216
CANTON.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
September 17th.
THE RECENT FLOOD.
In order to obtain further funds, for the relief of the people in the distressed districts I am informed that His Excellency Viceroy Chang has decided to issue a notification that on the 9th moon the following percentages will be deducted from the salaries of all Civil and Military Officials and Government Servants in the Kwong Tung Province and be placed in the relief fand, viz:-10 per cent to be deducted from those who are re- ceiving salaries of $50 and under per month, and 20 per cent from those receiving over 850 per month.
OFFICIAL MATTERS.
The Minister of the Board of War at Peking has requested the Commissioner of Customs here to furnish the Board with full particulars of the Harbour Regulations applying to mer. chantmen and men-of-war of all nationalities
and also the International Laws regarding navigation, collisions &c of these vessels on the high seas in times of peace and war- [That would be rather a big undertaking for the Commissioner-ED.]
The Viceroy has received a dispatch from the Board of War requesting him to repair all the forts built in modern style and to pull down and rebuild all the old forts in the Kwangtang
Province.
It is reported in the local Press that Prime Minister Chang Cli Tang has proposed a new law prohibiting the marriage of Chinese under 24 years of age.
MAGISTRATE AND MISSIONARY CONVERTS.
Ng Kai Wah, a Roman Catholic, recently instituted an sotion against Tang Chenk Kwan at the Nam Hoi magistracy claiming for the recovery of money due to him by the Defendant for goods sold and delivered.
Ng Kai Wah, prior to filing his petition, requested a Catholic missionery to communicate with the magistrate explaining the facts of the case, mentioning that Ng is a Roman Catholic convert, and requesting the magistrate to re- cover the debt,
88
The Magistrate on receipt of Ng's petition replied follows" Both the ancient and the present law says debts must be paid by all people. If Tang Cheuk Kwan par- obased pearls from you and has not paid for them, you can institute an action against him in this magistracy for the recovery of the debt.
This matter does not concern the missionaries. Why should you request a missionary to write to me on your behalf to recover the debt? This is a plain osse in which you deliberately relied upon the support of the Church to press your claim.
Is this how you conduct yourself? However, I will give instructions to the yamen runners to summon Tang Cheuk Wah to appear before this Court for trial, and will order him to pay the debt should judgment be given against him. You must in fatare bear in mind, in either Civil or Criminal actions, that it matters not at all whether litigants are Chris- tians or non-Christians. Justice alone is the determining factor in all cases brought to Court. "In this case you had the audacity to style yourself a Roman Catholic Convert, This is improper. It carries no weight in the matter and cannot influence the Court in any way whatever. My decision will be given on the merits of the osse."
59
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
September, 18th.
THE ARREST OF ALLEGED PIRATES ON THE "PAUL BEAU,
"
The local Press is full of articles concerning the recent affair on the s... "Paul Beau" when the new Colonel Lui Chan Hoi of the Shameen Guard, who was detailed to arrest half a dozen Chinese passengers alleged to be pirates, bungled things in such a manner that the suspects were allowed to escape.
The true version of the affair is as followI :---- The Canton authorities were advised late on the 14th instant that half a dozen men alleged to be pirates had left Hongkong by the s "Paul Beau" The same evening the Colonel of the Shameen Guard sent a messenger to the French Consulate with his pard to inform the Consul that he intended to arrest six men on the "Paul Bean" the following morning The messenger was told that the arrest could not be made by the Chinese authorities on board, but that they could arrest them when they had left the ship. Instructions were sent by the Company's agent to the Captain of the vessel not to allow the
arrest to be effected on board.
On the 15th instant when the “Paul Bean" steamed into the Harbour the Colonel of the Shameen Guard boarded her with a dozen soldiers in plain clothes and proceeded forth. with to arrest the men, having them put in irons. Meanwhile the Captain havingireceived his orders went down to see that the arrest was
not effected on board by Chinese officials. To his surprise he saw that the men were all tied up and bundled together in a sampan. He pro tested against the action of Colonel Lui and sent word to the Consulate. The Viop-Consul was soon on the spot and he caused the men to The be released and put back on board. soldiers were next ordered to leave the vessel, which they did after much hesitation, and not until they were told that they would be forcibly ejected if they did not elect to go of their own will. Meanwhile the alleged pirates made the most of their opportunity and while Lui and his posse of do next the alleged pirates made a dash for soldiers were deliberating as to what they would liberty and must have succeeded as they are still
wanted.
The Chinese papers are publishing ex aggerated accounts of the affair and insinuate that the police were assaulted on board. One paper has the courage however to strike the true note vis; That it is not to be wondered that such blunders are made so long as the management of foreign affairs is entrusted to men as ignorant and incompetent se those at present in office.
A BEBEL CHIMP CARTURND.
Kwok Yan Cheong, Taotai of Yam Chow and Lim Chow Prefectures, has abled to Viceroy Chang that he has captured Tong Pat, one of the rebel chiefs who took part in the Yam Chow rebellion last year. following is a statement made by Tong Pat
at the trial:-
The
اله
[September 28, 21908.
and - kis
orders to the men to fire a volley into the al?? our arrival at the last mentioned city.. was the signal arranged with the soldiers of Fong Shing city to mutiny and join us. carried out these instructions on our arrival" and the Hong Shing soldiers joined us. Wò marched straight into the Magistrate's Yamen › and arrested Magistrate Bung family, together about 20 people, and · took them to the Guardian -Spirit Temple of the City and put them to death by shooting them. After that we took possession of the City. We left sumclent men to guard the City and we marched to Yam Chow intending to storm and capture it. But when we got to a place called Tung How To we were advised by the rebels there not to attack Yam Chow, as news had arrived that the officials of Yam Chow had got wind that rebels were approaching the place and they were on their guard. By this time our army was several thousand strong. Orders were given to proceed and capture the Ling Shan City, Wo stormed the City for several days but unfor tanately we were defeated and had to retreat. We made for Chung Chow in Kwangdi where we all dispersed and afterwards went back to Kwong Da in Annam.
My father is still in Kwong On. I do not know where the other rebel chiefs have gone to. I came back from Annam quite recently and shortly after my arrival I was captured."
Taotaf Kwok added that according to the above statement Tong Tat had practically confessed the crime and pleaded guilty to the charge. He requested the Viceroy's permis- sion to bobead Tong Fat on the spot as he la afraid that an attempt may be made to resons
him.
A LESERTED VILLAGE.
島 Recently big clan fight took place between the clansmen of the Sui Kong and Tong Kai villages outside the North Gate of Canton City. The Bai Kong Villagers killed and wounded many people of the Tong Kai village. Tong Kai being a smaller village. had fewer fighting units and consequendy lost the battle. The Tong Kai villagers in order to take revenge forcibly carried away three Sui Kong villagers who were employed on the trunk line of the Canton Railway Company to their village and murdered them. A petition was sent to the Viceroy by the railway officials stating that the Tong Kai villagers had murdered the Sui Kong employees order to arrest the murderera was issued and sa of the Company. The consequence is that an
the Tong Kai villagers have' disappeared, the village being deserted. The Viceroy has ordered all the houses, moveable properties, and fields to be seisel. The Tong village has a population of about 500 men.
September 24th.
RECEPTION OF THE UNITED STATES FLEET AT AMOT.
Many high officials specially deputed by the Central Government to Amoy for the recap- tion of the United States Fleet arrived here a I am Tong Pat and a native of the Tai Luk few days ago. They have been very busy in village. My father was formerly a military the City making purchases of valuable articles officer in the Sui Yuen regiment. In the 7th for presentation to the officers of the United moon last year Wong Shan Wo, Loeng Bui States Fleet. It is said that they have given Ting and others came to Tai Luk and stayed at special orders to many firms for large quan- my house. They brought a considerable tities of silk embroideries and black-wood quantity of gold leaf with them and told me that furniture of unique designs. Two of the best General and Commander-in-Chief Sun Yat Sen Cantonese theatrical troops have been engaged was staying in Hanoi sad had sent considerable to give performances in Amoy when the “Flest quantities of fire arms and treasure to Yam arrives. A contract has been signed with a Chow to start a rebellion; that secret arrange-large scaffolding firm here to erect all the ments had been made with the soldiers of Sam | sheds in Amoy for theatrical performances and Na and Lin Shan cities to start a mutiny and reception purposes. The officials say that oo-operate with them on their arrival, and that Prince Chan will be deputed by the Throne my father had been made an officer of the rebel
as special minister on the occasion, army in command of 250 men in Mi Tung,
A DARING EQBBER, A daring robbery took place at Lo Pai Hong in broad daylight yesterday. It appears that & plucky robber who dressed himself like a mandarin engaged a chair with four chairman, both offers of the Ki Shan magistrates bearers and rode straight into a wealthy China- man's house in the above-named street at 11 s.m. on the pretext of paying an official call.
When he got into the house he paid the chair coolies and disa issed them. After they had left he bolted the main door of the house, ter- rorised the inmates of the place by brandishing two revolvers, drove them all into a back room and looked them up. He then ransacked the house and took away with him jewellery and other valuables worth about $3,000.
On the following day Li Ki Shan and another
bodyguard, called at my house. They told me that negotiations had been completed with the soldiers of Fong Shing city and also with the Hang regiment of modern soldiers on the border of the Kwangsi Province to join us in the rising. On the 25th day of the 7th_moon the rebel army in Tai Luk assembled and we marched to Mi Tung where we passed the night. On the following day my father (who was there) despatched me with 56 men to Fong Shing city with instructions that I should give '
RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH BANK.
The local gentry have petitioned Viceroy Chang requesting him to memorialins the Throne to confer a brevet title of the highest rank upon Mr. So Bing Kus on account of the generous donations made by him towards the resent Flood Fund,
The petitioners state that Mr. Sợ has donated altogether 150,000 taels in cash, besides forwarding large quantities of rice to the distressed districts, valued at over 500:0 taels, and in supporting the request they recall! that formerly Chan Taótai who subscribed the 25.4 munificent sum of 100,000 taela fowards the fi
t