The Hongkong Telegraph
NEW SERIES. No 4753
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CONTENTS.
Births, Marriages and Deathe. Leading Artiolce:-
Home Politics.
A Great Shipping Concern. Merchant Marine and Markets. Sugar Convention Disputes, Navigation of the Huangpu Restoration of Weihaiweí.
Telegrams:-
Attempted Assassination of the Tsar. The War.
Russian Detachment,
Meetings:-
晚六十月二十年十三豬光
Che
Jongkong Celegraph
MAIL SUPPLEMENT, -ISSUED GRATIS TO SUBSCRIBERS.
HONGKONG, SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1909.
HOME POLITICS.
MAIL SUPPLEMENT.
(ESTABLISHED 1881.)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1905.
inimical attitude. of Australian politicians continue, particularly with regard to over-sca shipping, the P. and O. Company may have to consider the advisability of dispensing altogether with the Australian mail contract, and divert their splendid line of steamers, now running to the Australian colonies, to a direct service between England and China and Japan. In this connection, the words (14th January.)
of Sir Thomas Sutherland are most sugges Many statements have been made by tive. He said: "In China and in Japan prominent politicians at home regarding the there is a great opening taking place, and policy to be adopted by the Government taking place very rapidly. I am by no immediately prior to the dissolution which, moans sure that the 22, and 0. would not it is thought, will be brought about have a larger field certainly they would shortly after Parliament reassembles next have a more economical field-for their month. One of the most remarkable of operations in carrying out a direct line with these unofficial assertions, and one that China and Japan than they have at the pre- seems to have almost escaped general notice, sent morient in connection with the was made the other day by Mr. W. S. Rob Australian colonies." And at a later stage son, the Member for South Shields, who is he again referred to the increasing prosperity reported to have declared that Mr. Balfour in the East. He remarked that as times would unite with Mr. Chamberlain in pro- went the F. and 0. had enjoyed a good year, posing A 5 per cent. duty on foreign goods, but the new financial year on which they This would, of course, mean that the new had entered seemed to offer even brighter Budget is to contain the first instalment of prospects, for he thought that there were in the policy of tariff reform, and the Govern- dications of a larger trade not only in India, ment would go to the country with the view but also in China, Japan and Australia. of obtaining its judgment on it. A general He repeatedly returned to this point of the election in March would, therefore, be a Eastern trade, and made an interesting certainty, if the Prime Minister and Mr point. The Company, as most people here The China Provident Loan, and Mortgage Chamberlain have agreed to this new depar will remember, lowered their fares to China ture in financial policy. The Chancellor of the and the Far East when the Siberian railway Exchequer recognizes that he will be face to became an accomplished fact. Although face with a serious financial situation next the war followed, and the Durbar traffic had April. He sees that something will have to vanished, it was not thought necessary to be done, and, according to this report, he increase the rates. Yet there had been an has, at the instance of Mr. Chamberlain, increase on the returns of £20,000. The suggested to the Prime Minister that a 5 per question of conditional contraband" was cent. duty on manufactured imports would dealt with in connection with the Maltees be a satisfactory way of meeting the difficulty, incident, and it was hoped that the subject If Mr. Balfour has accepted this policy he would be dealt with at the next Hague Con- has completely succumbed to Mr. Chamberference. Sir Thomas admitted that a claim lain. He could not, however, ask the pre-had been presented to the Russian Govern- sent House of Commons to deal with finan- ment for the unjustifiable seizure of the cial proposals of this character, and if, there- fore, the Chancellor of the Exchequer pre- sents a Budget of which this is the main feature it would mean an immediate dis- solution. So far as the Radicals are concern. ed they have been clamouring for an appeal to the country for months past. The vital Issues on which they are desirous of fighting the Government are untaxed food and freed trade, and their endeavour will be to obtain such a decisive win as to get rid of protec- tion and to secure that the reaction of the past few years shall be seen no more. In in which had been entirely appropriated these parts may be keener than is the case by Japan so far as the East was concerned at present; but our hold upon the Orient is -and maintained Elat by
means of such long standing that it is doubtful if it can be loosened to any material extent by of cheap labour, and by a great mineral. the enterprise of the American merchant wealth Japan would strain every nerve tomarine.
Co, Ltd.
The Hongkong Land Reclamation Co, Ld. Werbaiwei Gold Mining.
Legal Intelligence:— '
Refusing to take Delivery.
Captain sues Steamship Company,
The hina and Manija Steamship Co, Ltd. The Criminal Sessions.
The Liability of fotel Keepers,
Police.
Hollywood Road Fire.
Unlawful Landing of Arms.
The Double Murder in Hongkong.
The Harbour Piracy,
The Tungcho Case.
Kowloon Fire Inquiry.
Solicitor's Clerk's Fatal Fall.
Interfering with Targel Practice. Miscellaneous Articles and Reports:-
Chinese and Western Learning, Ellis Kadoorie Chinese School. Farewell Ball.
The A. D. C.
Hongkong Regatta.
Turf Topics
Hongkong Volunteer Reserve Association. Hongkong's Lighting.
The Hongkong Land investment and Agen-
cy Co., Ltd.
The West Pont Building Co., Ltd. The Races.
The Philippine Alien Contract Law, Naval Notes.
Shipping Jetsam.
Land Sale.
Land at Yaumati and Hak Un. General Stoessel.
Smoker" at the Warrant Officers' Club, More Fires.
China and Thibet.
Sailors'nndoldiers' Home.
Saturday's Sport
Authorised Architects.
A Harbour, Mystery.
Robbers and Freebooters.
Armed Robbery.
Kickshas in Kowloon.
Presentation to Inspector Ford. Portuguese Troops for Macao. The Barren Hills of Kwanglung. Canton Noles.
Death of Mr. W. N. Morehouse. Russian Refugees for Shanghair
Hotels and the Chit System. The Coolie Traffic,
Hongkong Post Office Management. Port Arthur.
Sumatra and Borneo Tobacco.
Shell Transport and Trading Co.
Who saved jam?
The Price of Sugar.
Commercial:-
Weekly Share Report. Freight,
Fortnightly Market Report. Raub G: Mining Co.
Exchange. Opiumi!
,
Local and General,
BIRTHS.
Singapore, the wife of S. H. JOSEPH, of a son. On the 4th instant, at No. 5 Wilkie Road,
At Ituce Course Road, Singapore, on 7th instant, the wife of JoUN BHEEM of a 500,
(stillborn)
At Penang on 8th January, the wife of 1. A. MURRAY, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, of a daughter,
六拜禮
$13,PER ANNUM.
就一計月正英港香 SINGLE COPY, 25 Cents.
service by going to their rescue with put to the bounty system. Moreover, the vent this invaluable waterway from becoming appropriate legislation. The growing im world-famous firm of Tate and Sons are of a narrow canal and shutting out all shipping portance of the Orient as a field for the same opinion and they deny the as-from the Northern port. In the Peace Pro- the export trade of most countries is no new sertions of the confectioners, mineral water tocol, signed at Shanghai by the representa- - - subject of comment, and the desire on the manufacturers and all those engaged in oc- tives of eleven Foreign Powers ånd China, • part of America to solve the long-standing cupations which involve a large consumption upwards of three years ago, a separate Annex problem of the decadence of her merchant of sugar. On the otlier hand, the opponents was devoted to the question of conserving matine, seems in part to be due to national to the Convention roundly accuse the Govern- the river and intended to provide a satis pride, which has been hurt by the frequent mint and Mr. Chamberlain in particular factory solution. It is now over this very Annexa reports from their Consuls of the increasing of having thrown away no less than that trouble has arisch and the final solution rarity of their flag in these parts. Presiden£8,000,000 per annum by tamely signing of the problem is again delayed. China desires Roosevelt, in again bringing the subject to an agreement which allows the Continental to carry out the scheme single-handed, and the notice of Congress last month, said nations producing beet sugar to drop the before agreeing to the cancellation of the be recognised that the importance of secur- bounty system (which was all to the advan Annex the lowers want substantial evidence ing proper information and data with a tage of the British taxpayer) without any of her good faith in undertaking the work. view to the enlargement of American trade corresponding benefit being derived by She has expressed her willingness to fur- with Asia was undiminished, and stated that Britain. The subject has developed into a nish this by raising 460,000 tacts annually their consular representatives in China have party issue with the result that the real facts towards the cost, and to engage a Dutch strongly urged a place for permanent display and condition of things are in a fair way to engineer of experience to go to Shanghai to of the U.S. products in some prominent trade become obscured in the maze of side-issues superintend operations, but stipulates that centre of that empire, under Government and quibbling points which are bound to the work is to be undertaken solely by the control and management, as an effective arise. But all this is matter for Great Chinese authorities without any inter- means of advancing their export trade therein. Britain alone, unless the West Indian sugar ference from foreign merchants. In case. It is premature at present to forecaste what planters derive some benefit from the in the work is done between Woosung and the views of Congress will be, but should creased price of cane sugar by being able to Shanghai and there is anything to negotiate the members decide upon framing legisla compete with beet sugar. How does it an arrangement would be made with foreign. tion there is not room for much doubt affect the East ? is the question which people merchants and embodied in the form of that the question of subsidy will be included in this part of the world will inquire. We an agreement to be negotiated with the in the drafting of the Bill. They will have understand that the effect of the Convon foreign ministers in Peking and to be to choose between the various methods of tion has been a perceptible influence, on agreed, and signed by all concerned. If raising and distributing any compensation the sugar industry. Hongkong is the the Powers are willing to accede to China's decided upon, and so far the most important centre of a gre refinery trade-as Mr. wishes relating to the conservancy it is proposals are as follows: The payment of Shewan once said in Council, one of the expected that work, which is to be carried bounties of certain rates per ton on all greatest, if not the greatest, of our industries on piecemeal, will commence shortly; but ocean-going vessels constructed in the in the Colony-and it might be thought should a further terms of unnecessary delay U.S. and of certain rates per mile of that the rise in prices combined with the follow the acceptance of the conditions by voyage for all vessels under American reduction in consumption would affect the the signatories to the Protocol trouble may registry plying to or from foreign ports; trade adversely. The Convention, so far as arise. Meanwhile, natural and artifical subsidies on mail steamships or mail con Hongkong is concerned, has had just the agencies continue filling in the bed of the tracts sufficiently liberal in terms to amount opposite effect. While prices in the consum-river, and although the Coast Inspector at to a subsidy; or, thirdly, discriminatinging countries of the refined product have Shanghai is of opinion that even the com tonnage dues on foreign built and foreign appreciated to an extent hitherto unknown, bination of those changes due to natural owned vessels entering American ports. The new outlets have been found for the pro-physiographical causes and those due to Commission cannot have experienced much
duction of the local mills, to supply whose artifical causes arc not resulting in trouble in securing definite information on demands both the refineries on the Island any permanent deterioration of the river, the subject as it should not have proved a have been working full time, without inter-people in the Northern Settlement rightly difficult task to secure a mass of testimony mission, in order to meet foreign require regard. the question as one of urgency- regarding the precise difference between the ments. Bect sugar, at one time considered a view which will be upheld by the great cost of construction of ocean-going mer the bite noir of the local industry, is practi- majority of shipping and other firms having chant steamers and sailing vessels in Ameri- cally shut out from the Eastern markets; for dealings with Shanghai. In China, however, can and foreign shipyards. With this be as long as the bounty is withheld from the things move slowly-as instanced by the fofe Congress there will be a sufficiently sure growers and producers, beet sugar will main-long-standing campaign for the removal of foundation upon which to construct a Bill Lain the high level of cost and thus it cannot barriers in the Canton River-and if the for the permanent revival of ocean ship establish itself as a successful competitor Imperial Throne is really alive to the oc- building in the U.S. and the return of against cane sugar in this part of the world, as casion and carnestly desires to facilitate American merchant men to the high seas. it had been the case in pre-Convention days. navigation on this important waterway, she When this is brought about competition in There is no sign that in the immediate will earn the thanks of a large body of future, there will be any less demand for foreigners at Shanghai and elsewhere when the refined article. Indeed, from reliable work is commenced. official statistics it is ascertained that the world's total production of sugar shows a shortage estimated at 1,000,000, tons, as compared with 1903. In the past twelve months consumption showed an increase of but the adoption by the Tory party of "pro-| tection" as their rallying-cry makes it ne
demand in the next twelve months should cessary, they say, for the Liberals to place
(18th January,)
equal that of the past year it follows that "untaxed food" and "freedom of trade" in cost of £1.700,000; that two new steamers Sugar Convention entered into by Great be 1,800,000 tons short as compared with such a request the Board of Foreign Affairs
A keen agitation on the subject of the the supply, in its relation to demand, would the very forefront of the fight. The party of 8,000 tons each are being built; that the Britain and the sugar-producing countries of the year just closed. This condition has cannot be accused of any undue haste is said to be in a good condition, and while loss of the Australia has been written off; Europe has been proceeding in the English already led to a large advance in the price when consideration is given to the fact its leaders see no reason at all to be dis and that £500,000, was allowed for de- Press, during the last few weeks. The ques of raw sugar although the commodity is still that, according to the Convention, the satisfied with it, they deprecate the too preciation. Those in the East who have tion has become of so much importance selling well under the parity of European moment Russian occupation of Port Arthur sanguine expectations with regard to the
come to look upon the P. & O. steamers as that for the time being it has nearly ousted beet. It is in the European beet sugar pro- election. The by-elections have been
people at home come to look upon subur the subjects of fiscalitis and army reform, duction that the principal shortage has viewed with considerable caution, and it
ban trains, who have followed the work of and ranks with the question of the un-occurred, as it is also in Europe that the has not been forgotten that the permanent Sir Thomas Sutherland since those early employed as the most pressing question of great increase in consumption has taken reverts to China. Whether the strategic garrison of the Tory party in each con- days when he was actively engaged in open- the day. When the Sugar Convention was place. The former, in the opinion of a Wall stituency with some exceptions - was
ing up the East, will, recognise that the concluded, comparatively few people realised Street journal, resulted from the unusually stronger than any garrison which the veteran chairman of the P. & O. has lost the importance of the subject, for the simple dry summer on the other side of the Atlantic. With a view to the purchase of the port and
none of his virility or grasp of affairs. In a passage that proved extremely effective, he recalled the days, forty years ago, when he was responsible for opening up the first The intimate connection which the P. & regular steant communication with Japan O. Company has for the last forty years Hongkongas Teason to remember the manding position which Sir Thomas Suther-was he who was in no small degree respon maintained with the Far East, and the com- labours of Sir Thomas Sutherland, for it land, the chairman of the company, holds sible for the building of the d cks at Hong in affairs of international concern, give kong, and to his energy has also to be altri
their view they think nothing ought to, or could, interfere with the position which the education question, the temperance question, the land question, and all branches of social reforms already hold in their minds. It is
Malacca—a claim so moderate that he did not think it wise to mention the amount because the shareholders might consider it too moderate. In a thoughtful reference to the advance of Japan in material wealth and strength, the chairman held that no matter how England admired Japan as an ally, they must not lose sight of the fact tha. Japan has been, and will be, one of the most de- termined competitors of the commerce of Britain and all Western countries. He cited the single case of lucifer matches the trade
of subsidies and bounties, by means
make herself felt in all the commercial
RESTOKATION of weihaiwei.
It has been announced in the Northern capital that, in 'consideration of the fall of
their intention to win on all these issues, markets of the world. As regards the Com | SUGAR CONVENTION DISPUTES. | 800,000 tons. If the increase in consumptive Port Arthur, now being occupied by the
Liberals had got in those constituencies.
A GREAT SHIPPING CONCERN.
(16th January.)
pany outsiders may take it as a sign of pro- been added to the fleet during the year at a gress when we learn that 62,000 tons have
Japanese, the, Wai Wu Pu has notified the British Minister at Peking that Weihaiwei should be returned to China. In making
ceases British tenure of Weihaiwei is
at an end, and the position dominat ing the approaches to the Gulf of Pechili importance of Weihaiwei is of such value as to warrant negotiations being opened
reason that it is hedged about with so much while the latter was brought about by the the adjacent land, or their acquisition by a technicality and involves an understanding abolition of bounties and Cartels which lengthy lease, is a question upon which of Continental methods such as few people brought sugar within the reach of the peasan-
experts are divided. Adoniral Seymour take the trouble to learn... With the exception try to a greater extent than it had ever been strongly approved of the position which, if of the West Indies, pably, where until a before. Moreover, for the local industry it adequately fortified would, he thought, be few years ago sugar daction, and the may be taken for pretty certain that, with one of great strength, while the presence of the price, increased, were the all-important the construction of railways throughout the greally to the prestige and confidence of methods whereby it could be stimulated and the opening up of China, as a direct result of the British flag at this point would add questions, it was scarcely realised that the length and breadth of the Empire, there will it over in 1898 we set about building fortifi- abolition of bounties by France, Germany, arise-a demand for the commodity that will cations and forts, spent large sums of money tax to the utmost limit the producing
an interest and importance to the annual buted much that brought about the forma- Belgium and other producers of beet
Britishers in the China Sea. When we took
on the place, and intended to make it the
meeting of the Company such as few tion of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank-sugar was of vital interest to every incapabilities of Far Eastern mills. That is headquarters of a new Chinese Staff Corps, ather meetings enjoy. In the Far Easting Corporations-institutions which have dividual in the United Kingdom, to say satisfactory from the Hongkong point of view ; Elizabeth, Singapore, the wife of G. SCHUDEL, especially it is recognised that the best each in its own way contributed to the nothing of the Colonies and the Far but it must not be forgotten that events far on, the pattern of the Indian, comprising
On the 9th inst., at "Rosebank", Mount
of a son.
MARRIAGES.
evidences of general prosperity are to be greatness of the port. On the 30th Nov, at the residence of P. J. found in the returns of these shipping com- Stoffers, Esq., Labat Datu, British, Northpanies which carry the balance of trade Borneo, by the Rev. W. H. Elton, JoH. C. between this part of the world and Europe. STODERS of Lahat Dalu to ANTOINETTE W. Fortunately, on this occasion, the report On the 7th December, 1904, at Bede's Church, submitted by Sir Thomas Sutherland was of
H. de Graaff of Amsterdam.
1
MERCHANTMAKINE AND *MARKETS,
Some few months ago we drew attention
East generally. But, when sugar. began outside our control and beyond our sphere be raised among the Chinese. Suddenly, artillery, cavalry, and infantry regiments, lo to rise in price, when confectioners found have at times a knack of slipping into the and without any apparent reason, the trans- that the cost of manufacturing their special cogwheel and for the nonce stopping the port of armament and the work on the forti- line of goods had jumped with a bound, and easy running. of the machinery. It is not fications was stopped. We broke our word when the manufacturers of mineral waters the special cause for rejoicing that we ce service with us for three years, and dismissed that consequently sales were diminishing, weil to be over-optimistic in these days, and to hundreds of Chinese who had taken Semaphore, South Australia, by the Very Rev, an almost uniformly satisfactory character. to an important commission appointed in understood that the decreased output was at present, in so far as the sugar industry them with three months' pay, much to thế? - Dean Marryatt, Dean of Adelaide, assisted by After referring to the principal items affect America to investigate the conditions handi-due to the increased prices of their products concerned, is that Hongkong remains indignation. Then, in deference to strong. the Rev. Canion Swan, E. W. F. GILMAN, of the Civil Service, Straits Settlements, to ing shareholders, the increased tonnage at capping the shipping interests of that following the advance in the value of sugar serenely undisturbed by questions which criticism at home, we decided to retain : 500 BESSIE, second daughter of the late C. M. the service of the company, the loss of the country in competition with other nations Bagol, Esq., of Larges Bay, South Australia,
Australia, and the new contracts entered of the world. It was shown that for ported, a hue-and-cry was raised which is DEATHS.
men of the Chinese Regiment, at the same into for additional vessels of high cargo several years past there has been ample tal press. In the course of a very moderate
The subject of fierce contention in the politi PPpear to be shaking the vitals of Great
time as we let our expensive works crumble capacity, the chairman went on to deal with evidence throughout the United States but dogmatic article which appeared in the matters which are of vital interest to of a well-nigh universal desire on themes and we reprinted yesterday, it was laid
NAVIGATION OF THE
away and gave every indication of relaxing our hold upon. the place and evacuating. HUANGPU WALTER NOVES MOREHOUSE, Commis residents in the Far East. The attitude part of the American people for a mer down that the foreign countries, which had
Great Britain has always begrudged the sioner of the 1. M. Customs, late of Lappa, of Australia in refusing to enter into chant marine of sufficient magnitude to corbeen signatories to the Convention, being at
(19th January.) Macau, died at Florence on the 15th December,
outlay necessary for safeguarding her 1904, of Bright's disease, in bis 57th year, mail contracts with companies employing respond with the ever increasing volume one on the necessity of reducing, if not During the past thirty years the public of interests, and for years past her policy Deeply regrested. North-Ghina papers please coloured labour may, in the end, it would of their over-sen commerce. The question abolishing, the heavy burden of sugar boun Shanghai has continually emphasised the In Asia has been that which has prompted copy,
appear, redound to the advantage of traders has repeatedly been brought to the notice ties would, whether Britain had or had not extent and seriousness of the silting of the her to maintain the Empire * on the cheap,” JAMES HAMPTON NESBITT, lata 35. Zween, in the Far East, For should the protec of Congress, but so far they have not signed the Convention, have arrived at some Huangpu, and urged upon the authorities At Weihaiwei we have staked much without on board P. & O. Moldavia and buried at sea, Bib-inst
tiqnist policy of Australia provail, and the deemed it expedient to encourage the means whereby a stop would have been the importance of taking measures to pre-effecting any insurance ; and for the security
On 7th Dec, at Laneside House, Gomersall, FREDERIC HENRY STEELE, KINDER aged
months, the beloved son of Frederic Thomas and Edith E. Kinder.
Britain.
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