342
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND ·
values of the merchandise passing through the | M. DE WITTE AT VLADIVOSTOCK. Customs shed every day.
EMIG 3ANTS,
Vladivostock. 14th October. The s.s. Arnold Luyken left here on the 25th The Russian Minister of Finance, M. de instant for Mintok with about 800 emigrants | Witte,frrived here by special traía from Moscow
on board. The ship was filled up to her utmost capacity. Consequent upon the dearth of rice. coupled with the failure of the sweet potato crop owing to want of rain, emigrants are pouring in from the mainland, willing to work abroad in preference to starvation.
NORTHERN NOTES.
The following items of news are from the P. & T. Times of the 10th and 11th ult.:
The native papers mention that the Japanese Minister is likely to go on leave to Japan shortly. A mail dated Hamburg, September 12th, reached Tientsin on October 8th, that is, twenty-six days from date of writing.
Our readers will not have failed to note a new feature in the Tientsin trade, the great. Blue Funnel" boats at the bar.
The new building of the Peking University is said to be completed, and the Eutrance examinatious will be held shortly.
Most of the principal Hsien Schools are now furnished with two English speaking teachers, Dr. Tenney having been able to send 30 qualified young men iuto the interior.
The Tis. 700,000 indemnity for the missiou property destroyed in Hunau was, we hear, voluntarily offered by the officials in order to secure their positions. It was much in excoSS of the amount demanded, but was accepted by the British Consul, says the Je Jc.
We believe it is not generally known that Cheng-chou, where the late Hnnan murders were committed, is especially noted for its superstitions with regard to the charm-cuting of diseases and exorcism of devils. It was therefore particularly easy to raise the well- poisoning story.
We are glad to learn that Captain Mauthe, with the sanction of the C.I.M. Customs, has been appointed aide-de-camp to H. E. the Viceroy, who could not have an abler assistant at his right hand. Captain Munthe accompaui. ed H. E. to and from Shanhaik wan on Lis recent visit.
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The most prominent feature of Peking at the moment is the wonderful scaffolding_erect d round the Ketteler Monument in Hatamen Street. This construction is a fine specimen! of the builder's art both in size and in the ingenuity with which it has been put together, The big poles are composed of great numbers of smaller ones lashed together, and the bracings and stays form quite a labyrinth. The Mo - ment is not yet above the hoarding, but soon will be. When we state that some of the monoliths weigh well over 20 tons, it can be understood that a substantial framework is necessary to raise them to position.
Since the rendition of the Peking-Shanhai- kwan portion of the Railway, had it not been for the publicity given to the matter in the press, ninety-nine per cent. of the travelling public would not be aware that any change had taken place, but outside the Wall quite a different state of affairs prevails. For political reasons the line instead of being handed over to the Railway administration returned to the Chinese territorial officials, who of course know little or nothing about railways. Since the Russians transferred, the working of the train service has been totally disorganised and we hear from Shanhaik wan that a party of American tourists was stranded for some days between Newchwang and Shanhaikwan. The sooner the old staff, both Chinese and foreign, can be sent back to their former posts, the better.
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absence.
on the 9th inst., being accompanied by the Military Governor of the local Maritime Dis trict, Lieutenant-General N. M. Tehitchagoff. who returns after a lengthy leave o The Minister and the Governor were met by many of the local officials, and after the exchange of greetings, drove to the residence of the Military Governor. The special train which carried the Minister direct from Moscow to Vladivostock took only fourteen days to cover : the distance, while ainmt. two-and a-half days were speut in stopping to inspect varions | 11'es ! ou the Chinese Eastern Railway. Thus, with the present state of the road, a fast passenger train light cover the distance from St. Petan burg to Vladivostork, including the sial With the compiton stops. In about 124 days. of the Baika! connecting line and a further improvement of the Chinese Eastern Railway line. it will be possible to travel the same distance in less than 'en days.
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[November 3, 1902.
CORRESPONDENCE.
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE DOCK CA, AND HOME SHAREHOLDERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRES." London, 24th September, 1992. SIR. Since the arrival of the German mail the Bank and Dock Companys meetings have naturally been the chief subjects of conversation I have been when old China hands have met.
out of town and so hare only seen one or two. but from what they tell me of the views of others I may safely say that the feeling of indignation here is very strong in regard to the state of affairs revealed by the Dock Company's We do not care report and at the meeting. much whether we get S6 or an extra dollar i per cent. to pay a dividend ' (borrowed at
on what some of us of about 4 per cent. paid for our shares last year), but we natu ally feel annoyed that we should be used as an excuse for keeping the shar-holders ont of their money for three months. A modified form of the expr saion used by ous old Hongkongita to characterise it. If we are iso important, why did the directors not consider us when they proposed to rush through their From what I hear, I selieme for a new dock? may inform the directors that they need not look for support for that scheme from a single shareholder here, notwithstanding that others as well as I are interested in Green Islands. I know that several intend sending out instruc- tions to vote against it.-Yours, etc..
"mean trick
is a
On the 10th just.. by invitation of the Minister of Finance there assembled at the residence
hew of the Military Governor represe ita-, tives of the city administration, mnb'rs of the local Exchang› Committee, and a number of prominent mer, hants, in order to discuss with them various matters pertaining to local trade, petitions regarding which had previously becu sout to the Minister while at St. Petersburg. After a lengthy discussion, during which the Minister asked a number of questions regarding the state of local commerce, His Excellency announced that after careful consideration he was able to give favourable replies to the petitious privaled, many of which, it is hoped, { will have a direct influence upon the revival of ¦ COLLAPSE AT NO. 56, FIRST STREET. trade bere.
The questions referred to are:--- (1) The establishment at the port of
free zone harbour." Vladivostock of a “
(2) Permission to make transhipments of foreign goods in transit on the sime conditious as at the southern ports of Manchuria -i.c. that the Customs duty shall be returned upon the export of the goods from the conutry, and an ad vetorem duty imposed only on such goods as are imported.
(3) To estead the preceding rule to all goods in transit by land.
(4) Permission to import by ship fre of duty all goods of Chinese manufacture (except tea and alcohol), on the same conditious as those imported by the land route.
(5) To equalise the railway tariff rates between Vladivostock. Port Arthur, and Daloy.
(6) To facilitate the method of passing goods by the Customs officials.
(7) Permission to organise smill stock com. panies in this part of the country.
(8) The establishment of a commercial
school at Vladivostock.
With regard to many other pati ions present ed by the local merchants, the Minister promised his consideration.
The local merchants, in order to commemorate the beneficial result of their endeavours, have resolved to establish a scholarship at the local Eastern Justitute in the name of M. de Witte, the means for which have already been subscrib. ed. | The Minister, before leaving, thauked the merchants for the honour they had done him and consented to the proposal.
In consequence of M. de Witte's attitude, a better feeling prevails among commercial men her, and a big revival of trade is short'y expected. - Kobé Chronicle,
There has been a report current amongst the
that We understand this natives near Seremban
а volcano in has not been done yet, and travellers should Sumatra, in the Menang Kabu district, is in a take note.
state of activity, and that the haze which has been prevalent lately is the smoke from that mountain. If the report is true, says a Malay Mail correspondent, it sounds a much more likely solution of the mystery than the sugges tion that it is dust from Martinique, or
The Tartar General Tsengchi has sent 5,000 infantry to Newchwang for the protection of the line at that end.
Retired Commander E. W. Yorke has been appointed King's Harbour Master and Naval Executive Officer at Weihaiwei.
Several prominent Boxer leaders are returning to Peking, says the Je Je, among them the wife of the degraded Duke Tsai Lan, who has been warmly received by the Empress Dowager: and ex-Prince T'sai Yi.
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smoke from Japan." Sumatra is very near at hand and the smoke could be very easily blowu across the Straits. According to the Mail; the Ciținese at Kuala Lumpur regard the pres:at as the abnormal atmospherical conditions precursor of a terrible calamity.
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DOCKED ENOUGH ALREADY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
"DAILY PRESS.
1, Queen's Road, Hongkong, 24th October. SIR-A paragraph has recently appeared in the Hongkong Telegraph to the effect that our client, Cheung Hong, had left the Colo: y and would probably not appear to stand his trial for manslaughter.
This statement is incorrect The Hongkong Telegraph had duly retracted it: but we are instructed to ask you to insert this letter in order to remove any doubts there may be on the subject, as such an impression is likely to prejudica our client, who is now in the Colony and has every intention of stauding his trial on Monday nex Yours, etc.,
DEACON & HASTINGS.
THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESB.
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Anping, South Formosa, 20th October. SIR, With regard to the earthquake reported in your paper of the 13th inst, it may interest your readers, particularly the gentleman owning the rocking teapoy, to know that the shock was felt in South Formosa. According to notes :egistered at the Tainan Observatory, the vibration lasted three minutes, and all whe experienced the shock agree that, though not severe, the undulatory motion was exceptionally long, and the cause of much anxiety while it lasted.
The first trembling motion was noticed at 3.25 a.m., on Friday, the 19th, which, allowing for our being so much cast of Hongkong, wonkl. I think, coincide with about 3 a.m. as given in your account of the affair.
Enclosing my card, and with the suggestion that your Meteorological Department should record, and pablish, these phenomena, now that they appear to be developing so rapidly.-
Yours, etc.,
SEISMIC.
THE TREATMENT OF OPIUM AT CANTON,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
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DAILY PRESS," Canton, 29th October. SIR-Many aver that the Mackay Treaty is a distinct success. Let them crow as lustily over it as they can. but facts, here, are against them, ad facts are stubborn things. Here are the Chinese authorities riding their coach and six even when the ink is not yet