January 23, 1908.]
In Yunnan, 1889; and promoted Governor of Kuangsi province 1895, from which post he was cashiered in October 1897 and dismissed the servios for misappropriation of public funds and general incapacity of conduct, thereby causing discontent and insurrection amongst the inhabitants of that province which has continued to the present day. The restoration to the public service of a man like Shih Nien- tsu is a sufficiently clear proof of the corruption in the capital and the power and influence of the eunuchs over the Empress Dowager.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
defendant, who is claimed by the quartermaster
as his wife, is fined $25
The quartermaster of the ship, together with four of the boys, were charged with aiding and abetting the stowaways. With regard to the boys, both the captain and chief officer spoke as their previous good conduct, and asked His Worship to deal leniently with them.
His Worship fined the first defendant $15; the second, who was represented by Mr. Master (of Messrs. Johnso0, Stokes and Master), he discharged; the remainder had been given good characters, and he had been asked to deal leniently with them, but he
CHINESE MATRIMONIAL METHODS. thought he ought to take into consideration
that he had inflicted heavy sentences on Fome of the stowaways; besides, the boys tried to clear themselves by allowing the blame to fall ou some of the ship's officers, and for any officer of a British ship to be concerned in a thing of that sort would be a very serious matter. The third and four h defendants would be fined $100, in default three months' imprisonment, and the fifth defendant would be fined $150.
INVASION OF SHANGHAI.
Inspector Robinson's case, wherein five Chinese three men and two women-were char, ed with assaulting Chung Kung Kui and a Chinese woman named Cheng Fung in
consequence of the lat'er's alleged conjugal unfaithfulness, was confinned before Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz at the Police Court од the 14th insantt. After the hearing of further evidence, His Worship said it was clear that the first complainant had had a very bad beatinir, in which probably several people had helped. No doubt Chung Kung Kui deserved all be got, but at the same time His Worship wished to inform the defendant that what they did was a s rious breach of the peace; had the man died under their hands, or suffered seriously. they would have been in a very unpleasant position indeed. However, taking into con. sideration the provocation, he would fine the the Press recently to the effect that they will first and second defendan's $10 each. lebe coming here by the thousauds is correct, would further severely cantion the whole of the defendants, and bind them over to keep the peace for six months in a personal bond of $200 each.
JAPANESE STOWAWAYS.
5.8.
A ca e in which the captin of the Macquarie charged fourteen Japanese with stowing away at the port of Moji was bend on 17th January.
George I ichard Wardle deposed: I am chief steward of the s.8. Marquarie. I collect all passenger tickets on board. If any person applied to me for a passage I would first have to report to the Captain. Subject to his per- mission, I would issue a ticket. None of the
persons charged came on with my permission or cognizance. Thy had no understanding with me.
To my knowledge no money has been received by anybody on the ship for their
passages.
By the Court: When found, the captain ordered me to supply them with food.
St. John George recalled: The fourteenth defendant was found in the quartermaster's cabin the day after leaving Moji. She was not on board with my knowledge or authority.
On the defendants being asked what they had to say, the tenth, who acted as spokesman, said: We got on board at Moji with the consent of the chief officer and the chief steward. We promised to pay them yen 350 after landing at Hongkong. One of the defendants named Akama was to come ashore, get the money, and pay all the passages. The remainder of the defendants, with the exception of No. 14, who Lad nothing to say, confirmed this statement.
His Worship: If on board with the cogniz- ance of the chief officer and chief steward, how were you found in the linen locker and other places of hiding on board?
The defendants' spokesman said they were all in one cabin.
The master of the Macquarie informed His Worship that the stowaways threatened to im- plicate the chief officr and chief steward on arrival bere, if they did not get their liberty on board, consequently they were put in the one cabin. He did not think for one moment that the chief officer or chief steward would do such a thing.
His Worship, to the defendants: It is quite clear that you were on board without the consent or authority of any of the ship's officers, and if you had continued in hiding, and landed with a contagious disease, the master would have been liable. The four male defendants will each be fined $250, or the alternative of three months' imprisonment; the females, with the exception of the fourteenth defendant, will each be fined $50 or one month; the fourteenth
The following letter, t our Shanghai con- temporary, explains itself:--
SIR, It would seem that the best interests of the allied Settlemen's here would demand a short, sharp protest against the proposed invasion of Shanghai by the refurees from Port Arthur. If the statements furnished to
it would be almost impossible to magnify the danger and discomfort that must ensue here. Port Arthur is not riusly full of scurry, dysentery and sma l-pox, to say nothing of typhoid, and the throwing down of a mass of disease of this character in the midst of our Settlement, in the present condition of public health, is only inviting di-aster.
I am not prepared to say who should make this protest or whose duly it is to take the step, but the delay of invoking a ratepayers' meeting would be so great as to make it in effective. It may be that the Consular Body have the power, and it may be that only an appeal can lie to the Russian and Japanese authorities.
It seems beyond question that the repatriation of these refugees by way of neutral territory is an abuse of the privilege of extra-territoriality that would not be permitted by any other country, and representations should be made to Japan and the Russiau authorities here in an unmistakable tone, which would pre- clude the possibility of bringing these people here. If it is impossible to send them directly from Port Arthur to Odessa. their reconcentration should be effected on Japanese territory, where they could be cared for until they are sent home. This should be true with- out reference to the character of the refugees, and our recent experiences with Russians of that order in this port has not been reassuring,
or of a character to invite any repetition of it.
Trusting that this prot st may be joined by others to make it effective.-I am, etc.
10th January.
CAUTION.
The N.-C. Daily News replied in these words. Our valued correspondent who signs himself Caution" gives utterance to a note of alarm which has affected a good many people in the Settlement, but which is, we think, somewhat exaggerated. A large seaport like Shanghai is a natural place for the unfortunate refugees from Port Arthur to assemble while arrange. ments are being made, and we understand that. they will be made as promptly as possible, for their despatch to Russia. They are not likely to arrive here by thousands at a time, and in the French camp which is to be their halting- place, they will surely be far enough from these Settlements to prevent their being a menace to the health of the community. In the interval between the fall of Port Arthur and their arrival here they will have passed through what will practically be a sufficient period of quarantine, if such quarantine is necessary. We cannot. but sympathise with these unhappy victims of the war, and it would be scant courtesy or humanity to ban them from our shores in their distress. We commend indeed the kindness which the French Municipal
31
Council are showing in the preparations they are making, and do not expect that the dire apprehensions of our correspondent and those who agree with him will be realised.
JAPANESE PORCELAIN EXPORTED.
The porcelain exports to the United States are yearly increasing. The following table shows the value of the exports during eleven months:
January February March
April May. Juse
Yen
24.798
35,982
37,776
43,507
49,311
52,068
July
41,546
August
46,431
September
81,690
October
59,472
November
43,286
495,867
Total
-THE "ASKOLD" HOMICIDE AT.
SHANGHAI.
The Russian sailor belonging to the Russian warship " Askold," interned at Shanghai, who killed a Chinaman with an adze, during an altercation with some ricsha coolies, was tried 13th January by Russian Court Martial,
The Taotai did not send an assessor to sit at the trial. After all the agitation to be represented at the trial, when the Russian Consul refused to absolutely surrender his extraterritorial rights, the Taotai finally
declined to send the assessor who had been detailed for the purpose,
The sailor was adjudged to have killed with- out intention or malice, and was sentenced to four years imprisonment, as well as to be deprived of all his civil rights.
The sentence is regarded as fully adequate.
HONGKONG POLO CLUB.
SPECIAL MEETING.
were
A special meeting of the Hongkong Polo Club was held at the Club Pavilion, Causeway Bay, on
There the 14th instant. present Capt. Nugent (Hon. Secretary). Messrs. Cruickshank, Gedge, Moxon, John- stone, Rutherford, Robertson, Marshall, Patter- son, Major Strickland, Captains Whitehead, Simpson, Ward and Mr. Clarke.
extension
•
The HON. SECRETARY announced that Government had refused the Club's applica- tion for an
of ground to the east, on account of the great (about $4,000) expenditure which would be necessary to clear the ground.
The question of allowing ladies to play golf on the Polo ground on off days was then discussed. It was unanimously decided that such permission be refused.
With respect to the proposal to confine games to China ponies, the HON. SECRETARY remark- ed that if the ground was at present too small the fact that they would not be allowed to extend it was all the more reason why they should confine their games to small mounts, China ponies.
Major STRICKLAND instanced enjoyable games played on small Burma ponies.
Mr. CRUICKSHANK, speaking from experience, said that he considered games played on China ponies quite as much fun, if not more so, than games as at present on mixed ponies. After a certain amount of discussion, he moved that after the closing of the ground in June next all tourna- ment matches be played on China ponies; that the present other mounts (walers and country breds) now in use be allowed in ordinary games and friendly matches.
Mr. JOHNSTON seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.
It was arranged that this decision be wired to regiments coming to Hongkong in the immediate future.