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SHANGHAI RACES—AUTUMN ́
MEETING.
The Shanghai Race Club announces for its Autumn Meeting this year a race entitled "The Lottery Stakes," decribed as follows "For all China ponies; Value, Tis. 200, added to a sweepstakes of Tls. 15 each. Forfeit Tls. 5, if declared on or before the date of closing the entries for the Autumn Meeting, when the balance of Tis. 10 is to be paid, and the name and colour of the pony declare. The stakes will be divided as follows:-1st pony 70 per cent., 2nd pony 2) per cent., 3rd pony 10 per ont. Weight for inches as per scale. Win-
of a race of one mile or over to carry 5 lba extra. Griffus which have arrived in Shanghai on or after 1st August, 1902, allowed 7 lbs. Non-winners, and grifflus purchased prior to above date, allowed 4 lbs No ponies qualified to run unless entered at the Autumn Meeting in su official race." The distance will be one mile and a balf, and nominatio 18, which are transferable, close on 34th June.
FRANCE AND SIAM.
In the House of Lords last month Lord Lamington asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he could say when the French were going to comply with their obligations to evacuate Chantaboon, whether their continued occupation was due to the Siamese not having fulfilled their pledges; and whether any repre- ́sentations on the subject had been made to the
French Government.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS. AND
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Nothing that has been said by the French Government, so far as I am aware, has ever pointed to the conclusion that they intended their occupation to be permanent. On the contrary, the very language of the Convention suggests a different inference. On several occasions it has been stated by persons of high official position in the service of the French Government that it was their intention to restore Chantaboon to the Siamese às 30011.88 the stipulations of the Convention of 1893 had been completely fulfilled.
HONGKONG.
Mr. J. H. Kemp has been appointed Secretary to the Squatter's Board.
The name of Mr. A. F. Arcalli has been added to the list of non-official Justices of the
Peace.
The Russian Grand Duke Boris arrived in Hongkong on the 16th inst. on board the French oruised Kersaint. His visit here was of a purely private nature and was of short duration, as he left again on the 18th.
In celebration of the Coronation of His Majesty the King, the 26th and 27th inst. will be observed as public holidays throughout the Colony. The 28th inst, will also be observed as a holiday in Government Departments except in that of the Police Magistrate, who will alo sit on the 27th inst.
The statement of stamp revenue during May 1901 and 1902 shows an increase for the latter month of $8,987.59), The chief items which contributed to this were: Probate, or letters of administration, 39 202; and adhesive stamps, $2,028 38. The main decrease was in Conveyance or Assignment, $1,945.50.
The appointments are notified in the Gazette of the Hon. C. S. Sharp to be an Unofficial Member of the Executive Council and of Messrs. G. W. F. Playfair and R. G. Shewan to be Unofficial Members of the Legislative Conneil; the reappointment of the Hon. Ho Kai to be Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council is also notified. ·
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We have reason to believe that very possibly H, E. the Acting Governor of Macao, Senhor A. P. Lello, may pay a visit to Hongkong on Friday, the 27th insr., in connection with the festivities in this Colony. Senhor Lello will on the 26th attend the ball given by the British residents at Macao, of which we have already
which spoken.
The Marquis of Lansdowne, in reply, said: am afraid I shall not be able to give my noble friend all the enlightenment he desires upon this important subject. He evidently knows that the differences between France and Siam are of very long standing. Their history is intricate and the present, situation is still, I am afraid. somewhat obscure. It is the case that in 1893 the Siamese Government entered into a Treaty and Convention with the Government of France, under which the Siamese ceded to France a very considerable portion of Siamese. territory lying on the eastern bank of the River Mekong. The Siamese Government also under- took, in respect of the zone of 25 kilomètres in depth following the course of the River Mekong, that they would evacuate and not mantain any armed forces in that region. On the other hand, the French Government on the Conven- tion announced, in the plainest language, that it was their intention to remain in the occupation of Chantaboon, which they held at the moment, until such time as the whole of the stipulations of the Convention had been com- plied with by the Siamese. We huderstand that at the present time it is alleged by the French Government that several of these stipulations have not yet been complied with. They are The Fokhien community in the Colony Care numerous, and I do not think that any useful making preparations to entertain the Chinese purpose would be served if I were to particu. Minister to London, I, Fenglah, who with his larise them. But certainly two matters in family is due to arrive here by the German dispute are-first, the question of whether or mail on the 25th instant. We understand that not the zone of 25 kilomètres has been com- a daughter of the Minister is engaged to be pletely evacuated; and, secondly, the extremely married to the Hon. Tan Jak Kio, one of the difficult and troublesome question of registra-leading Fokhien merchants in the Straits. tion. The point is this. The French retain control over persons of Annamite and Cam- bodian descent residing on the western or Siamese side of the River Mekong.
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Lord Lamington: And Chinese, too. The Marquis of Lansdowne The matter is in dispute between the French and Siamese Governments, and I do not think it possible for His Majesty's Government, in such circum- stances, toundertake to decidebetween the two
which parties, or to state ou
side the nor have right lies;
We thought the ogcasion was one for making auy repre- sentation to the French Government. That is the special question which the noble Lord asked. Having said that much, I can only add that I share with the noble Lord the interest which he takes in this subject. I realise its great importance to the peace of the regions which afe the scene of these events, and I can assure him that none will be better pleased than His Majesty's Government if these differences should be composed, and if it should be found within the power of the French Government to restore Chantaboon to its legitimate owners.
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The local agent of the Canadian Pacific Rail- way Co. courteously informed us on the 18th inst, afternoon that in reply to a cable message sent to Montreal, he had just received the following:- "Coronation coatingent sailed Tunisian June 13th "showing that the party had arrived at Montreal and left on time in accordance with schedule,
The water authorities report' that the various reservoirs of the Colony have been com- pletely filled by the recent rains. There is at the present moment 49 per cent. more water in stock than there was last year at the corres- ponding date, but this of course cannot be taken as an indication that the supply during next dry season will be any more plentiful than was the casa before the last rains made their appearance. Heavy downpours may take place up till September. It is only then that one can compare the amount in hand with the probable consumption during the sub equent dry season. But in the meantime there is matter for satis faction in the abundance of the supply,
J.
[June 21, 1902.
MISCELLANEOUS.
H.M.8. Talbot ha a left Swatow for Weihai- ei, where she will take part in the Coronation festivities. H.M.S. Blenheim should already have reached Weihaiwei from Nagasaki.
The new lighthouse erected by the Formosan Government at the northern extremity of the Pescadores Group is finished, and the light will be used for the first time on the 15th inst. The work of construction cost 220,000 yen.
Three houses belonging to French and Germans were destroyed at Peking by fire on the 2nd inst, as well as a building containing forage. On the 3rd the timber meant for the new Austrian Legation was also destroyed by fire.
It is stated that the perpetrators of the outrage at Paklat, Siam, when a number of men entered a gambling hou e, shot, several there and decomped with the money, were Siamese
soldiers.
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Lient:-Colonel F. W. B. Koe who has recent- ly returned home from Hongkong, has been appointed to take over the command of the Army Service Corps in the North-Western
District.
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The Osaka Asahi learns that the Japanese telephone service between Seoul and Chemulp", Corea, was opened to the public on the 21st of last month. At Seonl 65 connections have been established, and 56 at Chemulo.
The Laertes arrived at Singapore on the 10th inst. with 786 coolies on board, from China ports for the Straits. On the voyage down ten men and two women developed cholera, and as they were suffering from this disease on their arrival at Singapore they were sent to the quarantine station.
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Mr. René Sheridan, who has been appointed Legal Adviser to the Siamese Government, arrived in Bangkok on the 2nd instant. Mr. C. Symon, assistant legal adviser, has got six months' leave of absence. The present Legal Adviser, Mr. Schlesser, leaves for Europe about the end of this month. He is going home to be married,
A distressing gaa accident occurred in the Settlement, Shanghai, on the 8th inst. Two of the young sons of Mr. Rowe were playing with a small saloon rifle when the younger pointed it at Lis elder brother. He pulled the trigger, with the result that the bullet hit his
brother in the head. The boy was removed to the Hospital, but was soon pronounced out of danger.
The Kobe City authorities have now conclad- ed all distraints on house tax defaulters, says the Kobe Herald. None of the foreign lease. holders have paid the tax for which demand notes were issued last month, covering the first half of this year, and which was payable up to the 26th ult. The authorities will issue warn- ing notes and further demand notes shortly and will start distraint again if necessary.
At the exeontion of three Filipino: ladrone leaders at Lingayen, P.I., on the 6th inst., a new kind of garrotte was tried, and the result was a gruesome failure, says the Manila American Thirteen minutes passed before the medical officers pronounced death by strangula- tion, and those who witnessed the execution were horrified by the work of the barbarons machine.
The Wüsuch correspondent of the N.-C. Daily News writes:-"The question of the compulsory purchase of lottery tio sets seems to be settled. In two or three hsien here, the mandarins are giving the option of taking tickets or of paying increased taxes. The Christians are thus able to pay increased taxes and not offend their Apparently, therefore, the conscienc s." Wusneh Christians are more rigid moralista than their European brethren in China or at home.
Corean railways have even greater difficulties to contend with than those in China. The Seoul-Fusan Bailway Co. had begun the con- · struction of a line between Kinsen and Saigen The homeward bound cruiser Endymion had on the 1st inst. as previously arranged, whên a hearty send-off on the 17th inst. We the Corean Government demanded the suspen- learnt that she would remain two days in Mirssion of the work. A tunnel has to be dug. Bay, in order to escape quarantine at Sings- pore, where the cruiser will participate in the Coronation fêtes.
On Tuesday the British gunboat Fearless arrived from Singapore.
The French gunboat Kersaint left for Haiphong on Thursday,
through a mountain which is regarded as so Imperial graveyard by the Government, and this is the reason of the demand. "The company officials replied that they could not scoode to the demand. The Corean Government, still insists on the suspension of the work and some further trouble on the matter is expectød.