{
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cost of living; as Shanghai points out" the effect will be more plainly felt in expenditure involving small sums such as 5 to 10 cents translating these sums into 4 cands and 8 cards will not be convenient in actual practice." It is, however, no doubt true that (as stated in the Memorial) the "bulk of the people in their daily life mostly rely upon the copper cur- A coinage is that the exchange between the dollar point in favour of the adoption of a dollar and the cash might be conveniently fixed at the old normal ratio of 1 to 1,000, whereas the cash exchange of the Kuping Tasi (at the same rate) works ont at the incon- venient figure of about 1,482.
rency.
THE CIVIL SERVICE ESTIMATES.
CHINA, JAPAN, AND THE FAR EAST.
The Civil Service Estimates for the year ending March 31, 1909, are now issued, and we give below details concerning the votes relating specially to China. The figures enclosed in parentheses are last year's votes, and are given for purposes of comparison. Where no com- parisons are made the figures are the same as last year.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRES AND
IMPERIAL WEDDING IN JAPAN.
TIME-HONOURED CEREMONIAL AT TOKYO.
An official announcement was issued on the 29th ultimo to the effect that the wedding between Prince Kitashirakawa and Princess Kane. seventh daughter of his Majesty the Emperor, had, taken place on that day.
Į May 15, 1909, Consuls, as follows:-Amoy, £800; Antung the following changes relating to the Far East: (Vice-Consul), £600; Canton, £1.200; ditto -Retiring allowances through ill-health: W. J. (Vice- onsul), £600, with a local allowance of Kenny, Consul-General, Manila, Philippine £100); Chang-sha, £800: Chefoo, £800; heng- Islands, £666 133. 4d.; M. Hughes, Consul, tu (Consul-General), £90; Chinanfu, £800; Newchwang, £285, 5s. 6d.; H. F. Brady. Chinkiang, £800; Chung-king (Vice-Consul); Consul, Chefoo, £622 48. 5.; L. C. Hopkins, £600; Foochow, £1,000; Hangchow. £800; Consul-General, Tientsin, £855 11s. 1d. The Hankow, £1,100, and £10, personal; ditto pension of £622 4s. 5d. granted to Dr. 8. W. (Vice-Consul), £600, with a local allowance Bushell has ceased through death. cf £100; Ichang, £800; Kinkiang, £800; and Pakhoi. £800; (Consul- Kiungchow General). £900, with a local allowance of £100 and a further temporary allowance of £50; Nan- king, £800; Newchwang, £800; Ningpo (Vice- Consul), £600; Swatow, £800 Tengyueh, £800; Tientsin (Consul-General). £1,000, with local allowance of £200; ditto (Vice-Consul), £600, with local allowance of £100; Wuchow, £800; Wnhu, £800; Yunnan-fu, £900, with local allowance of £100; Tsingtau (Consular Agent), with fee allowance of £18. Total. £23,668 (£21.700). There are also votes for Assistants and Students as follows:-Twelve first class at £400 a year each, £4.800; fifteeu_second-class at £350 a year each, £5,250; Interpreters allowances to Assistants, eight at £100 and nine at
£50 a
year each, £1,250 allowance to assistant employed in Chinese Secretary's office. £200; allowance to assistant as accountant at Peking, £200; allowance to senior Under the heading of New Works. Al-assistant in Chancery at Peking. £100; ditto to terations, Additions, and Purchases (including assistant in Mixed Court, Shanghai, £250 Furniture in connection therewith)," are the (£150); ditto to assistant in Land Office, following votes. China, Japan, and Korea :- Shanghai, £150; ditto to assistant in Shipping Changsha: Erection of new Consulate, £1.0 ; Office, Shanghai, £51; ditto assistant in charge, Mukden: Erection of new Consulate, including Pakhoi, £100; twenty-one student interpreters residences for Assistants, stables, &c., £7,000; at £200 a year each, £4,200; prizes for ditto, Newchwang: Installation of electric light and £150; and to provide allowances to make up bells, £160: Peitaiho: Erection of summer quar-students salaries to £300 a year each whilst ters for the Peking Legation, including furniture (re-vote £900), £3,000; Peking: Improving water supply to residences, £550: Peking: Erection of cowshed, £180; Peking: Erection of house for Chinese Secretary, £500; Peking: Extension of electric lighting, £500; Tientsin: Addition to offices, £100, Tokyo: Electric light installation in Embassy Compound and Students Quarters, £350; Yokohama: Electric light in- stallation in offices and Assistants residences, £100, Soul: Improving water supply, £250; Acquisition of new sites in China, Japan, and Korea, £1,000. The vote in this section of £10 for the maintenance and repair of cemeteries in China, Japan, Korea, and Siam is included in a general vote for the maintenance of cemeteries in foreign countries.
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR BUILDINGS.
THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE.
China-(partly repayable from Indian re- venues),-Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, £4,500; Councillor, £800; Chinese Secretary, £1,000; Chaplain, £200 ; Commercial Attaché £1,000 and £167 for rent. Japan. Ambassador £5,000; Councillor, £800;
including Japanese Secretary, £1,000, allowance of £100 a year for superintending the studies of students; Commercial Attaché £900 and £100 for rent.
an
From the statement showing the distribution of Second and Third Secretaries in His Ma-
jesty's Embassies and Legations abroad on Dec. 1, 1908, we note there are two Second Secretaries and one Third Secretary in China, and two Second Secretaries in Japan, the salaries and allowances of whom are not stated. Houses are provided in all the above cases except for Chaplain at Peking and Commercial Attachés, and are taken into account in au- other vote for rents and taxes.
THE CONSULAR SERVICE.
China-The total estimates for the Services in China are £67,865 (£67,879). The votes are as follows:-Salaries, allowances, and wages, £56,267 (£55,624); outfits, and travelling, £4,750 (£5,000); rent allowances, £2,000 (£1,900); postage, £500; incidental expenses, £2,100 (£2,5 0); prison expenses, witnesses, deporta tions, &c, £800 (£600): medical attendance, £1,423 £1,730); relief of distressed British subjects, £25.
China-Peking: Surgeon, £800. The votes under the heading Shanghai "Court and Cou- sulate-General " are as follows:-Chief Judge £1,800; Consul-General and Registrar of Ship- ping, £1,500; Assistant Judge, £1,200; Vice- Consul, £600 (with a local allowance of £100); Crown Advocate, £400; Registrar, £515 (£505); Chief Clerk, £310 (£305); Assistant Clerk, £210;' Marshal, £220; Usher, £180 (£175). Total, £7,035 (£7,015). Then come the votes for the
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serving as assistants, £1,3 0. There are the usual votes for teachers, writers, or linguists. constables, boatmen, porters, coolies, and others employed on public service at the different Consulates. The total amount for salaries al- lowances, and wages is £56,267 (£56,824), but from this a deduction of £1,00 is made on account of savings by vacancies, &e., leaving the final total. £56,267 (£55,624). The vote for outfit and travelling, including allowances for passage for Consular officers, student interpreters, and others in £4,750| (£5,000); rent allowances, (£2,000 (£1,900); and postage, £500. In this section there is also, ander the heading of Incidental Expenses,' a vote of £1,289 (£1,548) for allowances assigned to the different Consulates for office contingencies, including extra boat hire, boat- men, coolie hire, &c., and £184 (£234), as allowances for purchase of coal. There is, in addition, a vote of £812 (£958) for incidental expenses of mission and of ourt and Consulates not included in fixed office allowances, making a total for incidental expenses of £2,285 (£2,740). From this £185 is deducted for printing, stationery, postage, and prison expenses, paid from fixed allowances, but chargeable under other sections, leaving £2,100 (£2,500). The remaining votes are: Prison expenses, witnesses, deportations, &c.. £800 (£600); medical attend- ance, £1,423 (£1,730); relief of distressed British subjects, £25.
Philippine Islands.-The votes are -Consul- General at Manila, £1,000, with £150 local allowance (not pensionable), and £400 office expenses; Vice-Consul, £500, with £150 local allowance (not pensionable); Vice-Consul at Cebu, £28, fee allowances; Vice-Consul at Iloilo, £100 for office expenses.
Cochin China.-There is a vote of £600 for the Consul at Hanoi, with a local allowance (not pensionable) of £10, and office expenses, £150, and for the Vice-Consul at Saigon fee allowances £25.
Madiwostock,-The vote is for Vice-Consul, £410, with £100 local allowances and £25 › office expenses,
GRANTS IN AID OF LOCAL REVENUE. Under the above head there is a vote of £4,400 (£10,000) for Wei-hai-wei, required in connec- tion with the territory during the year com- mencing April 1, 1909.
SPECIAL MISSIONS.
Under this head there is a vote of £2000 for the International Opium Commission at Shanghai.
PENSIONS,
Under the details of increase and diminution in the superannuation and retired allowances between Dec. 1, 1907, and Nov. 30 1908, we note
The bridegroom rose at an early hour, says the Japan Chronicle and attired in the old Court ceremónial dress left his residence at Kioicho in a carriage specially sent from the Imperial Household, attended by Captain Ichinohe, aide- de-camp, followed in other carriages by Mr. Yamanouchi, a Master of Ceremonies in the Imperial Household, and Mr. Yamabe, an official in the Imperial Household, and escorted by a troop of cavalry. Arrived at the Imperial Palace, the bridegroom entered the Imperial Sanctuary, the bride arriving a few minutes later. Her toilet had been completed by five o'clock, and at 6.30 she had eaten the customary mame no gohan (rice mixed with beans) eaten on these occasions, and, attired in old ceremonial costume, left her residence at Takanawa for the Imperial Palace.
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of
At 9 a.m. the wedding ceremony took place in the presence of about 200 dignitaries, amongst whom were their Imperial Highnesses Princes Arisugawa and Kanin, Prince and Princess Higashi-Fushimi, Prince and Princess Takeda, and Princes Asaka and Higashi-Kuui. While the music was being played, the door the Imperial cenotaph was opened, and the customary offerings presented to the ancestors. The memory of the Imperial marriage service was then begun, and the Chief Ritualist Iwakura read an address, after which the bridegroom read an address in which he announced his marriage to the Imperial ancestors. Then the Chief Ritualist presented a cup of sacred sake first to the bridegroom, and then to the bride. Simulaneously an Imperial salute
ย was fired by battery of artillery on the Aoyama parade-ground.
concluded the This
ceremony, and newly-married couple proceeded to the Palace, where, in the first Grape Hall, the Prince changed his dress for the uniform of an artillery ensign, while the Princess donned a robe de
cour.
the
The couple were then received together in audience by their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, who congratulated them on their
union.
At 11 am, the bride and bridegroom left the Palace for their new residence at Takanawa, where a further ceremony was performed in the presence of relatives and officials. Subsequently the newly married couple received congratula- tions from their personal friends. At 5.50 p.m. their Majesties the Emperor and Fmpress gave a dinner in honour of the occasion, to which were invited, besides the newly married couple, the Crown Princes and Princess and all the Imperial family, high officials and Peers, and foreign representatives and their wives. In due course his Majesty the Emperor offered a a cup of sake to the bride and bridegroom, in accordance with old custom, when the banzai in honour of the gathering gave
At 7.15 p.m. their Majesties Imperial House. retired and the gathering dispersed, tho newly married couple proceeding to their new residence at Takanawa. Those present at the dinner received a silver sweetmeat bowl as a souvenir of the occasion.
Count Sasaki, a Privy Councillor, who was with the care of bringing up entrusted Princesses Tsune and Kane, has been created a Marquis in recognition of the completion of his services, now that both Princesses have been married. It may be mentioned that Princess Tsune was married last year to Prince Takeda On the day of and has given birth to a son. the wedding just celebrated Count Sasaki received Y20,000, and Countess Sasaki Y5,000 in honour of the occasion, and in recognition of their services in bringing up the Princesses entrusted to their care,
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