F
Page
July 19, 1902.]
for his conspicuous and brave conduct in towing the junk full of wounded under a very heavy fire. Sergeant Johnson bas also received the Dis- tinguished Conduct Medal and Leading Signal- man Swannel bas had the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and Sickbay Steward Tuller has been especially promoted for service rendered at Peking.
A very sad event has marked the cruise home, and that is the dea h of Captain J. H. T. Burke just before arrival at Adeo, He had been ill for about ten days, and the day before arriving he died of cerebral hemorrhage and was buried at Aden with all the honours due to his position. From my correspondent at Devonport I hear that a flag captured from a piratical junk in Chinese waters by the gunboat Plover, Lieut.- Com. A. H. Oldham, has been presented to the Devonport Public Library.
CHATRE'S CIRCUS.
On the 14th inst. Chatre's Indian Circus com- pany gave their last performance in Hongkong, before leaving for Japan. There was a splendid attendance, and those who came to the show in the expectation of having a pleasant evening's entertainment were by no means disappointed. A capital programme was submitted and the various items were liberally applauded. The performance consisted of equestrian acts, athletic and trapeze feats, "turus" by trained parrots, an elephant and a tiger, etc. Kupparo gare a clever display on the horizontal bar, Marutirao an unique "turn" of foot-balancing called "Tanjorian "on the programme. Besides other trapeze and wire performances and much genuinely comic business by the clowns, there were introduced a couple of wonderfully trained parrots, one of which discharged arrows from a fixed bow and the other loaded and fired a miniature gun. There followed a capital exhibi- tion of skill by Prince Ganesh, a Mysore elephant. The announcement by the mauage- ment that a tiger would be let loose in the ring caused a little consternation. The animal was loosed from its cage but was held by a rope round its neck while it went through its tricks, which were wonderful considering the fierce and untamable nature of the beast. The whole show was an unqualified success.
VICTORIA RECREATION CLUB.
The
CORRESPONDENCE.
51
THE WATER-METER QUESTION.
CHINA OVERLÅND TRADE REPORT. country on the first opportunity. Opinion, it should Anglophobe and need not be taken as express-We do not hold ourselves responsible for the
be said, is bitterly ing the view of the Government. All the actions of Siam it believes to be dictated by
opinions expressed by our correspondents.] England, and it asserts that "all the enemies of France whether in Siam, on the Mekong, or in Upper Laos are directed by the Jesuitical policy of England, which works in the dark but does not thereby do the less harm." hardly an opinion to be respected, and the only point in it all is that the strengthening of the garrison at Chantaloon and the movement of troops towards the regarded in Saigon as a military demonstration
Siamese frontier
against this country.
That is
THE VICEROY OF THE TWO KWANG.
was
In its "Notes on Native Affairs," the N.-C. Daily News of the 11th inst. says:-
TO THE EDITOR OF THE *
DAILY PRESS," Hongkong, 16th July. SIR,-Because I do not understand I must- once more speak on behalf of the poor.
What is it that I do not understand ? It is
and lighting, police protection, and water for that the Government, having collected the rates from the people, and having prepared streets the benefit of the people, afterwards in the casa?” cf the most important thing, water, seeks tờ make the poor either buy it, or else go and carry it, in order to get what they need. The Government always collects the rates for these various items and it is not right to say that those who pay more as water-rates and use less than they pay for are losing and those whose columns, the resignation of H.E. Tao Mu, ing. Arguing in this way they compel the As may be remembered by readers of these rates are less but who use more water are gain- the enlightened Viceroy of the. Two Kwang poor to live in dear bonses so as to get enough provinces, lately, caused several changes to be water to use; if they live in cheap houses they made amongst certain Governors of provinces, must either buy water or else go and carry in connection with which it will be recalled that enough for their needs. If comparisons are H.E. Ts'ên Ch'un-hsuen, the able and strong made on these lines then there are other things Governor of Shansi, was ordered to be transferr. to discuss besides water. Some men and women ed from Taiyuan to Cauton to succeed Governor and sick people cannot go out much, and they use: Te Stou, who had been promoted Acting Viceroy the roads, less than the poor who carry burdens of the Two Kwang, vice Tao Mu. It is now and walk all day on the roads; according to the rumoured in mandarin circles that the trans- above method of argument such people lose a ference of Governor Tsen from Shansi, where a great deal. It may be said that this is a far- as a matter of fact his firm rule is still badly fetched argument because when large quantities needed, to Canton, was made by the advisers, of of water are consumed the supply will be the Empress Dowager with the ultimate inton-exhausted, but the tion of promoting H.E. to the Viceroyship of easily get out of order can be repaired and roads although they Kwangtung and Kwangsi, or the Two Kwang, used again and do not diminish nor give out. owing to the latter province being at But I speak thus because some people say that present over run with secret societies and persons who use but little water and pay high seething with revolutionists inimical to the Manchus.
water-rates are not treated fairly. I have there Governor Trên is a native of Kwangsi and his is one of the most influential compared it with all the rates and have used the ore taken the question of water-rates and- and popular geutry families in that province. methods of comparison and equal division to It is thought at Peking that, with his known appeal to the wealthy that they may think over talents, firmness of will and popularity amongst the subject from this point of view. I trust they his follow provincials, Governor Tsên Ch'un- will also remember where their money comes bauen, as Viceroy of the Two Kwang, will be from; they earn it from the poor and accumulate able to restore order without trouble and it until they become wealthy. They shou'd not without much further fighting.
narrow their sympathies because they pay a slightly excessive water-tax. The wealthy like and have gardens, and though they may pay to live where land is cheap and in large houses
a little more water-tax than the poor who live where land is dear, on a flat or in a small the poor. Reckoning on this basis they are room, yet they use many times more than much better off than the poor.
MALAY STATES.
An extraordinary meeting of the Victoria THE REVENUE OF THE FEDERATED Recreation Club was held on the 14th inst. in the Gymnasium for the purpose of confirming the special resolutions passed at the meeting held on 30th alt. Mr. T. H. Reid, chairman of committee, presided.
Mr. F. W. WHITE, hon, secretary, read the resolutions as follows:-7a. Members.elect- ed on and after July 1, 1902, who are not British subjects, shall not be eligible to serve on the General or Ballotting Committees of the Club; and no existing member of the Club not a British subject is eligible for either the General or the Ballotting Committees." "8a. No candidate shall have the privileges of the Club unless he comes under the provisions of Rules 5 and 6, or unless with the permission of the General Committee, which permission may be cancelled at any time." 9a. Members shall pay an entrance fee of $20, payable in
advance,'
LA
Mr R. H. B. MITCHELL moved that the resolutions be confirmed.
Mr. C. W. MARSHALL seconded, and the motion was unanimously agreed to.
This was all the business.
FRANCE AND SIAM.
The Bangkok Times writes:-The view taken in Saigon of the recent events on the Eastern frontier, has just such value as one may choose to put upon it. But in any case a certain amount of interest must attach to Saigon opinion, and we find from the papers to hand to-day that the recent movement of French troops is frankly termed “ a military demons- tration against Siam." The Opinion is disap- pointed that it proved only a platonic demonstration after all, but on, the principle that there is no smoke without fire it believes that the French Government will not let slip the chance of putting its hand on this
|
States during last year amounted to $7,541,507, The total revenge of the Federated Malay
and is the highest figure yet attained. The as compared with $15,609,8 8 in the previous year, expenditure came to $17,273,158 as compared with $12,728,931. In explanation of the in- General says that the" Federal" expenditure of creased total of expenditure the Resident the two years, 1900 and 1901, is included in the figures given for 1961. Hitherto it had been the practice to include the "Federal" expen- diture of one year in the accounts of the succeeding year; henceforth the expenditure of the year will be brought to
Federal
account in the year during which it occurs. Similar remarks apply to revenue. The proper figures for comparison, therefore, are~,
Revenue Expenditure
14
1901.
1900. $15,609,808 $17,383,647 12,728,931 16,463,175 Under revenue the principal increase ($1,021,224) is under licenses, due to an arrange- ment by which the rent payable by the Perak General Farmer was increased, and to the reletting of the Negri Sembilan Farms.
Under expenditure the chief increases are contributed by the Departments of Public Works and Railways; and Personal emolu- ments, owing mainly to the graft of Exchange (ompensation Allevance on whole instead of half salary, show an increase of $270,418.
The proportion of the cost of establishments, including State Railways to revenue, is given as 17.63 per cent. for 1900 the proportion was 16.67 per cent.
The assets of the Federated States on 1st January, 1902, including Bank fixed deposits, and cash in Treasuries and on current account in Banks, stood at $10,337,120. Liabilities are returned at $5,040,695,
basis of water and water rates only, but should We should not discuss the subject on the consider the amount of land occupied. In fact possible point of view and specil consideration the subject should be considered from every should be given to the case of the poor because they have no one to express their views. Where land is cheap the price of water might be raised, and where land is expensive the price of water method. might be made cheaper: this would be a fair
}
be reckoned at one rate all over the Colony, If the price and the allowance of water are to
then in order to be just the price of land and. the land-tax should be reckoned at one rate everywhere. If it were desired to make the price of water allowed out of the rates cheaper where land is dear than where it is cheap, so that the. inhabitants in such parts might have sufficient. water on account of the amount paid for rates: then the water-meter would not be required and this stumbling-block need not be put in the way of the people. Because in case of excessive use of water it would be very difficult to fir the blame; all would strive to clear themselves and much i l-feeling would be engendered. We trust the Government will not exercise justice only but temper their justice with mercy. After collecting the water-rates to make the poor who are weak pay again by having their water car- ried or else to do without water would be to cause this class of people who ought to have most corsideration to be subjected to the greatest hardships. Having paid their water. ******* rates they should be given enough water for their needs, just as I said before the passage- boat people do: having received the money for