August 12, 1905.]
The
Chamber of Commerce at Hongkong took up the matter. Mr. James Scott, the British Consul, wrote a strong protest to the Viceroy, calling it an unreasorable increase, and a clear contraven- tion of the Chefoo treaty. When in due course the British Minister introduced the matter to the Wai-wu-pu, the tax was abolished. Farm ceased to pay, and the Company became insolvent, the compradores and merchants interested suffering considerably. It is need less, perhaps, to add that the Kwong Hing Co, never recovered a cent of the million dollars they had paid to the Chinese Government for the concession.
Yesterday King Shun-tong, head of the prepared opium guild, called at the Sin Hau Tok and had a three hours interview with Lo Ping- ching. The result is not yet reported.
CHINESE GOVERNMENT ENTERS CRMENT
BUSINESS.
The Government has deputed Li Yuen-mui an expectant magistrate, to inspect the Fi Sbii Ngam (Bat Cave) quarry at Fa Yuen, and vicinity, to see if the cal quartz and granite are suitable for cement making. If bis report be favourable, the Government hopes to make a large sum annually by making cement.
MEMORIAL BY GOVERNOR CHANG: A DEATH
BY JUDICIAL TORTURE.
In the first moon of this year, Mak Ah-sui was arrested and tried by the Provincial Judge Ching Yee-lok for armed robbery, and sentenced to death. Under Chiness law, copies of evidence. written confession, etc.. must be sen by the Viceroy and Governor before sentence is execu- ted.
"
In this case, no evidence was taken, and only a confession sent up. The Viceroy approved, but Governor Chang reversed the sentence, and pointed out that the confession" denied carry ing arms or weapons. The case went to Li Tsun, secretary of the military yamen, and then the prisoner pleaded absolute innocence Li Tsun, disgusted, sent the case on to Lan Ching-hon, expectant magistrate, before whom સ man just arrest d swore that he was an accomplice in the armed robbery with Mak Ah- sui. The latter stuck to his plea of innocence through four days of frightful torture, and on the fifth day he died. An enquiry proved that the man had died as a consequence of the tortures to which he had been judicially subjected, and when questioned, Magistrate Lan frankly admitted that he had received private orders from Judge Ching to use the most severe tor. tures to make the prisoner confess All tuis is reported in the memorial of Governor Chang to
the Throne.
CANTON, 5th August.
CHARGES AGAINST CHINESE COMMANDIR.
His Excellency Viceroy Shum bas been receiving repeated reports and complaints that Colonel Yung Hong-peaw has misappropriated large sums of money from the Po Wai Ying. A few days ago, without any warning, he sent a deputy to seize the books of that station: and expert accountants are now going through them. The Po Wai Ying (station for protection). which is near the I. M. Customs, was established about four years ago, on Colonel Yung's recom- mendation, to protect junks towed by steam. launches only, such as ply between Canton and up-country places. Piracy was the danger, and is there are about 200 launches engaged in this trade, 800 soldiers were kept at the station. Colonel Yung has been in charge since it was opened.
Each junk was supplied with four soldiers armed with Mauser rifles. who stayed on the towing launch. Ten per cent. of the passage money was paid by each junk in return for this protection.
HELPLESS GODS.
I
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
PRISONERS AND THE HEAT: MANY DEATHS.
Thousands of those confined in the prisons of Kwangtang have died as a result of the weather. In Ching Yuen prison alone, the number of fatalities is put at hundreds. I wonder if the officials feel any respon ibility in this matter. If they did realise their responsi- bility, and had any of the bowels of compassion. I suppose we should soon see, as the result of this dreadful mortality, an era of prison reform dawning. It is hardly necessary for me to enlarge on the notorious insanitary condition of the average Chinese prison; or to remind you that many of the prisoners who have thus perished were possibly innocent men. who would ultimately have been released.
SILK WORM CULTURE.
•
I am informed that the prospects of the silk worm industry are very alarming, The mulberry trees up country have been attacked by millions of worms called cao bao which breed so fast that before one lot can be destroyed, the next is devouring the leaves, and leaving the trees as bare as ever winter wind could strip them. The price of mulberry leaves has risen to over two tals per picul now in con- sequence, and the silkworm rearers are facing heavy losses.
7th August.
MORE WORK FOR YUEN SHI-KAL,
An official telegram from Peking to-day states that the Imperial Council intends to plac› the unde mentioned six provinces under the control of Yuen Shi-kai (Viceroy of Chilli):- Shantung. Shansi, Honan, Shengking, Kirin. and Helangkiang,
GERMAN CONTRACTOR UNDER ARREST.
The German railway contractor who is alleged to have murdered a railway guard named Lau Chung-ting in Yunan has arrived in Can ton. Tsun Yin, the deputy who brought him, handed him over to the Namhoi Magistrate on Saturday, and be, was at once transferred to the custody of the German Consul. He now awaits trial on the charge.
A DEAD DEFAULTER.
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105
and other produce of Canton, valued about Tls. 200,000 had foundered on her way from Kong- moon to this port on the 23rd ult. The details of the mishap and the amount of the loss sustained by the parties concerned are yet to be learned by letter, but it is certain that everyone of the piece goods shops here and et Hamchow will more or less suffer by the accident. As goods carried by junks are not insured, the loss falls on the owners of the goods. The native merchants cannot yet see their way to bring goods from Canton in foreign bottoms on account of the great difference which exists between the native and the foreign customs tariffs.
EXECUTIONS.
Of the batch of twenty-eight robbers arrested at Tonkin and brought over here the other day. two of the leaders have since been decapitated at Limehow. They had made no attempt to conceal their guilt nor offered any extenua. ting circumstances with the view of obtaining a remission of penalty. but instead, the first of the two (Lum-chong-git) is said fo have openly declared that he had been a robber since he was a mere lad, and he also accused the other man of having killed the late Loong-moon- hip-toi (a Brigadier Gederal) last year, to which accusation Kait Cai is said to have nodded when the question was put to him.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.
•
The 28th ultimo was the birthday of His Celes- tial Majesty Kwoong Tau. The Custom House was closed and the day was observed a genera! holiday. The dragon flag was prominent everywhere. The Chines gunboat Kwong Kum dressed ship and at noon fired a royal salute after the westerners styl. Bunting was to be observed ou several housetops during the day and lanterns of variegated tints were exhibited at night over the doors of some of the shops. This is the first time within my recollection that such a display of faithfulness was ever shown by the subjects of His Celestial Majesty at this port of anywhere in the Empire.
FOREIGN IRON WORKS IN JAPAN.
BIG PROFITS.
The late Chan Tit sai. ex Hoppo treasurer, was, prior to his death, ordered by Viceroy Shum to submit his accounts in full, as there was talk of an enormous deficit. The family of the deceased is now
"under rigilant surveillance". or practically under arrest. It The eighteenth annual general meeting of is further stated that his property is held until
the Yokohama Engine and Iron Works, Ltd., the treasury accouuts
was held at the offices of the company on the are settled. His
28th ultimo. The chairman (Mr. B. U. Howard), Excellency has also said that as the deficit is so
in moving the adoption of the annual report large, and must have been accumulating for a long time, Chau Tit-sais predecessor must he and balance-sheet, pointed out that the net held partly responsible. This was Chan Tung-profit for the year was Y38,320.80 against shang, a cousin, now abread.
A TEMPLE TURNED FACTORY,
Two wealthy merchants suruamed Chau and Ching intend to lease the large temple called Ho Tong Chi in Honam for twenty-fire years for the purpose of manufacturing piece goods for local consumption. Fach partne subscribes 50.000 taels to capital.
IMPERIAL WARRANT NECESSARY: A NOTABLE REFORM.
The Board of Punishments at Peking has decided that henceforth no capital punishment may be inflicted without the special sanction of the Throne. The officials are specially warned that they must no longer beheal criminals and memorialize afterwards. Particulars of the crime are to be first submitted, and the officials are to abandon the formula. ང for ordus to inflict capital punisi ment
The Throne will consider and decid s
PAKHOL
EA
(FROM OUR CORRESP. NUENT}
2nd August.
GAMBLING
On the 3rd inst, all the Josses in the Cheong Sau Temple (lately seized by order of the Viceroy) were taken outside and burned, under I hear that by order of the Viceroy of Canton, the supervision of a non-superstitious person all sorts of gambling, including lotteries of all called Sau Ming Pok. For some days before. kinds, have been stopped in Limehow and all hand, the monks were busy spreading the its dep ndencies. This is a st-p in the right, rumour that the Gods had heard of the order direction and is appreciated by the industrions and were very angry, and that the recent earth-section of the population. But what wil quakes were sent by them as warnings. All who helped to destroy them were to perish of the plague, which would moveover devastate the neighbourhood. Naturally, those who believed in their power at once put a considerable dis- tance between themselves and the scene of such impiety. They will probably come back when they hear that the priests weer lying prophets.
become of the hundreds of the professi nal gamblers They know no art or industry, and are just the class to swell the list f robbers and pirates.
LOSS OF A JUNK WITH VAL ABLE CARGO.
Telegraphic information has been received here by the principal of the Cantonese Guild that a junk laden with silk piece goods, native cloth
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Y10.867.00 for the previous year, which must be considered a very satisfactory showing. The usual percentage for depreciation had been written off buildings, plant, and machinery, but the steam launch account remained the same as the launches were kept in a thoroughly efficient state of repair and were entered on the books at a low valuati n Material in stock showed a slightly higher value than last year, and the bank account was in 2 much more
division
A
satisfactory condition. The balance at credit of profit and loss account for amounted to Y51,935 35, which was so satis- factory that the directors considered it a good opportunity to start a reserve fund, and they recommended that a sum of Y20,000.00 be carid to that account as a commencement. dividend of Y10 per share was proposed, the balance Y5,935.335 to be carried to new account.
In a business like ours," alded the Chairman- there are always great fluctuations, and until peace is proclaimed the return of trade must be more or less uncertain. It will, therefore, be the policy of your directors to keep in view the sound financial position of the company, and they hope to be able to recommend additions to the reserve fund as opportunity offers. The appointment of Mes-rs. UK. Marshall Martin and F. J. Abbott to the Directorate was con- firmed, and Messrs. F. J. Hall and J. F. Cox Edwards were re-elected Auditors.
A contemporary has a description of modern travel on iuland waters that has its serious side. as well as humorous, Th Chines engineer o`a worn-out steam-1auch 80 li above Hankow, when his engines mide alarming no's, ran the launch ashore, raked out the fir, spent three hours tinkering, re-filled the boiler, and went on again. The passengers were far from happy.