August 31, 1908.]
inclosing for his consideration a copy of the new laws. The Viceroy, after perusing the laws carefully, has memorialized the Throne to the effect that Chinese laws are too stringent and foreign laws too lenient. The Government should strive after the happy medium, He says moreover that there are a lot of new terms (Japanese) in the new laws sent to him by the above Department and that these are incom- prehensible to every one, including the Chinese professors of the local Law College who studied in Japan. The officials being unable to grasp the meaning of the laws how, asks the Viceroy, would the people interpret them? Now-a-days when so many international affairs arise, these incomprehensible new laws might lead to com- plications involving the State in serious trouble. He advised that laws should be drawn up in Chinese style and be entreats the Board to eliminate foreign terms and words.
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August 27th.
OFFICIAL MATTERS,
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The 'local Authorities have received cablegram from the Board of Education at Peking requesting them to inform the public that all schools and colleges whether Govern- ment or private institutions must be under the control of the Literary Chancellor of the Province.
Viceroy Chang has received telegraphic instructions from the Central Government not to increase the export duty on native tea. The telegram states that this will encourage and stimulate the cultivation.
ELECTROCUTED.
About 7.30 p.m. on the 26th instant one of the employees of a fan-tan house situated in Wai Oi Street while adjusting an electric lamp suspended over the centre of the fan-tan table happened to lay his hands on the wire where the rubber covering had been worn off. He was unable to release his hand and was burnt to death. A foki of the house who tried to release the body received such a terrible shock that he immediately dropped down senseless and was taken to the hospital.
KWANGSI REBELLION,
The merchants and the people of Kong How petitioned Viceroy Chang for compensation from the Government for damage done and loss sustained by them throu.h the rebellion of the soldiers. The Viceroy replied as follows:-
"On receipt of telegraphic information that the soldiers at Kong How had rebelled I immediately despatched Admiral Li Tsun with troops with orders to exterminate all the rebels. According to telegraphic reports sent to me from time to time by the various civil and military <fficials it appears that the rebels have been almost exterminated. The troops have captured and beheaded over 100 soldiers who had rebelled and only about 20 are at large. These have decamped to Cheong Chow and Yew Shan. I have wired instructions to the military officials to give pursuit and punish them.
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According to the official report in hand the number of soldiers who rebelled on this occasion was a little over 100 and the shops and residences plundered and robbed by them numbered less than 30. I am surprised to find in your petition the statement that over 300 soldiers rebelled and that they pillaged over 1,000 shops and families, I am afraid you have purposely said this to make matters look more serious than they really are, How ever, I will give instinctions to the Provincial Judge of Kwangsi to investigate thoroughly into the matter. In the meantime I will order the date for payment of compen sation to be postponed to the 24th day of the 8th moon."
28th August, 1908. PIRACY AND BRIGINDAGE,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
total number of soldiers stationed at each Treaty Port, the names of all the military officials in command of the troops; whether they are capable men; what knowledge they possess of the methods of osptuffing pirates; and whether these officials are well versed in International Law or not.
The telegram also requests the Viceroy to furnish a list of the number of gunboats that are now stationed on the rivers and the sea coast where commerce is carried on, the types of the different kinds of vessels, their cames, and the names of the officers in command of them, &o. The Wai-wu-pu instructs the Viceroy to make minute and thorough investigations into the above matters and requests him to forward a detailed report as soon as possible.
A FRAUDULENT PRACTICE DETECTED,
Mr. D. H. Cameron, the energetic and popular manager of the Standard Oil Company of New York here, recently discovered that some unprincipled Chinese were purchasing empty kerosine oil tins of the "Star" and "Eagle' brands of the company, refilling them with inferior oils, and selling it as genuine oil of the Company. He immediately requested the American Consul to report the matter to the Viceroy, and asked that steps be taken to put a stop to the fraud.
It is reported that His Excellency has in- structed the Nam Hoi and Poon Ya Magistrates to make rigid and minute inquiries into the matter, and to arrest and severely punish the offenders, and also to issue a proclamation pro- hibiting these fraudulent practices.
CHINESE REFORM ARMY.
The first batch of soldiers of the reformed army here have completed their course of three years military training, and will be permitted to return to their native districts in the course of next week to take up whatever employment, trade or industry that suits them, to living. The Viceroy has given instructions to the Commander-in-chief to send them home under the charge of officers. Yesterday the Chief Military Instructor visited the barracks and distributed passports to the soldiers.
THE CANTON-HANKOW RAILWAY.
earn a
Yesterday a special meeting was held at the Company's head Office for the purpose of electing six new directors and four auditors by ballot. There was a very large attendance of officials and shareholders, The Provincial Treasurer and Judge, several Taotais, the Kwong Chau Commodore, and the Nam Hoi and Poon Ya Magistrates were also present at the meeting,
The following persons were elected Directors of the Company: Messrs. Kwong Shan Man representing 166,916 shares; Fang Lai Po, 165,318 shares, Lau Yu Fong, 151,666 shares Mak Chung Fu, 120,130 shares; Lai Lok Ting 116,811 shares; and Lam Hok Kom (Compra dore of the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, Canton) 115,042 shares.
Auditors elected:-Messrs Wong Tsan Tong, Kwok Hon Shuo, Chun Min Ya and Hui Shiu Show.
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The official followers and the gatekeepers of the Railway Company created a great distur. bance during the meeting, and almost came to blows over a paltry sum of two dollars "tea money, which the officials' attendants alleged to have been withheld from them.
事事
It is said that at every meeting the company has to give at least a $100 bribe, or “tea money" as the Chinese say, to the retinue of the officials, These bribes were prohibited by Koong Taotai when he was Acting Provincial Judge, but shortly after his departare the corruption started again.
29th August 1908. NEW GUNBOATS.
"
In reply to a despatch received from the Owing to frequent complaints having been Board of War regarding the cost of building made to the Wai-wa-pu by the various Foreign and equipping the four shallow draft gun boats Ministersat Peking regarding the piracies and for patrolling the West River, His Excellency brigandage committed in the Kwangtung Pro-Viceroy Chang states that two of these vince, and the repeated requests to increase vessels are being built by The Whampoa both the military and naval forces in that Dock Company of Canton," and two by the Province so as to provide adequate means for the Kwong Hip Loong firm of Hongkong. All protection of Foreigners and foreign commerce, four vessels will be equipped with modern gang the Wai-wu pu bas recently cabled instruc- of the Krupp Arms Factory. tions to Viceroy Chang to devise every possible means to stamp out piracy and brigandage in the Kwangtung Province, and has requested His Excellency to furnish full particulars of the
The contract price for each vessel is $64,700 not including equipment of arms and certain other outfit. The total cost of the four vessels including equipment &c. will be $20,000 taels, to
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be paid in three instalments, of which two have already been paid. This amount was drawn from five different departments_vis ¡—The Provincial Treasury, The Salt Commission Bureau, The Burena of Local Affairs, The Likin Bureau and the Customs Bureau, sach contributing a sum of 64,000 taals. The four gunboats are nearing completion and will shortly be delivered to the Admiralty depart- ment.
▲ SHREWD OPIUM OFFICIAL. About two months ago the Chief of Police was authorized by the Viceroy to establish Public Institution for the treatment of habitual opium smokers. Expectant Prefect Oho was appointed Superintendent of the Institution, Mr. Cho at once rented a large house in the City and had it converted for the purpose. The place has accommodation for 60 persons and is conducted at the expense of the Provin- cial Government. All persons admitted into the place for treatment will only have to pay for their meals aa no charge is made for medical treatment, medicine, opium pills and lodging.
Only a few persons have applied for admission since the opening of the institute. Mr. Cho was rather distressed over this, especially when the generosity of the establishment in giving away opium pills free of charge, is considered, sa his position would be jeopardised if nobody patronis- ed the establishment. However, he was deter- mined to solve the difficult problem by hook or by crook, and at last the remarkable ides of giv. ing free chow chow" struck Mr. Cho, and yesterday he issued the following notification :---
"This notification is issued to inform the public that from and after the 5th day of the 8th moon all licensed opium smokers who are admitted into this establishment for treatment will have all meals supplied to them free of charge. People who are habitual opium smokers and who have not taken out a license for smoking will also be admitted on the above terms apon furnishing a bond to the institution bearing the chop of a substan- tial shop or firm. As there will be numerons applications for admission, it is advisable that intending applicants should call at the Institu- tion and register their names so as to secure admission before it is too late"
OFFICIAL MATTERS,
The local Authorities have received a cable- gram from Poking stating that their Excel- lencies Ting Tean Tok and King Sing, Ministers appointed for the suppression of opium smoking, will shortly visit all Provinces to find out if any of the Viceroys and Governors are addicted to opium smoking.
Yesterday the officials here received cable news from Peking that an Imperial Ediot was issued on the 27th instant that the Throne had definitely decided to establish a Parliament in China in 1917. The telegram states that the dict was a very long one, containing over 700 characters.
MACAO.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
August 27th.
FLOOD FUND BAZAAR.
This Bazaar has proved a great success, over 850,000 having been realised. The principal supporters were, of course, Chinese, the most notable purchasers being the Lu and Chan families.
A DELAYED TESTIMONIAL, Though it is more than three months since the departure of the late Governor Senhor Coutinho, the address which was prepared for him has not been forwarded to him, and neither has the silver cover for the address for which subscriptions were collected. The Leal Senado has been strangely lacking in this duty, and it is only stating the obvious to say that the address should be sent round for signatures at once and despatched to its destination.
AN INTERESTING CEREMONIAL On Tuesday last a meeting in commemo- ration of the capture of the Pacsa-leang fort by Vicente Nicolau de Mesquita, in 1859, was held in the Military Club ball room. Captain J. L. Marques eulogised the valour of the dead hero in the presence of a large audience which included a daughter of the deceased Colonel Mesquita. Of the thirty-six soldiers who volunteered to accompany
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