Page
5
April 9, 1904.]
175.170 for 1898, as against 316.712 for 1897. Then came more fluctuations, and the figures for the years following, right up to the close of the last fiscal year, 1903, 183.999.
In years previous to the occupation, the United States got only eight quintals of the native tobacco between 1892 and 1896 inclusive In 1897 none was sent. The next year saw a change. and 312 quintals went to America in 1898. Three years then elapsed before any more was sent, but in 1901 fifty-three quintals went across the Pacific, followed by 1,138 in 1902 and by eighty-eight more last year, a total since the occupation of about 1,591 quintals.
One of the most interesting sets of tables in the entire report is that which discloses the complete statistics for the receipts and exports of hemp in Manila from the year 1861 to the close of business in 1903, each hemp-producing pro- vince being given its due place in the table.--- Manila Cablenews.
FRONTIER NOTES.
FROM A CORRESPONDENT.
Wednesday, 6th April.
'CUSTOMS PROMOTIONS, ETC.
Mr. Arlington. Kaichung, has been promoted Examiner and transferred to Soochow. Messrs. Husted and Xavier have been promoted Assistant Examiners and transferred to Canton. Mr. Adamson has been promoted Assistant Examiner at Taishan. and Mr. Sachan Assistant Examiner at Kai-chung. Mr. Chubh, in charge of Shum- chun, has been promoted to 1st class Tidewaiter. Mr. Pawelka, in charge of Lofong, to 2nd class Tidewaiter. It is probable that other transfers will take place along the Froutier shortly.
ACRICULTURE.
Peanuts have been planted the last week and also some cane. The farmers are mostly occupied in preparing the paddy fields, but no paddy has been planted as yet.
THE VEGETABLE FARM.
|
The New Territory Cultivation Company are not so active since Mr. F. Bishop (wlio lately took over the management of Connaught Hotel gave over charge to a Chinaman. Lots of splendid vegetables, cabbage mostly, are simply going waste, the Chinese employees not caring. It is a pity the proprietors could not send some energetic European out. The soil been got in fair order and ought to pay. The soil all around'is generally favourable to the growth of most European vegetables. I
a tomato the other day grown private garden which weighed 17 It was grown from Henderson's Ponderosa"
seed.
saw
CANTON,
**
has
in а
ounces.
FROM OUR OWN COR RESPONDENT. ¦
Canton, 30th March.
SHUM EFFECTING REFORMS.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
River near Samshui and in all the North River district, are very powerful, and if allowed to go on unchecked, might become a source of danger to the Government.
SMUGGLING ARMS.
Of late it has been discovered that arius are smuggled up the West River in ordinary cargo boats. They are concealed in such cargoes as straw. empty firewood boxes, and night-soil. For how long this trade has been going on it is impossible to say, but of late two such boats have been captured by Chinese gunboats.
THE FIRE AND TAXATION.
AMOY.
281
(FROM OUR CWN CORRESPONDENT.]
Amoy, 31st March.
MASONIC DANCE."
A most enjoyable dance was given by the Masonic Brethren of Amoy on Tuesday, the 22nd instant. Hall were very effective and appropriate, whilst The decorations of the Masonic
enthusiasts found the floor all that could be desired. Interest was added to the proceedings by our hosts appearing in Masonic regalia, and to the uninitiated this was doubtless a very The fire at Tong Yu Lan (opposite Shameeu) useful means of identification as well as a pic- has afforded an excellent occasion to the authori-turesque addition to the colour of the scene. ties for levying taxes. Ten of the mai ous-de-Dancing was kept up with zest till the small joie which were then destroyed proved to have hours, and the members of the Fraternity are to been sealed up by official order shortly before the fire. Permission has now been granted to
be congratulated on the good fortune which attended their efforts to make the dance a tho- the proprietors to rebuild these houses onl
success. rough
Some time had been payment of 6000 tuels,
allowed to elapse since similar festivities had been held in the Masonic Hall, although it is admirably adapted for such social purposes, and it is hoped that in the future there may be more opportunities for making use of it.
The Viceroy's policy from the beginning has been to weed out old, inefficient, or dishonest officials, and to put his favourites in their places. Thus the Pan-yü magistrate has recently been changed, and now it is announced that a new Namhoi, Fu-yee-mui. is to arrive shortly. Canton and its neighbourhood are divided between these two magistracies, and it is important that good men should be placed in such responsible positions.
DRASTIC MEASURES TO BE ENFORCED.
The Pan-Yu magistrate departed last week for the district of Tai-pau-hoha, to the East. where there has of late been a disturbance.
2nd April.
INDIAN WATCHMAN MURDERED.
FLOWER SHOWS.
On Wednesday information was received in Canton that an Indian watchman employed by American China Development Company had been murdered at Sainam, some miles beyond Owing to the very early season the date of Canton. The murderer. another Indian, the forthcoming Flower Show has been altered had blown off the back of his Cou-
to 5th prox. Considerable keenness is manifested Shelby. the Railway surgeon, promptly pro. panion's head and then decamped. Doctorby intending competitors, who would like to see
ceeded to the scene, and the British Vice- Consul also went up, as the parties concerned were British subjects. I hear to-day that the murderer has been arrested in Hongkong. His arrest was, of course, only a matter of time. He could not hope to escape permanently.
He will probably restore order with a heavy hand. The prisoners taken on these judicial expeditions are brought back to Canton, where they are either summarily executed, or languish in gaol until one of the periodical cleanings. out," when many criminals are beheaded.
Taotai Li Chun. who is in command of the river guard-boats, has been sent on an important commission to the North River district. A Triad chief named Li-pak-hoi has for long caused trouble, and he is now considered important enough to have an expedition fitted out against him. I hear that the Triads both north and south of the West
FATAL JUNK ACCIDENT.
Yesterday morning a sad affair occurred two or three miles below Canton--at Shan-ho-hau, where a small stream joins the Pearl River. A large passenger junk containing a load of 60 people capsized, and although the shore was not far distant, 1 were drowned. These accidents are lamentably frequent, and seem always to be attended with heavy loss of life. The passage boats are always crowded to their full capacity, making the simile of ference to them. This overcrowding is, I be-
· packed tight as herrings' not inapt with re- lieve, not unheard of in Hongkong.
MISCELLANEOUS.
a little fine weather now and again; but after the climatic conditions of a month past it would seem too much to hope forany early change. This show is the third that has been held in Kulangsu during the space of about 12 months, and these endeavours to beautify the gardens of Kulangsu have been attended with much success. Visitors to the island are generally struck with the rocky and rather barren appearance it presents, but this is being altered rapidly. The flower shows are a step in the right direction, and there is an afforestation scheme existing, so that no doubt in a few years we shall see a decided improve- ment ou present conditions.
CONSULAR AFFAIRS,
Dr. Merz. Consul for Germany, has left for Sinaufu. proceeding to his destination via Peking; it is not yet known here for certain whether he will be appointed to Sinanfu per manently or not. Mr. B. Hempel is Acting German Consul here in his absence.
PRESENTATION.
The ferry-boats Guiding Star and Moru- ing Star, late of Hongkong. and now in use They plied at first between the railway terminus here, are extensively patronised by the Chinese. and the China Merchants Wharf, near the Custom House, but their terminus is now at the bund, some distance below, and more convenient for traffic. The bund is making rapid progress. Large stones are being dumped off the foreshore, and when they rise above the surface sand is laid over them, while piles are driven in at in- tervals. The new ice company's premises will. it is said, be situated on the bund. which now reaches as far down as the new Medical College.preciation of his efforts in a good cause.
A movement is on foot among the games. loving portion of our community to present & kong and Shanghai Bank, who is going home testimonial to Mr. W. H. Wallace. of the Hong on leave, his successor, Mr. Wright. having already arrived here. Mr. Wallace has always taken a keen interest in the welfare of the Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club, of which institution he was Hon. Secretary. Votaries of lawn tennis and other outdoor games, who are indebted to him for organising many competi- tions. the life and soul of all outdoor sports, wish to give him some tangible proof of their ap-
(FROM THE
FOREI
CHUNG NGOI SAN FO
DRILL FOR CHINESE SOLDIERS.
It is reported that Viceroy Shum is arranging for 40,000 robust young soldiers from the garrisons of various provinces to be instructed in foreign military drill under his personal super- vision. They will be paid high wages and armed with guns of the latest pattern. If war breaks out between Russia and China it is the Viceroy's. intent on to march with the soldiers to the North and to take the field himself. He has already ordered six thousand soldiers from the province of Shensi to be sent to Kwangtung.
A POLICE FORCE FOR CANTON, Viceroy Shum has issued orders for the formation of a police force in Saikwan, Canton, the organisation to be similar to that of the Hongkong force.
The head office is to be established in Chan Tong Nam, the scene of the late big fire, and thirteen stations are to be built in different parts of Saikwan. The force
will comprise 1,300, who are to be selected from the different garrisons,
Mr. William Cowan, the Protector of Chinese at Ipoh. will, it is reported, leave the Straits for twelve months to act as Chinese Immigration Agent on behalf of the Transvaal Government | on the China coast.
NAVAL MATTERS.
S.M.S. Lucha arrived yesterday, very op- portunely for the Bachelors of Amoy," who. by the courtesy of Capt. Kröncke, are enabled to secure the services of her band for a dance which they are giving in the Club Theatre on the 4th
prox.
FOOCHOW.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT]
Foochow, 31st March. FOOCHOW RACES.
We have been favoured with dry and fine wea- ther for our Spring meeting, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday, 23rd and 24th inst. Though the entries were small there were some really fine races. It was a pity that Mr. Reynell could find no jockey to take out Frolic for the Champions. As it was, the last of a mile was a fine match between Mr. Min's Adrian and Mr. Stella's Alkoer, the latter being the champion
at the previous winter meeting. resulting in a close win for Adrian, Mr. J. Č. Oswald up. This gentleman created a record by taking first place in the last five races. Even with such small fields we should have again been badly off for jockeys but for the services of Mr. D. R. Crawford, the well-known Shanghai jockey, and Mr. Gordon Mackie, of Hongkong.
1