August 5, 1907.]
CANTON.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
July 30th.
THE YUET HAY BAILWAY.
The first section (about 12 miles long) of the main line to Hankow was opened to traffic about a fortnight ago. It is now about two years since the line was redeemed from the American Development Company and it has taken all that time to get 12 miles of rails laid down The terminus at Canton is situated on
the Wongsha reclamation, where there is as yet no station at all. The line is fairly well laid and there are three intermediate stations between Wongsha and Kong-Chuen, the present terminus of the line to the north. Leaving Wongsha, the line follows the river for a mile or two and then crosses low lands mostly rice fields with a few billcoks dotted here and there, with the White Cloud range to the north-east and the Kum-Shan mountain to the north. There are a few small bridges spanning the creeks and two important bridges over the river near Kong Chuen. The water is beautifully clear here, and bathers will no doubt ere long avail themselves of the facilities offered by the railway to indulge in picnics in that direction." The temporary cars are airy and commodious and a good many natives are already patronising the line. The interiors are very neat. The first class seats are of plain varnished wood of bright colour with matting cushion seats much better adapted to the olimate than the upholstery one B0E8 on European lines. Little circular tables placed near the windows are quite a useful innovation. Work is proceeding and ere long we may be able to go in a few hours to the high moun- tains to the north. All stations along the route are made of common wood, little heds erected on piles. The train is arranged as follows:- First engine followed by the luggage car, then 1st and 2nd class cars divided into two compartements and three 3rd class cars. Portion of the 3rd class car has separate com- partments for women, which, I believe, is a measure wisely adopted. There is no tara. table either at Wongsha or Kong-Chuen and the engine has to go backward on the return voyage. At present there is only one single train running; leaving Wongsha at 7 p.m. and Kong Chuen at 8.30 a.m. The fares from Wong. sha to Kong-Chuen are 1st class 5 cents, 2ud class 25 cents, and 3rd class 15 cents.
CHINESE DILATORIN ESS.
The 8.*. Chan Hing owned by Chinese mer- chants residing in Hongkong is still detained I understand that about three months Bgo the case was settled by the I. M. Customs who sug. ested the imposition of a fine, but the Chi- nese authorities have not seen their way to re- lease the vessel which has now been defained
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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having discovered this, have now di ected that the full address of the licenses must be given and the certificate chopped by a well-known guarantor or a "Ti Pao.
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
July 27th.
AN INQUIRY. The Bazaar in aid of St. Anthony's Church promises to be a successful event. Apropos this subject of aiding Churcher, I shall be voicing the sentiments of a good many people by asking what has become of the money subscribed for the reconstruction of the Church of Saint Paul? Money was raised for this purpose by public subscription here in Maoso and elsewhere, but no public statement has been made on the subject by those in charge of the movement, and in justio to the subscribers, some authoritative statement should be issued showing what amount has been subscribed, where the money is deposited, and whether there is any early prospect of the reconstruction of the Church being commenced.
THE CITY'S GAMBLING SHOPS.
We are apparently destined soon to see increased facilities given to gamblers. The new monopolists have Do P near the steamship wharves two flowerboats on which fan-tan is played, and I hear also that saloons are likely to be opened shortly at the ella Vista and the Moutauha Russia. It is now possible to play the game with three cent stakes, whereas the minimum under the old régime was ten cents. The troubles with our domestics are not likely to be lessened with these extended facilities for gambling. We may expect to see next fan-tan tables at the street corners. The whole business is discreditable to the government.
THE AGITATIČN AGAINST THE
INDUSTRIAL TAXES
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Chinese resisted and Mr. Leião finally altered the figure to $150. Mr. Ln-Cau, one of the principal merchants of Macao-retort- ed that the Government might lavy what taxes they liked, but he, as the holder of the principal monopolies, would surrender them all. The interpreter tried to reason with - Lu-Can, saying that he would be losing a great deal of money by taking such a step. "Of what use will the monopolies be to me answered 'Lu-Can, "if the people who now patronise my business leave the Colony in consequence of thin taxation ?" The meeting lasted two hours and only served to demonstrate the public. hostility to the taxation. But the astounding feature of the meeting was that Senhor Leilão himself should be the chosen instrument for announcing this new taxation a few days after the distribu- tion of his official poster, telling the people that they had been misled by malicious persons into believing that the Fazenda was levying new taxation! The tax on Chinese doctors was cancelled. To-day the merchants in a body intend going to the Fazenda to discuss the collection of the business taxes I am informed that, owing to the hostility of the public to this taxation, the Fazenda contemplates its repeal, and proposes in substitution therefor a tax of 2) per cent. on annusi profits! This ia more outrageous than ever, and I hesitate to believe it. The want of administrative ospacity that these taxation proposals disclose is amazing. One wonders why H. E. the Governor, msa of energy and lover of justice that he is, refrains from intervention in this matter.
I hear that a petition has been sent to His Excellency by a well-known barrister asking for an inquiry into the conduct of the Fasend authorities who appear to have been dəmand. ing in many cases payment of taxes when these had already been paid. That three olerks were able recently to quit the Colony with a con- siderable sum of money paid into the Fasenda showed that the business of that department ́is not managed as it ought to be.
JAPAN AND KOREA.
Daily Press telegrams dated Tokyo, July 29th said:
LATER.
During the week the city has bзen placarded with 80 official notice in Portuguese and Chinese, signed by Senhor Carlos de Mello Leia, the Protector of Chines, informing the public that the recent official publication giving an abstract of the law of 18-7 and the complete tables of industrial contributions has erroneously been regarded in some quarters Viscount Hayashi, the Japanese Minister for as the promulgation of new taxes. The notice Foreign Affairs, is returning to Japan. Fays that ill-intentioned individuals bave Continuous reports are being male” of mi represented the matter; the Government disturbances in the provinces but thesa has made no new taxes, the object of the recent disturbances are not considered serious issue of the industrial contribution tables | organised risiogs. Press law regulations for being to enable the people to 8.10 what the preservation of peace are being promulgated. amounts are properly das from them. This seems a strange notice No one should know better than Benhor Leita that the taxation has been very much increased during the past year.
What have Chinese been holding meetings about so frequently at their Hospital if it has not been on this account? And did not the Chinese doctors, for instance, appeal for protection from the Fazenda's demands to Senhor Leitão himself as Protector of Chinese interests? And surely Senhor Leia cannot be without knowledge of the petition which the principal members of the Chinese commnuity forwarded through the manager of the Bino Naci nal Ultramarino to H. E. the Governor The Bannerman Agriculture Bureau has run praying for relief from the demands which the short of funds to push ahead sver..l agrical-Fazenda is now making on the community P tural schemes. In order to raise the necessary And yet Senhor Lefão tells us in his notios fands, the Director of the Bureau cuggested the that there is nothing new in the recent official disposal of a certain old fort at the North Gate publication; that matters have been misre called the Fung Kong Fort. But upon making presented and the people alarmed by ill. inquiries it was discovered that the fort had been intentioned individuals! 'Tis strang, 'tis secretly sold by an official to a merchant some passing strange! years ago. The matter has been repo ted to the Tartar General who will investigate.
for nearly four mouths, With Chinese dila- toriness the vessel will probably go mouldy and by the time the vessel is restored to traffic will have become an antiquated type and a curiosity, When the 1. M. Customs will be entirely controlled by the Chinese, things of this kind will be of daily occurrence and the Cines will have to give up navigation under their own flag.
A FORT CLANDESTINELY BOLD.
ODD Results of OPIUM LAW. The local authorities have enforced the new opium smoking law and opium smokers are now compelled to take out a lio-nos if they desire to confinue smoking. Many habitual smokers liave availed themselves of the opportunity to make money by taking advantage of the new regula tions. Some of them have applied for half a dozen licences and are selling them to wealthier classes and ex-officials at a high premium, who do not desire to give out their names; and others who are non-smokers are substituting their moes on a monthly salary! The officials
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July 29th.
Viscount Hayashi, in a speech made prior to leaving Soul said that matters had arrived at such a pass in Korea as to make it necessary that a new treaty should be drawn up. It was not surprising that foreigners thought the onvention would have made the Resident. General an uncrowned king of Koren, as all the Powers fully expected that Japan would annex the country. The Minister believed the treaty would be perfectly acceptable to the whole world, and hoped that affairs henceforth would improv, and that the world would recognise the sim succes: arising out of Japan's policy in Kores se had been accomplished through the policy adopted by England in Egypt.
A telegrams to the Daily Press dated Toky › July 31st, said :-
Marquis Ito entertained the journalist at Ssoul and in the coarse of his remarks said that
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Japan had no intention of annexing Kores, but the establishment of Japan's influence in that country was required as a means of sit protection. Korss should become stronger and If any further proof were needed of the in-altimately assums constitutional_government sincerity of Senhor Leitão's Notification, it | The flags of Japan and Korea should become is afforded by whit took place at a meeting of defenders of the Japan Sea. the Chinese community convened by Seahor A Daily Press telegram dated Tokyo, Augus Leitão himself two days after the publication of 2ad said: the Notification. The meeting was held on Saturday at the Chinese Hospital, and was attended by more than 2,000 persons. Mr. Lai1ão presided over the meeting, and Mr. Assumped acted as interproter. The meeting was told that the Fazendi would collect six pir ont. from every person whose annual income exceeds one hundred dollars. The announce ment fell on the meeting like a bomb. The
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The disbandment of the Korean Army was attended with fighting sad dramatic scenes o'n Thursday. The Guards Battalion were marched to the drill ground, where the disbandmant edict was read out. Then the shoulder stra ́s were torn of the men and the officers were deprived of their sabres. Ons battalion commander committed suicide using his orderly's rifts. The not ingɔnsed the two