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EDICT AGAINST IMPORT OF ARMS.
The following is a translation of the Imperial Edict of the 27th August against the import atidīssle of arins, etc. :----
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Macao, 9th September.
EDUCATION IN MACAO.
1
[September 14, 1901,
law-abiding and enlightened Portuguesa, poma- munity of Macao. He would assure them that they could rely on him at all times to promote, to the best of his abilities, the public weal, and he would regard the general well being of the Macaenses in particular with. A pleasing function, which had imparted to special interest. Inferentially it is gratifying it a significance of more than ordinary import. to find in these utterances an indication that ance by virtue of the speeches delivered on the the high pablie offices in the gift of the Governor will be open to all and any Macaense occasion, took place in the spacious hall of the
It was the red-letter' who will show himself qualifiɛd and fitted to Leal Soundo yesterday. day for the pupils of the municipal schools of hold the post when such may happen to be this city. It was their prize day. Decorated vacant. For the tendency in recent times with a profusion of festoons and wreaths and and until the return of the present Governor numerous plants in pots, which lined both sides (when certain of his predecessors in office of the entrance and staircase, the building and adopted a policy inimical to the interest- the Assembly Hall in particular presented an of the Macaenses and the internal economy of appearance quite befitting the festive occasion. the country) has been one that works to the A guard of honour accompanied by the military, exclusion of many eligible candidates for remú- band was drawn up in front of the Senado nerative appointments simply by the fact of and presented arms, to the strains of the their birth. This distinction is one inconsistent music, on the approach of His Excel with constitutional governmentand incompatible
with a sense of justice and fair play. It there lency the Governor, with Madame Horta e Costa and suite. The Government House fore behoves a just and impartial administra- party was received at the entrance to the Hall tion, such as happily now obtains here, to remor by the whole body of the Commissioners, even the trace of a suspicion of any invidious Madame Horts being lod to her seat by the differential treatment. With the above digres President, Mr. A. J. Basto. As the parents of sion, I should not omit mention of the high PAYMENT OF THE INDEMNITY. the children and the other visitors arrived they and well deserved tribute of praise to the staff of teachers – ladies aud gentlemen alike— paid by Governor Horta in a just appreciation of the good work they had done.
The import and sale of arms and ammunition, properly speaking, are against the laws of the country. It appears, however, that merchants have been accustomed in the treaty ports under the name of acting on behalf of the officials to import, privately, arms and ammunition into the country and sell them privately. Now us there is much unrest amongst malcontents and desperadoes it is indeed necessary to proclaim in stern tones the prohibition of the importa tion of all sorts of firearms and ammunition into the Empire, with the object of preventing the seeds of rebellion and troubles. We, there- fore, hereby command the Viceroys and Gov- ernors of provinces and Customs Tao as at the treaty ports to prohibit the import of arms and ammunition, and machinery for the making of said warlike weapons and stores from abroad. for the space of two ya 8, as a beginning, and let the Boards concerned take note
SUGGESTIONS FROM SIR ROBERT Hart.
It is reported that the Chinese Plenipoten tiaries have received a despatch from Sir Robert Hart containing suggestions in regard to the collection of duties, etc., for the payment of the Indemnity, an abstract of which we give below
1-It is suggested that the Commissiouers of I.M. Customs stationed at the various treaty ports be given the power to collect the local
native customs revenues.
2.-It is proposed that all the Customs Tactais shall each appoint an intelligent and able deputy to assist the Commissioner of Customs of the port concerned in above noted duties. The salary of said depu'y to be paid by the I.M. Customs.
3-The present native Customs employees shall be retained in their place; but when matters become settled it will be necessary to deal with details and retain or dismiss such employees as may seem best for the service. The salaries of said employees shall be paid by the I.M. Customs.
t
A NEW APPOINTMENT.
MACAO FOR SNIPE.
were shown to their seats by Mr. Patricio da Lus, who acted as master of ceremonies. The Governor, members of the Executive Council, and the Commissioners occupied special seats on a dais reserved for them. The proceedings The Gazette notifies the appointment of Mr. opened with an address hy Mr. Basto, who, as Constancio José da Silva, a gentleman whom president of the Senate and of the Municipal name will be recalled in connection with the Council, had seated himself to the left of the Independente, now defunct, as Superintendent Governor, in which this gentleman briefly of the Clovernment Printing Office, rice Mr. reviewed the whole history of the educational Lopes, of the Navy, who has 'held the provi. movement in so far as the Municipal Council sional appointment since the formation of this was responsible for that movement. He now department of Government. referred more particularly to the signal successES attending their efforts through the instru- To overs of sport I would recommend an mentality of His Excellency the Governor, as early visit to Macao. Snipe abound in our witnessed in the development of the Central neighbourhood within a few hours' sail up rivor, Schools for Girls scd Boys, in the establish. A party of four young gentlemen, who started ment of the "Lyceu "* affiliated to the on the maiden trip of their diminutive houseR Universities of Portugal, and lastly, though boat, the Narceja, on Friday last, returned on and by no mesos the least important, the Sunday after having bagged within forty-eight founding of the Commercial Institute so shortly hours no less than one hundred and ninety to be inaugurated. While rejoicing at the snipe among them. A single gun accounted prospect of the means for the acquisition of a for over sixty, practical education being placed within resch of the youths of Macao-an education that should stand them in good stead in the struggle ¦ for existence with the survival of the fittest as its ultimate issue-the speaker extremely regretted that the country of their birth offera them по means for the profitable
4. The rules and regulations of the native Customs now in force shall remain so as usual until matters become better understood by those connected with the proposed new régime, when said regulations may be abolished or added thereto as may seem best under the circum-utilisation stance. It will be necessary to investigate the peculiar conditions current in each port and then, strike an average so that there may be single set of regulations for all, the chief sim being for the encouragement of merchants and the welfare of commerce so that the Govern ment may be benefited.
5. As to what may be termed duties and what articles ought to be taxed or what exempted from taxation, are matters requiring due consideration and mature deliberation. It will not be prudent to declare them at the pre. sent moment just at the commencement of the new regime. Once they are declared it will not do to make any changes afterwards.
d. As to expsases, it is proposed to lay by one-tenth of the revenues pro tem, until ex- perience shows what shall be done.
of that education which the
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SWATOW.
"PROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
LU
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Swatow, 9th September. THE TAOTAI'S RESIGNATION. It is now seven months since Total Chuh personal sacrifices and the beat efforts of its of this port established a 'Foreign Board,” citizens. past and present, have contributed to the Yeng Wa Chub, at Chowchowfoo, whose impart to thera. Hence they must bewail the functions were to settle amicably any disputes necessity for that wholesale expatriation of the arising between foreigners, Le principally rejuvenating son of the soils which results in missionarios and their converts, and natives. À the spread of the Macaense branch of the Roman Catholic convert, by name Wong, was Portuguese nation throughout the length and appointed by the Tsotsi to supervise and govern breadth of the Farther East. Mr. Basto con- the doings of the newly created "Board." cluded a most effective speech by ex orting the Wong speedily adopted a mischievous modus successful students to renewed efforts and by operandi with a view to his own ends. Rumours encouraging those who had done well but had of Wong's action seem to have reached the ear not been so fortunate as to secure a prize that of the Viceroy, who, when the prefset of Chow- day to continue in their persevering studies so chow called on him at Canton not long ago, as to be able to dispel the ignorancë sa destrue made various enquiries about the soi disant tive of personal independence and so that with Foreign Board." When the prefect returned knowledge they may the better fulfil the he related to the Taotai his interview with the duties falling to their lot in after life as loyal Viceroy. Concluding from this that the Viceroy citizens, good fathers, and withal as true Chris-entertained suspicions anent the Forsign tians. From the tenor of the speech through-Board," the Taotal grew somewhat alarmed and ont it was perfectly evident that the speaker as he is here on an acting appointment, the term appreciates in no small degree the dictum of of which has already ended, he, for fear lest the great Fnglish essayist, Joseph Addison, he be cashiered for the suspected misdeeds of that a life of independence is a life of virtus. the Yeng WeChub, and to save his “ face,” haa tendered his resignation, giving as a plen his After the above address, followed the distri-intention of joining his aged and weak mother. the flovernor rose and delivered a speech of Five hundred "brares,” under the command great length and marked with much oratorioal of General Mok, arrived here overland from eloquence For want of space I regret that it | Weichow and have so far succeeded in quelling is impossible here to do justice to the utterances the disturbances in some of the villages, but of His Excellency unless by a verbatim report of the speech, and it is to be regretted that such a report is not available. I will, however, record one salient feature among many im- portant points touched by is Excellency, when he emphasised the fact that that was another public occasion when he could voice | his sincerity as a ennineg well-wisher of the
THE GOVERnor's SPEECH.
The case Hibberdine r. Cowen concluded at Shanghai on the 3rd inst. before Mr. F. 8. A. Bourne. The claim, it will be remembered, was for a sum of money-$15 odd-alleged to be due to Mr. Hibberdine (formerly connected with the Hongkong Telegraph) for photo-engra- vings supplied to Mr. Cowen of the New Presbution of the prizea. This over, His Excellency for use in a special edition of that paper got up by a Mr. Groy, who prepared a similar edition of the Telegraph here. It was announced that the defendant consented to accept judgment if plaintiff took fifty copies of the special illustrat- ed trade edition of the New Press in lieu of $25 Defendant remarked that he had done his best to get Mr. Grey to Shanghai to give evidence in the matter. His Honour gave judgment for the amount claimed, with costs; the plaintiff agreeing to take 50 copies of the publication in lieu of $25.
CLAX FIGHTS.
H
things sro not sottiled yet. A few days ago General Wn had an engagement with a riotous clan at kweislin, in the Choyang district, and defeated them badly. He took 20 prisonors, and besides having killed soveral in action he, by order of the Viceroy, beheaded a few cap. tured ringleaders as a malutary example to the others. General Wn, who' is very dashing and