November 27, 1905.]
A DISASTROUS OCCURRENCE.
EFFECT OF torpedo BOAT'S WASH.
A torpedo boat proceeding down the barbour at a high rate of speed on the 18th November was, unfortunately, the cause of a disaster of a rather remarkable nature. About three
o'clock the sampans anchored off the Praya near Ship Street felt the water disturbed in an
unusual manner, big waves rocking them in a manner that made the occupants jump up in alarm, while the spray dashed over the "Praya. That their alarm was justified was soon apparent, for the succeeding waves seemed to be larger. At any rate they tossed the frail craft in a manner that left little hope of their safety. Two were hurled against the stonework until they were smashed to pieces, and four were capsized. In one of the latter was a native family of four, who were imprisoned under the water. Fortunately two men in the neighbourhood, Mr. J. Hudson and Mr. V. Watson, who bar witnessed their disappearance, went to their assistance, and rescued the elders but a child was drowned. Soon the water became
calm, and it was afterwards ascertained what was the cause of the, up till then, inexplicable
occurrence.
INTERESTING CHINESE NEWS
ITEMS.
The Nanfangpao of Nov. 11th says that Viceroys Chang Chih-tung and Chou Fu have been appointed associate members of the Commission to confer with Baron Komura.— The commissioner sent to Formosa to study the Japanese management of the opium monopoly has returned, and the system is now to be adopted by Chins. H. E. Ko Feng-shih, who is in charge of the present taxation in eight provinces, and who is exceedingly unpopular with the Viceroys, has been denounced. The Governor of Houan is auxious to resign.-Some French merchants have organised a company at Wahu and purchased three steam launches to trade on the Upper Yangtze.-Complaint bas been made of the opening by Messrs. Ilbert & Co., as general managers of the Laokungmow Cotton Spinning Company, of a hong at Chinlung, on the boundary between Tsungming and Haimen. The Chinese merchants are
endeavouring to have it closed-Arrangements have been almost completed for the opening to foreign trade of Tiensheng, near Tungchow. The Chinese Government are finding Sir Ernest Satow less "friendly" in his attitude. Suspicion is still expressed in regard to Russian designs in Mongolia.
THE NIPPON YUSEN KAISHA.
EXTENSION OF FOREIGN SERVICES.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A branch railway from Manila to Pasig is expected to be opened on Dec. 8.
The Jupan Chronicle understands that the Nippon Yusen Kaisba, in consultation with the Government authorities, has been considering measures for the development of its various lines now that the war is over. It is stated the company does not intend establishing new lines but proposes more frequent services on the European, Bombay, Seattle, and Australian lines with vessels of larger tonnage than those in use before the war. The coasting trade will extend its services to China, Korea, and Vladivostok. As funds will be required for new steamers, &c., it is proposed to use a portion of the reserves, which now amount to 10,000,000 yen.
If
SALE OF THE GUNBOAT TWEED."
The 298th case of plague is recorded. There is also a European case of eutorio fever.
It is proposed to establish lottories in Szechuan and Anhui to raise funds for railway-building.
There was a Chrysanthemum Show at Amoy Recreation Ground. on Saturday. It was held on the Kulangsu
The total trade between India and Western
Tibt during the past summer amounted to
twelve lakhs of rupees.
Japanese subjects have now
The gentlemen who have naturalised as to blush for honours more or less deserved. Mr. Alfred Steal, the empiric authority on things Japanese, in Japan is the possession of good morals. says one of the qualifications for naturalisation
At their sales rooms on the 21st November Messrs. Hughes and Hough put up for sale by public auction, H. M. Gunboat Tweed, which has an extreme length of 115 feet by a breadth of 34 feet. The vessel's displacement is 363 tong, her engines Hawthorn's simple surface condensing, and her condensers, two Normandy single, No. 12 size. She was offered with all fittings, &c., on board, but minus her boilers. There was very keen competition. Bidding opened at $5,000, and ran by $1,000 and the $500 bids up to $10,400, at which price the vessel was sold to Mr. Chee On, coal merchant.
said: -H.E. Chu Hung-chi proposes to raise A Paking message to the N.-C. Daily News
a loan from France to buy back the Chinese Eastern Railway from Japan, while H. E. Yuan Shih-kai proposes to increase the capital of the railway, and to run it as a joint enterprise of China and Japan.
A Club, called the Chinese Association, has been opened at 79, Hallam Street, Portland Place, London, near the Legation: It has been formed for Chinese students, officials, and merchants, of whom the number has largely increased lately, and is sure to still further increase. H.E. the Chinese Minister is the president, and he has endowed it with mouthly funds.
In regard to the recent noticeable increase in bill posting there, and to the absenc, of any special regulations for its control, the Shang- hai Municipal Council directs (i) that no bills be permitted on Municipal or other public buildings; (ii) that the Police take action in respect to bills posted without authority only at the request of the bona fide owner of the premises concerned, or in compliance with a prohibitory notice.
L.
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Under the heading. A Spanish Giantess with Bunch of Whiskers," the Manila Cablenews thus politely refers to the arrival of a lady passenger: A Spanish woman measuring ap.. proximately 6 feet in height, with a body a little larger round than that of Mayor Brown, and adorned with beard and whiskers, was the phenomenal creature that came on the boat."
In connection with the negotiations between Japan and China, the French Minister at Peking has warned the Waiwapu that if China recognises all the rights and concessions claimed by Japan in Manchuria, the other Powers will have similar claims under the most-favoured nation clause, and will insist on their claims.
The Waiwupu, after consultation with Viceroy Shum has notified Mr. Rockhill, the American Minister in Peking, that they will decapitate
the
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As a result of the late fire at Hankow, which is said to have destroyed over two thousand native houses, HE. Viceroy Chang Chih-tung has issued instructions to have the fire area surveyed without delay for the laying out of two roads, one road leading to the New Wharf and the other to the Limen-rat of the Native City. This will be a great imovement for the traffic
persons concerned in the Linchow murders; severely punish the officials of Linchow for their inability to give the necessary protection to the missionaries in their city indemnify the Mission for things taken away by the mob; and reconstruct the hospital and other buildings that were destroyed.
The reason for the delay in the settlement of the German Commercial Treaty is that Germany has claimed freedom før foreigners to trade inland, and the right to tow vessels on the Yangtsze The Waiwupu has opposed these claims on the grounds that the former will increase the number of transactions between Chinese and foreigners and the latter will reduce the likin revenue.-N. C. D. N.
of the place.
On Nov. 22nd Messrs. Hughes and Hough, auctioneers, put up for sale by public auction at their sales rooms, Sowkewan Lot No 53, having an area of 1,242 square feet or thereabouts, to- gether with the messages or tenements thereon
The
known as Nos. 36 and 37 Sowkewan Road. premises are held for the residue of the term of 999 years from 3rd January, 1900, at the annual Crown rent of $4. Bidding opened at $1,500, and by bids of $100, $50, $20 and $10 the price was rapidly run up to $2,300, at which amount. Mr. Kwok Chan was the purchaser of the pro.
for the vendor. perty. Mr. O. D. Thomson was the solicitor
Since the drawing up of the Trademark Regulations by the Board of Commerce, the different Ministers at Peking have, says the Nanfangpao, raised many objections against them. With the exception of the Japanese and Russian Ministers, all object to the regulations on the ground that, according to the latter, any lawsuit, arising out of the trademark dispute, shall be tried, not by the Consul concerned in coucert with the local authorities, but by the officials of the Office for the R gistration of Trademarks, being thus directly in conflict with the existing powers of the various Consuls as magistrates. Their intention, therefore, is to present this point as a basis for refusing to recognise the whole of the said regulations.
1
In reproducing a summary of the annual report of the Hongkong Branch of the Navy Leagu, the Japan Herald observes that "the Hongkong branch of the British Navy League seems to be justifying its existence, whatever other branches in the Far East may be doing.
By attending to the welfare of the Naval men employed on Stations away from home, branches of the Navy League in this part of the world can do far more effective service than in passing resolutions for the increase of Fleets to which they directly contribute nothing, and it seems to us that only in this way can such branches justify their existence. The action of the Hongkong branch is to be commended by everyone who wishes to see the life of the man behind the gun 'made as bappy as possible during bis period of service away from home."
The match manufacturers of Kobe, Osaka, and other places have agreed to the proposal recently made by the Department of Agriculture and Commerce that they should combine and become incorporated into one large company. Arrangements have been made, and the pros- pertus is probably out by now. The proposed capital is Y5,000,000, and it is also proposed to issue debentures to the amount of Y1,000,000 bearing interest at 8 per cent. and redeemable in five years. The value of existing factories to be purchased is estimated at Y4,500,000. Of this amount Y1,000,000 will be paid by deben- tures and Y3,500,000 in the shares of the new concern. The stock of raw material of the factories will be purchased at the current market price.
Mr. E. Ralphs, F.R G.S., F.C.S., the Senior Assistant Master at Queen's College, does not appear to have wasted his recently concluded vacation. It will be noted admiringly that while at Home, he was successful in passing the examination in Practical Hygiene for Teachers, held by the Royal Sanitary Institute, London. He has just received notice, also, of his election as "Member of the Royal Sanitary Institute." Mr. Ralphs' name appears in the list, just published, of candidates successful in obtaining the diploma of "Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland." From the Press reports, it appears that out of numerous candidates from England and the Colonies, only nine were successful in obtaining the Fellow ship, and of these nine, only one Colonial Candidate (Mr. Ralphs) was successful. We tender congratulations on behalf of the Colony.
A Singapore Chinaman having photographed a bouse on the edge of the fortified zone was fined and his camera forfeited. The harshness of this red-tape prosecution is being commented on. One correspondent says :-They manage these things better in Hongkong. Some nine years ago three Americans were arrested there on a similar charge. Their camera was taken by the Police and the films developed, the case standing over till the work of development was finished. When it was found that none of the pictures included views of any fortification, they were released, and the camera and view returned though there were two or three views taken from the roadside immediately adjacent to one of the fortifications which commanded a magnificent view of the harbour. It was evidently considered by the Magistrate that such en ordinance was not intended to be blindly enforced, but was to be used with discretion.