1901-06-25 — Page 2

To-day's Advertisements.

PUBLIC AUCTION.

HE Undersigned have received'instructious

Tunteering OFFICIAL RECEIVER

to Sell by

PUBLIC AUCTION, UNDER AN ORDER OF THE COURT,

on

SATURDAY, the 29th June,'

at 2.30 15M.,

No. 17, DES. Visux Road, above the Offices. of the P. & 0. 5. N. Co.

SUNDRY, OFFICE FURNITURE,

Comprising:

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1901.

The Hongkong Celegraph

HONGKONG, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1901,

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA.

LONDON, June zand. Reuter's correspondent at Cradock reports that in an engagement at Waterkloof, ten them of the Midland Rifles were killed, four wounded, and sixty six captured.

THE PHILIPPINES. General Chaffee has been appointed TEAKWOOD DESKS, ÖFFICE CHAIRS, | tary Governor of the Philippines. . LETTER BOXES," STATIONERY CASES, COUNTERS, One large COPYING PRESS

and Stand, BOOK RACKS, &c, &c.

ALSO:

1 REMINGTON and

HAMMOND'S

TYPEWRITERS and One large IRON SAFE by Pattips & SONS, LONDON.

"

And

A quantity of COMMERCIAL CODES. TERMS AS Usual.

The above are now on yiew.

HUGHES & HOUGH,

BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA.

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GOVERNMENT has taken up seventeen trans, We hear that the Gods of Literature and War ports in Calcutta to convey the China Expedi- | wote quite exhausted after their furious struggle Peace tionary force back to India. They are the Ulla, with the Plague Devil -yesterday, Clavering, Chinglu, Umta, Forinosa,. Hai negotiations are said to be still continuing, but ching, Glengyle, Hola, Shenking, Lalpeora, the censorship is most strict, hence we cannot Ninani, Muttra, Patiala, Aria, Itimla; Kaja say how matters are progressing. and Sumatra.

WE regret to report the death of James Edward New, who died very suddenly at Sheung Shui in the New Territory. The deceased lately joined the Police Force of this Colony from the Royal Marines and are an irreproachable character. His funeral takes place at 7 a.m.

WE shall be obliged if any subscriber on receiving his paper late or irregularly will write on the Wrapper of the paper the Time of delivery, etc., and forward the Wrapper to the Manager, Hongkong Telegraph Co. ut, so Queen's Road Central The wrapper will enable us to check the delivery coolies,

ON Sunday the 9th inst, a python measuring fully 25 feet in length was captured" in "the Milijungle a few miles up river from Kuching

(Sarawak). The python' had just swallowed a pig, and was trying vainly to re-enter his lair, obstracted by the size of his meal, when he was tracked down by some coolies. After a big tusate they secured him with rattans, and brought him to the Museum, receiving $25 for

THE WATERKLOOF ENGAGEMENT. Nothing is known of the. Waterkloof en their prize. gagement beyond the casualties.

RELICIOUS ASSOCIATIONS IN FRANCE.

The French Senate has adopted the Government Auctioneers. Religious Associations Bill, somewhat

Hongkong, 25th June, 1901,

WANTED..

[665+

A EUROPEAN QUARTERMASTER

superintend the Coxswains of the "STAR" FERRY BOATS. Must be stricily sober and accustomed to work with Chinese.

Apply by Letter only, with Testimonials,

SECRETARY, STAR FERRY CO., LIMITED,

Hongkong, 25th June, toot.

G

[666c

GIRAULT,

6, QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL..

--

PRESERVED

AMERICAN DAINTIES.

Just Opened, Call and, laspect, Best quality,

direct froin the Pactory.

Hongkong, 25th June, 1901.

Entimations.

1667

EYE SIGHT.

Mr N. LAZARUS,

amended.

LATER.

FRANCE AND THE NEW HEBRIDES.

The French Consul General at Sydney being interviewed, said that France having taken possession of, and colonised, the New Hebrides, would be likely to retain the is lands, and would certainly object to any ather Fever annexing.

ACCORDING to a Reuter's telegram to Indian papers, the Volunteer returns for 1900 show an increase as compared with those of 1599, and the efficients have increased by 40,000. This increase is the largest on record since the formation of the Volunteer force. There has been an upward tendency, it is true, but it is rare to see a larger increase in any year than four or five thousand. The war in this, as in so many other directions, has had its uses,

A HOME paper, states that it is possible that the "bluecoat boy will soon be a thing of the past, as it is rumoured that the time-honoured uniform of the boys of Christ's Hospital School may be abolished when the institution is about the removal of the ancient school, there removed to Horsham. Whatever may be said

is no doubt that general regret will be felt if the well-known dress of the boys is abolished. it has valuable historical associations, and dates back at least four centuries.

to-morrow.

THE dustcart unisance at Tsum-tsa-tsui. to which we referred yesterday, still continues. At two o'clock this afternoon there was a very

evil-smelling pile of garbage lying alongside

THE REPORTED REMOVAL OF

THE NAVAL DOCKYARD.

Vague rumours have been circulating for the last week or two as to the removal of the Naval Dockyard to a more convenient site on the

Kowloon side.

W may Inform our readers that nothing Chater's scheme has been before the Govern- definite has been decided, The Hon. C. P. ment for some tinte, also Mr. Ordish's report on the same. Great interest is felt generally with regard to the proposition, as it would be an undoubted improvement to the City and help to relieve the present congestion of population.

WATER POLO.

The following match was to be played at

commencing at 5.30 p.m. sharp. ·

Victoria Recreation Chub, Kowloon, to-day

the cart, and right in the public road too. Why should this filth be allowed to obstruct' the road any more than a hawker's stall? As will be seen by reference to our advertise asent columns, the Star Ferry Co. are in want of a European quartermaster to superintend the coxswains of their boats. We congratulate the Ferry Company on the step they are taking, which shows that our little lectures have been taken to heart by them. It is to be hoped that Robert Mirfin, described as an artist, was the European quartermaster, when caught, will charged this morning an a remand with steal prove to be a veritable "Sergeant Whatshising $310, from F. Lowson, at the Star Coffee

House. name."

BUSINESS is admittedly bad in Hongkong, so Mr. G. Girault of Queen's Road is making. great efforts to secure the public patronage. He has just received a large and varied assort ment of American preserves, tinned and bottled goods. The advantage is, everything is per fectly fresh and of the very best quality. Amoug the latest American niceties are pretzel biscuits, buckwheat, asparagus (special), hams, break-

THERE are now at Ahmednagar," says an fast bacon, fruits, beans, &c. &c.

Indian conteniporary, 22 leer officers and 976 men. The fort in which they are confined WEATHER REPORT.

affords ample accommodation for all purposes, The Observatory report says:--

including a large recreation ground. The

fallen on the China coast owing to the existence On the 35th at 12.10 p.in. the barometer has

prisoners are well housed, the rations are good and in excess of that laid down for British of a shallow area of low pressure over the E19th inst., Detective Inspector Watcham c

st. Gradients slight for S.W. winds in S. companied by two native detectives, a Malay troops why this should be, goodness only knows and every precaution has been taken China, moderate for E. winds over the E, coast. and o Kling, left by the German mail steamer to secure a supply of pure drinking water. Forecast:--S.W. and varying winds, light or Hamburg for India to bring back the abscond Everything possible has been done for their moderate; fair at first, probably thunder showersing ramby, Abdul Kader, who was arrested at health and comfort during their enforced detes- Negapatam, India, un a warmant issued aition, and the prisoners have expressed them-- selves pleased at the manner in which they Singapore, charging him with being concerned

have been received, and wats the way they in the recent theft of notes from the longkong are being treated in the cap. and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Police Court proceedings, which are fixed for to-morrow morning, will probably be postponed MR. HARPER of the Bay View Hotel resumed again pending the arrival of Abdul Kader. to Hongkong this morning.

later.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Occulist-Optician, of London and Calcutta, | H.M.S. Hermione is flying her paying-off

may be consulted for SPECTACLES

at 16, Queen's Road Central,

(R. HOUGHTON & Co.)

(Nearly opposite the floxakong HOTEL),

Business hours:---9-A.M. 10 5 PM.

pennant.

་-་

The remainder of the Bengal Lancers at pre- sem in Hongkong are leaving, to-day of to- morrow morning. The 3rd Madras are stopping in the Colony.

This morning, says the Straits Times of the

The

A HOME paper says:-There was a šale of stringed instruments recently at Messrs. Put- tick and Simpson's, in Leicester-square, and many of them were of supreme value, especial. SPEAKING of the withdrawal of the Indianly the collection of violins and violoncellos MR. R. A. Collins, hitely recovered from plague, troops from China, the the Bolshay Gazette which belonged to the late Sir Arthur has gone to Macau to recouļs

says:The winter has been a severe one but Sullivan. There were seventeen of them, in the Indian Contingent has come through it cluding the celebrated Strad on which he admirably, Special satisfaction has been given set such store. The correct, signature is by the shelters, made of two layers of matting Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1692." There with oiled paper of the country between them, were some rather unusual features about the that have been built over some of the British bidding for this rare instrument. The candid tents.

auctioneer declared that in order to set all These have been easily and cheaply doubts at rest he might as well say that though erected, yet have sufficed to keep the tents dry the late owner was positive it was a Strad, and have increased the confort of the inmates, another eminent expert was equally certain

is understood that the system will now be

that it wasn't. Therefore he simply offered it to tried experimentally in India. If found appli- the same time, he rejected some frivolous the public as "a violin pure and simple." At cable to this country it may be a great boon in preliminary bids of 5 and Lio, and said standing camps on the frontier, where hutting he would accept nothing less than 450 as a start. The bidders agreed, and in about is always a matter of difficulty.

a minute the price was run up to £600, at which figure it was knocked down. The total amount realized for Sir Arthur Sullivan's violoncello by Joseph Guarnerius, dated 1719, violins was 961 79, 6d. Sir Arthur had a

on which he also set great store. The price of this was £170."

A GREAT proportion of cats an-to the time of going to press, the sunken

diseases affecting those advancing in life. occur to those having some deficiency in the edger Canton River has not been floated. construction of the eyes-the many years of 'Eye Strain' ending in serious forms of disease. Glasses specially adapted in youth to those requiring them save and preserve the sight.

Constantly recurring headaches, spells of The American yacht Constitution broke her dimness when reading, weak eyes, the letters mainmast on the 4th instant in a trial spin off running together; any of these symptoms ind! Bristol, Rhode Island.. The whole of her cate a deficiency in the form of the eye requirrigging collapsed like the Shamrock's, ing Glasses only to correct and cure.

Mr. LAZARUS supplies his SPECTACLES WHATEVER are the Kowloon coolies thinking about? There were three cents, in the shape * [14536) of a dead rat, lying in the middle of Elgin Road this morning, and no one made a rush for the prize.

only after testing the sights,

ADVICE FREE.

WE would remind our readers that if they intend to enter for bur Raid on Hongkong" competition, the time is growing short. The

A. S. WATSON & CO., articles must all be in this office by five o'clock

LIMITED.

ESTABLISHED A.D. 1841.

THE LEADING MANUFACTURERS

OF

on Saturday next.

THE largest Thames trout of the present season has been captured at Hampton Court. It was hooked in the weir pool, and scaled $. 40%. At Staines, another nice trout of sth. 9 oz. was, landed, like the other, a specimen of the American rainbow trout.

The Royal Engineers Variety Club gave an other of their enjoyable evening entertainments

ÆRATED WATERS last night, The littic Theatre was well filled

IN THE FAR EAST.

OUR FACTORIES are construct- ed with every attention to the best principles that sanitary science can suggest; and our NEW FACTORY at WEST POINT is the LARGEST and BEST EQUIPPED in the FAR

EAST

A perfect System of Filtration is employed guaranteeing Absolute pur-

|

with an appreciative audience. The manage ment was good as usual (a most important port of the entertainment) and everyone went away thoroughly satisfied.

MR. DANJIHOV of Rawalpindi, who has several times during the South African war shown his interest in the welfare of the British soldier, is now forwarding what he calls his "humble present" to the sick and wounded at Pretoria. This takes the practical form of tins of tobacco and boxes of Indian cheroots, a modest label conveying his best wishes. The British soldier will certainly not forget" Mr. Dhanjibhoy,

|

.

Wu would call the attention of our readers to the offer of a prize of fifty dollars made in our later column of the 11th instant. As will be seen, the prize is to be given for the best sketch of a project for the capture of the Istand by a hostile force with a view to the destruction of the Naval Yard, Arsenal and Barracks. This is a subject which should readily interest our readers, and we trust that we shall have a good batch of manuscripts to consider. Articles should not exceed two thousand words in length; they must be written on one side of the paper only and should reach this office before 5 p.m. on Saturday, 29th inst. All articles to be address ed 10:-

The Editor,

"Hongkong Telegraph,"

50, Queen's Road Central.

AN exchange says:-The German anny doctor, F. Schaefer, seen to differ from the Boers in their opinion about the lance. The learned doctor has investigated the subjece of lance wounds as reported in military and civil re- cords, and can only find mention of fifty-one cases after going as far back as the sixteenth century. The evidence is that the wounds in the majority of cases are exceptionally light, and even serious ones generally take a favour- able course. The reason seems to be that the gracually increasing width of the end of the lance is specially adapted to push aside the easily-shifted' organs of the body, such as testines, without piercing them. The lances, nerves, blond and other vessels, and the in- therefore, a "humane weapon," and will remain so unless some alteration is made in the shape

of the point.

THE Sikhs of Amritsar have decided upon a somewhat novel way of commemorating Lord oberts' victories in South Africa. They are going to publish a religious papier with this object, to be called the "Handard Khalsa" and the first number will be issued on July 4th.. THE correspondent of the Morning Leader The paper is in the hands of a committee of whites from Berlin recently to say that the infucatial Sikhs, Bhai Sochet Singh, head Kaiser himself does not think he is quite in. The Machinery used is of the Latest Ardasia of the Golden Temple,, being the allible. The correspondent says: It appears

honorary editor. Type.

SIR C. Dilke in the House of Commons on the 23rd ult., asked the Secretary for India whether it had been proposed by any foreign Govern- A STAFF OF ENGLISH EXPERTS

ment that an international decoration should attends to every detail of the Manube granted to the troops of the various

facture.

MR. J. Tennant, the Liberda Member for Berwickshire; intends to make the unfortunate death of Smith, the pugilist, the occasion of bringing the whole business of boxing compe prohibition,says a recent number of the 'Asian, titions before Parliament with the view of their Every precaution is taken in these matters and diminished by the use of 8 oz, gloves; but the the risk of injury in the recent fatal match was

fact remains that Smith died of compression of the brain and the soft headed among the brethren will, of course, make the most of it. One fatal encounter in 700 bouts is a low enough average in all conscience, and if the number of fatalities in boxing competitions all over the Kingdom samething more like 1 in 7,000. If Mr. Tennant were taken we should find them work out

does carry out his project we trust that some more practical member will ask for returns showing how many fatal accidents occur annu- ally among bicyclists, footballers, jump race riders and others. It is only by comparison of averages that, the true extent of danger in. curred can be fairly gauged; and boxing at the which occurred a couple of years ago, has been National Sporting Club since the fatal inishap, so hedged about with precautionary measures that it is become one of the safest forms of exercise in which an active man can engage.

SPORTING NEWS.

were discovered in the act. The French co- mander pursued the fugitives until they faced about and made a stand. A flank movement 120 soldiers gave the enemy chase and dislodged the brigands, who broke and fled. caught them in an enclosed spot, in the moun- tains. There they were soon cut to pieces. The turn of the remainder of the band came the next day. The Chinese regular troops kept the enemy under fire. These brigands, stormed their positions while the French troops too, were cut to pieces. The brigands still in the field then scattered. To catch them, the French authorities offered a reward of fourteen dollars for every brigand dead or alive. The result was that the brigands were hunted down on all sides for the sake of the blood money. Such was the end of the maid upon. Coabang.. Another brigand force had taken up a position at Bao Lai. At the date of last advices, a French force was moving in that direction. The French

nuthorities made inquiries into the cause of the maid and questioned the few prisoners made. Wednesday, 26th June.-V.R.C. v. They said that General Sou, who coinmanded the Chinese forces on the frontier, had found R. W. Fusiliers. V.R.C.-Goal-R. Henderson; Backs-troublesome. He gave them arms, ammuni- the brigands in his jurisdiction to be too H. Alves, F. M. Roza Pereira: Back-Artion, and supplies on condition that they should Alves Forwards-A. Humphreys, . Jorge, break into Tonquin. The brigands took him H. Kennett,

at his word. But, on entering Tonquin, they found the people to be hostile. General Sou failed to furnish them with "supplies. The brigands, on finding the French forces too string for them, retrated into Chinese territory. Cieneral Sou sent troops to intercept them. Caught between them and their French pur- suers, the brigands mostly perished. General Sou thus saved himself the trouble of arresting and beheading the brigands in Chinese territory. He expects a good tuin from the French and that they will overlook his double dealing,

AT THE MAGISTRACY.

AN ARTISTIC CAREER.

In the absence of any evidence from the prosecution the defendant was discharged,

TREE CUTTING.

Chan Fung and Li Tsung got it stiff for cutting trees, on Crown Land, They went to prison for six weeks' hard labour each.

*

LUKONGS CHARGED. Two Chinese constables, Li Pak and Man Hieng, were charged with violating their duty and the 1st named with assaulting Up Chan, The case was gone into at great length by Mr. Hazeland and ended in defendants being dis- cisirged.

*

A MISUNDERSTANDING.

Mr. Chan Tong, by profession a bricklayer, paid a visit at midnight to Mrs. Leung Ngan Fang. On leaving there was a slight trouble as to the finances and Mr. Chan Tong got 14 days hard labour this morning for taking awny with him & gauze jacket valued at $5.00. Moral, when you part with money do not insist on a quid pro quo.

*

REMOVING A BODY,

Chin San was fined $10.00 or 3 weeks for attempting to remove the dead body of a girl without the permission of the Sanitary Board. The cold hard facts at a Police Court some- times cover a world of pathos.

THE "BOY" AGAIN. Mrs. Hood charged her boy with stealing $5.00. He, poor fellow, did not understand quite what he was arrested for. But Mr. Kemp, with a keen appreciation of the growing evil, sentenced Chan San to 6 weeks' hard labour.

OPIUM.

worthy of note. Ho Po, charged with having Amongst a number of opium cases one is tacís and one mace illegally in his posses- sion, was fined $30 or 3 toonths. He went to gaol.

THE PLAQUE.

Number of cases reported) Chinese:.....1,366. up till noon of the 24th Other Asiatics 46 June, igat

Europeans24 Chinese....hrath 8 Number of cases reported Other Asiatics o

during the past 24 hours

(Europeans...........' I

Total number of cases reported to date 1,465

Number of deaths reported (Chinese.....1,348 up till noon of the 24th Other Asiatics 32 June, 1901

Chher Asiatics Europeans? Chinese

Europeans......

Number of deaths reported during the past 24 hours

Total number of deaths recorded to date 1,397 Since noon on Saturday last the cases and

deaths are

Cases Chinese......

Other Asiatics European

40

Q

Total

43

Deaths Chinese...

Other Asiatics. Europeans

Total

The plague returns for last week were

Cases.......... 'Deaths

Q

The returns for 22nd June, 1894, were:-

Total deaths to date

2,144 New cases in previous 24 hours... Deaths in previous 24 hours..... 30 Patients under treatment

154

+

We are glad to state Mi. Wacker is (ay reported yesterday) only suffering from a very mild attack of plagne.

Mrs. Primrose who was removed to Kennedy Town Hospital yesterday evening, is doing fairly well.

Apart from the usual amusements provided at the ordinary Gymkhana) the bill of fare provided for the meeting on the 29th promises to attract every sportsman in the Colony. For the first time at any Gymkhana meeting in and the horses being prepared should give some Hongkong there will be open mices for Walers, good sport. The condition of many of thegressing as favourably as could be expected,

The European, patients generally are pro- contestants seen on the course this morning reflects great credit on Mr. Hill of Mr. Ken- nedy's establishment, in whose hands many-of the horses are placed.

This morning the pick, of those out for exercise TES undoubtedly Mr. Kennie's condition, who in the hands of Mr. Muster put. "Mary," a fine upstanding mare in the pink of in fast half mile, finishing as if she wanted another mile spin.-

**

that the Kaiser is intensely annoyed that, in spite of the utmost care taken by the authorities to keep curious reporters at a respectful dis- tance when he made his speeches, these still found their way into the newspapers. What he 'says as supreme head of the army to his soldiers nations who had taken part in the recent. does not, in his Majesty's opinion, concern the "Hoodoo" did a good inile and when pulled operations in China, or that a star should public, and matters will be arranged differently-up was galloping in a most determined fashion. be given for the defence of Peking; and in future. The Kaiser is further of opinion that for the best part of the way in grand style, but we Loyalist "wenta mite and a quarter, moving whether His Majesty's Government proposed not every word should be weighed which he almost thought he had had enough of it. As The Waters produced are of the to give any medal for Admiral. Seymour's utters in the eagerness of the moment, and he is on the bly side we expect to see an improev highest class and excellence; as testimarch, the defence of the Legutions, or relief frequently improvised. If only his leading met by Saturday Favourite was a of Peking. Lord G. Hamilton: His Majesty's thought is kept in mind his actual words are three quarters of a mile in not too taking a

style. fed to by the best Engliali makers. Government propose to give a medal to all immaterial, for "the monarch himself is but a ""Glory," "Donna," Kangaroo" and did slow

who have been engaged in the operations lead-man and not quite infallible." It is stated that work, ing to the siege of Peking or in its defence, the new regime will be inaugurated when his The project of an international décoration is Majesty unveils the monument to Bismarck m under consideration, but has not yet assumed front of the Reichstag on the 3rd of June, but such a shape as to enable me to make joy it is not yet known how the reprezentative of

SWATSON & CO. LIMITED. THE HONGKONG DISPENSARY.

1#

The rooms at the back of the charge room in the Central Police Station are being thoroughly disinfected, owing to one of the Chinese telephone operators having been seized with plague.

FRENCH INDO-CHINA.

|

A DESCRIPTION OF SINGAPORE,

Singapore, writes the Correspondent of the Standard, in describing the visit of the Duke' and Duchess of Comwall and York, is supposed to be a British colony. It looks like a bit of

Cuna, with a Dutch and German leaven.

You can smell the Chinese as soon as you have left the little landlocked harbour with it's border of perspiring green. The Dutch and the German you may have to look for, and you cannot miss them, for are their names not written large on the great warehouses and stores that dry out commercial prosperity? On your way from the Borneo wharf where the

Ophir and her escort, the St. George and the are filling their bunkers, your rickshaw rans through acres of coal piled up on land that ought to be very valuable. We have just has put a duty of one shilling a ton on exported learned that the Chancellor of the Exchequer

coal. Here in Singapore the people chiefly concerned accept it with indifférence. What

is

shilling when coal fetches from fifty to sixty shillings aton? That is their philosophi

What cal way of looking at the new tax. affects them infinitely more is the danger that threatens the supremacy of the port. The docks are controlled by a company known as Tanjong Pagar, and the company bas grown too fat to be enterprising. Every day there are ships that must wait for wharfage before they can coal or discharge cargo. Does the Tanjong Pagar do anything to meet the ever-increasing pressure on the accommodation and coaling capacity? There is much talk, but no improve. ment, fo: it can hardly be improvement to reduce the speed of coaling. Not long ago the coolies in dirty lain-cloths and conical hits of straw, with a basket slung on a hamboo pole, could fill, the bunkers at the rate of reo tons an hour. Now you must be content with 50 tons an hour, and be happy if you have not to wait a day or two for your turn. This want of wharfage is having its effect, and Singapore must suffer. Already a new coaling station has been established at Pulo Way, which is a neighbouring Dutch possession, and the masters of ships are becoming more indepen.

dent.

The Duke and Duchess landed under a re morseless sun, and were received by the Governor, Sir Frank Swettenham, surrounded by the British community and some of the principal Chinese, who, with Arabs and Ger. inans, share most of the wealth. The Sultans of Pahang, Perak, and Selangor were in the comween European and Malay. The Sultan of company, clad in an unpicturesque compromise Johore had taken a holiday, for reasons that were hinted at and may be known in England.

four banks of ladies in cool, white dress, and The reception was of the conventional kind~a pavilion hung with flags and flowers, three or

five score Englishmen trying to look comfor table in tall hats and frock-coats in a feeking' atmosphere, approaching too degrees Fahren appeal to the Duke, who invariably appears in heit. The habit is incurable, though it does not

cool white uniform.

NETHERLANDS INDIA..

A FREE PORT TO HE CLOSED.

The future of Macassar, bitherto a free port in the island of Celebes, is arousing uneasiness there. That port will soon cease to be free and customs duties will be levied for the benefit of the Netherlands India Treasury, which is now. sorely in need of funds. The mercantile com- munity at Macassar views the change with dis- favour, but the Government denies that trade. will be one whit the worse for it. The Minister for the Colonies argues that the future of the port does not depend upon its freedom from.customs duties but upon freeing

from commercial dependence upon Singa pore. At present, the trade between Macassar and Europe, is carried mainly by way of Singa- pore as transit port. Of late, direct trade be-- tween Macassar and Europe has been spring ing up. But this new departure, so the Minister points out will not be permanent, unless Ma- cassar bae improved harbour facilities. Work. is this end has been started. The objections raised by the mercantile community of Ma cassar to its loss of free port standing, the Minister met by pointing out that the very same people had declared that any harm from the new order of things would be made good by thorough going barbour im provements. For these improvements money. has been voted. The Minister made much of this admission as showing that there is little feat of Macassar sinking in importance from the competition of Singapore, the moment the free trade of the Celebes port is done away with.

It should be noted that Macassar had become: an unimportant place after the foundation of Singapore, when the Dutch Government in. 1840 declared it a free sport. The avowed ain -----|-of-die-Government-was-to-start-a-rival to Sing

apore, the geographical,position of Macassar, duties worked wonders, and Macassar mic favouring the idea. - The abolition of customs again to greatness as a part and trade centre, But, no matter how greatly Macassar grew in

THE CHINESE BRIGAND RAID, The Straits Tines of the 18th inst. says brigands who, the other day, crossed the frontier Destruction has overtaken the Chinese into Upper Tonquin About soo of them at tempted to surprise French military station

at Caobang. On the march thither, they at tacked an outpost which was so stously defend. ed that the garrison kept them at bay until relief came from the force at Caobang. The brigands then fell back upon the mountains: The water polo game between the Eastern The French commander secured, the co-opera- Division of the Royal Anillery and the Viction of Chinese troops, and began, to push the toris Recreation Club to take place this after enemy hard. He and his allies finally surrounded moon at 30 is expected to prove line of the them. The brigands took advantage are teluk

importance, it could not distance Singapore. In that sense, the Government scheme prove ed a failure. Upon this certain officials thought that free trade had done, its worle in attracting merchanța and traders lo Macusent, and that the time had come for Government in profit by its handiwork, through customs col lections. These reviews were urged win perlitonealey)89% IN suyur Inban