196
CHINESE OPIUM STATISTICS.
AN INTERESTING COMPARISON,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Thousands upon thousands of opium pipes have been confiscated, and now adorn the city gates.
The Viceroy is confident of complete victory, and anticipates no serious troubles. He pushes his reforms with heroic courage and a deter- mination worthy of the highest praise He emphasized the importance, however, off the neighbouring provinces following the example set by Yunnan, saying that what has been achieved in the most degraded province of hina may be accomplished throughout the
In our leading article on Tuesday attention was incidentally drawn to some statistics of the cultivation of opium in China which were cou- tained in a Memorial to the Throne and publish- ed by Imperial rescript in October last year. These statistics represented the total production of Chinese opium to be but two or three times as large as the foreign import, while in the opin-Empire. ion of the British Opium Merchants the native production is from eight to ten times as much. The notoriour unreliability of Chinese statistics was mentioned in the article, and as evidence of this our attention has been drawn to other statis- tics, which must necessarily have been obtained by the British Legation from Chinese official sources, and we give below in parallel columns two returns in piculs for the year 1906-the one taken from the Rescript above referred to, the other from a Report on the Opium Question in China (No 1 of 1908) laid before Parliament last February
Province.
Manchuria..
Imperial British Rescript. Report. Piculs. Piculs. 10,940 15,000 3,870 10.000 7.988
5.000 5,000 10,000
5.000 5,000 200.000
Chihli
Kanso
Shansi...
9,666
Shantung
6,863
Shensi...
10,815
10,000
Honam
5.283
Kiangso
9,919
Szechuan
57.463
Hupei
1.293
Anhui
4,048
Yunnan
7.928
30.000
Kweichow
9,940
Hunan
158
Kwangsi (Practically Suppressed.)
Chekiang
Kwangsi
Kwangtung
4,724 under 1 77
Fukien
Shanghai Hongkong
4,000 3,000
15,000 3,000 500 5.000 3,000 500 1,514 2,000
Piculs 148,100 331.000 As representing what is covered presumably by the term "Manchuria" in the British report we have given from the return incorporated in the Rescript the total production for Shenking, Kirin, Amur and the New Territory.
It will be seen at a glance that the figures sup- plied to the British official who was charged with the special duty of collecting the information are more than twice as large as the figures quoted in the Imperial Rescript, and those who know how largely the incomes of provincial officials in China are supplemented by "squeeze' have ample justification for assuming that the returns supplied for the purposes of the British Legation report are considerably under-stated rather than exaggerated.
OPIUM IN YUNNAN.
PROGRESS UNDER VICEROY HSI LIANG.
The Yunnanfu correspondent of the N.C. Daily News telegraphed on the 3rd inst. as follows:-
The Viceroy appreciated highly the st nd America has taken in regard to opium and expressed his hope that England would stand by China in her struggle with the opium problem.
CANTON.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
January 4th.
THE BIG FIRE AT TAI-SHA-TAU.
The Chief Superintendent of Police here has sent in his official report of the disastrous fire at Tai-sha-Tau. He states that about 500 lives were lost and 61 boats were completely distroyed. The River Police saved the lives of 111 people, The Canton Rescue Society picked up 102 per- sons from the river; many of these were burnt or otherwise injured. They were all sent to the Red Cross Society Hospital for treatment. Lau Kai Tong, Captain of the Loong Yeung gunboat saved 14 people and the Captain of the On Tai saved four.
The River Police recovered 120 dead bodies, theharitable Societies recovered about 100 dead bodies, and about 100 dead bodies were recovered by the relatives of those who were drowned.
VICEROY'S OPINION.
His Excellency Viceroy Chang is very wroth with the officials who patronised the flower-boats on that might. He has caused inquiries to be made as to the names of all officials who were present and have escaped and has decided to memorialize the Throne to have them punished for disobeying the State mourning rules. He will also ask that the titles and ranks of the officials who perished be cancelled. Notwith- standing that the Pekinese Sing Song" girls near the Eastern gate paid a royalty of $9,000 to the Government only a few months ago they have received notice to quit their quarters within 14 days as they are too close to the
and of access for the offials.
easy DROWNING FATALITY.
yamens,
A young marine from the French gunboat Vigilante was accidentally drowned yesterday morning. He lost his balance and fell over- board. Not being able to swim he sank at once. Lieutenant D'Harcourt gallantly jumped after him, but, in spite of his courageous efforts, was unable to find the body, the waters of the Canton River being so turbid that nothing can be seen under water. The body was picked up a little latter by means of boat hooks, and although everything was done by the doctors in atten- dance all efforts at resuscitation failed. The funeral takes place this afternoon.
1
RAILWAY CONCESSIONS TO FOREIGNERS
FORBIDDEN.
The Board of Posts and Communications has
H.E. Hsi Liang, Viceroy of Yunnan and Kuei- chou, informed me during an interview to-day that the production of opium in Yunnan had sent a dispatch to Viceroy Chang instructing been reduced by about nine-tenths, and consump-him not to grant any Railway Concessions in tion by about half.
Likin barriers have been commanded to con- fiscate and refuse to pass any opium for export after the past Chinese year. Opium not passed by the Customs during the year that has just closed is liable to be confiscated and destroyed, and opium passed by the native Customs before the end of last year must be taken out of Yunnan by April 20 or it will be confiscated and destroyed.
The cultivation, as well as the consumption of opium is now strictly prohibited throughout the province, and offenders against this rule are punished and their crops ruthlessly destroyed.
Almost without exception the farmers throughout the province are complying with the opium regulations. Only two officials have displayed antagonism to the enforcement of the regulations.
the Liang Kwong Provinces to foreigners and that in future all railways must be constructed with Chinese capital and labour. Matters re- garding railway affairs must all be referred to the Board. If capital is wanting for the construction of any railways in the two pro- vinces, the Board will devise means to raise the necessary funds. Foreigners can only construct railways within the boundary of their concessions. The Viceroy is instructed to dis- patch deputies to the Foreigu territory to see that the foreign railway terminus does not go beyond the concession boundary. The Viceroy is also instructed to protest against all foreigners who obtain passports under the pretext travelling into the interior but whose main object is to survey land for the purposes of construction of railways, or repairing of railway lines etc., etc.
[February 15, 1909.
MACAO.
THE VISIT OF ADMIRAL LAMBTON,
A guard of honour was present at the naval wharf at the Barra when Admiral Lambton paid a visit to Macao on Wednesday, and a salute was fired from the gunboat Patria. The Admiral tiffined at Government House, and afterwards accompanied by H.E. the Governor, visited the Camoes Garden, and other sights of the city, returning to the Alacrity at five o'clock.
GARRISON RELIEFS.
The steamer Van Hoorn was expected to arrive at Macao yesterday with about 100 soldiers to relieve the time-expired men in the garrison.
THE HARBOUR WORKS.
Negotiations regarding harbour improvements are said to be progressing satisfactorily. A representative of a Company prepared to under- take the work has come to Macao on the in- vitation of the Government. No doubt H. E. the Governor is in earnest about the matter, but the Colony would be glad to have the assurance that the Home Government is equally in earnest.
રે
A REQUIEM SERVICE.
A requiem service was held at the athedral last Mond y for the repose of the souls of the late King Carlos I and the late. Crown Prince, Luiz Philippe. The sacred edifice was crowded and a military guard was stationed at the en- trance. Business was suspended for the day and the fort fired a royal salute of 21 guns.
CHURCH MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of this Association was held at St. Paul's College on the 5th inst., when His Lordship Bishop Lunder presided over a fair attendance.
After the Rev. F. T. JOHNSON had read the minutes of last meeting.
Mr. CROWTHER SMITH, the treasurer, sub- mitted the annual statement which showed that the subscriptions during the year amounted to $200, of which $54 was arrears, $140 subscriptions for 1908, and $6 subscriptions in advance. A considerable number of subscriptions were in arrear, while donations amounted to $242.49.
As the suscription was only intended to cover the cost of the Gleaner ", and the working expenses, it was the duty of all members who were able to do so to send donations according to their means. Such donations would be applied directly to missionary work. The working expenses amounted to $14.32 including postage and cheques. The balance in hand amounted to $360.62, out of which it would be necessary to provide £6 for the
K
Gleaner" and "Round
World" for 1909.
The next business was the election of officers and the result was as follows:-
Committee-Mesdames Beck, Bunbury, Ed- kius, France, Lauder, Stewart, Misses Baker, Brver and Pitts. Messrs. J. M. Beck, A. Bryer, G. Piercy, Crowther Smith and Dr. J. H. Sanders. >ecretary of Juvenile Department-Miss Bryer.
Box Secretary-Mrs. Edkins.
Hon. Treasurer-Mr. Crowther Smith. General Secretary-Rev. A. B. Thornhill.
His LORDSHIP THE BISHOP regretted the the absence of the Bishops of South Tokyo aud Sukiang. It was the Church's duty, he said, to bear witness to all nations that five times over we were told of our Lord's express command to bear witness for him that some 1900 years ago he came into the world to save all mankind. Missionaries did not go to other nations to get them to change their views, or to give them good advice, but to inform them of the great fact they would otherwise not have known. The Church of Rome did far more in mis- sion work that the Anglican Church, the latter not having contributed her proper share in the evangelisation of nations. His Lordship concluded by exhorting members to continue the good work with more enthusiasm, and to exhort others to do all they could.
The Revs. E. J. Barnett and J. A. Bunbury followed with interesting addresses on the work of the Church Missionary Association, after which the meeting closed with prayer.