1909-01-22 — Page 3

PORTUGUESE CONSUL

"AT HOME"

"DUART EN FETE

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH FRIDAY JANUARY 22 1909.

THE OPIUM QUESTION,

CONTROL SCHEME CONSIDERED.

ITS FINANCIAL ASPECT

was mentioned

- THE DÓWNIALD OF JUANA SHIR-KAIË

DIVORCE, IN JAPAN,

A Tientsin, correspondent writas" to the, NCD Nook, uuder date: 6th 'lost;= Tientsia newspapers have united in deploring deeply the sudden downfall of Yean Shili tal, and some have drawn from it for the future, from his article. character are predicted as the consequence

ROWING

appearance: with its long" land of Hghted, a prospectiva restriction in the abure of this going to bring about an extremely soriqus. But wheni calamities of the most portentousand 1898 was uniformly higher than 100,000 second host and flani were very close. Pen

.

orament would be more likely to prevent mu gling than ls the Farm at present.: This is of course ous of the great dangers, because the working of the department by Government will certainly be far more costly than it working by the Farm, and if that working is not to be an Daut, the roildance of Senhor J. J.

efficient even if not more efficient, than is the Leirin, Portuguere :Consul, was eri" fefe last

In our load that the recommendations as to present Farm in the matter of preventing smug Saturday evening. The pretty grounds, of The Consular residence presented gala what might advisably be done tending towards gling, then the adoption of Government control Japanese lanterns and numerous others amidst drug, would be dealt with toparately, says the diminution of revenue with concurrently the beautiful foliage of the tropical trees with Singapore Free Press ofgth inst. We to-day practically certain increase in the use of opium The new system would of course mean a far In the walls of "Duart. Senhor and Madame proceed to consider what the positiva results of With the Leiria ware "At home to Commodore, Mrs, ikib, Jaquiry, are in this direction,

more satisfactory service as far as the general public is concerned. There have always bean and Mis Lyons and members of the Consular minor recommendations there can be no quar

grave complaints as to the treatment of the Body, including Mr. A. P. Wilder, Consul-relling. They are that extra probibitions should General for the United States of America be put on the purchase by women and children;

public by the chintings, complaints which mag Mops. G, Liebert, Consul for France, and that women should not be concerned in the be taken as being quite correctly grounded Mene Lieben, Mr. G. von Wisar, Cousal. for management of oplum shops in any capacity: proved. And it in in such respects that we

Under Government this matter should be im Austria-Hungary, and Mrs. Ven Wiser, Dr. and that the use should be prohibited in brofaresse great danger financially; it is more Varstasch, Consul for Germany, and Mrs. thole. All these are excellent suggestions and will Vomitch, Mr. Funatari.Vice-Consul for Japan, have a beneficial, if miner, affect on the possibility that the scheme would be a comparative and Mr. Funaisa, Mr. Fuller, and Mr.ty of abuse in the use of the drug is fact they financial failure owing to side issues of this Blanchflower, Naval Secretary to Cammodore are likely to meet with such general approbation kind, than that it would be wrecked awing to Lyons,

that they need no further discussion. Having excessive increase of smuggling. In using the words comparative faliere, we do not wish it Mr. P. Marty and Mrs. Marty were unavoid thus cleared the ground of the lesser measures

to be understood that we anticipate that there ably

absent owing to Mr. Marty's Indisposiwe may turn to the main recommendation of

the Commission. This is that the Government would be ac actual loss ou tua department that

He would be carrying the concluslans too far. should take the control of the opium-business loto its own hands. In such a courte. the Government has several examples by which to. be guided. There is the action of the United States in the Philippines, the action of the Japanese Government in Formosa and the action of the Netherlands Government in Java and its attendant territories in all these three places Government control of some sort has Philippines we are not at the moment in pos. session of documents or evidence through this report, as to the success of the movement. to Formosa wa have a very luminous and rather startling document placed before us, which will The lack of suitable tenders for taking make thinking people consider very carefully passengers and their luggage to and from the whather it is wise to put an absolute confidenca sisamers in the harbour here has long best in the statements of China's Intentions to- falt, but the P. and O. Company is now prawards oplum suppresion. This Formosa paring to institute a marked improvement 'io document is valuable, because it deals with this respect, for the finest passenger tender the methods which a nation, which has distinct afloat la Singapore was launched at the Keppel ly set up a claim to adopt an attitude to Harbour yard, this morning, and will be ready wards public morality similar to the attitude of for service about March 1, reports the Straift | the West; takes to prove that her claim, in Times of 9th inst.

parison to what may be generally expected Irvin Oblus, that we are likely to obtain.". ̧*

WHAT HAPPENED IN FORMOSA.

After dinner the distinguished party proceed ed to the Club Lusitano where they were enter tained to a special performance of The Geisha" by the children of members. The visitors expressed themselves as delighted with the manner in which the little performers. acquitted their respective parts. The spacious hall of the Club was crowded.

|

of

Some very good contents were witnessed last SOME INTERESTING STATISTICS.

Saturday afternoon in brifilant weather, in the Dr. Takano,

of the Tokyo University, has four-cared scratch races, organised by the published some interesting statistics in the Victoria Recreation Club, over one mile Zogaku Kyokwai Zauhl concerning divorce la

Course between Kellet Island and North Point. Japan, and to make the following extracts the water being nice for no ing during stod op

Be part the afternoon, although it freshened The number of divorces each year between a bit towards clock. The finished in the

figures — In the f frst heat, three boats:started, viz. -- his removal-fram-power-one cannot help except in one years, but tincs 1899. ho wishing to set before the public a different view. The decided tendency towards decline, and Mason LEEREN THISTLE Thais de no wish to say ond unkind word the bumbar per annum has now descended to: R. A. Carvalho (Bow) H. S. Jephson (Bow) abontest recent Viceroy, for the ability which about 60,000 in round figures. Whereas there A. H. Garrolla A. A. Carvalho (*) inso short a period raised him to so great an were more than two divorces per 1,003 of the A. J. Mackis (^3^)|||R. L. Bridgør (39) eminence was thoroughly appreciated and population during the former period, there has L. E. Lammert(Stroke) F. Mackintosh (Stroke)

Carroll (0%) sympathy is felt with him in his misfortunes. only bean about one cars per 1,000 in late years, Frank Lammert (Oox) signed by Chang Chih-tung and it is not bo- But the Edict for hit return home was as will be seen by the following tablo:

Number of Rato per 1,000 leved that Chang would sign such a document

Year. Divorces. Population. 1889..

107,478 without good reason, and it is, in the opinion of some, quite gratuitous to infer that his un-18gb kind fate will bring about either national dis order, or international complications,

A

1891. Wa1802...

1890...

2.68.

2.76

2.75

-18g...

2.83

1804****

4,430

1895....

115,054

1897...

·1898.....

124,07

99.465

រ 2.87. 2.27

1899am 66,620 1950

63,916

1.42

1900

63,593

1441

64,311

1.40

1903

4.36

1904

65:57: *64,016 60,179

・・

FK. Tata (Bow)!!!"

A. L. Alves (2

AJ. V. Ribeiro (3.).

H. Rapp (Stroke)

M. 4. R. Soura (Cox).

| The Thistle" want away at the start and kept a bit of a lead, with the fore and Lab follow- ing, but after covering about a quarter of a mile, the latter boat draw level with MacKla tosh's boat and when passing the Oil-Works, had lead of two to three lengths, which Latimert increased towards the falsh, pulling A fine long stroke throughout and eventually wissing by about four lengths from the Thick, the Rose balog about half, a:length behind the second. Time 7 minutes 20 seconds.

In the second beat, only two bonte started, vitam

"ROSE".

THISTLE

-LAUNCHING OF TUB. " MALAYA" been tried with varying results. As to the would be disastrous. The limit of loss remains,ahould be sorry to endorse unreservedly 190******* coure it will be seen that _the_|_F.:M. O. Lopez (Bow) A.R.Ellis (Bow) Ka

P. AND..O, COMPANY'S NEW PASSENGER

TINDIR

R. Galluzzi (4) Forbes (3)

J. Cruickshank (5) Feda Roza (3)

Sorby (Cox)

Regent. It has në doubt bend Yuan Shib-kal's | fali; for instance,' in the figures from 1898 to J H. Patlay (Cox)) this was a vary exciting rate.":

* The now craft in called the Malaya and is genuine ; and, if a moreover the nearest com.spart from any increase of staff, and a very there would have been na coup d'etal, and but

constructed of selected hard woods, and special- | ly designed for the comfort of the patrons of the line. A commodious cabin forward will accom modate passengers in bad weather and there is. L. Maxwell, medical missionary in Formosa, The document in question is n letter of Dr. abundant room for baggage aft,

The Malays measures seventy feet in witten, to Mr. Alexander, and we make no length, between perpendiculars, in fourteen apology for the length of the extracts, from this fest across decks and has a moulded depth letter dated July 1907, are as follows: of seven feet. Her draught is the feet and he is expected to make aine and hali knots. She was designed by Mr. K. G. Yule and constructed by the Tanjong Pagar Dock

Board,

The launching was to have taken place at 10.30 sharp, but after Mr H. W. Buckland,

The revenue from opium, after the Japanese have been in possession of the island for twelve years, still remains one of the principal items of income, and it is difficult to ses how the authorities would succeed in making both ends meet without it, and there is no doubt that they feel this strongly themselves.

When the Japanese took over the island

number of divorces does not change to a very From the decided extent from one year to the next un los there is some special cause. The sudden 1899, is dūs, in Dr. Takano's opinion, to the change in the Civil Code and Registration Re guiations. The figures rose gradually from 1889 to 1893, but during the two following years when the China war was in progress they drop: ped, and a similar phenomenon was during the years of the Russo-Japanese war (1954 and 1905). Thus Professor Takano thinks be in justified in saying that this decrease is due to the agitation in wartime.

Witnessed

Japan is noted for its great number of divorces. During the period from 1887 to 1893 there was an average of 329.1 divorces per 1,050 marriages each year; but during the five follow ing years the rate dropped to 2733 par 1,009, while since 1899 the rate has not exceeded 1676 par 4,000 Even this figure is incompar ably greater than that of Prausis, where 21 divorces per 1,000 marriages were recorded in 1898. The rate of divorces to marriages: in Japan will be stau tu the following table:-

Per

r 1,000

Year.

Divorces. Marriages. 1899ä................. 66,543 · 225.7 1900...... 63,828. 184.2 1991dmquine 63,442 367.6 1902 64:139

176.3

1903

1004

·∙1905....

64.392 ...63,913 60,051

160,1 170.7

1. A. S. Alves (Stroke). A. Muto (Stroke)

As anticipated, Bath bosts got off well together at the start nod raced almost level from start to finish; the faol, Aisle just beating the Rose by about 4 covering the distance in 7 minutes y secondes.

After the splendid rowing put up by Alval" crew in the second heat, the Thistle was looked upon as the favourite in the final, although many were unaware of the capabilities of Lammer's crew who were never troubled stʼall in the first boat.

It was just a little after five o'clock when both boats started in the final. From start to finish it looked doubtful which boat would secure the honours of the day, as each boat seamed to take it in turn to lead by about half a length or so until a couple of hundred yards from home when Alves put in a very fast stroku. and won by about & length, from Lammert- doing the mile in 7 minutes 2 seconds.

Both crews pulled excellently in the final, although the No. 3 in Lammert's los seemed to

lacken towards the end of the race,

At the conclusion of the Meeting, the prizes were presented by Mr. A. Rodger, Chairman of the Vicotorla Recreation Club, to the successful.

carsmen.".

SERIOUS ASSAULT,

It is, of course, abulous that the reason in the Edict of a few days ago for his being. divested of office is's mare subterfuge, but there toas not appear to be the faintest inkling of light as to what the real motive is One: THE QUESTION: OF LOBB, But if this system is to be employed there paper darkly hints at some kind of conduct on is a limit beyond which the financial difference the part of Youn and his party which was, or was supposed to” be," inimical to the war between the receipts under the Farm system and the receipts ander: Government control, ment. On the other hard, the almost should not be allowed to go, because if it does al sumour amongst the Chinese populeco go it would mean the establishment of a very at he is being repaid for the part be costly scheme at such a sacrifice of revenue as tok the coup d'état of 1898, We for Government to fix, pressing it proposes absolutely nothing to show that Yean's re- either of these opinions, but-so-far-there is. to adopt the view of the Uommission,

The danger of increased expenditure ander moval is owing to any reversal of policy or any a Government system lies, we think, in the reactionary disposition on the part of the Prince ́fact that it is impossiblę to safeguard the economical use of public money, to the same

role to play the part of reformer, and his worst extent as it is to safeguard private commercial enemies must adenit that since 1950 he has money. We see tog. many examples of this in played it well; but the dispassionate observer Municipal trading adventures to be able to cannot forget that in 1898 he took sides against. Thut our eyes to the fncl. It would be obvi- reform, and by his perfidious conduct towards ously impossible to allow Government chintis Emperor, brought to the front the party ings to be the same class of men as at present, that humiliated Kuang Hsu, banished Kang or to be dressed as at present. There would Yu-wei and brought to the block six of be a decided increase of wages to face, quite

China's noblest young reformers. There are those who say that but for Yuan Shih-kai decided increase in such minor matters as uni forms, office supplies, examination buildings, for the coup d'ear there would have been and the general fitting out of a very important no Boxer outbreak. The new reign has secured

which rould have to be fairly large and well not trust the statesman who betrayed them. department. This would be quite apart from the ascendancy of the reformers who were bal the supply of efficient Europeno supervision, fed in 1298, and it may wall be that they can paid. Now many of all these alterations and go" And thus the whirligig of Lima brings in his additions would be absolutely added burdens revenges," '

At any rate, If this be the true interpretation, the Farm simply goes along without them, but the revenge has best taken mildly, and offers on the running expenses, because at présaut they could not be avoided under the suggested a pleasing contrast to the wild violence of scheme because once a Government depart which it is the recompense. Nothing vindic- ment takes up any work it becomes the chap- live has been dous. Yuan has been simply ping block of public criticism, and a far higher removed from office under the most plausible standard has has to be set in the conduct of excuse. Even a Bismarck can be spared. The such a department than has to bo set when the country need not come to a standstill, because inevitable because it is almost impossible to rather than one in whom he cannot put, get into the way of regarding pubile depart. confidence. The time has come for reformers ments ne being run for profit; the tendency, who believe in relorm, rather than men who and a very strong tendency it is, is to regard believe that it pays to be re and not a few who

China has many statesmen, a public department primarily as a means not of providlog revenue, but of conducting a busi are actuated by high and loyal motives. But it is the bane of our foreign method of discus- ness section of Government administration in a manner which shall make it attain the ting Chinere politics that we must pick out.

one of China'i siatesmen and idolize him to bighest standard of efficiency practically re

the exclusion of all the rest. Once it was i gardless of cost. That is of course as long as the cost is kept within the reasonable bounds, Hung-chang, now it in Yuan Shih-kai, Having

chosen our pet statesman, we must make every of the department paying lin way. There can Jatinching ware Mr. and Mrs. 11. W. Buckland should think, nearly za per cant, then we get ure in the sense of economy, in a Government every iniprovement with his name, and suppora the number of divorcer taking place there, and hat Times of beast. The two men went

never be the same careful scrutiny of expedi-thing contingent upon his rise or fall, identify Mr. K. G.. Yale, the Chiof Draughtsman; MI back to the original 6 percent of the inhabitants undertaking, as there invariably is in a suc. thatnil will descendtö'sheerzuin if haistemoved. at their sumbers are insignificant in the 'Hyndman house in Burkill Road where he is S. A. Lane, Chairman Tanjong Pagar Dock that it was when the Japanese came.. If one cessful business venture.

But we have dunalves made the spectacles face of the Japanese figures. In the United Board Mr. W. G. Niyan, Secretary; Mr. G. F. Robertson, Dockyard Manager: "MET.N

States divorces were only as per 10,000 marti: ware to put the number na low as 10 per cent,

For all these reasons the proposal of the are looking through, and the more we Dick Government Marino Burveyor; Mr. W. which I am certalo is far below the trus num

Commission has to be approached with a dé-idolize our favourite, the more we bewildered couples in 1886, and the yearly average of

ourselves. This some babit infects even the Sweden from 1886 to 1890 was 509. the pages of the Spectator we call the follow Japan, that divorces occur mostly in March ng Writing in reference to the death of the and are fewest in June Dr. Takaco remarks late Emperor and Empress Dowager, the that though he can offer some suggestions to Speciator 387 As things have turned explain the patiodical fluctuation in the birth out there has been no obstacle in the way of and death rates, bb is unable to account for Investigations ware also made to find out at Shib kai at the head of affairs Again -

Prince Chus, who will be for all practical what age of life divorces are most numerous,

and the following table is the result:-- purposes Emperor for the next twelve years, is

Age said to be an enlightened man, and be is not likely to thwart the statesmen-like aspirations of Yuan Shih-kat." Heavens1 Is it not time we abandoned this Gulliver among the Below 15 Lilliputians style of discussing Chinese poli-Below 20... 17,015 71,362 2,411 10,195 him to go. after the assault: On being seen tics 2 Powerful and popular as Youn has been, 11-25 ............ 104,191 151,337 14,884 21,475. it was-found that one eya was swollen and does anyone suppose he ever occupied the 20-30 125,819 101,224 17,974 14,451 closed and the other rapidly closing. His 7,407 nose was broken and he was covered with 36-40. position of lonely ominence such words up. 31-35751935 51,850 -10.848 46,911 31,077 6,701

4440 blood. Jackson and Murphy were then taken pote P

Let us rather believe the reform movement 4-0 50,053 29,467

******* 20,583

7,150

410 to the station, while 'Hyndman, who did not .. 9,527 2,940

1.351

appear anxious to make a charge against his in China te be too strong, too deep, and to be

Above 61... 6,811 1,804 973 25ausailants, was taken to hospital for treatment. earnestly shared by too many minds to be ar rested by the removal from office of any one These figures show that among men most In the meantime while Sergt. Robinson was mab, howeler capable, and however eminent. divorces take place between the age of 26 and a do vole Saiba Justice, he is generally-30, the next most numerous period being from held to have been as sinceres a reformer as the 21 to 35, followed by that between 31 and 35. average of Chinese alatesmen, to have had an The divorces taking place in these three periods bosch dislike of Boxerdom, and foreigners owe together comprise more than 70 per cent. of the him a deep debt of gratitude for the part he took whole number. Another tendency-not shown in the table—is the decline in the number of

wife of the local agent for the Pand D. Com.they estimated the number of smokers at 6 same work is managed commercially. This is the Regeni: prefers statesmen he can trust | pany, had broken the inevitable, bottle of wine across the bows and the blocks had been knock ad out from under the stern the Malaya gilded half way down to the water's edge and then refused to go any further

A Dock tag was requisitioned and when a huge cable had been brought ashore and fas tengd to the-Malaya's steru, only a slight pull WAt necessary to draw her into her element, the cheers of British and Chinese being joined "as she glided down the ways at 11ga dim.

Those who had gathered to witness, the

per cent of the inhabitanis, that is to say be fore any licences bad been issued. Taking their DWD number of licensed users of the drug as given to 1904, the percentage of licensed #mokors is 5 percent. There are, however, a at many who use opium, principally in the way of swallowing, who do so without obtaining licences. I have questioned a number of the patives on the point, and many of them would make the number of unlicensed smokers as many as 25 per cent of the whole. I think this is ab exaggeration. If, however, it is, is ́1_

number of married couples is given in the The Dumber of divorces compared with the following table :-

Divorces per Divorces, 10,000 couples.

109,175 147,1

ious ending took place in a house in the Burkill

An affray which might have had a very serza

Road several nights ago, when Peter Hyndman, who, it will be remembered, shot and killed Mr. Harry Smith in a houss' in Halaing. Road several years ago, and for which he was son- tenced to eighteen months' imprisonment, was assaulted by his brother-in-law, Mark Murphy,

cotton mill in Yappitepoo, reports the Shang. Sweden and the United States are noted for and a man named Jackson, employed in a

Number of Year, comples 1888...7,419,953 1893.7.611764 1898...7,979,858 19038,129,152

116,775

99.465 65.371

1534

124.6

79:7

ta

N. Masiertan, Assistant Marine Surveyor; Mr. f ber, we still have 5 per cent using the drugi termination to examine ít la all its bearing most respaciable of the home journals, From Statistical investigations show, at least in station where they complained of having been ¦

AT. McFarlane, representing the Under Writers Mr. N. Weatherstone, Superlatend Jag Engineer, and Mr. R. C. Edwards:

The lenschlag haylag been successfully coo- cluded, the party adjourned to the gate house

it will take more than a century still before the which means that at the present rate of decrease evil habit is eradicated.

Crimidals confined in the Japanese prisons to the island are at once compulsorily deprive to drink to the long and useful career of three of the drug, and their licences takes away

When these men, are set frag again, their of Government control. Some method might the strong and beneficent direction of Yuan this phenomenon in the case of divorce.

new craft.

OPIUM CONSUMPTION.

FIGURES BY THE STRAITE COMMISSION.. An lateresting cliapter of the report of the Straits Opium Commission has reference to the average consumption. The evidence be fore the Commissioners points clearly to the fact that only the male Chinese population over 15, need be considered, the consumption by women and other nationalitics Boing frac tional.

There is an initial difficulty la determining with sufficient exactitude the population, and in view of the migratory nature of the popula tion & five-yearly census is recommended. The quantities of opium or chaadu are from the secretary for Chinese affairs, or from the F.M.S. import figures and may be taken as sufficiently

The following: is the average annual con

opium licences are returned to them when they leave the prison, it is very hard to be- lieve that a Government which does this is really noxious to put an end to the bad. habit,

There are many licensed smokers, with ages ranging from nineteen to twenty-five and up- wards. It is impossible to believe that these, who would have been children, many of them not yet in and none of them out of their teens, when licences were first issued were already habitual smokers.

It is almost incredible the difficulty that a smoker has to get rid of bis licence, even though he has really given up the use of the rug. The authorities often refuse to allow

him to return it,

-

very minutely before adopting it. It may be found on further inquiry that there is a half way course. That some means may be taken to wards bringing the expenditure of the Farm and the resniis obtained mors in consonance with the views of Government, in the direction be found of amalgamating the detective sys. tems, and supervising the distribution more effectively, but those are ways and means we cannot pursue here,

OTHER TAXATION.

Finally we come to the other possible solution of the question, the solution that the Committee has not added to its actual replies to references. That is the possibility of making up losses by other taxation, Gen erally the Chinese witnesses were decidedly averse to other taxation. A poll tax was deride ed, and a fax on outgoing coolies not greeted with favour, and the only real solutlos put for ward is the suggestion of an Income tax, but here the difficulties, of collection and the enormous possibilities of evasion as noted as being not far short of insuperable. Mr. Cowan, who is one of the very low who bava apparently thought out the question, proposes increased stamp and deaths duties, a smail income tax,

Number of Divorces

During 1899-1901 Yearly Avarage,

Men Women Man Women'

68%

97

living with his wife, who was formerly Winnis Rose, and demanded admittance, which was refused, Hyndman saying he did not want Jack top around. The men went away to the Sinta assaulted and accused Hyndman of having drawn a dagger. They were advised by Sargt. Robinson to apply to the British Court for m summons and they went away. About an hour. later young Murphy returned and stated that they had laid out Hyndman and that he was lying in. an alley bleeding like a hog. Sergt. Robinson went to the house and there found Jackson standing outside. Mrs. Hyndman, with the front of her dress covsied with blood, and holding a lamp in her hand was also there, In answer to the police she said her husband. was upstairs la bed where she had assisted

aged with the patents Jackson sergeant took of Murphy and then allowed them to go. It is not believed that the matter will be allowed to rest hers, but as soon as Hyndman is lo a fit state charges of assault will be made against the two

We do not produce the above to prove er disprove the ability of the Japanese Govern ment to suppress the use of opium-though their ability is emphatically stated by Mr. Maxwell-but to show that in considering the suppression of this habit as concerns China, the nearest example we have to the and sumber of minor taxes. But without in 1950. We cannot, however, disguise our con. year back in the Colony and F.M,S. In frac | faken by that country, does not justify us it may be justly claimed that in this matter they | than to principle, to astuteness than to honesty, increasing tendency in the next five years, y made bis appearance before the British sumption per head of the population for some possible course of acilon which might be being considered too hardon the Chinese surely viction that his conduct was due rather to policy divorces in the period from 20 to 25, and the assailants, one of whom, Murphy, has frequent.

accurate.

in accepting without very considerable reserve the claims of the Anti-Oplam party, that unless we adopt stringent measures we shall not be `assisting Chion but retarding hot.

· THE NETHERLANDS INDIES CASE,

should bear a very considerable portion if not

This is attributed to the fact that marriages of men under 25 years of age are becoming less frequent than formerly, Concoming women, most divorces occur between the age of 21-and 35, the figures comprising 39 per cent. of the whole, while the period from 26 to 30 coat divorces in the former period are decreasing prises a little over 20 per cent. But of late while those during the latter period show as increase. This is due to the tendency to marry

deductions might be made from the following later as mentioned above. Some interesting

before divorce is resorted to

Court,

TRANSPORT OF SPECIE.

flows of a ball of opium.

1902 01

93 .04 05 06 07 Colony............. 44 4 30 32 29 31 FM.S. 65, 60, 53-56-565 It will thus be seen that the consumption per head in the Federated Malay States is always greater than the corresponding con.

There remains therefore in local examples sumption in the Straits Settlements, a fact the case of the Netherlands Indies, and it is which is undoubtedly mainly attributable to here that we come to the most hopefal and use- ful aspect of the case for Government control. -the relative cost bi chandu in the two pinces,

In the Netherlands Indies-at present in Java The chandu most commonly consumed in the Federated Malay States is procurable at and in the future, according as it is gradually -Straits Settlements and the best quality chandument takes complete control of opium regulat. hope of attaining in their own land, and entertained for: China's future, or the. loss. table, which shows the length of 'married is great, deal of truth in this, as, owing to about 40 per cent of the price obtaining in the extended all over those colonies the Govern in the Federated Malay States is sold at slightly log nor only the import of the raw material more than half the cast of Straits Settlements and its manufacture, but also its subsequent

chandu.

In the appendix dre further figures showing that the net decrease in average consaimption At 3 years is 3 par cent. In Singapore the consumption per head of Chiasse moles over 15 9t cheer (a chee is 58'3 grains) in Penang It is 777; and in Malacca 103.4 chees-Singa- pors Free FreeB. I

LARGE FLOATING. GRANE. FOR JAPAN.

of such a system - which, have to be care-

the whole, of the taxation necessary, Abellak The act of 1398 in going to Yuen Lu and put opium and the Chinese community, that is to ing the Emperor in the power of the Empress say the poorer portion, goes practically tax free. Dowager, instead of putting the Empress Dow It is then proposed to make up for this imager in the power of the Emperor, was the one which revealed his character, and all his manity by taxing the general community of a higher class. We see no reason for this absolute subsequent demeanour has not wiped out the freedom of the lower classes from taxation memory of it. His best friends could only say pathize with him, in misfortune, but until we They live here in a way which it would be im. it was the mistake of his life. Let us sym- possible for them to do in China, and we venture know more of the cause of his downfall, let us to add elsewhere, at have finer opportunities of

his fall must come the blasting of all the hopes: improving their position than they would ever not terrify ourselves with the notion that with seems reasonable they should contribute some

ourselves."" we ge small share towards the cost of maintaining of our confidence in China's good relations to that administration which showers benefits. upon them. At present they only pay if they indulge in pleisure. The taxation, is indirect bur valuable,, and if stems iniquitous, to take HB-JAPANESE PUG, of such taxation and impose it on, another section of the community who already pay taxation in other forms. The whole question of additional taxation requires mature cod. sideration, and it will be a serious mistake if the Commission's suggestion is adopted with out there being a clear understanding as to the probable loss of revenue and the proposed method of making that good,

سبت

Recently there was held in London a 10y dog show including Chinese and Japanese pugs, This reminds a London journal of an interest- ing note panned by Dr. Lockhart, who, in 1867 presented the skull of a Japanese pug to the British Museum.. Ho.wrote:-

Length of No. of Divorces. Annual Married Life from 1889 to 1905. Average'

1st year....

78,769 11,252 2nd year...

80,716

3rd year,

57.195

$1,531 8,171

4th year......

43,385

6,198

fth year......

33,004

4.715

6th-10th......

$6,580.

2,474

atth-gth

$1,043

944

15,992

457

2

16th-20th Above aist.. Untabulated

16,694

··1,042 ··

"In the course of a reference in the report to te the causes of the falling of in freight, the

revenue. this year might be superficially ac Navigation Company. observe that the loss of directors of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam

counted for by the restricted movement of

no the exchanges, and is in no sense within tha company's control" There joj of courte, a specie, which is a busieass entirely dependent

the famine, the experts of silver from London to India have very largely diminished, the amount sent out from this country dering the last ten months being. £7,672,000, which I nearly £3,000,000 below the value of the silver.azpored in the corresponding period of last year, and about: £6,000,000 less than the quantity, sent out in the ten mouths of 1906, Less gold bas also been dispatched : from: London to India, so that altogether the's

o'ships ments of specie by the P. and O. Company Ja the period cavamed by the latest report must- The pug-nosed dog, the skull of which I sent It is seen by the figures that most divorces have been far below the average, and account you, probably originated in Peking and North

occur during the first three years of marriage, for a very material portion of the decline in ravenue. At the same time it may not be amles Chiss, and was taken theece to Japan, whence it in this period nearly fo per cent. take place to remark that, according to reports current in was brought to Europe: and thus the breed iscall while 60 per cent, occur before the fifth year of ed Japanese: There are two kinds of pug in marriage. Most Japanese divorces are effected the city, the shipments of specie by German has that spalem in a state of such order and A number of Sydney business, men, includ Chios; ons a small black and wifite, long-leg by mutual agreement. During the even boats engaged in the Indian trade are incroAN good working as comes from a continuous use ing Dr. Elliott, have besz successful in securged, pug-nosed, prominent-eyed dog; the other yours from 1890 till 1905 there were 417,320 ing in consequence of their charges being isss. over very many years. Now the Commission. lng large tracts of country on the southern coast long-tacked, short-legged, long-haired, tawny- cases of divorce, of which only 1927 received arp absolutely emphatic that any attempt to of Timor, where there are valuable oil springs Coloured, with pug-nge and prominent eyes. legal sanction. Out of these latter the anit hamper the freedom of the Fort can under no and Mr. F, T. Trouton, who was deputed by Sometimes in thece dogs the eyes are so pro-was brought into the court by the wife in 1,250 circumstances be considered. We therefore the principals to report on the property and the minent that I have known a dog have one of cases. Whether this indicates the fact that arrive at the conclusion that a preventive ser prospects of building up a new industry for hi pyes papped off by moother dog in play. Japanese wives have more ground for com vice has to be adopted without any of thoss Australia, returned to Sydney necently by the The greference for vegetable food is a fact, plalat than husbands is not commented upon. sids which have had to material an effect in E. and A. Company's steamer Hastern

but I think it is the result of education by Dr. Takano. He is of opinion that the making the Government control of the import The pil, it it reported, is of excellent quality, as most of them will take animal food situation is improving, as divorces ate decress- of opium into Java, comparatively easy.

and comparatively free from impurities. Great this is usually kept from them so that ing, each year though the population is in The evidence on the question of the comvolumes have been running to waste from time their growth and organisation may be kept crossing-Japan Chrentole, parative ability of Government and the Farm immemorial, but definite steps are likely to be down. The leeve dog is a degenerated, long- to successfully res such a preventive service, is taken before long in the direction of building legged variety of pug, rigidly kept on low dial too conflicting to be of any great use. Very up an export trade. On the opposite side of and saver allowed run about of the groned; capable witnesses, in some cases either present Timor, it is stated, there are also extensive oil they are kept vary much on the top of a king farmers or past farmers, and officials in high springs, but in order to avoid the possibility of or store bed-place, and not allowed to run about places in those departments which deal more competition, the Standard Oil Trust some years on the ground. Their food is much restricted, directly, with Chiness affairs, bave expressed ego sccured the leases. Nothing, however, and consists, chiefly, of ballad rice. They ars absolutely contrary opinions, and we are left te has been done towards establishing the indas very subject to coronitis and ulceration of the form our own conclusions as to whether Gov: {'try there~Spusy Morning Herald,

comes from deficient nutrillón?

distribution, This goes rather farther than the Straits Commission is prepared to recommend, as the Commisylon's scheme stopi short of dis», tribution to parchasers. Now the office evidence regarding the success of the Government con- trol in Java, both da regards an increase in the revenue and a decrease in the use, is exiphatic and if we could stop there there could be little cavilling at following a load so excellent. But there are conditions entering into the adoption fully considered. In the first place Java is not a free entry country. It has established custom houses at all ports of any size, and that. "A large dosting crane, built by Messrs. Co., means that not only bar it in existence the want, Sholdön, andTM Company, Limited, of acisal system for detection of smuggling but it- ́Carlisle, has just recently been delivered to the Kawasaki Dockyard, Japan, where it has been successfully, tested with a load of 185 cons The jib is fitted with two lifte-namely, for ego toni at 86 feat maximum radius and 20 tons at 96 feet radius, and can be worked at 26 fest radios The motion is affected by a pair of heavy stool screws connected to the back of the Cantilever, and driven from a pair of horizontal steam engines situated in the bold of the barge. The framework of the crane is of braced form And of steelwork throughout; the height from water-level to jib-head pully at maximum radins 90 feet. The barge was built by Messre, Denny Brothers, Dumbarton. It is 100 feet long, to wide, and ta fost desp, and of steel Constraction throughout. The barge is fitted with all necessary capstans and fairisads; and the crana is capable of putting boilers on ships of larger dimensions than either the Lusitania We The Armorsiania, Vieter bailant is employed

OIL SPRINGS IN JIMOR.

H4

RETURN of visitors to the City Hall Library and Museum for the week ending the 17th January, gog

Library."Museum, Non-Chinese... 323 : 1851 Chinese minim

2,5458

Oncrous-Straits Timis,

CHINESE TELEGRAPHS,

PROGRESS OR KETROGRESSION 7:

Peking, Jan, 12. A rebate of twenty per cent, on Chinese domestic telegrams will be introduced on Chinese New Year's Day. This system is con sidered an undesirable alternative to, a reduc. tion of the present high rates, as it offers temptation to officials in the Interior,

General discontent is expressed at the re moval of the foreign Superintendent of the Paking Telegipt Office, especially in view of the recent regulations providing for the seri tiny of telereams and the delay of code meat