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Rain fell in Peking at the end of June, and this being regarded as an answer to the prayers of the throne Prince Li, Prinos Chun and other Princes and Dukes are ordered by Imperial Decree to burn incense at various temples as so expression of ibanks and to pray for more.
The Peking Government has wired to the Viceroy of Sechuen and also to the Imperial Resident of Thibet instructing both of them to raise funds for the opening of the trade marts of Thibet and for the construction of the Szechuen-Thibet Railway.
Mr. M. H. Hasanoff, partner and manager in the firm of Ommid & Co., tes merchants, Shanghai, committed suicide last week by shoot. ing himself through the head with a revolver. Deceased had been ailing for some time and was being medically attended. He left a let- ter saying that he was tired of his life and intended to do away with himself.
The number of Japanese flocking into Manchuria inoreases each month. Last March
24,037 names were registered of whom 22,684 were men and 1,353 women. These figures show a great increase on the number which arrived during February. During March 5,921 Japanese left Manchuria, which is 192 less than in February. Of the arrivals in March 696 were classified as merchants and 698 as workmen; the occupations of the remainder
were not recorded.
It is reported from Taichon, one of the pre- fectural cities of Chekiang, that a soldier has severely wounded a student of the Naushien school there, and that, as a protest, the whole school have gone on "strike." The students held a meeting, and it was decided to demand the punishment of the soldier. Efforts, says the Hankow Mail, are being made by the faculty of the school and the authorities to persuade the students to resume work, but, so far, without avail.
Mr. J. Byrne-Hackett, late Secretary of the Country Club, Shanghai, left for home aboard
the 8.8.
"America Maru." It was recently announced, says the Mercury, that through mickness Mr. Byrne-Hackett had temporarily resigned from his position, and while it was hoped that he would very shortly be able to resume his duties his health was found to be such as to necessitate his leaving Shanghai. There was a very large crowd of friends at the jetty to see him off, and many were the hearty wishes for a speedy recovery.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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The Grand Council proposes to make Kalgan an open port after the completion of the con- struction of the Peking-Kalgan Railway. The present superintendent will probably be replaced by a Trotat,
Vice Admiral Sir Hedworth Lambton, Com- mander-in-Chief of the British China Squadron, arrived at Chemulpo on Sunday, the 21st June, on board the despatch vessel Alacrity. The following day the Admiral proceeded to Seoul and in company with Mr. Cookbaro, British Consul-General, paid a visit to H. E. the Resident-General (Prince Ite) who received them in full uniform. The following day Prince Ito presented the Admiral > His Majesty the Emperor of Korea. Commander Faller, of the Alacrity, Secretary Motton and Flag Lieutensat Mallaeux were alep presented, and noon His Excellency entertained the dis- tinguished visitor at lunch, Twenty-seven covers were laid,
at
figures
A telegraphic summary of Mr. Clementi's analyses of the statistics with regard to opium smoking in China WAS headed by 8 Ceylon paper " A Revelation from Hongkong! A correspondent, signing himself
Pekin," wrote however to say that the are by no means a revelation to people thoroughly conversant with the Chinese and their mode of living I can speak from 10 years' intimate association with the country," he says, "and should certainly not estimate more thau 2 per cent. of the population of China as being opium smokers. In very many districts one never comes accross an opium smoker at all, except in the opium dens, which are few and far between, more especially in the out-of-the way places."
AD
An International Race Club is being formed in Shanghai. Many of the most respectable and influential Chinese residents are according their hearty support, and the native element, which has hitherto had opportunity to participate in local horse racing, is expected to figure largely in the meetings of the new Club. excellent site for the race coure has been secured in the Siccawei district, and the preliminary work on the track is already in hand. The headquarters of the Cla5 will be at the premises formerly known as E-Yuen Gardens, adjoining the Taotai's Yamen on Babbling Well Road. In a communication to the Press, the Secretary observes:-"In view of the fact that at several of the important Far Eastern ports, as Singa. pore, Penang and Batavia, the local native and Chinese sportsmen take an active part in horse racing in conjunction with European residents, there seems to be reason to suppose that there is room in Shanghai for an institution in which foreign and native sportsmen may successfully co-operate in the sport of kings.' Such co- operation is now flourishing in Japan. No gambling of any kind is to be permitted in connection with the meetings of the Club, other than betting on the results of the races, as admitted and conducted by all other Race Clubs." Mr. F. S. Parker, now the Professor of A Nanking telegram to the "N.-C. Daily Chinese at Manchester University, has long News" states that Mr. A. H. Collinson, until been favourably known for his researches into recently Engineer-in-Chief of the Shanghai- the numberless dialects that prevail through Naoking Railway, has been appointed, by out the Empire. He is also known as a skilled Viceroy Taan Fang, Advisory and Consulting translator of the modern language, in which he Engineer of the Liangkiang Provinces. Our is an acknowledged authority. Many of out contemporary remarks that general satisfaction readers will be pleased to learn that he has been will be felt that the eminent.services of Mr. A. recently engaged on a history of the beginn- H. Collinson, the engineer of China's premierings of Chinese history, a field which, though railway, have not been lost to the country, Viceroy Tuan Fang's shrewd selection places a distinguished engineer and an able organ izer at the head of all railway, and, presumably mining enterprises in the three provinces of Kiangsu, Anhui and Kiangsi,
Fifty of Manila's leading Chinese merchants were the hosts of Hon. Mr. Sa-Ya-Toho, retiring Chinese Consul General at Manila, at a dinner given a week ago at the Hotel Metropole. The dinner, sys the Cablenews, was served in the roof garden which was gaily decorated with the Chinese ensign entwined with the Stars and Stripes. An excellent menu was served and during the course of the dinner an orchestra played an excellent programme of music. A few days later a dinner was given in honour of the new Chinese Consul General, who has already entered upon the duties of his office.
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many attempts have been made, still for all useful purposes remains in much the same position as it did two centuries ago. Professor Parker's work, we are pleased to learn, is now in the bands of the publishers, Messrs. Chapman and Hall Ltd., and is shortly expected to appear The proprietors of opium houses in the under the title of "Ancient China Simplified." International Bettlement, says our Shangbai Many of Professor Parker's friends will be in morning contemporary, are evidently bent upon terested in learning whether he has in any way making hay while the sun shines." It is altered his views on these much discussed topics, reported that sincs the closing of twenty-five and brought his views into closer concordance per cent of the houses on the 1st instant, the with those generally accepted by the rest of owners of the remaining houses have increased the world. China is, it is true, a peculiar the price of opium. The reason is obvious-country, but bistory is founded rather on con. while the number of holders of licences to retail sonances than dissidences, and we have no right opium is decreased by twenty-five per cent, the to assume that China is an exception to the demand for opiam and the number of on- universal rule. The History is made to begin sumers remains approximately the same, and with the expulsion of the Cheds from their old licencees, with a maximum of eighteen months capital near Si-an Fu, so that the work is and minimum of six months in which to carry mainly confined to periods within times usually on their present occupation, naturally wish to accepted as hist risal. We hope to be soon in make the most of their opportunity.
a position to comment on the work at length.
(July 11, 1908.
The recapture of Hokow by the Imperialists from the rebels in Yunnan has, safe the Straits Times," been followed by a revival of trade, which had been at a standstill from the force. Goods intended for the province; re- moment the revolutionists held that city in mained at Haiphong, and Chinese, carriers refused to run risks. The Railway Company has taken advantage of this change for the better for opening another station on the fron tier. Traders at Haiphong lost no time in forwarding their stocks into Yunnan.
Times" Jane 24, that the East Asiatic Co. Ltd., We learn offcially, says the "Bangkok have sold the whole of their fleet of steamers coast, and between Bangkok and Chantaboon to trading between Singapore and Bangkok and
Navigation Co., Ltd. This Company has been a new Siamese Company called the Siam Steam
formed to take over this business and the capital of Tos. 2,000,000, has been fully subscribed, East Asiatic Company themselves. A number a large blook of shares being taken by the
of prominent Siamese are interested and hold shares in the new company. The fleet which passes under the management of the new owners on July 1st, includes the Mahidol, Yugala, Asdang, Boribat, Redang and Chak rabhongs, and a new vessel designed specially for the Bangkok Chantaboon run, which is expected to arrive in Bangkok in about three months time. The East Asiatic Co. Ltd, have
been appo nted Managing Agents for the new Company. The Board of Directors consists of ve members three of whom are Europeans and two Siamese.
Prince Ito, the Resident-General at Seoul, is being criticised by Seoul correspondents of the Japanese papers for confirming the Collbran- Bostwick Development Co. in the possession of an important copper-mine concession at Kapsan, North Korea. When the mining law w brought into force recently it appears that several applications were received for this con- cession from Koreans and Japanese, but prior to this Mr. Collbran had produced to the Residency-General a license granted by the Emperor Father (then the Emperor) in Febru ary, 1905, insisting that he had already obtained the Kapsan mining concession. The Korean Government were. however, unaware of the granting of the said license and held that it was by no means a legal right. Such privileges had hitherto been also enjoyed by Japanese and Koreans, and the Resident-General. annulled all of them, bat Mr. Collbran alone made s protest to the Residency.General, through the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. The matter thus became a diplomatic question between Japan and America, and has been pending for the past three years. It has now been settled in Mr. Collbran's favour and one Japanese newspaper complains that the Resident-General has more than once sacrifled mining privileges in order to win the favour of Foreign Powers towards Kores.
Since the Japanese Shipbuilding Encourage- ment Law came into force in March 1996 the steamers built or in course of construction at dock-yards in Japan under the subsidy granted in pursuance with law number 88, with an aggre- gate tonnage of 20,90. Of these 76 steamers, of 167,746 tons, have already been completed at the following dockyarda ; -
Mitau Bishi Dookyard Kawasaki Dockyard Osaka Iron Works Ishikawajima Dockyard
Total ...........
Steamers. Tonnage.
30 106,066
22
36,426
22
22,739
2
2,516
76 167,747
As three of these steamers the "Tsukishima” quently lost, the subsidised steamers at present Hitachi," and "Shiga Maru” wero subse-
The steamers recently launched and in course number 73, with a total tonnage of 159,273, of equipment are as follows:--
Mitsu Bishi Dockyard Kawasaki Dockyard.... Osaka Iron Works...
Steamers. Tonnage.
21,000
1
8,600
3
4,160
77
36,760
Totol The steamers in course of construction under the encouragement certificate number 11, with a total tonnage of 78,240. These steamers are to be launched between August 1908 and April
1911.
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