406-
Fang has petitioned the Hongkong Govern. ment, requesting H. E. the Governor to send a despatch to Canton to obtain the release of the coal. Fung will come up to Canton with solicitors to discuss the matter with the Chinese officials at the British Consulate.
A UNIFORM COINAGE.
It is reported that a telegram has been received here stating that the Peking govern- ment has decided to adopt uniform coinage for all the provinces. The new coins will be of the following values: 1 tael, 5 mace, 2 mace and 1 mace. The value of the tael, which varies at present from province to province, will thus constitute China's standard coin and will hence- forth have the same value everywhere.
?
4th December.
THE LINCHOW AFFAIR.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Admiral Li-Tsun has received a telegram stating that Leong-Sheng, Chinese Minister to the United States, bas had several conferences with the Washington Government and that there is avery probability that the affair will be settled in a peaceful manner. It is not expected that an indemnity will be demanded, the Chinese Government having promised to make good all losses and to rebuild the properties destroyed, Church, Hospital, Mission House, etc., etc., and to punish in an exemplary manner all those who are implicated in the affair.
As previously reported, the Commission was to leave Lionchow yesterday (Sunday). I am informed, however, that the date has been postponed to the 10th as some more important matters remain to be investigated. The Commission has decided to leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of the affair, hence the prolonged stay. It appears that the men from the two deserted villages have not yet decided to return to their homes.
PEKING COLLEGE FOE CANTONESE. Their Excellencies Tai Hung-chi and Wu Ting-fang have established a college in Peking for the benefit of Cantonese students, who will be provided there with board and lodging, and have asked Viceroy Shum to give pecuniary assistance. The Viceroy bas ordered the Provincial treasurer, the Salt Comptroller, the Sin-Hau-Kuk and the chief Likin bureau to subscribe.
CANTON-WHAMPOA RAILWAY.
His Excellency Chan-Pa-tze, Minister of Agriculture, Railways and Mines of the two Kwang, etc., has sent a despatch to Viceroy Shum recommending the building of this line at an early date. Viceroy Shum has ordered the Provincial Treasurer and the Sin-Hau-Kuk to make a joint report, and the following sugges tions were the result:-
(1) The company shall be called the Canton Amoy Railway Co., Limited, and the head office will be at the Ching Hoi Mun. The line will start from the East Gate of the city and will run to Whampoa. When this section is completed the line will be extended to Tsang-Shing, thence to Skik-Loong, Pok-Lo, Hoi-Luk-Fung and to Chiem-chow, from whence the line will be pushed on to its contemplated terminus at Amoy. The first section is that from Canton to Whampoa, a distance of 40 li: Whampoa to become the commercial port. (2) Chinese subjects alone, to take up the 8,000 shares of Tls. 100 each making the initial capital Tls. 8,000. In. terest at the rate of 6 per cent. will be paid on the subsoribed capital. (3) Power to employ labour for the construction of the line. (4) Power to purchase land. (5) Power to engage constructors and d puties. (6) Power to pre- vent illegal acts and "underhand work." (7) The concession of the company to be for 6 years. (8) Choice of the route to be followed to be determined by the company. No other railway to be built by other companies within ten miles on either side of the line. (9) Power to engage military guards to protect the line. (10) Power to erect telegraph lines. (11) Pri- vilege to carry goods and merchandise to places not within the reach of boats. (12) In case of war or rebellion, traffic to be stopped and the line to be at the disposal of the Government. (13) To draw up regulations and file same with the Government and to make an estimate of the cost of building the line. (14) The time with in which each section shall be completed. (L) Natives of the section through which the line
runs to be employed as much as possible on the works. (16) Mails to be carried. (17) After the payment of 6 per cent. interest is made, bonus and dividends to be declared should there be surplus profits. (18) A board of directors to be appointed.
(19) Duty stations for the collection of revenue to be established on the route. (20) To provide rewards for efficient directors, constructors and for good services and good rapid work. (21) The gauge to be uniform throughout.
|
5th November.
THE WHAMPOA“ MURDER CASE,
The Japanese prisoner charged with the murder of a compatriot will be taken back to Japan to stand his trial. Mr. Noma was up here last week to take the depositions of the numerous witnesses who are unable to go to Japan.
THE LINCHOW AFFAIR: CONFESSIONS,
"
Men
[December 11, 1905.”
6th December.
THE LINCHOW AFFAIR.
The following is a translation of a letter received here by the Yeung-Shing-po from its correspondent at Linchow
'You,
"Wen-Tsung-Yao (Tsotai)and several deputies who were ordered by Viceroy Shum to investi- gate the Linchow massacre arrived here to- gether with the American Consul General and his party. The moment they landed, the Consul-General and the other American officials immediately purchased large quantities of flowers and went to the graves of the victims and deposited on their tombs their tribute of respect. for the unfortunate victims of the massacre, They retired after that to their house-bost and sent for a member of the gentry who related at great length the circumstances attending the massacre. The questioning of prisoners and witnesses was then proceeded with. Criminals (22) who had been arrested previous to the arrival of the Commission, had their heads shaved, were bathed, and attired in clean new clothes. This was no doubt appreciated by the members of the commission who had to remain for hours in their company. When these men appeared before the court they were told that they were not required to kneel down, as is the custom, and that they would not be tortured. They were accom- modated with low stools to sit on. Wen-Tsung- Yao then addressed them as follows: prisoners, have been the cause of the murder of several Europeans, thus implicating the people of Linchow and the officials. You, prisoners, must confess frankly what you have done, showing that you are brave men.' To this, one of the criminals, surnamed Leong, replied that he confessed to have taken part in the massacre. Another, surnamed An Yong, confessed to having received $20 from the missionaries to hire a boat. He took the money but did not carry out the errand he had undertaken, Wen- Tsung-Yao severely reprimanded him for his wrongful ac' and said that having accepted the money he should have carried out his promise; and that, although he did not kill, personally any of the Europeans, yet he was in a measure responsible for what happened afterwards and said. 'You fully deserve the penalty of capital punishment and you are entitled to no pity."
The Another prisoner, Tang-Chat, said:
were in the wrong. For Europeans
be instance, there used to
8 wide road alongside of the church. This the mission people tried to close to traffic. The matter Was referred to the Prefect, who decided Notwithstand- against the mission's claim.
Shum Lun Shu, the cashiered prefect of Linchow, has sent the following report to Vice- roy Shum:- Large rewards have been offered for the arrest of the men connected with the Linchow masacre. Twenty men have already been arrested, amongst whom is a man named Hung-Ah-Shun, who confesses that he stabbed the lady doctor (Miss Eleanor Chestnut). Five other men confessed to having carried various weapons and to have taken a part. Another admits beating a goug and calling upon the people to take revenge, while eight others admitted being present during the slaughter. In the course of his deposition, Dr. Machle accused a Monk named Nan-Sing of demanding squeeze from him under threat of disclosing their hiding place. A great number of men confessed to being present during the massacre but no direct evidence could be produced proving conclusively that they had a hand in it. who were accused of beating gongs on the occa- sion denied the charge, and three men who, according to an informer, had taken part in the riot also denied the charge and were supported by a member of the gentry called Mok-Yu-Po, who stated that they were falsely accused, and that the real offenders having committed their crime in broad daylight it would not be difficult Wen Taotai and to establish their identity. Deputy Chang are taking great pains in ques. tioning witnesses to obtain evidence. The new Prefect Tang-Cheuk-Tong reached Linchow ou the 18th ultimo aud has taken up his post." The cashiered prefect further adds in bis report that he is doing his utmost to cause all the guilty parties to be arrested but that manying this, the missionaries fenced the road of them must have fled to other places.
and compelled us to use i, road much further
Another
Was the wrongful act following: We Chin se people have great belief in our Jose() and the ceremony of Ta-Chui worshipping. On this occasion, while we were offering up our prayers for our future welfare and prosperity, the missionaries interfered with our ceremonies, snatched our joss away and also took away several bombs. Yet another wrong was done to us, as we have discovered the dead bodies of young children their premises.' The American Consul. General made no reply to these statements.
88.KINSHAN
$1
IN COLLISION.
On the 3rd instant the s.s. Kinshan collided with a Fatsbau passenger junk which was towed by a steam launch. The juok was seriously damaged and for a time quite a panic prevailed amongst the passengers ou the craft. The collision occurred in the fairway
to the west of Shameen.
UPS AND DOWNS OF CHINESE OFFICIALS.
At the beginning of this year the salt monop. olist of a certain prefecture of the Kwantung Province having absconded, Wong-Tai-Kwan, an expectant prefect, memorialized Viceroy Sham on the subject and submitted a scheme for the collection of the salt revenue. Viceroy Shum approved of the scheme and appointed Wong Salt Commissioner of the prefecturs in question. Wong's scheme failed to come up to expectations, as the revenue decreased instead of increasing as promised in bis memorial. When Wong sent his quarterly report to the Viceroy, His Excellency memor- ialized the throne aud denounced him as an incapable official and degraded him; while allowing him to remain in office so as to mend his ways and retrieve past errors. Meanwhile The Chinese Minister in London recommended Wong to the throne suggesting that he should be appointed Consul General for China in Sin- gapore. The Peking Court approved and Wong got his appointment. Viceroy Shum bearing this has memorialized the throne informing the Central Government that Wong had been cashiered and that he will not be allowed to leave Kwangtung for his post until all accounts have been properly rendered and the losses in revenue incurred through his bad management have been made good.
away.
on
"No torture was applied; the men confessed and stated their case frankly.
"It appears that on the day the American Consul-General arrived, Mr. Lay insisted on hoisting the American flag in the suburbs of Linchow city. Taotai Wen strongly objected to this and stated that if this was done he
would immediately return to Canton as he could not give them protection. Consul Lay gave in, and the flag was not hoisted.'
MR. SCOTT'S RECOVERY.
Consul General Scott, having recovered from his recent illness, returned to-day. A call was made on him by Tartar-General Shao, who recently arrived here from Peking.
THE BOYCOTT HERO.
On the 3rd inst. Fung-Hai-Wai's ancestral tablets was placed in the Po-Lum temple of Tai- Leung city. Thousands of people including students from various colleges attended the ceremony. Amongst them were to be found numerous pilgrims from Hongkong and Macao who had come to show their respect for the Boycott Hero.
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