August 17, 1908.1
THE CANTON FLOOD FUND BAZAAR.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
August 6th.
The opening of the Bazaar took place yesterday with the usual ceremonies in the presence of distinguished guests and a great concourse of people who had come from the neighbouring ports and towns,
His Excellency Viceroy Chang was unable to attend owing to the day being an official mourn. ing day. Most of the foreign Consuls and the leading foreign esidents attended the ceremony which was presided over by Ex-Governor Tang- Shin-Chenk,
As in Hongkong, high prices were paid for small articles. The Viceroy's wife purchased a small embroidered picture for $1,000, Mr. Lo Yuet Sbeun paid 81,000 for a small square of embroidered characters, and a bottle of lemonade was purchased for $1,000 by a wealthy | Chinaman.
A copy of the first issue of a newspaper 44 years ago, was put up for auction and knocked down to another philanthropist for $400. Mr. Fung Wa Chun, of Hongkong, who was appointed general adviser to the Bazaar Com- nittee, made numerous purchases. The sale was brisk and over $10000 were netted on the opening day. The Bazaar will continue for the next six days and bids fair to be as huge a success as that held in your port.
The proceeds of the first two days amount to $30,000.
The result of yesterday's sale Was over $30,000, which is made up as follows;-
Cash
$ 9,101.40
Credit, about Bubscriptions about...
15,000.00 6,000.00
$30,101.40
Messrs. So Sing Kea and Kong Hung Yan were the biggest purchasers of the day. Mr. So paid $1,000 for a small embroidered picture, $2,000 for a bottle of aerated water of the On Lok Erated Water Factory, $700 for a cup of coffee; $1,500 for a bottle of lemonade of the Canton Aerated Water Factory; 81,000 for a small bowl of macaroni, and $500 for a peep at the Yau Tin Lok theatre; besides the above items he spent various sums from $50 to $200 for other small artioles such as oigarettes, matches, fans, &c. Mr. Kong purchased a portrait of Confucius for $2,000, besides sundry other pur. chases amounting altogether to about $4,000, Many officials patronized the Bazaar yesterday and spent large sums of money. The Kwong Chow Prefect, and the Nam Hoi and Poon Yu Magistrates all made purchases amounting to $1,000 each.
The daily issue of several of the local papers are selling at $10 a copy in the Bazaar. The total proceeds of sale of the first and second days amount to over $50,000.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REFORT.
amounted to $9,978.95 and $7,590.25 respectively, besides the credit sales and donations which reached several thousands dollars for each day.
The most prominent purchasers on the 8th instant were Messrs. Lo Kwan Shek, Li Ching Chan, Chu Chik Po, So Sing Kue and Kong Sew Cheun, all of whom spent over $1,000 each. An embroidered picture describing the misery caused by the flood, made by the scholars of the Ha Kot Girls Schools, was purchased by Mr. Lo Kwan Shek for $1500. Mr. Li Ching Chan paid $500 for four embroidered scrolls. Mr. Chu Chik Po bought a small embroidered picture for $700. Mr. So Sing Kue, who donated over $150,000 towards the Flood Fund, again paid | $700 for a cup of coffee. Mr. Kong Sew Cheun, who appears to appreciate the refreshments in the Bazaar, ordered a bottle of lemonade and a cup of coffee, and paid $200 for each drink.
It is reported that complaints have been made to the Bazaar Committee regarding the seal of the lady vendors who in their eagerness to sell something from their stalls will not let their intending patrons leave before they have nearly emptied their pockets. Some of the buyers have been practically made prisoners and as the same fate awaited them at each stall, many ran away after they were released from the first place they had stopped at, This has been a great annoyance to both Chinese and foreigners who visited the Bazaar. The young ladies have been requested to be more lenient, as the beat is intense, and both buyers and vendors will be fagged out if too much insistance is dis- played.'
The 9th instant was the gala day at the Bazaar. His Excellency Viceroy Chang who was accompanied by Admirals Li Tsun and Chun Ping Chik, the Provincial Treasurer and Judge, the Literary Chancellor, Toatai Li Tze Chean, the Kwong Chan Prefect, and the Nam Hoi and Poon Ya Magistrates, attended the show, together with their quits, and there was also a very large attendence of ladies.
The reception of the Viceroy at the Bazaar was conduoted by over 20 ladies and girls who are the wives and daughters of high officials, gentry and merchants. Mrs. So Pak Kang and Miss Tai, daughter of His Excellency Tai Hang Chi, the present Minister of the Board of Punishment at Peking, went up to receive the Viceroy when he arrived. Miss Tai made a short speech expressing the usual compli- menta of welcome and recalled in & few words the details of the misery caused by the flood. At the finish of the speech the Viceroy bowed and thanked Miss Tai and Mrs. So Pake Kang and the young ladies for the energy they had displayed to ensure the success of the Bazaar Miss Chung, daughter of Mr. Han Lin, then presented the Viceroy with a jade Yu Yee official sceptre used when being received in audience by the Emperor and held before the foe to avoid looking at His Majesty with the naked eyes, valued at over $2,000. The girls then presented bouqu ts to each of the officials, after which the ladies reception committee invited the Viceroy and the officials to take some refreshment.
The proceeds of the sale at the Bazaar on the 7th instant again turned out to be satisfactory. The amount netted was over $12,000. The place was more crowded than on the two previous His Excellency the Viceroy and the officials daye. Although there were not so many big made a tour round the Bazaar and left. The prices paid for articles as on the 6th instant following are the donations given by the Viceroy individual purchases were more numerous. and bis party:-H.E. the Viceroy $2,000, Admiral The highest price paid for a single article Li Tsuo $1,000, Admiral Chan Bing Chik $400 yesterday was for an embroidered flag hearing Provincial Treasurer Woo $600, The Literary the characters "token of remembrance of the Chancellor $300, The Provincial Judge $200, disastrous Flood" hich fetched $1,500, the Taotai Li Tze Chenn $300, The Salt Com purchaser being Mr. Lai Kwai Pui, of Canton.missioner $500, The Kwong Chap Prefoot $500, Hankow Railway fame. The copy of the old and the Nam Hoi and Poon Yu Magistrates $200 Hongkong Chinese newspaper was resold for each. Admiral Li Tsun, besides giving the $500, Mr. Lai being the purchaser. Mr. Wong above donation, also purchased a portrait of King Tong paid $300 for a "look-see at the Confucius for $1,000. Theatre.
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The ladies were the largest purchasers of the The policing of the place is deficient and the day; amongst them were Mrs. Lo Chan Shi, crowds moving in masses in all directions mother of Lo Kwan Shek, who paid $2,000 for renders movement difficult. A prominent an embroidered silk flag presented by the Kwan European resident's wife was badly pushed San Girls Fobool, $1,000 for a piece of silk about and came back with bruises on her arms, embroidery and $300 for a cup of coffee. Viceroy through the excessive zeal of the female vendors Chang's portrait was purchased by Mrs. Lai who were disputing her patronage. The Low Shi for $300, and quite a number of ladies Bazaar Committee have decided to hold sales on paid from $50 to $200 for a glass of refresh Sunday and also in the evening from 7 to 9 p.m.ments. It being Sunday, many Shameen commencing from the 9th to the 12th instant presidents patronised the Bassan and a cinematograph performance will be added to the existing attractions.
The sales at the Bazaar are still very brisk. The cash proceeds on the 8th and 9th instant
The cash sales at the Basaar on the 10th instant amounted $10,173.15 cents which exceeds the cash sales of any previous day. The num. ber of visitors was considerably larger on that
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day than on the preceding days. I believe this is due to the gentle hint given by the committee of the Bassar the other day to the stall-holders.
There were not many fancy prices paid for articles. Mr. Chor Kuen Yeuk bought an embroidered picture for $1,000 and he also paid the same amount to quench his thirst at the On Lok Aerated water stall. Mr. Chu Show Yeak purchased a piece of embroidered silk for $400. There were numerous purchases ranging from $5 to $200. A wealthy Cantonese gentle- a house to the Bazaar. It is reported that the man presented half the proceeds of the sale of
building is worth several thousands of dollars. On the whole it appears that ærated water and coffee stalls have had the most success.
It appears that Taotai Wen Tsung Yao also
day. Some of the newspapers criticise his accompanied the Viceroy to the Bazaar the other
meanness. They say that he only went in the Bazaar for a few minutes and purchased a bottle of lemonade for $5, and left immediately. Being a native of Kwang Tang, and enjoying the reputation of being well provided with fands, it was expected that he would have been amongst the most generous,
The result of the cash sales at the Bazaar on the 11th instant was better than on the previous day, the proceeds being $12,518.50. Owing to the great success of the Bazaar and the good results of the last two days a circular was issued on that day by the Committee to continue the Bazaar for another day and they were justified in doing so as the cash netted-on the 12th was the best out of the eight days' sale: It reached the handsome sum of $15,258.90.
The Bazaar was again very crowded on the 11th instant and several generous buyers re-appeared on the scene. Mr. 8o Sing Kue having patronized all the stalls over and over again was at a loss as to what he could purchase when a smart girl of the Kwan Wai School's stall went up to him and offered to sell the sign- board of her stall. Mr. So took it, paid $1,000, and made for the next stall. Mr. Kong Hung Yan (Han Lin) wrote three pairs of seroils at the Bazaar which were immediately purobas ed by Messrs. Chor Foon Youk, Li Chew Fan and Pang How Fa who paid $400, $800 and $200 respectively. Mr. Ho Man Leong purchased a Bible from one of the stalls for $100. Viceroy Chang's portrait was again pat up for sale and fetched $600, Mr. Lo Kwan Shek being the purchaser. Mr. Luk Hoo Chau, son of a Singapore millionaire, paid $2,500 for a bottle of soda water, and Mrs. Wong King Tong paid 8500 for a bottle of lemonade at the On Lok aerated water stall. The Viceroy presented a tablet to the latter stall for the success they have achieved at the Bazaar.
A curious incident occurred on that day. In the morning two of the stallholders of the Basaar passed the Tsa Heung Sat tea shop at Pak Hing Bridge. The proprietor of the shop shouted out to them, "Come in our shop and sell something for us before going to the Bazar," and wound up by uttering a lot of filthy language concering them. A man named Poon Pai Shaung alias Fat Poon who was taking tea at the tea shop also joined in and used abusive language to the young ladies. Four Bazaar detectives happened to pass the place at the same time and reported the disgraceful matter to the Committee who immediately issued oir- culars exhorting the public to boycott the ton shop. Poon Pat Sheung will have occasion to regret his behaviour as the people are greatly incensed against him and the whole Canton press is writing uncomplimentary articles about him.
12th instant. Mr. Chan Yuk Sang purchased There were many prominent buyers on the
an embroidered ploture of the flood misery from the Hakot Stall for 81,800. A tablet which Chew Chun Hang was bought by Mr. Mak Sew was presented to the Kwan Wai Stall by Mr. Pung for $1,000. Mr. Luk Hon Chaupaid $1,000 for a small piece of silk embroidery. Mr. So Sing Kue, who took a fancy to a scroll bearing the characters for "on behalf of the dia- his appreciation di Confucius' portrait which was tressed" paid $1000 to the stall and,, to show hang up in another stall, he donated $1,000. Mr. Wong King Hat purchased. *= dra flag for $700. Mr. Kong Hung Yon wrote several pairs of sorolls. The bighest price paid for Mr. Li Chow Fan being the purodants