Sessional_Paper_1899 — Page 570

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All the arms, &c. surrendered, amounting to 97 pieces, were forwarded to Táipó yesterday. That number is made up as follows:

40 Spears.

23 Small Guns.

6 Large Guns. 28 Muskets.

..97

It will not be possible to start the executive machinery of Government until I have visited all the important parts of the territory in the same manner as these districts here. This will take some time. I am, of course, making enquiries at each place with a view to dividing the territory into Districts, and consulting the elders on certain points. I will push on as quickly as I can, but there are many things to consider. I trust, however, that we may have a somewhat easier time at other places than we have had here, and I have no doubt we shall, as the people are returning to their usual occupations.

The members of the Police living here are fairly comfortably housed in the same house we have been occupying. They might remain on here, the owner of the house being paid a fair rent. He is quite willing to lend his house, but does not want rent. That is a matter that can be arranged later on, but I think rent should be paid. We have been careful to pay for all supplies, &c. obtained here.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.

EXCLOSURE NO. 1 IN COLONIAL SECRETARY'S MINUTE OF THE 25TH APRIL, 1899.

Translation of Bond.

We, TANG CHAK-HING, TANG TS'ING-WAN, T'AN KWONG-HO, CHÁN UT-HIN, and TANG CHAN-UN, hereby agree to act as sureties for NG KI-CH'EUNG and undertake that he will return to his home and live as a law-abiding and peaceful subject, and that he will appear whenever called upon to do so. In the event of his failing to appear we, as sureties, are willing to forfeit the sum of Two thousand Dollars ($2,000). This is a true and genuine agreement.

(Colonial Secretary's Minute of the 26th April, 1899.)

SHEUNG SHUI (NEAR FAN LING),

26th April, 1899.

YOUR EXCELLENCY,

We left Ping Shán yesterday morning at 8.30 a.m. and reached Sheung Shui at 3 p.m.

All the villages along the route received us with crackers and had the white flag of submission flying in front of their villages. The elders in each village came out to receive us, and I told them in each instance that all good people would be protected and should return to their work as usual and that disturbers of the peace would be severely dealt with. I requested them to co-operate with the Government Authorities in bringing bad characters to justice.

The elders of the small villages expressed a hope that they would be specially protected from the bullying they have been experiencing from large villages, and I informed them that protection would be afforded to all, whether strong or weak.

The following are the villages through which we passed and at which we were received by the elders:-

1. Sha Pò in the Kam T'in District.

2. Pok Wai in the

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3. Chuk Un in the 4. Mai Pò in the

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