November 8, 1902.)
HONGKONG CHESS CLUB.
The annual general meeting of the Hongkong Chess Club took place on Monday last, when the report and balance-sheet of the Club for the season just conclude were passed. Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C, was ananimonly elected Presi- dent of the Club, and the programme for the coming year was discussed. It is proposed to hold an international match, either Great Britain v. World or Portugal v. Worll, at the end of the present month, and also to have what is known at home as a 'rapid transit" tourna ment, ie, with a time limit of half a minute per move, in the near future, if sufficient entries are received. The Club being in a flourishing con. dition financially should son be able to recover from its depletion of members during the past year. The match between Mr. P. C. de Souza, challenger, and Mr. P. W. Sergeant, holder of the Pollock Challenge Cup, has just commenced. The contest is for the best of fire games, and the score at present stands: -Sergeant 1, `De Souza .
PORTSMOUTH LETTER.
青春
THE ORLANDO MEMORIAL.
The officers and men of the cruiser Orlando have raised enough funds to erect a memorial to the memory of those who died during the ship's recent commission on the China Station, and have been grasted a place in the Victoria Park here, where other memorials of a like nature are erected. The obelisk will be one of the prettiest and most novel. as it will be a bell tower of Oriental style, designed by Commander Edward F. B. Charlton, the late commander and now of the torpedo instruction vessel Vernon. When the Orlando's men assisted in the capture of the Taku Forts, at the mouth of the Peiho River, 17th Juue, 1910, they took a Linge boll used by the Chinese at the fort.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
369
The first: "Lok Wai Ai "Templo established | KWANGSI REBELS IN KWEICHAU in the 10th year of the reign of the Emperor Kwang Su, at Tai-ku. Established by the military officers at Po Ting (Paoting-fu) Pre- fecture as a sign of long, long firmness of the Empire."
The second inscription is: "Empire peaceful gool (or fair), wind (or weather), happy public, rain, fair (or ligh')."
Owing to the death of Captain Burke, C.B.. en route hone, the memorial will be handed over to the Corporation uext week without any ceremony.
THE NAVY LEAGUE AND THE COLONIES.
44
At the end of September a special envoy of the Navy League, in the person of Mr. H. F. Wyatt, sailed from Eugland for Canada. Mr. Wyatt's main object will be to urge the para- mount importance of ses power, and to endes vour to promote co-operation in the cause of naval defence." In pursuance of this object he will spend some, three months in Canada, and where then proceed vii Vancouver to Japan, he will pass some weeks, in order to study Japanese haval affairs.“ From Japan Mr. FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
"where the Wyatt will come to Hongkong,
From League has an influential branch." Portsmouth, 4th October.
Hongkong Mr. Wyatt will proceed to Australia, where Sir E. Barton, the Prince Minister of the Commonwealth, bas promised to take the chair at a public meeting in support of his mission. New Zealand will next be visited. where Mr Seddon has promised a sympathetic reception. Finally Mr. Wyatt will visit the Cape, and will address meetings in South Africa before returning to England.
Some remarks from the Nural and Military with interest. Record on the subject of the tour will be read The service paper says:-The mission of the Navy League's curoy to the colonies has produced a leading article in the Times, not wholly favourable to the movement There is a good deal of force in what the Times says against this mission being undertaken at the present time when the Colonial Ministers have just had every opportunity of consulting with the Admiralty on those very questions which Mr. H. F. Wyatt will presumably address colonial audiences. The mission of Mr. Wyatt is to preach the importance of sea power to Great Britain, and to promote co-operation in the cause of naval defence. With this praise- worthy object in view the envoy will spend three months in Canada, and will visit Australia, New Zeland and South Africa, besides some of the So far as Canada is concerned, it is plain that Mr. Wyatt's efforts will not clash with auf official schemes, for the simple reason that Sif Wilfrid Laurier has returned to his peopie anaffected by the pleadings of Lord Sel borne and the Board. If Mr. Wyatt can
On a square base of Portland stone four columos of polished Aberdeen granite will support a cured roof, also of Portland stone. which is to be as nearly like the roof of a Chiness pagoda as it can be made. The finial on the roof is to be a stone representation of a Chinese mandarin's button. Hanging from the centre of a huge slab of stone under the roof will be the ball. It is 2ft. 3in. high, very thick, and wighs over two hundredweight. Around the bell is an inscription in Chinese characters, a translation of which is to be inscribed on a marble slab. It is as follows, and is singularly
appropriate.
Come pleasant weather and gentle rain, The Empire happy, at peace ag ia." The structure will be square. fourteen feet in
colouies
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latter :-
The N.-C. Daily News,translates, the follow- ing from its Changsha native correspondent's News was received here the other day tat a large body of Kwangsi rebels had invaded Kweichan provi. co and was besieging the city of Hsingyihsien. Immediately after this Gor ernor Yi Lien-san of this city received a telegram from Governor Tèng Hua-hs, of Kweichau province, urging that as Hsingyi- hsien, which was being besieged by Kwangsi rebels, is near the Kweichau-Hunan frontiers, the authorities of the latter province should send aid to Kweichau and assist in raising the siege of Hsingyibsien and exterminating the invaders. Upon receipt of the despatch Governor Yu Lien-sin Was just on point of sending a strong force borders into Kweichau when another despatch from overnor Teng Hua-hsi arrived inform- ing him that Bsingyihsien had succumbed to the assults of the rebels who, flushed with victory, were being joined by large bands of The despatch also desperadoes and rowdies. stated that the Kwangsi rebels, were sending out placards proclaiming that the object of their invasion of Kweichan was not to ravage the province but merely to "borrow a passage into Szechuan, whither they (the rebels) bound for the purpose of assisting the Boxers in that province."
the over the
were
THE SYNDICAT DU YUNNAN.
An extraordinary general meeting of the M. Achille Adam presiding, to receive a state- above syndicate was held on the 26th September, ment concerning the concession recently granted to the syndicate.
The shareholders
height from the base. On the frieze under the succeed in rousing Canadian opinion to the tory forming part of the syndicate's.concession
roof are inscriptions in English and Chinese. That on the principal front will be "H.M.S. Orlando, North China, 1900," while on the
base are marble slab on the
the names "Taku
obligation of contributing to our fleet he will perform a great service to the Empire. Some time will elapse before the envoy reaches Australi, so that the Australian Ministers will not be likely to resent his mission. They might do so if he were going direct to the Com-
of the principal engagements Forts, Tientsin, Defence of the Legations, Peking." The inscription on the north-west
monwealth, and it is quite probable that Sir W. side of the frieze is & Chinėse molto,
Laurier may
do so that is if he cares enough the translation of which appearing on the other
about the mission to notice it. The Navy side is "Perpetual felicity achieved," while on the fourth kid of the frieze is the ship's motto League, we may suppose, regards the recent conference as a failure, and desires to stimulate Fortiter Defendit Triumphans." The names of the 18 officers and men who the colonists by a course of lectures. It is a were killed or succumbed to wounds or d'ed praiseworthy endeavour, and already the League during the commission include those of Captain has accomplished something in the colonies. J. H. T. Burke, C.B.. who died at sea on the The Times is inclined rather to sueer, not at Mr. voyage home (May 12th, 1902), Commander Wyatt personally, but at the mission. P. N. Wright, who died of wounds received at unofficial mission of this kind could hardly be supported in Printing House Square, so that Tientsin, and Mr. E. A. Govett, midshipman. Mr. Wyatt may take heart and no be discourag- They are all to be inscribed on the tabletsed. We understand that Mr. Wyatt pys the around the base. On one of these marble bulk of his own expenses, but will enjoy free tablets is also the inscription "This bell was taken at the capture of the North-West Fort, railway passes iu all the colonies, and is likely to receive hospitable receptions. He is already Taku, June 17th, 1900, and brought home by well known in this country as a capable lecturer H.M.S. Orlando. This memorial is erected by the officers and men in memory of the comrades who lost their lives during the campaign.”
I have been able, through the kindness of a fri nd at the Chinese Legation in London, to send a translation of two inscriptions on the bell, and these, strangely enough, are most peculiarly appropriate to us this year. They are as follows:-
on naval mattars.
An
at
It has been intimated from the War Office that the Japanese National Anthem, as present played by British military bands, is not the correct air, and officers commanding units have been directed to obtain the recognised edition, copies of which have now been prepared.
The Chairman stated that the concession granted to the syndicate th right to exploit the mines in seven counties or districts of the This territory covered province of Yunnan. an immense extent, and comprised copper, gold, silver, cl, iron. platinum, nickel, aud tin miues, as well as petroleum, precious stones and quicksilver. The intricate and difficult negotiations which had resulted in placing this valuable concession in their hands were con- ducted for more than 18 months by their able Consul-General in China. agent, M. Emile Rocher, formerly French would, perhaps, permit him to convey on their behalf and on behalf of his colleagues and him- self their thanks to M. Rocher for the ability, patience, and tact shown by him in the negotia- tious, first with the Viceroy and authorities at Yunnan, and afterwards in the still more difficult task of obtaining the sanction of the Imperial authorities at Peking. M. Rocher been worked or were still working in the terri- stated that the number of mines which had
was 59, of which 27 were silver, 25 copper, 6 goll, and 1 tia. He (the speaker) did not include in these figures the number of fron nines or the number of mineral ont- crops which had been located, but which, so far, had not been worked owing to want of capital He might add that at Koutsion the recognised outcrops extended for about 50 miles upon which were now worked about 60 tin mines, as well as silver and copper. M. Rochor, referring to these in his report, said: oannot help recognisng that the concession granted to the syndicate is, without possibility of contradiction, the most advantageous of all the concessions which have so far been granted in China The net profits, which would be arrived at after provision had been made for certain charges and allowances, would be divided as follows:-10 per cent. to the Provincial Government, 25 per cent. to the Imperial Government, and 65 per cent. to the company. This division would be made on the net profits, and after-d duction of all the working expenses, including custom duties, rent of mines, lands, and taxes-8 per cent. as interest on capital, 10 per cent. for sinking fand, and 10 per A most important cent. for reserve fund. provision was that by which they had power to transfer or sell to any other company any portion of their concession, which was for a priod of 60 years, with power to reuew, though not for a longer period than 25 years. The concession, therefore, was for 85 years.
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