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"The council approved of the survey scheme, and also of the proposal of the intendant of commerce that unowned and public woods should be first surveyed. The method of survey was left to be discussed on the second and third readings.
"The president sounded bis bell, and there was an interval of twenty minutes. "After reassembling the council discussed its temporary rules :——
"The president read out the rules as amended by the Viceroy, and enquired whether the Council had any objections to raise. He also read out the rules as he proposed to amend them and discussed them with the council.
"Prefect Yany explained why the Viceroy had made changes in the rules, and said that there was no need for the council to become suspicious. He then entered into a long and earnest discussion with the president.
It being now 5:40 the president sounded his bell and the council dispersed."
FUKIEN.
The account below of the opening of the Fukien assembly is taken from an English newspaper published at Foochow The specimen debate and plan of the Chamber* have been furnished by Mr. Playfair, His Majesty's consul.
"The Opening of the Fukien Provincial Parliament.
Opening Ceremony." Thursday, the 14th October, was the day set for the opening of the Parliaments in the various provinces of China.
"In Foochow the Parliament is sitting in a building which was part of the old examination hall in the north part of the city. This building has been fitted up to accommodate the Parliament until the more permanent structure is erected. The room in which the business is transacted is about 60 feet wide by 120 feet long. At the farther end as one enters are the seats for the Viceroy in the middle, for the treasurer, judge, and commissioner of education at the Viceroy's left, as he sits, and for the Tartar general and the salt commissioner on the Viceroy's right. Lower are seats for other officials.
"In front of these seats and in the centre of the room is the table, about which sit or stand the six secretaries or clerks.
"Before this table, arranged in circular form, are seated the members of the Parliament. By this arrangement the Fukien provincial officials and the members of Parliament sit facing each other, with the six secretaries between them.
"By the courtesy of the Parliament the writer received an announcement of It was 4 P.M. when he arrived. Two the opening with two tickets of admission. ushers inet, as at the door and invited us to come into the visitors' gallery, which is at the opposite end from the seats for the provincial officials and facing them. The Viceroy and other officials mentioned above looked rather lonely, but as our eyes followed down the room past the secretaries table the aspect changed, for here were seated in a compact body seventy-three members out of seventy-five of Parliament. They wore the regulation official hat with the red tassel and the long official robe. Their backs were of course toward us, and it was with difficulty that we recognised those whom we knew as they rose or turned in their seats.
"The room is well lighted with glass in the roof, and is tastefully arranged. As we look up on the right wall we see the Chinese characters for 'China,' and opposite Until very recently the them on the other wall are the characters for 'Long Live.'
'Emperor' was put in place of 'China.' But the people are now saying, 'Long Live China' instead of Long Live the Emperor.'
"The business of the day was organisation. The president or speaker is a Mr. Kau, from the Yeng Bing prefecture from the city Sung Chiong. He is 44 years old. There are two vice-presidents, one a Mr. Lau, from Foochow, and a Mr. Chen, from Chiang Chiu, near Amoy. Fifteen men were elected as the executive of the Parliament, who are to be in the building daily.
"The voting was done by ballot. The secretaries distributed envelopes to the members into which each member could put his vote, these were afterwards collected, counted, and the results read by one of the secretaries and also written on a small blackboard and hung up.
"Several members on being elected to the executive forthwith resigned. Otherwise all was conducted with diguity and grace. Great possibilities for usefulness
*Not reproduced.
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lie within the powers of this body of men. Ten years ago we had not even thought of the possibility of a constitutional Government for China. To-day the machinery is at work.
"This marks an epochal day in the history of China.' Specimen of Debute." Sample of debate on the establishment of schools. "Mr. Lin Lu-ts'un: May I ask why Hsing-Hua-Fu and Chuan-chou Fu have not been included in the list of groups of towns?
"The Treasurer: These two names have been accidentally omitted and shall be added in future lists.
“Mr. Lien Hsien-chi: I approve of the method of arranging town in groups; but should like to be informed whether the allocation of funds will be arranged on the same system as that applied in the case of the Government High School at Foochow.
"The Treasurer: After the regulations have been deliberated and fixed, the necessary expenditure will be estimated.
"Mr. Lien Hsien-cha: I think the estimate of expenditure should be made first. "The Treasurer: The funds available do not exceed 50,000 dollars, which is insufficient; therefore, a new estimate must be drawn up. But the regulations must precede it.
"Mr. Lin Lu-ts'un: I propose that towns be grouped on the basis of dialects. A centre should be established at Amoy to comprise the islands in the south of the province. Thence the grouping may be extended to the various prefectures.
"The President; This proposal must be first examined and reported on by the inspectors appointed for the purpose. To this all the members gave their approval.
Viceroy's Message." This is in accordance with the regulations for the high schools promulgated in the first year of the present reign. It was provided that high schools should be established at Feking and in the various provinces. Primary schools should be started in prefectures, departments, towns, and villages. The establishment of high schools in such prefectures as do not yet possess them will be effected by the end of the year. The high school is a step above the primary school which acts as a feeder. A high school has recently been established at Foochow. At Yen-ping Fu the question of establishing a high school is under consideration by the people. High schools have been established at Chich-uing Fu, at Shao-wa Fu, at Ting-chou Fu, at Hsing-hua Fu, at Ch'uan-chou Fu, and at Yung-ch'un Chou but without much success. The high school established at Lung-yen Chou has already come to an untimely end, while that at Fu-ning Fu is not yet in working order. Such is the present state of affairs as regards the high schools. Primary schools have to be provided in two departments and in fifty-eight districts; so many in large districts; so many in small.
"In the matter of the proposed local Government Boards, the arrangements are not yet completed; the areas of the different sections have not been defined; the number of inhabitants to each section has not been reckoned; nor have the villages and towns been properly grouped. The establishment of primary schools and the allocation of funds for their up-keep is the problem before us and it is difficult. ligh schools are the issue of primary schools. Both together are the basis of our education scheme and with care and wisdom must the foundation be laid."
KWANGTUNG.
The following extract is quoted from a memorandum by Mr. Lancelot Gilos, of His Majesty's consulate-general at Canton :--
Elections." On the 17th July, 1909, the first ballot was held in the Yameu of the various district and department magistrates and sub-prefects. The method adopted was that any person who fell into one or other of the categories of those eligible for election circulated among the voters pamphlets expressing his desire for election. Only persons securing a vote were qualified to be voted for on the second ballot, held on the 24th August, 1009.
"The names of those who received votes at the first ballot were placarded at the Yamens of the prefects, sub-prefects, and magistrates, where the second ballot was held. Before a given date those who wished to accept their nomination had to signify their assent, otherwise they were disqualified.
Second Elections and Distribution of Seats.-"At the second ballot ninety-four
Q [2605 7--2]
153
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