May 10 1902.1
FOOCHOW.
The following items are from the Foochore Echo of the 26th ult.---
· CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. invention and suspicion. Contrarily the Court says it will remain four days longer in the Park than it had intended and will not come into the hive for a week, no matter how much fuse is The following notification was issued by made. The military men expected to be invited Mr. G. M. H. Playfair, H. B. M.to the review and entertained there, and it may Consul, on the 24th instant: The undersign- turn out that after all this was the reason the ed has been informed by the Chinese Authorities that the country in the neighbourhood of An- ch'i hsien in the prefecture of Chinchew is disturbed by bridgandage. British subjects are, therefore, warced to avoid that locality until tranquillity has been restored."
Mr. E. B. Drew, of the Imperial Maritime Customs and recently arrivel from America, bas assumed charge as Commissioner at this port, in succession to Mr. Walter Lay who leaves in a few days on a well earned furlough,
Mr. 4. T. Moule has arrived from Pakhoi, at which place he has been Acting Commissioner, and has proceeded to Santu as Acting Com- missioner of Customs at that port.
Professor Daris, the clever illusionist, during his stay in Foochow had an unique experience, namely that of being invited to perform in the Yamen before H. E. Hsu Viceroy of the Min. Che Provinces. The performance was a great success in every way, the Viceroy expressing his hearty approval and presenting Mr. Davis with a handsomely carved ivory casket. After the performance the Professor was sent home to his hotel with a guard of soldiers in attendance. The" Fooobow Flower and Vegetable Show" held in the old Wha-Kee" godown on the 22nd instant, proved successful and interesting.
*
*PEKING
Poking, 23rd April.
RUMOURS IN PEKING,
The departure of the Court for the Eastern Tombs set many rumonts going- rumours malignant and numerons. These became so persistent and rigd that it was necessary to. take them into account. Some said there was danger and some there wasn't and then the
WISE MEN LOADED THEIE GUNS, and made up their minds that rumours are in themselves sufficient to precipitate ruin and began to fortify against the consequences certain to arise from their persistance, If trouble is ex- pected diligently long enough it is sure to come. It probably wasn't necessary to place a guard on the wall at the Chien Men and another at the Hata Men, as was done, or to double the patrols in the Legation quarter. Some of the ministers pooh-poohed this and did other automatic things. To show low the wise were aroused, take the Roman Catholics, who ought to know a great deal about the sources of unrest and danger. The universal nature of the uneasiness persuaded Bishop Favier to investigate and he went down into the province. He was happily convinced by the quiet in the district of Cheug:infu, returned an optimist and now thinks there is
NO CAUSE FOR A'ARM, ·
The people construed the Court's pilgrimage to be a blind to the execution of some hidden purpose and began to say what that purpose was. As a review of the troops at the Hunting Park was advertised in the edicts some said a direct attack on the Legations would le made. The absurdity of this was matched by the assertions of Chinese in and about Peking that the foreigners had taken possession of the gates of the city and were going to precipitate trouble, The rest of the catalogue may be filled out ad libitum with such as the following. The Ger- man Minister, who is on a tour to Jebol, started a day in advance of the Court in order to receive it at Tangling and have a private interview with Tru Hsi; also, the reason for going to the Hunting Park was to
OUST THE ITALIAN SECTION of the railway guard from the Hunting Park buildings which are near to the railroad. etc., ste. [The Italians gave up the Hunting Park buildings in February or March.] The remain- ing and legitimate puzzle is the review of the troops which was announced, then denied. It is understood some general memorialised that the review be cancelled for fear it would be misinterpreted by the foreigners. Ex-city governor Huyufen advised against it to Yunglu on account of the rumours among the foreigners, recommending at the same time that the Court return to the Forbidden City at once to silence
REVIEW WAS ABANdoned.
Not knowing how to explain it they are keep ing close watch to see if it comes off clandes tinely,
NO CHANGE IN THE afritude. of the people is noticeable. One might have thought from the amount of incense being burned at the Chien Men that a deal of supplica- tion was being made to the god of the city or gute to keep it free. But traffic comes and goes and the stories have about run their course.
THINGS IN GENERAL.
CORRESPONDENCE.
365
and serve to, place beyond their reach food of a good and substantial quality, and the want of such food serves very often as an important factor in the propagation of plague and other kindred diseases. I trust I will not have made this appeal to His Excellency in vain, for I am sure he has the welfare of the people at heart, and I trust he will see bis way to bring about a speedy and necessary reform in the matter.--- Yours, etc.,
BRIGHTER PROSPECTS.
P.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS,'
Hongkong, 3rd May, SIR, The letter which you published from "Old Resident" on the 30th ult, was indeed a gloomy for cast. Going back with him, his Prince Su came in yesterday to burn incense.meaning I take to be that, since the advent Early in the morning some high officials went f Asiatics in the Legislature of this out on the train to kowtow to the Empress | Colony, a handful of rich men have steadily Dowager in her temporary lodge. A desultory managed to grow very much richer, and the rain has been falling to-day and must for the process of their so doing has simply piled up, time being mar the rural festivities of the the foreshore of this City of Victoris with the Court but will scarcely last a week. At that diseased offal of China's neighbouring provinces. time is set the marriage of Lun Peitsi to If you do not believe it, Mr. Editor, take a Yungla's niece. This is the union that is, ac- ricksha and go and see for yourself. And, cording to clarion rumour, to produce an heir to the throne.-Mercury.
among the tens of thousands of the human species you will pass in your ride, there will scarcely be found one individual, either in appearance or build, that can pass muster as a thoroughly healthy specimen. The fact re- mains, as I explained in my letter to your evening contemporary under the heading of A Warning Note," now some two years ago, thero
so many of these people that it is impossible for them to get sufficient in the shape of nourishing food to support a physique capable of withstanding the inroads of disease incident to a weak vitality. Thus, you have the present condition of this prosperons Colony. I am of opinion that prosperity, after all, does not consist in riches so much as in a sound and healthy constitution throughout the popula tion. This Hongkong has not. I did not intend to trespass so far, but, as "Old Resident" sug- gests, the clouds do seem to be gradually lifting, and let us hope that a more unselfish, more public-spirited administration will follow.
We do not hold ourselva responsible for the
opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE WATER FAMINE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
"
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are
Hongkong, 5th May, SIR, The community should be grateful for the message from Headquarter House assuring us that the Government are maturing arrange- ments for an increased water supply. We do not see, however, any st: ps towards relieving. the tremendous congestion in the neighbour hood of the three tanks on the Praya front, and as a layman I would suggest the erection of an irou tank, about 12 feet square by feet high, supported by cast-iron columns or section columns. This tank should be at least 40 feat abore level of ground and should be connected THE CORONATION by a cast iron pipe with the underground main water-pipe. A force pump to be placed on level of ground for pumping from water-boats into
this trak, whence the water will ran to the
main-pipe. By this means the houses in the Praya, Des Voeux Road and Queen's Road Central would then be able to obtain water from their own laps. This I say would greatly reduce the congestion at the present tanks, as the residents in these three streets constitute the larger portion of those who now orowd to the tanks for water, while it would enable the people in the higher levels to obtain a couple of buckets in much less time than hitherto. The fire-engines should be utilised to work the pump and a few hours daily should uffice to give a fair supply of water. In case of fire, water cau be turned on at a moment's notice from the fire engines or from the hydrants, and this alone would commend, my plan to the insurance companies. The whole cost would not amount to much, and the only item of importance is the running expenses, and that certainly will not be high. If it is advisable, the tank might be placed on the roof of the Central Market which of course would have to be strengthened for this purpose. What do yur readers think of this Yours, etc.,
ENGINE.
THE PRICE OF FOOD. ·
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRFSS.
Hongkong, Pud May. SIR-May I be permitted through the medium of your columns to ask His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government to take steps to reduce the high rental of stalls to which stall-holders in the central and other mar kets of this Colony are being enbjected? To this cause, chiefly, is to be attributed the ruinons prices exacted by them (I use the word designed lyy for meat, fish, vegetables, etc. It must be patent to anybody that these enhanced prices make an enormous difference to the poorer classes
SPECTATOR.
CELEBRATION
"
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY ·PRESS.
Hongkong, 4th May: night I began to think of the Coronation cele- Six-In a quiet moment of sleeplessness last bration here, and if not too late let me urge upon the Committee the desirability of limiting the subscription list to Britisbers and British subjects. Fancy soliciting donations from Tom, Dick, and Harry to celebrate the Coronation of our King! The thought is monstrous when carefully considered. An action is tantamount to a confession of our unwillingness to provide the wherewithal to honour fittingly our monarch ou a celebrated day in his life and the nation's Listory. Is it dignified to obtain money for this peoples who, to say the least, have not been purpose from aliens representing European overpolite to us or our Royal house during the past two or three years ? I think it is the duty of the Government to provide from their large surplus of public funds whatever balance is necessary after the Coronation Committee has collected from loyal Britishers and British sub. jects what they can afford to subscribe. Sub- scriptions should not be limited in amount or the "widow's mite" refused. The "strangers. within our gates" should be invited by public announcement of the Committee to attend the various functions as our guests. In this way we.shall honour our King and ourselves by-not loring our self respect.-Yours, &c.,
LEX.
TO. THE EDITOR OF TAK "DAILY PRESS.”. Hongkong, 7th May:: SIB, I hope I shall not be considered lacking in loyalty if I suggest that, as the committee appointed to administer the Diamond Jubiloe Fund of $184,000 have refrained from affording the public any explanation of their administration up to date, the public decline to contribute towards any Coronation ☀ celebration until some such statement is forthcoming. No one for a moment doubts the
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