April 21, 1902.]
their real worth, The Chinese military believe in recurrent troubles and are trying to hold themselves in readiness. The officials are sup- pressing information of disturbance and no edicts of consequence are published. Troubles in this province are likely to be kept quiet on account of the Provisional Government, which will never be relinquished while riota exist and uprisings in adjoining province or even the far away south which will furnish ample pretext for its continuance.
RESTORATION OF TIENTSIN,
The military commanders at Tientsin, in accordance with the request of the ministers, furnished views upon the subject of the restora- tion of the Chinese. The destruction of the Taku forts will require until the middle of June, said one. Any other excuse might be sufficient to side-track it until autumn.
Baron von Mumm has gone to the Western Tombs to remain a week, and no ministers meeting is likely for the consideration of this subject for a couple of weeks.
THE NEW ITALIAN MINISTER
has arrived and taken up his residence at the south-east corner of the Imperial City wall, where the chargé has been living in a Chinese fu. From this point he can watch the little boys throw stones with strings tied to them.→ Shanghai Mercury.
THE GOVERNMENT OF LABUAN.
The inhabitants of the Crown Colony of Labuan of all races and creeds, European, native, and Chinese, have sent to the Rt. Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, a memorial bringing under his notice the unsatisfactory administration of the Colony of Labuan by the Chartered Company of British North Borneo, the grievances complained of being amongst others:-(«.) Repeated encroach- ments of the said Company on the liberties and privileges of its status as a Crown Colony. (b.) The unlawful assimilation of its fiscal policy to the State of North Borneo. (c.) The introduc- tion of unnecessary and irritating taxation and legislation without consultation of the Colony. (d.) Stealthy introduction of ordinances detri- mental to the trade of the Colony. (e.) Extrava- gant administration and a plethora of superfluous fficials. (f.) Very unsatisfactory administra tion of justice by urqualified persons and the absence of right of appeal to the High Court of the Straits Settlements--the nearest Colony having properly trained jurists and judges-- prior to the costly, and to most in) abi ants, impossible appeal to the Privy Council. (g.) A ger eral want of dignity and formality through- out the whole administration, similar to the prodigal habits of North Borneo which hare caused and are still causing that State so much trouble with its inhabitants. (h) The want of provision for even the most elementary educa- tion. (2.) The infliction on the Colony of an alien Police force of natives of India; which apart from being useless for policing the Colony are demoralising the natives by scandalous acts of usury.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
of their uniform to trump up a false charge against him. Knowing from experience the favour extended these Sikhs by the Court he does not dare, except in rare instances of more enlightened natives, dispute their claims. This scandalous practice has already resulted in one tragedy to an official in British North Borneo.
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The Sanitary ordinance as now constituted, substituting therefor a new ordinance to be drawn up by the present Board in accordance with the requirements and necessities of the place, authorising them at the same time to have the control of all public works in place of the present arrangement.
To recommend His Majesty to allow us the right of appeal from the General Court in all civil and criminal cases to the full Supreme Court sitting in the Straits Settlements.
The Colonial Office will recollect the same scandal happened with the Sikh police in Hongkong a few years back, and was peremp torily put down by the Chief Justice, Sir Jolin Carrington. If such practices could happen Finally we pray His Majesty to remove there under a properly constituted Cloverumenttle Chartered Company and again take over with a large staff of European police officers the direct administration of this Colony as of and inspectors, it may be inagined what goes yore, or make it on appendage of the Straits on here under the present laissez faire system Settlements under a Deputy Governor or Resident ppointed ly the Crown on the with a police force entirely of Sikhs, with no
recommendation of the Governor of the Straits European inspector, allowed to do as they like. What has happened? About a year ago a
Settlements with a representative on the most daring robbery of a large amount of Legislative Council. We now pay $4,050 for "Governor and staff," and $5,470 for "Resident money took place in the Post Office in front of the door of which Sikh police are supposed and staff," in all £9,620 per annum. For this to be on guard all night! This is still amount or less we ought to obtain a capable enveloped in mystery and the perpetrators cfficer. As an alternative we would gladly be A murder was placed under the administration of Rajah not brought to justice. committed in cne of the outlying districts Brooke of Sarawak. He has large interests where police never patiol, more than 14 years in the immediate neighbour bood, thoroughly ago; a woman shot for alleged withchcraft; understands the people of this part of the the police never found it out, private de- world, and his administration is pure and nunciation disclosed the crime. The supposed beyond reproach. It is intolerable to have murderer was committed for trial and a few officials appointed by the Chartered Company's days latter escaped from goal, and has not since Board of Directors, sul ject to them and their been heard of. The goal is guarded by these lust for revenue to pay dividends, apart from Sikhs, and very few prisoners are confined the other grave inconveniences we have men- there. The prisoner it might be said belongs tioned. to a family who have money! Can such a force be said to be efficient? Would such have hap pened under the old Malay police? Yet withal we find the Government pandering to this hand- ful of aliens, greatly to the disgust of the in- habitants. Here is a recent instance. The Resident gave an order that no fresh meat was to be exposed for sale in the market owing to the sight of such being offensive to the Sikhs, who regarded the cow as a sacred animal. The Sikhs buy nothing in the market; what neces- sity have they therefore to go there if they don't like to see fresh beef? Labuan is a Malay country, Sikhs are aliens, Malays are Mahommedans and according to their religion have is much if not mo e repulsion for the pig, yet Chinese, also aliens. are freely allowed to bring fresh pork into the market frequented more by Malom medans than other races, although the latter, the large majority of the population, have asked for no such order to exclude pork. We grant that such an order was thoughtless, it was also indiscreet of a high official to issue it without more forethought, and is typical of how things are done here."
The memorialists pray that His Majesty dis- allow the following.
Notification No 65 in Official Gascite of 25th November, 1901, increasing the tobacco duties to those in force under the Customs tariff of North Borneo.
Ordinance No. 7 of 1901 cited as "Liquors rdinance, 1901," in all its parts, substituting therefore the old Ordinance No. 4 of 1850.
(Legally we bave no Liquor Ordinance in force in the Colony at the present moment, although a person styling himself the Spirit Farmer is exercising functions and levying duties the ex- istence of which we have no official knowledge of. In the Appendix to this Memorial we en- close Official Gazette No. 18 of 1901, December
6th.
Art. 1. says:
Referring to the policing of the Colony the petition says:" The members of this force spend the most of their time in bacchanalian idleness. They only do patrol duty in the town of Victoria, never in the outlying districts and villages. To while away their idleness
This ordinance shall be they dedicate themselves to the most disgrace-oited as The Liquors Ordinance 1901, and shall ful usury. Prowling about in mufti touting for come into force on the 1st January, 1902." Art. customers, the unsophisticated and uneducated 2 repeals the old Ordinance. Art. 3. "The nat ve is no match for them and easily falls a Liquors Proclamation 1901" of the State of prey to their wiles. Once in their clutches be North Borneo is hereby adopted mutatis
as the
of the Colony. law is immolated on the altar of Shylock. Local | mutandis
is the new Ordinance and of law allows them to charge interest on money | Where
are officially lent at the rate of 3 per cent. per mensem; these what does it consist? We
same. Its articles and rascals, however, draw up a document the native ignoraut of the does not understand, and in his ignorance is conditions have neither been published in the induced to sign or make his mark, stipu'ating Labuan Official Gasette nor posted up in the The North for this interest whilst a clandestine agreement Celony for general information. is made verbally for 10 per cent. per mensein, Borneo Official Gazette has no official circulation interest. They rarely give a receipt for interest in this Crown Colony, consequently no publi- received, and although they bave received their cation therein has any official force in this All actions committed under this 10 per cent, they have a trick of making the Colony. agreement read that interest has not been paid North Benco ordinance are consequently to the full amount and capitalise the balance, illegal. Here is an instance of want of legal charging compound interest. The native is acumen in the Government and a father easily dunned to pay any exaction the lender motive for the right of appeal to the High may demand under threat of using the power Court of the Straits Settlements.)
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The Chartered Company have been given a fair trial. They have administered the Colony for 11 years and their rule has been a failure. The Colony has deteriorated all round. Roads in perfect order when the Colony was handed over have been neglected and are now im- passable, bridges have inmbled down and have not been replaced, the outlying districts are now inaccessible, public works have been abandoned, and a want of interest in the welfare of the Colony is generally noticeable. They have taken our corn and given us chaff in return.
We further pray you to accept this memorial, although sent direct. We are aware it is usual to send such documents through the Governor in other British Colcnies. In cur case the conditions are different; although nominally a British Colony, our Government is administered be a Chartered Company, and the Governor is immediately under their orders. Whilst we have every confidence in the Governor's попе in the personal integrity, we have Chartered Company, and this pe ition once in their Board-room might nevre leave it. We therefore send a copy only to the Governor.
This memorial is signed by all classes not alove in the town of Victoria but also in the outlyign villages of the Island, by the oldest and youngest European, Chinese and Malay residents. It is signed practically by all the natives who can write, and they but interpret the wishes of their less fortunate brethren unable to write. It is the unanimous wish of the inbabitants, who pray that His Majesty's Government may take the necessary action.
CORRESPONDENCE.
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.] TELEPHONING Through BROKEN
WIRES.
DAILY PRESS."
Canton, 9th April. SIB,-With reference to Capt. Charollois's invention, mentioned in your paper of 4th inst., of telephoning through wire lying on dry ground to six miles, I beg to say that I can transmit messages through bare and submarine wire to any distance, round the globe, even if the wire gets broken in one or two places, which is an advantage over all other systems, Why, then, does not the Telegraph Companies utilise this system when the wires are inter
1 see that mess ges are sometimes rupted? stopped for weeks, and if this system is adopted The communication can be going on even at the time when the cables are being reparie
TO THE EDITOR OF THE