454
ing its tail which caused such devastation, for two dragons were seen in the Shekwoo Lake, in the district of Fayuin, during a wild squall, flying upwards, one throwing out black vapour from its mouth and the other white vapour.
VICEROY MAKING A SWEEP OF OFFICIALS.
It is reported that the energetic old Viceroy Tao Mu has memorialised against and recommended the degradation of 142 officials under him, high and low, for various reasons of course. It is a pretty large sweep, such as has never been made before by any of his pre- decessors. To save the faces of some of the big ones he recommended them to send in their applications for sick leave or for transference
THE STEAMER-WHARF disputE.
The question as to the right of constructing the steamer-wharf in Kee Cheong Street, in which one Ho Fu Nin is the party against whom the inhabitants of the thirty-two streets have lodged their protest, is, I believe, settled for the time being, as a notification has been issued by the officials concerned in the investigation to the effect that the river being as wide as 60 cheongs or more, the said Ho Fu Nin has a perfect right to construct a wharf there, that, as the canal is over 30 feet wide, it causes no obstruction to the boat-traffic or the conveyance of cargo, that it would be no impediment to the filling up of an embankment along the river-front by and by, and that the inhabitants must not offer any obstruction.
THE "SUNCHOW"-"HUNG FEI" COLLISION. The question of collision between the steam- launches Sunchow and Hung Fei is also at an end, and Leong-you, owner of the former, has won the day. The assessors held that the captain of the Hung Fei was to blame for having violated the rules of navigation in not keeping to the proper route, which brought on the collision. By order of the Viceroy the captain and crew of the launch are to be punished, and are ordered to pay damages and an indemnity for the lives lost.
A CANARD ABOUT KANG YU-WEI, It is rumoured that Kang Yu-wei has sent a letter from Singapore to his nephew in the country, saying that he has offered to the Empress Dowager, against whom he is said to have sinned, $800,000, to redeem his sin, and $800,000 as a contribution to the government, and that the Pao Hwang Hwei (the Society for the Protection of the Emperor) is to contribute $10,000,000 to the government as a recompense for its past favour.
I am sure no one would believe such a story. Where has Kang Yu-wei so much money?
FLEECING CANTON.
An Imperial order has been sent to the Vice- roys of all the provinces to make arrangements to pay the indemnity of 450 million taels. The Viceroys and Governors are commanded to curtail their expenses and increase the tato In the case of lekin, only one-third of which now goes to the Government, and two-thirds to the officials' private purse, an order is now given that all revenues of whatever description must go to the Government. Canton is con- sidered by the northerners as one of the richest provinces in China, and as she has no represen- tative in the Imperial Court to put in a word or two for her, she has to pay more than any other province, while the others plead poverty. When H.E. Li Hung-chang in Canton was told of the contribution sent from Canton to Peking annually, he was actually taken by surprise and promised to get it reduced.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
SWATOW.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT].
Swatow, 19th May.
GERMANY DIFENDS HER CONVERTS.
Chang Lok, a district about 40 miles distant from here, and the scene of last year's disturbances, has lately indulged again in the pastime of plundering several native converts' German mission, the German Consul wired a honses. As the latter belong to the flock of the protest to the Viceroy of the province.
H.I.G.M.S. Geier also arrived here yester- day, ostensibly on a visit, but with a view, of course, to backing up the claims which are sure to follow. I have no doubt this constant plandering of native Christians will sooner or later be stopped, but in the meantime the Chinese officials have to pay for the outrages committed in their respective districts.
THE ITALIAN MAN-OF-WAR
PEKING
[June 3, 1901.
Peking, 15th May.
THE INDEMNITY QUESTION is being slowly worked out. The delay has not been due to the Chinese, but to the foreign Ministers, who have had to make up their estimates and agree amongst themselves as to the principles and policy to be carried out. It is only a few days ago that they were able to announce to the Chinese Plenipotenti- aries the amount they would demand-some Tls. 450,000,000. On the 12th the official reply of the Chinese was handed in. An earnest ap- peal is made that the amount demanded be reduced, as China is unable to pay a large indemnity. The method by which payment is proposed to be made is as follows:-An instal- ment of Tis 15,400,000 annually will be paid for 30 years and will be raised from certain funds, Tls. 10,000,000 from the salt revenues, Tis. 3,000,000 from the native Customs and Tis.
Stromboli paid us a visit on the 14th inst., and 2,000,000 from the lekin. after 5 days' stay left for the North.
H.M.8. "LIZARD"
arrived in here from Hongkong on the 16th inst., and left again for South on the 19th.
SPORT.
PSA LOAN?
While these are the proposals of the Pleni- potentiaries it is known that there was a tele- gram from Hsian sanctioning the raising of a loan at 5 per cent., and that the payment of A cricket match was arranged and played the, indemnity should extend over 50 years, in- yesterday between the Swatow.C. C. and terests being provided for. The actual proposal H.M.S. Lizard. After a splendid game the sent in is much more favourable to China, and local team won the match by four runs. The if her interests be the interests of the Powers Shanghai Cricket team is said to intend paying her proposals will be accepted. If so, the actual us a visit in the course of the summer. It is amount she will pay out will be the Tls. 15,000,3000 hoped this is true, for in that case we shall have per annum, minus the Tis. 7,000,000 which the rare opportunity of witnessing a really good she proposes to raise for herself from advancing match.
the tariff rates. In the meantime the reply of 20th May.
the Home Governments is being awaited.
THE CHANG LOK OUTRAGE.
Three waiyaens deputed by the Viceroy have arrived here from Canton to settle the dispute that has arisen at Chang Lok. H.I.G.M.S. Geier left to-day for Amoy.
44
THE 'HONG AN'S" CLAIM SATISFED, For the outrage committed on the Hong An, her owners put in a claim for $150. After allowing a sufficient time to elapse, the Tatapon people decided to pay the claim, but not in full; they merely gave $100, with which, however, the owners of Hong An are contented. This finally closes the incident.
ICE.
owned by Messrs, Bradley & Co., is supplying From this date the Swatew Ice Factory,
ice at two cents per pound. This being our pioneer ice factory, it is hoped that it will pay its enterprising owners.
23rd May.
MORE ATTACKS ON NATIVE CHRISTIANS,
day, to the effect that in the district of Ho Very authentic information reached me to- Yuan, a place very thickly inhabited by con- verts, placards of an inciting nature had been posted by a man named Ling Ting. This worthy, presumably an official, calls upon the them out of the district of Ho Yüзn. The people to kill the native Christians or drive
Ting, inform the people that by "Imperial placards, which bear the signature of Ling
native converts by the 8th of this moon. command' they are to exterminate all the date falls to-morrow, and I merely wonder if This
the "Imperial order" will be carried out.
North, it is rather surprising to find the In view of the unsettled state of affairs up Chinese down soath misbehaving themselves' protegés of the various missionaries. towards the native Christians, who are the As usaal, the mandarins are caught napping, and they only awaken when it is too late.
A European firm at Penang, says the Pinang Gazette, paid away a Government note for $50, The commercial men of Manila have decided which turned out to be a genuine $10 note to form an exchange for the sale of produce, manufactured into a fraudulent $50 one. They bonds, etc. The formation of the exchange immediately refunded the $50 and handed the was set on foot by Mr. Walter A. Fitton and note over to the Superintendent of Police. Mr. J. T. Macleod, and there was an immediate Eventually the note was passed to the Assistant response from the leading commercial firms, Treasurer. This is said to be the first case of and business men of the city. For the present its kind, as regards Government notes, and has fifty chairs only will be sold at a cost of $200 given rise to the following questions:-Has the (Mex.) each. The annual subscription will be firm a right to retain or re-obtain possession $100 each. Forty subscriptions for chairs have of the defaced note ? Has the firm a right to already been received from the leading firms demand from Government the original face and business men, and it has been decided to value of the note, namely $10 P It is under-start the Exchange at once with this number. stood the Solicitor-General, to whom the matter. The list has been closed, and a meeting of chair was referred, has decided both questions in the holders will be held to frame rules and bye-laws, negative:
elect officers, eto.
+
*
THE COURT EXPECTED.
There are two things that seem to lead to the belief that the Court will think of returning to Peking as soon as possible. The first is that. the indemnities are made up to the 1st of July, and it is to the interests of the Chinese Govern- ment to see that no pretext be left for further occupation of Peking. The other fact is that an enfach named Tani was sent secretly. by the Court to spy out the land, and he returned vi Honan to report to the Empress direct, The feeling here at present is that the reasons for return so far outweigh any that can be given for delaying that it is quite expected the Court will return.-N.-C. Daily News.
NORTHERN NOTES.
The following items are from the P. & T. Times of the 18th May
The Roman Catholic Cathedral in the Native City is being rebuilt.
appointed Railway Staff Officer at Yangtsun.
Lieut. Maxwell, 27th Bombay Infantry, is
On the departure of the Ulwar and Bikanir. Imperial Service Troops, the 6th Burma Batta- lion will take up their quarters in the West. Village.
We hear that Tang Shao-chuan, Director of ed to visit Japan and convey Chinese apologies Imperial Railway, is one of the mission appoint- for the late outbreak.
D.A.A.G. in Tientsin. Capt. Ray is returning to Capt. Grimston succeeds Capt. Ray as India to take up bis new post in the Intelligence partment. Branch of the Quarter-Master General's De-
The Russians have been clearing out all Chinese from their settlement on the opposite side of the river, who have not handed in their title-deeds and obtained a Russian certificate proving their right to remain.
Six halting places in Shansi and twenty-one" in Honan have been arranged for the returning Court, each one of which will have to furnish Tls. 70,000 for the repairing of the road and erection of suitable accommodation, but so far nothing has been said about the route in Chihli.
promises to be a fine highway when completed, The new road to the City along the Bund but the Japanese section is progressing slowly, while the French are already planting trees on theirs. It is a pity good stone in place of broken brick cannot be obtained for its con struction.
the Hongkong Regiment in addition to his Lieut. Thompson, I.M.S., takes charge of other duties, and Capt. Cleveland, I.M.S., has been appointed Staff-Surgeon (Tientsin) in suc-