CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 151

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"By the Governor of Soochow :-

"The provision of the expenses of self-government.

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Relief of the financial difficulties of district magistrates (through loss on exchange of 10-cash copper pieces).

Survey of waste lands.

The amalgamation of the agricultural societies into one agricultural and

afforestation company,

"An effective prohibition of the use of opium.

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Imposition of stamp duty.

"Improvement in method of collecting li-kin,

"Stricter system of registration of title-deeds. “Standardisation of weights and measures.

"Formation of a society for spreading the knowledge of the principles of constitutional government among the people."

Elections at Shanghae.-A report of Sir Pelham Warren's contains some informa- tion regarding the elections in the Shanghae district.

The primary elections were held in the Shanghae magistracy on the 22nd March, when twenty-two delegates were chosen. This number being insufficient to return the five members required (by the rules there must be ten delegates for each member), further elections were held on the 29th March and 18th April.

On the 5th May the five members were elected by ballot at the Sungkiang prefecture, All five are graduates.

Salaries of Assembly Officers.-The salaries paid to members and officers of the Kiangsu assembly are:-

President

Vice-President

Chief Secretary

Secretaries

Members of Standing Committee

Taels.

(a-month)

150

120

100

30

70

These salaries and the travelling expenses of all the members are paid by the Viceroy.

KIANGSI,

Mr. Worner, His Majesty's consul at Kiukiang, has reported as follows:--- Preparatory Steps." Very little has been done in this province. The Governor issued instructions to all the Fa, Ting, Chou, and Hsien to establish local delibera- tive bodies in accordance with the regulations issued by the Peking Government.

Opening of Assembly at Nan Ch'ong.-"The Nan Chiang provincial assembly was opened by the governor on the 1st day of the 9th moon (14th October), all the civil and military officials, gentry, merchants, scholars, &c., to the number of 1,000 being present. The governor made a short speech, pointing out the nature of this new institution, and exhorting all to act together for the good of the country.

Discontent caused by Census." The enforcement of the provision respecting the taking of the census caused much discontent in some places. From those districts where it was properly carried out reports have been sent in, but in others abuses by the census officials led to disturbances. In Yuan Chou the people collected together and burnt the census office, and much fighting took place, many being killed and wounded. In Lo Ping, Po Yang, Te An, Jui Chang, Wu Ning, and Wen An, small disturbances also took place, the census officers being attacked and wounded,

Appointment of President and Fice-Presidents." On the 2nd of the 9th moon the governor ordered the election of one head and two vice-presidents. Hsich Yuan- han, who was chosen as president, was objected to by more than forty members, but was subsequently confirmed in the appointment, together with the two elected vice- presidents, Huang Ta-hsun and Kuo Yu-ping."

HUPEL

First and Second Elections; Electorate.-Mr. Fraser reports that the first elections in the Hupci districts were held in May, and the second elections in July, Voting lists were publicly displayed at the magistrates' offices, and revised with the aid of special committees. (The total number of electors in the province is 113,233). "The provision confining the vote to natives of cach district resulted, in Hankow, where the chief business men come from Canton, Ningpo, and Swatow, in excluding

from canditure the best known and most prominent persons. The London Mission assures me that there was no trace of anti-Christian prejudice and a good many of its native members exercised the right of voting."

Opening Ceremony.The following interesting account of the opening ceremony of the Hupei provincial assembly is a translation by Mr. A. J. Martin from the native press:----

"Yesterday, the 1st day of the 9th month, was the date fixed for the opening ceremony of the provincial assembly.

"Some days previously the office for making preparations for the provincial assembly had hoisted the dragon flag on the main hall of the Educational Society's building, which was lent for the occasion, and had there erected a canopy for the Imperial edict and stretched a coloured awning outside the eaves.

"At 9 A.M. on the appointed day the president, vice-president, and the other members, wearing winter hats, festal black jackets, and blue robes, but without their official rosaries, met at Hsun Tao Ling, in the waiting-room prepared for them in the grounds of the Educational Society. The administrative officials, i.e., the provincial treasurer, the commissioner of education, and the provincial judge, the salt taotai, the intendant of industry, the police taotai and the customs taotai, the prefects of Wachang and Hanyang, the Isia K'ou sub-prefect, and the magistrates of Chiang Hsia and Hanyang assembled at 9 A.M. in the guest hall made ready for them in the grounds of the Educational Society, and the invited guests gradually assembled in the ante-room appointed for them.

Exhibition of Imperial Decree.—“At 10A.M. the Viceroy arrived and alighted outside the coloured awning, and was shown by the master of the ceremonies into the waiting room. He rested here a short time while the officials of the oflice for making preparations for the provincial assembly offered him tea. When it was announced that the final preparations had been made, the master of ceremonies conducted the Viceroy to the space in front of the Imperial edict in the main hall; the other high officials following in order of precedence. The president, vice-president, and the other members of the assembly were then separately ushered in by the master of cere- monies. When all had been arranged in their appointed places the Viceroy's cushion was placed in the centre of the front row before the Imperial edict. The president's cushion was then placed on a level with, and to the right of, the Viceroy's. In the second row were the provincial treasurer, the commissioner of education, and provincial judge, with the salt taotai, the intendant of industry, the police taotai, and the customs taotai.

"In the third row were placed the cushions of the prefects of Wachang and Hanyang, the Ilsia K'ou sub-prefect, and the magistrates of Chiang Hsia and Hanyang, and on their left were ranged the members of the provincial assembly. When all the cushions had been placed in order the master of ceremonies cried‘Kneel!' and the whole assembly knelt. He then ordered the Imperial edict to be read, and when this had been done he called on the assembly to kneel thrice and kotow nine times in token of gratitude for the Imperial favour. This done, he called on the assembly to stand up, and they left their appointed places.

The executive officials were then ordered to take up their positions in order of precedence on the right, and the president, vice-president, and members of the provincial assembly to take up their positions on the left and bow thrice, the ceremony of greeting.

"The master of ceremonies next gave the order to perform the opening ceremony, conducted the concourse to the doors of the assembly-house, and retired. The exccutive officials and the president, vice-president, and members entered the house in order by the main door and took their seats. The guests entered by the east and west doors and took their seats apart in a side room. The Viceroy was seated behind the president; the provincial treasurer, commissioner for education, and the provincial judge sat in a row on his left; the salt taotai, the intendant of industry, police taotai, and customs taotai on his right.

"The prefects of Wuchang and Tanyang, and the Isia K'ou sub-prefect, and the magistrates of Chiang IIsia and Hanyang had special seats.

Viceroy's SpeechThe Viceroy rose and made a congratulatory speech, the assembly meanwhile standing. After they had resumed their seats the president rose and replied, the assembly again standing. The president aud vice-president then accompanied the Viceroy and executive officials to their waiting-rooms, where they remained for a few minutes, the stewards performing the same function for the guests.

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