336
CANTON.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
1st November.
THE CANTON SCANDAL,
On the day following the seizure of Chan- Tung-Sang's properties here, Viceroy Shum ordered the seizure of all properties belonging to the families of Fu-Yau-Wing and Fu-Shiu- Mui. It is now reported that the seizure of Fu-Shui-Mui's properties was illegal. Fu-Yan- Wing is the son of Fu-Yung (deceased), Chau Tung-Sang's maternal uncle and his predecessor as Treasurer in the Hoffo's yamen. He lived in Ching-Sui-Ho. Fu-Shui-Mui is not a descendant of Fa-Yung but a very distant relative of the Fu family. His father was formerly a merchant and died many years ago leaving a considerable fortune to his only son Fu-Shui-Mui. His father had no connection whatever with the Hoppo's treasury. When Fu-Shai-Mui heard of the seizure of Chau- Tung-Sang's properties he took no notice of the matter, and had not the slightest idea that a great calamity was about to befall his family. He consequently took no precautions whatever and removed absolutely nothing from his house. On the 6th ultimo he was arrested and all his belongings seized by order of the Viceroy. He has a very large family and an aged mother (75 years of age) who is dangerously ill through fright and sorrow. The family is now absolutely penniless and on the verge of starvation. The public, who sympathize with this unfortna- ate family, are very angry over the affair, and the local papers speak plainly concerning this unjust seizure.
Seven safes were found amongst Chau Tung-Saug's and others' properties seized. On the 30th inst. the Kwong-chow prefect Chan Mong-tsang proceeded to the Sin-Han-Kuk with several deputies to break open the safes and take stock of their contents. In one of Chau's safes a jadestone bangle valued at 2,000 dollars was found; the second safe opened
contained 400 dollars in notes and silver belonging to Fu-Yau-Wig. The third, a safe belonging to Poon-Man-hing, was empty. The Prefect is said to have been greatly disappointed and postponed the opening of the other safes.
CANTON LOTTERY.
Wei-Long-Shan, the late monopolist of the Canton lottery, having failed, has now petitioned the Viceroy for the cancellation of Lis contract which was to expire at the end of the next Chi- nese year. The royalty paid under this agreement was 11,000 dollars per Chinese moun. The Viceroy has now instructed the Sin-Hau-Kuk to invite tenders for the monopoly. The privilege will be granted to the highest bidder.
2nd November.
THE EMPRESS DOWAGER'S BIRTHDAY. H.E. Viceroy Shum has issued invitations to the Foreign Consuls and the prominent foreign employees of the Chinese Government to attend a banquet which will be held on the 10th day of the 10th moon at the Pa-chi-Hui Kuan (the Manchu Guildhall) on the occasion of the Empress Dowager's birthday,
THE TARTAR GENERAL.
H.E. the Tartar-General of Canton who went to Peking for a special audience by Imperial command, returned to Canton yester day by the s.8. Powan. A gunboat, had been sent to meet his Excellency at Hongkong but the Tartar-General,, knowing the remarkable speed of the vessel (4 knots an hour with the tide !), wisely decided to come up by the Com modious C. & M. S.S. Co.'s steamier l'owan. His Excellency arrived here at 4 p.m. and was greeted on his arrival by all the Manchu and Banner officials and the foreign professors of the Imperial College, of which the Tartar. General is president.
His Excellency did not land till this morning however. The official landing took place at the Tien-Chi-Ma-Tan where all the provincial civil and military officials went to pay their respects and perform the Kow-Tow ceremony; After these formalities the Turlar-general went to his yamen escorted by Manchu soldiers and preceded by the usual crowd of coolies and children carrying the official paraphernalia.
AFRAID OF THE GODS.
Sometime ago the Chinese Government took over the Lam-Kaong temple near the East
THE HONGKON› WEEKLY PRESS AND
gate for the purpose of transforming it into s large public school. The committee of the school have so far been unable to find workmen willing to undertake the removal of the two large clay josses which stand at each side of the principal gate. A sum of $100 has been offered for their removal but no workman has as yet volunteered to take the risk of raising the joys' anger.
CHAU-TUNG-sang's case.
[November 13, 1905.
to leave the plac› as daylight was approaching The neighbours were in great consternation and their fears subsided only when the robbers were known to have left,
TAX ON Prepared OPIUM.
On the 1st inst. Deputy Wong Shun was sent by the Viceroy to meet the Nam-Hoi and Poon-Yu magistrates and all the the merchants dealing in prepared Opium. These merchants were received in the Another seizure was made yesterday by order reception ball of the Nam-Hoi yamen. It of Viceroy Shum. The Kwong-Chow prefect has been decided to levy a tax of four able number of braves scaled a large house Patna opiam. Every dealer shall send to the escorted by several deputies and a consider candareens per ounce of prepared Malwa or
in Tin-Ping street in the old walled-government a detailed report of the monthly
house city. The
was occupied by Taotai sales and any sale effected which has not been Wong.
Another house Was also seized entered will be charged twenty times the duty. n Ko-Yeoug lane. On the 30th inst the The taxes are payable monthly and the Leong Ming Kee paint shop was similarly licences renewable yearly. geized. It is said that the occupants of these reporting that the properties occupied by them houses are likely to get into troule for not
belonged to Chau Tung Saug.
CANTON HANKOW RAILWAY.
various properties purchas d by the American In going through the title deeds of the Development Company the present directors of the railway have discovered, it is said, an enor- mous shortage. Whereas property to the value of taels 308,000 had been purchased by the Development Company, I understand only 123.000 taels worth of title deeds have been handed back, a shortage of 275,000 taels. It is reported that Viceroy Shum has cabled the matter to Sheng Shean-Wy, Minister of Rail- ways in China, requesting him to settle the question with Mr. Cito,
CANTON-MACAO RAILWAY
Lam-Tak-Yuen, the managing director of the Cantou-Macao railway, has raised a capital sum waiting for the Portuguese share in the capital. of 2,000,000 dollars from the Chinese and is The latter are said to have raised nothing yet. Sheng-Sheung-Wy, Director-General of Rail- work, Lam replied that the agreement with ways, having recently instructed Lam to begin the the Portuguese Government should be cancelled. as they have not subscribed the stipulated to amount. It is said that Lam will shortly go Peking to request the Wai-Wu-Pu to settle the matter with the Portuguese Minister.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
The Committee of the local Chinese Chamber of Commerce have bought a house which is to become the offices of the Chamber of Commerce, the present premises having been only tem porarily occupied. The members appointed to carry out the necessary alterations have expressed little alteration as possible should be made. the opinion that the building being too small, as They propose that a large and suitable building should be erected as soon as circumstances permit and to sell the present building.
3rd November.
DARING ROBBERY,
On
THE WAICHOW REBELLION.
ening to b come more serious Viceroy Shum Owing to the Waichow insurrection threat-
has sent a despatch to Admiral Li Tsun in- structing him to proceed without delay to the scene of the disturbance with several reported that Admiral Li started on his mission divisions of troops to quell the rebellion. It is
two days ago.
A COLLISION.
At 1 am yesterday a collision occurred be- hum and Kum-chok and a steam launch ruu.. tween a passenger boat running between Chek ning between Hong ong and Samsbui. The collision occurred near Sam Leung. The pas- senger boat was sunk and the owner, one sailor, two miles and one female passenger were drowned. All the cargo is lost. The master of the boat reported the matter to the military authorities of Kongmoon so as to prosecute the owner of the steam launch.
4th November.
SEIZURE OF PROPERTY,
The former Wei-Sing lottery monopoly here was let to Wei-Long-Shan, formerly assistant Banking Corporation of Hongkong. He floated compradore to the Hongkong and Shanghai
a company to work the concern, called the Wong Fung. This company has failed and is going through bankruptcy proceedings in Hongkong. Viceroy Shum has been actively prosecuting the partners here for the unpaid portion of the license fee still owing to the Government. A few days ago the manager of the Wong Fang Co. here, Leong-Cheong-Shui, received confidential information from some of his intimate friends who are officials, to the effect that Viceroy Shum was making preparations to seize all his properties and cause him to the valuables, furniture, etc., and went to Hongkong arrested. He immediately packed up all his with all his family. Leong is a very wealthy man. He has removed everything that could be carried away, even disposing of the flower pots of his garden. He has only left an empty house with those fixtures that were two massive
or two heary to be removed. Yesterday warrauts were issued for the seizure of his properties but it was then too late. Leong's property was situated in the Po-Wah. Ching Cheung-Yuk, just opposite Chau-Tung. Sung's family residence recently seized. It is a fine building with a spacious garden attached This street is earning an unenviable notoriety and is said to be worth at least 20,000 taels. and is now considered to be a very unlucky place to reside in. U ns of the Li family was ruined in this same street two years ago.
FOKIEN FOR THE JAPANESE. here, Ng Yuk Shan, Hanlin, received a telegram The chief director of the high local colleges from Cheong Ya Chow, Minister of Education in Peking, stating that the throne and the cabinet are contemplating the advisability of offering the Fokien province to the Japanese in exchange for Liao-Tung. The telegram requests him to protest against this exchange
The Po-Shang pawnshop situated in Cheung Kwai Fong street of the Sum-Cheng village, Poon-Yu district, has been established for a considerable time, has a large capital and has a flourishing business
There is a wide canal in front of the pawnshop and a small hill behind. strong. A small fort has been placed on the The building well constructed and is very roof to protect it against attacks from robbers, etc. No robbers had ever dared to attack this place before, although it was known that many wealthy pe-ple kept their valuables there. strangers arrived in the village and a steam the afternoon of the 29th ultimo many launch towing two junks was seen entering the river close by. The people soon found out that several hundred robbers had come to attack the famous pawnshop. These
armed with rifles and proceeded to attack the fortified pawnshop. The pawnshop people rushed to The fokis fired on the robbers from the roof the roof and sounded their gongs for assistance. | being made.
Note. This telegram is not very clear. I and kept them at bay for over two hours. believe it refers to the privileges demanded by hill commanding the roof and from there division of the robbers was then sent ou to the the Japanese for their subjects in the Liao- they easily dislodged the defenders and Tung peninsula, i.e. operating mines, railways, etc., and that the proposal above referred to is managed to get into the building which to grant these privileges to the Japanese in they ransacked from top to bottom. They Fokien province instead. carried away valuables to the amount of 50,000 taels and were about to attack the neighbouring houses when the advice of the more prudent ones prevailed and they decided
men
were
A
WAS THERE A BESERVE PRICE? Recently Messrs. Siemssen and Co. instructed A. V. Rozario, auctioneer, to dispose of galare