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ACCELERATED MAILS.
NEW CP.B. ARRANGEMENT.
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We are informed that the local General Agent for the C.P.R. bas received a telegram from the Head Office at Montreal announcing the fact that an accelerated mail service between Hongkong and England has been arranged with the British poștal authorities. Under this new fast service tbe Empress steamers will for the present leave Hongkong at 4 p.m. on Thursdays instead of noon on Wednesdays, as heretofore. The first steamer to leave Hongkong under the new arrangement will be the Empress of India sailing at 4 p.m. on the 30th instant; to be followed by the Empress of Japan on the 27th September and the Empress of China on the 25th October; subsequent sailings to be announced later.
The time in transit between Hongkong and Yokohama is being considerably reduced the ran, including stops at Shanghai, Nagasaki and Kobe, being accomplished in well under seven days. The schedule time from Hongkong to Vancouver is under 18 days; and the whole trip through to England will be accomplished in about 29 days.
病房
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A special fast mail train will be waiting the arrival of the "Empress " at Vancouver, by which mails and passengers will be carried to Quebec, there joining one of the fine new Atlantic Empress stes mers (Empress of Britain and Empress of Ireland, 14,500 tons register), and from there across to Liver pool in something under seven days. The St. Lawrence River route has, it appears, the advantage of considerably lessening the actual ocean voyage, and already the new Atlantic Empresses" have established a name for their Excellent steadiness and general seagoing qualities. On the outward voyage the first steamer to leave Vancouver under the new fast service will be the Empress of China sail- ing thence on the 4th September-passengers and mails for her having left Liverpool by the Empress of Ireland on the 24th Angust. The Empress of China is due at Yokohama on the 16th September and Hongkong on the 23rd September. This sailing will be followed by the Empress of India and Empress of Japan at intervals of 28 days, and subsequent departures will be announced in due course. That is a brief outline of what is intended, and readers will appreciate the importance of this new fast service in view of its providing a transit over the alternative British route of about the same time as that vin Suez,
MISAPPLIED TEA.
¡TOO MUCH PEPPER.
A street coolie's idea of economy, combined with the hasty temperament of a waiter in a restaurant at West Point, resulted in serious injury being done to the former. The coolie entered the restaurant in which the waiter was
employed and ordered a meal. Having appeased his appetite he called the waiter and asked the amount of his debt. Ten cents and five cash,"
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said the waiter. The coolie wished to know the reason why five cash more than the ordinary charge was imposed, and the waiter told him it was on account of the quantity of pepper and mustard the diner used. The coolie refused to pay the five cash extra, and the result was a quarrel. In the subsequent happenings the waiter is alleged to poured a pot of boiling tea down the coolie's back, causing such painful injury that it was found necessary to remove the victim to hospital immediately. The waiter was arrested, and if sufficient evidence is forthcoming will be charged later.
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The Rev. Dr. Timothy Richard, according to the Sinwenpao has been invited by the Waiwapo at Peking to consult about the drawing up of a special "Religious Treaty' for the better future governance of matters between converts and non-converts in the Empire. It is stated that Dr. Richard has intimated to the Waiwapa that they may expect to see him in Peking at the end of this month.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
FRUITS OF THE COMMISSION,
CHARGES OF CORRUPTION,
As a result of the inquiries of the Royal Commission. Francis Ward, Sanitary inspector. was charged before Mr. Haseland on Ang 16th with accepting bribes in the following sums: On August 5th, 1903, $15: December 7th, 1904, 830; and April 19th, 1905, 810, with a view to influence his conduct as a public servant, and contrary to the rules of honesty and integrity, He was farther charged with unlawfully, and in order to obstruct the due course of justior endeavouring to dissuade one, Chan Pai, from giving evidence before the Royal Com mission.
Mr. F. B. L. Bowley, Crown solloilor, prosecuted. and the defendant, who Was unrepresented, pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Bowley applied for a remand, and the defendant asked to be admitted to bail.
Mr. Bowley asked that the sum fixed be as substantial as possible, as the charges were very
serious.
His Worship remanded the case until the 22nd instant, and fired bail in the sum of $1,000
POLITICS OR IMPOLITENESS?
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It is on dit that His Excellency the Governor was unable to find a seat in the 7.45 Peak tram on the 15th August; and that no one thought| of offering to resign in favour of the King's representative. We have on a previous occasion demurred in the matter of the frequent and foolish allegations of snobbery launched at the Peak people and this incident appears to our opinion that there is no more level. Rather it would appear that the modern tuft-hunting on the High than on the Low
spirit of republicanism, revolution, even anarchy, has permeated this erstwhile loyal Colony. There is a well authenticated report to the effect that one passenger to the Peak was wearing a red tie, which is significant. We may therefore assume that the occupants of that crowded tram were conscientions upholders of the rights of the people. It is merely aufortunate that it should
have seemed rude.
CONFERENCE OF HONGKONG COTTON DEALERS.
ALL OPERATIONS SUSPENDED FOR ONE
MON TH
In view of the terrible depression DOW prevailing in the Indian cotton yarn trade, and the accumulation of heavy stocks in Hongkong and Shanghai, a meeting of the Chinese dealers in cotton yarn and the direct importers of cotton yarn from India was held on the evening of the 16th inst. at the office of Messrs. E. D. Sassoon & Company to concert such measures as would avert a panic that is immineut in view of the steady rise in Indian rupee exchange and constant drop in the price of American cotton. The local Chinese dealers alleged that they are unable to move their stocks purchased some three or four months ago at a price far higher than those now ruling, and that the buyers from the consuming centres are holding back in the hope of seeing a still further drop in the price. It was unanimously resolved after a long and careful discussion at the meeting that the local Chinese dealers will cease making any new purchases of cotton yarn for one month, commencing from the 17th fast., the direct importers from India having promised them their cordial support by agreeing not to sell any new goods for one month. It is believed that this step will stop the prices going down any further, and enable the Chinese dealers to get quit of their large boldings, or at least reducing their stocks to some extent. The estimated stock of sold and unsold goods in Hongkong is about 150,000 bales in Hongkong, and as many more at Shanghai, and the outlook is said to be extremely gloomy. Already several dealers have failed, and a large stock of English and Indian yarn sold to them at a very high price but rot cleared is thrown on the market, the loss in the price ranging from; $15 to $20 per bale.
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[August 20, 1906,
WARNING TO HONGKONG CARRIERS.
PROVISIONS OF AN OLD ORDINANCE
TO BE REINFORCED.
Recently the authorities décided that certain improvements should be made in the Hongkong goods waggons, as we might call the tracks which convey merchandise from one end of the city to the other. Now the police, with com mendible energy, are enforcing a provision of Ordinauge 3 of 1899 which requires that such trucks, between sunset and sunrise, shall carry two bright lights, one attached to either sida. The lights must be made fast to the vehicle, o'herwise the owner in liable to be prosecuted. When truck owners in. the western district appeared at No. 7 Police Station to take ont fresh licences, Inspector Collett, with whom the idea of re-inforcing the provision mentioned originated, explained what would be r quired of them in future, and warned them what would happen if they failed to comply with the Ordinance. · This was done in order to lessen the possibility of accidents ocenrring in view of the extra tram service which is to be run to West Point. The first prosecutions took place at the Magistracy yes. track owners $5 apiece, and we unders and terday, when Mr. F. A. H zeland fined three
there are several cases pending.
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their duty in enforcing this Ordinance, The West Pont police are only doing but if it be true, as is stated, that truck owners in other districts have not received a warning such as that issued by Inspector Coll,tt, then it is obviously unfair that if they appear in the West Point district after sunset, they should provision which has not been made known to be prosecuted for failing to comply with a them. Other district inspectors, even if they do not intend to enforce the provision of the Ordinance, should be instructed to inform carriers in their districts how matters «tand in the West. Thus needless prosecutions and considerable trouble would be averted.
ALLEGED TRIPLE MURDER.
MUTINY ON A JUNK
A few facts of what promises to be a s ́artling story when the police tuink fit to reveal it were gathered by our Police Court reprewutative on Aug. 17. It appears that on the morning of the 2nd instant the crew of a junk, lying at anchor in Deep Bay, without any warning burst into the cabin and murdered the master, his wife and son. They also thought they had killed a nephew of the master, whom they throw overboard. The deed, however, was not pro. perly done. The water appears to have revived the young man, who after swimming for six hours was picked up by a passing jack and brought to Kowloon, where he immediately reported the matter, and further stated that the mutineers had kidnapped his cousin, a girl aged 16 years. It was tue 4th instant when this story was made known to Inspector Langley, and immediately detectives were despatched to pick up the trail of the pirates. It has been a difficult, almost hopeless, task, but it would appear that perseverance has been rewarded. We understand that five men have been arrested on a junk near Macao, but whether they have been identified is not yet stated.
The Report and Accounts of The Astor House Hotel Co., Ltd. [Shanghai), should make pleasant reading to shareholders. A crefully, prepared table shows that during the last five years $168,536.00 has been written off as deprecia- tion and this is exclusive of a further sum of over $50,600 for upkeep which has been treated in a similar manner. Ranked amongst the assets is a cash balance of $118,994.94, itself a very healthy sign, and the accounts generally show methodical treatment and safe working. The balance available for distribution is $99,978.19, over $12,000 more than last year, and out of this the Directors propose to pay a dividend of 12 per cent. place $15,000 to reserve and carry forward $8,418.19.
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