THE PUNJOM COMPANY.
An extraordinary meeting of shareholders is the above Company was held at the offices on the 23rd inst., for the purpose of confirming resold tions Authorising the issue of preference shares, passed on the 8th fast. Mr. J. Orange présided, and among those present were Messis. D. Gillies, E. L. Wo:dia, T. E. Davies, (Directors) D. W. Smith.-H. Sampson, H. G. James, G. Holmes, T. Meier, H. Daver, &c., and A. O'D. Gourdin (Secretary),
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1891.
import duty, which rose from F/A. Th. 5,868,263 in 1889 t H. Ti 6.528,914 in igo-an increase of Hk. Tit. 660,651, or 11 percent, One reason that the revenue is a less perfect measure of the increase is that foreign sloe, which pald so duty, was imported in greater quantity in 1890 than in 1859 by $300,000 piculs, valued at 5 million taels. Opium increased in quantity by 600 piculs, or, barely 1 per cent, and decreased In cest by 13 million taels, crabout 5 per cent. Cotton goods bounded upwards in value from 36 million taals in 1889 to 45 million taels The resolutions (which have already been 1890, an increase of 35 per cent. In these published) having been confirmed serialim, find woven cotton goods of nearly every The Chairman continued:-As there seems to of Increase and expanding in quantity and in texture efected with the general contagica be some doubt in the minds of shareholders an to the exact meaning of the preference shares vale; while cotton yarn, and more particularly which we propose to issue I would explain that that from India, pomed into Chins in higher they are cumulative--that is to say supposing ratio of increase than ever beretofore, having unr earnings in one year do not meet the fall risen from 678.558 piculs in 1889 to 1,081,495 dividend of 13 per cent the noosat due the piculs in 1890, the latter quantity representing following year will be increased correspondingly. 19 millions of tacir of money's worth and a For instance, next year we are not likely to pay increase of 6 millions of taels, or 50 per cent. dividend, therefore the year after preferentialking for colton yarn, whose import has grown over that of 1874. The spreading la China of a abareholders will be entitled to za per ceat. on their investments, Then again from 108,360 picule in 1373 to 228,cos piculs in they will have a preference on the assets of 1883 and to. 683,468 plculs in 1888-dombling the Company, and these are considerable, as, itself every few years—and has now attained the even if our concession reverts to the Gorcia magnitude of over 1,000,0ce picals, is full of ment of Pabang, the cost of the surveys and happy augury for the success of the mills of the debt owing by the London Company will China now beginning to turn Chinese cotton surely be enough to more than satisfy the fate yarn. Of metals I find that iron of all kinds amount of preference shares. I would like maintained a steady consuraption of 1,100,000 to state, for the information of the shareholders, picuis, and its congener, steel, rose from 39,900 (who perhaps don't like to wade through what to 56,000 picals, an increase of 43 per cent.; letters we get) that we bare, exceedingly but it is noticeable with steel that the Import encouraging news from the mines. At Gubau, very variable, its weight, in plculs having where Mr. Blamey is now; he is making been 50,000 in 1856, 17079 in 1887, 51,000 in extremely interesting discoveries, and he is 1888, 39,000 in 1889, and now 56,000 in 1890. working on ten-ton lode which he hopes A few items in sundries attract attention, to put through shortly. He says he has made a namely coal, raw cotton, dyes, ginseng, window discovery of three-ounce coarse nuggetty gold, glass, matches, needles, kerosene oil, rice, and of free milling quality, in that respect mech sugar. Coal fell off in quantity by 64,000 tons, superior to the samples hitherto obtained, which
or 17 per cent, and yet more coal was burned were rather refractory. I think this is the first in 1890 than in 1889-a fact which may point to time in the history of the Company that we have the increasing out-put from China's own coal- discovered free coarse gold, and as there is a fields. The foreign raw côtion imported was rather strong lode of it Mr. Blamey attaches 35.000 piculs, or 30 per cent, over that of 1889, much importance to the discovery. Mr. Hardy= | and yet in China the 1890 harvest of cotton was who writes "I am not given to writing or speak splendid and the farelge export of it 200,000 ing unadvisedly"-thinks the prospects of the
picals less than it had been in 1889, when the Company are assuming a more hopeful aspect
harvest was a failure: such facts defy ready during the last three months, and I sincerely prehension. The quantity of dyes increased hope that this may be bome out in the near by 3 per cent.; of ginseng, by 26 per cent.; of fature. I have not bad much experience of
window glass, by 58 per cent,; of matches, by the Company but I think the directors will bear 23 per cent.; of needles, by zo per cent,; and of me out when I say that Mr. Hardy, does not as a
kerosene oil, by 50 per cent, and these increases rule write or speak unadvisedly. At the Jalis comforts. Ofthe two other items, ane-rice-was indicate the acquisition by the masses of increased mine the small pump is working satisfactorily takes almost all by the Kwangtung provlace and and the larger pump and Roby engine are nearly fixed. Work is actually going on in the drives through the Kowloon Customs, It speaks and galleries, and by now milling is being marvels for the resources of that province that continued-of course in a small way, but that
can pay out raj million taels for food products will give us valuable information. We want
without any unusual scarcity being heralded additional capital to enable us to force the hand
abroad or indications of distress being brought of the London Company. We are in this post-to the notice of the outer world. And it is pro- tion—we can't send instructions to Mr. Brodie bable that had there been a free export of rice and Mr. Hewett to press the London Company,
from Wabu, Chiaklang, and Shanghai in the by throwing it into liquidation, unless we have early part of the year, "and in the latter part no need to send large supplies to the province of money to keep on the office and maintain our standing as a Company. We want capital to Chihil to combat the distress there brought Recover the debt due to un; if we force the on by the floods, much Landon Company's hand and give Mr. Brodio Instructions to proceed to the bitter end I think there is no doubt we shall get our money, and with that a small additional capital we should be able to put Jails on a proper footlag. An extremely long time has been lost through the fact of this unfortunate Company having ever been started, but seeing that it has been started, and now ewes us a considerable amount, I think it is the duty of every shar holder to subscribe a small proportion on his
this large payment
The surplus value of exports having been about 4 million tacle, the following were, as can best be ascertained, the net bullion movements for these years, nameir, an export of gold of Hk. Tis. 5.081.848 and an import of silver of H. Tis. 537.511. And there is a fact which has also to be reckoned with in this connexion. that China paid away in these years in foreign places considerable sums in repayment of old loads without contracting new loans, and in other official disbursements, as for arms, ships, etc. Moreover, the earnings of the foreigners and the prafts of foreign capital in China, when sent home, pass along the ordinary channels of commerce either as produce or as bullion, and are thus recorded in statistics as exports; for although the owners themselves may remit through banks, yet these, as the transmitters, make actual commodities or ballion the medium. But Chinese who have emigrated remit home largely in gold and silver coln, which are carried by passengers and so escape record in statistics as Imports. In the years 1887 1888 kong was $3,825,700, and the known export and 1889 the known import of golf into Hong of it to London almost entirely) was $10,593.980, or a difference of $6.7 1.280 in three years, a surplus the existence of which in Hongkong can only be accounted for on the supposition that it was brought from America and Australia by, Chinese passengers,
E. MCKEAN, Statistical Secretary.
Shanghai, 16th March, 189
BRITISH, NORTH BORNEO.
Sandakan, 12th April.
Steps have been taken to start a gun club at Sandakan, with traps and clay pigeons from England. Live pigeons will also be turned to account.
VI..
"Back to thy punishment
roof in
of
chop-sticks served out to the half-dozen inmates
the
czil. It must be intensely aggravating when an officer sneaks quietly up and appro priates the whole affair Fist an a light has been obtained, Very often, during the night especially, a sharp scratch will be heard in a corridor, as a prisoner, with a pen-nih and a bit of charred paper, but treasured cigarette, One of the most interest- and the door-post for a flint, tries to ignite a ruda ing sights is to be occasionally seen in the various yards. They are all covered with a light wire. netting, like a great hen-coop, but there are one or two weak points. A man whose time is nearly when it is likely that the officer will be. absent, up will arrange, on a certain day, at an hour to throw over a parcel of tobacco and Chinese Tweetmeats, on the off-chance of its reaching his but nine times out of ten it is ill-aimed, and any ex-mates. Over comes the packet, sure enough, thing more tantalising than to see the coveted articles lying on the netting just out of reach, with an officer proceeding to rake it in, you could not imagine. Of course the Chinamen pretend they haven't the faintest idea who sent it, or what it contains, so no one is punished.,
VII.
"The insolence of office, and the spurus
That patient (prisoners) of the unworthy take."
Hamlet, slightly altered,
having good and efficient officers. Writing of One of the most important factors in the proper conduct of such an establishment is the personnel of the Gaol in December 1888- when there could scarcely be any insinuation
*
of personal bias wrote that the officials
may truly be characterised as ignorant, láry,, and intemperate ne'er-do-weels, deficient in almost all the qualities which men in their position ought to possess. Many of the Europeans have brea bench-combers, the "walls and strays of the rum mills in Taiping "shan; the alleged Portuguese are as a rule "most feeble specimens of manhood; and thera "whom one would think hardly fitted to hold is a sprinkling of Indian and negro turnkeys the power with which they are invested."
boldlag to enable us to enforce our rights, cent, of which the falling off in tea dub departure, we suppose, as it must certainly reduce hard for it; if they do nothing they will get 17 tinels, as experience at Kennedytown has shewn, a prisoner. All for $10, $40,
Messrs. Syme & Co., of Singapore, have been instructed to close the list in a week, and wire. the amount subscribed, and the local and coast port list will close in ten days. Itirimperative that we should know as soon as possible whether we can continue the Company or not-it depends on the amount subscribed. I hope shareholders will do all they can-it would be most disastrous if we had to stop now. If anyone has any questions to ask I shall be glad to answer them. There being nose, the Chairman invited shareholders to shew more interest in the Com- pany by inspecting the voluminous reports: received from the mines, and the proceedings
terminated.
|
to them as the result of canses affecting European prisonera participate," according to our coming for his immediate release, just as the a distant gas-jet by binding together all the them in and far China, and that China has morning contemporary, was not an evidence triangles were being put up! no share in any ulterior increments of valan during my term of residence. As I have tried. of her exports, which are taken from her by vesto convey in previous atlicies, hard work, por sels owned by perple residing outside her brands dist, unquestioning obedience, and complete However, for this assessment, it has to be known silence are the order of the day-to offend is to False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings." that the market prices of foreign opium at Foo-sufler. Some officers will overlook the exchange chow, Takaw, and Lappa exclude duty and of an orcssional word-others will report a m likin, and at Shanghal alse; but the Shanghal almost for a whisper. To have failed to com
Paradise Lois Customs, to preserve continuity with its values plete the task of oakura-picking.. to drop of course the extreme punishment, ordered only The flogging to which I refered yesterday is of past years: when lees everywhere included the shot carry away fond for consumption in cases of unyielding refusal to work, or for the the duty, adds H.The 30 as duty to the market at leisure in the cell, possess price in calculating its values; and as the
anything most serious offences. Deprivation of rations, that, has not been served out, cast a con statistics fram which these fables are compiled temninous glance at an officer, move without
temoval from the campinionship enjoyed in are practically, even as regards opium, supplied asking leave all these things, and very many resorted to for ordinary offences among the associated cells, nad letters, are usually for the north and central China by the Shanghai more, constitute grounds fora report, and an rule Chinese. The fetters weigh about three pounds, office, out of the total import there remained only are taken full advantage of by the myrmidons and consist of chains affixed to each ankle and 30,923 plculs the prices of which included the who have been clothed in n litle brief authority. held up by the belt-little more than an incon likin as well as duty, and there were 904 For instancen man may ask another if it isn'tvenience, as the weater goes clanking about with picuis even the duty of which was not included nearly eleven Pa harmless inquiry, surely. them. On occasion cases arise which the Super- in the price. From the opium values, therefore, The officer need not say anything at the time, intendent considers deserve heavier punishment one has to deduct for duty and likin not the but simply fills up entire collection, but only so much of it as than one such) with the words "No.-, taking nearest Justices of the Peace is sent for. The form have seen more than ho canawiid, and. one of the were taken. What that amount was is easily o'cinek, No, is ordered, to drop his work and sentence of fourteen days "solitary" or 36 entered into the prices, from which the values in Urapen yard." Next morning, about nine
Court thus formed can paes a maximum calculated, namely, 30983 piculs by to H, join the batch of offenders against discipline who Tis: 3.406.530 by 35.759 by 30= HA. Tre dally paraded before the Seperintendent, couple of months.
strokes with a rattan. Such a case occurred a 1,072,770, or Hit. Th. 4.474.300, in all. There After waiting a whlie he is marched down to
B0 ago. On the eve of the are other minor allowances which must be made the office and, when his turn comes, is
Chinese New Year a plot to escape, devised by if exact results are wanted, but in this brief report pushed into a doorway to hear what he was
six or eight "shuemakers," was discovered it suffices to handle these statistics generally.
through an informer. The men had taken up à done, as described by the party in uniform. The value of the imports exceeded that of the What is alleged against him need not be true,
plece of plank in the cell-dering, and in the exports by over 9 million taels. neither including it will be all the same to him, for the golden rope, several sharp knives, a couple of crowbars, recess beneath had concealed about ten yards of treasure values.
If it is his first offance, and not serious, he is the night, under cover of the fusillade of crackers rule in gol is Don't believe a prisoner." a hammer or two, and so on. Sometime during autioned; if his second he will get anything from which resounded in the neighboring streets, a simple bread-and-water to solitary" (which large space in the brick wall was half-pierced, means the dark celt) for three days Bread so that with very little more trouble the men and water means also removal from the Eu- could get out when they chase. They would ropean yard to one's cell for the time allotted. then find themselves on the "lean-to But" solitary" la terrible. I was told that all the European yard, from whence it would be the cells were pretty well-supplied with vermin easy to drop on the unsuspecting Sikh who cells, situsted on the ground floor, are simply would be hat short, and then it would be but a in warm weather-I saw none but the dark drowsily perambulated his beat. His shrift crawling with blackbeetles, spiders, and other moment's work to scale the wall and join the Inathsonie creatures. A man who gets in there confederates who were in all probability nwalt. is practically dead for the next 48 or 72 hours; ing them on the other side. Unfortunately the Cimmering blackness surrounds him so com illness of the Superintendent precluded the pletely that he only knows it is night by the fact carrying out of a counter-plot, by which they were" that he has had his two thin blankets thrown in to have been seized by a strong party as they at 8'p.m., and by the unusual stiffness. A China- emerged from the hole, which would have been to-day, after twenty weeks of enforced Those, to a great extent, are my sentiments man doesn't mind it one bit; a sailor can stand it; more dramatic than to simply order them into observation. There are some thirty turnkeys but when (as I have seen with pity) a European another cell, examine the patched-up wall, and of various ranks—assistonti spcond-class, 'ditto accustomed to comparative luxury is sentenced take out the tools from the hiding place. The first-cins, &c., and they comprise (if I remember to be so immured be emerges a year older in latter was done, however, and it was then found rightly) 'nhout fur Englishmen. five Irish, appearance. And a magistrate can sentence a that several window-bars had been also-sawn five Spanish-Portuguèse-Chincie mestianes, foar man to fourteen days there, with only one day o through. A Court was convened next day, the Senndinaviane, one or two Italians and Malta, grace each week.
informer detailed the way in which the plan was The chief offences are talking and having perfected, and the ringleader was sentenced to of them have been sea-faring men-and boys, in American, an Indian, and 'a Rorbadian. Mikt tobacco. Be he who he may, almost, a prisoner 24 strokes, one or two of the more active received for half-a-dagen are but mere lads; and a few (I will get tobacco somehow. "Exchanging brend with Chinese is the general way of obtaining it.
a less number, and the remaining half-dozen say this without prejulies, for they were generally How they get it they alone know. Still, the
were committed to "solitary" for seven or frur-the most bearable in their attitude towards the fact remains that they do, and on occasion even
teen days. The informer was shortly afterwards prisoners) have themselves knows what it is to released-a good job for him in more than one wear the broad-anne.on another uniform to that a cigar can be come by. Chewing is the principal rense, as he stood a very fair chance of being they now possess. use the weed is put to, and I have known an knocked on the bead if he was ever again within Their lot is not an enviable one. Joining the officer suddenly seize by the throat a man whom arm's-length of any of his late companions, corps must surely be a last resort, for at "he he suspected of having a 'quid, and tell him to desperate characters as they were, guilty of outset the pay is only a pitiful $30 a month- open his mouth, to make sure. If the man crimes of the most seriaus description, and one barely enough to keep them In clothing and couldn't swallow quicker than the turnkey could or two of whom had already escaped once before, tobacco after their mési-charges are paid. They grab it was a case of very fraga! fare for the when in the chain-gang working outside are, when an day-duty, thirteen hours in next few days. Sometimes a few small plugs of An even more serious attempt was discovered in uniform, ubject to regulations hardly less strict cake tobacco will be thrown over the wall into past days-in 87, I believe. Several pounds than those which bind the wreiches under their the yard, and the officer will see them. He at of gunpowder were hidden under the floor charge. They must not smoke, nor sit down, once orders the men near by to stand up and of the tailors' shop, the idea of the men who nor speak (except in giving orders) to a prisoner'; strip, and proceeds to search, first them, and put it there being to ignite it by means of they are perpetually spying on each other, then their clothing. And yet in spite of all they a slow match, and, in the general suinto report any dereliction of duty; they cannot will conceal the treasured luxury sometimes. which they expected would carpe, effect their even call their evenings the'r own; all liquor. the foreign prisoners, especially for Idleness, and stripes were the lot of the Anarchista,
The Chinese are punished much oftener than escape. Some-one blew the gaff" however, has to be passed by the warden before it can when their relative number is considered. The Escapes from the Gaol itself are very rare, by a comparatively early hour, and sober, or they he taken into thefe quarters; they must be fu way they look at the matter is this-if they do though, I should think, by no menas difficult, are excludet for the night and fined for being their task, picking oakum or whatever it is, they The bars are sfender, the walls are negotiable, nut; and they are at all times liable to be will get a oz. of rice a day, and have to work and the chance of being shot be excited Sikh sen searched, with very little more ceremony than and that is quite as much as they want-espe- cially if they are only in for a week or so. So,
$50 a monthl are pretty remote. In the day-time the turnkeys The result is that they have to either conduct day after day, rumbers of them are arraigned lasses of an antiquated type no use for shooting moportion of their pay monthly. Yet they themselves only carry sword-bayonets or cut-themselves angelically, or forfeit a considerable for refusing to work, with utter indifference. If with bey, have risen to the dignity of a billet they though. A few years ngo-three or four, I at the card-parties at which the Euro
On occasion they find a use for them. Apurish-perhaps they live on their winnings are thore careful, as a slip will not only entail think-the rations of the Chinese prisoners were pean prisoners are allowed to participate," the lobe of the position but may consign the reduced. Some 70 or 80 prisoners promptly according to the Daily Press. offendey to crank labor for a week. All Chinese struck work, and, closing up, began to shout prisoners on penal labor have to work at "tal tal," and threaten the few officers present. crank, and torn a wheel, lifting a dead weight By promises of fair inquiry into their grievance won't do it, and, tying their belt to the bell-wire. of 12lbs., 13,500 times a day. Sometimes they the outbreak was averted, but the food-supply
Frequently they are caught, and reported for
was abbreviated just the same. Years ago Mr. or cell-gate, start to hang themselves. Tennochy, the superintendent in those days, "trying to strangle themselves." It is difficult prisoner working at the crank, and half-blinded, was lashed across the face with a chain by a to parish a man who doesn't mind hanging, but a caution may be given, or be may be threatened
and rumours were current but a few months ago that the flogging-superintendent then acting Mr. S. A. Korceski has, we learn, secured a the constable by succeeding. If it is a simple if his decrees were not less Draconian. As very with a flogging next time-if he doesn't outrun would very likely be treated in the same way concession for twelve months to prospect the of which several are known to exist. The late
case of point-blank refusal to work, his case is often one-tenth of the entire number of inmates shale and petroleum deposits on the west coast,,worse-he.fs almost certain to be logged. This were punished in a single day it may be guessed also published an analysis of the ofl.
used to be done fa public, but now-a-days the that this rumour was pretty well-founded. Until Mr. Frank Hatton sank a pit at Sekuate and docer and a few officers are alone present. I very lately the warden or head turkey had the had a quiet private view of one of these want to see another. A stalwart Swede (in the power reduced by one-half, very properly. a position to say very much. The European flagellations one morning, and I never
power to stop a man's supper for non-completion
consideration of some two or three dollars a
of his task, but Government has intervened, and which is sometimes alleged outalde, I am not in
As regards the "knocking the prisoners at cut
month extra) officiated, the instrument of punish- obtaining redresa, if his story is not exaggerated the sufficient reason that they would at once An ill-used prisoner has every opportunity of, prisoners certainly are not even threatened for ment being a ratlan about an inch thick and beyond the bounds of probability. Every report the officer,Bat the Cblacze could stands against an apparatus noteasy to describe; charge if they wish to see either, the Doctor or menthe beggars and hawkers and other five or six feet long. The recalcitrant prisoner moming the turnkeys ask the men under their tell some tales, especially the short-sentence it is something like a housemaid's pair of the Superintendent. Many avail themselves of petty offenders who are serving their week or steps," only that it is very strong, and there is the opportunity, and a long file of petitioners fortnight for lack of fifty cents. They are only one big rung, against which the prisoner daily Interview the kam fax, or "prian bead" provoking sometimes, certainly; they seem leans. His feet are tied to each side of the The object is usually to ask relief from crank to have less sense to the square inch than a flick ladder, and his bands triced above his head labor, or leave to write a letter or petities, or to of sheep; but the question is whether even sheep
present calls. out "One" he swings the with nervous firmness. As the head officer Ons man quite gravely inquired if he couldn't be don't understand him when he baa's "It is right-hand side, grasping the terrible tawsc. But I have heard some very queer applications thirty-dollars myrmidon solely because they cane with a loud swish, to take aim, promised by all the Celestial calendar that he right to complain to the Superintendent or the allowed out on Saturdays to see his family-he very seldom that they know that they have a cat with all his might, leaving long actually asked to be banged, instead of the know, that it is dangerous. Protective rules may then, sweeping it back into position, delivers would be back by Monday, sure. Another superior officials, and those who do know also red weal on the flesh, and generally Christianised party, then under sentence, to be, and are made, but whatever else the officers extorting a sharp "Hal" from the prisoner. whom I have already referred! He was sent to will do they will always combine to screen encha terrible preliminary swish-awish 1" falls on the Tellect. This willingness to act as a substitute blows are not given with good-will, but a soft same spot. The floggee is hauled up too tightly is usually regarded as "one of the things we spot is chosen the appellant generally gets to move, but h's body quivers in every fibre. read about," but I bave myself seen a good sent away with a prospect of bread-and- Before ball-a dozen (the usual number for example. A man whose blouse was numbered water for bringing a false charge, galost an refusing to work crank) are delivered the blood so-and-so was sentenced to crank labor. officer," And thenceforward he is marked endured his eyelids are often seen to close-the Well, next morning No.- went to crank, but made a misery. There was some talk begins to flow, and if more strokes are to be Punishment always begins the day after sentence. out for reports fanumerable, and bis ille only Indication be can give that insensibility has the sharp-eyed officer found out that it was or two ago of engisluz, xegular officers from усл
necessary. Without It discipline would be an extremely unpleasant to inflict, even, but it man who ought to be punished for a consider in Council, but there it stopped. And in the mercifully supervened. It is a terrible punishment, another man, who had changed clothes with the English prisons; I rather think a vote was passed.
unknown quantity among the horde of pirates both sent to crank,
ation. To prevent disappointment, they were meantime the shirtless dead-beat buttons up his and thieves who form so large a proportion
cost, gets the Superintendent to engage him. As a check on the Gaol officials' a couple of dons the uniform, and blossoms into ahir,” and of the inmates. A few months ago about Visiting Justices go round nearly every week-areformatory power! November last, for instance it was grossly one a Government servant, the other a plain To turn from officers to planners, I would overdone, foggings were of dally occurrence, an J. P. They visit every part of the building, like to ventilate one distinct grievance. Gordan, taore, mirefulger, Maler-General accompanied by the Chinese clerk,
who asks
Victoria Gaal,
the mark paraded
they
say, com plsiats to make. It is very seldom taken id, twelve months Imprisonment he knows
oh system adopted; 16,
min is centenard been dealt with by the Superintendent, and to marks a day, 50 long as he keres a work, and advantage of as a rule all grievances, have that he has 1450 marks to gaihu365. complain to the Justices of anything which the not reported, he is crell with marks head of the institution has not had brought fir diens, and so ob and his free tom in twi before his notice entalle panlahment on the com-thirds of the time. If he is in hospital, at all heið plainant. The whole performance is superfluous cares fire marks day, and when pa paalqument
Court of Appeal a prisoner's life might be made which must elapse before his time is up. But he but if the organisationere less perfect his record is lowered on a fix de la true would be a prime necessity, for without such a bare four mirks, thus Iengih'ning the prol as intolerable as if the Star Chamber of the bad caval and military prisoners, andthing equ old times had been revived,
In the Cipau or outs of Chip Hud j
man who was influential enough to have ready extended to the sandy for falk (if
The ingenuity displayed by prisoners to mud work. Ibrir foll, senten: 1 devices to amuse themselves is amazing. One mirely never com mplated when ile iysem picked pakum sinuggled into his cell, in exchange on the part of the powers that b: the mach for the raw material, constructed in regular steci leaden type, with which he arrived
seeker, a month,, mud, you. Our present weight. Often dominoes and cards scraped on of the letha gle Sicretary elegiace sanitary paper are found. A man will make a "minutes" evely few minihi, I'atppose—but li
at the proper Covernor is doux Aumeihingepak
pipe tút of a bit of bamboo, and get a light from le a mutter tant in justion calls for mong caurgetic home with
We are very glad to be in a position to state The first meeting of the members of "Borneo that Freemasonry has at last made a start here. Lodge" took place last Wednesday, and the formal consecration of the Lodge will be per- formed when the anticipated documente. arrive from the Grand Lodge of England.
of the Southern people for foreige rice would have been made to the people of the central provinces for home grown rice. The increase In the foreign sugar import may be illusory rather than real, as the refineries in Hongkong werk upon sugar which is accounted foreign when imported even though of Chinese origin, The steamer Memnon is about to proceed to The exports from Chins fell off in 1890, as Hoihow to bring coolies thence direct to British compared with 1889, by a value of 9 million North Borneo, In this venture we wish the blue taels, or 10 per cent, and the estimated duty funnel line and Messrs: Alfred Holt and Turner, paid on them by H. Ts. 759.392 or 12 per and all connected with them, every success. Planters one and all will joyfully ball the new represents Hk. Tis. 500,000; of silk duty,
Tr. 190,000; and of raw cotton duty, the cost of labour. The plundering of the coolies H. Ts. 30,000 Thus, tea fell from 1,877,331 in the houses of the Hongkong brokers and on picais, valued at H. Tis. 28,251.314, in 1889 to board ship in Hongkong barbour, if it ever was a 1,655.395.piculs, valued at H. 7 26,663,450, really, will cease, and this alone should reduce or by 212,000 plculs and H. T. 1,600,000 the first cost of coolie labour. It should also be respectively, or in value si per cent. This fallagade a ready means in getting a better class, away of the tea industry is a terrible loss to the assisting free or unindentured labour, preventing people of those parts of China to whom it has been the change nileged to be so frequent of unhealthy source of wealth in the past, and one cannot but for healthy men, and will remove the premium hope that the means may be found of building of free passages at present given to Hongkong it up agals to its old dimensions of Hk. 77^. ex-gaol-birds. 33,500,000 la 1886. Silk also fell off from a 38,355,905 in 1890, saya 6 million tacls, or 16 Talso of HA. TIs. 16,401,967 in 1889 to H. T.. per cent. This fois felt principally on white raw silk, of which 15,070 piculs leas went away million, tzels, and on silk piece goods, which dropped from 12,780 piculs to 9,858 plculs, or, 2,900 piculs, equal la value to Hk. 771. 1,750,000 the Cheriang and Kiangsu provlaces short of the Not only was the reason's yield of silk in
to have checked sales, and, by compelling average, but the rise in the value of silver seeme buyers to offer lower prices, had the effect of making holders of this article-which does not suffer by being kept, wait le hopes of a better market. There will be, perhaps, a larger export in this present year, either because silver will fall again or because holders of silk will accept lower prices. One sther promising staple 110,884,355 of the export trade, amely raw cotton, which 187,093,481 went to Japan in ever-increasing quantity of late 91,401,067 years, fall off by zco,so plls, or in money's $6,947,813 worth a million faele, equel to 40 per cent of the $7.144,450 1889 export to that country. I am told that this That very many diverse causes, laternal and backward movement, new ended, was the for ibis cotton in Japan, where a bad harvest, on the one hand, disabled the people from buying as usual, and Tadian yarp, on the other hand, strove to oust all other campetitors.
The foreign goods re-exported to foreign countries, practically to Hongkong, Japan, valued at H. Tis. 1,664,829, and were to a considerable extent goods seat back as unsuited to these markets. The reshipments to Korea of Scelga Imports, H. Tis. 596,147, were not, as formerly, included in re-exports to foreign countries.
· THE FOREIGN TRADE OF CHINA in 1340 than in 1889, representing a vale of 4
FOR 1890.
The following is taken from the yellow-book Just issued by the Statistical Department of the Imperial Maritime Customs:-
The foreign commerce of Chinain 1890 yielded a largely increased volume of imports and a largely diminished volume of exports sa com pared with that of 1889, and even, but to a less extent, with that of 1885. This result is at once shown if the three years' figures be ranged, alde by side as follows:-
f 1888, Hk. Th. 124,782,893 **Net Imporis, value, 1889, 1890 1828 Exports, value,mak 1889, (1890,
19
4
by the forelock this year. Count Geloes' estates The planters in Marudu Bay have taken time at now, Bundow, Bongon and Tandek are all cleared for the planting operations of 19gs, and will make an early start.
of a light-house. This has lately been opened Kudat is the first post in the territory to beast It is a good structure with four sides, and the lights can be seen distinctly from a long distance, The sportsmen of Kudat have inaugurated race-cousse and it is said will hold a meeting shortly. The course is about a mile round,
There are perhaps half-a-dozen men who are up to the standard of the Police the rest are a disgrace to the institution. Often have I beard more than one of them boast that he had "got through a bottle,, of brandy" the night before, and more than once I have known to leave duty and get sober In their dates where warders have been ordered quarters. And perhaps, five minutes before, these mes had set about reducing a prisoner's for a whisper-or for nothing! These are the food-allowance to bread-and-water for three days type of officers who make prisoners creep about the yards and corridors in a state of perpetual terror, vaguely fearing that the morrow will see them "run" on some ankaowa indictment,
external to China (g, the increased tea com-¡ consequence of a temporary ccreation of demand flat, and should in time become a very The flogger, divested of his cost, stands on the apply for a blilet in some industrial, department.ought to boxed and banged by a short-tempered
one.
purchases of exporis, . Without giving minuto | Rumisu Manchuria, and Great Britain, were luck on the estates to Marudu Bay. News TED" and the cane, afteriis almost equally reflect on the matter. In solitary, as far an 'I'other, and as, marks ise rarely lest—not that the
petition of India and Ceylon and the floods which swept the plain of Chihil and devastated a vast area of country), contributed to the result is undoubted, but one dominating cause was the rapid sise in the geld value of silver, which facilitated the sales of imports and retarded the details, I may record here that the telegraphic transfer price of the Shanghal taal on Londen rose by fitful movements from 4r, 31d, on 28th February to 53. 534. on gis September, a differs and thereafter fell to 4. Gid.
on 23th November, or 13 per cent, and we wonder that the export market langulaked and anfiered loss of volumes but it is foreign to the aim of this report to dwell on the places and the merits of the struggle between gold and nilver prices.
enco
enjoy a privilege Sandakan nad the East Coast Kudat and the Maredu Bay estates seems to have not yet realised that is in the spontaneous lies who of their own free will and accord leave arrival in Kudat of free coolles from China, cod- their country and land in Kudat to try their reached China, more especially from coolles fo Marudu Hay, that with this work a coolle can realise a good profit and this is no doubt the Incentive. There is no reason why the same good report should not emanate from the East Coast, and once this idea is established by ladit it will go far to a commencement of our ability patable facta (f., in the way of profits to coolles), to procure good Chinese labour for the Norts Berneo tobacco plantations.
will be given by Government to planters of new Free grants of land, limited to 1,500 acres, products in the territory, subject to conditions Herald.
LIFE IN VICTORIA GAOL
(Continued.)
entries at treaty ports were 3,114 vessels of In connexion with the foreiga trade the total 2,944,000 tons, against 3,179 vessels, af 2,967,000 tons, do 18891 and with the home trade, 38,243 vericis, of 9,490,31ő lens, agefust 37,167 vessels, The collection of 1890 was H. That 6,326, of 1,750,321 tons, in 1869; and this total tonnage er Hk. Tl. 172,464 over that of 1889, mert entered and cleared summed up 24,876,000 tons, and coast trade duties incrassed by Hk. Fits which included 16 million tons of British, 61 677,497 oplum duties and Ilkin, fncluding Hk The 3533 duty on native apfum, by 1 of China; million of German, and willion 61,080, including Mk. Tia. 1789) Increase: onentelet and clearances of junk trading, with of speaced tonnage," but excluded the 87, for sativo opium & tenuage dues, by f 243,450) Hongking and Macao under the 'cognizance of and transit dues, by Hk. T. 133,166 1:walla the Kowloon and Lappa Custome export duties fall off by Hi Tir. 605 637, being estate recorded movements of gold and silver,
they became the difference between an estimated lostel #k. between Chian and foreign countries were a not
almost unknown. Most of the cases now Tu, 761,509 on exports, excluding maiive sylum, export of gold of H. 7. 1.783,218, and of allver "It is in regard to sins in which we are found and very inconsistent the sentences often are to foreign countries, and a gain of Hk. T/A ed HEATH: 335777, together making a total
are those sent by the Magistrate and Judges, 65,873 en experts to home markets, yet but
out that we may say or sing (in an under-I knew Chinese prisoner scoundrel
·walus of HEKTIF. 5,341,000,00
tope, in a most penitent and lugubrious whose atrocious crime merited anything The foreign trade of Calas, se represented in i. In the 185g report I explained that the vildes these statistics, is detailed is two principal given in these statistics of the Chinese Customs
minor key) mitare nobis, miseris peeta- short of hanging-who weffered I think tables: (1) nat Imports from forels comtries, are calculated on the prices in the markets of the
..Thackeray'? and (3) exports to foreign countries. On the ports which the articles respectively enter or
ninety, strokes half-a-dozen years ago, and coast of China many foreigners and mach foreign gult Ckins, is the case may be and that as such reng, and the system that has been evolved most planned quite commonplace robbery, for Gaol is intended for people who have done deserved them. This week the Acting Pulane Judge, I notice, sestançed a man (who had at captial are engaged in a quail-foreign trade in wise of necessity includes an increment of conveying, foreign and Chinese goods and pasime since it lauded, and such price of an export
Blaze's first panned his Fillawa
bolder spirits to execute) to nearly the same sengers from one part to another) but these stalls short of its value at the time when it is has been directed, at least latterly, Seat to the youngster budding earring snatcher, it is true, number of strokes! And, I have seen a tiny and chips exist upon the prests of the home shipped, therefore these who compare the total punishment, and secondly to the reformation, of but still a frall lite fellow apparently only some trado, and are part of the agencies coupled in Imports with the total exports have as regards the offender. The post of Superintendent. of a twelve years old receive a dozen cats with the the purely internal commerce of the country, those raines, to make deductions and additions reol cannot be pleasant to a man who is run fastan tihe hands of the professional whipper, The net foreiga Imperis in 1890, which for the to useas the value of each at some common of the milk of human kindness. In the first place and beled, bleeding and hair-fainting, to Hospital. grown in volume, summed up alow a much bigver the walpe hold in the truest petitles for this deprived of anything which approaches comfort sadler took 44okes, last ear, thinks for Valus than in rails by HK TÍA, 16,386,136 (2098) serpese hasmach in the duties and expenses I have stready tried to shews. In the second he knocking an office down cynight of tips, and 14 per cent, and the morture of the growshtepine, which suhimeg the walled" of "import" and must (within certain limits) be made careful not Another milliary prisgaer l'heard was only saved fofska), exporta mallow) are increments which senne, to get in again; The "esid-playing in which, from a similar punamument (frouSK kk vider
toribus."
Ek bestes within si iron dan,"
"U
Erst time include, reshipments in Covas, kavink point outside of Chiss.". I'am of opidon, that | necessly compels that a prisoner, should be They have, og occasion, flogged Englishmenwe yard with a chop-stick, a bit of string, and a chatting years of unfair deres bomand wUITY