Page
204
three vessels running to Wushow, one of which, the Tak Hing, will, I understand, rua to Kong. moon, while two French boats will shortly be on the West River run.
THE KWANGSI TROUBLES.
From Kwangsi the news comes that the
[March 12, 1904.
NORTHERN NOTES.
The following items are from the P. &, T.-
The new Tartar General of Jehol is said to
Throne,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
and moreover have met with very hard times. As it was in vain to reason with the governor, the merchants have determined to go on strike. This, it is said, started in Wachow on the 25th Times of the 27th ult. :— ultimo. Many letters have been received from parts of Kwangsi by the Kwangtung merchants. have been endeavouring to improve the local telling them to stop sending goods thither. again to root out the rebellion, for since his education. He has been so successful that he H.E. Shum intends to proceed to Kwangsi government there and bring the finances into something like order, also to encourage return to Kwangtung the rebels who took has submitted a very satisfactory report to the refuge in the mountain fastnesses have again made their appearance in many districts, the officials of which are too weak to cope with A gentleman just arrived from Moukden them. Many telegrams have been rece ved in says objection was made to his coming down by Kwangtung for reinforcements. His Excel-train to Newchwang, so he had to take cart to leucy has given an order to te local magis- and tedious journey. He noticed a number of Siamintun and take the train there, a long trates to make every preparation and to hire boats Russian troops near the Siamintun terminas readiness to convey him and the soldiers thither ready for any emergency apparently, hat they On the Ist and 2nd igrant WO or three garrisons were embarked for Wuchow under
have not yet seized the line. the command of military officers named Chan officers are busy in Mongolia buying hser, The General at Kalan reports Russian and Cheng, and His Excellency will go shortly and carry passports from the Tartar General too. Some of the officials and gentry bare of Fengtien, granting them exemption from all entreated Shum not to leave Canton. They say that if he goes away Canton will be in a critical duties, etc., but these passes are dated prior to condition, rumoursbeing constantly current that
the outbreak of hostilities. The Russians receive plots have been planned to seize the city.
rebellion is now more widespread than ever. The troops can make little headway, and in so moun sínous a rexion this is hardly a matter for surprise, considering the poor quality of the troops. Large numbers f soldiers still con- tinue to go up the river. On Friday last over 1,000 left Samshai in a flotilla towed by fourteen launches. These men had len brought down from the North by two C.M.S.N Co. steamers, but others come overland from Hunan, and down the North River to Samshui. This overland route has been in use almost as much as the other, so that Kwangsi should according to all rules have bean subdued long since.
LOCAL CONDITIONS.
In Canton there is at present nothing to
chronicle. The excitement of New Year has subsided, and people have returned to their occupations. The busy season has now sat in, and, given a good harvest, this sh ull prove a moderately prosperous year.
[FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT. |
Canton, 5th March,
VIEROY SHUM.
The Imperial Chinese Government having given Viceroy Shum a further period of five months for the entire suppression of the Kwangsi rebellion, His Excellency is doing all he can to raise money to buy ammunition, sharter ships, and send soldiers to Kwangsi; but for the present he is not going himse f. We will see how things gat on before he goes again. He is completely recovered is health, and was able to make official calls upon the Consuls in Shameen the other day. It is said that by his order the Governor Aw Fung-si of Kwangsi is imposing a poll tax upon the inhabitants of Kwangsi of three cash per head, which is being collected every day, his object being to distinguish the pgoo from the disorderly people. Wuchow went ou strike days ago; the Viceroy sent up 5,000 soldiers to suppress the disorder. If he continues in his present régime and imposes a poll tax also in Kwangtung there soon will be another rebellion.
HEATY FINES.
All the gambling concerns and lottery mono- polies are in trouble, having to pay heavy squeezes to the high officials. Li Sai-kwai, tue late fantan monopolist, who is accused of the embezzlement of the fantan revenue, and of bribing the clerks at the last examination to suppress the names of the successful candidates, is forced to pay 500,000 taels. He has consented to pay 400,000, and the difference will be made up by his friends. The late Magistrate Pin King-fuk, who is accused of malfeasance in office, is fined 120,000 taels and is to be released on payment of it, and several otuer officials are also requisitioned to pay. Since the Viceroy has come to Canton he has degraded over seventy officials. The military who are deprived of their customary squeezes from the gambling houses are very much dissatisfied
The official seals will be taken down on the 21st of the Chinese (being the 7th inst., when the Namhoi magistrate Yew will be transferred on account of his incapacity, and a new one from the North will take his place.
[FROM THE “CHUNG NGOI BAN PO.". On account of the rebellion and famine in Kwangsi an enormous sum has been spent to restore peace and relieve the sufferers. In fact nearly all the money was drawn from the pro- vince of Kwangtung, either by subscription, or from the Kwangtung Treasury, which has been consequently quite exhausted. The re- venue of Kwangsi itself was nil last year. Though the famine has now disappeared rebellion has not been completely suppressed. As pecuni- ary assistance is still greatly required to defray the heavy expenses of keeping a large army for the protection of the places, and where order has been restored to prevent revisitations by the rebels, Governor Aw of Kwangsi determined to impose a poll tax of three cash per day, and to increase the lekin taxes. The latter has been met with strong. opposition from all classes of merchants, who have been already heavily taxed,
in
The
every assistance from the Llama there. Work on the Canton and Hankow railway is
A telegram was received by the Waiwapy. speedily progressing. Rails have been laid as from Moukden on the 22ad inst, stating, that far as Chai-pin, and the road between Samsuia Russian officer of high rank, who was wounded and Fatshan has been satisfactorily prepared. badly in the leg, was brought to General The Shek-wai-tong branch has also been officer asked for protection, and stated that he
Chang's yamen by two Russian soldiers. constructed. On the 13th ult. the railway did not wish his presence known there. engineers started to make a survey of the roads in the vicinity of Shek-wai-tong for the purpose of constructing another branch to Fo g-cheun.
FOOCHOW,
[FROM CUR CORRES. ONDENT.]
Foochow, 2nd March.
THE NEW YEAR,
It seems ancient history to talk of China New Year. The banks here followed Shanghai and were closed from the Tuesday to Saturday inclusive. Everything passed off very quietly save for the usual noisy shades that, inspire gong-beating and crackers. We had brilliant weather. A shooting-party of 4 got a very good bag during the holidays at Santuso with 17 head of game, including 18
and 80 teul,
geese
DEPARTURES.
guns
15
Customs staff here, has been appointed Deputy Mr. S. M. Russell, of the Imperial Maritime Commissioner at Canton, and expects to Mr. Russell only came to Foochow some leave for that port at the end of this week.
months ago, direct from England, where he viously attached to the Imparial College at had been on furlough. Mr. Russell was pre-
Peking, where he spent some 21 years. Mr. and Mrs. Russell both went through the siege, I have just hear that Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hughes are also leaving the port at very short notice, probably this week. Mr. Hughes has been H.B.M. Vice-Consul at Pag.da Anchorage, and has appointed to the British Consulats at Kinng chow. Mr. Ch. Doyère, late of the Foochow Arsenal, left for Shanghai on his way to Europe
per s.s. Haeshin, on 27th inst.
BALL
now been
Tongku to Taku yesterday morning without Two tugboats broke through the ice from
much difficulty, the ice there being thin and rotten, At the bends along the river it is still thick, new ice forming the last few nights and holding the floated-dowu blocks together. Next week, however, there is a prospect of a complete break-up all the way down, and of steamers being able to reach the Bund.
CHINA FIRE INSURANCE CO.,
THIRTY-FIFTH ORDINARY MEETING.
LD.
holde:s in the Company was held at the Com- The thirty-fifth ordinary meeting of share- pany's Offices, No. 3 Queen's Road Central, on the 10th inst. at 11.30 a.m. for the purpose
of receiving a statement of accounts, and the re- port of the directors for the year ending 31st December, 1903. Those present were Mr. E. Go'z (chairman), Messrs, N. A. Siebe, A. G, Wood, E. Shellim, H. W. Slade, C. A. Tomes.
Wheeley, J. J. Leiria, A. H. M. da Silva, T. H. and A. Haupt (directors), Mr. G. L. Tomlin (*ecretary), and Messrs. R. C. Wilcox, J, Reid, A. V. Apcar, Hart Buck, C. Pemberton. and Chan Pit.
Mr. G. L. TOMLIN read the notice convening the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN said: - Gentlemen,-The directors' report and statement of accounts having been in your hauds for the past three weeks I will now adopt the usual custom and take them as read. It gives the board mush pleasure to present you with such a satisfactory result for the working of the year 190', which is due to the loss ratio being only 41.71 per cent. of the premium income. This is exceptionally We light and cannot be expected every yar. propose to deal with the profit of $212,868,83
aa follows:-
Dividend of $6 and bonus of $1 per
share on 20,000 shares
By invitation of the "Bachelor Maids" of the port, a Leap Year Ball was held Bonus to contributors of premia at the Club
Addition to extra reserve fund, on the 29th February. The
which
then will
stand costume
at was bal poudré, which lent itself
$125,675.56 as shown in the to a most pleasing variety, whilst the rooms
balance-sheet .. were beautifully decorate; and, in fact, as it saying that the evening was a grand success. was in the hands of the ladies, it goes without
By the way, our programmes were red, and in accidents to unwary or nervous bachelors as yet. the shape of an heart! I have not heard of any
Besides the two large battleships ordered from England, the Japanese Government has arranged, according to a Tokyo,despatch to the Osaka Mainichi, that work will shortly be taken in hand for the construction of three des- troyers at the Admiralty yard of Yokosuka. The despatch adds that the authorities have also decided to build a submarine for the Japanese Navy.
Transfer to investment fluctuation account, to meet difference be- tween cost and market value of
Write off loss on sale of Rural Build- investments on 31st December, 1903 ..
ing Lots Nos. 42 and 84 Bonus to office staff
$14,000.00
100.25
52,915.14
15,000:00
1,068.49 3,785,00
$212,869,88
which we hope will meet with your approval. Being placed in the happy position of having built up the extra reserve fund to the equivalent. of a year's dividend of $6, we are now enabled- to recommend the payment of a bonus of $1 per
$