Page
386
His Worship admitted it, but noted Mr. Grist's objection.
Proceeding, witness spoke to smelling kerosene in the shop, and mentioning the fact to the defendant. The latter said, I must have kerosene in the shop. It has come from the lamp. The shavings were caused by the car- penter's work in putting up shelves. Witness arrived at the scene of the fire about ten minutes after alarm was given. The fire was got under in about half an hour."
In cross-examination witness said the entrance to these premises was a sliding door of wooden bars.
Where there has been arson would you expect to find a door open or shut? That's
hard to
say..
The object of arson is to recover insurance money, isn't it ?-Usually.
The reason you put this man under arrest was because of the smell of kerosine ?—Yes, and the shavings.
And you have since ascertained that a car- penter was at work P--Yes.
After further evidence was heard the case was adjourned.
ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
A meeting called by the Naval Yard Football Club of those interested in the formation of an association football league was held on Nov. 23 at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms, Lieut. Mullins presiding over a good attendance which included repre- sentatives of the Hongkong, Naval Yard United, H.M.8. Tamar, R.A.M.C., the Buffs, R. E., Lusitano and Y.M.C.A. Football Clubs.:
The Chairman indicated the reasons given for the formation of the league. Personally he was against it on account of the difficulty of obtaining ground, the lateness of the sugges. tion, and the fact that there was already a shield competition as well as competitions in con. nection with both services.
Mr. Glover, representing the Naval Yard spoke in support of the proposal.
THE HONGKONG WERKLI PRESS, AND
CANTON
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
November 23rd.
TO AVERT REVOLUTIONARY RISINGS,
Viceroy Chang has received a cablegram from the Grand Council at Peking to the following
effect :-
"
It has recently come to our knowledge that wild rumours are being spread of revolutionary movements, both in Peking and the Provinces of China. In the Palace, as well as in the City of Peking and its vicinity normal condi- tions prevail. Yesterday we received two Imperial Edicts in which everything was clearly explained and we have cabled same to you for your information.
"From inquiries made we have learnt that many bands of villains have returned to China from foreign countries and have secretly entered Peking, Tientsin, Shanghai, Hankow and the Provinces of Kwangtung and Fookien. These villains have been circulating wild rumours in different places in the hope of inciting the merchants and the people both in China and abroad to start a revolution.
*
The spreading of these wild rumours by them is causing considerable alarm in many places, and it is feared that these rascals are Stern measures seeking to promote a rebellion. must therefore be adopted to guard against
disturbances of whatsoever nature. We have
already instructed the Wai- Wu-pn to com. municate with and to tranquillize the minds of the Foreign Ministers in Peking, and we have despatched infantry and police with instructions to make thorough inquiries and arrest all such erilly-disposed persons.
41
The officials of the the different Provinces must immediately inform the foreigners and make their minds easy on the subject. The officials must also pacify the people and exhort Further. them not to listen to the rumours. more, the officials are requested to dispatch officers of the secret service to make strict inquiries in regard to this important matter and make the Police and soldiers responsible main tainance of good order by rigidly searching for and arresting all persons who are spreading rumours calculated to disturb the peace. They must make it their special class of bad characters by having those they object to rid their respective districts of this
arrest most severely punished."
for the
Mr. F. Browne expressed disapproval of the proposed league, stating as his objections that it would entail a great strain on the players and that clubs were not sufficiently strong enough to stand the strain of league football. It would also fall very heavy on the executive and he stated that the idea of the Hongkong Foot- ball Club at present was to distribute the play amongst the greatest number. He did not believe in players migrating to other clubs. In
Upon receipt of the above the Viceroy after conclusion he cited as a curious fact that not- withstanding the amount of room available at holding a consultation with the Tartar General
Kowloon there was not a football club there.
Discussion ensued and on a vote being taken it was decided to form a league, the repre- sentatives of the Hongkong Football Club and of the Buffs voting against it,
Mr. Glover was appointed secretary pro tem to call a meeting of representatives.
The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.
THE GRIFFINS.
The subscription griffins were drawn for Monday afternoon with the following results: No. Bay-J. Douglas.
4-Black-General Broadwood. 7-Nutmeg grey-Lieut. Wedd (Buffs). 8 Bay-F. H. May.
10-Grey-Lieut. Sill (Buffs).
14-Grey-Col. Bayard (Buffs). 18-Grey-J. Armstrong. 22-Bay R. E. Toeg. 23-Bay-Lieut. Leheh, B.A. 24-Grey-Macdonald & Co. 33-Marble grey—A Moir. 37 Bay Lieut. Moore, B.A. 41-Grey-Lieut. Hempill (Buffs). 42-Grey W. J. Gresson. 44-Grey-C. H. Ross. 50 White T. H. Forrest. 54-Dark grey-A. R. Lowe. 55-Bay-Lieut. Scarlet (Buffs). 56-Grey H. N. Mody. 59-Grey H. A. Seth.
61-Grey-J. R. M. Smith. 64-Black-F. B. Deacon. 66 Bay T. F. Hough 68 Grey-Bapt, Heathoote.
on
has posted bannermen on the City walls and has instructed the Police to excercise special vigilance.
THE NATIONAL MOURNING.
Many of the Foreign Consuls here attended the celebration of the funeral rites at the Kwan Tai Temple. The Wong Wah Hall served that purpose in the City.
All I. M. Customs applications sent in by foreign firms are required to be stamped with blue ink instead of red during the mourning periods.
A RISING FOREIGN OFFICIAL.
tariff I understand that
of Native Customs dues is shortly to be issued. The lack of a tariff schedule has caused great incovenience to the Chinese merchants. It is on Mr. F. L. Clyde's suggestion that the This official pamphlet is now to be issued. has identified himself already with practical reforms in his department on which he is to be highly complimented. Mr. Clyde was formerly a member of the Hongkong Detective force. He joined the I. M. Customs about two years ago and has received raped promotion. He is will versed in the Cantonese dialect and reads and writes Chinese.
THIEVES AND THE MOURNING COMMANDS.
The snatching of gold earrings and bracelets has again become prevalent in the City. As the mourning regulations perscribe that no gold jewellery shall be worn, the police apparently the thieves. show no disposition to arrest
I am informed that that the Self-Government Association has reported the matter to the Viceroy and requested His Excellency to instruct the Chief of Police to cause al such thieves to be arrested and punished for robbery.
t
[Not
Nov
! REDUCTION OF TELEGRAPH. Viceroy Chang has received a dispatch from the Board of Posts and Communications in Peking stating that the Chief Director of the Imperial Chinese Telegraph Administration has reported to the Board that the telegraph rates in China are the highest in the world and that this observation has been frequently made by the Telegraph Departments of all the foreign countries. The merchants and the people (Chinese) have often complained of the high rates as detrimental to trade and commerce. In the public interest, therefore, the Board has by purchase acquired the telegraphs in China from the merchants and it has been decided to reduce the telegraph rates.
At present the Board has decided to reduce the current telegraph rates by 20 per cent. and this will also apply to Chinese and Foreign Press telegrams sent from one place to another in China. Telegrams sent to Foreign countries will not be affected by this reduction as the charges do not go entirely into China's purse.
An ImperialEdict has been issued sanctioning the reduction of the telegraph rates. The Board instructs His Excellency the Viceroy to notify the different Telegraph Departments in the Kwangtung Province of this order and also requests His Excellency to issue proclamations so that the officials, merchants, and the general public may know it.
I am infomed by an official that the reduced rates will take effect from the 1st day of the
first moon next year.
The Postal Commissioner will henceforth be in charge of the Telegraph Department here.
FOREIGN GUN PRACTICE WITHIN CHINESE TERRITORY.
It is reported that there has been some trouble near Macao between the Chinese Authorities and some American gunboats which had landed a party for gun practice. It is said that the Commissioner of Customs at Macao and the Heang Shan Magistrate have reported the affair to the Viceroy and His Excellency has referred the matter to Peking.
MISSIONARIES AND OfficialS.
The Magistrate of Lam Ko City in the Kin- Chow Prefecture has reported to the Viceroy that the British Consul has communicated to him that certain English missionaries intend to build & church in that city. The native people intentions of the missionaries and there has are suspicious and apprehensive regarding the been a good deal of wild talk amongst them. The British Consul requests the magistrate to explain matters to the people and disabuse their minds.
The Viceroy replied as follows:-I have noted the contents of your report. Accord- Treaties foreign missionaries ing to the have the right to purchase land for the purpose of building churches and propagating the Chri- tians religion in the interior of China. But the which they site selected and the church intend to build must not interfere in any way whatever with the houses of the native people. The church can only be built with the consent of the native people. The title deeds
land must of the
be valid and clear. If these rules are complied with they are You have at liberty to build the church. not, however, mentioned in the report the situation of the site selected, the name of the landlord who sold the property to the mission- aries, whether the transfer of the property has been effected in compliance with the new regulations now in forces, or whether the title deeds of the property are valid and clear. I instruct you to supply me with all the foregoing particulars as soon as possible so that I may decide the case. Meanwhile you are requested to inform the military officials to give adequate protection to the missionaries and to prevent the people from creating any trouble
or
November 25th.
I.M. CUSTOMS.
There is disatisfaction amongst a few clerks
Wan-ans" of the Chinese staff of the I. M. Customs. There was a general increase in the salaries in the whole Customs Chinese staff but a few Wan-ans have been excepted; hence the murmuring.