August 16, 1902.]
THE TROUBLE IN LAOS.
The Independance Tonkinoise treats in a very blunt fashion the note on this subject that was. reently issued to the Press in Paris by the last Minister of the Colonies. M. Decrais, it will be remembered, had no news of a rebellion in French Laos, but had simply been informed that a band of 1,500 Siamese rebels had crossed the Mekong and attacked Savannaket, where they were repulsed. Our contemporary remarks that the Minister of the Colonies is as chary of giving information as the Government of Indo- China, and that he is hiding the truth. If there were absolutely nothing else, it continuer, if there were no rising in French territory why are the civil guards steadily being sent to Laos from Tonkin and Annam? Why are the two batteries of artillery taken away from Sontay? Is it for hygienic reasons that
Sarannaket has been evacuated?
Is it for
reasons of economy that the boats of the Messageries Fluviales do not paes that post? The Independance complains bitterly because, it says, the attempt to hide the truth is a proof of distrust of the French Press and the French residents.
HONGKONG.
Mr. W J. Tutcher has been appointed Acting Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforesta tion Department.
The Hongkong Regiment, we understand, leaves for India in September, and will be replaced by the 9th Gurkhas.
H.M.S. Humber arrived from Shanghai on the 13th inst., as also did the U S. transport Solace. The Japanese cruiser Ch tone, with Coronation guests, left for Japan.
our
The visitors to the City Hall Library and Museum last week were 183 non-Chinese and 78 Chinese to the former, and 31 non-Chinese and 1,516 Chinese to the latter institutiou.
On Tuesday last Mr. Geo. P. Lammert obtained $20,000 on the sale of three houses in Ship Street, and $53,000 by the sale of six houses in Des Voeux Road We.t. The purchasers in each case were Chinese.
Tending the appointment of consular officers for the republic of Cuba, Mr. W. A. Rubles, Consul General in Hongkong for the United States, has been recognised as consular repre- sentative here of Cuba.
He was
u Chak, a postman residing at 44, Ladder Street, has been committed to the Criminal Sersions on a charge of stealing a letter that arrived from Manila on the 8th inst. searched in presence of Mr. F. C. Lewis, Acting Postmaster-Genera', and the letter was found in his breast pocket
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The heavy rain which set in on the 12th inst. caused the streets to be flooded in many such circumstances, was under a considerable parts of the town. Queen's Road, as is usual in depth of water at several points. Opposite Connaught House the street was impassable about tiffin time, and the hotel and neighbouring shops were flooded. The frontage-owners here have much cause to complain, as this is by no suffered through the rain this season. Ice means the first time that their premises have
House Street, Zetland Street, and other hill roads were more or less damaged by the torrential flow of water, and several minor landslips occur- red,
'The London Gazette announced last mouth that the King has been pleased to approve of the appointment of (hurles Stewart Sharp, Esq, to be an unofficial member of the Legisla- tive Council of the Colony of Hongkong, and that the King has been pleased to give directious for the appointment of Ernest Hamilton Sharp, Esq, to be one cf His Majesty's Counsel for the Colony of Hongkong.
The following are the returns of the average amount of bank-notes in circulation and of specie in reserve in Hongkong during July, as certified by the managers of the respective
banks:-
Banks.
Chartered Bank of India, Aus-
tralia and China Hongkong and Shanghai Bank-
ing Corporation. National Bank oft hina, Limited
Average Specic in Amount. Reserve.
$
3 3,047,230 1,600,000
19,223.390 5,000,000
sold by public auction for the Admiralty Messrs. Hughes & Hough on the 13th inst. H.M. unprotected, composite gun-vessel Swift
as she now lies in the Harbour. There was a
large attendance at the sale, which took place on board. Bidding started at $5,000 and was briskly carried to $28,500, at which figure the vessel was knocked down to Messrs. Cha Woo. The Swift is 180 feet long, by 29 feet broad, She is and has a displacement of 756 tons. copper-sheathed, with engines by Rennie, two cylindrical tubular boilers and three wooden masts. The anchors, mooring-gear, boats and boats' gear were not sold. The Admiralty did not guarantee that she was fit for furthur sea service.
447,292 150,000
Total
$13,717,912 $6,750,000 The telegram which we published on the 12th inst regarding the piratical seizure by three hanghai beachcombers of a pleasure pinnace and their ineffectual attempt to get away with the craft, reminds one of the unusual number of that undesirable fraternity that is at present to be encountered in Hongkong. Several com- plaints have reached us lately about the annoyance which these loafers are causing to pedestrians, householders, and shopkeepers by their persistent demands for alms. The general feeling among the public here seems to be that the beachcombers are welcome to take as many pinnaces as they like so long as they clear out of the Colony for good.
Shortly after 3 a.m. on the 13th inst. fire broke at 379, Queen's Road Central. The Brigade uuder Mr. D. Macdonald turned out as
quickly as possible, but could not prevent the
total destruction of the first, second, and third floors; the ground floor was only damaged by water, and the adjoining house. No 37, sustained slight damage from the same source. No. 379 was occupied entirely by Chinese tradesmen, the first floor being rented jointly as a drug-store and watchmaking establishment, and the second and third floors as a photographic studio. The amount of the damage is unknown, but will probably be covered by the insurance, which totals $9.900 between the three businesses, and is payable by the Fuk Cn and Chun On Companies.
135
The Siam Observer's Battambong correspon dent wrote on the 10th ult.:-I fear His Excel-
subjected of late to many petty annoyances, of lency the Governor has, unfortunately, been the kind commonly called "pin-pricks," from the French Consulate. I trust we have heard the last of them, but whether they warrant serious notice or not, it is right that the public should know of these things if they are continued.
A St. Petersburg correspondent states that the Imperial authorities have granted per- mission for construction of a Buddhist house of prayer in the neighbourhood of the Tauris Gardens. The sacred vessels and fittings will
building will be luid by the newly-appointed be procured from Peking. It is believed in the Chinese Legation that the stone of the projected Chinese Minister soon after he reaches the Russian capital.
The material of which many or nearly all of the roads in the Colony are constructed lends itself very much to the wearing action of a heavy downpour of rain, and after such weather as we have had of late it is not surprising to learn that disrepair is the order of things throughout the Colony, but particularly, the polico report, in the city itself. Some roads aro so badly cut up in the eastern districts as to make them dangerous for passengers at night Caine Road in places shows the effects of the weather very plainly, and at the west end of Ripon Terrace a retaining wall bas collapsed and made the roadway exce dingly unsafe in the dark. This is also the case between Ladder Street and West Terrace, where several old buildings are showing a tendency to insta- bility; it is expected Li at collapses will ensue, and the occupants have been warned out while the necessary remedial measures being conducted by the Public Works Depart ment. n Austin Road, Kowloon, we are told that a retaining wall has shown indica- tions of coming down, and has had to be shored up. The building in connection with this wall is a new one, having been finished about a year ago. The occupants here have also been cleared out. When the wall in question was being built, Mr. P. T. Crisp, Inspector of Buildings, summoned the contractor, à China- man, for doing the work badly. Mr. J. H. Kemp who heard the case, dismiss d the sum- mons, but the wall, which at that time was deemed to have beeu properly constructed, has now settled the question for itself by cracking and bulging. It was ever thus in Hongkong!
MISCELLANEOUS.
are
The Tientsin correspondent of the N..C. Daily News wrote on the 1st July: The return of Tientsin to the control of the Chinose is definitely fixed for the 15th August, I am informed, and arrangements are begin- ing to be made for concluding the transfer. I anticipation of this, small yellow flags are being sold on the streets of the city and it will be profusely decorated with them on that occasion, it is said. It will be a voluntary expression of the sentiment of the people, and fronts will be without the yellow emblem of probably very few, if any, shop or residence loyalty. There can be no doubt, I think, but that the great body of the Chinese are rejoicing ment of their own officials again. Between the at the prospect of coming under the govern-
two classes-governed and governing—there believe, at any rate, that they will receive will be a better unders anding, and the former
The French China commemorative medal will be given to all the sailors who took part in the expedition, and also to all civilians who defended the Pe ing Legations.
A most enjoyable picnic was given on on the 11th inst, attended by the leading Portuguese in Maco, to Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Carl, who are leaving shortly for Chefoo, to which port Mr. Carl has been transferred as commissioner. They will be very much missed in Macao where they are so very popular.
better treatment than at the hands of the treatment and prefer it. foreigner. At least they understand the
General Linevitch contributes to a Russina service paper his impressions of the Japanese army, as he witnessed it engaged in the manoeuvres of 1901. He draws attention to the fact that a Japanese division is a unit composed of the three arms, having two brigades of infantry, each of two regiments, a regiment of cavalry, a regiment of artillery with six batteries, and a battalion of sappers with three companies. The theme of the operations was that a hostile division had landed in the extreme north of Japan, and was pro- ceeding south with the intention of seizing Sendai. He describes the infantry as the best arm of the service and as giving a most favourable impression. It was imposs.ble for him to examine the artillery closely owing to tle fact that the construction of the gun is a close, secret. The cavalry, according to Colonel Linevitcb, are the worst arm of the service, the horses being very small, weak, and badly trained, while the men themselves had no idea of equitation. In general, the configura- tion of the country is not favourable to movements of large masses of troops, and renders the evolution of artillery and cavalry almost impossible.
Details of Mr. Chamberlain's reply to the
petition of the inhabitants of Labuan, the telegraphically, are brought by the French mail. Mr. Chamberlain states that, after consulting the company, and hearing the Governor's ob- servations on the petition, he has requested the company to inform the petitioners that he does not see sufficient grounds, at the present time, for complying with the request that Labnan should be removed from the administration of the company. He is not prepared to interfere with the discretion of the company in regard to the taxes complained of, or to advise His Majesty to disallow the ordinances referred to. The alien police-namely, the Sikhs are such as are employed in other colonies besides Labuan. He fully agrees that schools should, if possible, be established in Lanau as elsewhere, and he is inviting the directors of the company to give the matter their attention. He is also consult- ing them as to the administration of justice, He understands that the Governor of Labuan does not consider the administration of the company to be extravagant, or its officials to be too numerous, and the interest of the company would appear to tend in the opposite direction.
outlines of which we have already received