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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
TIENTSIN SIDING DISPUTE.
The following is the text of Mr. G. Detring's award in the aburo celebrated dispute:--
In reference to the Bund, Railway Station Road aud parcels of land in dispute and referred for arbitration by L. C. Hopkins, Esq., H.B.M. Consul General, acting as British Commissi‹ ner by despatch dated the 13th of March, 1903;
And by N. Laptew, H.I R.M. Cousul ac1ing as Russiau Commissioner ty despatch dat d the 12 h March 1903;
clothes for the fan-kuci, Aa result of being subjected to this treatment the opium forms a thick layer on the inner side of the pan. This layer is then dried or fried by placing the pan upside down over a small fire or the ashes of a fire the drying lasting about an hour, after which the opium can be easily separate 1 by the fingers into leaves, generally to the number of about twenty. These leaves are broken up atd placed iu a brass pan together with fresh water and ali wed to stand overnight in anothog room. Next orning this solution of opium is filtered through a beset lined with gown joss-paper I, the undersigned, having been called upon into an earthenware pot blow, a bundle of to arbitrate in the above matter and having Chinese lamp-wick being hrs placed the after scrutiny of the papers and docum utary edge of the basin containing the opium solution evidenc - submitted come to the conclusion tha so that as the opium water uns out into the the said Buat Road. Railway Station Road and strainer the wick absorbs the bulk of the imparcel of land marked on plan submitted C. B, purities. This solution of opfam thus filtered and D. were acquired by the Railway Ad- is then ready for thickening into opium proper, ministr tion previous to the troubles of the which is accomplished by placing it in large year 1900, and form therefore part and parcel brass pans over a fire, workmen stirring it the of the land dealt with in the Chi Cha Low case while in order to give it the same consistency in which award was made under date of the throughout. Any scum that may still remain 20th April 1903. rises to the top while the liquid is being boiled
| and is removed with a long feather, Ou tho completion of this process the opium is ready for smoking and is put into tins for sale. Opium thus prepared has the same consistency as treacle aud can only be distinguished from it by the smell.
¡July 18, 1903,
THE KWANGSI TROUBLES.
Reliable news from private sonroas in Hunan received in Shanghai reports the invasion of that province by Kwangsi rebels who now hold the Hunane e districts of Ch'êngu, Hsioning, Linling, and Yungming in force, while the districts of Tangan, Chianghuo, Taochon, and Tangtao also coutaiu roving bands of rebels who are being freely joined by local desperados and banditti. The inhabitants of the above districts, or haiens, are panicstricken and the roads and highways in that region are crowded with refugees hastening to quieter scenes. This, of course, is just what the local banditti wish as it giv.s them exceptional oppor Lunities to plunder the refugees. Later despatches further state that it is freely reported in Changsha, the provincial capital of Hunan, that the city of Yungming has fallen into the hands of the Kwangsi rebels, and that the city of Linling is momentarily expected to surrender also. The Government troops opposing the rebels number over 2,000 men but being greatly inforior to the rebels not only in numbers but also in firearms, they dare not leave the proteg- tion of the city walls to fight the invaders. As 1. I adjudicate the said Roads and parcels of
a matter of fact the highways near the laul to the Railway Administration, so that Kwangsi-Hunsa border are completely com- they may be dealt with in conformity with themanded by the rebels and their sympathisers. provisions of the compromise as recorded in the minute of the first meeting of the Railway Commission held at H B.M. Consulte-General on July the 25th, 19:12;
Accordingly, and to the b st of my knowledge and belief,
2. With regard to the alleged right of Prince way Road and parcels of land marked C. B. and D, the claim is to be dealt with as provided in paragraph 2 of my decision in the Chi
Chiâ Low land case.
Tientsin, 30th Juns 1903
G. DETRING,
Arbitrator.
In handling large quantities such as are dealt with at the Opium Fagm here a more economical method is used than that described above. Iu what may be called the next-morningen to the and forming the Bund Road, Rai - filtration-after the opium has passed through the lamp-wick-there remull 8 sediment at the bottom of the pot. This sediment is added to the grains of the opium adhering to the joss paper in the strainer and five or six quarts of boiling water are poured slowly over the mix. ture from au crdinary kettle the water thus poured over it running into a vessel placed below to receive it. This opinm water after being allowed to settle all night is added next morning, to the opium water which has been filtered ARMS-SMUGGLING IN TO CHINA. through the lamp-wick, and then goes brough the last thickening process over the fire as described in the first method, By the adoption of this process a great saving is effected in the large factories through the utilisation of the refuse precipitated from the first filtration. Any sediment left over after this is thrown away.
NOTES FROM THE BOTANIC GARDENS.
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At the present time a specimen of the "Holy Ghost plant may be seen in flower in the centre house in the old garden, aud so far as is known it is the first time that the species has flowered in Hongkong. Another name for it is the Dove Orchid," and it gets this appellation from the peculiar form of the part of the flower known as the column, which resembles a dove with outstretched wings. The flowers are wazy white, about 2 inches across, and are borne on a scape 4 or 5 ft. high. Its botanical name is Peristeria elata, and it is a native of Panama.
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A case in point is given below: -1 strong band of rebel sympathisers were recently threatening the city of Anjênhsien, Hêugchou prefecture, and could not have taken the sity owing to lack of sufficient firearms and ammu- nition. The Governor, however, was ready to give them what they wanted. Hearing of the danger of Yungminghsien, Governor Chao Erh-sen sent a large supply of rifles and ammunition under the ridiculously small escort of ten "braves to Yungmingbsien to arm the citizens of that city as troops could not be im- mediately forthcoming. No sooner had the escort and fireams arrived within the Aujênusion jurisdiction than they were pounced upon by rebel sympathisers, who killed the escort, took
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the much-needed arms, and then assaulted and
The Ostasiatische Lloyd publishes the follow-captured that city.-N. C. Daily News. telegram, which is dated Berlin. 7th July:
Japanese papers are charging German firms with smu:glug_ams into China, saying that Consul-General Dr. Kuappe was entirely blind to this, and that even German men-of-war were introducing arms iuto China. Official reports from East Asia strte, however, that the German authorities have refused all requests for permits to import arms. I here is no doubt that not a single Grman firm is doing an On the other illegitimate arms business. hand, it is a well known fact that both the Japanese and the Belgians are acting in another way. It is spoken about openly that Japin is just now negotiating with China in regard to an import of 200,000 rifles of the Murata and another new medel. Governor Chou Fu, of Shautung, has only lately receivel a box with samples. Besides that, Japau has sold to China 48 guns, and is negotiating about another 24 Chinese officers have already goue to, Japan to take them over. They are imported under the declaration that they are intended for the Japanese troops now in North China.
Just now the spathes of Anthurium ferriense make a very pretty show, their brilliant piuk colouring being especially attractive. The With reference to this Mr. L. Vauder Stegen finely-marked leaves of Authyrium crystallinum writes to the N.-C. Daily News :-The Japanese and Anthurium magnificum are also seen to accuse the Geroans of smuggling arms into advantage at this time of the year. The China, which they deny, and throw the ball at Flamingo plant," which also belongs to the same the accuse s, at the same time charging the genus, flowers earlier in the year. The Anthu- Belgians with participating in the trade. (It riums occupy the centre stage in the same house was not I, said the Cat, it was the mice who did as the Dove Orchid. They belong to the Arumit.") Allow me to deny emphatically the Family or Aroideæ, and are natives of South America.
It may be interesting to note that the peacocks which were presented to the Botanic Gardens last year by Mr. Fung Wa Chun have been given their liberty, and may now be seen strutting about on the lawns in the new garden.
German accusation towards Belgium; since the signing of the eace Protocol forbidding the introduction of arms into China, the Belginn Minister of inance has issued order to the Customs, forbidding shipment of any arm to China ut excepting Hongkong, and to illustrate how strictly this order is carried out I will tell you that last December I wanted to ship from Belgiam six revolvers and six thousand cartridges by a German steamer, but was refused permission by the Customs. As the weapons were intended for European use, I applied to the Minister of Finance for special The second-o'ass cruiser Sirius (Capt. permission, but he would not grant same, on C. H. H. Moore) is expected here shortly. account of the Protocol in question, declaring H.M. sloop Rosario arrived on the 15th inst.at the same time that he had already refused from the north.
permission to many German applicants.
The amount of rain registered this year up to date [the 15th inst.] is 55.49 inches, and so far this month there has been a fall of 5.56 inches.
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The following Imperial decrae was issue on the 7th inst. We are in lebted to the N.-C. Daily Newe for the translation.
As for
We have received a memorial from Tsèn Chan-listen, Viceroy of the Two Kwang provinces, denouncing the high authorities and military officials of Kwangsi province. The present disastrous condition of that province is all due to the incapability of the officials and their habit of trying to hide the true state of affairs, which make us feel exceedingly indig nant. The cashiered Taotai Huang Jên-chi, who was guilty of hiding the true state of affairs from his superiors, and the cashiered Major- General, Shea Tao-fa, who permitted his troops to oppress the inhabitants of Kwan i and per- form other cruelties, are hereby commanded to be banished to the military post-roads to work as convicts in punishment the efor. Tang Shou-min, the Provincial Treasurer of Kwangsi, he has been found guilty of incapa. bility in administrating the province; Hsi Hsien, Provincial Judge, who has been found guilty of having received bribes when occupying the acting post of Provincial Treasurer; Wang Chih-ch'un, Governor of Kwangsi, who has been found guilty of inespability in undertaking mili. tary affairs and hiding matters from the Throne; and General Su Yuau-ch'un, whose incapability created the danger which threatens the province -all the above officials are hereby commander to be cashiered at once and dismissed from office. The memorialist, the said Acting Viceroy Tsen Ch'un-hsneu, is exhorted to do his best in restoring order out of the chaos ints whi h the incapability of the officials of Kwangsi has plunged that province, and is hereby given full power to deal with local officials as may seem best to him.
We are informed that the accounts of Messrs. William Powell, Ld., show, subject to audit, a profit of some $26,000, to 3 )th June last. These figures will admit of a dividend of 10 per cent. on the capital, leaving a considerable sum for writing off and providing for expenses in removing into the new premises in Des Voeux Road, etc.
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