It
214
wanted;
and the rebels, seeing it, sent opium to them in exchange for ammunition. It has been frequently the case that when the Cantonese soldiers were not well-pnough treated by their commanders they deserted to the rebels. is a so reported that in battle both the Cantonese troops and the rebels have fired their shots into the air, and after hours of sham fight no one has been killed or wounded on either side. Sings the Viceroy_went to Kwangsi, however, several prefectures have been lost to the rebels.
AN IMPUDE CHIEFTAIN,
THE HONGKONG WFEKLY PRESS AVD
HENRY BLAKS APPOINT-
MENT TO CEYLON.
SIR
COLOMBO PRESS OPINIONS,
Colombo newspapers arriving by the German mail are naturally full of Sir Henry Blake's appointment as Governor of Ceylon. We select a few opinions from the papers which have reached us.
+
[September 21, 1903.
The now Governor comes into a goodly heritage. Sir West Ridgeway will hand over to him a Colony prosperons and contented. He will find on every hand signs of progress. Chiefest of all he will look to a future in which great things are to be accomplished. That he will sympathetically regard the progressive policy of our present Governo in such matters as railway extension, irrigation. spread of English education, development of the allied The Times of Ceylon has a leading articls, planting interests and development of the mainly biographical. In the course of this it trade and commerce of the Island generally, says:-The appointment of Sir Henry Blake to
we think we may take for granted. He One rebel chief, Wong Ag Fi by name, sout
the Governorship of Ceylon is remarkable will find it no easy matter to fill the rôle a letter to the Viceroy of which the following chiefly because he is 63 years of age. When Sir West Ridgeway has so brilliantly filled is a free translation: To H.E. Shum,- We Sir Arthur Havelock retired from Ceylon. Sir for the last seven years. This will be re- are well supplied with arms and ammunition. Heury's name was mentioned, possibly because cognised by all and on that account any mistakes which your soldiers have been kind enough to
bis term in Jamnica was about to expire; but he may commit, at the outset of his term send us as present. Being well supplied now
Sir West Ridgeway came here, and when
as Governor of Ceylon, will find a large yon ng d not send us any more. If you wish to
Sir Henry's twicextended term in the West indulgence extended to them. The keynote of have a real fight with us! you will have to bring Iudies came to an end he went to the Far East.
Sir West Ridgeway's rule has been "Pro- a hundred more of your battalions into the field, entrepot. As an explanation of the extends
gress." That must to be the keynote of the so as to laro
decisive light and see who is the service now indierted, and us removing doubts administration. not of Sir Henry Blake alone,
as to His Excellency's ability to move about bat of all future Governors. stronger or weaker. But in consideration for
The East and the fact that your Excellency also belongs to the
the remoter parts of Ceg où, w⋅ njiderstanl
West are being brou cht daily closer together. same native place as we do, and that the people
that he luks much younger than three.score and in time the influence of the West will be of Canton expect us to accomplish our end and
that he is "as hard as nails years;
; and besides all powerful. There are some who openly nim, we do not like to crush your army with our
keping up his riding as much as is possible deplore this fact, but the tread of events will full force. We request your Exc-Hiency therefore
in the confined colony of Hongkong.
not be influenced thereby. Sir West Ridgeway to stop this expedition and go away at once;
is a good swimmer, and su athleta in every way. has ever guided his policy with a view to future then we will show you a little consi furatione is over six feet in height; and every inch conditions, and so doing has performed a work enants in what a Governor should be! There has Otherwise we cannot guaraute your xcellence
generations to come will reap the benefit of. what our brethren will do. Upon receipt of
been considerable fo ling at Hongkong her lase Sir Henry Blake will continue that good work. this letter, the Viceroy was very angry and
of pro-Chin sa leanings which culminated in a
The Times of Ceylon mentions a curious excited and at last, the story run, fell sick and
memorial from the Chinese residents of Hoag-report in the Courts at Colombo that Sir kong to the Secretary of State for an extern - spat blood.
Henry Blake is a Roman Catholic. sion of Bir feury Blake's term of office —a requ st We learn on good which was nut grinted. authority that Lady Bluke was chi fr respon sible for this; bat, in any case, the new Governor's wife will have a sufficiently diffi-ul task to successfally emulate the sympathetic and yet absolut ly correct balance which Lady Ridgeway has observed in dealing with the I aders of the more Lumerou Z coma uunities exis iug in Ceylon,
His
fo
THE VICEROYS MUVEMENTS. Another
which re 1802
noce-sitates Excellency's return that in Cantos in questions of serious imporlan e, the local officials cannot take upon themselves decide and they must wait till the Viceroy comes back. He is now in Lonchow, where he does not intend to stay long. H will band over the commnul of the eptir army to generals Fung Is-choi and beang Hou-sz to take charge if bfore he comes back.
TSINGTAO.
4
Tsingtao, 7th September: THS PRISONERS' MI TINY.
A combined attack was made last week by 22 native prisoners on
soldier named Lachman, who was set to guard them while they were at work. The men had been impri- soned together in one bell, and it is supposed that they took the opportunity to make their plans in concert. They formed part of a gang of 25, who were working down linked -singly and under Lachman's charge. One of the 22 askel Lehman to look at his work and say whether or not it was properly done. As the unsuspecting soldier knalt down to do this, another prisoner struck him ever the head with shovel, renering him unconscious. Two Chinese policemen were overpowered and tied up and then 'the whole 22 conspirators took to their heels. The other three prisoners were not in the plot. One of these went with information of the occurrence to the nearest police station and the other two carried the a'most dead soldier into the neighbouring village of Syfang. Pursuit was made at once after the fugitives and the two ringleaders were caught the same day. Sergeant Andochowit captured one named Kuang who had armed himself with Lachman's rifle and made an attempt to use it. The other man, Li, was found asleep in a ravine by a Chinese constable. During the pursuit a third prisoner was shot and died from his wound, in prison. Kuang and Li were tried and sentenced to death. Yesterday they were executed in prison.
A WEB MONTH.
August has not been an agreeable month. The mean temperature was 25 deg. (Reaumur), the highest 30 deg, and the lowest 20 deg. On 18 days it rained and 280 mm. fell during the month. Between five and six o'clock on the morning of the 10th 25 mm. of rain was measured and 107 mm. came down during the 24 hours of
that day.
GOOD FOR MARINERS.
|
The lighthouse on Talientan island will be in operation from the 12th inst.-N.-C. Daily News
#
,
he
The Ceylon Indepen lent says :-The momen- tous question of who is to suceed Sir West Ridgeway as Governor of Ceylon is settled, and settled in a manner after our complete liking. Sir Henry Blake, the present Governor of Hongkong, is to be our new Governor. His name had been mentioned in connection almost with a score of others as in the runnlag for the Ceylon Governorship. The rumour w s_ridi- caled in some quart-rs. Nonsense' said the critics, "it cannot be, look at his age, why he must be sixty if les a day"! Sir Henry Blake is more: He will be 6 years of age on January 18, 1914 -. We have said that the appointment is much to our liking because from the information above it is clear that our new Governor is a distinguished man with no ordinary abilities and with great adminis tration experience.
It has been said that Sir Henry Blake's administration in Hong- kong has not given complete satisfaction to an important section of the populatioa as H. E. was in th habit of favouring the Chinese. We are inclined to think that this will not be regarded as altogether a displeasing trait by the bulk of the people of Ceylon. It bespeaks the possession of such admirable qualities as fairness and impartiality and, what is more, that quality, which is more an instinct than a gift, of being able to wield influences and com- mand the enthusiastic sympathies of different sections of His Majesty's British subjects which so largely go to make up the Colonial Empire. The Secretary of State has not kept us long iu doubt, and in selecting Sir Henry Blake, Mr. Chamberlain, it appears to us, has made an exceedingly wise choice.
The Ceylon Standard says that the announce ment does not come in the nature of a surprise, and goes on to say:-Sir Henry Blake bears the reputation of a ruler of great firmness. We question whether he is posse sed of that business, or commercial, ability so distinguish- able in Sir West Ridgeway, but Sir West is an doubt if in the whole of British Colonial Admin- exceptional Governor in this respect. It is open to istration is to be found a Governor of the high commercial aptitude of him_who is so soon to leave our shores.
Draconic firmness is that of Sir Henry Blake, but if firm he is equally just. Suilly-shalling, plentiful in Ceylon,
will meet with short commons at his hands.
THE OPIUM FARM.
St
It appears that the lease of the Opium Farm to the pressat bolders has not be in effected without 8 me antagonism on the part of the syndicate who put in the second highest bid As will be remembered, the last farm contract was fixed at the figar of about a quarter of a million ollars. When the tenders were opened this year for the tenure of the mouopoly for the ensuing three years, the present farmers were found te the highest offerers, but through some error or other the necessary guarantee was not attached to their offer. The next offer, which was very much less, was all in order. Who the circum. stances came to ba looked into it was found that the highest offer had not technically complied with the requirements of the specification, yet in effect their compliance with such was held by the Governor in Conncil to have been ample and accordingly the contract was awarded to them. But the other tenderers doubted the legality of this and the result was that they consulted counsel and were assured of the legali y of their titls to the contract. However, when they went to pat their counsel's opinion before the Government (which means the Colonial Secretary), they were mot with the irrefutable statement that even although the present farmers' offer was not granted the next offer had no guarantee under the conditions of offer that his or any other offer would be accepted. Recognising the futility of contesting such a position, the next offerers have, we understand resolved not to fight the matter further.
It may be mentioned that the enormous increase in the price of the Opium Farm lease for the next three years will mean a very great rise in the price of that Chinese luxury, opium. During the period from 186 to 1889 the price of opium was $1 for 1 tael 2 mace; from 1889 till 1892, $1 per 9 mace; from 1892 till 1898, $1.20 per tael; from 1898 till 1901, $1.50 per tael;
and from 1991 till 1903, $2 per tael,
We understand that under the conditions of the new lease the price of opium will advance to $3 to $3.50 per tael.
The
newly-built German river gunboat
and sent out to Chira on one of the "Lloyd Tsingtau last month finished its trials off Dantzig. The boat was to be taken to pieces, steamers, and put together again there. The Tsingtau is destined for the Yangtsze; as the ganhoat draws 61 centimetres she will be able Vorwärts, which draws 14 mètres. to go further up the river than can the