November 22, 1002.]
seond-class craisers, over ten torpedo-des- troyers and eighty torpedo-boats, in addition to two smaller cruisers, o e gun-boat, and four torpedo-destroyers. A number of torpelo bats are now being built, which when completed wiil make the total tonnage of the Japanese fl el about 250,000 tons in addition to the old ress.ls, and giving Japan a title to be con- sidered as one of the great Naval Powers of the world. Now the further extension of the Navy at a cost of 110,000,000 you has been proposed before the completion of the work a ready in han. The Japanese Navy still requires more battle-ships for purposes of defence. Without further extension, the Naval authorities claim, the Empire cannot be properly defended' and it would be impossible to maintain peace in the Far East. The Powers of the world have of late been engaged in keen compotition in extending their Navies, and those Powers which have interests in the Far East have been send- ing out every new war-ship built. T e war- ships to be built by the foreign Powers up to 197, and the str ngth of their nav.es in th Far East at present, is as follows:
Extension scheme. 353,400 tons 252.30)
Great Britain Germany
Russia
-France
America
Ita'y
**
175,600
156,70)
107.400
+1
Preseut strength. 130,700 tons
34 207 1158:10
19
11
53,680 58,000 47,814
9,3 0 From the above it may be inferred, adds our Japanese contemporary, how many more war- ships these Powers may send to the Far East in the next few years.
The ext usion of he Japane e Navy may not have been proposed in competition with other Powers, but it has been at least rendered Lecessary for the pup se of maintaining peace in the Orient. The preseut scheme for the extension of the Navy includes the extension of the Naval shipbuilding yards, arsenals and other Naval departments on shore.
HONGKONG.
The appointment of Capt. Sir John Keane, Bart., Royal Field Artillery, to be Private Secretary to H.E. the Goverior is notified in in the Gazette.
The Government Gazette issued on the 16th inst, contains the new regulations for the Houg kong Volunteer Corps. The Corps now consists of three uuits and a bant, namely, two Garrison Artillery Companies, an Engineer Company, and a Band. The strength of the Ardlery Comprn es is fixed at 155 each, of the Engineers at 60, and of the Band at 23, whilst thero will 7 on the staff. The total e tablishment is fired at 400,
The salvage party which left Hongkong last wek to inspect and report upon the condition of the s.s. Phra Nang, which st,anded upon the Paracels nearly three weeks ago, senta telegraphic message to Hougkong on Thursday stating that the ship is salvable and that she will be brought here after her bottom is patched. The steamer is now at Tourou, where she arrived in tow of the Macher, and will leave for this port on Saturday via Hoihow,
A matshed in unglom Docks was destroyed by fire on the 19th inst., the damage amount- ing to about $50. Members of the Dock staff and bluejackets from the German gunboat Tiger attempted to overcome the outbreak
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The hockey match on the 19. h iust. between the H.K.C.C. and H M.8. Ocean euded in an easy victory for the naval team by 6–0.
Whilst Dr. Harston, accompanied by a mafoo, was driving a pony yoked to a trap at Tsat Trze Mui (Seron Sisters) on Tuesday, a blue- jacket riding a bicycle co lided with the animal, which shied violently. Dr. Harston and the mafoo wore thrown out of the trap. and the pony bolted in the direction of Shaukiwau, where it was stopped by az Indian police constable. A little Chinese girl was knocked down on the way. and was sent to hospital suffering from slight injuries.
One of the most enjoyable of the Tuesday ev ning concerts was given on the 18th ins. in the Kowloon Institu'e. The entertainment was arranged by Mrs. Woodcock, who was assisted by Mrs. Seth, Mrs. Main, Miss IIarker and the Mis-es Seth, and Messrs. Woodcock, C. and J. Hance, and Coster. Miss Harker, who is a tlented young musician, acted as accompanist, besides playing a rather difficult solo by a well known French lady composer, which was deservedly enc rel. The programme was ex el. lently varied, and there was not a dull moment during the evening.
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and prevented the fms from sp eading. Shortly after one o'clock ou the 19th inst,¦ the fire alarm intimated an outbreak a 15, Wing Lok Street, a piece goods shop. The remises, which cousisted of a ground and fi st floor, were almost completely burnt out, and in addition the flames spread to the adjoining house, No. 15. and thence to No 17. The top floor at the latter place was ot seriously damaged, but the other house, No. 15A, cou- sisting of one floor situated over a passage-way, was practically gut ed. The damage is not kuown, nor is the cause of the ontbreak, but the piece-goods shop is nsured for $15,0.0.
A coro-
We are informed that the accident to a Chinaman in Arsenal Street on the 15th inst, about 830), was not caused by his falling out of a ricksha, as has been stated elsewhere. but was the result of a collision with a ricksha whilst he was riding his bicycle. The shaft of the vehicle entered his right thigh, inflicting a serious wound, and the impict was so violent as to break the cross-bar of the ricksha and knock the coolie senseless for a time. The unfortunate cyclist was turning ito Qeeu's Road from Arsenal Street when the accident happened, and at the time was on the wrong side of the road. He was attended to at the Station Hospital, Wellington Barracks, and afterwards removed to the Government Civil Hospital.
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Ihe second night's practice dance for S. An- drew's Ball wash ld on the 17th inst. in the City Hall and was largely attended-much more so than ou the first occasion The band of the 1st Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) was in attendance and played part of the dan o music. Piper J. E. Sinclair, assisted by the pipemaster of the 33rd Burma Light Infantry, played to the Scotch daues, the former "Strathspey and Reel of Tulloch," besides several marches, and the latter Miss Drummond of Perth "and Captain Duff" (strathspey and reel). All the dances were eutered into with much spirit. Captain G. C. Anderson, as usual, was the life and s ul of the company, and Mr. David Wood. the popular Hon. Secretary, was indefatigable in his attention to the c mfort of those pressut. The third danco will be hel next Monday, and the Ball takes place on the following Friday.
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4
On the 18th inst. a report was made at the Central Polics Station that an armed robbery had been committed in Jervois Street about The eight o'clock on the previous night. circumstances related to the authorities showel that a gang of tea Chinamen, some of them armed with revolvers, ent rod a shop at 130 Jervois Street, where the fur is h. Id at Chinese New Year, and, closing the doors, presented their weapons at the inmates and ordered them to be absolutly quiet. There were in the shop about ten people, folis and th ir friends, and the robbers proceeded to bind them by the simple process of fastening their queues together with a piece of wire, afterwards driving them into the cook-house at the back of the shop. When the lawbreakers had gone the prisoners ventured ont from their place of captivity, and learnt ou investigation that there had isappeared from the premises some silk, a Iver watch. an umbrella, and about $70 in cash, to the total value altogether of little over $100. The queues having been unfast ned, their respective owners went to the Central Police Station aud related
the story that has just leen told, adding that they did not see the f ces of the alleged robbers so plainly as to be able to recoguise them again. The affair appears to have been carried out with the utmost quietness and despatch, for no ne in the immediate neighbourhood was awarb
The thre Chinamen cond-mned to death at the last Criminal cessions, iu October, for the murder of a coolie at Shaukiwan, were hanged | of what had trauspired until informel of events in Victor a Gaol on the 19th inst. ner's inquest on the bodies was afterwards hold and a verdict returned in accordance with the circumstanceS
by the victimised fokis aud t eir friends, aor was there a free fight in the street, accompanied by promiscuons discharging of revolvers, as ene report current in the Colony alleged.
407
O the 15th inst. Liberty Hall was again repeated by the A.1.C. before a good house. The piece went with a better swing than it did on either of the preceding ni.hts. It is unnecessory for us to particularise, as all the ladies and gentle- men taking part sustained their individual rôles admirably. We shall look forward with plea- sure to the next performance of the A.D.C. The band of II. M. S. Ocean played through a capital programme of music, which was much enjoyed.
The Japanese war hips Asama and Takasago. which were present at the Coronation Naval celebrations in England, arrived in Hongkong ou the 15th inst. and were duly saluted by the men-of-war at the anchorage. The ress Is will remain here for a short period before pro- ceeding to Japau. Admiral Ijuin, C.B., is on board the Asama. This ship is a first-class armoured cruiser, 9,855 tons, i.h.p. 18.248, ar- mament. 4.8 iv. q.f. 14.6 in. 12,12 pdr, 724 pdr. 5 torpedo tubes, ous submerged; speed 22.1 he was built at knots; complement 50 men. Elswick and launched in 1898; commander, Captain Nakao. Tho Takasago is a first-class cruiser. unarmoured, 4,227 tons. ih p 15,967 armament, 2.8 in qf, 10.7 in.. 12 12 pdrs, 62 pdrs.. 5 torpedo tubes. speed, 23 knots. Complemen. 30) men. She was also built at Elswick, and was launched in 1897; commander, Captain Yoshimat-u.
The transport Palawan, after a delay occasioned by indications of rough weather outside, left the harbour on the 10th inst. for England.
On the 8th inst. the British sloop Algerine arrived from Swalow and the Japanese cruisers Asama and Takasago departed for Japan.
The Italian ciais r Puglia left on the 19th inst. for Shanghai.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Fire has totally destroyed the theatre at Port Arthur. It was the only place of entertainment for the foreign con ity, and had a seating capacity for about 1,000 persons. The property carried no insurance.
The Champion Stakes at the Peking Club Race Meeting on the 9th in t. ended as follows:
Mr. Clande Russell's St. Charles (Mr. Huut) 1; Madame Casenave's Oh Ohé (ỵr. T. Watts) 2; Mr. Townley's Newmarket (Major White) 3. Seven starters. Won by two longths after a good race. Times-2 min. 47 secs (1 mile).
In view of Prince Chiog's underband deal- ings with Germany in the matter of the evacuation of Shanghai, the Japan Mail remarks:---Perhaps His Highness did notâutend to practise any deceit. Perhaps his intelligence did not suffice to pen-trate the true ingort of such doings. But whether it was his olly or his crime, he ceases to be a possible vis à-vis for any responsible British diplomatist.
Captain Tate, of the Rosetta Maru, reports that a severs earthquake shock, w. ich lasted for 2 minutes, was felt in Manila on Monday As his vessel was leaving at the morning last. time he does not know if there were any serious results to life or property. Tho Rosetta brought over nearly 50) bags of the homeward Christ- mas mail for the Empress, and did the passage in exactly forty-seven hours, which excellent run.
was นก
Negotiatious regarding the sale of the British steamer Glamorganshire to the Nippon Yusen Kaisha have been in progress letween the repres utatives of the Japanese company and the owners of the vesse'. Messrs Jenkins and Company, at K-bo. The Glamorganshire is a -vessel of 4353 tons gross and 2,829 tous net; 075 feet in length; and was constructed in England only two years ago. The Nippon Yosen Kaisha desire to place the steamer on the Bombay ruu.
A Peking despatch to hanghai reports that Prince Ching has presented a memorial to the Throne recommending the forma ion, without further delay, of a Ministry or Board of Com- merce in Peking, as such an institution under the new co dition of the country is an urgently nesdel one.
The Prince also asked the Throne
to i sue a decree granting permission to any high official who may desire it to travel iu Europe and America. It is also stated that Prince Ching has even hinted to their Majestics that he is willing to go himself abroad if they would grant him the permission.