2
of eight shillings in the pound, it is little wonder that the ingenuity of successive municipal chancellors of exche.
A. S. WATSON & CO., quer has bean tried, to the very uttermost.
LIMITED
THE LEADING MANUFACTURERS
OF
AERATED
WATERS
IN THE FAR EAST.
AERATED WATERS of our manufacture
made under constant European expert supervi-
The collective mouths of the Finance Oom- mittees of many an English borough would water did they only have the number of wells to draw from at the disposal of the Shanghai municipality. Still, withal, Shang hai on the score of economy, notwithstand- ing its possession of these extraneous resources, may well put to shame its home compeers. The growth of municipal extravagance in England has been of some bulf century's growth; still some ten years ago the rates were kept down in the majority of cases to the neighbourhood of : five shillings in the pound. Recently owing to the favourable conditions of the money market prevailing, municipalities permitted themselves to be tempted into an evil practice of raising loans out of all pro portion with their current wants; the effects
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, MAY 9TH, 1904
At the conclusion of the billiard match of
18,000 up for £200, at Manchester, between Charles Dawson, the champion, and H. W. Ste- vouson, the ex-champion, Dawson was beaten by
1,884 points.
A brief report. of Dr. W. V. M. Koch,
Iuspecting Medical Officer, on the Po Loung Kok in 1903, is published in the Gazette. The report is satisfactory, and the general health of the inmates is stated to have been good. Only
two deaths occurred during the year.
Nove from Prompork on the 20th April states that King Norodom of Cambo·lia was in In precarious condition and was unable to tako
food. His death was hourly expected. The successor is L'Obbarach, a brother of the King
The following is from a S. Petersburg jour alWe sincerely wish that as many of the Mikado's subjects JUB possible may be landed without ceasing, day and night, at the greatest possible number of points on the coasts of Corcu
and China. Not one of thoms will roturn."
sion are sold throughout the Far East and are are seen in the steady growth of maniciat House of Commons on the 18th alt.. said the
invariably preferred on
excellence.
account of their indebtedness, and the increasing desire to indulge in municipal trading, often to the
THE MACHINERY in nes embodies every
improvement known up to date.
ABSOLUTE PURITY is guaranteed.
THE BEST MATERIALS only are used,
WATERS MANUFACTURED BY US are acknowledged by the leading English makare to be equal to those of their own
production.
LIMITED.
THE HONGKONG DISPENSARY.
ESTABLISHED A.D. 1841.
La1545
↓
serious detriment of the towns themselves. The effect has been to plunge the various towns in financial difficulties, and in order to meet their new engagemonts every source of revenue available has been exploited.
Earl Percy. mplying to a question in the
agreements between Great Britain and Siam dependencies in the Malay Peninsula ars strictly confidential and it was not intended, iz
dofareaess to the wish of the Siamese Gevarn- meat, to publish them.
As many readers have mistaken the defendant in the case of Northcote v. Rainjalin. heard
TELEGRAMS.
"DAILY PRESS" SERVICE.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS,]
THE WAR
THE JAPANESE LOAN.
LONDON, 5th May, The now Japanoso lean is for £10,000,000, of which £5,000,000 will be issued in London and £5,000,000 in New York,
THE BALKANS.
LONDON, 5th May. Lord Lansdowne, roplying to Earl Spencer,
many of the beasts suffer severely from to longth of the journey, and some die, before half the journey in accomplished. At Charbin all tla horses ure paraded before an inspector, the sick and dying are removed from the trufu, and those which are beyond recovery are morcifully
killed.
JAPANESE LOAN ARRANGED confessed that the progress of the reforms in the remarked that the Japanese regiments of guards
LONDON, 6th May, 19.55 a.m. The Japanese Loan has now been Five millions are to be arranged. issued in London, and the same in
New York. The loan will be for seven years, will bear 6 per cent. in terest, and is issued at 933.
PORT ARTHUR CUT OFF,→
Balkans was disappointing and, if not recotar-' ated, that we might be confronted by a
situation of the gravest anxioty
MR BALFOUR BEFORE THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE.
LONDON, 5th May. Mr. Balfour, speaking at the Primrose League meeting, dwelt on the dimoulty of inducing the
Porte to offect reforms in Macedonia, and declared that the Government would not allow themselves to be mado a calapaw by the revolu- tioneries, who would rather that genuine roforms failed than succeeded, if it did not go the whole of the length they wished,
ALEXIEFF LEAVES.
Mr. Balfour referred to the onormous value LONDON, 6th May, 10.55 am,
of the Anglo-French Agreement, which be balioved was permansit, and that what The Japanese Ficet is now behind
might at first appear a hasty diplomatic Laotishan, while the Japanese trans-construction would become a solidified bulwark ports are at Pitsuwao.
against the invading tide of war, rasisting all chonges and chances besetting international
Admiral Alexieff has left Partnerangements.
This of course, rather than any desire for at the Supreme Court and briefly mentioned in Arthur to join the netive army.
our issue of Saturday, to be Mr. Ahmet justor incidence of taxation, has been the Eumjahu. member of the Sanitary Board, wo exciting cause in this new proposal to taxare asked to state that the defendant was Sheik land, values; in the present temper of muni- | Abstool Rainjuhn, who is not in any way related, cipal wire-pullers the effect would not be to Mr. Ahmet Rugajahn. to reduce taxation, but to afford a new basis
The United States consus estimate for 1903
3.716.000; Chicago. 1,874,000; Pliladelphia,
1,368,000: St. Louis, 600.000.--Router.
The Women's Christian Temperans Union of New Jersey, where there are many seasid resorts. lave decided to start a crusade against mixed public bathing, as being improper and corrupt. A visting Englishwoman told the Temperance Union that she was shocked by the public bathing conditions in America, which
would not be permitted in England.-The visit- ing Eaglishwoman wanid. we suppose, de more "shocked" were she to come to Hongkong in the bathing season.
THE PRICES are only half these charged for municipal extravagance to be as reck shows the population of the United States, lessly made use of us have the old sources excluding Alaska and the annexed islands, to in England.
of revenue now pledged to their utmost amount to 79,900.000. being an increase of limits. Gradually the various municipalities (3,906,000 since 1900. The estimated poulations are being unpleasantly reminded that the of the principal cities aro:New York,. expansiveness of their resenues has become a thing of the past, and that fuancial roie or heavy retrenchments are the only alter natives offering. The new suggestion to increase the burdens on the atepayers, A. S. WATSON & CO. though brought forward under the specious pretext of equalising burdens, is felt to be merely a new device for raising more money, and though a small majority passed the second reading there was exhibited but little inclination, having endorsed the rea- sonableness of shifting an unequal burden, of proceeding further. Historically the | example of Shanghai affords but little sup- port to the contentious of the home muni cipalities. The practice of taxing hand values was originally the only source, with a fee for landing cargo, of municipal revenue, but in those days there was no diffe- rentiation between owners of land and resi. dents. It was not in fact for many years that the idea of any distinction arose. The only objects of expenditure in those early days were the making of a few roads, actual- ly necessary repairs to jetties, and one or two small bridges, and these were naturally undertaken by the owners of the various lots. When after a generation the dwellers in rented houses came to be a class of their own, and needed such luxurios as lighting, police, cleansing, &c., it was felt to be unfair that the landlord, now often absent, should have to bear the entire brunt of these new
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG OFFICE : 14. DEVEUX ROAD OI, LONDON OFFICE: 131, FLEET STREET, E.C. HONGKONG. 9TH MAY, 1904
did not in appearance seem unreasonable, was arrived at; householders for the first time came to be taxed for luxuries which in the progress of events had become neces- sarice, but as a set-off were admitted to full participation in the municipal councils, now no longer of land-renters but of rate-
payers.
On the 11th March last Mr. THE VELYAN, Liberal Member for the Elland Division of the West Riding of Yorkshire, introduced into the House of Commons a Bill for the taxation for local purposes, over and above present sources of revenue, of land values. The Bill proposed, according to the summary given, as its main principles that in case of undeveloped property the real selling value of thể land should be the basis of taxation for local purposes, and that laud values should be rated separately from buildings, the land value being taken at an amount equal to 3 per cent. on the selling value. | fangled innovations, so a compromise, which Mr. RUTHERFORD, who seconded the motion, recommended the Bill to the receptance of the House on the ground that it would stimulate building on land which was now kept out of the market. Doubtless Mr. TREVELTAN in introducing the Bill to the notice of the House flattered himself, not only that he was a reformer of the first water, but that his scheme introduced into Municipal Finance an entirely new and hitherto unthought of principle which be, a reformer by a long hereditary descent, had the privilege of being the first of mortals to introduce to the notice of municipal man. Alas! for such a conception; an ancient philosopher has said that there is nothing now under the sun, and Mr. TRÐVEGYAN'S grand scheme is no exception to the rule. With the exception that we must read five per cent. instead of three, owing to the higher rates of interest prevailing in Asia, the scheme of land taxation towards municipal expenses has for some sixty years been the
The appointment of Mr. P. N. H. Juues as rule in Shanghai, ever since, in fact, the first Vice-President of the Sanitary Board is notá- foundation of the settlement, and constitutesfied in the Gazette. a very important factor in local taxation. Of the amount of nearly one and a half
million taeis raised during the your 1003 the sums accruing under each head were in the following proportions:-Taxes on land direct, 20.6 per cent.; taxes on houses and buildinga, 42.8 per cent.; wharfage dues,
BESOBRADOFF STARTS EAST.
LONDON, 6th May, 10.55 a.m. Admiral Besobradoff has left S. Petersburg for the Far East.
TENGHWANGCHENG RE-
WAR NOTES.
PORT ARTEUR BLOCKED.~~~JAPANESE OFFICIAL NEWS.
The Japanese Consul has kindly transmitted the following telegrara :--
Admiral Tego reports that the combined fleet effected on the 3rd May the third blocking oporation against Port Arthur, The gunboats Akagi und Chohei and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th destroyer flotillas, and the 8th, 10th and 14th torpedo-boat Botillas. with steamers, started out on the 2nd instant. A strong wind soon arising greatly hampered the movement, The Commander ordered a stop in the operation; but the order did not reach, and eight steamers proceeded and made a dash for the harbour, despite the enemy's search-light, fortress-fire. observation mines, and mechanical mines,
Five steamrors gained the harbour mouth. ALL. SOUTH OF MOUKDEN IN especially the Mikuwa mara and the Totomi
JAPANESE HANDS.
nur, who, breaking the hoom, reached the
PORTED ABANDONED,
LONDON, 6th May, 10.55 a.m. It is reported that the Russians have abandoned their position at Fenghwangcheng.
LONDON, 8th May, 2.20 a.m.
I
It is reported from S. Petersburg that the railway and telegraph south By means of an ingenious arrangement of of Moukden have been cut and that abbreviations, a writer in the Gaulow has attempted to describe the social and political the surrounding country is in the state of France at the present time. He declares hands of the Japanese.
A.B.C. (alaissée). that:-The Nation is: Respect for France is: F.A.C. (eface), Artey D.P.C. (dipecdca). Justice is: and Navy are: P.C.D. (décédée). Most of the Deputies are:
Faith is o.T. (ôté), Commerce is: .c. (baissé). i.r. (acholes). Liberty is: F.M.R. (éphémère).
The price of food is: LV. (élevé). The ruin of the country will soon be ; H.V. (acherée).
Jenkins
On Friday night the R.E. Non-commissioned Officers Mess gave their concluding dance for the season in the R.E. Theatre. It was a very enjoyable affair, about 75 couples being present. Col. Sergt. Fielding and Sorgt. supplied the music, and the duties of M.C.'s were carried out by Staff-Sargts. Walslow and Taylor. Supper was served during the oveuing. Sergt. Major George, who has done much in promoting theatrical and musical entertainments in connection with the corps, made his farewell appearance before leaving for home, and got a hearty send-off.
Bunke.
of banknotes in circulation and of specie in The following returns of the average amount
resorce in Hongkong, during April aro cortified by the managers of the respective Banksy-
Average Spocie in Amount, Reservo. Chartered Dunk of India, Aus- tralia and Chiɔu.............
3,437,362 2,200,00 Hongkong and Shanghai Bank- National Bank of China, Limited
ing Corporation 11,900,703 7,408,000 407,603 150,000
Tulal..... $15,835,072 9,350,000
$
This, and not any doctrinaire scheme of shifting burdens, was the explana tion of the fact that burdens have been distributed in the baby community of Shanghai in a manner which well excites be performed by the band of the 53rd Burms The following is the programme of masiv to the jealousies of the older home municipali-Infantry on the New Parado Ground from 5 to ties. Still it is wise to remember this 6.30 p.m. to-day- difference, that while the process in Shang- hai has been one of natural growth, the new scheme of Mr. TREVELYAN, though seeming by identical, bears all the external marks of artificiality.
Lieut. W. A. Crake. H.K.V C.. has been granted six months' leave of absence.
It is notified in the Gazette that Lient. K. M. Hodgson, Sherwood Foresters, has been appoint ed A.D.C. to H.E. the Officer Administering the Government, with the rank of Captain.
Two more fatal plague cases were reported up to noon on Saturday, both victims being Chinese, one at Kowloon City and the other found on the * 12.1 por cent., and licence fees, 24.5 per cent.Praya East foreshore.
One of the crying evils of modern municipal
Holy Trinty Church, near Kowloon City, has finance is undoubtedly its growing extra-been licensed for the solemnisation of marriages, vagance, and with the present incidence Holy Trinity is the church of the Chiness falling almost exclusively on house property, brunch of the Anglican community in Hong and amounting on an average to upwards | kong.
FENGHWANGCHENG CAPTURED,
LONDON, 8th May, 2.20 a.m. It is reported that Fenghwangcheng fell into the hands of the Japanese on Wednesday after fierce fighting, with heavy losses on both sides.
ADMIRAL STOESSEL'S CON. FIDENCE.
LONDON, 8th May, 2.20 a.m.. Admiral Stoessel in a speech at Port Arthur expressed his confidence about the place holding out.
ALEXIEFF AT MOUKDEN.
LONDON, 3th May, 2.20 a.m. Adoniral Alexieff has arrived Moukden.
THE TIBET. MISSION.
BATTLE AT GYANGTSE.
at
LONDON, 8th May, 2.20 a.m. On Thursday the Tibet Mission attacked Gyangtse with success. The Tibetans lost March... "The Uhlan's Call". Eilenberg 250, the British only two wounded. Selection. The Toreador... Caryl & Monckton Lancers.The Army and Navy"
Mazurka... "Slavonic Danco"...... Karoly Klay Selection
Talbot Follet
Vale A Chinese Honeymoon
"Loveusé".
"God Save the King.
***... Alla
REUTER'S SERVICE.
THE WAR.
LONDON, 5th May.
further inside.
The entrance is considered effectively blocked, at least for ernisers and battleships.
Three other steamers were sunk before rench-
ing tho mouth.
Our flotillas remained till morning and
JAPANESE ON AUSTRALIAN HORSES. A semi-ocial telegram from Linoyang says tint in the engagement at Chong Ja it was
were mounted on superb Australian horses, very different from the sorry lacks usually met with in the Japanese cavalry. The Cosmicka were able to capture several of the snomy's horses." The slowness of the Japanese advanco has been attributed by some commentators on the war to the "wretched nature of their horses” The pursuit after the battle of the Yalu afforded no | proof that the cavalry were badly mounted.
THE WEAK POINT IN A JAPANESE SOLDIER
We have beard a great deal in the way of praise of the Japanche soldier lately; his courage, his sobriaty, his discipling, and his smartness, have all been mentioned, ramarks a London paper, and we have boen told how the thick-uot little soldier can carry his knapsack and march for miles at wonderful apred. A French army surgeon, who has spent many years in China and Japan, has lately drawn attention to a point in the Japaússe Atkins which seems to have escrped most writers. He asserts that "ce petit colense a des pieds d'argic." The Japanese soldier, he says, who is so hardy in enduring fatigue, full short of being a good soldier on account of his feet. Western civilisation, which has penetrated into the land of the rising sun, scams to have spoiled the value of the Mikado's army as regards the man's feet, and it may be asserted that the foot of a Japanese is loss easily adapted than is his brain to European ideas. The silk hat, the dress coat, the eyeglass, and other items of fashionable it is different with foot-goas. In short, the ma- costume, have been adopted without diffenity; but tional Japanese foot is ill at ease in a European boots bastens, on his return home, to get rid of shoe. Every Japanese who wears European those instruments of torture, and to pat on instead the straw sandals or wooden pattens to which he is more accustomed. And the peasant. who, until his enrolment, has had his feet
perfectly free, is not far short of being a cripple when he has his feat in a leather case. In 1900, in the campaign against China, the
៤០៛
Japanese troops had but little matching to Manchuria, the marones were often long and but in 1895, during the campaign in painful, and the mumber of men who became
lame was considerable. Many of the soldiers. and evon some of the officers, murched in straw sandals, which, of course, are no protection when the thermometer is 40deg, below zero, as it is in winter. in Manchuris. The French surgeon conclados by saying that in Manchuria
rescued half of the crews of the sunken victory will go to the army with the soundest steamers
Torpedo-boat No. 67 had her steampie bit and disabled, but was towed away by torpedo- boat No. 70.
feet.
THE LIAO NEUTRAL LINE.
A Russian violation of the neutral line. west of the Liao river, recently, according to a
The destroyer hotaka was damaged in part reliable dispatch from North Chinchou quoted
of her engines, but is safe.
The flotillas casualties are three wounded. and two killed. No other damage was done.
TELEGRAMS TO SHANGHAI.
The N.C. Daily News publishes the following telegrams -
in the N.-C. Daily News, almost brought on a conflict between themselves and Guneral Ma Yük'un's troops stationed in the vicinity on several occasions. General Ma telegraphed to
Peking reporting matters and asking to be
allowed a free hand to deal with the Russian
Waiwupu refused the permission, talling the invaders, but, as usual, the timid othcials in the General "to keep quiet," theraby making the declaration of neutrality west of the Liao a dead lotter.
JAPANESE REFUGEES,
that the casualties in the Imperial Guards Divi- "Tokyo, 3rd May. The latest returns show sion were less numerous than in the others, the whole list being little longer than the former estimate of seven hundred. The capture at one stroke of twenty guns in the Russian artillery hase at Kiulienchong was largely ine to the
The following telogram dated 2nd April was Twelfth Division, which advanced via Sukuchia. received in S. Petersburg from Mukden:- theint from which the Japanese crossed the According to the report of the military admin- Yalu in the China-Japan War Contrary to the istrator of the province of Heilnds, the 237 Division skilfully forded the Ai Kiang, a tribu-chensk arrived at Tsitsilar on the 31st ult, and Russian belief of its impossibility, the Twelfth | Japanese who were invited to leave Blagovest. tary which enters the Yalu east of Chiulien-left again for Irkatak to-day. In reply to the cheng."
| administrator's questions, the Japanos declared Tokyo, 3rd May-All non-combatants karo themselves unanimously satisfied with the treat- erpoucted Dalny, and all official documents and ment they have received during the journey, articles of value have been sent away from the which they said, was made under agreeable cou- city. It is learned at Tokyo that the guns onditions. They had no complaint to make. They board the disabled vessels at Port Arthar have were given permission to send letters through
been transferred to the land defences."
Tokyo, 3rd May. The Emperor, in his message, says that ho warmly appreciates the distinguished services of General Kuroki and Rear-Admiral Hosoya."
Tokyo, 3rd May-The Japanese newspapers are exceedingly gratified at the destruction of one corner of the Muscovite pyramid, but urge that the completion of the work is still a long way off, and it would be a mistake to be over- sanguine."
NEW TYPE OF DESTROYER.
A S. Petersburg report states that in a small shipyard between S. Petersburg sud Orani- enbaum a destroyer of a new type is being built for the Russian navy. It is of a similar pattern A telegram from Tibet, dated 20th April, At a dinner of the Japanese Society at which to the Cobra, but somewhat stronger in con- states that the Viceroy of India has telegraphed Viscount Hayashi prasided, M. Suromatsu strustion. It will have double bottom and sides, to Colonel Younghusband and all the members declared that the Japanese would never aur-
the intervening space to be filled with oil. The of the Mission, congratulating them on having reader while a drop of blood was left in their boat is designed to steam 500 miles with coal, reached Gyantse in the face of diffloultios up- reios. Many thought that Japan was unable to and a further 450 miles by means of this oil, exampled in warfare. The message has caused carry on the war for economical reasons; he It will be built of a metal less rigid than that rauch satisfaction. Of the Tans Garrison 26 admitted Japan's wealth, was limited, but it was used for the Cobra. The designers believo it died in three months, the result of anavoidable not so limited as outsiders expposed. Viscount exposare. Large conveys of sick and frost-Harashi said the Emperor and the people of bitten men are sent down every month to Indis. Japan would be maeb rejoiced at the warm man, Those that have reached Gyantse represent the ner in which Britain had shown her sympathy, survival of the fittest, Gyantse plain forms
LATER. the basin of four valleys-a kind of vortex in General Kuropatkin has asked the Red which the whirlwinds and hurricanes loaded Cross Society to mead 2,000 more bads for the with heavy dust tear through the can very Military Hospitals at the frout. day. To-day the towers at the gateway of the fort were blown up. The General and Staff are returning to Chambi, leaving the Mission with strong escort. Local rumour credits the Lassa Lauas with attempting to raise a fresh army in the Khan Province.
the autume.
WITH A RUSSIAN CAYALLY TEAIN.
the Russian post to Blagovestchensk in order to ascertain the condition of the sick who were left there. The Japanese doctor who accou panied the refugees asked for and was given medicaments for the sick. The Japanese ap- peared to be in good health, and were quite calm.
· EMPLOYMENT OF BEIGANDS AND CONVICTS.
The Kotnische Zeitung lust month published the following telegram from 8. Petersburg -- “It is reported from Harbin that two Russian officers have organised flying detachments of Chunchuses to operate against the Japanese. Opinions differ as to the advisability of this measure, which is opposed in many quarters. Á from the Caucasus, who wish to expiate their forco of irregulars, consisting of 200 convicts
crimes by fighting for their country, las arrived at Harbin and been despatched to the Yaln River. In Sakhalin a scheme is also on foot for forming a militia out of the convicts con find there,"
RUSSIAN FORTIFICATIONS. According to advices received at Moscow last
will thus be able to resist the action of the month from Vladivostock, the Russian sappers waves, and escape the fate of the Gabra. The have completed the fortification of a line ex- boat will be finished in time to join the fleet teading through the towns of Taipin and which leaves the Baltic for the Far East in Taka-shan, in Southern Mancharis, and artillery was being brought into position there. A similar entrenched lino has been made The trains conveying the Russian cavalry between the towns of Liseyang and Feng- regiments from S. Petersborg to the Far East hwangohong. These lines of fortification, it stop several times during the journey in order was stated, ronder the headquarters of the FORT ARTHUR INVESTED. that the horses may be exercised. When the Russian Army at Mukden almost impregnablo.
LONDON, 5th May...
special stations which have been built along Big guns are also already being mounted at The Japanese have landed at Kinohau, forty
the line for this purpose are reached the horses Mukden itself. The Grand Duke Michael is miles from Port Arthur; the railway is consere removed in couples and given a good run expected at the seat of war at the beginning of quently closed, and the investment has begun.
across the country. In spite of this precaution, the summer.