,
A. S. WATSON & Co. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DRUGGISTS,
GENERAL CHEMISTS,
AND
Manufacturers of the following AERATED WATERS, viz: SODA, TONIC, SARSAPARILLA, AND POTASH, LEMONADE, GINGERADE, RASPBERRYADE, AND PHOSPHORIC CHAMPAGNE. Deliveries in Town and Harbour from
A.M. to 7 P.M.
SHIPS' MEDIGIENE CHESTS REFITTED, PASSENGER SIUPS SUPPLIED.
Prompt Altention given to Coast. Orders.
HONGKONG DISPENSARY,
HONGKONG. SHANGHAI PHARMACY,
SHANGHAI
CANTON DISPENSARY,
THE DISPENSARY,
CANTON.
FoocHow.
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TITE
Hongkong Telegraph.
HONGKONG, 25TH July, 1881.
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH-MONDAY, JULY 25TH, 1881.
had good reasons for believing, were not satisfactory. We unreservedly withdraw everything which Captain Thomsett may consider an imputa- tion against himself as a private gentleman, and as a Government Officer, stated or implied; and in doing this unsolicited, we are simply performing an act of justice to a public servant, who as Emigration Officer, we are fully convinced, has always performed his duties, accord- ing to his lights, faithfully, honestly, and to the best of his ability. Captain Thomsett cannot be held responsible for the existence of the present state of affairs with regard to the examina- tion of emigrants, however unsatis- factory and imperfect the system máy be. The Government, and not any individual colonial officer, is solely responsible. As there can be little doubt that emigration from this port to the colonies and other places has been tainted with many evils, it is incumbent on the Government to see that all examinations are conducted with a strictness to defy imposition in any shape or form; and this, we think, can only be properly done by an officer who understands the Chi- nese language, and whose time is not taken up with other, and more im- portant duties. Captain Thomsett,
We
are informed, does not speak Chinese, and we know that, as Harbour Master, Marine Magistrate, and Customs Officer, he is one of the most hard worked officials in the Gov- ernment service; and it is on these grounds, and on these grounds alone, that we consider a change in the Emigration Department would be beneficial to the public service.
With special reference to the Por- tuguese clerk, of whom we said: whose honorarium from the state hardly places him in the position
assigned to Cæsar's wife," we need the attention of the Government to only state that we wished to draw the fact, that at times very important. duties were entrusted to a miserably paid clerk, instead of to a highly paid and responsible officer, whose position would place him beyond the breath of suspicion; and that we had no intention of imputing improper motives to a gentleman whose position was his misfortune, not his fault, and who for aught we know to the contrary, may be a paragon of Government servants for trustworthi- ness, and efficiency.
port selected is Port Arthur in the Gulf of Liao-tung, to the northward of Ta-lien-wan Bay, the bay which the British selected as the base of their operations in the north in 1860.
It is reported that a considerable outlay is required before Port Arthur can be rendered suitable for the purpose intended. In the meantime the vessels are arriving, and only some three and a half months re- main before the communications with the work close, so that the Chinese have no time to lose in making the necessary provision they should have made before.
*
The German steamer Welle, from Keelung, picked up seven men and two women, Chineso, on Saturday forenoon drifting about on a raft and brought them ou to this port where they will be taken care of by the authorities of the Tung Wah Hospital.
The French mail steamer Tanais went into the Cosmopolitan Dook yes- terday morning, and the II. C. and M. Steamboat Company's steamer Kiz Kiang steamed over to the Kowloon Docks. The steamships Octava and Tung ting are booked for Sam-sui-po to-morrow.
NAVAL AND MILITARY.- The double- screw steel armour-plated torpedo ram LOCAL AND GENERAL. Polyphemus has been launched from Chatham Dockyard, in the presence of match for the championship of the ceremony of christening being per-
The six days
go as you please an iminoase number of spectators, the world, between Charles Rowell, of formed by Mrs. G... Trevelyan. It is Chesterton, England, and Edward Pay-officially announced that a vacancy son Weston, of Providence,, U. S. A., exists for a Retired Assistant-Paymas- was commenced in Loudon on Juno ter at Hongkong Naval Hospital. · 20th. The competitors were started London and China Express. at one o' clock in the morning by Cap- tain Astley (brother of Sir John Ast- ley the donor of the Cup), in the pre- sence of a large number of spectators, amid great applause. Rowell took
the lead from the commencement, and
at 3 p. n. on the 22nd had covered 278 miles to Weston's 201, the Ameri- can at this period of the match, having completely broken down. The actual result of the match, with the winner's score has not yet reached us, but the latest telegram states that Rowell had the game entirely in his own hands.
With reference to the above match a telegram dated London June 23rd, states that Mr. Dwyer, of New York, this afternoon offered to match Rowell against any three men in the world, for six days, the three men to take up running when they liked, for a purse of $10,000, the winner to take all the
gate money.
We have been favored by Captain Lightwood of the s.s. Albay with the following account of a typhoon which was experienced at the North end of Formosa, on the 14th and 15th
instant:-
A typhoon of sorue violence passed over the North end of Formosa on the 14th and 15th inst. The bar. readings in Tamsui were, midnight 14th, 29° 51' with a steady fall till 9a.m. on the 15tb, when it reached 28° 78-wind began at E.N.E. and backing to North with 16th, two hours calm, when the wind bard typhoon squalls-7.40 a.. 011
Westward, gradually backing to S.W. came with great violence from the The water rose in the river 6 føet above high water springs, doing a good deal of damage to roads, jetties &c. At Tuatatia, a settlement 8 miles S.E. from Tamsui, the lowest bar. read
ing was at 8 a.m. on 15th, when it reached 28° 75' with wind at S,W, typhoon violence, the calm in Tuatutia lasting a little over half an hour be- tween 7 and 8 a.m., showing that the A large number of janks came down vortex passed over both settlements, the river having broken adrift, and stone jettios, and it is feared a good were smashed up against some of the many lives must have been lost.
From a telegram dated Havana, June 21st, we note that a tribunal ap- pointed to inquire into the couduct of alleged insult on the Governor General. the Correspondencia de Cuba for an in the execution of his official functions, had sentenced the erring print to a fortnight's suspension. It is lucky for at least one of our local journals, that freedom of the press as understood under Spanish rule, does not apply to Hong-5 kong.
a.m. on 15th with bar 29 68', wind The a.s. Albay left Amoy for Tamsuiat Westerly, after leaving the land wind backing to S.W. with bar 29° 59′ We observe from one of the London (lowest reading), middle of channel papers that "in consequence of the re-blowing gale from S.S.W. and South, fusal of the Kent county authorities to nearing the Formosa coast, gale increas- pay for the removal of bodies found in ing with heavy confused sea. the Thames, corpses are now floated up meter rising. Arrived at Tansui 1 a.m. and down by the tide in pleasing var- on 16th and found the above typhoon iety; the boatmen positively refuse to had just passed over probably in a land them. The river Thames, ladies N.N.W. direction and might have and gentlemen, is situated in Christian struck the main land, somewhere be.
tween Soochow and Wenchow.
Several rumours have reached us during the last few days that certain remarks which appeared in our art- icle on Chinese Emigration to Aus- tralia, in the Telegraph of the 12th instant, have given offence to Cap- It is our desire to conduct this tain Thomsett, and one of his sub-
journal honorably, and impartially, ordinates in the Emigration depart-in the interests of the public. Gov- ment. It would appear that these ernment servants, as well. as other gentlemen consider that our observ-public men, are always amenable to ations reflect unfairly on them as fair criticism. Beyond that we do officers of the Government. We not wish to go, and we rather desire gladly avail ourselves of this oppor- to err on the side of leniency. But England, not in a barbarous country to
tunity to assure Captain Thomsett and the Portuguese gentleman (whose name we have not the plea sure of knowing), that nothing was further from our intention, than that our remarks should be so construed as to reflect in the slightest degree either on the Emigration Officer or his clerk. Captain Thomsett is well- known as an officer of high character and distinguished ability, and the
in even the most carefully edited newspapers, a phrase or expression will at times creep in unnoticed which may tend to injure, or give offence. In all such cases, we ask our friends who feel aggrieved to lose no time in stating their griev- ance, as we shall ever be ready to acknowledge our errors, as we shall be to lend our aid to put down abuses of every description.".
which we send special missions, Bibles, and codes of morality."
The sale by public auction of Gov- ernment Inland Lot No. 622, at Wan- tsai will take place this afternoon at 4 o'clock. The lot contains 2500 square feet, the annual crown rent is $43,56; and the upset price $500.
The Lambda, one of the new Chi- nese gunboats recently arrived here, took her departure yesterday for Can- ton where it is intended she will be stationed. The Chinese Naval Com- mander-in-Chief in Canton Waters, accompained by a number of high officials, will inspect the ship and wit. ness the working of her guns at the Bogue Forte. The Iota and Kappa present will wait hero for orders. are destined for Tientsin, but for the
cminent services he rendered his .country in the Royal Navy for a period of over 21 years, have been Two illustrations of a disposition equalled by the admirable and efficient on the part of the Chinese Govern- manner in which he has served the ment to put the "cart before the Colonial Government in Hongkong, horse," in the adoption of foreign as Harbour-Master, Marine Magis- appliances, reach us by last mail trate, and Customs Officer since 1861. from the north. The shafts of Coal In the article which is said to have Mines have been sunk, the workings given offence, we hazarded an laid out, and everything made ready opinion to the effect that the em- for commencing an output of coal
The British steaner Ningpo, Cap igration officer's examination (of the on a considerable scale, when it is Chinese emigrants in the Glamis discovered that the water commun-tain Cass, arrived here yesterday from Castle), was a thorough farce, must ication to the neighbourhood of the Shanghai, reports having passed the German bark Peter off the Tung-sha he patent to every one who knows minos is so shallow that considerable anything of the manner in which dredging operations will be needed light ship, dismasted, but making hor
way up the river. these sham examinations are con- before any large quantities of coal ducted"; but we utterly disclaim can be sent forward from the mines. any intention on our part that this This difficulty was apparent from should be construed as a reflection the first, and should have been either on the character or compet-provided against long ago. ency of Captain Thomsett. matter of fact, we distinctly stated that the Governor was the officer who was responsible for the exist ence of a state of affairs, which we
As a
The other matter. has reference to the fleet of war-vessels the Chinese are gradually acquiring in Europe, for which they are now thinking of providing harbour protection. The
Owing to the breaking down of the of the mails from Singaporo by the P. & O. stourer Pekin, and the despatch Deucalion, the mails for Yokohama will be put on board the Sunda as early as possible after their arrival here, and that vessel will be despatch. ed immediately they are received on board.
Baro-
The Assault on the Seperin-
tendent of the Gaol.
An enquiry was opened in the Su- perintendent's office, Victoria Gaol, on Friday last by Mr. H. E. Wodehouse, to investigate the circumstances under which one Wong Afuk, a prisoner under sentence of penal servitude for seven years, committed an assault on Monday evening last on Mr. Tonnochy.
The only evidence taken on this oc- casion was that of Mr. Tonnochy, who detailed the circumstances of the assault pretty much as they have already been reported in those columns. He de- scribed the character of the prisoner as that of a very bad man.
He was ad-
mitted to gaol on a sentence of seven years penal servitude on the 8th May, 1880, and. since then no less than thirty-five offences against the discip. against him, nineteen of which wore line of the prison had been recorded committed during the current year. On the morning of the day on which tho assault was committed, the prisoner was ordered to be placed on rice and water diet for insubordination, and he was noticed on loaving the office to look so hurd at Mr. Hayward, Chief his officers to "take care of that man, Warder, that Mr. Tonnochy cautioned and ordered him to be searched. The prisoner was a very bad tempored nan and was continuously fighting with other prisoners. Mr. Tonnooby request- ed that no additional terra of imprison. mont be given to the prisoner as that
would only exasperate the man still moro, but suggested that he be dealt with undor Ordinance 4, of 1863, as amended by Ordinance 7, 1880), so as to make an example of him to the other prisoners.
The proceedings at this stage were adjourned till Saturday morning, when Dr. Ayres, Colonial Surgeon, gave evidence as to the nature of the wounds received by Mr. Tonnochy. He said. there was a small abrasion on the top of the left side of the forehead, and a larger one on the left cheek bone. From the eyebrow to the chin the flesh was contused. Ho had seen the weapon with which the blow had been dealt, and considered it possible, but not probable, that it might kill a man by a blow on the temple. He did not think that in the generality of cases a blow, however hard, on the temple with the weapon would kill a man, He considered Mr. Tonnochy now al- most recovered.
The prisoner said he did not intend to kill Mr. Tonuochy.
Mr. Wodehouse then said: I think that, having arrived at this stage of the proceedings, I may at once state that
consider this a case which cannot bo dealt with under the Gaol Ordinance; it is a case far too serious and far be
and the kind contemplated by the or- diauce, which is simply an ordinance for the management of the Gaol, and its discipline. I find that under section 12 it states, if a prisoner be guilty of any of the following offenes: As- swearing, or using indecent or violent. sault and battery; profane cursing or language; indecent, irreverent or disorderly behaviour; idleness, or ne- gligence in work, or wilful damage to or mismanagement of it; willful dam- age to any cell, ward, or room, or to any Gaol furniture or property whatso- ever-in any of these cases, with the work, the Superintendent of the Gaol exception of idleness or negligence of
may call in the Magistrate to enquire
into the case, and the Magistrate has
power to order such prisoner to bo and water, or rice and water, not ex- placed in solitary confinement
on bread ceeding 14 days. Or, if the prisonor be under conviction for felony, or has, within the three months next previous been guilty of a similar offence, to per- sonal correction, not exceeding 36 strokes." In this case the evidence so
far has gone to show that a very ser- ious assault has been committed upon the Superintendent of the Gaol, and 1 think it is an assault of a kind not con- templated under the section I ha recited. It is true, no doubt, that the under the 12th section is suitable, pro- punishment allowed to be inflicted vided that personal correction be given; but at the same time, in dealing with this case I have to consider, not only whether the punishment is suitable, but whether it is adequate; and I do not think that what amounts to a serious crime, if proved, can be dealt with as an ordinary breach of gaol discipline, punishable in the way set forth in the 12th section. I think therefore that the Superintendent of the Gaol should charge the prisoner with a criminal offence, and bring him before the Magistrate at the Police Court.
Mr. Tonnochy: A recommendation should be made to the Governor.
Mr. Wodehouse: I shall rocord it here.
Mr. Tonnochy: I have already given my opinion as Superintendent of this Gaol that I think these powers are quite sufficient. The prisoner is already suffering a long term of imprisonment, and I do not think any further im prisonment would be suitable. The Supreme Court has no power to give corporal punishment.
Mr. Wodehouse: I may add that tho prisoner has, according to the evidence, been guilty of 24 gaol offences, and that the Superintendent of the Gaol Magistrate to deal with prison offences, has at all times power to call in the
ample, that corporal punishment should in which he considers, for salto of ex-
be administered, and that he might have done it before with the samo pri- soner. In this caso, however, the of fence has been one of a very serious. criminal nature, and I consider that the interests of the gaol must be subordin ated to the interests of the public at large. For those reasons I do not fool that I am competent to deal with the caso under this ordinance.
Mr. Tonnooby: I do not soo what the public at largo have got to do withTM
1