مجھے
July 15, 1901.]
. Major W, L. H. Beresford, R.W.F., has been granted leave of absence from 18th May to 18th August.
Leave of absence has been granted to Major F. Koe, Army Service Corps, from 17th inst. to 16th September.
On the 8th inst. the British transport Glengyle arrived from Madras, and the Uganda and Sumatra left for Taku.
Apart from plague last-week, only one case of communicable disease was notified in the colony, viz., a fatal case of enteric fever, in Victoria.
No immediate attempt to float the dredger Canton River will be made. The top-hampor is to be removed, leaving practically only the hull. This work is expected to take at least a week to accomplish. Lightened as the vessel
will then be, no serious obstacle to her success- ful floating is anticipated.
ran
The Yaumati ferry-launch Cheung Ching, in approaching her wharf at Connaught Road West at about 9 p.m. on the 10th inst. down and sank a first-class passenger sampan. No one was injured, and the occupants of the sampan were able to save their be! ng- ings and to board the launch before their boat went down.
The agent of the Canadian Pacific Railway Co.'s Royal Mail Steamship Line informed us on the 9th inst. that he was just in receipt of the following cable:- The C. P. R. Co.'s Royal Mail steamer Empress of China from Hong- kong, which was detained in quarantine at Nagasaki, arrived at Vancouver at 4 a., on Thursday the 4th inst., all well-having made the run across from Yokohama in 10 days.
The returns of the average amount of bank notes in circulation and of specie in reserve in Hongkong during June are thus certifi d by the managers of the respective Eanks :-
Average Spesie in Amount. Reserve.
8
ૐ 2,808,495 1,600,000 7,905,367 5,aro,000 442,272 150 000 Total
$11,156.134 6,750,000 All the district south of Austin Road is to be
Banks.
Chartered Bank of India, Aus-
tralia and China
Hongkong and Shanghai Bank-
ing Corporation National Bank of ( hina, Limited
included in Tsin Tsa Tsui district herea ter, and will be policed by the police of the latter
station.
6+
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The outbreak of fresh missionary troubles in Quelpart is denied. Latest news via Japan indicates that all is quiet.
Beri-beri is said to be taking a firm hold in Bangkok, a large number of soldiers in parti- cular suffering from the complaint.
In the interval between his two concerts at the Gordon Hall, Tientsin, on the 19th and 29th ult., Mr. Alec Marsh went on to Peking and greatly delighted a very good audience.
The number of cases of plague reported in Formosa during the week ending the 20th alt. amounted to 307, and the deaths to 269. The
A large company assembled in the Free- masons' Hall, Zetland Street, on the 4th inst. the occasion being a smoking concert given by the Naval and Military Lodge in honour of Messrs. W. H. Sidwell and J. Nichols, who left the colony on the 6th inst. by the Chusan for England. The long and varied programme was carried through without a hitch under the able chairmanship of Mr. F. Howell, the pro- ceedings not terminating until nearly 1 a.m. The duet "Excelsior" by Messrs. French and Simmers was enthusiastically received, the last verse having to be repeated. Sergt Viggers in "O be careful and his other songs caused great laughter. The other artists were Messrs. G. M. Wallis, J. Oxbarry, B. Keeley. W. J. Terrill, H. G. Ward, E. J. Trenouth, W. H. Sidwell, H. M. Pyke, W. J. Bray and H. B. Bridger. Sergt. Burrell, kept up his reputation as an accompanist. After a very enjoyable evening, the proceedings terminated with Auld Lang Syne" and the National Anthem. The death return for the month of May shows that there died during that period 47 of the European and foreign community (42 from the civil population, 3 from the Army, and 2 from the Navy) and 963 of the Chinese community Chest affections claimed 107 victims, and feger 622, of whom 557 died of plague and of malaria. Of the plague deaths 19 were in the European and foreign civil community, while among the Chinese, 78 died of this disease in No. 2 division of Victoria, 75 in No. 4. G1 i No. 9, and 54 in Kowloon. The principal percentages in the different registration districts were:-British and foreign civil population 54 per 1,000 per annum; Chinese community, Vic toria, land 50, harbour 30.8; Chinese, whole Colony, land 44.9, boat 25.7, land and boat, 255; whole civil community, 42.7. It may be noted that the boat populations of Shankiwan, Aber deen, and Stanley, estimated at 4,990, 5,310, and 790 respectively, had much lower averages: -Shaukiwan 19.2 per 1,0:0 per annum, Aberdeen 11.2, Stanley nil.
total number of cases since the first case was
reported in Formosa amounts to 3,629, and the deaths to 2,756.
|
57
Much damage has been done recently by floods, caused by heavy rain-storms, in Japan.
Viceroys Lin Kung-yi and -Li Hung-chang, on receipt of the Imperial Edict announcing the Court's return to Peking, posted placards in the chief cities and places in their provinces notify- ing the people of the fact. They also wrote to Wan Wen-shao in Hsianfu and expressed their gratification at the acceptance of their petitions. Viceroys Liu and Li have signified their readi- ness to forward funds toward the expense re- quired for the Court's return to Peking if necessary.
The life of the Public Works Department officials in the Philippines is certainly not a bed of roses. The greatest difficulty is experi- enced in starting and carrying out any public works at all owing to the disinclination of the Filipinos, not only of Manila, but all over the islands, to manual labour. Chinese emigra. The foreign tax defaulters in Yokohama are tion is restricted, and the ex-insurgents are reported to have responded to the final call too lazy to work. So public works and improve- issued by the local Mayor with the exceptionments entailing manual labour are practically of Messrs. Martin & Co., who are said to
at a standstill, except where soldiers are put to refuse to comply with the call on the ground road-making. that such taxation is an infringement of the treaty.
expedition, including a battery of artillery, is on its way beyond Haicheng, about 60 miles north east of Newchwang, where a number of brigands have collected. They have been driven into the neighbourhood of Haicheng by the troops from
It is reported from the North that a Russian
|
the North.
A large and very ancient tomb has been dis- covered in Shantung, with pictures on the walls, and iron entrance gates, but Chinese feeling prevents any investigation being made into it, and Yuan Shikai has merely closed it ap and put a stone tablet marked Ancient Tomb on it.
The troubles in North Chian have, it is said, been the means of introducing Japanese manu- factures to the attention of the Chinese, presumably by the Japanese soldier engaging in the role of commercial traveller. Japanese cigarettes, to mention only one article, are now said to very popular among the Chinese.
The Japanese authorities are evidently determined to take all precautions against the premises belonging to the Medical College of introduction of plague. That part of the
the Imperial University in which the pest- infected rats were found, was burned down on the 27th ult. as a precautionary measure against the outbreak of the disease in Tokyo.
The inaugural meeting of the shareholders in the Seoul-Fusan Railway Company was held in Tokyo on the 26th ult., those prosent representing 66,542 shares. Baron Shibusawa, the Chairman of the Promotion Committee, reported on the work done by the Committee since the formation of the Company. The meeting then approved the appropriation, for the promotion expenses, of 48,680 yen, of which 9,600 yen is to be paid to the promoters.
The Tientsin correspondent of the Mercury writing on the 24th ult., says:-From Peking one hears of the great extension of the Legation areas. The British, Russian and American run parallel from Prince Su's right up to the Chienmen. The British along the whole length confront the walls of the Forbidden City, the carriage park with its buildings having been appropriated for barracks for the Legation guard and the site of the Hanlin College also being enclosed. Then the German, Japanese and other nationalities stretch right on to the, Hakka Men, and exceed even the other in extent. Part of the wall of the Forbidden City has also been removed, because of the danger in any future possible attack on the Legations. Mines also are being dug by Chinese labour and are open to public inspection, I suppose as a warning to the Boxers of the future. The Gate towers are also being removed, and building going on apace, as it is also in Tientsin. Ä special crusade against native dogs has taken place, and Peking is almost free from them, while so clean is the city that the Chinese sny that even the crows are getting thin and what country for! they do get they have to go ont into the
There died at Milan on the 6th inst., at the age of 64 years, one who will be well remembered in the colony, and who was beloved alike for his happy disposition and for his large-hearted benevolence-Father Vigano, of the Roman Catholic Church. The deceased priost came out to Hongkong from Italy so long ago as
1865, and after an almost continuous residence here was compelled two years ago, through failing health, to return home. Latterly, disease of the liver developed, and though at first hopa was entertained that the patient wonki recover. he suffered a relapse and slowly sank, dying. as has been stated, on the 6th inst. Whilst in The Mercury of the 4th inst. says :- We have Hongkong, Father Vigano occupied the position been favoured with further particulars of the of military chaplain to Roman Catholics--an extraordinary arrest by Russians of a British office that occupied almost his entire time. officer travelling in Manchuria on the al-Though his duties in this connection were legation that he was a spy. It appears that not light, he yet found time to couple with Lieutenant-Colonel Powell, one of General thom those of Director of the Roman Catholic Barrow's staff, was desirous of proceeding to Reformatory at West Point, an appointment Europe vid Manchuria, and got a pass from he held for about five years. Both of these Admiral Alexieff to proceed to St. Petersburg offices he filled with much success, and his good When at Moukden he stopped at the house of work was recognised and appreciated by all, Dr. Ross, a missionary, and did not call ou especially by the English community, who saw General Fleschor, the head of the Russian in Father Vigano a man worthy of the highest Administration there, as he wished to have as es'eem. The deceased held two decorations- little delay as possible, his idea being to get on one from the Italian Government and one from quickly to Harbin. General Flescher evidently the French Government. That from the Italian thought he had been purposely slighted by the Government was earned throngh valuable services officer, and apparently in revenge for the sup rendered in connection with a geographical ex- posed slight he sent a telegram further north pedition, and also through again serving the telling the Russian officers to keep an eye on nation in embalming and sending home the body Colonel Powell and not let him see to much. of a distinguished Italian statesman and member The Cossack officers who received this telegram, of the Royal Family of Italy, who was touring however, interpreted it perhaps too literally into in the Far East, and who was taken ill and an order to arrest the officer. While proceed- died here. The decoration from the French ing in a cart between Moukden and Harbin he Government was that of the Legion of Honour. was followed by a party of armed Cossacks, and Previous to becoming a priest, Father Vigano when passing the village of Puliho, about twenty was an officer in the Italian army. On the miles north of Moukden, where there was a large 8th inst. a special funeral service, conducted Russian garrison, they seized him and pulled by the Right Rev. Bishop Piazzoli, was held him into the Barracks. Colonel Powell im- in St. Francis's Church, and another was held mediately telegraphed to the British Consulat half-past seven on the 9th inst. in the Roman General at Shanghai, and is no doubt by this Catholic Cathedral, at which his Lordship will time released.
also officiate.
!