the evident desire shown not to protract it. We refer to the fact that no invitation was given to those non-members present to come forward and join the League. · His Excellency the GOVERNOR mentioned in the course of his remarks, that only about one
quarter of the male
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
CABLE RATES.
(Daily Press, 5th June.) The cable which will connect America with the Far East via Hawaii, Midway and Guam Islands and Manila is making steady progress towards completion, and
[June 6, 1903.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board w on the 4th inst. in the Board Boom sent:The Eresident (Hon. Dr. J. M P. M.Ö.), Vice-President, (Hon. W D.P.W.). Mr. C. McL. Menser, R. G. Capt. Lyons, Acting. C. B. P., Mr. H. E.. Pollock, Mr. Fung Wa Chun Mr. Lau Cha Pak, Dr. Pearse, Aoting M.O.H., and Mr. G. A. Woodcock, Secretary
British population of the Colony were at this fact gives especial interest to. the K.C., Col. Webb, R.A M.C., Mr. A. Rumjahn,
present on the roll of members, so that there is plenty of scope for a large increase in the membership. We should like to think that every Briton who values the glorious heritage banded down to him from the day of BLAKE and NELSON is a member of the League. We do not by this mean British born only, hut all British subjects—of whatever race or creed-who enjoy the privileges and security which citizenship of this great Empire confers, for they are now equally concerned with English Scotch, Irish or Welsh in maintaining the great arm of defence on which is founded that security, that peace, those equal h and just govern- ment which are to be found beneath the Union Jack. Not for one moment do we propose, in writing in this strain, either to unduly vaunt the British, name, to inflate our own importance, or to r. gard other nations with less friendliness. But the Navy League is of course an institution with which Britishers only are concerned, and they are so nearly concerned therein that they should all belong to and assist to sustain it. Even those who are members
of the Peace Society and are opposed to war on any terms or under any conditions, night well join the League, since it is, as Sir HENET BLAKE has clearly pointed
"}
CH NESE THEATERS.
A letter was submitted from the Colonial Secretary relative to the recommendation of the Board for the closing of Chinese theatres during the plague season. In this com- munication it was stated that the recom theatres in 1991 had some effect upon the mendation was to a certain extent bared upon the assumption that the closing of the course of the epidemic, These theatres are large and well ventilated structures and assuming that each accommodates about 2,000 remove for several hours 4,000 persons t› á persons the two theatres in Victoria would place of rational amusement persons who would otherwise be congregated in the already too-congested teuements. His Excellency hoped that on further consideration, the Board would agree that in time of epidemic, it was not well, if it could be avoided, to deprive the people of amusements. He fully agreed that the theatres should be thoroughly cleansed, and suggested that a temporary resolution that all shoes might possibly be of use in the event of persons attending the theatres should wear plague bacilli being expectorated by any of the audience.
meetings of the Cable Companies who have up to the present enjoyed the monopoly of cable business with the Far East. No allusion, however, appears to have been made to this important matter by the Chairman of the Eastern Extension, Aus. tralasia and China Telegraph Company at the half-yearly meeting of shareholders in the Northern Company felt it to be a duty London last month, but the Chairman of to remind the shareholders of his Company that when the American line is opened for a most serious traffic, it would create to both the Northern and the Eastern competition with the old routes belonging Telegraph Companies. "The competir tion," he added, “will probably be still more severe when the contemplated
·German, Dutch,' and French sub- marine cables have been laid, as these cables are intended to form brauch lines and feeders for the new route. At the same time," he went on to say, are on the eve of some very considerable "tariff reductions, the extent of which will only be determined at the International Telegraph Conference meeting in London.” ME. POLLOCK-With reference to this point, The Company's customers in the Far Eastir, you will remember that the reason the can hardly be expected to exhibit much recommendation was sent to the Government grumbled for years over the abnormally theatres was likely to 1 ad to the sympathy with these wailings. We have was that, as you stated, sir, in your opinion the herding of Chinese together in Chinese
"
f
64
We
*
out, really a potent factor in the preservation high rates charged for cables to the Far of plague. Unless, sir, you see a "mination
of peace.
REBELLION IN YUNNAN.
Daily Press, 4th June.)
The rebellion in Yunnan recently an nounced by REUTER turns out to be o rather insignificant origin and dimensions. Linan-fu is the centre of a mining district, and it seems that the so-called rebellion was merely an outbreak amongst the miners, moved thereto either by the scarcity and dearness of ice or on account of the imposition of new taxes, which is
+4
East, but the Companies have remained deaf to these complaints until competition perilously threatens, and now we get from the Chairman of the Northern Company the tardy admission that tariff reductions to the Far East are to a certain extent justified, "the present rates for Far East traffic being rather high." We should think so indeed; but the admission on the part of the Cable Companies might have been made earlier with better grace. We gather from the Chairman's remarks, however, that the competition of the Commercial Pacific Cable Company is not likely to be a "cut-throat" competition, for after prolonged negotiations
reason to modify that opinion, it seems to me that the recommendation originally made by the Board must stand.
Col. WEBB-I think that when the resolution was passed there was more plague than now.
I do not think that there is any marked dif The PRESIDENT-Io reply to Col. Webb, ference in the number of cases between the date that we made this recommendation to the Government and now, and I still think that the herding together of masses of the people such as of necessity occurs in Chinese theatres is in- advisable during the prevalence of an epidemic.
لم قد
always resented by the natives and may have the Chairman was able to announce that practically the reply of the Government. They
been levied in a manner specially objection- able to them. The mob rose and murdered the prefect, and committed other acts of violence, but the demonstration was neither political nor religious, nor anti-dynastic, nor was it in any way connected with the rebellion in Kwangsi. On receipt of the news of the disturbance at Yuunau-fu, the Viceroy ordered three battalions of troops to proceed to Linan-fu on the 23rd ult., and this force would to doubt prove amply sufficient to deal with the rioters and suppress the movement if indeed it had not, already subsided. There was nothing in the outbreak to occasion alarm except - Jocally. The district of Linan is famous for the production of copper ore, the variety kijówn as pai-tung or white copper.
A
Andarin circles, says
It is reported in local the N.-C. Daily News, to Shanghai Taotaf has wives cret instructions from Peking through the high authorities at Nanking to find out the names of the men who called the public mailing At Chang Su-ho's
poke at
the Lanto
4
the Northern Company had at last come to a provisional understanding, which although necessitating considerable sacrificas on the part of the Northern Company, will secure satisfactory working arrangements and possibly still more intimate relations with the parties concerned. At all events, even though the reduction of tariff rates were not to be dealt with by the forthcoming International Telegraph Conference, com- mercial men in the Far East might certainly look forward with confidence to an early re. duction of rates as the result of competition.
Another announcement of importance to the Far East made by the Chairman of the Northern Company is that negotiations have been successfully concluded with China enabling the Borthern Company to take over the working of the Peking-Kiachta Irkutsk line, which is the shortest and most
The recommendation of the Board has been forwarded to the Government, and this is
and unless some member wishes to make any have considered the matter fully, I presume, remarks in reply to this letter, I propose to lay it on the table.
Mr. POLLOCK-I beg to move, sir, that this
Board adhere to the recommendation they theatres be closed during plague time. originally made to the Government that these
disease which is spread by bad air, bad ventils. Col. WEBB-As plague appears to be tion, and overo cwding, I beg to second the proposal.
On a division, four voted for the motion and four agaiust, as follows:
and Mr. Messer.
For Mr. Pollock, Col. Webb, the Fresident,
Wa Chun, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Against The Vice-President, Rumjahn.
M
Mr. POLLOCK -The President has the casting
President sote.
Mr. FUNG WA CHUN—It isn't necessary, fur him to exərcise his casting vote. (Laughter.)
The 'RESIDENT gave his ting voto recommendation of the Board stands favour of the motion, so that, the original
DISINFECTING" SHIPS
A letter was submitted Secre ary enquiring whether the Bos a Clayton machine for the ing ships, and asking the Government with a list of
East. It has been open since the beginning e eff ot that the direct route between Europe and the Far
of the year for "limítrophe traffic" between Russin and China, but it will not be open for all traffic until the working between Irkutsk and the western frontier of Russia Las been considerably improved. When that is done the shareholders of the Northern Company shoulil be able to meet
for the erection of public arinak Mr. H. E. Pollock minute the new competition with reasonable | Path urinal is à disgrace prospect of being able to hold their own. its present condition.”
Colonial
fred
ne comin
ity in