June 17, 1901.]
maple, all the metal fittings are electro-plated. The dining-saloon is an extremely pretty com- partment, but convenience has not been storificed to effect. The central columns supporting the roof are also of carved maple, and here and there polished mahogany appears in relief. Tho saloon opens on to a staircase, which is tastefully fitted up in maple, the stairway being a combination winding one, having an entrance on each side.with double handrails supported by electio-plated brackets. At the top of the stairway is a social hall, with a small library and a cottage piano, with music folios. The floors of all the cabins and saloons are covered with Brussels carpets of a pretty blue design. At the end of the spacious passenger promenade dock is a large smok ing-room, with chairs and tables and every convenience for the smoker's comfort. The indispensable bar-room is attached. The galleys are commolions and fitted with all modern appliances, and under the control of a good chef, will maintain this company's reputa- tion for good catering. The health of the pas sengers is not neglected, for on the aft poop deck is a small hospital fitted with eight berths, which is under the charge of a qualified Japanese surgeon. In fact, everything tending to the comfort, enjoyment an amusement of the passenger seems to have been provided, and under the command of capable officers the intending voyager will be able to make the passage between here and north-western America with speed, safety and absolute com- fort. The N.Y.K. are to be heartily con- gratulated on their enterprise in providing such an excellent service of such splendid ships.
I.M.C. DUES AND DUTIES: JANUARY-MARCH.
The Report of Du s and Duties for the Chinese treaty ports in the first quarter of 1901, just published by the Imperial Maritime Customs, shows some interesting figures. Com- pared with the same quarter in 1900, the total col ection gives a decrease of Hk. Tís. 1,033,695 -dropping from Hk. Tis. 5,395,(32 to Hk. Tls. 4,361,337. The ports which improved on last year's figures were:-Newchwang, Chefoo, Kiaochau, Chungking, Ishang, Shasi, Yochow, Nanking, Chinkiang, Soochow, Ningpo, Santu, Wuchow, Samshui, Kongmoon. Kumchuk, Canton, and Pakhoi. Decreases were shown by Tientsin, Hankow, Kiakiang, Wuhu, Shanghai, Hangchow, Wenchow, Foochow, Amoy, Swatow, and Kiungchow.
Taking first the increases, Newchwang re- gistered over Hk. Tls. 3,787 against the blank entry of the same quarter last year. Chefoo advanced from Hk. Tls. 108,543 to Hk. Tls.
147,582, Chungking from Hk. Tls. 93,681 to Hk. Tls. 141,010, Tohang from Hk. Tls. 154,323 to Hk. 11s 271,832, Nanking from Hk. Tls. 35,098 to Hk. Tls. 46,271, Chinkiaug from
Hk. Tls. 228,560 to Hx. Tls. 235,273. The West River ports all made slight advances, Canton increased from Hk. Tls. 465,052 to Hk. Tls. 50,2/7, and Pakhoi from Hk. Tls. 26,640 to Uk. Tls. 39,387.
The main decreases were:-Tientsin, from Hk. Tis: 119,788 to Hk. Tls. 37,154; Hankow, from Hk. Tls. 320,523 to Hk. Tls. 254,749, Wuhu, from Hk. Tis. 299,582 to Hk. Tls, 200,382; Shanghai, from Hk. Tls. 2,882; Shanghai, from Hk. Tls 2,273,759 to Hk. Tls. 1,262 357, Foochow, from Hk. Tls. 174,683 to Hk. Tls. 156,096; Amoy, from Hk. Tls. 147,996 to Hk. Tls. 146,788; Swatow, from Hk. Tls.
403,817 to Hk. Tls. 380,361.
A correspondent writes to a Northern con- temporary from Peking that four thousand of the troops of Ynau Shi-kai are on their way from Shantang to Peking. They will maintain order on the withdrawal of the foreign troops. This measure is no doubt the result of fears entertained in official quarters that Boxer bandits will take advantage of the retirement of the French, German, British and other troops. The news from Paoting is not reassuring. The native Roman Catholics are still slain by vindictive Boxers. Additions are being made to the 6,000 Romanists who in Bishop Favier's vicariat have lost their lives during the crisis.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
PAKHOI.
[FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.]
Pakhoi, 4th June,
NORTHERN NOTES.
491
The following items are from the P. & T. Times of the 1st inst.:
It is reported that three papers are likely to be started in Peking by Chinese.
already reached. Honan, but it is not authen- A rumour has it that the Heir Apparent has ticated,
the U. S. troops has been added to the British The section of Peking formerly occupied by section.
Bad characters are collecting round Tientsin waiting for the Chinese to resume General Ma Yu-kuan, who was of the leaders in the attack on Tientsin last year, is waiting on the Chihli border for the foreign troops to go.
▲ MISSIONALY TROUBLE. Months ago several members of the German Church Mission established themselves at Limchow, where they bought a house and turned it into a chapel. On the 24th May, the natives destroyed this chapel (whether by fire or by pulling it down is not stated). As the result the German cruiser Jaguar arrived in the harbour on the 2nd June for the purpose of demanding satisfaction. It was expected that the Lim-control. chowfu would arrive on the 3rd at Pakhoi to meet the commander of the craiser. Besides full satisfaction, the Germans demand a few thousand dollars imdemnity and two hun- dred and fifty dollars per day for the cruiser daring her stay there. If the Limchowfu did not come to Pakhoi, the German commander was to proceed to Limehow, escorted by his men, for the purpose of making a demonstration.
On the afternoon of the 3rd instant, the Limehowfu and Hop Ho Yuen (Prefect and Sub-Prefect) arrived at Pakhoi.
OTHER POWERS WATCHING,
On the morning of the 4th instant the Kersaint arrived in harbour, supposedly to watch the movements of the Germans. A British gunboat is expected to arrive at any moment.
Later.
Whilst I write these lines the Germans have just landed fifty mirines and officers. This was on the 4th inst. The men were marched on to the Yamen of the Chi Cheong Szi (civil magistrate).
The plague is making severe havoc among the inhabitants; the heat is intolerable.
FOOCHOW.
The following items are from the Foochow Echo of the 1st inst.:-
Business in the tea market has been con- fined so far to boxes of Pakling and Flowery Pekoe, Congous are somewhat late in arriving and musters will not be shown until next week.
The Glenshiel is to be the first steamer to load for London, but the date of her sailing will not be fixed until the opening of the market.
The 8.8. Wineland left Foochow on the 26th ulto. bound direct for Madagascar with a batch of coolies engaged by Mr. Francis Vetch for General Gallieni, Governor General of that French Colony. The men were very pleased with all that was done for them, and not at all afraid at the prospect of so long a voyage. The Wineland is due at Tamatava in the beginning of July.
Last Tuesday the Viceroy and Tartar General entertained the Foreign Consals, the Commis- sioner and Deputy Commissioner of Customs, at the house of the Foreign Board, at mid day. The high Provicial authorities were present, as well as the Amoy Tuotai and the U.S. Con- sul at A moy.
The 30th May ("Memorial Day") was observed at this port by a ceremony under the direction of the U. S. Consul, in which all Americans in port participated. They first visited the grave of Rev. N. J. Plumb in the American mission cemetery, he having served in the army during the civil war. The grave was covered with flowers by loving hands, the principle offering being a floral American flag. From there the children, carrying a large American flag, led the procession to the Foreign cometery, where the graves of six sailors of the American navy were decorated. Services were then held in the chapel; Rev. Mr. Wilcox offered prayer., Rev. Mr. Beard delivered a vory eloquent address and national hymns were sung by the company.
The Closing Exercises of the Foochow Graded School were held in the chapel of the W.F.M.8. Seminary at Tai-Main on Friday morning at ten o'clock.
The striking off of the large stock of rupees ordered by Government is now nearly complete at the Bombay and Calcutta Mints, and the minting of Hongkong dollars, it is stated, will be resumed at the usual rate. No further steps are being taken at present for commencing the coinage of sovereigns in India.
exploit the natural resources of Mongolis, and A Russian company has been formed to an investigating expedition will shortly be sent to prospect.
The portion of the Palace which was under the protection of the Americans and Japanese has been handed back to the Chinese, and it is estimated that the necessary repairs will take about two months.
It has been found that several men have been engaged manufacturing rifles at the village of Yangchiachuang on the Taku Road, and it was the testing of these rifles which drew upon the village the foreign detachment who believed it to be a preconcerted signal that their assistance was required for the suppression of brigands.
An arrangement was recently made by the troops stationed near Taichaku that the villagers around were to fire a rifle as a signal if they were attacked by brigands, so that the foreign troops might hasten to their assistance. The other day a shot was fired by accident, and the guard turned out. The villagers thought the foreign soldiers were brigands and fired on them, and shots were exchanged on both sides with wards searched and about thirty rifles found one or two casualties. The village was after-
arrested. which were confiscated, and five villagers were
.
A correspondent writes to our contemporary: "There has lately been a great deal of discussion remaining under the Provisional Government. as to the advisability of the Chinese city here There are people who say that Chinese Taotais raiers. Those who say so are mostly people would govern the city better than the present who have come here after the war. Tientsin city should in my individual opinion remain under foreign Government for several years. A big city on the lines of communication between the capital and the sea would form a source of great danger if under Chinese authority, as it would become the rendezvous of the day before yesterday that an armed band of evil-doers of any shade and colour. It was only robbers broke into a foreign firm's compound in the city, tortured some of the people there, and stole 4,000 taels. Again, it was from the walls of the Tientsin city that bombarded, it was the very nest of Boxers and other rascals, and it is stated by all sensible Chinese that if the Provisional Government withdraws, affairs will soon again become tumultuous. As it is, Tientsin is now kept under strict control, and important works are being carried out which in the course of time will make it a model city if allowed to gɔ on,”
ΤΟ were
The following Peking notes from thɔ nətivə papers are translated in the Shanghai Mercury :
The proposed railway from the Tung Pisa Gate to Tungchow has been stopped by the go- vernment. The gentry and officials are in a funk the evacuation by the Allies and have urged Li over the threatening aspect of affairs, following
Hung-chang to hurry up Yuan Shih-kai's men to the rescue.—
-The Germans, fearing that the prisons of the Board of Panishments were in Althy condition which might breed - plagu› visited the prisons and consulted with the war- den as to the best means of cleansing.Since the reopening of the railway many of the officials, taking advantage of the fact that the Treaty was not yet concluded and no date assigned for the return of the Court, secretly left the city. Hence the varions Yamens became gradually short of men, so that the suspicions of the heads of departments were aroused. It is said that the Yamens have devised a plan of better supervision.
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