INTIMATION
A. S. WATSON,
LIMITED.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, MAY 20TH, 1909.
conflict in several important particulars with statements made in Council by His Excellency the Governor, we deem it to be in the public interest to make some farther reference to the matter.
4
First, however, we would like to make an observation or two upon Mr. STEWART'S & CO. somewhat airy statement that it is a common experience in such undertakinge that the We know that to estimates are exceeded. be a fact in several cases where the under takings have been entrusted to the Crown Agents for the Colonica; but can Mr. STEWART produce, apart from these, any a short line of railway has been more than WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS instances where the cost of constructing
JESTABLISHED A.D. 1841.-
WATSON'S
E
VERY OLD LIQUEUR SCOTCH
be now
we can find nothing in the official payors to support the suggestion that His Excellency imperfectly represented the matter when he stated that he had been assured that the altorations in the alignment would involve
no extra cost whatever."
Nor are we able to reconcile with the official information Mr. MURBAY STEWART's explanation of the increase shown in the "One latest estimate for the tunnel. reason" he writes" for the increased cost of Beacon Hill Tunnel is to be fond in the varied character of the excavation, aud another in the phenomenal hardness of the sitating the use of specially heavy drills, rock wet with in parts of the hill, necos.
double the amount of the original estimate? With the defence of the constructing engineer the community has been made
would
in aequainted. It teresting to learn what the Consulting Engineers have to say on behalf of the engineers whom they sent out to make the preliminary survey and the estimate which has proved so hopelessly inadequate."
"How rough an Mr. STEWART writes: estimate it was [that Mr. BRUCE made) way
of
an enormously increased use
It is true that the Chief
.
The average
and explosives." Resident Engineer in his latest report when showing that his 1907 estimate for the tunnel is exceeded by $1,300,000, says this great increase is principally due to the unusual hardners of the rock, but this seems irreconcilable with the statement that the cost of tunnel-driving was very much reduced during 1908.. costs per lineal foot of heading, enlarging WHISKY be gathered from Is Excellency's comment and bricking in during the year were in relation to the earthwork. $70.49, $140.86, and 113.54 respectively. $134.00, $275.00 and BLEND OF THE FINEST PURE He said it is difficult to know exactly what Up to December 1907 the figures were
Late Mr. BRUCE had calculated at, because approximately MALT WHISKIES DISTILLED
no drawings or calculations of quantities $221.00 respectively." His Excellence and rates wore supplied with the estimates."the Governor in conveying this in. to the Conncil remarked On this we may remark though these formation drawings and calculations wore not supplied that if it were pot for these very large it does not follow that Mr. Bruca's reductions per lineal foot the excesses would not made on a careful have been something be dreaded to con estimates were calculation of rates and quantities. Itemplate. is not said-in-the-extract-quoted that the
IN SCOTLAND
OP
GENUINE AGE
AND
FINE MELLOW FLAVOUR.
PER DOZEN
$16.50
ROBT. PORTER & Co's BULL DOG BRAND
GUINNESS' STOUT IN PINTS AND SPLITS.
Ha kwaing fatally was reported to TELEGRAMS. THE NEW PORTUGUESE MINISTRY.
Hongkong police on Tuesday. About 8.30 in the morning a man fell overboard from the steam launch Seagull and was drowned. The body has not yet been recovered.
: A fine of $200 was yesterday inflicted upon n native by Mr. Hazeland for having been found with a quantity of opium in his possession" Defendant told the Magistrate that an excise officer hud pat the opium in his house, but the police officer said this was not true, the fact
selling opium. being that defendant carried on a business in
Another case of infringing the rights of this
Protected by the Telegraphia Menazge
Copyright Ordinance, 1891.)
(DEUTEK'S SERVICE TO THE "HONGKONG -DAILY (PRRSS."]
THE TSAR'S CLEMENCY.
LONDON, May 18th,
By command of the Tsar General
The Times correspondent writing from Lisbon on April 12th, stated i
It was sanonneed on Saturday, after wany false alarma, that Sonhor Tolles had succeeded... in forming an Administration with the support of the groups led by Senhor Henriques and Admiral Amagal; that he would adopt the programme of his prolecessors; and that he intended his Government to be one of “liberty, appeasement, and administratënë n
Of the new Ministers, the best known, in Senhor, Joao de Azevedo Continho, a former Governor of Mozambique, and late Civil Governor of Lisbon. He is credited, with t is
spirit of enterpriso in Colonial affairs which
much needed. Senhor Soares Branco, who wis
Postmaster Genoral came before Mr. Komp at Stoessel-and Admiral Nebogatoff have returned to Parliamout for the first time two
the Magistracy yesterday when a Chinees was convicted and fined $100. It appeared that on
Tuesday a steamer brought down somo anátemp. ed tettors from Kongmna and were handed by the ship's runnor to a coolly who was caught delivering them by Inspector Gourlay.
A Japanese committed suicide in a most determined manner at Youmate on Tuesday
night. His body was found Boating in the. harbour off the Kowloon coal stores, with the throat eat. As his clothes were found on the shore at Yaumati, and as blood was visible near the place, the inference is that stripping off his clothes ho sat his throat and either jumped or
fell into the water.
The American Navy authorition will make another attempt to sell the merchant skip Zafiro which, for saveral years has been useless to the Commodore Dewey a few days before the battle Government. The ship was purchased by of Manila to obtain the coal aboard her to
been released, as the imprisonment in the fortress of Sts. Peter and Paul has seriously affected their health,
THE CHINESE RAILWAY
LOANS.
LONDON, May 18th. ' Reuter learns that the British in- terests represented in the Berlin con- ference are in the circumstances satisfied with the result of the Chinese railway negotiations.
HONOURS FOR CHINESE DIGNITARIES.
LONDON, May 18th. The Kaiser conferred the Order of the Crown on Tang Shao Yi and Prince Tsai Fu, on the 15th inst.
years ago, brings to the Ministry of Finnuen The experience and training of an ofeer of Engineers: Senhor Cabral, brather of the Inte
Minister of Marine, is a polished gentleman of much Parliamentary and abainistrative experi-
ence,
It
and has lately been Rector of Coimbra University. Cuaut Castro Bolla is an old Parliamentary hand and an authority on jurisprudence. Since the list was published the polition!
of these gentlemon has complexion beon rigorously canrassel in the Press. bass bon pointed out that Count Castro e Bella is. cousin of Senhor Henriques, and that Senhor Continho is a personal friend of Admiral
ther fact that the Minister of Public Works was Amral; but neither as they facts, nor the far- orcon Regenerador, can disguise the thoroughly Prints character of the Cabinet as a whole. What becomes, t then, of the policy of concentra
tion 2
Strange to say, in theory this is a Cabinet of-concentration, the lineal descendant of the Amaral Cabinet of a year ago, in which all the Mounrelick partisa were united against D foeble and discredited Opposition. Since the defection of the Regeneradores under Senhor Villena in November, the theory has not corresponded with the fict; and their exclusion from représentation in the present Cabinet finally reduces it to an bandity. The truth is that we have two parties in presence as of old, but whereas formerly they liey now really feel some of that hostility to one governel in turus by amicable arrangement,
nuother, which thoy profess.
enable him to take his fleet in the Philippines from Hongkong. The Zafiro was an old hulk, even when Dewey paid for her. The price paid is reported to be about $1,000,00, After the close of the Spanish-American war the little ship was brought to Dramerton and JAPANESE ROYAL VISITORS ing of Parliament the Opposition will renew
have been made to give the ship to the Army, placed out of commission. Several attempt to use as a cable ship, but the Army officiale, after inspecting the craft, declared her 10-
seaworthy.
IN RUSSIA.......
There are many indications that on the meet-
their demand for an inquiry into the sets of the late Finance Minister, and that they will take no refusal. It appears that the Chamber, hay- ing once passed a resolution against the inquiry, LONDON, May 18th.not free to reverse its
But there decision.
is Prince and Princess Nashimoto nothing to prevent Senhor Esprogaeirs from moving in the House of Peors for an inquiry into his own acts. Such a vindication of his have gone to St. Petersburg.
character may not be necessary in the opinion. of moderate and reasonable men, but it would deprive the Opposition of a powerful weapon, and strengthen the hands of the Government.
While we have felt it to be our duty to estimates were not based on calculations of point out how the statements made in the quantities and rates: it is merely said that official reports conflict with those in Mr. Mr. BRUCE did not supply these to the Go- MURRAY STEWART's letter, we are no more verament. Tas original, estimate set out competent than the local Committee of the how much was estimated for earthwork, how China Association to express an opinion much for tunnels, for bridges, for the perons way or the other as to whether manent track, and so on, and in the absence the Colony is being called upon to pay of any statement to the contrary, the for the Colonial ssation of the How at Washington, was the cause of what GERMANY'S NEW TAXATION. estimate has to be accepted as one by which, loon-Canton Railway "considerably more in the opinion of the experienced export than the work is worth"* who made it, and the Consulting Engineers do conceive it to be a public duty to who approved it, the Colonial Government suggest in view of what the Governor could safely ho guided.
Mr. STEWART in his letter makes much
ALB
but we
BD-
most "the described Phas
satisfactory showing of the estimates of
Chinese
H.E. Wu Ting Fang, the Chinese Minister
described as Btook Exchange joke at New York It is reported as follows:-- For a
LONDON, May 18th. quarter of an hour yesterday a fearful panic
Owing to the rejection of the Gov- reigned in the New York Stock Exchange; brokers bowled and dashed madly about the erument's taxation proposals it has floor, waving memorands and shrieking all kinds been decided to adjourn the Reichstag
orders. Wu-Ting-Fang, the Minister, was in the Strangers Gallery, and until the 15th June. Meanwhile new
the rate of sixty a minute. Then the pan-matches and property. demonium ceased, and it was explained that the brokers, knowing that the Chinese Minister intended to visit the exchange, arranged to give him some ides of what a rent panic was like. They, therefore, temporarily suspended basi□ess while pretending to "knock the bottom” ent of the market. The sole reply of Wu-Ting-Fong was: "Envy you Americane; we Orientals are
WOULD GIVE UP THE PHILIPPINES.
"Opposition to the Payne tariff- bill amendment on the part of the Democratic
providing revenues for the Philippine islande
A. S. WATSON & CO. of the fact that "the alignment which Mr. that the Colony, which has to pay watched the panic and the firing of questions at bills will be drawn up taxing coffee. has become gack upon it are anticipated by
LIMITED,
ALEXANDRA BUILDINGS.
Hongkong, 26th April, 1909.
{29
NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. ONLY communications relating to the news
be assured on
Bruce proposed [between Lokloha and the bill, is entitled to Taipo], and on which this rough estimate competent authority that it is not paying was based, bad subsequently to be altered extravagantly for the line. The Unofficial because the typhoon of September 1906 members of the Legislative Council early showed the shore edge to be unsafe." Mr. last year manifested a good deal of auxiety STEWART proceeds to explain that the on the point, and asked the Government for change of aligament, removing the track out of reach of the sea, entailed much heavy cut. ting nut contemplated by Mr. Bucs, and the boring of three additional tuanols, of which that undertaken at Taipo is in itself n considerable enterprise." The inference to be drawn from the statement is that this new alignment was responsible for an enormous increase in the cost of the line. Orders for extra copies of DAILY PRESS NOW, Ou this point His Excellency should be sent before, 11 am. on day of publication. After that hour the supply is the Governor in a report he made to the Limited. Only supply for Cash
Telegraphic Address: PRERS. Cours: "A. B.C. 5th Ed. Lieber.
colunin should be addressed to THE EDITOR,
Correspondents-must foncurd their names and adtresses with comuzonications addressed to the Editor, not for publication but as evidence of good faith:
All letters for publication should be written on one side of paper only.
No anonymously signed communications that have already appeared in other gapers will be
inserted
P. O. Bor., 34. Telephone No. 12."
BIRTH.
ANDREW Founes, if a daughter
Legislative Council on February 6th 1908 said: "The alterations which I have des cribed in the alignment of the railway, I am Assured, involve no extra cast whatever, and Or the 18th April, at Folkestone, the wife of the Chief Besident Engiarer says he is that the Comenlting 1751 perfectly certain
this Engineer will bear him out of statement." What are we to make of these two contradictory assertions-that of the Chairman of the local branch of the China Association and the statement in. His Excellency the Governor ?. We have bean
HONGKONG OFFICE: 104, DES VEUX ROAD LONDON OPPIOR: 131, FLEET STREET. EC
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, MAY 20TH 1909.
the fullest possible statements on the subject, The Hon. Mr. Kaawicя thought "a most unsatisfactory state of affairs had been revealed, and the action taken by the Hon. Mr. Hewitt and, the Hon. Mr. OSBORNE OD that occasion indicate that they were much of the same way of thinking. No Unofficial Member of the Council has made any public reference to the matter since reports on the progress of the work have been the Legis. periodically subunitted to lative Council, and in view of the letter published by the Committee of the China Association it would certainly be learn from the Unofficial interesting now Members of the Council whether the reports laid before the Council during the last sixteen months lave served fo romove from their minds the impression which they have evidently heretofore entertained that the Colony was being called upon to pay excessively for the work.
In order to make the position clear we Lold that His Excellency's statement append a summary of the original and the
such an emotional lot. "
Captain Tamplin and Mrs, Tamplin were embossed rosa bowl on an sbouy stand, socompnaied presented on the 13th inst. with a beautiful by an illuminated address to the captain on the
ore of their departne for home. The presenta tion was made on board the L-C. B. Tung Sing at Chankiang by her genial commander Cant. Stalker, as representative of the Captains and
THE LABOUR TROUBLES IN PARIS.-
a
LONDON, May 19th: The General Confederation of Labour has placarded Paris with fervent appeal for a general strike to-day in support of the demands of the employes in the Postal Service.
THE BRITISH BUDGET.
LONDON, May 10th. The House of Commons has passed Officers of the Indo-China Steam Navigation the resolutions increasing the stamp
duties Co's foot, in the presence of numeroas shors
The Rt. Hon. Lloyd George, kad seafaring friends of Captain and Mrs, Tamplin. The address read To L. H. for the Homeland on a well-earned holiday, we, that the duties would drive capital Tamplin Esq. On the occasion of your leaving Chancellor of the Exchequer, denied the masters and officers of the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company's teamers, consider it a out of the country. most fitting opportunity to express our appresis- tion for the many kindnesses, which, se the Company's representative at Wabu and Chin- kiang, you hare shown towards us both in and out of business. For all times sake wo ask you to accept the accompanying piece of plat in
CHINESE POST OFFICE RETURNS.
Senators and i
the Senate Committee on Finance. On that account this section has been laid aside to be considered by the fall committee.
Senator Stone of Missouri wants to strike out of the Payne bill section 5, providing for free trade with the islands, with certain limita- tions upon the amount of sugar and tobacco that may be imported in any one year. The Stone amendment will provide that the United States must define its policies, with reference to the
Philippines and hit a limitation, not more than ftees yours hence, upon American control of the islands. It provides that the United States
the shall then withdraw and deliver over government to the Filipinos. Under this amendment, this country would be required to make treaties to secure the independence, and neutral.estion of the islands.
The Stone amendment is to become oporativa, when it has been approved by the Philippine Assembly.
SEA ROMANCE.
Something akin to A Robinson Crusoe romanes to lie belfind the following advertisement, published in the Liverpool
Daily Post"..
Wanted, a respectable sailor who has sailed with Captain John Benjamin Warren, late of the font-master barque Silberhorn, who is supposed to be lost, to go to Valparaiso to identify the above-named mat. For particulars apply to John Gray Spring House, 17. Slyne road. Skerton. Lancaster."
The report on the working of the Imperial
The precise motive of the advertisement is Chinese Post Ofice in 1908 has been completed, not of coarse apparent, but some information is forthcoming which invests it with a singular Again, as last your the operations show an unprocedented expansion. The improvement of interest. The Liverpool ship Silberhorn, an the organization, the facilitation of interproving iron-masted barque of 1774 tons register,
conveys an imperfect impression, by reason lataat estimate which will show at a glance romen:brance. Trusting Mrs. Tamplin and cial communication, and the acceleration of belonging to Mesara, C. De Wolfe and We do not know whether the public has of its brevity, aud that what we really under what heads inorones in the estimate Fourself will enjoy prefect health and have sa delivery by a courier servies working day and Tower-buildings, sailed from Newcastle, Now
been as satisfied, as doubtless it has been interested in reading the defence of the Railway Estimates published in our columus yesterday over the signature of Mr. MOREAY STEWART as Chairman of the Hongkong Brabeh of the China Association. The members of the Committee we are told "have no valid reason to suppose that the cost of the actual work done in excessive, and this being so, they protest against the advocacy of the belief that there has been gross 'mismanagement in the construction of the British section of the Kowloon Cantou Railway." In the opening paragraphs of the latter it is mentioned that the prevalence of this impression`is indicated by certain Press comments upon His Excellency the Governor's speech in Council on the increased estimates. o far as we may be concerned in this cominent we have only to ran say that we trente fetaid, tad-donot
has occurred:
Survey Land
Tunnels Earth work Bridges and culverts
Salaries, Quarters and
Ollices, Furniture Office Expenses Medical, House Charger Ballast and perinea -
ent
way... machinery Buildings, station
meant was timit the new alignment would cost no more than the old when account is taken of the additional expenditure the typhoon experiences had shown would be necessary in constructing the line along -shore. Tint may be so, but the sea in the statements on the railway laid officially before the Council not one word has ever been said about "the several legsolie taught by the typhoon of September 1906,” and the only references we can find to the alteration of the alignment ratior suggest that the change was decided upon before Heade
Tolegraphs the typhoon occurred. The Chief Resident Fencing Engineer arrived six months previously and Workshops His Excellency the Governor informed the Plant (including roll-
*ing stock on arrival, the Chief
Home Charges Council that Resident Engineer, after making a detailed Accounts survey, decided to run the Ine from the eighbourhood of Shatin to Taipo-somewhat were inled than had bees arranged in Mr-
tare
ME: BLUCE MR. Eves.
$37,642 $ 42,277,65 $ 10,500
1,530,997. 1,924,860 412,650
165,000
716,625.
farni-
315,000
enjoyable holiday is the sincere wish of all."
HONGKONG CINEMATOGRAPH. 1,195,879.20 The Filipino glass eating wonder, Professer 2,268,176.05 3,499,824.69 Vicento Komppo is still attracting admiring 1,0 2,614.50 audiences, who do not cease to marvel at his weird accomplishments, for to sea a man jump and throw himself upon a heap of brokenfbottles and rise southless in indeed a remarkable sight. 534,885.56 His appetite for glass chimneys is as yet un- appeased and he continues to devour them with 864,259,25
evident gusto. A new series of pictures are now being shown and add a pleasant diversion 494,998.47 to the programme.
84,979.84
40,399.45
26,971,42
60,000.00
691,540:10 74,478.29 42,843.53
5,053,274 11,004,129,00
WEATHER REPORT.
This Hongkong Observatory yesterday issued the following report
On the 19th at 11.55 a.m.-The barometer Larisen quickly in E. Japan, and fallen slightly at the stations around the Eastern Sea.
Pressure is relatively high over the Pacifie
South Wales, for Iquiquo with a cargo of coal in June 1907. She was reported sabsequently on July 16, 1907. in 408., 140 W. since when she has never been heard of. She se commanded by John Benjamin Warren, who resided in North Lancashire, and had a crew of twenty- three samen and four apprentices,
then noted cau again be recorded. postal contas now cover 38,000 suilas, of which 68,000 are courier lines. High credit is due to the Pustal Secretary and the small body of foreiga employes scattered over the Eraptre for training the Chinese employes and organizing this remarkable extension of cu efficient service
From time to time rumours have come to The only regrettable feature of the administra tion is the method of compiling the statistics hand as to the vessel having been seen at sea. according to the Chinese and not the foreign At one time she was apposed to be on fire off. year. In 1907, in deference to Chinese wishes, the Straits of Magellan. At another she had the antiquated Chinese calendar was substituted been sightest off the island of Juan Fernandez Intense -the home of Robinson Crusoe. for the foreign calendar in which all the Customs reports had been compiled since the
Majesty's Government dispatched a croiser to institution of the Customs. By this calendar interest was kindled in her disappearance. His year ended on January 1, the previous search for the Silberhorn along the coasts and the
having ended on February 1, 1906. The flands whence the reports originated, hat no number of post offices open in 1991 was 176. trace of the bargue was found. At the end of There were 2,803 open in 1907, and 3.493 is twelve months compensation was paid to the 1908. The number of postal articles handled in surviving relatives of the crew under the Mer 1901 was 10,000,000. The number
chant Shipping Act, the mate's widow 168,000, 00 in 1907, and 232,000,000 in 1908, receiving as much as £300. The number of parcels was 127,000, weighing
By the authority of the Probate Court 250 tons, in 1901, 11920,00, weighing 5,509 tons, Captain Warren's brother was appriated in 1907 and 2,445,000, weighing 27.155 tous, inadministrator of Captain John Warren's estate, 19 8. The Time.
www
ATEST STEAMER MOVEMENTS.
the 21st ultime of noon, has arrived at Genoa on the 18th instant at 10 a.m.
The NYK. str. Colombo Maru (Bombay Lins) left Bombay for this Fort via Singapore on the 15th inst, and may be expected here on the 3rd prox.
which amounted to a considerable sum. It is now reported, whether correctly or not it is impossible oven to conjectare, that Captain Warren, of the Silberhorn, is net deul: Relatives have, it is stated, received information which has led them to publicly invite sailors Valparaiso, and there identify him. This theory whe had been with Captain Warren to go out to
is that Captain Warren was tast away at sea, took to some interior locality in the wilds of Bolivia, lived there a nomadic or mining life. that he amested i considerable fortune, and ultimately made his way to Valparaíso,
in the neighbourhood of the Bonins, and over The C.N. Co.'s str. Taming left Manila the Upper Yangtze Valley. It is low in Nthe 18th-inst, and is due here on the 21st inst. Korea and res the Pass to the East The 1.6.M. str. Gochen which left here on
Gradients are slight in the Fouth, and slight Variable winds may be expected in the Formoss Channel and the N. part of the bius Sea
Hongkong rainfall for the 24 hours ending at 10 am today, 0.00 inches.
The forecast for the 24 hours ending at noon
How To DE BEAUTIFUL-Keep your con- to-day in as follows >----
Variable winds,
- light; fair.
plexion, Mrs. Ellen's Creme Charmante, Luit Hongkong & Neighbourhood
Sazhe as No. 1.
Charmant and Special Skin Tonic and Poudro Charraunt will enable you to do it. Her Formosa Channel
Same as No. 1.
The CPR str. Empress of Ching left Specialities for the Skin are the study of *, Hongkong and Lamooks: South coast of China between
Yokohama at noon on the 18th instant, for lifetime. A. 8. Watson & Co. Ltd. Sole Agents, Samo ss No. L Victoria and Vancouver.
1453 South coast of China between Hongkong and Hainan...
Sir Fielding Clarke, Chief Justice of Jamaica, feel competent to assert, that there has been BRUCE's." What the Chief Resident Engineer formerly Puisie Judge at Hongkong, has Japan. any "gross mismanagement." in the con- himself said on the subject in his report to aired in England. struction of the line. We do think, however, 31st December, 1907, was simply this-The. that when the estimated cost of the con- original ligament was very far out in the struction of the line is more than sea, enclosing large tidal areas. The bridges doubled a prima facie case exists for necessary for letting the water out would a searching enquiry into the causes in all have to be founded on wells which would the interests of the community which have been very costly requiring a large has to pay the bill We are somewhat amount of plant." There is nothing in this reluctant to enter upon a criticism of Mr. statement to suggest that Mr. BRUCE had MURRAY STEWART's defence of the estimates, not calculated upon this costly method of as this defence appears to us to carrying the line along the sea shore; and
"but
Five cases of plague all Chinese were reported This brings the. yesterday, three being fatal. total for the year up to 62.
Heavy penalties were yesterday imposed at the Magistracy or a Chinese who was convicted of having taken Equor on board the steamer Loksun without permission and alec selling liquor without & Liveuse On the first charge he was fined $25 and on the second $100.
The str. Suruja arrived at New York on the 18th instant.
The C.P.B. str. Monteagle arrived Kobe at 6am on the 18th inst., and left again at 4 p.m... same day for Yokkaishi whore she is due to arrive at 10 am on the 19th inst