380
The monthly rainfall at the Observatory to the end of October with the means and extremes for 20 years was as follows: --
1904
1884-1903.
Max. Min.
0.00 0.02
Mean.
January
0.12
1.32
8.43
February
0.21
· 1.86
7.95
March
3.76
2.63
10.43
0.17
April
191
5.56
14.89
May
7.70
13.43 48.84
1,84 1.15
Juno
...19.64
16.80
34.37
2.34.
July
7.23
13.32
28.24
August
...27.64
14.22
27.87
4.57 5 20
September
9 77
8.21
19.11
2.00
0.63 0.01
October
4.73 17.87 The year's rainfall to the end of the month amounts to 79.97 inches, the 20 years mean for that period being 82.08 inches.
A sailor appeared before Mr. H. H. Gompertz at the Police Court on the 17th inst. to answer a charge of disorderly conduct. Some time ago this man was dismissed from the Algerine, and for several months was "on the beach." He complained to His Fxcellency the Governor, through whose influence he was reinstated on one of H.M. ships to be discharged on returning to England. He had finished only 90 days' time on the Tamar, when on Wednesday night he gare cause for the present charge to be brought against him. He assaulted some lukongs, and a European constable appeared on the scene to take him to the police station. But this was a difficult task, and it was not till a picket arrived (that the constable could succeed. The police gave him a bad character, and a Naval officer present verified their statement. A fine of $15 was inflicted; in default six weeks' imprisonment.
FAR EASTERN ITEMS.
Two of Shanghi's most prominent sportsmen -Mesars, C. R. Burkill and W. J. Tyack-left for Home by the last German mail.
**
Dr. Ellinger of Java thinks he has proved the mosquito not guilty" of conveying malaria. He has succeeded in rearing mala is germs.
The doyen of the Ceylon clergy, the Rev. P. Marks, Army Chaplain, died on October 29th. He had been 38 years in Ceylon.
The rice crop in the Kashing district of China is said to be very poor, and there is con- siderable distress among the rural population.
Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Dowler of Shanghai are not returning to the East, Mr. Dowler having joined the London office of Messrs. John Swire & Sons.
The Shanghai mandarins have decided to make a broad horse road right round the native city, outside the wall. The work is to be done by the soldiers.
Hon. Alexander Murray, M.E.C., Straits Settlements, and Mr. Granville J. Altman, British North Borneo, have been elected Fellows of the Royal Colonial Institute.
We regret to learn from Japanese papers of the death of Captain Armstrong of the 0. and O. steamer Coptic. He died at Yoko- hams on the 2nd inst.
From a law report in the N-C. Daily News wedearn that a gentleman named J. L. Snowdon resisted a claim by the Central Stores, Ld., for $88:75 for chits. His defence was thus indicated in our contemporary:
Professor D. Gustav Fritsch, Private Coun-
cillor of the Medical Department of Germany, is on a Government mission round the world, testing the vision of various aborigines with a view to finding out, no doubt, if the power of the European eye is deteriorating.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The crew of the torpedo-lestroyer Rissitelini, including the commander, arrived at Woosung in the Vorwarts on the 5th inst, and are now inferued on the Mandjour, with the exception of the commander, who has disappeared. He is supposed to have got on the outgoing German mail steamer.
A correspondent of the N.-C. Daily News, writing from Chengchoufu, Shantung, states that a large piece of land in Chouts'un, near the railway station, has been measured off to form the foreign concession at this new treaty port. A very successful ball was given by the St. George's Society in the Town Hall at Shang- hai in honour of His Majesty's birthday.
The third issue of Domestic Bonds in Japan to the amount of 80,000,000 yen has proved very successful. The amount applied for in Tokyo alone up to the 2nd instant, the Kobe Chronicle says, reached the large total of 105,37 475 yen; and in Osaka up to the 4th instant 15,659,550 yen. The amount applied for in Kobe up to that date was 537,785 yen.
A detail of sixteen armed Chinese sailors from the cruiser Chingtsing is now stationed on the Chinese Eastern Railway Wharf, at Paotung. opposite Shanghai, to patrol outside the place of internment of the crews of the Russian cruiser Askold and destroyer Grosovoi, strict orders having been issued by the Commander of the Chinese cruiser to his men to prevent all intercommunication between the Russian aid natives living in the vicinity.
A wedding was celebrated at the Roman Catholic Church, Shameen, the other day, when the Rev. Father Millet married Mr. J. C. H. L.
Smith, Chief Engineer of the s.s. Nanning, to Miss Mary Annie Carroll, eldest daughter of Mr. J. arroll, late of the P.W.D., Hongkong, Miss Daisy Carroll, sister to the bride, acted as bridesmaid, Mr. R. Smiles, chief engineer of the s.s. Lintan, gave the bride away, and Mr. Young, of the I M.C., Samshui. acted as best man.
The following prices were realised at the Shanghai Horse Bazaar Race Auction, held last Wednesday evening ---Jock Scott, Tls. 575; Honeysuckle, 170; Holywood, 165; Kestrel, 165; Wabeno, 150; Effendi, 145; Comanche, 135; Great Scott, 130; Blizzard, 139; Edway, 125; Cyclone, 150; Scharzberger. 115; Totila, 115; Massassoit, 110; Olry, 110; Diplomat, 105; Malacca, 105; Culvert, 105: Mum, 95; Cadzow, 95; Adonis, 85; Gratitude, 85; Good Idea, 85; Flying Scnd, 75; Confidence, 65.
Only a few months have elapsed, says the Foochow Echo, since we chronicled the marriage of Dr. MacKenzie of Fuhning and Miss Aston of Hinghua, and now we regret to record Mrs. MacKenzie's death, which took place at Fuhning on Oct. 26th after a short illness. The body was brought to Foochow by boat, and the funeral, which was largely attended, took place on Monday afternoon. Messrs. Lloyd and Pakenham-Walsh officiating. We feel sure that Dr. MacKenzie has the sympathy of the entire community in his bereavement.
Yuan Taotai of Shanghai has made a selec- tion of about ninety of the most physically fit members of the Hu Chun, or Garrison, of
Shanghai city for the purpose of forming them into the nucleus of a Military Police Force for the native city and district of Shanghai. These men will first be trained in a Military Police School which has been lately established on the Japanese model. The increase of brigaudage and the audacity of gangs of desperadoes in robbing residences within the city walls has been the cause of stirring up the local native authorities, who were first brought to a sense of their responsibilities by H.E. Governor Tuan Fang when the latter took over his post in Soochow a few months ago.
Tieh Liang, the "collecting commission-r for the Army Re-organisation Fund, made such a clean sweep in Boochów that there was
A Soochow despatch states that complaints no money left to pay official salaries. Urgent having been lately received by H.E. Acting represanka ions to Peking evoked a Rescript Viceroy Tuan Fang that some foreigners have biding him to he more circumspect in discharg-made an appearance in certain non-treaty ports, ing his duties.
some for the purpose of opening hongs and The Baron von Tex. Heart, of Messrs. Grote others on an errand of collecting debts, owing & Co. of Kongmoon, the West River port, by Chinese to Chinese residing in inland cities, kindly informs us that the King's Birthday His Excellency has instructed the Customs was royally cele rated there by two members of Tantais in his jurisdiction to protest to the the EM. Customs Staff, the leading officials. Consuls of the foreigners concerned on the the Commissioner, and the Baron himself. The ground that such conduct is contrary to Treaty, Consul was.
Baron is not a away. The
and notifies that Chinese officials intend to Britisher, but he boasts blood-relationship to enforce the Treaties by arresting such tres- His Majesty, being of the House of Saxe- | passers and sending them back under escort to Coburg Goths.
the nearest treaty ports.
|
November 19, 1904.
The anti-foreign demonstrations in- have ceased, and the feeling seems subsiding.
The ups and downs of street perambulation in Hongkong are a sore trial to the short- winded; but it should not be forgotten that they prevent the motor car nuisance, which Daily Shanghai appears to be suffering. The D News writes of the almost daily accidents and the hourly "narrow shaves' we all experience.
The s.s. Sikh has left Chinwantao for Durban direct with 1,890 coolies on board. The ss. Lothian will be the next boat to leave for Chinwantao, and will be followed by the s.s. Ikbal, which vessel will call at Chefoo and Chinwantao for coolies. The 8.8. Ascot, which has been temporarily released from the charter, is making a trip to Japan with general cargo:
There has been a big earthquake in Formosa, of which meagre details are to hand. There is a very large list of casualties. The earthquake occurred on the 6th instant. It was most severe in Central Formosa. The first report says that one hundred and fifty-four houses collapsed, thirty-three partially collapsed, 78 people were killed, and 23, including foreigners, wounded, in the Kagi district alone.
"efendant admitted the claim, but said he wished to take refuge under the Tippling Act. His Honour said from that he understood that defendant was a tippler and needed protection from tippling. Defendant admitted this and said that the chits given were mostly for spiri- tuous liquors, though there might be a few cigarettes. Defendant said the summons was simply taken out because plaintiffs had heard he was going away to hongkong and they thought he was not coming back. He thought about $5 of the above amount was for cigarettes.
In the latest official report on Weihaiwei it is lamented that "no marriages have taken place there since its occupation by the British Government." The clergyman has since had his opportunity. Police Inspector Young has recently been married there to Miss M. M. Williams, formerly of Shanghai, and the occasion was fittingly celebrated, among those at the reception being His Honour the Commissioner (Mr Stewart Lockhart), Col Bruce, and Capt Dent of the Chinese Regiment, Mr. R. F. Johnston, Mrs. Tomes and many others. The Commissioner submitted the principal toast.
An advocate at Shanghai, Mr. F. Ellis, recently made a rather finely drawn distinction
at the Mixed Court there. He had accused a police witness of making a deliberately false statement. In obedience to a request of the Court, who showed him that he was wrong, Mr. Ellis unreservedly withdrew" the remark, but added "But I don't apologise to the police."'
Our contemporary at Shanghai, the N.-C. Daily News, has caught one of its compositors conveying proofs of telegrams from the office. There had been a leakage of telegraphic news. The man, who had seven years' service to his credit, was let off with a ten dollar fine, and dismissed. If one of the other papers was thus obtaining costly news, as is suggested in our contemporary's caption, "An unauthorised news a most dishonest and re-
agency,
it was
prehensible bit of enterprise.
It can, I am sure, writes the Foochow corres- pondent of the N. C. Daily News, be safely claimed that the Foochow Imperial Post Office occupies one of the finest, if not the very finest offices of this character in all China. It is in every way adapted to handle the large amount of mail matter that passes through this provin- cial capital. Six local offices and thirty-five inland offices and agencies are operated from this central station, in addition to the work of handling the mails of our own business họngs,, foreign community, etc. This fine new Post Office is an achievement of Mr. Wm. Henne, who is in charge of it, under the general our honoured Commis- superintendence of sioner of Customs, Mr. E. C. Drew, who, I understand, secured the "sinews of war" to carry out the project. In addition to his mauy other duties, Mr. Henne has trained up an efficient force of postal clerks, most of whom are graduates or former students of the Anglo- Chinese College at this place, others being from the Foochow College in the city. The valuable services rendered by Mr. Drew and Mr. Henne in securing such postal conveniences and efficiency cannot fail to be highly appreciated by all concerned...