1890-12-18 — Page 1

N°. 2721.

BIRTH.

DEATH.

The

On the roth December, at sea, on board the steamship Namoa, Captain T. G. Pocock, aged

45 ears.

M ATL SUPPLEMENT!

Hongkong Telegraph.

and distinct department to accommodate At 8, Peddars' Hill, on the rath Inst., the wife the views of the late Mr. ALFRED LISTER, of E. J. OSADAYA, of a 505.

a hard-working and ubiquitous officer who exercised a careful and searching semi- official supervision over every department in the Government Service-excepting his own, and neglect in that direction added to his wilfully blind confidence in BARRADAS, cost the tax-payers over $60,000 when the last named gentleman's enterprising failure to break the bank" at the Kowloon fantas hell led to the disgraceful disclosures in connection with the Money Order Office,

The Hongkong telegraph. samed, gentleman enterprising

HONGKONG, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1890,

THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE AS IT IS AND HOW IT SHOULD

BE.

I

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1890.

their

PIRACY IN THE CHINA SEA.

ever

a

SIX DOLLARS FER QUANTER

baby because of the harp's thy he witnessed around him. It was his last ap race on a field of baule. Well, we do not deny that the scene round the Sandbag Battery, after the wild beast in our Guardarch, was let loose, was horrible, but to the letting loose of it the Duke of Cambridge owes his subsequently laxarious life, and the country, its rooted determination never again to expose his prominent paunch to temptuously on the survives of those who shed the bayonet of an enemy. Yet he frowns con- their blood to keep his soul and body together, and when they even venture to ask the use of their old barracks for an anniversary iclebration, be shuts the door in their lace."

nothing has ever been seriously attempted ostracism so far as outside promotion, public have been peacefully slumbering foreign fire-arms, and on one of the valley of death" of Britain's best and duty," and the men who nobly answer

.

When shall their glory fade? Honour the Light Brigade; gallant Six Hundred," is the summing up of that deathless Popan, of battle and triumph with which ALFRED TENNYSON, then a Son of the Reople and not a slave to, a hollow title and a meretricious dignity, trumpet tongued, electrified the world almost as much as that wild charge through, the bravest on what was hopeless, useless, and inexcusable sacrifice of human life, stupified the army of military critics

Cest magnifique mais n'est pas la guerre," was the significant comment of the French Commander-in-Chief, and no more daring soldier than Marshal PELISSIER ever planned a campaign or led a forlorn hope. When shail their glory fade? Honour the Light Brigade." Why even now, after a lapse of nearly forty-years, the poet's pregnant words possess a power in stirring the British heart in every part of the rear obtains a Field Marshal's baton the worlds we are indeed proud, and as and is nursed in the lap of luxury for the Britons justly proud of that death-ride of remainder of his days, at the, public our countrymen, which as an instance, of expense. And yet some people wonder combined valour and discipline has scarcely how a British Revolution can ever be a parallel in the history of nations. And possible. how did Great Britain reward her heroic sons, all that was left of them, left of Six Hundred," when the hour of victory with all its frothy enthusiasm had passed away and the Black Sea treaty, which added A LARGE fire has occurred at Yokosuka, a so much to the roll of human suffering had Japanese Naval Station, nearly destroying the been torn in shreds and flung in England's face! By honours, titles, dignities. THE returns of the number of visitors to the City adequate provision for the remainder of Hall Museum for the week ending, Dec. 14th, are: their ruined and broken lives? No! by Europeans 172, and Chinese 1,744. none of these; generous England provided.1.G.M.'s ganhoat Illia, Capt Aschen, arrived for her heroes by allowing them in the at Tientsin on the 30'h ultimo and took up her days of their adversity and old age to find winter quarters at the Bund a few days later. refuge in the work-house.

No. 264, E. C., held at the Freemason's Hall, AT a regular meeting of the Southern Lodge, Zstland Street, on Saturday last, Wor. Bro. G. P. Jordan was elected master of the Lodge.

England expects every man to do his their country's expectations are shame.. fully neglected and relegated to the work- house. Field Marshal the Duke of CAMBRIDGE," whose warlike idea of an officer's duty on the battle-field was to "sit blubbering like a baby at the crisis of the fight," is a living example of Britain's impartiality in the treatinent of her soldiers. To the brave man who loses a limb in the front of battle there is always the work house to go to whilst the royal warrior who sits down and blubbers in

1

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

town.

1

the British

THE Master of Napier, Secretary of Legation in Japan, and Mrs Napier were amongst the passengers who arrived here on the

toth init, by the O. &-0. steamer Organic, en

route for England.

a powerful - and

sex Historians have due the officers justice, General, and member of the Sanitary gers and when once out to sea, at a given tolerated by

only

but as for the nien themelves who'so poor us do them reverence' now? Taky, “organised a Board and Legislative Council. When it signal and in accordance with previous increasing democracy that is becomes a generally recognised fact that arrangements, divided themselves into four bedding to feel its own strength we are little mendial dinner antong themselves the lucrative official appointments in this colony parties and made separate attacks on that is a position to say with any approach other day and invited the Duke of Cambridge to have not been established specially to prohridge, the engine-room, the forward to reliability; but the day cannot be very attend. The Duke pleads a p lor engagement," vide "soft" billets for any particular class, deck, and the saloon. The sud tenness of far distant, and it undoubtedly is being Can anything be meiner? The Guids who but that the Governmentand the community the attack put effective resistance mut of hastened by the incomprehensible and taught the band-to-hand fight fouad the Sandbag expect

servants to fit what the question, and in a few minutes the heartless stupidity of that favored class to Battery fought with savage Frocity. It was

or paralysed with fear at de hutchery they had ever positions they may be required to pirates had obtained possession of the whom the new era of events that are sure soldiers ball for the office:s were either killed serve in, the matters we have been discuss ship,, and taken charge at the helm. to come will inevitably bring complete let loose. But if these nea lore at their enemies ing will have reached their proper leve bably it was no pre-arranged part of the annihilation as a power in the land. The like wild beats, is that any reason why one of That will only té, however, when the programme to shed blond unnecessarily, pitiable, spectacle of NERO fiddling in his their officers-the Daks of Cambridge-should Hongkong rate-payers insist on having but it is quite certain that no scruples in gorgeous palace whilst imperial Rome give them the cold shoulder? He sat among more than a nominal share in the manage that direction were to be allowed to interes in the throes of destruction, conveys them at the crisis of the light and blubbered like The Hon. Mr. WHITEHEAD's proposed ment of their own affairs.

fere with the accomplishment of their an instructive lesson which modern would remedy for existing defects is to introduce

original purpose.

It may safely he be imitators of that once living monument believed that, every soul on board woul of old time folly might with great advan a rule prohibiting, unless under very exceptional circumstances, the occupants

have been massacred, and the steamer tage to their own future welfare carnestly of certain stated offices from holding any

run ashore and burned or broken up bad study and carefully take to heart. THE disadvantages to the Public Service appointments, either, acting or permanent, The daring piratical seizure of the Douglas such a course been necessary: Happily of the system of acting" appointments outside their own departments; but as the Company's steamer Namoa, within fifty it was not but unhappily the seizure of so prevalent throughout the various proposal leaves a loop-hole by which its miles of Hongkong and in what may be the Name was not accomplished whhout departments of the local Government have intended effects could be evaded at will, fairly described as a main thoroughfare bloodshed. When the pirates first rushed, never been denied, they are too palpable and is so restricted as to barely touch the for the immense shipping traffic between on deck they would appear to have to be disputed; but while the defects of the actual grievance, it is quite insufficient to this port and the North, is a rude awaken commenced indiscriminately firing their system have been freely admitted by effect the desired reform. The officersing from the false security in which local revolvers in all directions-a common successive Governors and Administrators proposed to be placed under the ban of shipping companies and the travelling custom with Chinese who are unused to to place matters on a more satisfactory acting appointments, and their attendant for the past five years since the sen Malay quarter-masters showing fight. footing. A state of things exists that is honours and emoluments are concerned, sational looting of the Greyhound on the he was at once shot down and thrown not altogether a credit to the administrative are the Registrar, Deputy Registrars, and high seas in the vicinity of St. John's overboard, two or three others of the crew powers of the several ardent departmental Interpreters of the Supreme Court, the island on October 17th, 1885. There have receiving more or less. serious wounds. reformers who have at various times made Police Magistrates and their chief clerk, on two or three occasions during recent One of the saloon passengers, Mr. a feeble pretence of bringing within the Land Officer, and the Clerk of Councils years been more or less well authenticated PATERIIN, light-house keeper at the reasonable limits a practice that is clearly and Chief Clerk in the Colonial Secretary's rumours of contemplated piracies on board Lammocks, happened to be on deck aft detrimental to the efficient management Office. The two offices last named have foreign vessels, but fore-warned is fore-when the rush was made for the saloon, of public business and has frequently generally been held by the same person, armed, and the precautions taken in the and although he is said to have offered no become scandalous in the hands of and with the exception of the Police cases referred to averted the threatene resistance he was wantonly shot down, In one particular instance in and Captain Pocock shared the same fate interested wire-pullers by the introduction Magistrates and the Registrar of the dangers.

appoint which, if we mistake not, one of Messrs, after leaving the saloon to go on deck at of nepotism and other forms of gross Supreme Court, the other

the request of the pirates, who Had favoritism. The need for some arrangements have been and could hardly be AFCAR & Co.'s Calcutta steamers was ment to provide for this difficulty and otherwise than of a permanent character. reported to be marked out as a fit subject promised that no violence would be used that it is a difficulty not easy of solution The Chamber of Commerce delegate for eating on her voyage between here if no further resistance were offered, must be freely admitted, has been daily would appear to have exercised the and Singapore, it was pretty clearly shown The rest of the officers and crew were atmost care in trying to avoid injury to that the danger was a stern reality and confined in the Captain's room on deck, becoming more apparent, until, as we have seen lately, a somewhat vague and the tender susceptibilities of the holders of that only the preparations made to effect with an armed guard outside the door, and indefinite resolution on the subject was any important acting appointments, whose ually cope with any such trouble saved all opposition being quashed, the ship was the ship, crew, and passengers from looted of everything portable of any value. actually brought forward in the Legislative unnecessary translation from their own Council by Mr. WHITEHEAD, the unofficial proper spheres of duty, by upsetting and probably a worse fate than that of the According to report, money alone member for the Chamber of Commerce. mixing up the arrangements in half a Spark, Greyhound or Namoa. However, it aggregating over $30,000 was taken from As this resolution, which scarcely touched dozen different offices, forms the grievance was perhaps not altogether unreasonable the Chinese passengers. About 7 o'clock the real public grievance, was practically to which the community for years past for ship-owners and their captains, the steamer, which had been judiciously objected. If the interests of after such a lengthy interval of steered out to sea for several hours, was shelved by the Acting Governor promising have

to believe brought to an anchor off Mendoza island, to forward its terms to the Secretary of individuals are to be specially studied and peace and good order,

that the once thoroughly recognised where four junks were in waiting as part State, in whose department it will be the principle at issue conveniently ignored, it will be much better to leave matters as

perils associated with the Chinese of the arrangement. The plunder was most carefully pigeon-holed, "any reform likely to be accomplished must be they are until some reformer comes to the passenger trade throughout the China quickly transferred to these native craft, passed away, and it is and after compelling the fire-men to draw vigorously taken in hand in this colony, front who does not believe in half-measures Sea had After some practical scheme has been and whose policy is not directed by mere more than likely that this utter disbelief of the fires and blow of steam from the Whether it was the existence of any real danger has for boiler, the pirates quietly took their devised and worked out, it will then personal influences. be time enough to solicit the approval advisable in the past to remove Mr. some time, past caused over-confidence departure, doubtless well satisfied with

The Crimean campaign is admitted by of Lord KHUTSFORD, but to submit to his ACKROYD from his position as Registrar of and a neglect of even ordinary supervision. their day's work. No time was then lost. lordship's decision what are simply a few the Supreme Court to act first as Attorney In. suggesting this we do not refer in bringing the Named back to Hongkong, all military authorities to have been the most severe ordeal. the modern soldier has crude suggestions is merely playing with General and afterwards as Puisne Judge particularly to the Namen, but to vessels where she safely arrived early on

ever had to face. The self-denying a question of considerable importance, may be a fit subject for diversity of opinion. generally engaged in this traffic, excepting Thursday morning

patience, the loyal courage that never wasting time, and keeping back a neces- but at the present time it should not be lost the Canton river steamers, on which after no delay. sight of that by taking up Mr. GoODMAN's the Spark tragedy, special provisions were

failed however sorely tried, the unshrinking ary reform that brooks no d extent this duties, no material or inconvenient changes devised for protection from Chinese pirates,

fidelity to duty, and the Indomitable energy and perseverance displayed in "acting" appointment epidemic has were caused either in his own or any other and are still rigidly carried out. reached, we have only to refer to the pro-addition to his own work as Land Officer, department. Mr. Bauch SHEPHERD, in

the extraordinary labours of the most arduous description which had to be ceedings in the Legislative Council when the increased Military contribution was took over that of the Registrar, and no

accomplished under exceptional difficulties voted in spite of the opposition of all the other change was necessary. On the other

may possibly have been equalled by other, troops, but they have never been. unofficial members, by the mechanical hand the departure of the Governor

excelled; and it must not be forgotten force of the Government phalanx, paid necessitated, or if it did not necessitate it

how the Commissariat arrangements servants of the Hongkong rate-payers led to a four-fold change-Mr. FLINING who were compelled to vote against the moved from his own office to Government

disgracefully broke down with the result wishes, and interests of their employers. House, Captain DEANE left the Central

that throughout long, dreary months In itself a curious anomaly, this arbitrary Police Station to assume the post of

of snow and ice, the half-clad, half-starved exercise of official coercion becomes more Colonial Secretary, Major-General GORDON

and wretchedly equipped, British Army, curlous still when it is noted that five out was transferred to the command of the

although fearfully decimated by disease, of these six opposing officials, including Police, and was in turn succeeded as

fought and conquered time after time against overwhelming odds. It is one of his Excellency the Officer Administering Superintendent of Victoria Gaol by Major Cannot Mr. WHITEHEAD

these fights, INKERMAN, "the soldiers' the Government, hold their seats in Council' DEMPSTER. and voted the other day by virtue of acting see that the gist of the evil is in this last

battle," that is our excuse for this article. appointments. Mr. W. M. DEANE, the quoted example, and that the only practical

The battle of INEERMAN was fought on the Acting Colonial Secretary, is Captain solution of the difficulty is in some plan

5th November, 1854, and a few weeks Superintendent of Police; Mr. H. Ethat will obviste one necessary change in

ago a hundred old soldiers, the remnant WODEHOUSE, Acting Colonial Treasurer, a department being made the excuse for

of the brigade of Guards who were in the is Police Magistrate, Coroner, and Super-changes "all round the clock?"Hard-

thick of that day of carnage, thought that intendent of the Fire Brigade; Mr. E. 1. worked officials-and they are numerous

the thirty-sixth anniversary of the great ACKROYD, Acting Attorney-General, is enough in the Government Service is by no means obsolete, but, on the con-

event of their lives would be a filling Registrar of the Supreme Court; and Mr. require holidays and change of scene like

occasion for old friends and comrades to N. G. MITCHELL-INNES, Acting Registrar- other mortais, and the liberal allowances

meet together after the lapse of so many General, is an assistant in that department.both as regards time and money they do

years. Arrangements were accordingly Mr. F. FLEMING, the Acting Governor, receive for these and other purposes are

made that the hundred survivors should would of course under any circumstances certainly not objected to by the community;

parade at Wellington, Barracks, and the have a seat as Colonial Secretary, but it but it is not unreasonable to expect that

Duke of CAMBRIDGE who held a command is nevertheless true that Mr. S, Brown, the absences from duty owing to these or other

in the Guards at INKERMAN, was Invited to Surveyor General, is at present the only causes, such as ill health, must not entail

be present. The noble Dook had a official member who is not "acting." If vexatious inconveniences in the discharge

prior engagement, and when the title any business-like justification can be offered of public business. Every department in

band of veterans assembled at the for such a muddle as the foregoing the Service, with perhaps one or two murderous ruffian In the world. Every

gales of the Barracks at the appointed statements sufficiently indicate, it would exceptions, should be quite independent, ship that has been lost on China's rock

hour, they were refused admission. They interest the tax-paying public to know and capable under any ordinary circum-bound coast, and their number is by no

were officially ignored, although its stated that among the hundred were twp stances of guaranteeing efficient working

Victoria Cross heroes, several who wore It requires no argument to prove that without outside assistance; what has been means limited, has told us the same gruesome tale, and yet, while knowing the

the medal for distinguished.service..in te. acting appointments to some extent cannot done during the absence of the Registrar- truth; we have blindly ignored it and made

THE SOLDIERS MEED. be avoided in the Hongkong Government General is equally practicable in the other no attempt to be ready to meet and crush

feld, while nearly all had the four clasps Service-the necessity is self-evident but departements," And speaking generally, It the danger that is never far distant and

that told of their presence in the battles of the system which makes to large a does not by any means follow that the is always to be dreaded and guarded "ENGLAND expects every man to do his the Alma, Balaclava, and Inkerman, and duty were the memorable words signalled of long service in the trenches" "before proportion of these appointments necessary Registrar of the Supreme Court should be against.

The policy of the Chinese rovers is as by the heroic NELsor from his flagship Sebastopol. Not a single, officer of the SLY" Rog selling it not only far from being Is indefensible. The assumption is a safe A capable Judge or Attorney-General, a

an efficient simple as their modus operandi. Their Victory on that historic morning when Headquarters Staff, or one who had fought one, and it ought to be lif, it is not, that Superintendent of Police the executive staff of every department of Colonial Secretary, a Police Magistrate a object is always plunder, and this latest the naval supremacy, of Great Britain was with them in the Crimes, appeared to respectable, but it's expensive too at least so

business found it on the 15th fest, when Mr. Wode the local Government is thoroughly efficient reliable Treasurer, or a Prison Superinten outrage on board the Names may be taken established in sight of the world in the hollte their presence, and we are told couple of enterprising traders in that line of and complete in itself, and quite competent dent an expert. Chief of Police, any as an excellent example of the ordinary bay of Trafalgar and after the united that the veterant seemed to feel this house was asked to, paid price on two bottles of upder any and all circumstances to more than it would follow that the plan of campaign. Assisted by a spy fleets of France and Spain had been neglect very keenly, especially as the samshu that the accused had sold to some perform. Its regular duties without present Acting Registrar General, whose system that would do credit to a high-class hopelessly crushed and shattered by the guard told off for duty wes, on parade in allors on board the steamship Pemples 25 extraneous assistance. Almost every special if not only forte is sald police organisation, the leaders are fiery onslaught of the famed "wooden, the barrack-square, bearing the Queen's, a bolile or six weeks jug was his Worship's important department in the Service is, at to be more or less familiar informed that a number of Chinese had walls," England confessed that every man and regimental colours which were estimate of the offence. Samsku's evidently on all events so far as the responsible acquaintance with the Chinese dialect, returned from the United States and else had done his duty. And England to her bedecked in honour of the day with the the boom. appointments are concerned, doubly could competently perform the technical where with considerable sums of money eternal disgrace, at the termination of the Tairols these men had helped to win at A CHINESE woman reading in the village of Mal manned. In the Colonial Secretary's office duties of the Surveyor General or the as the results of years of toll, and would war, with stony indifference left her naval INEERMAN, Neglected with contumely tow-seab in the vicinity of Amoy, says the Amoy there is an Assistant Colonial Secretary and Colonial Surgeon. The official record of shortly leave Hongkong for their native heroes, the men who had so nobly done the old warriors quietly followed! the Times, was murdered on the 4th inst. It seems the Registrar-General, the Surveyor the Acting Registrar-General is in itself an towns in the Swatow district, and it was their duty and saved the country, to starve guard to St. James's Palace, uncovered that theunfortunate woman found a sliver kair-pin such as is worn by Chinese gay ladies, and upon General, the Captain Superintendent of unanswerable proof of the unsailsfactory accordingly decided to make a bold bid or eke out a miserable existence the best. their grey heads and in voices that showing the rhameel to her husband and his Police, the Registrar of the Supreme "pitchforking" system to which such grave for such a valuable prize. The returned way they could. The high officers of the quavered a little cheered the old colours relatives it became the cause of a family quarrel. Court, the Postmaster General, and the exception has been taken but it also emigrants took passage by the Namia, Fleet were, of course, not forgollen, and once more... And then they went home The infortunate woman, in consequence, a Harbour Master have all properly qualified strongly suggests that the reform Indicated the day and hour of the vessel's depar honors and rewards were, showered on doubtless paralysed with joy at the appro- strangled by her husband, with the assistance of assistants or deputies. It may be pointed by our remarks in far from being im ture was announced, and the pirates them with lavish profuseness; but the clution of a grateful country, Thep his shother and sister, Super ofera pek out that the Attorney Generalship, prior possible. He is a young officer, practically task was a comparatively easy one. The sorsall and marins, the men whose Commenting, on this, scandalous treat. A GERMAN named Emil Luder was brought to the arrival of Mr. GooDMA, was held without business experience of any sort, only serious resistance, likely to be resolute bravery against fearful adds wonment of these rellos of a gallant Brigade, before Mr. Wodehouse on the 5th fast, charged by a practising barrister, an arrangement with only a few years Colonial service and encountered, that of the seven European the victory were like forgotten and the tendency of which can only be to with, having caused the death of a'sillor named which worked welli and prevented noteworthy only for a wretched memory officers, could easily be overcome, negle

ways has been like this disgust our soldiers and to make the Army Andelen on the 11th Inst. Evidence went and a painful mediocrity in the matter especially as they were in positions to in our

hiered country, where mimore unpopular a London contem show it on the day he accident occurred number of changes in other departments also that the Colonial Treasurership is of talent; and yet he has filled be cut off in detall and other killed or every

reconstantly being told porary says

the prisoners and deceased were comparing Foxie, jrevolvers—they were perfectly sober and friendly. clans and their BATTAGELMATI

orchitis a and story, that of the lakerran heroes. The revolver went off recidently, and the bullet almost a complete sinecure, which ought the offices respectively and so far as safely secured with but a minimum of thk. by lying meforty parasite

the" possessor, año post has hymned the praise of the men whose entered deceased's right, binast, "There being to be abolished as a separate office and wo know respectably, of Assistant Colonial to the attacking party. And in

4.longerį“ this" "stand, round the Sandbag Putery sayed the "no eviddios"agalastylo accused he was dire merged into the Colonial Secretary's Secretary, Police Magistrate, Superla desperadoes, armed with two, revolvers of equal

to be tamoly | Bridal army from being swapi on Play into the Mái duulest i was created into a special | tendent of Victoria Gaol, Registrar each wentonboard the steamer as passons shallow del

what it is..

been made was in wrongly estimating the The great mistake that seems to have character of that semi-savage, the Chinese pirate, wrecker, smugglers or whatever name suits him best. The march of progress and civilisation may have been extensive and wide-spread throughout the length and breadth ofthe Middle Kingdom; we can see its beneficial effects in the prosperous Chinese trading communities of Singapore, Hongkong, Shanghal, and other Treaty. Ports; but it has not appreciably affected the Ishmaelitisk of polley of those murderous rovers the sea who have from time immemorial proved such a curse and drawback to China's social progress. The piratical traditions of thousands of years are not to be so easily wiped out, either by foreign influence or the lukewarm repres- sive measures of the Peking Government, The ancient profession of Chinese pirate trary, flourishes space along the entire const, from Newchwang in the far north to the most southern limits of the Tonquin Gull: Where the carcase is the vultures are sure to be found; and whether in the guise of sailors, harmless traders, or hardy fishermen, the Chinese sea-faror, when ever the opportunity renders it profitable, is quickly transformed into the full-blown pirate, and the most unscrupulous and

This is merely an old story re-told.. With one or two slight differences in detail it is precisely what took place on board the Greyhound in 1885 and the Spark

happen to-morrow in 1874, and it is what might easily on almost any steamer trading along the Chinese coast. Something effectual must be done, and that at once, to remove this standing danger and to prevent its recurrence. Stricter discipline should be enforced on board ship, all officers and engineers compelled to carry fire-arms when on watch, and arrangements made by which the officers could form a combination against any attack of this kind. It is the attack in detail which always proves fatal. It is more than likely, had the officers and crew of the Nimea been armed and prepared for an attack, or even had an opportunity' of rallying and combining been possible. that the Chinese pirates would have failed in their attempt; they succeeded; by surprising the officers at a under circumstances when resistance was Impossible. But the greatest safe-guard can be arranged on shore. No Chinese passengers should be allowed on board ship unless they have obtained passage tickets at the office, and until they and their baggage have been carefully searched. The difficulty of maintaining strict discipline over several hundreds of Chinese, who are allowed to swarm all over the decks of a vessels obvious, and that some heller arrangement than at present exists must be insisted on by the Government the Namca tragedy plices beyond dispute. And meanwhile no stone must be left unturned to bring this dangerous horde of pirates to stern and relentless justice.

time and

AT the regular meeting of the Victoria Priory the election of officers for the year 1891 resulted as follows:-.. ...

E.DE...Sir. Knight D. Gilles.: Treasurer.....Sir Knight H. J. Scott, Guard....................Sir, Knight J. Maxwell.

AT the Police Court on the 75th inst. Tsang Li was brought before Mr. Wodehouse, charged with the murder of one Tahng, Kam Hi-fellow lodger. Evidence was adduced tending to prove that the murder was committed by prisoner, with

an axe in Tak Sin Lane on the 27th ult. Trial. next sessions. DNA DE

His Ex.,Liu Kuu-yi, Governor-General of the Liang, Klang provinces, has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Southern squadron of the Chinese Navy, Liu wants to miake a name for himself his chance lies in the direction of the capture and speedy shortening of the statues of the Namoa pirates. we hear that the marine officers of Hongkong are discussing the advisability of demanding an increase of pay in the early part of next year, on the grounds of the great risk to life when sailing out of Hongkong, unless some preventive mea- sures of a thoroughly practieni nature are put in force at an early date.

A post mortem examination was held on the 13th init, on the body of the unfortunate China- man who was murdered at the Roman Catholic cemetery on the night of the 11th inst, and revealed the fact that a piece of rag bad been rammed down the deceased's throat so far as to be hidden from view, even when the mouth was opened, and had evidently been forced down with

stick a term on a da alba We Are courteously informed by the Super- intendent of the P. & O. that we were la error in stating that the local pfice had received tele- graphic advicers the rumoured stranding of the Company's steamer Hongkong. Thats telegram this effect was received in the colony is certain, but we up only top glad to be able to accord with the deatre of the Agent in stating that no such advke had been received, by him. ap