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March 24, 1902.]
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Macao, 13th March.
THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO PORTUGAL Following the announcement that has already been made in your columns of the approaching departure on leave of absence of H.E. Senhor Horta e Costa, the Governor, it may not be out of place to mention that in a recent issne of the Gazette there is published a despatch from the Minister for the Colonies commendatory of the publice services rendered to the Portuguese Government by the present Governor daring his tenure of office here. Coming events, it is said, cast their shadows before, and it is hoped that His Excellency's departure may not saume the form of a relinquishment for good of the|| reins of government. While in the homeland Senhor Horts e Costa might be instrumental in rendering further services to the Colony if his counsels could be made to prevail with the Ministers of State so as to bring about the desired liberty for Macao to spend all the surplus of its revenue upon the country itself. The doing away with all manner of monopolies of the daily commodities of life is another one of those crying necessities, which would do much to assist in fostering the good of the place. A water supply, which should have been one of the first provisions to be made by the Government for the settlers, remains for these hundreds of years yet an urgent want. From a sanitary point of views the question of a good, untainted supply of water for potable purposes presses itself upon the attention of the community more and more as each plot of Crown land wherein lie the perennial springs resorted to for the precious element becomes alienated to private owners for building purposes. The Bica de Lilan in Penha, at one time supplying water of undoubted excellence, must remain for the future only as a landmark, for the driblets that flow therefrom cease to be of much public utility. The supply from the Fonte de Felicidade, in Flora, perceptibly diminishes. Speaking of this site, it is worthy of mention that the entire piece of land, some sixty thousand square feet in area, thence seaward for the entire length of the road, has just been leased to a prominent gentleman of Hongkong, Mr. Ho Tùng.
THE LAND QUESTION. With the subject of the alienation of land is allied that of the fees charged in the buying and selling of properties here. An opportunity for vigorous representation on the part of Senhor Horta e Costa is now afforded in a protest against the proposed raising of the already excessive fees. It is on the tapis that instructions from Lisbon have been received to put in force a new tariff in substitution for that now in force. At present the duty for the assignment of leasehold property is fixed at the rate of six per cent. of the consideration money, or, when this does not exceed the capitalised value for 20
per cent. of the rental, at years at 6 six per cent. of such capitalised value. Against this must be contrasted the half per cent. on the purchase price chargeable in Hongkong! From a commonsense point of view it needs not much demonstration to prove how very re- stricted must be the effect on transactions in landed estate in this Colony. The six per cent. rate is in itself already very high. Not con- tent, however, with this, the powers that be in Europe that control the destinies of Macao pro- pose imposing an additional four per cent., making in all ten per cent, as the future assign. ment fee legally chargeable by the Land Regis- try. As must reasonably be supposed, the full weight of public opinion (which unfortunately counts for nothing) is wholly against such a disastrous imposition. In the best interests of the Colony, His Excellency will be well advised could he but succeed in warding off the impending evil by securing the abolition of this obnoxious tariff. Herein will be found the wisdom of the local administration.
The present is a specially opportune moment when a very important question of land resump- tion, viewed in the light of the better sanitation of the city, is engaging so much anxious con- sideration. With this contemplated change hanging over the minds of would-be investors like a sword of Damocles, it is assuredly not calculated to furnish a practicable solution of
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
the resumption problem already taxed with its own inheront difficulties.
For Macao to prosper it must shake off its antiquated methods of revenue-raising and assimilate them with those of such colonies as can furnish object lessons for its correct guidance. Macao, 17th March,
THE PREVENTION OF PLAGUE. The sanitary authorities must surely believ in taking time by the forelook, for there is 8 welcome evidence of their alertness in keeping off the advent of the plague, if it should unfor- tunately make its appearance again this year. in the fire-engine being requisitioned. for service in the cleansing of the public sewers. For the first time to-day this season the engine and hose can be seen at work in Praia Grande pumping sea-water into the sewers and also private house-drains. For the latter purpose it is in the option of householders to call in the services of the municipal officers or not, as they may desire. If it could be arranged that while the work in the European district is carried on that in the Chinese part of the town is not neglected, it will be most satisfactory. Unfor- tunately this cannot be done at present, owing to the fact that there is only a single engine available. It should not be thought that the expense of another one of the type now in use is too prohibitive for the Municipality to acquire, and arrangements might therefore be made with a view to one being obtained as soon as circumstances will permit. The usefulness of the preventive measures against another outbreak of plague will not thus be militated against by an incompleteness of the necessary appliances.
For the purposes of sanitary inspection the City has again been divided into districts, and the public servants concerned are directed by proclamation of the Governor in Council and of the Municipality to carry out the duties appertaining to their respective departments. The timely measures adopted are worthy of every praise, since the inhabitants must be satisfied, in that they are not allowed to lapse into a sense of false security engendered by an entire absence beforehand of the measures best calculated to combat the annually recurrent The demolition of the large block of scourge. Chinese houses and shops in the district of can Domingo in pursuance of the scheme for the re- construction of the market-place has now begun and is proceeding apace. Very.soon the walls will have been razed to the ground and a large vacant space be made available for the new market-buildings. Financially, as in the case of the Hongkong markets, the scheme will prove all
its promoters bad anticipated. in excess of these required The for the market proper have been advanta- geously disposed of by private contract, in separate lots. The average price fetched is stated to be twelve dollars per square metre. Had the same land been put up for sale by pub- lio auction-the more expedient of the two courses for the disposal of public property-the assumption is that the vendors might have been better off by twenty-five per cent.
areas
A NEW BUILDING.
The first limited liability concern in Macso the Empreza Economica C, Ld.-has pur chased some Chinese property in Rua Central just below the Club União, which is being pulled down. It is intended to make room for a new building designed to meet the requirements of the Company's business, the show-room of which will be its principal feature.
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Macao, 18th March.
H.E.'S DEPARTURE,
His Excellency the Governor left for Hong- kong to-day. The send-off accorded him was a most cordial one. The Colonial Secretary, Sr. Alfredo Lello, will administer the govern- ment during the absence of H.E. Senhor Horta e Costa.
PEKING.
Peking, 28th February.
THE LADIES' AUDIENCE.
Yesterday occurred the second audience with the Empress Dowager of the official foreign ladies from the Legations and the military guards. The reception was less formal than It was given for New Year's the previous one. greetings. It took place in the palace set apart for the Empress Dowager, in the north section of
the Forbidder City. There was the usual number of princesses and duchesses, polished matrons and fair maidens, all of whom, being with unbound fest, could move about with the ease of the European ladies. The Emperor was present as the "silent part- ner "silent not because it is improper for a man to talk in the presence of Manchu ladies, but because he is the Emperor Kwang Hsü, supposed to say nothing. Refreshments were provided in one room for the foreign ladies, and in another for the foreign interpreters. The Emperor, though a min, was in the room with the Empress Dowager and her guests. As an innovation there was present & young Manchu lady who has been in the Chinese Legation at Berlin, and was able to act as interpreter in German, and to a slight dɔgree n English. This is a most encouraging sign and will tend to put the stamp of respectability on the education of Chinese and Manchu girls. As another innovation the Empress Dowager has been picking up a few English phrases and tried their effect on her guests: Hao tu yiu, Ha-p'i niuyierh, Tê-vin-kó t'i, The Emperor was given less chance to try his English, learned a few years ago. The Empress Dowager received no presents, as was expected by some. Neither did she bestow on her guests sump. tuous gifts. She contented herself by giving $100 (Mexican) to each child who came in the company of visitors.
The largest number of any one country was American. There were five ladies and one child. As it was, two other American ladies, one the wife of an army officer, and both extremely popular in society, were excluded. They were the only ladies in either Legation or the military to be thus excluded. We do not know who was responsible for this negligence, but know that it was not the Empress Dowager or her officials.
COULT NEWS.
We hear that the Court in going to the Eastern Tombs, when the Empress Dowager, who for many years has been having built & large mausoleum, is to travel by rail to Tu'ngohon. It is also being considered whether it is possible to extend the railway as far as the Eastern Tombs. That branch has been built thus far by the British.
oraz⇒
The Empress Dowager is having, as she "for things had a few years ago, quite a foreign. Social amenities and amusements are quite to her liking.
usages have been completely ignored by the NEGOTIATIONS innovation of the Court since its return.
between the Russian Minister and the Chinese Plenipotentiaries have been resumed, but we doubt very much if any agreement will be reached.
It is reported that she will hold a monthly levée for the foreign ladies, but will discontinue the giving of gifts. She is much pleased st her success in winning friends by such easy methods of social attentions. But perhaps it FAREWELL DINNER TO H. E. THE GOVERNOR.should not be spoken of as easy, since traditional
H. E. the Governor and family were enter- tained at a farewell dinner at Boa Vista Hotel, on Saturday last, by some representative re- sidents. Covers were laid for thirty-two guests. The toast list was, as usual, duly honoured. One point touched upon in one of the speeches of the evening is deserving of mention, namely, when the Provedor of the Santa Casa da Miseri. cordia solicited the good offices of the Governor when in Lisbon to obtain the free grant to the Corporation of the dismantled Bomparto Fort or the purpose of a much-needed extension of he hotel building. Boa Vista has established uch an excellent reputation with visitors that he present management has found it impossible' n numerous occasions to meet all the applica ons for accommodation.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Industrial Bohool of Huang Sze-yung, notwithstanding the first opposition of the Civil Governor, Ch'en Pi, has really never yet been closed. Ch'en Pi, finding that his parti. cular conservatism was not popular, tried to turn around. Mr. Huang was told that when he finds another place, he can move. Tuis may mean staying on in the old place. The Mandarin paper is to be resumed, as the Empress Dowager
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