December 10, 1906.}
what was done under his regime. In this he is watching most the officials of his own who retain posts under the new Viceroy. It is said that Viceroy Shum took with him a certain number of blank memorials stamped and sealed ready to forward to Peking the necessary impeaching terms should any of his ex-ass cintes take a part in opposition to Lis schemes.
RICE.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
December 8th.
ROBBERIES ON THE SHAMEEN.
At about 6.30 p.m. yesterday a Chinese constable on the Shameen sanght a thief in the act of breaking a window to get into the Com- missioner's house. He will be sent to the Nam Hoi. Another professional to whom is attributed a series of larcenies during the last six months was A considerable quantity of rice consumed by Shameen yesterday afternoon. There was great arrested by the Superintendent of Police on the the people in the Kwangiang Province bas difficulty in arresting the scoundrel owing to hitherto been imported from the Lan Chow, Chinese red-lape. The Superintendent received Nanning and Hing Yuen Prefectures in the information as to the whereabouts of the man Kwangsi Province. During the last three ard got the British Authorities to communicate months very little rain fell in those places and with the Chinese Authorities so as to cause the it was predicted that the winter rice crop would culprit to be arrested, but the Chinese Anthuri- fail. The price of rice in those prefctures ties refused to do so unless full particulars of all gradually rose from 85 to $10 per picul The charges were furnished. This would bave condition of affairs was reported to the Governor naturally entailed a great loss of time and would of Kwangsi who issued a proclamation prohibit-have given the man time to make good his ing the exportation of rice. Fortunately there was plenty of rain last month and the crop was saved, in consequence of which the price of rice
in Kwangsi bas gone down again, But
unfortunately after the above proclamation was issued the price of rice in Kwangtung advanced considerably. Recently Viceroy Chou Fu received information that the danger of famine in Kwangei is over. He has therefore seut a despatch to the Acting Governor to remera the probibition.
December, 6th.
NEW DIRECTOR.
Expectant Prefect Fong Fan ming has been appointed director of the Whampoa Naval College.
KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY
Taotai Kung fum-18an was delegated by Viceroy Shum to attend at the conference at Peking to settle the railway agreement with the British Minister. It is now reported that the agreement has been signed and Tao ai Kung is about to return to Canton. Owing to the increase of international affairs, ou account of various projects, it is said that Viceroy Chou Fu will appoint Kang as secretary in the Foreign Office when he returns to Canton.
YUET-HAN RAILWAY.
the
It is reported that yesterday Taolai Cheang To-chai received the following telegram from Taotai Wen Cho-tsoi, L'irector of Chinese Imperial Telegraphs of Hongkong: (Translation)." Railway Cheang. Sir, Your humble servant (Wen Cho-tsoi) will in future have nothing further to do with (the Yet Han) railway affairs. I will only sit tight and watch future developments, success or failure of the concern. In the event of the failure of the company I only know that I have paid my
money (for shares) to certain charitable institutions and I will demand the
eturn of it from them."
K
Taotai Cheang To-chai has seut a petition to Viceroy Chou Fn praying that permission may be granted him to resign the presidentship of the Yuet-Han Railway Company so that he may return to his native village to bury his mother. His Excellency replie l follows:-"I have carefully noted the contents of your petition. You (Trotai Cheang) have been very energetic regarding railway affairs and accepted the pres dentship of the Yuet-Ban Railway Company. I recognize your valuable and energetic services. You now desire to resign the position and return home to bury your mother; according to precedent I should sanction your request, but at present there is so much difference of opinion amongst the people of the Company, the new president is not yet elected, the monies collected from the first installment have not been accounted for, and investigation has not been made as to where those monies have been invested. You must therefore assume the responsibility; consequent ly your petition requesting me to permit you to resign from the presidentship cannot be con- sidered at present, and I will only consider it and release you from the presidentship when s new man is elected and is willing to accept the position."
FATSHAN BAILWAY.
A landslip took place at Siu Tong while the labourers were at work digging earth on a hill- side. Five me who received serious injuries ware removed to a foreign hospital.
escape. The Superintendent thought of a shrewd plan to secure bim. He sent a Chinaman to lure the thief into the Shameen by promising him an easy job with big wages or something of that sort The rascal took the bait and came to the Shameen where to his surprise and disgust he was pounced upon a d arrested.
VICEROY CHOU FU.
The Shameen guari was called out at 9.30 a.m. to-day, Trumpets and d-ums wor› heard playing a lively air. Viceroy Chon Fu was paying a call ou Mr. Meyers, Commissioner o Customs.
FOREIGN POST OFFICE.
established on the shameen to-day. Collectors An Imperial Japause Post Office has been of postage stamps will be able to buy Japanese postage stamps here in future.
EX EDITOS RELEASED FROM PRISON,
I
On the 4th instant Yeong Wai Pan. Li Shew Ynen, Leong Hing Kwai and others petitioned Viceroy Chow Fa praying that Chan Ting Heung, ex-editor of the Ah Chow Fo, who was imprisoned by Viceroy Shum for publishing libelous article against the ex-Viceroy, be released and the press which was confiscated be refarned to the proprietors. On the 6th His Excellency instructed the Kwong Chow Prefect after investigation, to order the Nam Hoi Magistrate to release Chan and to deliver the press back to the owners.
VICEREGAL MATTERS.
Victroy Chou Fu has appointed Taotai Shum Tung, to the lowing positions viz:-Deputy of the Yust-Han Railway affairs, Director of the Military Training Department, Secretary of the Kwangtung and Kwongsi Military Yamen, Secretary to the Foreign Office. Duputy of the ducation Department, Deputy of the Police Department, and Chief Adviser to the Viceroy. All business will go through his hands.
AN OFFICAL DENOUNCED.
MACAO.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT).
397
December 6th.
BERI BERI AMONG PRISONERS.
A few days ago four prisoners were handed
and when removed were suffering so badly by our Government to the Chinese authorities. These men were confined in the Monte Fort
from beri-beri that they could hardly stand and were taken away in rickshas. It would be well for our Colonial Surgaon. Dr. Aranjo, to give closer attention to the gaol and other prisons in Macao with a view to improving the Sanitary state of these places. Although prisoners, these men should be allowed more exercise an 1 fresh air.
Since Vic ray Shum's departure all the shady characters that had vanished for fear of retribution are intriguing to get into power Hougkong fame, has come out of hiding and again. Li-Chee, alias Li Hing chun of has managed to secure an appointment in the deputy for that bureau, but is not likely to hold Viceroy's foreign department. He is again his post for long as it is reported that a certain prominent merchant here has sent a telegram to His Excellency Tong Shao Yee of the Wai- 10 denounce bin and requesting that wu-pa Viceroy Chou Fu be instructed to investigate his conduct and to puoish tim. Viceroy will not allow men of this type to crawl into his yameo.
FIRES.
I trust the
A destructive fire occurred at Chan Chuen, near Canton, on the 4th instant. Fifty houses were demolished. The fire occurred in the day; it originated from the Yuen Hing shop. It is said that many of the houses were insured with foreign insurance companies. At about 2 s.m. yesterday a fire broke out in the fire pump station of the Ta Tung Kai. It is said that the watchman whose duty is to protect the street accidentally set fire to the shed on the roof of the watchtower while smoking his pipe and the curious scene of the pump-station requiring aid from outside was witnessed. The fire was pat. out by hand-pumps which responded to the alarm. The people in Canton are greatly dissatisfied with the working of these engine pump-stations as there is always something wrong with them.
TAXES.
Senhor Gentil de Menezes 'persists in his taxation proposals. Several meetings were held in the Chinese hospital to discuss the matter, and things look serious.
SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS,
Macão is now fall of officers on special commissions. These officers are paid handsomely but we see no visible signs of any good done to the city by them. There is at present a party of them making surveys of the city, but
lupa
tir mission will result in some good to poor Macao. The citizens have witnessed much of this apparent energy, with no practical result.
EARLY MORNING TRAVELLERS.
departure from Macao of the steamer Honom. Complaints are rife of the alleged too early Every morning many Chinese passengers from the neighbouring villages who come down in The result of passage boats miss the steamer, this is that they go to Hongkong by the later boat. It used to wait till 8 a m. once.
NEW HARBOUR MASTER.
arrived here some days ago. Our new harbour master, Captain Diogo Senhor
de en
Alves Branco will be leaving next month.
HONGKONG STEAM LAUNDRY CO., L.D.
W.
The fourth ordinary meeting of shareholders in the Hongkong Steam Laundry Co., La. was hell at Sir Paul Chater's office on December Stb. Mr. H. Potts presided, other shareholders present being Sir Paul Chater, Hon. Mr. E. Osborne, Messrs. J. Orange, P. C. Potts, R. A. Harding and E. J. Chapman (scretary).
The notice convening the meeting having been read by the SECRETARY,
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, the report and accounts have been in your hands for some days, so we will, with your permission, take them as read.
e regret that you should have had to pay extra postage on sime, owing to the delay in presenting the report is owing to the stupidity of the clerk who posted them. The
•
fact that we had no funds available with which to pay the proposed dividend without borrowing from t e bank, and after all we are only some twenty days later than last year. We are sorry at not be ug able to show a better result, but
first three months of the year we were work- this is accounted for by the fact that for the ing at a loss, owing to the extra expense incurred while transferring the business to Yaumati. Also the loss of custom during that period in consequence of the quality of the work falling below our usual standard by the disorganization of the staff, owing to the majority of the old hands refusing to move. This necessitated the training of new hands. The reduction of the fleet in these waters was also an unexpected blow to our earning powers. We consider that we have a valuable asset in the land and building, which are close to where the Kowloon-Canton railway crosses the high road to Kowloon City. The company has gone through many vicissitudes and trials, but we think we may consider that we hare overcome the greater bulk of them. We have unfortu- nately to depend on the native workman, whose natural tendency is to fold up without remark a damaged or soiled article, which brings discredit on the laundry. We are pleased to say that our earnings up to the present compare favourably with the same period of last year.
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