experienced
This sudden decline is doubtless owing to that a heavy drop, falling as low as $32, but Latter- ly, recovering somewhat, closed steady at 893. Periodical bete noire to the Company, another
on their line. Itisrumoured, ho that the latter has already brokendown. vere picked off the market at the
of 848, but the supply seems con sellers still ruling the market at the close Star Ferries appear to be daily coming into 992 for old shares and 87 for new, bat increased favour, bayers being prepared to pay
fow shares are forthcom
China Sugars.—Under this head last I mentioned that a good statement dividend may be
dividend of per