1881-08-02 — Page 2

A. S. WATSON & Co. -

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GENERAL CHEMISTS,

AND

Manufacturers of the following AERATED WATERS, viz: SODA, TONIC, SARSAPARILLA, AND POTASI, LEMONADE, GINGERADE, RASPBERRYADE, AND PHOSPHORIC CILAMPAGNE,

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HONGKONG DISPENSARY,

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SHANONAL

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THE DISPENSARY,

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THE

Hongkong Telegraph.

HONGKONG, 2ND AUGUST, 1881.

PERSONAL.

Wo regret to liavo been at last com- pelled, by a systomatic persecution, which bas never ceased from the day on which the circulars announcing the existence of a project to establish the Hongkong Telegraph were first issued, up to the present time, to publicly lay before our friends and sup- porters, in self defence, the details of what has every appearance of being a detest- able conspiracy, organised and carried out with unscrupulous persistency by an in-. terested elique for, the apparent purpose of injuring the prospects of this journal. It is with the utmost reluctance, after most mature deliberation, and after all

other moans of avoiding a pablie scandal have failed, that we have accepted, as the only alternative left us, our opponent's un- spoken challenge of guerre à outrancs. Firm believers in the proverb that patience is the surest antidote against calumny, we

have hoped against hope that the precious confederacy, whose conduct we are now to place before the blazing sun of public opinion, would have gradually got tired of a hopeless task, and left us alone to work out our mission, whatever that may be,

without subjecting us to further hostile, and underhand interference, and opposi- tion. We cannot say that we have found any solace during our time of trial in Rousseau's woll-known saying that la. patience est amère, mais son fruit est dour; but having resolved to bear in silence the very worst that could be said and done against us, we chafed at the bit which galled us, and waited and watched.

The world is naturally censorious, and it has been practically proved times out of number that while one half of that class composing socioty takes a delight in de- tracting, the other half enjoys a sincere pleasure in believing all that detraction It might, therefore, have been utters. better, for our general interests, and doubt- less would have saved us a vast amount of trouble, had we taken the bull by the horns, or the ass by the ears, whichever simile is most suitable, and treated him

to a fair back fall at the very com- mmencement. Still as no man can claim to be equal to the varied emergencies of life without experiencing a good share of its vicissitudes, we shall probably come out of the present ordoal, not much worse for our misplaced conti- denco in certain exceedingly frail speci- mens of a greatly maligned bumanity.

[

The circulars announcing the intended publication of the Telegraph were circulat- ed early in June. The proposed enterprise was not a now ono by any incans, as wo had endeavored to start u poriodical on.Į similar lines somo three years ago, and only failed through our inability to pro- cure an efficient printer, and owing to a stress of other business. Having many years ago taken an activo part in establish- ing and successfully running three different nowspaper vontures in London, we had

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH-TUESDAY, AUGUST 2ND, 1881.

some practical knowledge..of what was required to achieve success hero, and lay- ing our views bofore Messrs. De Sonza & Co., who had just failed in conjunction with two other gentlemen, to float a per- iodical called Noon, we requested a tender for a stated number of copies daily of a nowspaper of a certain size, for a period of six months. That tender was received, and for $150 per month, Messrs. De Souza & Co offered to print the Hongkong Tele- graph for a period of six and a half months, which offer we at once accepted, issued our circulars, and commenced canvassing ¦ for advertisements and making other pre- liminary arrangements. All went merry as a marriage bell until the evening of June 7th, when we received a note from our printers stating that a friend bad ad- vised them that if they undertook the con- tract on the terms arranged, or for loss than $400 a month, they would be ruined. They also enclosed the following letter which we have great delight in reproduc- ing :-

J. J. do Souza, Esq. My dear Sir,

4 Club Chambers,

June 7th, 1981.

Agreeable to your request I have looked over the agrovincat which Mr. Fraser-Smith autmits for your approval and signsture; but not being sufficiently well acquainted with the details of your ashes I cannot form a fir estimate na to lant will be the cost of providing the paper-in question, but with the hops of gutting you the siuess in question, Leonialted with my friend Mr. G, M. Bain, who read the agreement, anul without the Joast hesitation said it would east you no lenst $150 to $800 a mall to carry out the agreement which you are asked to do for $150.

Under these circumstances you will doultons point out to Mr. Fraser-Stith your inability to undertake tho maller.

Yours failsfully.

HARRY WICKING.

Mr. Harry Wicking is a gentlemen well known in Hongkong. For many years a shopman in a Queen's-rond store, he at- tained some celebrity as factotum and adviser to the late Mr. Kwok Acheong, and afterwards acquired a wide spread fame as a zealous partisan of the now de- funct Cosmopolitan Dock Company, of which institution he was facetiously styled the "Consulting Director." Lately he has added to his immense influence by the leading position he is said to have taken in the proposed opposition Sugar Refinery, and Messrs Jardine. Matheson & Co. (against whom the magnificent one has a special aninus), and the shareholders of the China Sugar Refining Company, are reported to be in a dreadful funk at the probable results of opposition from such a dangerous character.

Mr. G. M. Bain is also an old resident of this favored island. Editor and proprie- tor of the China Mait, a prominent official of the Union, Church, and a recently elect- ed member of the Hongkong Club, he may ho observed any morning between the hours of ton and twelve, gracefully planted on ile Club stops, the observed of all observers. OF Mr. Bain's public carcer we will say nothing here. Readers of the Telegraph are already aware that, for all sufficient reasons, we have agreed to differ with his views on political matters, and there the matter ends for the prosent,

Mr. Wicking' letter commences with n lie, ends with one, and is one long con- einged mis-statement throughout. Mr. de Souza nover requested Mr. Wicking to look over his agreement, never solicited his advice; but for reasons. best known to himself, Mr. Wicking called on Mr. de Souza after business hours one evening for

the express purpose of impudently prying

into business which concerned him not, and.

the result of his visit was the above letter. If a candid opinion on a newspaper con- tract were required, does it not scom

strange that the proprietor of an opposi tion paper, whose interests were vitally emperilled by the existence of the Telegraph, should have been applied to P. Does it not look remarkably like a got-up job, hatched by the fertile brain of the ubiquitous Wicking ? If Mr. Wicking used Mr. Bain's name without authority we humbly solicit the Editor of the China Mait's pardon for laying brought his name into this discreditable business. But on tho other hand, if the estimate is really and truly Mr. Bain's, that gentleman either is grossly ignorant of a business he pretends to understand, or he deliberately attempt

ed to ruin the prospects of this paper. The expense of printing the Hongkong Telegraph for the month of July, including extra copics, supplements, &c, amounted to $131.00, about one third of Mr. G. M. Bain's friendly (P) and professional (?) inspection of Mr. Bain, or any other gen ostimate, and our books are open for the

tlemen who cares to inspect them, Wicking along excepted. The lion might be tolerat- cd, the jackal never.

to undertake our work, and as 've had As our printers had formally estimated

formally accepted their tonder, a fow worde from tho barrister who was consulted had a good deal more affect than yon Mr. Wicking's second epistle, which wo also

have much pleasure in publishing. They say, a man lives in his literary labors and wo sincerely trust this person may live in his. We had, we may state, throatened fegal proceedings.

"Der Souza,

If you havo not signod any documents ho cannot do anything, bo wants you to do for $100, what will cost you fully $460, and you would by a fool to undertake it. Ho cannot do anything so let him throaton, I am too busy to call on you just now.

H. W."

>

We lost three days through this inter- ference, and wero, otherwise liampered and inconvöafenced, and put to considerable extra expense; however the Telegraph duly became un fait accomplë, “all in spite of My Lord Cardinal."

The next move was a deliberate state- ment in the China Mail to the affect that the Governor had suborned our columns for the purpose of attacking his subordi- nates. We replied to this gross libel by a contradiction couched in no uncertain terms, and there it ended,

A few days more and a rumour, which we traced to the China Mail, was flying round that llis Excellency was for reasons of his own, a private subscriber to the Telegraph to the tubo of 501enpies daily, We simply denied the rumour; but gave a warning note that our patience was gradually getting exhausted.

Our leniency was misplaced, for within two or three days the lust straw required to break the camel's back was forthcoming. Our paper has been a gratifying, an almost unprecedented succoss. Desirous of mak- ing it the first paper in Hongkong from a typographical as well as from a literary point of view, we had entered into negotia- tions with Mr. James Benle; woll known on the Daily Press staff for the past six years, and had almost satisfactorily ar- ranged overything, when Mr. Beale to our utter astonishment informed us that, as Mr. Robert Stith the Sub Editor of the China fail bad publicly stated that the notices in the Telegraph wore dummies, and that he could prove that the advertise- ments of Messrs. MacEwen, Frickel & Co., Messrs. Lane, Crawford & Co., Messrs. Kelly & Walsh, and others were inserted for six months free of charge, he could not entertain my proposals until Mr. Smith's assertions were proved to be devoid of truth. Apart from the loss of the services of an experienced journalist and manager, i will be apparent to our readers how injurious such a statement as the above would prove to the general interests of tho paper, if left uncontradicted. Advertisers would naturally light sity of a paper where a free list was in existence, and we are in a position to prove that the statements of the sub-Bditor of the Mail have already prejudically affected our best interests. That of course was what was intended, Wishing to avoid a public scandal if pos- sible, we wrote to Mr. Smith, requesting his authority for his assertions, and if he had no authority, desiring to know bis motives for giving publicity to a scandal- ous falsehood likely to injure the prospects of this paper. No reply was received, although Mr. Smith privately informed our representative that he considered his communication to Mr. Beale privileged, and that before doing anything, he would consult Mr. George Murray Bain. presuno he has done so, and acted on his advice, otherwise he would hardly have failed to reply to or acknowledge the re- ceipt of a perfectly polite query.

Now for results. This public exposé of what we have been called upon to Bub- mit to, is our only remedy. We might sue Mr. Robert Smith for his slanderous, assertions and probably would gain a verdics; but with what result? The sub- Editor of the Chine Mail is avowedly not worth powder and shot, so in this mintter we can only leave him to crawl in the dust at his superior's feet, an object of contempt to all right thinking men.

We

We have lived in many lands, and amder various auspices, but we have seen more of the contemptible side of human nature during tho past six weeks than we ever previously experienced. It has been said that there are many persons who are esteemed only because they are not known. Their real dispositions are masked so successfully as to be valued and admired for qualties which they never possessed. We have to our cost proved the truth of

this.

Political opinions and social ideas and views must differ; and a good tempered, honest guerilla warfare between rival newspapers is legitimato and commend. able enough, and frequently leads to benc- fcial results. But when a greedy, jealous disposition, denying to a supposed rival, in a perfectly free colony, the indisputable right which every man possesses to earn his bread in the manner he thinks best, acts unfairly, the voice of public opinion should be heard. Wo deny the right of the China Afail to monopolise all news- paper rights and privileges in this colony. We decline to be put down by the too transparent artifices of Mr. Larry Wicking, Mr. George Murray Bain, and Mr. Robort Smith.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Until further notice the Bund- of The Royal Tuniskilling Fusiliers will play (weather permitting); in the Car- dens every Friday at 5.30 p.m. The following will be the programms for Friday noxt.-

"Silvor Threads among March

Riviero. the gold"....... Overturo The Octoroon" Sir J. Benedict Chorus........." Faust.".

Gounod. Valeo ..." Dio Margernstern"...Labitzky. Soloction...... "Ruy Blas"......Glover. Valso............ "Sirones "......Wuldtoufol.

A mail is announced to leave Singa- pore for Bangkok this afternoon at 3 o'clock.

From latost telograms we are glad to hear that the Land Bill has safely passed through the House of Commons, much enthusiasm being exhibited at the later stages.

The Irish Land Bill has been read in the House of Lords for the first time. Troublo may be anticipated in the course of the second reading.

According to telegrams dated London July 30th, affairs in the north of Africa are becoming more critical every day. We announced in our issue of 29th | ulto that the French were bombarding Cubes, and we now learn that they have captured and occupied that town.

The expected interference with the movements of the French in Africa has come at last, not from Italy, but from Great Britain.

|

vessels, which has engaged the attention of H. B. 's Supromo Court for China and Japan at Shanghai for ton days, was brought to a conclusion on the 28th nitimo.

The presiding judge was the Acting Chief Justice Mr. R. A. Mowat, and the assessors were Captain Ashdown of the steamer Verona, and Captain Morgan of the steamer Flintshire.

After a lengthy summing up by His Lordship, both petitions were dis- missed and np order was made as to costs, boyond each party paying one half of the Assessor's fees.

Wo learn from the Agents (Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co.) that the s.s. Gleniffer left Singapore to-day for this port.

From Shanghai files received this morning by the steamor Verona, we note the continuation of the Coroner's Inquest on the body of the late Com- mandor W. G. Scott of H.M.S. Lap- wing. The following was the unani- mons finding of the jury-Deceased died by his own hand when in a state of temporary insanity, induced by in- tense norvous excitement, caused by anxiety in connection with the trial of the Iochung and Lapwing collision case.

We shall probably hear nothing more about the proposal that France should take Tunis, and permit Italy to occupy Tripoli! Earl Granville has spoken, and in no uncertain terus. France is warned against the dangers of meddling in Tripoli, and is plainly informed that England cannot tolerate intorforence of any kind. As the re- H.B.M.'s gunboat Foxhound roturn- public is not quite prepared to faceod to this port to-day from a cruise England, Italy, and Turkey on the amongst the Chusan Islands, since the field of battle, M. St. Hilaire, the 21st instant, she having gone out in French Minister for Foreign Affairs search of the shipwrecked crew of the has formally disclaimed any such Aberdonion, which was lost in the ty- designs.

phoon of the 16th instant (July). We regret to hear that the Foxhount found no trace of either the ship or crew.- Shanghai Mercury,

The late Hoppo of Canton is expect- ed to arrive in Hongkong to-day or to-morrow, and we understand he will remain for a few days as the guest of Governor Hennessy at Government Houso.

The American ship Astoria, comes out of the Comopolitan Dock, and the German barque Hindoo and the steamer Heron will undock at Kowloon, this

At the Patent Slip the German barque Flensbory will give placo to the Siamese barque Fortune.

The Hoppo leaves for Shanghai by the China Merchants' steamer Ilwai-afternoon. yuan, and after paying a visit to the Viceroy of Nanking, he proceeds to Peking to render an account of his five years stewardship of the Canton Cus-

toms.

The new Governor of Pokien and Formosa passed through Hongkong waters last week in a gun-vessel speci- ally sent for him from Foochow.

Tên did not favour the island with a visit (unless he landed incognito), which he probably did as we observed the guevessels remained some time in in the harbour.

The Chinese report that this official, since his connection with the Margary affair, has never been reconciled to foreigners, and it would soon that if his administration is to be successful at Foochow, he will have to overcome his prejudices in this respect, for the daties of his new post will necessarily being him into constant contact with foreigners.

The new Governor of Foochow has gaiued his official experience almost entirely in the remote provinces of Kweichow and Yuguan, and the change from these comparatively wild regions to an active foreign treaty port like Foochow, may prove too much for the infatuated old finmobile."

Inland Lot No. 734, situated at Bowrington, was put up to public auction yesterday afternoon by Mr. E. Bowdler, Acting Surveyor General, at an upset price of $2,500. The lot contains 14,400 square feet, and may be considered a useful site for Kerosine godowns, for which purpose we believe it is intended to be utilised. However, there was no competition, and Mr. Davis offering $25 in advance of the upset price, it was knocked down to that gentleman for $2,525.

Thoro will be a meeting of Zetland Lodge No. 525, this evening at nine o'clock precisely. Visiting brethera are cordially invited to attend.

Among the passengers arrived by the steamship Verona this morning, we note the name of Mah Taotai, one of tho Secretaries to His Excellency Li Hung Chang, Viceroy of Chilli. Mah Thotai intonds leaving here for Calcutta by an early opportunity, on a special mission to the Marquis of Ripon, Gov- ornor General of India.

The Hochrung-Lapwing caso, arising out of the recent collision between these

With regard to the Hochung-Lapwing collision case, we learn that the plain- tiffs in the original suit and the defend- ants in the cross action have deter- mined to appeal to the Privy Council; and leave to appeal will be immediate. ly applied for in the Supreme Court here. To-day (29th July), two of the foremost leaders of the Admiralty bar, at home, have been retained by tele- gran on behalf of the China Mer- chants' Steam Navigation Company.- Shanghai Courier.、

Among the passengers leaving for the North by the s.s. Chinking this afternoon, we observe the name of Mr. James G. Liddell, the respected Superintendent of the Kowloon Docks, who, after 16 years of continuous service in the employ of the Hongkong & Whampoa Dock Company, Limited, has been compelled, in consequence of recent ill bealth, to take a well earned holiday. There are few men in this Colony who have worked so hard as Mr. Liddell, and it says a great deal for the strength of his con- stitution, that during the long period of 16 years be has never required, until now, a single holiday. We sincerely wish Mr. Liddell a pleasant trip, and trust the short sea voyage and change of climate will soon restore him to his usual good health. He will be greatly missed at Kowloon, where he is deservedly popular with all classes,

For the second year in succession that good horso Teviotdale has won the Ascot Stakes for Mr. Robert Jar- dino. Last year it will be remembered, the handsome son of Tynedale and Performer, after running third best in the Derby, started a very hot favorite at Ascot, and won in a common canter. He was greatly fancied in some quar. ters for the St. Leger, but going amiss during the summer, he never could be brought back to his bost form, and ran badly at Doncaster and Newmarket. Weighted for this year's Ascot Stakes at 8 st 2 lbs, Laviotuale had an influential following, and started third favorite at 6 to 1 against. The race. was a very good one, the bearer of the "dark blue, silver braid" taking the lead at the distance where lie appeared to be winning oasily; but Retreat, the property of Lord Bradford, after a desperate struggle managed to got alongside, and canuoring againts Mr.

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