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VLADIVOSTOCK NOTES.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Vladivostock, 18th November. THE SITUATION IN NORTHERN MANCHURIA. The clearing of Northern Manchuria from bands of marauders, ex-Boxers, and Chinese ex- soldiers, is being gradually accomplished. From the 5th October to the 4th November 402 ex- soldiers surrendered near Girin, 240 near Kua- chen-si, 156 near Ningute, and.133 at different other places; a total daring Angust and September of 644 men; and during the June expedition of General Kaulbars, 631 more, aggre- gating in all 2.216 ex-soldiers and Boxers, of whom the most trustwor: hy ones were delivered to the Chinese Dzian-Dzuas to serve in the native police force some were banished to the interior of China, and some to their native places. The general situtation in Northern Manchuria is so reassuring that it has been found possible by the Russian authorities to hand over the pursuit of the remaining outlaws mostly to the native police force, and Russian troops are now to be only summoned in cases where the (hinese police force does not prove sufficiently strong to cope with the bands.
A KAMCHATKA VOLCANO.
During the month of July last, beginning on the 7th and ending on the 22nd, there were constant eruptions of the Tvatch volcano on the Kamchatka peninsula. A terrific roaring under. round neis preceded the eruption, which was heard, as it has now been learned, for nearly 10 miles in every direction. he eruption of lava began on the 7th July and continued till the 13th, when the fiery streams of lava became extinguished and the eruption of colossal columns of vapour began. The lava has flowed into the rivers, poisoning the water, and a great number of fish that came into them turned back to the sea. A great many dead fish could A also be seen floating in the rivers and sea. fine volcanic dust covered every tree and the entire undergrowth and grass in the whole of southern Kamchatka. The inhabitants, while breathing in this dust, have all become affected by a strange cough. An earthquake lasting several minutes was felt throughout Kamchatka on 9th July, doing much damage to houses, etc.
MANILA.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Manila, 30th ovember, 1901:
· LOCAL CLUBS AND SOCIETY. Manila is fast becoming one of the most in- During teresting social centres in the Orient. the last year gclub life has been boomed at a surprising pace, until now we suffer from an approaching oversupply almost as much as we felt the need of such in the past. Nearly all the men who pretend to keep up with affairs are members of two to four clubs, and yet each organisation has its particular charm and in- terest and apparently enjoys firm backing. The latest creation is the Press Club which has furnished comfortable quarters on the Escolta in the centre of the business section. It is a great boon to newspaper men and numbers among its associate members fifty of the prin- cipal professional and business men.
The Manila Club is one of the oldest and best established. It draws its membership chiefly from the British Colony though it also enrolls several Americans, Spaniards, and others. The tiffin-rooms and library, over the Chartered Bank, are largely patronised and form the main down-town resort, while the handsome quarters in the outlying distirict of Ermita furnish a delightful retreat for the cool hours of the evening after the Luneta drive. The building commands a splendid view of the bay and every fine evening the well-kept grounds are filled with the stylish carriages of the members, aometimes accompanied by the ladies of their families, who seek the opportunity to view the gorgeous sunsets. The building contains the billiard rooms, a grill and reading room and is the general place of reception. Just at present the club is very busy preparing for the St. Andrew's Ball which is always celebrated in fine style.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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The University Club, which formally opened its doors with a most elaborate reception to its president, Governor Taft, last July, is the most As its name exclusive Club in the city. implies, university qualifications are necessary. Its membership is slowly increasing and has reached one hundred aud forty. Many of the Manila clubmen have joined, though it draws its chief support from Americans. The present quarters are in a spacions old Spanish residence within a few hundred yards of the Manila Club, The neatly planned gardens and broad double verandahs make it a most delightful home. At the first of the year the club will move into new quarters facing directly on the Luneta, which always presents a most attractive scene.
The Army and Navy Club, boosting by far the largest membership, is the most patronised It has and is correspondingly prosperous. an abundant surplus and is housed in one of the old Government buildings in the Walled City. Its present Secretary, Captain Ramsey, has made it very popular. Twice a month, on Wednesday evenings, the place in given over to the entertainment of ladies at dianer and afterwards there are dances. On Saturday evenings there are concerts by military bauds to which ladies are welcome. Being filled with Army and Navy officers it is always an inter- esting spot.
The there are the German Club, always filled with good wines, good cheer, and jolly fellows; the French Circle, the Spanish Club, many Filipino Clubs, the Chinese Club; and the American and Oriental Clubs, the last two being comparatively new and not catering for the same tastes as the others. It would be easy to orer- look some in this long list and probably some organisations have been omitted.
The Manila Cotillion Club, the Assembly and the Dancing Club with monthly balls pro- vide ample entertainment for the lovers of Terpsichore.
Mrs. Taft's and Mrs. Chaffee's frequent ra ceptions at the Malacanan Palace and the Military Governor's residence set the fashion for charming hospitality and are most thoroughly popular.
When the Navy is not busy with the block. ade of fractious islands, Cavite does the honours in true sailor fashion and occasionally the flag. ship anchors near Manila and extends invitations for afternoon recoptions. As time goes on American and British society come in closer touch and dinners and balls usually show & generous mingling.
Riding sets are very popular and as the dry weather approaches many ladies may be seen along the country roads on fine American and Australian mounts. Altogether this is one of the gayest cities in the East.
NORTHERN NOTËS.
The following items are from the 1. & T. Times of the 23rd ult. :
There were hirty-four vessels at Taku Bar on Wednesday.
The Claims Commissioner went yesterday to Peking. He will return to Shanghai before the Port, closes, and will attend to any remain- ing claims while in Tientsin en passant.
The coolies are returning from Newchwang in large numbers; before they land, they are medically inspected by Dr. Irwin assisted by Dr. McFarlane. Newchwang is still an infected port.
It is understood that the Second Rajputs will replace the Fourth Panjab Infantry on patrol duty and that the latter Regiment will take the place of the "Hongkongs" within the lines of the garrison.
The Postal authorities have arranged for the weekly despatch of two vessels from Shanghai to Chingwantao during the winter. It is pretty certain that the sailing dates will be arranged to fit in with the arrival of the British, French, and German mails.
Rev. H. Houlding with a party of sixteen assistants new to the mission-field arrived this As it is pretty certain that most of the week. old stations cannot yet with safety be reoccupied, we have no doubt the intersal is to be passed in language-study,
Dr. Peck, the wellknown American missionary doctor, has returned from an extended journey in Shantung: he was everywhere well received
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and courteously treated by officials and people alike. The Doctor reports the whole country- side through which he went apparently quiet.
Measures are being taken to start a Hockey club for ladies in the Port. We are sure if the ladies only know how delightfully invigorating a game hockey is, they would rally to the club as one woman. We hope to be able in our next issue to state that the proposal is an accom- The game will probably be plished fact. followed on land and lake.
One high-tide on the Bar this week gave the phenomenal result of three feet of water, and there have been several with only four; not even steam launches could go ont. A suspicion is growing that the Bar channel is again changing. Derp water has recently been found near the place (beyond the sand-bank off the North Fort) from which a deep-draught vessel shelled the Fort in 1859.
We understand that the insurance agencies in the Port are taking measures to protect the companies by insisting on the notifications and conditions of the policies. Policy-holders would do well to read these documents, and see risk are fairly that the conditions of the “ adhered to. Folk have no real grievance if the companies refuse to pay for fires caused by the Proximity of stove-pipes to straw matting or dry wood, or by storage of petroleum or other dangerous material, &c.
Huong Fa Nung, still titular Taotai of this Port, proceeds at an early date to Shanghai to assist Sheng Taotai in the Tariff Revision Con. ference. He will be accompanied as Secretary by our ex-Municipal Councillor Tsai Tsao Chi. The territorial Taotai Chang Lien Fen will act for Huong ta-jen in his absence. We pre- sume we must now withdraw our statement of last week that Huong ta-jen was to have the reversion of the Shanghai Taotaiship. Doubt- less it was this Conference business which was the origin of the widely diffused rumour.
CORRESPONDENCE.
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.] COTTON MILLS IN CHINA.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
"DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 2nd December. SIB, Your leader of to-day dealing with the Cotton Mill industry contains some reflections
that could only come from a writer with a practical working knowledge of the Chinese methods of handling capital ventured in in- dustrial concerns, or for investment in real property. Perhaps he has not intimate ac- quaintance with Chinese life enough to ap- preciate the motives that sway the mind of a Chinese man whose name is put down as sub- In the scriber for a certain number of shares. first place the money found to pay for those shares does not belong in the Western sense to the man who subscribes, except with rare exceptions, say once in a million times, and Chinese law and custom as to succession, and anyone who has seen the working of the the power of the eldest son over the property and funds of the family, will, I think, agree with me that the Chinese snbcriber to an in- dustrial concern or investor in real estate, in a foreign settlement, more especially be it noted, has many reasons (the detail of honesty as a trustee being eliminated) why it is more pro- fitable to pass that money through his hands twice, on subscription and winding up of the than to wait for the long tedious process of industrial concern or venture in real estate, sowing the seed, tending and watching until the harvest be ripened. It is not merely snatching at a profit, that might include all the people to whom the money belongs, but getting the distribution according to his ideas as to the money into the subsoriber's hands again for moneys invested by him. There is no law to e. force the liability of trustees in operation in China.
Has it not struck even coast-port observers that there is no great industrial concern in operation throughout the middle Kingdom solely dependent on Chinese capital and Chinese some wonderings in the mind of the man who management? This latter reflection might cause
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