October 7, 1901.]
French troops coming back from China especially the 18th Marines, will be put in gar- rison at Vietri and Phu-lang-thuong (Tonkin), We receive from Marseilles the announcement of the shipping of the theatrical orchestra de- stined for Hanoi and Haiphong cities.
In the last Legion d'Honneur list. I note the names of Drs. Lespinois and Capus, and Cap. tain Desportes, appointed to the first degree of the order.
By a special decree of the Colonial Minister, the elections for the Delegation of the Colony will take place in each city or district of Annam and Tonkin on the 22nd December 1901. Fresh candidates are MM. Lambard, an Annam colonist, Hallais, an ex-resident, and Gallars, manager of a Tonkinese paper.
SANDAKAN NOTES.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
8 цен
Sandakan, 18th September. A NEW LOCAL STEAMER. On Saturday the 14th inst., the China-Borneo Co. launched from their yard here steamer for the local shipping Company, the Sabah S. S. Co., Ld. The craft is of about a little over 100 tons register, and is constructed throughout. of seasoned Borneo timber. The hull has every appearance of being an exceeding strong job, and certainly reflects great credit
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE PRESIDENT'S DEATH. The sad news of the death of President
McKinley was very much felt here, and the flags have been kept flying at half-mast since the receipt of the telegram. When Britain's Queen died early in the year it was little thought that America's President-hale, hearty, and well-loved as he was- would so soon the border," but such is the uncertainty of life and we have now to return the wonderful sympathy our mother country received in her dark hours.
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NORTHERN NOTES.
cros3
The following notes are from the P. and T. Times of the 21st ult.
The Japanese Military Authorities are said to be preparing to establish a telegraph service between here and Peking, on the left side of the railway.
Gen. Ma has called upon Prince Ching and Li Hung-chang since entering the City, and the Foreign Ministers have signified their
intention to entertain him at dinner.
Two men are reported to have been shot at Tientsin Station trying to rush into the carriages to seize passengers baggage. It is a grava mistake now, as it was formerly, to allow the crowd of coolies within the station compound and on platform, and we marvel that the military authorities permit it.
Last Sunday 600 brigands were reported approaching Shanhaikwan, and Chinese troops were sent off to oppose them. Some appeal for assistance was we believe made to the
CORRESPONDENCE.
293
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.] THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE FUNDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
+
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS,'
Hongkong, 28th September, 1901. SIR,-The sensible leader in your issue of this morning will be appreciated by many of your readers. It would be interesting to know on what grounds it was considered necessary to vote a sum of 850,000 to the Queen Victoria Memorial Fund to supplement the amount of nearly $78.00 raised by private subscription. His Excellency the Governor, according to your report of the proceedings at the Council Meet- ing on Thursday, gave no explanation. The Legislative Council, more especially as it is not a representative body, was surely not well advised in taking upon itself to vote any por- tion of the revenue of the Colony for such a purpose. The sum of $50,000 is, it is true, a mere nothing to the Colony, but there are at at least three distinct grounds why such a vote should not have been made:—
(1) The Legislative Council, although it has legally the power, had no right to make it.
(2) The idea of erecting one large memorial the world to subscribe to it is absurd, and a in London and asking British subjects all over much fitter way of erecting a memorial worthy of Her late Majesty could, in so far as this
on her builders. The engines are lyde-built 14in. and 28in, with 20ft. stroke, and the boiler is being built by Messrs. W. S. Bailey & Co. British, but they declined' it is stated to do Colony is concerned, have been found in
of Hongkong. Years ago the Chinese built some coasting steamers at Sandakan, but it is fairly certain that the steamer launched on Saturday
have not heard that they achieved anything. more than defend the railway. Sp far we The Russians, says Wednesday's "Je Je, are
Hongkong.
(3) To commandeer public funds after having accepted voluntary subscriptions is no compli. is the largest yet built in British North Borneo, said to be unable to deal with the brigand meat to the late Queen.-Yours, etc..
and that she will prove in every way very creditable to her builders is practically certain.
As the vessel started to move down the
waya
she was gracefully christened the Borneo by Mrs. Darby, the wife of the Managing Director of the Sabah Co. It is expected that some ten weeks more will see the craft ready for sea, and we then hoe to be able to give some further particulars regarding her arrangements and trial trip.
THE CHINA-BORNEO CO.
The annual meeting of the Steamship Co. referred to in the foregoing has just been held here, when a dividend of 12 per cent. for the year ended 30th June was declared. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, did not, however, hold out any brilliant prospects for the present year; quite the contrary. He said that the coasting trade had fallen off consider ably of late, and that shareholders must be prepared for a lean year's working.
DEPRESSION IN SANDAKAN,
DISGUSTED.
OFFICERS.
difficulty in southern Manchuria single handed, and seeing this the Japanese essayed to go and attack the Chinese, but were at first prevented SALARIES OF SUBORDINATE CIVIL by the French. The Germans then protested against the French interference and their objection was withdrawn, so the Japanese are stated to have gone out against the brigands. The nucleus of great possibilities lies in this entry of Japanese into Manchuria, if true.
NEWCHWANG,
The Russian Minister returned by rail from Port Arthur on 9th instant, and left at 4 o'clock next morning, with Mr. Acting Consul Kristy, by, the Shanhaikwan line, presumably for Peking.
F
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Movements of war vessels are:-The British Plover arrived on 30th July, and left for Chefoo on 2nd instant; it is not known if she will re- turn or will be replaced by another vessel.
The Russian Mandjour arrived on 17th August to relieve the Savoutch, and is expected; to leave this in a few days.
The American New Orleans arrived ontside
The German Jaguar arrived on the evening of 3rd instant, and left at noon on 9th for Tongku.
Certainly things are not looking particularly rosy just now. To take the immediate vicinity the bar early this month and remained there of Sandakan: the Byte Coffee Estate no longer for three or four days; her commander Sperry has an European Manager, the Suan Lambob Hemp Estate is to be closed, and the Bongaya came up to town in a steam-launch, but only Rubber Estale is in the market for sale. These stayed for a few hours. things may not be very large in themselves. but the combination of the three at one time is not encouraging for those interested in the country, for those residing in the country, or for those who have money invested in the con- cerns in question. If only other ventures and industries were opening up it would not be so bad, but one looks in vain for any real sign of fresh enterprise hereabouts. Of course if the Coal Company at Tawoo turns.np "trumps" that will mean a good deal in itself.
KUDAT THREATENED.
Both the British and Japanese have made enquiries as to the cost of a dock in case they should be ordered to winter here.
seem
plague.
There are rumours that the Russians are strengthening their forces in Southern Man- churia, but I know nothing positive.
The precautionary measures at once adopted to have prevented the spread, of the Buildings have been going forward apace here. Telegraphic information having been received that-natives from the interior were again Mr. H. A. Bush has built a large two-storied threatening the peace of Kudat, a force of house for his own use this spring, and added to the Japanese Consulate. constabulary, under the command of Capt. several rooms Harington, left here on Sunday night for that Captain Laurence is building a one-storied place. Later information received, however, house with two rooms in the roof; Mr. Setoff would go to prove that it was only a scare, but is building a two-storied house. The French the Kudat people have good reason for taking Fathers are building a large two-storied house every precaution on the slightest signs of for themselves; Mr. Lister is building the new American Consulate; Messrs. Bandinel & Co. trouble manifesting themselves.
have built a new office, two-storied; and Mr. Sandberg is building a three-storied hotel, while the old hotel is having a large two-storied addition made, and two new bean mills are in course of erection.
TESTIMONIAL TO MB. CLIFFORD.
A very eulogistic address to our late Gor. ernor, Hugh Clifford, Esq, C.M.G., enclosed in a handsome silver casket, has recently left here for the Native States. The address principally testifies to the great loss the public generally felt at Mr. Clifford's removal from his position in this country,
$
Forty German miners engaged for the German mines in Shantung will sail for China on the 1st November.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.”
"
Hongkong, 30th September, SIR-I beg to draw your attention to the article in the Government Gazette, dated 21st August, relative to increase of salaries to the Police, Gaol, Sanitary Board, Public Works Department and Government Civil Hospital applied for in 1900. In the same year the Police received their rise, and in 1901 the Gaol received theirs, dating from 1st January, 1901. The remaining three Departments are left in this the cold until 1st January, 1902. Why --through influence or what ?-Yours, etc.,
INTERESTED.
DOUGLAS STEAMSHIP CO., LD. The eighteenth ordinary annual meeting of the Douglas Steamship Company, Limited, was held in the offices of Messrs Douglas Lapraik & Co., the General Managers, on Saturday, 28th ult. Mr. H. P. White (Chairman) presided, and the others present were Messrs R. Shewan, C. S. Sharp, C. H. Thompson and Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving (Consulting Committee), W. Parfitt (Secretary), G. L. Tomlin, T. H. Reid, S. A. Joseph, G. C. C. Master, W. Davis, W. S. Bailey, A. R. Ezekiel, W. H. Gaskell, Ho Fook, Capt. Roach, T. F. Hough, P. Potts, A. Babing- ton, E. Georg. G. Ç. Anderson, and Chun Tong.
After the notice convening the meeting had been read by the SECRETARY,
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, the report and accounts having been in your hands for some days, we propose, with your permission, and following the usual custom, to take them as read. I regret that, owing to unforeseen cir- enmstances, we were not able to place them before you some days earlier. You will gather from the report that it is proposed to pay a dividend of 6 per cent. on the capital of the Company, and to write off the balance of profit, amounting to $41,087 38 from the values of the Com- To some shareholders pauy's properties. it may appear that the amount which it is proposed to write off is large in proportion to he net profit, but I would point out that nothing was written off from this account last. year, and that, while some of the older steamers stand in at a low figure, the newer boats have been written down to a small extent only, and you must bear in mind that by passing this amount to depreciation account the intrinsic
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