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of 1 in 17. Nowhere else is the gradient greater than 1 in 20. Leaving the Hotel, it follows the shore, round the outside edge of two ruined forts, and past an old iron pier, where, prior to the Japanese war, the Chinese are said to have had a turpedo station. It here turns to the north, traverses a large fishing and agricultural village, and ends at the new bungalows of the Weihaiwei Land and Building Company. Be- sides providing the natives with a ready means of bringing their produce to market, this road very considerably increases the value of the Company's property.
The third highway, mentioned above, will when completed be the longest. It is in- tended ultimately to reach Tsamaotsun, a dis- tance of 17 miles from Mahto. The portion under construction is 8 miles in length, and stops at a village named Haopa. The road is comparatively Hat; it passes between the city and the Parade Ground of the 1st Chinese Regiment, and to the rear of the four foreign bungalows on Narcissus Bay.
In all, some dozens of culverts and small bridges have been made. Perhaps the finest piece of bridge-work is that at Nanchutao-to the south of Flagstaff Hill-undertaken by a local contractor.
As there is no wheeled traffic in the district, Macadam's teachings may safely be ignored. In decomposed granite, easily obtained locally at small cost, the constructor has capital material for surfacing his roadways.
MULE-TRACKS.
Two important tracks, broad enough for laden animals to pass one another, have been finished this autumn. They are not only nar- rower, but, of course, steeper than the main highways described above, the gradient being 1 in 10. One, connecting Mahto with villages to the north near Waterwitch Bay, is 3 miles in length and reaches a height of about 600 feet above sea-level. It crosses the range of steep hills to the north of the Bay, containing some peaks nearly 1,000 feet high. The other track links together two important villages south of the Bay-Laobatsze and Baohuko-and climbs a difficult pass between them at a height of about 400 feet.
THE NEW BUND.
The sea-front of Mahto has been consider ably improved by the completion of the Bund. It was at first thought that the wall could be formed by merely placing heavy blocks of stone in rows one above another, and without the
use of cement or mortar. It has now been found that this is not sufficient, as the soil would gradually be washed out between the stones and the roadway above be undermined. Next year this defect is to be remedied by a plentiful use of mortar. In all, the sum spent on the Bund this year totals about $5,000.
THE JETTY.
At the western extremity of the Bund is a stone jetty, built largely of granite blocks. It had fallen into disrepair during the Japanese occupation, and last year as much as $1,500 had been spent on it. This summer the pier has been increased in length by 25 yards, giving a mean depth at low water of 6 feet. Heavy blocks of granite, imported from Shiltao, have been freely built into this addition. With the quan- tities of cement used and the heavy timber piles on the outside linked together with iron rods, the new portion of the jetty appears substantial and well-constructed. The cost has been about
$4,000.
SUPERVISION.
The public works have been carried out with funds provided by the Colonial Office, and by local contractors under the efficient oversight of the company of Royal Engineers stationed here. Major R. P. Lee, R.E., has had charge of all construction on the Mainland. The con- tractors, it is plain, have not been permitted to scamp their work, which appears to have been carefully supervised, and, as regards thorough
ness,
is in keeping with the best traditions of British engineering skill. It need hardly be added that these roads, the Bund, and the lengthened jetty, have added considerably to the value of the port as a place of residence.- N.-C. Daily News.
A telegram from Dr. Sven Hedin, the Central Asian explorer, confirms his arrival at Lob. Dr. Hedin" will visit Calcutta some time in January.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
NORTHERN NOTES.
The following items are from the P. & T. Times of the 28th alt. :—
Monday last witnessed the third fall of snow for the season.
*
Our last wire from Taku is dated Thursday, December 26th. Plenty of ice in river. but not yet closed. No steamers here to-day, as the Poochi has gone outside. Abundance of cargo on the wharves.'
The British and French military authorities are thinking. of stopping their subsidies to the Gas Company; if this be done it is feared that the gas illumination of the streets will cease. Strong efforts are being made to postpone all action in the matter till March.
[January 13, 1902.
CORRESPONDENCE,
:
!
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
MISSIONARIES AND LOOTING.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'DAILY PRE88."
5th January.
SIR,-In justice to the Catholic missionaries of Peking, will you kindly publish the following · brief and simple narrative, which I happen to have from the pen of Bishop Favier himself. It is taken from a statement made by the The Masons are to give a ball on 21st Jan- Bishop, with regard to charges brought against
· looted" · a valuable collec- uary. The craft is following its own former him of having
into an American museum It is a plain, example in the comprehensiveness of the invitation which has subsequently found its way tion list. If we may judge by former experi- ence, it will be a great social event. Early simple statement, as of one who has nothing to conceal nor regret in his conduct. As the notice is given in the hope that guests will not
accusations against the French missionaries make other engagements.
come now from their own countrymen, we might leave them to defend themselves; but since the charges find publication in English papers as well, it is but fair that the other side should be heard in the same language. I trans- late from a letter of the Bishop, dated Peking, 1st November, 1901.
The "Ewo ship Lien-sheng, after coming in and discharging all her inward cargo, manag. ed to get ashore on the Sonth Bank while going out on Christmas Day. She is still there; there are no lights, no marks, and no pilots are avail. able. With her departure Messrs. Jardine finish their season.
We hear great complaints among the ser vants at a rise of prices in the provision markets. We have made inquiries, but have not been able to discover adequate cause in the state of supply" so we can only suspect that it is, due to the usual occult trick at which the Chinese retailer is such an adept. Vast quan- tities of rice have come up recently, and the flour market has been depressed all the authma, so that these two stiples ought not to be as high as last winter.
One
籍
"On Aug. 16th, 1900, at 8 o'clock in the The river has shown its usual eccentricities in
to deliver my morning, the Allies came the process of freezing. Last Saturday it was as rigid as iron down at the Russian bridge, but residence at the Peitang. The Boxers and the at the Hongkong Bank it was quite open. irregular troops opposed an energetic resistance. Sometimes the astuteness of the ferrymen is a They fought for three hours, and everything was on fire; counted as many as eighteen factor in the case; these men, to maintain their
fires around us. The good people fled, abaudon- livelihood, make a couple of alleyways across at a distance of a hundred yards and then breaking their houses, their shops and stores. up the section of ice between them, getting rid could not have bought a pound of bread for a was no lack of of the small floes by pushing them under the thousand dollars: there
provisions, but there was no one left to sell. The frozen part.
6,000 Christians who had suffered at Peking a siege and a fast of sixty days had no shelter, clothes or food: they had seen 1,560 of their relatives massacred by the Boxers, and more than 400 had died of suffering in the siega of the Peitang. I could not devote to death of starvation all this population, which had just been saved by the Allies. I therefore authorised the taking of what was absolutely necessary, giving notice to my Minister that whatever 8.ould come from the stores of the government would be deducted from the indemnity to be paid, and that whatever should come from private shops and houses would be
to be paid for scrupulously noted, later to the proprietors, when they should return. This was done: the value of articles coming from the government was deducted from the indemnity, and private individuals were all indemnified. I had a notice put up on the walls of the principal street, that all private individ- uals, who might have any claim to make, could were paid come to see me; all that came
A piece of Municipal land was feued on Monday last at the usual price of Tls. 15 per mow in perpetuity; the feuor paid the sum of Tis. 1050 per mou as premium or entrance fee. Capitalising the lien of Tls. 15, at five per cent. as Tls. 300, this implies that freehold land at the far end of Meadows Road is at present worth Tls. 1350 per mow.
We recollect that ten years ago a resident bought an adjoining lot at fifteen Taels per mow in order to get filling" for a piece nearer the old Concession. Captain Kühne, who commanded the men of the Iltis landing party in Tientsin in June 1900, in his own name and that of his brother officers, has presented the Club Concordia with a very handsome picture of His Majesty the Emperor William. The occasion of hanging the picture on Christmas Day was made a patriotic demonstration. The picture is ac- companied by a most gratifying testamur on the part of the donors to the kind treatment they all experienced from their countrymen and country women during the trying days of the Siege. The German volunteers also get a tribute of well-deserved eulogy.
A vernacular paper says:-We hear that early this week another band of well-armed brigands was attacked and pursued in a direction up the Grand Canal where they fought it out with the foreign police (Italians, we think). The house in which they took refuge was fired, and as the thieves issued they were shot. They had every species of firearm including, a Webley revolver and a lot of new pattern Mannlichers, as well as old- nark Mausers.
Northern native papers state that H. E. Chou Fu, Provincial Treasurer of Chibli, pro- poses to establish a medical hospital at Paotingfu for charitable purposes, with Dr. Mark as Superintendent. Dr. Mark, who is of taotai rank, will be remembered in this part of China, where he has many friends. He was secretary and doctor to the late Li Huug-chang:
immediately."
After explaining the particular case of the "I have collection, the Bishop concludes: stated exactly what took place. If anyone should not take the word of an old Bishop of fortyyears in China, I can send the attestations of those whom I indemnified. These good pagans in their gratitude have offered me
inscription of honour and addresses of thanks- giving, some of which were signed by more than 400 persons. We have never had the least trouble with the good people of Peking, for they know very well that I protect Christ ians and pagans alike. Our good reputation has attracted a great many: since the siege we have baptized more than 1,40 adults, and
more than 4,000 have given in their names to
become Christians. I am persuaded then that these accusations proceed from the lack of exact information. I shall at any rate keep my esteem for those who have made the accusations, as they have been deceived, not deceivers.”
This was written, it will be noticed, before the publication of Gen. Voyron's report. It must be particularly painful to the good Bishop to see his conduct misepresented by his own countrymen. It may be noted in conclusion that the Bishop explaining his own condnot practically explains that of his missionaries, as in Catholic missions little passes without the knowledge and consent of the Bishop.-Yours, etc.,
CATHOLIC.
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