220
JAPAN, RUSSIA|| AND CHINA.
The correspondent at Peking, says the acceptance of these demands is a condition precedent to the evacuation of Manchuria, but their contents are kept secret.
4
Mr. Uchida, the Japanese Minister, in an interview with Prince Ching at Eho Park, on the 10th inst., made the strongest possible protest against the new Russiau proposal.
new
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The addition of Mr. W. P. Lambert's name to the list of authorised architects in the Colony is notified in the Gazette.
The appointments of H.E. Sir Henry A. Blake, G.U.M.G., as Governor of Ceylon, and of Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G., K. E., as Governor of Hongkong, are notified iu the Gazette.
The P. & O. 3.8. Sumatra took home on the 18th from Hongkong 15 petty officers and 158 men who have been relieved after serving their од H.M SS. Britomart and
Bramble.
Our Shanghai contemporary's Tokyo corres pondent states that the Japan-se Press strongly condemns the
commission Russian proposals, and expresses its surprise that such conditions should be formulated at Peking, while direct negotiation is pouding in Russia. Jupau con- siders that the proposals indicate the nominal substitution of a commercial for a military occupation, bat create an armed camp in the middle of Manchucia along the Sangari,
Should China make such a concession in the case
of the Suggari, other Powers will be entitled to similar concessions on any Chinese river. The papers also object to the unreasonable delay in the evacuation of Manchuria, also to the proposed differential rate of duty ou rail-borne goods, which conflicts with the new treaty tariff. They denounce the special privileges granted to Russian banks outside the Settlements; also the proposed telegraph monopoly. They consider that the sanitary control at Newchwang will enable Russia to practically close that port. Finally, they urge replacing diplomatic amenities by
firm demande.
HONGKONG.
It is notified in the Gazette that Mr. M. Noma has resumed charge of the Japanese Consulate in Hongkong.
We have received from the Colonial Secre- tary's Office a copy of Appendices A to F attached to Professor Simpson's report on plague in Hongkong.
Abd character who broke into a shop at 342, Des Voeux Road West with intout to commit burglary was sentenced at the Police Court on the 12th inst. to six months' imprison- ment with hard labour. There were two previous convictions against him.¦
A number of forged lottery tickets for the last Macao Lottery were circulated in Hong- kong and some people who purchased them were only made aware of the fraud when they went to lift their prize-money. About 50 of the forged tickets were seized in Kowloon.
Plague, though it has for many weeks now promised to disappear from the Colony, is not completely banished. In the return for the day ending at noon on the 12th inst. a fatal Chinese case was reported from Caine Road. These sporadic cas-s, long after the end of the epidemic, are very annoying, as they prevent Hongkong from obtaining a clean bill of health and continue the handicap on trade and shipping.
The only serious casualty reported locally in connection with the typhoon was the sinking of a junk in Capsuimun Pass on the 11th inst. Two junks were running into Chinwan Bay for shelter when they collided and one was sunk. No lives were lost, the people on board the foundering craft being rescued by those on the other vessel. The sunken junk as she lies in the channel has her stern showing above water and is a danger to launches and other craft using that part of the Pass.
The return of deaths in the Colony daring July, just published in the Gazette, records 480 for the month, 22 in the European and foreign civil community and the rest among the Chinese. Plague caused 87 deaths (8 among the European and foreign community), chest affecting 67, and malaria 12. The death-rates in the prin- cipal registration districts wore :- -European and foreign community, 26.2 per 1,000 per annum ; Chinese, Victoria, land 19.8, harbour 9.6 Chinese, whole Colony 20.3, boat 102, laud and bost 17.9; whole civil community, 180. It is to be noted that at Stanley, where the land and bost population together is 1,885, no death was recorded in July.
Mr. Brewin is expected back in Hongkong on the 17th of next mouth. When he comes Registrar-General, will, we understand, take up back Mr. C. McL. Messer, who is acting as daty in the Land Office.
Yang Chu, the new Chinese Minister to Tokyo, is expected here shortly, as he is to come south to fetch his family from Canton before proceeding to Japan. H. E is a Manchu by descent, though born in Canton.
On the 10th inst; a fire occurred in Me. Basil Taylor's house af 2, Mountain View, through a beam in the chimney becoming ignited. The Fire Brigade were summoned, but the fire was extinguished before their arrival. The damage was trifling.
Sanitary Department who effected a gallant We understand that Inspector S. Gidley of the rescue of a young man from drowning at the Kowloon ferry wharf has received from H.E the Governor a latter warmly commending his
brave action.
Among the passengers to Shanghai on the Mrs. Volpicalli, the wife of the Italian Consul. Franz Ferdinand is an old resident there
General at Hongkong, who is now als Acting Cousul for Austria-Hungary. Mrs. Volpicelli will remain in Shanghai only for a few days, as she is going on to Japan for the round trip.
At the Legislative Council meeting on the 17th inst. a despatch was laid on the table from Rt Hon. J. Chamberlain approving of Sir Henry Blake's proposal to make provision in the 1904 Estimates for levelling and, laying out the portion of Taipingshan which is still unbuilt upon as a public garden.
During the week ending on the 12th inst. the only cases of communicable disease notified in Victoria and all-fatıl. in the Colony were 4 of plague, all Chinese This brought the year's plague total up to:-1,407 cases (36 Europeans, 1,287 Chinese, 84 other Asiatics); 1,234 deaths (4 Europeans, 1,191 Chinese, 39 other Asiatics).
It will occasion no surprise to learn that the team which is to represent Hongkong against Shanghai in the coming cricket week at the northern port will not leave Hongkong as originally arranged on the 23rd by the Empress of Tupan, but a fortnight later, viz, on the 7th October by the Turtar. This decision is obviously a wise one, as any team sent up next short of practice, whereas, given a little dry; week must have been absolutely rough and
weather, much may be done in the time between now and the 7th prox.
Séptember 21, 1903.
H.M. gunboat Bramble came in on the 11th inst. from practice.
Farm lease is that the price of opium has gone A sequel to the big price paid for the Opium up from $2 to $2.50 per tael. A farther rise in price is considered not unlikely.
There is word of a Quoiting Club being started the Colony, who only require opportunity to in Hongkong. There are many fine quoiters în show their proficiency at the game.
Among the arrivals from Manila by the Rubi on the 14th inst. was Mr. A. H. Savuge Landor, the traveller and author, who goes on by the Siberia to the United States.
on the 9th inst.
We learn that Sr. R. Marques died at Macio His brother was Dr. L. P. Marques, once Medical Office to Victoria Gaol Portuguese community of Hongkong, here. Sr. Marques had many friends in the
A nuisance inspector went into a house in the Central district the other evening in the course of his duty, and it seems that he inter- the house in all haste. One of the members of rupted a gambling party, who scurried out of the party, in his endeavour to escape arrest, jumped over the verandah and seriously injured, so much so that he had to be removed to the hospital for treatment.
was
very
We learn that the company which is presently Valley up the Samchun river for the supply running the vegetable farm in Yup-pat Heung of the Hongkong market, is about to give up the grouud at present leased as being too poor and at the same time too far removed from Hongkong. It is stated that the company intend to secure for farm purposes land in the neighbourhood of Yaumati and Wongneicheong.
We are pleased to be able to state that Mr. Herbert Price, of Messrs H. Price & Co., Ethel, third daughter of Sir John Darston, Queen's Road, is engaged to be married to
K.C.B. The marriage will take place early next year, and Mr. and Mrs. Prica may ba expected in Hoagkong about February or March. Mr. Price's fiancée is a sister of Mrs. Rook, wife of Mr. Rock, late of the Naval Yard.
The French stern-wheel steamer Therese, built at the Cosmopolitan Dock to the order of Messrs. E. C. Wilks & Co., for the Company a most successful Lyonnaise, Haiphong, ran trial on the 15th inst. in Kowloon Bay. The Therese is a light-draught vessel of the regular of these waters. Dimensions 130 feet between American type modified to suit the requirements
perpendiculars, 147 over wheel and 25 feet beam, with a draught of water in light trim of 1 foot 4 inches. The engines are placed in the stern of the boat and the boiler wall forward they are of the most improved type for this class of vessel, and designed for a working pressure of 150 lbs. per square inch. The mean speed obtained, the engines running a steady 30 revolutions per minut, was 10 knots on the measured distance of 1-1/10 knots considered highly satisfactory. A number of between the rocks in Kowloon Bay, which was
gentlemen representing the principal shipping and engineering firms were present, this type of vessel being a new departure in the annals of The police reported on the 12th inst.. local shipbuilding; and it was considered that a Chinese carpenter of the name of Ng Ng, the vessel would like'y by a model on which employed in the Naval Yard, was about to economical boats of light draught, large take in some clothes hanging from a bamboo on carrying capacity, good speed, and great con- the verandah of the house in which he lived on venience in handling, might be built most the third floor of 253, Queen's Road East, when suitable for the higher and shallow reches of he overbalanced and fell to the ground, a distance the West River, The dead-weight carry. of about 43 feet. The unfortuna's man alighted ing capacity of the Therese is 110 tons on his bead and was killed instantaneously. The in 3 feet 3 inches draught. The owners were deceased had been drinking.
represented by M. Braudela, Director of the Chan King-wa, the magistrate of Chamchow, Cie Lyonnaise, Haiphong, Monsieur Reau, Kwangsi, who on account of the undue severity Consul of France, Hongkong, and M. Roger, of his rule was reported to have been sent to Engineer of the French Navy. Mr. J. Lambert the frontier to redeem his honour by fighting bad charge of the boat for the Dock Co., the rebels, is now in Hongkong. As a matter and Mr. W. C. Jack who prepared the specifi- of fact, Chan was never sent to the frontier.cat ons and superintended the construction, on He was kept in Kwangsi auder arrest, though in which the vessel has been turned out was behalf of C. E, Wilks & Co. The short time not iu prison, a guard of fifteen soldiers under These, however, he astutely managed by some two lieutenants being detailed to watch him, commended, the contract having been signed on the 6th June. The vessel will leave for means to get rid of, and he escaped from Haiphong under her own steam during the week Kwangsi and is now in this Colony,
in charge of Captain Harvey.-Contributed.