Septembér 14, 1901.)
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
daring, will before long restore peace and quiet | large, fashionable, representative crowd, the in the now disturbed placés.
`PECULATION BY A CHINAMAN.
A certain firm called Kim Sing Leo under French-protection, at Bangkok, employed as a shroff a native of Swatow, who had been in that house for a number of years. Considered a trustworthy man, he was always entrusted with the collection of large sums of money, and being one day in possession of about $15,000 which he had taken in for his employers, he appropriated the whole amount and took French leave On discovery of what had happened, Kim Sing Lee concluded that their quondam employee had gone to Swatow and straightway despatched another of their employees, by name Mr. Windsor, who, I am informed, is an Eurasian and of French nationality, after the absconding shroff. Mr. Windsor first proceeded to 'Canton to consult his consul there, and having received instructions from, the latter and promised support from the Viceroy of the two Kwangs, he arrived here in search of the missing man. Every assistance was rendered him by the local native officials, but the man could not be found. It was ru- moured he had gone to Singapore. Mr. Windsor consequently got the old father of the shroff arrested and sequestrated his property, which | is valued at about $8,000. As this sum comes very much short of the $15,000, Mr. Windsor journeyed to Canton again to take the advice of his consul. The latter wrote to the Viceroy and informed him that, as the claim of his protege could not be regained, he is going to order the seizure of the Ancestral Hall of the man concerned.
VICEROY RESENTS THE DECISION.
As such a step would surely create a bad up rising, the Viceroy, to avoid any complication or trouble, informed the consul that he was willing to pay the amount claimed. After consultation the consul decided neither to accept the money from the Viceroy, nor to sequestrate the Ancestral Hall. On hearing from the consul of his resolution the Viceroy, ruspecting in this unexpected torn of things some deeper motive, immediately replied and informed the consul that he could, if he wished, carry out his intentions re seizing the Ancestral Hall. With this end in view Mr. Windsor returned hither from Canton. In the meantime the Viceroy despatched one of his men to this place so as to get the necessary money and thereby prevent what might prove a serious calamity if the Ancestral Hall were taken possession of by a quasi-foreigner.
H. M. 8. "PIGMY."
greater portion of which was made up of Fili- pinos. The members of the original Commis- sion who are now the heads of the various departments took the oaths of office administered to them by Supreme Judge Torres, and then the new Commissioners, Benores Don Pardo T. H. Tavera, and Don Benito Legarda took their seats. The third member Senor Luzuriags lives in the island of Negros and owing to sickness he was unable to be present, but as soon as he recovers he will begin his duties. Thus, as was promised by the Commission when it began its legislative functions, within a year the Filipinos have been given a larger voice and share in the government than they ever believed they would receive.
THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.
Governor Taft's speech was strong and to the point, and accurately handled the present issue.
He said "The ceremonies of this morning do not fully complete the government which the President intends to form in the | Philippines, but they do round it out sufficiently to show the policy he has in mind. The muni- cipal governments have generally been formed and are substantially autonomous in character, and have their officers all natives of the islands, The provincial governments have been formed with a personnel partly Filipino and partly American And now the chief governing body under instructions of the President and Secre- tary of War. is partly Filipino and partly American, it being the purpose of the President to form a government in which the Filipino element shall be enabled to speak of the desires of the Filipino people, their local aspirations and their necessities, and give the Filipinos an example of free American institutions and cus: toms and laws prevailing in the United States.” He then reviewed the political situation and called on the people to study practical politics and practical methods of government. These remarks were aimed at the numerous agitators and theoretical schemers who are planning to launch parties, which at best can hope for little more support than that derived from war factions or religious backing or personal sym- pathies and influences. In conclusion, he spoke for the Commissionerc, saying→" If we are as much more encouraged one year hence as wa are now, when compared with the time when we began our work, we shall be assured of the success of our efforts.”
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Senor Tavera spoke for the new Filipino members, prophecying "the day is not far distant when the Filipinos shall enter the legis lative body of the islands through the will arrived here yesterday from Hongkong and is of the people of the islands. Conditions to-day leaving, after a short stay, for the North.
MANILA.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Manila, 3rd September. THE WORK OF THE COMMISSIÓN,
prevent public elections, but these will come in time. We shall best subserve the interests of the Civil Commission and of our own people by always kooping the American consciences in our heads and the Filipino interests in our hearts."
A LAND OFFICE E-TABLISHED.
A much needed step has been taken in the estalishment of a Bureau of Public Lands, having charge of all the public domain of the islands. Under its supervision shall be executed all instruments for the sale or converance of public lands. The first work will be the segre- gating) and listing of the lands, and as the Spanish records are not the most accurate and many of the descriptions of whole districts were destroyed during the insurrection, this will require very careful handling.
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money helped Him to outdistance his competitors" He ruled the Chinese colony with a strong band, and was much respected and feared. There is scarcely any person of prominence in Manila who has not at some time enjoyed Pal- anca's grand banquets or entertainments. His fortune is chiefly invested in property and steamers, and coasting craft, and he spéculated largely in hemp, tobacco, and rice. He lived in the island about forty-five years, and came originally from Amoy when about fourteen years of age. Don Engracio who was in Manila some three months ago on a mission from the Emperor to raise funds for the starv ing inhabitants of Chibi and Shansi, is believed to be the only recognised legitimate heir. The funeral will take place this afternoon, and pre- partions are in progress to make it a grand äffair.
NORTHERN NOTES.
The following items are from the P. AT Times of the 81st ult. :---
the Grand Council on account of ill-health.
Prince Li has been allowed to resign from
A native bank in Peking has been robbed of some Tls. 2,800. Robberies continue very prevalent in Peking.
H.M.8. Plover and a Japanese gunboat as well as two Russian gunboats were still at Newchwang on August 19th.
beginning to reopen their premises, and busi- The larger piece goods hongs in Péking are ness generally looking up there.
to have sent a large sum of money to the North, Kang Yu-wei who is in Singapore is reported but for what purpose is not known.
opium shops were nearly all closed, but they So long as the Allies controlled Peking the
are now resuming business under Chinese rule. The Provisional Treasurer is turning the brigands that he captures into a body-guard for himself, as he does not know what else to do with them.
took place at Hsian on the 4th of the 5th moon, The funeral procession of Chao-shu-chiso
the occasion. and many conservatives offered sacrifices on
The price offered by Li Hang-chang for arms produced by the people varies from Tls. 3 to Tls. 10 a piece according to the condition of
the fire-arm.
The Metropolitan Examinations, which are open to candidates from all provinces, will if possible he held in Canton this year after the usual provincial examinations there.
Much speculation is rife among the Chinese as to the reason for a› many troops going to Hsian, the general impression being that the Court intends to be permanently established there.
The Japanese are not altogether sustaining their good reputation in regard to the Chinese, as casos of uncalled for assault and injustice to Chinese in the Japanese Setɩlement are frequent.
Li Hang-chang contemplates increasing the taxes in order to meet the expense of maintain. ing the police in Peking, which is giving great dissatisfaction to the people. He estimates the cost of the police at Tis. 20,000 a month.
A traveller from Honan reports that thousands of houses have been demolished, and werk on the Imperial Palace is being pushed forward, and the nature and number of the buildings, being ørected suspoate permanent residence.
The Bombay Cavalry have not yet embarked, The newly organised Commission has already and while there is life there is hope. General held three meetings, in which all the discussions | Creagh has, we believe, not given up the have been carried on in English without inter-struggle to retain them, and he deserves to Just three years to a day after the Americans pretation, as the two Filipino members have win, as he is unquestionably right. occupied the ofty of Manila the Civil Commis-mastered enough of the language to under- sion sailed northward out of the bay to complete stand practically everything. the establishment of civil government in the provinces north of the Gulf of Lingayen. It was the final voyage in a tour which has in- cluded all the provinces of the archipelago except six. When it returned on the 27th August the great foundation work of the new govern ment had been laid from Aparri to Jolo. The Commission has been almost constantly on the go since February, and its members have per- sonally visited every point of importance throughout the islands, and they have gathered a mass of information and first-hand" impres- sions which puts them in a better position to understand and appreciate the conditions and
The famous ·Captain de Chinos," Don needs of the various peoples and localities than Carlos Palanca, died yesterday afternoon as the any set of men in the country. It was a heavy result of a fortnight's serious illness. His son task to get through the work before the 1st Don Engracio Palanca, who is at present in September, but by leaving two of the Commis- Amoy, will start for Manila immediately to sioners in Matrila to push the law-making and | take charge of the estate, which is variously the completion of the codes it was finally acestimated at from $2,000,000 to 83,000,000. Old complished.
Palanca was ope of the best known figures in The men Roberta and Jones of the R.W. Philippine politics and business: he was de Fusiliers have been sentenced, the frst to two On Monday, the 2nd inst., the three Filipinos corated by the Spanish Government on several | years' hard labour, and the lafter to 21 months' announced in Governor's Taft's speech of the occasions, and has long occupied the position of hard labour outside the United Kingdom, both. 4th July became members of the Commission. Chinese Consul. He is credited with having been | to be Meuslased His Majesty's Service The ceremonies were held in the session-hall of very “close to the throne,” and he is supposed | ignominy, and their pay stopped until they the Ayuntamiento, and were witnessed by a to have engineered many speculations where his kave made good $279.60 cents.
"FILIPINOS ON THE COMMISSIÓN.
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DEATH OF PALANCA CAPTAIN CHINA.
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The new mining machiuery Imported Lis: year with the Ides of introducing an uniform Chinese dollar, and which has owing to the tron le been lying in Shanghai over since, is not to be erected at Kiangnan Arsenal 'until the return of the Court.
A foreign soldier got drunk in a Chinese store in the Native ity a few nights ago, and elected to pass the night there. In the morning he was found dead and the store-keeper is inde arrest charged with murder, but whether it was a case of murder or suicide is not yet shown.