mber 22, 1906.]
REVIEW.
Historical Geography of the British Colonies. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
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Volume 1 deals only with the Mediterranean and Eastern colonies. India is omitted as not falling within its scope. Accepting the author's arrange ment, which is on the whole very convenient, the reader is bound to be struck with the manner in which he treats the subject. With an excellent survey of the colonies in Europe and in Asia, he is able to deal with each according to its value, while his well-written historiosi sketches and descriptions of the varying features of each place make the book extremely readable and remove it very considerably from the rank of old style scholastic text books. It is compre- hensive and reliable and no one can read it without finding therein food for thought.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT..
There can be little doubt that Europeans living a rational course of life have less to fear on the ground of unhealthiness than they once had; but at the best Hongkong can never be a
health resort.
It should be added that the value of this book is enhanced by a number of good maps.
TROOPS TO CANTON.
NEW VICEROY AGAINST PIRATES.
The well-informed writer of “Notes on Native Affairs" in our Shanghai contemporary has the following reference to the recent viceregal changes :-
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· THE SHANGHAI OIL CO., LD.
The first general meeting of the Shanghai Oil Co., Ld., was held on September 11th, Mr. present Messrs. J. B. Walsh, Hurlemann, A. A. R. Murphine presiding. There were also
B. Roseneld, Char Lai-fong, H. Browett (Legal Adviser) Morits Koppel (General Manager) and proxies, total shares represented being 1,650.
Mr. Koppel having read the notios convening the meeting,
In
There being no questions, the meeting con- eluded.
KIANGPEI CONCESSIONS, LD.
CHINESE OBSTRUCTION.
This is a second edition of a work by C. P. Imoss 0.B., but as it has been revised and
· brought up-to-date by E. E. Stubbs, B.A, (a ríame of some literary distinction at Oxford), it is doubtful how much of the original work remains: The growth and expansion of the British Empire having been such as to make any-but the most recent geographical work out
The Chairman said that the meeting was of date, the necessity for this revised edition is
called in order to comply with the provisions at once spparent, and the author is to be
of the Hongkong Companies' Ordinances. congratulated on having produced a volume
He thought be should put before the which will do much to create a deeper
meeting what had been done since the interest on the part of those at home, in the Just before the commencement of the present formation of the Company. They had pur- empire beyond the seas. While one must agree year, when the gentry and merchants of Canton chased a little over twelve mow of land at with Kipling when be wrote "What do they who were shareholders in the Canton Hankow Jessfield at a very favourable rate. They ex- know of England, who only England know," (Yueh-Han) Railway began an organised pected to have to pay about Tis. 1,000 per mow for it has to be admitted that the study of a produc-resistance against the pretensions of Viceroy this land, but fortunately they were able to get tion:like the one under notice will do much to Tsen Ch'an-hsuen and his subordinates to con it for Tls. 590 per mow. The contract for correct the point of view of those whose outlook trol the Railway without reference to the Board building had been let, the foundation completed does not extend beyond the British Isles and to elected by the shareholders, a report was and the walls were going up, so that it was place those distant portions of our empire in a circulated that His Excellency would be removed expected to complete the building in two and a proper perspective. It is surprising what to another Viceroyalty, preferrably the Min-half months. The machinery had already been notions are held by people at home regarding Che provinces. The prompt circulation of such purchased and was expected to arrive in six the places on the map "marked red," and that a report showed that the gentry and merchants weeks' time together with a competent fitter to being so, one realises what a value should attach of the Kuang provinces had influence enough take charge of it. So far the work had been to this historical geography.
and support to make a successful stand against pushed on as rapidly as possible and everything such a powerful official as Viceroy T'sen who was progressing very favourably indeed. nominally controlled the lives and fortunes of the conclusion the Chairman invited questions from people he ruled in Kwangtung and Kwangsi. As the shareholders. a matter of fact while the members of the mandarin clique in the war between themselves and the gentry and merchants of the Two Kuangs, representing the shareholders of the Kuang. tung portion of the Yueh-Han Railway, were headed by Viceroy Tsen, the Kuangtung share- holders also had a Viceregal leader in HE. Hsu Yingkuei, ex-Viceroy of the Min-Che provinces and at one time also President of the Board of Rites in Peking. While the shareholders accused the mandarin cliqne of arrogance, contempt of the principles of justice We are bound to agree with the author that and right, and acting in all things altra vires, none of the dependencies mentioned is a Colony Viceroy Tser Ch'un-hauen charged his in the true sense of the word, i.e. a place beyond opponents with rebellion against the constituted the geas which has been made a home for the authorities in their organised opposition to his British people, and we are also bound to agree orders relating to the control of the Railway. that Britain has been exceedingly fortunate in The members of the Peking Government becom- obtaining possessions, such as those in the ing bewildered at these charges and counter- Mediterranean and in the Red Seas, which charges, arrived at last at the opinion that the would have been of comparatively little worth best way to settle matters would be to transfer had the whole aspect of affairs not Viceroy Tsên Chun-hamen to Some other been changed by the opening of the Sues province. The Government apparently did Canal. An interesting parallel between the not wish to act hurriedly and it was understood dependencies in Europe and in Asia is pointed in mandarin circles at the return of H E. out by the author. They were all obtained by Tuan Fang from his mision abroad would have conquest or by treaty, not by simple settlement, to be awaited before any decided changes would while those in Asia have a further point in be made amongst the Viceroys. We published common, that in practically every case the lately a dispatch from our Peking correspondent possession of an island near the mainland or of that Viceroy Ting Chen-to of the Yün-Kuei à peninsula has meant sooner or later the provinces had already twice asked leave of the extension of British infinence over the neigh-Throne to be allowed to resign, but that the bouring or opposite coast. **Thus the openpation of A den has led to an extension of our influence not only on the Arabian coast, but also over the Somali coast across the Straits of Babel-Mandel; Hongkong has absorbed & considerable extent of territory on the mainland of China; the possession of Labuan has resulted in a British protectorate over all that part of Borneo which was not already in Dutch bands; the control by great Britain of the Southern part of the Malay peninsula has followed from the existence of the British Colony of the Straits Settlements; and lastly, the leased territory of Weihaiwei includes, in addition to the island of Linking, a strip of mainland, surrounded by a larger area in which Great Britain has been recognised to possess special rights."
Referring particularly to the chapter on Hongkong, which we are in a better position to oriticine, we must admit that the author is axceedingly well-informed, even the discovery of iron, and the Kowloon railway project being éhronicled: He-regardèthe enormous growth of the Chinese population here "as a proof of the confidence felt in British administra- one of the most conservative of Eastern but he seems to be in doubt as to whether Hongkong should be described as healthy or for Europeans. Figures recently Tomight seem to show that the reputation rhich the colony once had is now undeserved.
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request had not been granted. We, however, stated that in all probability a place was now open for the transfer of Viceroy Trên Ch'un hauen, and that if Ting Chên-to still persisted in his wish to leave the Yün-kusi provinces that post would be given to Trên Chun-sued,--a prognostication which has turned out correct. We have a notion, however, that the transference of Viceroy Ting_Chên-to to Foochow is not much to His Excellency's liking, for his application to resign the Yuu-kuei Viceroyalty showed the desire to avoid further dealings with the French. Foochow Dockyard and Arsenal are in the hands of a French Superintendent and a corps of French artisans. The Arsenal being under the control of the Viceroy would bring H. E. Ting Chên-to again into contact with the nationality he is credited with being anxious to avoid. Viceroy Chou Fu's transferrence to Canton will, however be of great advantage not only to the shareholders of the Ynah-Han Railway with whose views he is said to coincide, but it is certain that the piracies that are prevailing in Kuangjung will receive a decided set-back as his Excellency will be sure to be more energetic and earnest in the work of suppressing brigandage and piracies than his predecessor ever was. Moreover we understand that His Excellency with the above in view, intends to take down to Canton with him some 5,000 or so of his foreign-modelled troops.
Au extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Kiangpei Concessions Limited was held at Shanghai on Sept. 11th for the purpose of considering a resolution to oben. the name of the Company. The shareholders were present: Mess
(bd tecutior Pearce (chairman) W. Carter, Chusti Ping Ur, Wong Kai-zur, J. H. Teer of áð Company's Solicitor), J. E. Bingham songre- tary) together with proxies representingará all 2165 shares.
The Secretary having read the notice con- vening the meeting. The Chairman said :-This extraordinary meeting is convened, as the resolu⚫ tion just read informed yon, to alter the name of the Company from the Kiangpei Concessions Limited to that of the Kiangpei Ting Coal and Iron Mining Company Limited. The change of name is merely a matter of form in order to fall in with the wishes of the Chinese Authorities in Szechuan, who have taken objection to the word Concession in the original title of the Company. I might here mention that the word Concession was used in the first instance for the sake of brevity and with no idea whatever of any far-reaching objeet such as it would appear is anticipated by the Chiness. The Chinese officials refusing to grant 19 the necessary permission to work until the change of name has been effected, your directors have therefore no option but to come before you to-day and ask for your sanction to alter the name of the Company in the legal form as is required by the Hongkong Ordinances. With these few words, therefore, I beg to pro- pose in accordance with the resolution now bə- fore the meeting
“That the name of the Company bə changəd to The Kiangpei Ting Coal & Iron Mining Company Limited.”
Mr. W. Carter seconded the resolution, which on being put to the meeting was carried unanimously.
The Chairman informed the shareholders that the confirmatory meeting would be held at the same place and hour on Thursday Septem- ber 27, 1906. He thanked those present for their attendance and the meeting terminated.
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According to A Peking dispatch - the question of abolishing the queue" and the change of costume into the Western has not been touched upon at all during the deliberations of the Royal Commission under the Presidency of Prince Chun. The disonalo of this has therefore been adjourned and will not come up until some im crisis occurs in the future.