::,
396
Sir Alexander Hosie, H.M. Commercial Attaché in Peking, intends spending a short time in Hongkong before the Opium Conference is opened.
The German A. D. C. at Shanghai were to give a second performance of Das Stiftungsfest, the piece so successfully staged by the Deutscher Theater--Verein at the Lyceum Theatre last week.
On November 18th at Tientsin about
10,000, children, from the Tientsin City Native Schools, were assembled together with their teachers at the Viceroy's Yamen in order to proclaim the new Emperor. Spectators state that the sight was a very interesting and nove
one.
A murderous attempt by a Chinese coolie upon Miss Gall, the daughter of a well known French Municipal employee at Tientsin is reported in the Northern papers. It appears that the boy is a discharged servant and made his way into the girl's bedroom and first throttled her.
and then also cut her face about with a knife. The man filed but was captured and has been identified by his victim; who is in a very bad way from the numerous wounds received
Mr. F. W. Maze, Commissioner of Customs at Tengyueh, on the Burma Frontier, has been granted two years' leave of absence and will proceed to Europe at the close of the year after having spent two years and a half at his present isolated post. Before serving at Tengyueh Mr. Maze was in charge of the Kongmoon Customs where, it will be remembered, he opened the Custom House in March 1904 upon Kongmoon being made a Treaty Port.
A curious decision was given by a Magistrate at Singapore in a "dumping" case last month. A Macao man and woman were charged with dump- ing the dead body of a Chinaman in the People's Park. The evidence showed that the woman was sitting in the ricksha with the body and the man was between the shafts. The Magis trate held that the Park was not included in the list of places where it was forbidden to dump corpses, and the accused were accordingly acquitted.
November 25th was observed at Shanghai as a special occasion of mourning for the deaths of the Emperor and Empress Dowager, and besides the flags of the various Consulates many of the hongs also flew their flags at half mast. The banks, native and foreign, were closed as were also
many native shops and stores, especially in Nanking Road, and the Custom House concluded business at noon, but other-
wise business proceeded much as usual. From the Settlement all the officials proceeded to the City to take part in the funeral rites which were there observed, and in consequence of the
Magistrates' absence the Mixed Court had again to suspend business.
The Grand Secretariat early in the present month resolved to order the prohibition of all lotteries in the Empire at the end of the current month. The original intention in starting lotteries, it is stated, was to increase the revenue. So many new lotteries had now come into existence that this had become the worst form of gambling in the Empire. Their Excellencies
came to the conclusion that lotteries were
demoralising the people, and led to robbery and other crimes. We may well doubt whether the order of the Grand Secretariat will be obeyed. In the North, at any rate, lotteries for December are openly advertised.
An extraordinary incident is reported in the Seoul Press, showing how in parts of Korea
human flesh is believed to be of medicinal value, - belief, remarks the Japan Chronicle. that has not yet been wholly banished among the most ignorant classes in Japan. Our contem- porary says it is reported that a young woman, twenty-three years of age, the wife of Kim Chinwoo, living at Sam-tong-li, Yang-sam district, South Kyongsang-do, gave a piece of human flesh to her sick husband as medicine, cutting it from her own thigh, in order to cure the rheumatism from which he has been suffering for the past six years. Since eating it he seems to have improved remarkably, so doubtless his; wife thinks she has been amply rewarded for her sacrifice. It is said that the villagers, being greatly impressed by Mrs. Kim's unusual faith fulness to her husband, have asked the magistrate to reward her.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[December 7, 1908 -
The Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires in Peking | THE FU URE OF THE PACIFIC. has agreed to cancel the Canton Macao Railway Agreement entered into by Sheng Kung Pao and the Portuguese Minister on certain condi tions, the principal of which is that the regula tions as to fares on the railway to be built under the sole control of China shall be settled by an Agreement between China and Portugal.
Marquis Katsura, the Japanese Prime Minister, has stated with reference to the question of re- ducing the Japanese force in Pehchili, that notice of that intention having been duly conveyed to the Chinese Government, and there being no sign of any commotion such as would militate against the carrying out of the programme, the Government's resolve is to proceed with the operation. China has troops enough of her own to deal with any disturbance, and a recurrence
(Daily Press, November 28th.) It spite of mútual professions of the most cordial friendship among nations it seems to be the vogue everywhere to believe in the probability of the Pacific becoming at no far distant date, an international cockpit. While the prophets are agreed on this point they are strangely at variance upon the interesting question as to how the combat- ants are likely to be range in the fray. We have the KAISER'S forcecast in which the navies of the East are seen opposing the Fleets of the West. "Who can foresee" of such events as those of 1900 cannot and need in the Pacific in the days to come, days not HIS MAJESTY said, “what may take place not be expected. For the rest, if any occasion should arise for the employment of foreign so distant as some believe, but days, troops, Japan has forces in Manchuria and at any rate, for which all European Powers Korea, which would be available at any moment. with Far Eastern interests ought steadily During the past. fiscal year 1,686,767 vaccinato prepare? Look at the accomplished rise tions against smallpox were made in the of Japan; think of the possible national Philippine islands by agents of the Bureau of awakening of China; and then judge of the Health, to say nothing of the thousands made
vast problems of the Pacific. Only those by private physicians. According to the last Powers which have great navies will be annual report of the Secretary of the Interior the administration of this work has been so im listened to with respect, when the future of proved that its cost is now approximately two the Parific comes to be solved; and if and a half centavos per capita as against seven
for that reason only Germany must have and a half centavos a few years ago.
"It is a
a powerful fleet. It may even be that remarkable fact" says the Secretary of the England herself will be glad that Germany Interior, "and one that bears eloquent testimony has a fleet when they speak together on the to the care used by the Bureau of Science in
same side in the great debates of the future." manufacturing vaccine, and by the Bureau of It is interesting to contrast this view of the Health in using it, that not a single death has occured as a result of this enormous number of
"vast problems of the Pacific" with that of a writer in the current number of the
vaccinations, especially when the results obtained in other countries under more favourable con- ditions are considered."
Mr. Arias, Consul General for Spain at Shang- hai, has been recalled to Madrid to explain his action in cutting off the Chinese who were formerly registered in his Consulate and to whom he was unwilling to extend further Spanish protection. The action of Mr. Arias in this matter, says the Shanghai Times, met with the heartiest approval of the foreign com. munity, and we are sure that it tended greatly to relieve many unpleasant occurrences in the Mixed Court. We learn that the Chinese Cham ber of Commerce, as well as some Chinese officials, have asked the Wai-Wa-pu to represent to the Spanish Government the valuable services which Mr. Arias performed in this matter. It is sincerely to be hoped that for the good of
Shanghai, this policy will not be reversed.
14
United Service; Magazine" who makes a plea for a naval understanding with the Unitel States. It is promised in this article that the Anglo-Japanese Alliance will not be renewed when the existing agreement terminates in 1915, and we pre- sume His Majesty the KAISER similarly regarda a renewal of that alliance as impos-
sible.
The cruise of Admiral SPERRY'S · squadron," says Mr. PERCIVAL HISLAM, the author of the Service magazine article " has definitely proved that a continuance of the Auglo-Japanese Treaty after its present term has expired is impossible.” Why Mr. HISLAM should believe this We cannot understand except that it is 'necessary as a basis of the forecast he proceeds to elaborate. There was a very large assemblage of foreign
One might suppose from this WAS a case of Japan residents at the American hatoba at Kobe remark that it recently to bid farewell to Mr. Alf. Woolley, being off with the old love and ou with the the Chief Agent for Japan of the P. & O. new. But, no; Japan, in Mr. HISLAM'S Company, who left by theOriental "for Eng. view of the problems of the Pacific, will be land. Mr. Woolley who was formerly, in the
hand in glove with Germany, and the United company's service in Hongkong, has resided in States is the object of their attack. Mr. Japan for a good many years, and has taken a very active part in the public life of the foreign HIS AM's idea is that the ex¡ansion of the communities, having been stationed both at German navy will prevent Great Brit-in Kobe and Yokohama. Latterly he held the giving adequate nav protection to Austra post of Chairman of the Kobe Foreign Board of lia, New Zealand and her other possessions Trade and was also President of the Kobe Club, in the Pacific, should these be threatened at but whether he resided in Yokohama or Kobe, any time by Japanese forces. On the other Mr. Woolley, remarks the Japan Chronicle, hand the writer points out that America, has always been foremost in rendering angrudg-standing alone would require au Atlantic ing service in the interests of the community. fleet strong enough to anfeguar ber Club assembled at the Club to witness the gai: st Germany; while in the Pacific her presentation of a silver salver and tea service fleet would require' to keep in line with the which had been subscribed for as a mark of rapidly-expanding navy of Japan. respect and esteem. The presentation was
dwells upon the enormous outlay the made by Mr. H. Lucas, the President, who in a United States would have to face to main. few appreciative words referred to Mr. Woolley's
tain a strong fleet both in the Atlantic and public work and his qualities a a private the Pacific, and suggests a compact between. citizen. Woolley replied, in a happy speech reminiscent of the years he had spent in Kobe Great Britain and the United States under and the affection he had for the place. As the which the litter would safeguard the Pacific launch left the hatoba the large crowd of while the latter guards the Atlantic. . It is foreigners gave three hearty cheers for Mr. and an interesting speculation Lo doubt, So long Mrs. Woolley. Whether Mr. Woolley will as nations continue to build warships, so return to Japan is not, our contemporary belong, we suppose, will there be international lieves, wholly assured, but it is quite certain that his return will be hoped for by a large circle of friends, and the Chronicle expresses the belief that if the choice lies with him he will decide for Japan, where he has made his home and rendered such excellent public service.
On the 19th alt. the members of the Kobe
He
the common-sense of most will hold a jealousy and suspicion. The dav“ when freiful realm in awe, and the kindly earth shall slumber lapt in universal la?,” cannot be regarded as having arrived set.