it
July 15, 1905.
was .
""
survey only to get information as to the probable cost, before doing anything further. Three Chinese gentry continued their persuasions with the Council, and made certain offers in connection with the necessary land purchases; and did not appear to be unduly alarmed about graves; These particular Chinese minds were focussed apparently, more on taels than tombs. So the Council tried to represent to the TAOTAL the general benefit, both to the local natives and to the residents in the Settlement, which this road would afford." This was in April, 1904. Two months later the objections of the TAOTAI were forth coming. This enlightened individual was able to see that the road would be "of great benefit to Chinese and foreigners alike," and quoted Sir PELHAM WARREN'S remark that "a remarkable thing that these objections should have suddenly been raised against such beneficial work at a time when other local improvements are in progress. It is thought that evil-disposed persons may have raised those obstacles in the matter especially for their own benefit." But, said he, when there are Treaties everything should be done accordingly; and the Municipal Council's surveyors had not unfurled their tapes according to Red Tape; (This is rather free trans- literation) and "the person who objects to the Council constructing the road at Chih-pao village is myself (the TAOTAI and not any evil-disposed persons." His idea was that the Council's powers should have their limitations shown by this obstruc- tion; and to that end he was instructing the native officials to pull up the surveyor's pegs without delay. In a subsequent letter, the TAOTAI pretended to believe a report that the surveyor and his men had pistols and were "prepared to quarrel or fight with the country people," and talked of "these violent measures,' This, of course, was all nonsense; and the people who were to be pistolled had been actually showing co. operation and good will." All objectious but those of the TAOTAI were removed: he only proved adamant, or, more justly, pig-headed. Then the Consular Body grew "tired of the conduct shown by the Local Chinese authorities"; and went past TAOTAI to VICEROY. Not unnaturally, the TAOTAI regretted "such conduct on the part of a civilised nation,” The subsequent proceedings are so ably indicated in a model letter from the Senior Consul, Dr. KNAPPE, to the troublesome TAOTAI, that we must give it almost in full:-
}
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
who are interested in the matter, viz., representa- tives of the Consular Body, the Municipal Council, the landowners, the magistrates, the tipaos, and yourself. But I have always received an answer in the negative
"
Being convinced that nothing but obstruction on your part is the real cause of the difficulty: prepared to sell their property at the prices and being informed that the land-owners are offered; and that the tipaos are giving every possible assistance, I have asked Dr. Merklinghaus to see the magistrate of Chingpu with the surveyor of the municipality; and to report whether there are any real difficulties,
"It is interesting to road your reply of the 10th. You protest against direct intercourse with Chinese authorities except yourself, and declare that it is not in conformity with the treaties. Will you kindly let me know the Article of the Treaties where the Consuls are prohibited from dealing with the Chinese authorities, whenever they think it advisable?
"It is evident by your conduct in this matter, as well as in many others, that your principle is obstruction to any progress proposed in the interest of such a centre of trade as Shanghai has become. There appears to be no chance of coming to an understanding with you. I am going to Nanking to negotiate with H E. the Viceroy in this and some other affairs."
35
opposite side of the peninsula, in Starling Inlet, was not equally obvious, he admitted that it was; but said the eight miles between that and Sham-chun offered more engineering difficulties than the eighteen mile route proposed by himself. country to be opened up.
Besides," he pointed out, "look at the A line from
If
Castle Peak Bay will pay for itself while the trunk line is building."
any private syndicate had constructed a light railway through this western territory, they would not only have earned good dividends; but would in all probability have been able to sell for a good price to the Canton- Kowloon Company, who would have seen its desirability if only as a means of transport for their own material,
this to 08
All
appears plausible enough; to be and the only thing needed seems expert confirmation that the route is, indeed, as free from engineering objections and costly obstacles as our correspondent thinks it is. If, in short, this enterprise is practic- able, it should be profitable, and it appears We learned yesterday ning that Dr. to be desirable. Of course, it will occur the minds of many readers that the KNAPPE had returned from Nanking, and to that Viceroy CHOυ Fu had promised to send desirability of developing this territory will an official to Shanghai to investigate. Iu not appeal so strongly to the owners of The longer that the meantime, a report that the Consular property on the island. Body had decided to ask the Wai-wu-pu to Hongkong remains the focus point of affairs, remove the TAOTAI is officially contradicted. the longer will island interests possess Perhaps the VICEROY's representations will extraordinary value. But that argument would also exclude Kowloon, and Kowloon be sufficient.
is advancing. It cannot be long, railway or no railway, before the blooming district of Tai-po-bu and Kowloon join hands. There is undoubtedly a great future awaiting the territory lying between Deep Bay, Tolo Harbour, Sham-Chün, and Hong-ham.
RAILWAY ENTERPRISE IN SOUTH CHINA,
19
:
L
ENGLAND THROUGH GERMAN EYES.
(Daily Press, 14th July).
+1
It is not enough to take criticisms-un- favourable and unflattering criticisms-good temperedly. To do so is often a distinguish. man of sense; bat the superior man, with even more intelligence, is he who takes them seriously into con- sideration, forever putting the formula: "It may
be true. Is it ? The saying, Take all men's censure, but reserve your judgment," may be well amended by the deletion of the word "reserve" and the sub- stitution of the word "use." This short preamble we consider necessary before ven- turing to deal with a criticism which has set some of our contemporaries in Great Britain busily to work raking their diction- aries for recriminatory words.
Daily Press 18th July, We are not sufficiently informed of the desires and intentions of the Colonial Government to be able to say whether the letter are as suggestions in "Spectator's valuable as they are interesting. Certainly to the unofficial eye there is much that is attractive in our correspondent's picture of quite possible developments in the New Territory which has now been under British, care for more than half a dozen years ¦ and we have little doubt that the resing mark of a ponsible officers would be as pleased as "SPECTATOR to see the country opened up in some such way. Following our correspon dent's proposal step by step upon the map, we note that his auxiliary line would approxi- mately follow the line of the bridle road from "Shani-chun, southward along the western borders of the Lung-kwat-tau dis- trict into the area marked Shap-pat-heung. bending westward to avoid the hilly; country and to intersect the populous valley that
ruus south to San-hu-wai in Castle Peak Bay. Apparently about two thirds of the route is covered by existing roads, good main roads-for China; and if comes in contay with about fifty villages and towus, nestling in fertile and produc- tive valleys. We understand our corres- pondent's idea to be that a single line so laid down would very much edite the "All these roads are a blessing to the population. making of the main line that ling to counset more direct "In the same enlightened spirit your predecessors Canton with Kowloon by a have acted in Shanghai. I draw your attention route. He pointed out to us that the obvious Jessfield Road, the Gordon Road, the Robison way to deliver railway material for delivery
the educational Road, the Siccawei Road, the Brenau Road, at Shau-chun was to unship it at the mouth Avenue Road, Avenue Paul Brunat, and many of the river entering Deep Bay on the east; others. Some of them are now within the bound, but there is not enough water there for system generally, some comments on which aries of the Settlements but they were built when shipping. Deep Bay is so called we reproduce elsewhere in gur issue of to- the territory was still outside.
"The road proposed to the Hill is not destined because of its soundings, but because of its day. These things, or things to a like for the pleasure of foreigners in Shanghai but it deep indentation of the land. Across the effect, have often been said of late by Eng- is an absolute necessity for the food supply of a estuary of that river, for which the carto-lishnien themselves.
Our British readers should by now be ity with a population of nearly a million Chinese. graphers appear to have no name yet. is au
"I had many conversations with you in this awkward bar; and even supposing a laden | prepared for the douche of candour which matter, have always used my best endeavours to steamer gets up river safely, it must hurry we propose to repeat we trust to their "As for come to an amicable understanding. I have admitted that the road cannot be constructed back before the tide falls, if it does not amusement, if not to their profit. without the consent of the Chinese authorities. wish to rest till next tide on the mud. your Empire," says "A German Resident,"
Asked if Sha-t'au-kok, a
"it appears to me unstable as a house of
"The construction of roads is a very important factor for the development of the country. H.E. Chang Chi-tung, one of the wisest statesmen of China, who is appreciated as such by foreigners and (hinese alike, has always made it a point to act in accordance with the above-mentioned prin ciple. When in Canton he constructed a quay alongside the West river of many lilngth; in Nanking he connected the Yangtze river at Shia- road of over 60 li ; and in Wuchang also an excel.
kuan with the southern parts of the city by a
lent road has been built by him.
to all the roads in the neighbourhood, viz., the
I have suggested to call a meeting of all those
:
uot
town
on the
to arouse
In the pages of the National Review, “A German Resident" of England, dealing with England and the English, certainly says some things calculated resentment in the bosoms of those subjects of King EDWARD who are not blessed with the thick skin, or with the mental balance we have just postulated as the essential characteristic of the superior man. He has also said some things with which many Englishmen will not be disposed to quarrel, as, for example, the criticism of the English Public School system,
1