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that, being shrewd men of business, those con- nected with such bodies, like our own Mission convener the late Mr. Hugh M. Matheson of 3, Lombard Street, are also sensible men of hon- our, who believe in both sides of the live and let live" principle; and who therefore, deal very discriminatingly with the cases which are brought before them.
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By the way to some individuals it may have seemed as if the very foundations were beginn- ing to shake when, in his issue of 22nd June, the Editor of the China Mail 'relying abso lutely and confidently on the bona fides of our correspondent" promised to begin his agitation by printing the contents of certain mysteriously important documents which had come into his possession.
I humbly think, however, that Our Corres- pondent" never rendered the Chief of the Civil Administration here more effective service than by getting someone to prepare those documents for publication; for, let any man first carefully read even the version of Dr. Goto's words as given in the China Mail of 25th June et seq., and then compare it with, say, the contribution. of "Our Correspondent" for 23rd March and 22nd June. Readers themselves can follow out the contrast, my own one word about the matter being that, in the former set of documents, we see no trace of the sea-lawyer, or of any desire to further mere personal ends, but the working of a mind which is accustomed to grapple with large complex problems; so much so that whether, we accept Dr. Goto's conclusions or reject thein, few will deny that he states his case with con- summate ability as well as with fairness, and exactly in the way which every true lover of bis own country would wish to do.
•
the Why is it, then, that those who favour open door" and "spheres of influence" denounce so vehemently this public and calmly-reasoned advocacy of a Japanese scholar and diplomat for closer relations between China and Japan I leave others to furnish the few plain answers which could be given to that question; only asking them to remember that honourable rivalry in trade, coupled with frank acknow- ledgement of all generally conceded national rights, is a maxim which has never received any great countenance from men like the British Philistine or Mr. Pecksniff.
our
But my letter has already got beyond ordinary limits, and must be concluded with two remarks. (1) It is quite admitted that recent changes have wrought to the disadvantage of a very few well-to-do Europeans in South Formosa; such changes, for example, as the camphor produc- tion having been taken under Government control, the Japanese supplanting of welcome but high-tariffed little 8.8. Thales by a mail steamer of their own, and the hopeful attempt now being made by them to monopolise the profits of the sugar trade. Surely, how- ever, evolutions of this kind are but the fortune of war and should excite neither surprise nor ill-feeling in the mind of any right. thinking person. (2) My own belief is that a more sympathetic attitude would be shown towards the Formosa Administration by out- siders were it known how much they have done since Dr. Goto's arrival for the betterment of all classes of the people, It is within my knowledge that millions of dollars have been spent on survey-work, road. making, trolley and railway lines, postal telegraph, and telephone stations, military, police, and civil establishments; besides large Government outlay on common and higher schools, hospitals, and light-houses; as well as in providing a regular service of steamers round the island and to the Pescadores.
And let it be obɛerred that all this is but a harbinger of still greater progress in the near future; because I am convinced that Formosa will yet become a most valuable possession; and that, so far as my observation goes, the servants of the Government are faithfully and without noise striving to hasten the consummation. It is possible that readers who see nothing amiss in the irresponsible fault-finding of “An Occa- sional Correspondent" may regard any such word of commendation from me as being in very bad form. Still, there are times when, like the early Christians, “we cannot but speak of the things which we have seen and board.”. I am, &o.,
W. CAMPBELL.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
ARCHITECTS TO HONGKONG.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS,'
Hongkong, 17th September. SIR,-In your leading article of Saturday, the 14th inst., regarding building in Hong- kong, you stated that the opinion of the local architects is strongly against the draughtsmen and others who do not hold a certificate of member of any institution, although competent to devise plans meeting the requirements of the Building Ordinance and submit same for the approval of the Public Works Department. Any law depriving these men from carrying on their business in future would be, beyond doubt, hardship on them, especially as they are to this day found competent by that Department. Many of them do not hold a certificate but possess great experience to carry on in the most competent way the works entrusted to them. The fact is that the field at present is too extensive for those who hold certificates, which is about half of all the Europeans who are now in actual practice.
2
It is not in the hands of the architects to dictate to the owners regarding the supervision of the buildings; they can only make such recommendations as they think are advisable and prudent. The construction of the buildings may, however, be supervised by the Government in such a manner as to secure the fulfilment of the plan approved by the Public Works Department.-Yours, etc.,
IMPARTIAL.
MCAULIFFE V. BENTLEY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
Torpedo Depòt,
$
Kowloon. 17th September. SIR,-In reference to J. McAuliffe's chal- lenge in the Daily Press to me. I think it nothing else but bluff on the part of McAuliffe. to issue a challenge for that sum of money, knowing full well that I am not in the position to find the amount. Now, if the gentlemen of the boxing fraternity of Hongkong will agreo with me as regards my challenge, I will stake 8200 bf my own money, as well as all the gate receipts--that is about as much as I can afford the winner to take the lot. This ought to be worth his while staying for, considering his present position as a boxer. With regard to stopping Deegan. Monk, Smart, and Whit- ney in six rounds, I will undertake to stop the above mentioned in four rounds each, as it is nothing to his credit stopping such men as they are. If McAuliffe means business and not paper-talk and agrees to the terms I stated in the China Mail, he can rely upon match with me. Speaking of my reputation a fighter, these are the principal men I have met and defeated :— Starlot" Thomas in 9 rounds; McLare in 7 rds.; A. Lewis, light-weight, in 5 rds.; Redman George in 15 rds.; Howers, light-weight, in 3 rds.; F. Seales in 5 rds.; T. Thomas, heavy-weight, in 6 rds.; won a competition at Halifax. Nova Scotia, beating 8. Grooves in 2 rls:, J. Finlay in 3 rds. F. James in 1 rd.; beat T. Loates for the Army and Navy Championship in 4 rds, and a second time in 2 rds, with bare knuckles; beat F. Martin for the beavy-weight Champion ship of Canada in 23 rds, bare knuckles: "beat M. Flynn in 4 rds.; T. Rooney twice, first in 20 rds., the second time in rds boat 8. Murphy in 3 rds.; T. Merrin in 5 rds.: H. Barret, of London, in 3 rds. ; T. Scoblo in 2 rds. ; | stood before T. Vincent, heavy-weight of the West of England, for 4 rds., also T. James for 4 rds; knocked out T. Lidstone in 8 rds., A. Clifford in 6 rds; got the decision against Pat Daily of America, who undertook to stop me in 14 rds.; beat T. Lidstone a second time
as
in 4 rds. beat F. Lucas for the welter-weight of the Midlands in 2 rds, ; issued a challenge to Army and Navy and West of England at 10 stone which was accepted by J. Williams, whom I beat in 19 rds; and many others too numerous to mention. I am now willing to box say man from 10 stone to 10st. 10lbs.—no man, white or coloured, barred in the Colony-Yours, etc.,
SAM BENTLEY,
10-stone Champion of Army and Navy
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I
(September 23, 1901.
DRAWBACKS IN MAÇAO.
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Tho
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 18th September. SIR.-Sportsmen going to Macao, if they do not wish to experience inconvenience, should not take dogs with them, as the Municipal Council has ordered that all dogs fʊund un- muzzled in the streets, although wearing a collar, are to be destroyed immediately. reason for this drastic measure is explained as follows:-About four months ago a man who owned a dog tried one night, in a jocular spirit, to put his dog in a bath. The animal struggled and bit its owner, who died soon after- wards, exhibiting strong symptoms of hydro- phobia. Just lately another man was bitten by a dog.
The animal was killed, but it was not ascertained whether it was suffering from the malady. The Government very prudently sent the man to the Pasteur Institute in Saigon. To muzzle a dog for a long time may cause serious disorders, and it is a pity to slaughter indiscriminately this useful and faithful com panion of man without giving the owners time to reclaim them. This order has been carried ont in a most ruthless manner, but the public generally are not aware of it. Unfortunately, in Macao there is no Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. One of the evils of that Settlement is excessive legislation, and the Ordinances are so numerous and many of them so useless that they are generally either soon forgotten or disregarded. Some years ago a notice was published prohibiting shooting in the city; yet men, and even boys, are daily killing all sorts of birds in the public gardens and roads without police interference. The authorities in Macao are well-intentioned men, but they should devote their energies to more useful works. The lighting of the city is worse than ever, the water supply is very deficient, and almost all the public wells are contaminated by sewage from badly constructed drains. No wonder that typhoid fever is rife in the Colony. The sanitary conditions of many districts inhabited by Chinese are most deplorable. In fact, a district situated close to Old St. Paul's Church is one most prolific in plague; but instead of improving these places first, the authorities are going to do away with the plantation opposite the ancient Chinese temples, a planta- tion which, by reason of its verdure and its vaatness, is very pleasant to the sight, and is in welcome contrast to the barren hills, encircling the city. Blocks of houses for Chinese are to be erected in its place on ground that is low and swampy. Probably those who intend to reside Another there will not enjoy good health. complaint is the want of booksellers. Not one is to be found in the whole Colony. A short time ago a gentlemen in the British Consular Service, a polyglot, went to Macao_on a visit and wanted to buy a copy of the Lusiad, but could not find it Yours, etc.,
A RAMBLER.
News has reached Bangkok of the death of Mr. William Pugh in the Ratburi district of Siam. Mr. Pugh was a mining engineer, and was believed to be prospecting for the Ratburi Tin Mining Company. He had been resident in Siam for a year or two. His death took place on the 2nd of last month, but little seems to be known about it. The Bangkok Times's information is that he had a bad attack of dysentery, and in his delirium shot himself with a rifle through the breast. When the matter was reported at Ratburi, the Goveiror held an investigation and came to the conclusion that it was a case of suicide. A further investiga- tion will take place at Bangkok.
The numerous friends in Hongkong of Admiral du P. de Richelien, the head of the Siamese Navy, will be glad to hear that he is not going to retire yet. We stated his resignation, in our issue of the 28th ult., on the strength of a report from Bangkok itself. We are very pleased to be able to announce his continuance at his post, for his retirement would be a great loss to Biam. With regard to the second part of our paragraph concerning Admiral de Richelieu on the 28th nit, it was not intended to convey that we accepted the accusation of his enemies, who failed absolutely to damage the Admiral's reputation. We gladly take the opportunity, however, to contradict the story.