January 25, 1904.]
The promotion of Acting Sergeant J. W. Gloya, Hongkong Volunt-ers, is confirmed in the rank of sergeant with effect from 6th Marob, 1902. Corporal C. H. P. Hay has been permitted to resign dated 18th January, 1904.
During 1903 the following samples were examined under the Sale of Food and Drags Ordinance :-7 of milk, 16 of beer, 13 of whisky, 2 of brandy, and 1 each of ghee, gin, port, and coffee. Milk was the only offender, 2 samples proving adulterated.
here
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
MISCELLANOUS.
A negro has appealed to Governor Wright of the Philippines to form an American negro police company in Manila.
Archbishop J. J. Harty, the first American ecclesiastic appointed to the supreme position in the Roman Church in the Philippines, arrived in Manila on the 16th inst, and received a most enthusiastic welcome.
The case
in which Messrs. Miller and
A Far Eastern Press Association telegram dated New York. January 18, says :-Andrew D. White, who recently retired as ambassador from the United - tates to Germany, and who is famed as a statesman, diplomat and educator, says than the Kaiser will never take the side of Russia to crush Japan. He believes that Ger- many will b neutral during the coming war, and that rather than see Japan denationalised the German Emperor would interfere in her behalf.
Major Gurdon, Captain Wakefield, four sub. Ballantine were charged in Manila with issuing lieutenan 8, and 11 rank-and-file of the 83rd forged certificates for Chinese immigration into Company of Royal Garrison Artillery arrived on
the Philippines has failed. The Cablenews the 19th from Canada by the ('anadian Pacific
says there was not sufficient cvidence to convict, Railway 8.8. Empress of India, and proceeded
An Act has been passed in Manila entitling to Lyenun. Captain Wakefield is not new to
merchants who have paid duty on goods Hongkong, having not so very long ago acted imported, should they export them from the as a Lieutenant in the Hongkong and islands, to obtain a certificate to that effect, and Singapore Battalion of Royal Artillery. on proluction of that certificate at the time of Thirty-three Naval ratings arrived from importation of other similar goods they shall Shanghai on the evening of the 19 h inst on the
be exempt from duty also. This applies to China Navigation Company's 8.8. Kalgan and proceeded to H.M.S. Tamar. Leaving Shanghai merchants in the Philippines to compete with tinned goods and foodstuffs, and is to enable
on the 15th inst., the Kalgan had a somewhat
those on the China coast, in case of war break. tempestuous voyage down the coast, Capt Spe ding out between Japan, and Russia. reporting strong monsoon and high sea to Bre- ker Point, but from thence to port light winds and fine we ther The sailormen passengers, of course, were quite at home to the bad weather.
The formation of a Quoiting Club for Hong- kong is now taking on the semblance of reality. Messrs. J. Caldwell & Sons, of Kilmarnock, have been communicated with, and they are ending out seven pairs ranging in weight from 6 lbs. to 9lbs. Mr. J. Caldwell is universally recog. nised as one of the most if not the most expert manufacturer of quoits; he is also sending out a copy of the rules which goveru the game quoits in Britain, and under these the Hongkong Quoiting Club will be formed. A piton has been secured on the Happy Valley opposite the Civil Service Cricket Club matshed, and before long the Quoiting Club will be in full swing The new quoits are expected in about a month's time. Mr. W. S. Hudson has been largely in strumental in getting the movement set agoing. It is not generally known that we have in the Colony several quoiters who have made their mark at home. Among the promoters of the Quo ting Club beside Mr. Hudson are Messrs. C. Hoggarth, D. M. McKenzie, C. Cullen, and L. E. Brett. Altogether the memb rship
numbers about 20.
In the still hours of Friday morning resid- ents were rudely awakened by the loud clanging of the fire-bell, the rattle of the brigade as they hurried. to auswer the alarm being audible shortly afterwards, A hasty glance over the house-tops located the conflagration; on reaching the vicinity the house was seen to be No 13, Seymour Road. As far
is known
8 coolie house-keeper upset a kerosene lamp. The flames spread rapidly, jumping from one piece of woodwork to another. Tongues of fire protruded from the windows, mocking, as it were, all endeavours to check the work of des- truction. he sky above reflected the red glare, a large column of smoke hovering over the burning house. Luckily the wind was not strong; otherwise, there is no telling where the matter would have ended. As it was, the brigade, in preventing a spread, damaged by water a quantity of furniture in the next door habita- tion, occupied by Mr. Weill, of Mesars, Levy Herinanos. With a heavy crash, far louder than the crackling timbers, floors and roof of the burning house fell to the ground, continuing to burn brightly in what was now a fireplace en- closed by still standing walls. There were not a great many spectators, but those present with ssed a sight rarely seen on such a high level as Seymour Road. One thing calling for remorse was the fact that the only water available had to be drawn from our very limited supply. Watching the steady jet of fresh Water, checking progress of the roaring flames, one could not help but think of the times when a non-yielding tap necessitated a foregoing of the luxury of a bath for days at a stretch, The hose was connected to a hyd aut in the roadway. Eventually the flames were got under, but for many hours, long after dayligh, hose-men were still at work. No. 13. Seymour Rend, a house which belonged to the late coin- adure of Me sprre. E D. Sassous & Co., belongs now to the compradore's son, who is on a visit to
Canton,
·
given) said to a Manila Cablenews reporter on A prominent barker (whose name is not the 18th inst:-"Mex. will go to two for one in a short time, and people will be fairly breaking their necks to get any of it at almost any price. There are at least eight millions of the precious stuff buried in the Islands here. It has got to come out. All the legislating the Commission can do won't stop it. Somebody is going to make a mint of money. Do you think the bankers are fools, to let such a chance escape them?"
News was received at Railway Headquarters at Tientsin, says the P, & T. Times, stat ng that Conductor Frederick Miller had committed suicide at Tongshan. The deceased was formerly in the Royal Welsh Fusi iers, and joined the railway service about a year ago. It appears Liat he was suspended from duty on the 30th ult. for a offence that was n t av ry serious one, and ths caused his shooting himself through the head. The deceased was very popular both with his co-workers as well as friends outside the service, and was to have been reinstated in his position in a few days.
A Seoul telegram, dated the 9th January. says:-Min Yei-kan, Min Yeh-sho and Chin So-kun seem to have been convinced of the necessity of reformation of the administration to a certain extent, and they now advocate the pompt opening of Ryong-an (Yong-ampho) and the dismissal of Ye Kou-tak and Ye Yong-yik from the Government. The reason the Russian soldiers were sent to Seoul is said to be the Russian Minister's intention to maintain the goodwill of the Corean Court. He thinks they will strengthen his hands when negotiating a Russo-Corean Alliance, Nearly forty mem ers of the Imperial Body Guard deserted last night objecting to having to keep watch during the present cold weather.
'
73.
It is noted in Japan that there has been great increase in life insurance applications, chiefly from naval and military men.
According to L'Echo de Chine, it is tele- graphed from London that the signature of the Franco-Siamese treaty is expected. The treaty confirms while it modifies the convention of 1902, provides for the evacuation of Chantaboon, and restores perfectly amicable relations between France and Siam,
In the Gomez conspiracy trial at Manila on the 18th inst. evidence was given that Gomes planned the return from Hongkong of Ricarte (the "Viper," as the Mauila Press calls him) and a new revolution which was to make him- self head of the Filipino Republio.
The Governor of Changsha (Hanan) lately ordered from Japan 2,00 Murata rifles, pattern 1897, which with accompanying ammunition will cost Tls. 2000. These Japanese rifles are said to be very much admired by the Chinese, and th re seems to be every prospect of Chins buying her rifles in future solely from Japan to
the exclusion of other countries.
The N.C. Daily News learns from Canton that Messrs. Mandl & Co. have effected with the Viceroy of Kwangtung and Kwangsi” a loan of one million taels, repayable in fifteen months, with interest at the rate of seven per cent. per annum. No Imperial Edict is to be required. but the repayment is guaranteed by the Viceroy, the Governor, and the Provincial Treasurer, of the total sum about Tis. 400,00 is to be provided in the shape of Krupp's military manufactures, the balance be- ing in cash.
A correspondent writes to us from Canton complaining of disgraceful scenes of almost daily occurrence in a certain portion of the French concession at Shameen. He says:It is not my inteution. to reflect upon the conduct of any administrative body in the concession; my desire is to all their attention publicly to the existing state of affairs, so that measures might be taken to restrict the evil, which is growing to un extent that makes it impossible for self-res- pesting people to live in the neighbourhood. The area of the concession is too circumscribed to allow the respectable and the degraded elements of the community 10 live together. The undesirable class, if not excluded altogether, should be taught to respect the susceptibilities of their neighbours. Their preseuce, in any way, tends to lower the prestige of the European in, the eyes of the native, who is always eager to point the finger of scorn at the failings of the foreigner.
The Ostasiatische Lloyd publishes a telegram dated Berlin, 11th January, to the following effect: The statement, made by all Japanese Ministers in Europe, according to which Japan will hold up the status quo in Corea during her negotiations with Russia, is considered here as a proof of the correctness and the prudence of the Japanese diplomacy. Contrary to the warlike news emanating from England, the French Press is laying great stress in their remarks on the love of peace shown by all Great Pows, and the sagacious tactics of Japan,
At the conference in Tokyo on the 11th inst. between the Cabinet and the Elder Statesmen the Premier, Count Katsura, was absent. The result was not reported to the Throne the same day, but was to be reported on the 12th. It was expected that, "to serve a purpose which is not made public" (accord ng to the Tokyo correspondent of the N.-C. Daily News), another note would be sent to Russia, not an ultimatum. We may mention in this conuec- tion that it is rumoured here that Japan is only delaying matters until the cruisers Kasuga and Nisshin reach Singapore-probably about the 27th inst.
L'Echo de Chine writes as follows concerning the rumoured orders for 250 Sherwood Foresters to proceed North from Hongkong :-The 250. Foresters of H ngkong would certainly be a precious item to the allies, but we may be allowed to think that their number in st be multiplied tenfold before. in the event of war their bravery can make an impression on their adversaries. Those most in the know say_that these valiant soldiers are to occupy the Yang- taze Valley and are destined sooner or later to anliven with their brilliant uniforms the too dull thoroughfares of our international bund.
The first-class
H.M. third-class cruiser Archer on arrival at Colombo from Australia, homeward bound, was stopped awaiting the possibility of a Russo- Japanese outbreak, in which case she will pro- bably come to Hongkong. cruiser Diadem, third-olass cruiser Scylla, aud torpedo gun-boat Karakatta, which were fol- lowing the Archer home, were expected at Colombo when the last mail left and it was anticipated that they also would reinforce the The Diadem China squadron in event of war. carries sixteen 6-in. guns, fourteen 12-pounders, and twelve lighter guns, and torpedo tubes The Seylla, which is equal to the first-class cruiser in speed, is armed with two 6-in. guns, six 4-7-in. guns, fourteen lighter guns and four torpedo-tubes. The Karakatta, the other 20-knot vessel, is armed with two 47-in. guns, four 3-pounders and three torp do tubes. Archer, which is the slowest of the four, indiost- ing a speed of 16-knots, is armed with six 6-in. guns, eleven smaller guns, and three torpedo.
tubes.
The
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