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December 23. 1905 |
THE CH NESE WAY.
Dea. 19th.
A curious incident occurred bere last werk, in which a wealthy Hongkong Chinaman was the victim. Mr. Chau-Tin-San, of Hongkong, built an ancestral temple in his native village near Cauton. The building was completed last week, and the inauguration took place on Tuesday last. Mr. Chan invited bis my friends from Hongkong, Canton, and Macao to attend. It must also be premised that sometime ago. when Admiral Li-Tsun visited Hongkong, a certain hiusman surnamed Fung, borrowed a sum of $20,000 from the admiral and gave a promissory note payable three months later. Mr. Chau guaranteed the note.
The note was not paid, and the admiral wished to institute &n action in the Supreme Court of Hongkong. He was to'd that "Hongkong laws are queer," and that unless due notice was given to the guarantor within a specified time, the latter's responsibility ceased in the matter. The broker, a Hongkong curio-dealer, who was courting the admiral's favour, told him that Chan-Tiu-Sun was about to proceed to his native village to inaugurate his new ancestral tmple. A deputy was sent to Chau's village on the date of the cerem ›ny, accompanied by a number of braves, and informed Chan that he was wanted by the Viceroy who wished to consult him concerning some important matters. Chan was led to a steam launch and when on board found that be had been inveigled into a tr p. A dispatch was handed to him in which the admiral demanded immediate satisfaction. The curio dealer was also on board and he induced Chau to sign a fresh promissory note for the $20,000. Chau fearing arrestment and "squeeze," signed the note. He had al-o to consider all his friends who had taken the trouble to travel to his Latire village. The incident shows what arbitrary measures a Chinese official may take to serve his personal interests. The admiral is a great favourite of the Viceroy, and if any trouble arises out of the matter, he will no doubt be fully protected.
INTERESTING SEQUEL TO THE LINCHOW
AFFAIR.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Chu-Wing Tso presided. After the banquet. the chief director explained the rules and regulations of the company. He pointed out the necessity of providing good pure water and stated that the doctors had reported favourably regard. ing the quality of the water at Shek-Moon; and that the plans and specifications, which are now being prepared by German and English architects, would be ready a' ont the second moon of next year. The capital will be Tls. 1.200,00 divided into 1,000 shares of Tls. 10 each. Half of the amount will be taken up by Govern- ment and the other half by merchants. The company will be managed by the officials and gentry jointly. All pressut approved of the scheme.
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.
20th December.
SANTA CASA DA MISERICORDIA.
It is rumoured that the Government is going to appoint a committee to take charge of the affairs of this institution. True or not, it is au unnecessary proceeding.
DEATH OF AN EX GOVERNOR OF MACAO. News was received here last week of the death of the Conde de Paços dos Arcos. The late connt came to Macio as Governor soon after the terrible cyclone in September 1874, and did much to alleviate the sufferings of the victim of that memorable storm, which nearly destroyed the whole city of Mucao. He worked hard also to repair the damage, and was responsible Paços dos Arcos was Portuguese Minister in for many subsequent improvements in Macao.
various courts in Eur pe aud was at one time in Rio de Janeiro,
CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT.
On Sunday next (Christmas Eve) there will be a party at the Club de Macao for the children of the members. There will be refreshments and dancing followed by the discl sing of the Christmas Tree. This entertainment ought to be an annual fixture.
PAKHOL
FROM OUR CORRESPONDEN r.]
December 15th.
A CUSTOMS VACANCY.
Mr. J. C. John-ton, Commissioner of
Custom, having left here in the latter part of November, his place is still vacant and nobody knows who is going to fill it nor when his success ›r will arrive. Mr. Johnston has obtained four months' leave and gone to England with Mrs. Johnston whose health needs a change.
DR. HORDER'S RETURN.
Tsang-Sew-Wing and others have petiti- oned Viceroy Stum praying that His Excellency will be good enough to communicate with the American Consul-General and to request him to instruct the American Mission. aries of a Nam-Hoi village to remove the clapel which they have recently erected there. The Viceroy replied to the following effect. "I find that by treaty missionaries have the right to erect churches in th- interior of China Ignorant people in the interior often crea'e trouble on account of these churches. The officials and gentry have often been and are con- stantly requested to explain to the people the lights conferred by treaty upon these foreigners, so as to avoid friction between them and the people. You state that hitherto there was no church in your district and that you are afraid that this will bring trouble to the village. You further state that the missionaries of that church, relying upon the sapport of their Government, are bullying the people. If this is true, it is improper for them to act in this manner. But if the people of your district were of a quiet disposition, the missionaries would not treat them in any unreasonable manner. You further state that the missionari s beat and whip the
Owing to the ab ence of Doctor Horder from people, thus disgracing them. If it is really the port, and some other unavoidable circum true, what are the names of the missionaries stances, the laying of the Foundation Stone of Are they foreigners or natives? You fail to
the new Church adjoining the English Hospital mention these important points, and it is difficult which was to have taken place on the 22nd for me to believe you. At any rate all cre ds
ultimo was postponed to the 13th instant. The instract the people in the ways of virtue, and weather was then, unfortunately, not propitious the people should not create trouble under the for such an open air gathering. A stor cold pretext that they are missionaries of ons creed wind was blowing from the North-East, or the other. I have instructed the Provincial accompanied occasionally by drizzling rain. Treasurer and the Judge to give orders to the The whole community, with very few ex. Nam-Hoi to investigate your allegations. Heceptions, answered to the invitations; is also crdered to inform the people to abstain the ladies turned out to be present at this from creating ill-feeling between the missionaries function. The religious ceremony was done and the people.
CANTON WATER-WORKS Yesterday a grand banquet was held by the Water-works company at their head-office in Nam-Kwan, in the commodinus house
recently confiscated from Pon-Man-Iling There was a very large attendance. Taotai
After an absence of about three months in Hongkong, where be went to recruit his health, Doctor Horder re urned the other day almost recovered. He was accompanied by Doctor Bradley who, I understand, will take charge of the English Hospital,
THE NEW CHURCH.
en
by the Rev. Mr. C. I. Blanchett. Mrs. E. B. Beauchamp acted as organist, Mrs. E. B. Beauchamp also laid the stone. The stone bears the following inscription :-" This stone was laid by Mrs. E. B. Beauchamp. 13th December, 1905." Tea was served at Dr. and Mrs. Horder's residence.
THE LINCHOW AFFAIR.
445
FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS NECESSARY.
Our Cantón correspondent writes on Deo. 14th-I am informed that the investigations ` which were condicted at Linchow will be continned here, owing to the departure from yet to be taken. There are also minor points Linchow of the Sub-prefect, whose evidence has
which bare to be cleared up, and another voyage to Linchow may be necessary. The soond investigation will be made by the American Vice-Consul, who Will witness the execution of. the other criminals The report of the Linchow commission fills 30 foolscap pages and will ba typed before it is sent to the U. S. Government. I understand that the Hongkong Typewriting Bureau has been engaged to do the work, several cop es being necessary.
The following are translations of the three proclamations issued by the Taotai Wèn during his stay in Linchow.
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(I). I, Wen Tsung-Yao, have been specially deputed by H. E. Viceroy Shum to investigate the Linchow Massacre. There need he apprehension; innocent people will not be involve l in the affair. Those people who were arrested have been tried, and it has been proved that they participated in the missiere. They have been sentenced accord. ing to the degree of their gul. None of them have been wrongfully punished. So serious a case seldom occurred. The following: are the
names of criminals who have run away and have not yet been arrested: Shew. Yent-Yeung, Lo-Al-Kee, Lo-Sam-Hing, Tang- Yun-Koo and Tang-Hung-Koo. There men must be arrested and punished. The punish- ment meted out to the guilty who have already been sentenc d does not absolve those who have abacouded; all the gentry, merchants, officials and the people are therefore requestel to report to the authorities should they come tɔ know the whereabouts of these five men, so that tley may be arrested and punished. They should not hide them. I have memorialized the Vicer y to pardon those ignorant men who were present at the massacre but who did not take any part in the riot.
They may return to their villages without fear. The soldiers are request d not to go round the different villages to frighten and blackmail the peaceful inhabitants under the pretence of searching for the escapel oriminals. I command all to take notics of and obey this order,
(IT). The public is hereby informed that the Catholic and Protestant religions exhort prople to be virtuous. Chinese subjects who adopt the Confuciau, Buddhistic, Taoist, Catholic, or Pr. testant creeds are, and remain, Chinese subjects. I. Wen-Tsung-Yao regard all the Chinese subjects who have become Catholics or
Protestants as brothers. Those who have become either Catholics or Protestants must not bully nor look down on those of their countrymen who are not of the same faith Chinese non-Christians should bear no ill- feeling against those who have adopted th Catholic or Protestant religion, but all Chinese subjects should observe the law and love each other; they should strive to be god men and loyal subjects of China. Those who break the laws of China, no matter whether they be Catholics or Protestants,jor members of any other religion, will lo tried and dealt with in the same manner. This aufortunate massacre happened very suddenly and I, Wen Tsung-Yao have been deputed by H. E. the Viceroy to investigate. I have now completed my mission and am about to return
to Canton.
I command all to take notice of this proclamation and trust that no ill-feeling will benceforth exist between yourselves, and that you will live in peace with each other
(III.) This proclamation is issued to inform the public that I, Wen-Tsung-Yao have been depated to investigate the Linchow Massacre. Witnesses on both sides have appeared and their evidence has been taken; by this means we have arrived at the truth and learned how the sad affair occurred. The inquiry is now completed and I, Wen-Tsung-Yao, am now returning to Canton to report to H. E. the Viceroy that I appeared as witnesses, no matter to what creed have done my duty. All those people who have