1910-03-12 — Page 9

The Hongkong Telegraph.

NEWSERIES No. 8132

CONTENTS.

Births, Marriages and Deaths. Leading Articles:-

China's Currency, The Lack of Cohesion in Chian. China's Currency Quastion, Touthful Cigarette fends, Millions of Dollars no object. Mostings:

Union Water Bost Co., Ltd.

The Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and

Godown Co., Lid.

Ayer Tawab Rubber Planation Co., Ltd. Legislative Council..

The China Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.

Legal Intelligonga:~

The Hongkong Bar,

The Administration Action.

Basel Mission Libal Suit.

Claim for Board and Lodging. Police:-

Landship at Hunghom

Street Walker Banished, Ricksba Drive: Hoaxed.

Alleged Armod Rubber Chaiged. Robbery at Kowlot.

The Alana Care.

The Assault on Allana,. "Miscellaneous Articles and Reports-

Buffs Race Meeting.

Rubber Speculation.

Notes by the Way.

Japanese Cement Company, A Question of Extradition. Obstructing the Fairway. Kowloon-Canton Railway, China-Borneo Co, Ltd. Opium Prohibition in China. Raitan Manufacture Industry. The Dalai Lama,.

Slaves of the Share Boom. Boxing at the V.R.C.

New German Gupboat for Yangice.

· Water Reluró,

Rubber and the Shipping Trade.

Opium Smuggling.

China and Tibet,

Canton Day by Day.

Hongkong Flower Show.

Newchwang

Chinchon-Algue Railway.

Victoria Recreation Club..

The Influence of China on the West, Interpart Polo,

„An1Uofialshed Voyage.

The Rubber Boom. Industries of Hongkong: XIII-Rice Milling.

XIV. Hongkong Electric Co. Hongkong Hockey Challenge Cup. A Man-Eating Crocodile,

General Exports from Manchuria. Turbulence at Quarry Bay,

Tram Pioneer.

Rowing Notes.

Kowloon-Canton Raliway.

The Labour Question.

Commercial :-

Weekly Share Report.

Yarn Market.

Freight Market. ---

Ballion.

Exchange.

MAIL SUPPLEMENT.

(ESTABLISHED · 1881.)

SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1910.

六拜濃

並二十月三英港香"

IN BONGKONG. YOUTHFUL CIGARETTE FIENDS

'S13 'FER, ANZUR

SINGLE COFF, 25 DENTA.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS NO OB/801.

(11th March.)

In those bonsynd words with which His Ex. calleucy the Governor charms the members of the Legislative Council, the revised estimates of the cost of the railway from Kowloon to Canton were protested at yesterday's meet- ing of the Legislative Council, We quite. appreciate the fact, that the Governor is. the undertakings for which His Excellency very much at the will of those in charge of bas to stand responsible, but we should not fancy that those who have to a certain extent. wisted the people who have to pay the piper will feel very satisfied with the story told con crease on increase, millions on millions, defect cerning the railway. All along it has been in tions and ineptitude. It was with the courage of a Crusader that Sir Frederick Lugard told yesterday how the original estimate as to the cost of completing the construction of the s miles of flae had risen from eight millice dol. lars in 2007 to over twelve and a quarter mil to consider the matter in its propar light; the licos to-day. That in no small sum, if you come

ances of the Colony. As a matter of fact, at this evidence ls, indeed, a serious inroad on the En rate, the railway may become an incubus more than anyibing else, a sort of Old Man of the Sea But the millénium is

瑞二初月二年二宜

the currency system has been plunged has cannot be denied that the tendency of all is caused by a combination of beer drinking American silver dollar, which has the conven. this is no more than the official body ex: tional gold value of 48. ad.) 28 only worth be pected, but that was no reason why the she created a situation in Hongkong and Shang. lands is to buy in the cheapest market, and with the excessive smoking of cheap cigar- tween 13, 6d, and ts. ed.; and the fluctuation kele should not be gathered in whilst some bal, the two chief distributing centres of for gold countries that would be found where ettes. This mixture of evils is very potent were in a generously patriotic frame of mind. foreign commerce in China which is absolute the currency was silver. This, therefore, in causing pharyngitis, intermittent heart, are so great that even during the part twos years silver has fallen from 25 to 30 per cent. Many attempts were made to "boost" the ly indefensive. It is with weary reiteration would tead to the growth of exports. We and mental depression" Truly such in relation to gold. This means that instead fund, including promised subscriptions from that we have referred to the terms of the see that tendency now in operation in China. a list is calculated to frighten the of paying the Manchester merchant 310 princes and nobles and a carefully calculated Mackay Commercial Treaty of 1902 which But export trade is but half the commercial most confirmed user of tobacco in any or all silver taels for £100 worth of shirtings, as in rumour that the ever beneficent United laid it down precisely and explicitly that work of a country. What of the imports? its forms, but we think even smokers them- days of yore, the unlucky Chinaman has now States, sympathizing with a nation strug China agress to take the necessary steps to Just as exports become cheap, imports grow selves will agree that there is much to be to pay Tls joc for £100. No wonder that gling to pay off a debt that some half dozen provide for a uniform national coinage which dear. The loss would counterbalance the said against the use, not to say the excessive first the Bombay and Hooghly colton mills, of their own millionaires wou'd regard as shall be legal tender in payment of all duties, gaip. Indeed, the whole argument is use, of cheap cigarettes. At the present then the Japanese mills, and now the China about the cost of a week-end at Newport, taxes and other obligations throughout the based on an old and exploded idea that time the Hongkong market is finoded with mills springing up in every direction threaten intended to retum one-fourth of the Boxer Empire by British as well as Chinese sub. it would be a good thing for a country to cheap cigarettes, made of the commonest to sweep Lancashire trade off the Eastern Indemnity as a subscription to the fund. In Jecis." And still nothing has been done to export everything and import nothing. By tobacco and "got up" in the most attractive Seas Sixly or seventy Chinese, men and spite of these inducements the enthusiasm remedy the lamentable evil which has been that means she would grow rich beyond style. That these are bound to exercius,a wonien mixed, can be hired for the same is spent, the furore is over, the stream of brought about by the supreme lethargy of the dreams of avarice, it was thought. No-pernicious effect on the nerves, cannot be sovereign which pays only from four to subscriptions has become a tiny trickle bare the Imperial Chinese Government to tackle body now but laughs at such an idea." gainsaid, especially in the case of the six English will bands for the day. Noly sufficient to float the necessary postage the question in an attempt to unravel the There is nothing in that view to which young who are only habituating them wonder there is talk of the American stamps to their destination and we hear tangle which exists in China's currency, reasonable people will object, but the diffi-elyes to the custom of smoking. The Steel Corporation starting rolling mills in nothing more now of either, the Navy Fund Sir Alexander Hosie, the British commer-culty will be to convince the Chinese of the question is then: Can the tobacco mar Shausi, which the Pekin Syndicate has just or of the National Debt Redemption Associal attaché to China, showed in White truth of the argument. Coming to the crux ket in this Colony be purged of this abandoned under-right recovery" pres- ciation. Perhaps it is as well; for what does Paper issued a few years ago how the va- of the matter the writer in the National Re cheap and nasty product? While we do not sure; just as, sgain, the buot mills of Cawn-China want with-a-navy, and why should ganes of the currency affected the interview puts the position in this wise: "If believe that the Government could vary well pore have begun to cut in upon the British she worry herself about a debt the annual provincial-trade-of-the-Empire, how in China needs further hints as to the speedy forbid the importation of all kinds of tobacco and American leather industries. A great service of which she can meet without diff contiguous provinces the values of silver desirability of a change, the experience of we certainly do hold most strenuously that a future seems to lie before the Hanyang iron culty if her finances are regularized? There differed to the extent of two or three hundred the present week should supply them. When check should be placed on the sale of to works for the same reason, whilst the coal is no reason whatever why China should cash, thereby hampering and restricting everybody hoped and thought that there was bacco to children under the age of 26 year. and coke industries of F'ing-siang in Kiangsi not be content with such navy as she has bative industries and commercial dealings in a chance for at least a period of stable, if It might be suggested that one way of deal.. province show signs of very great activity, for the present, and devote her energies native products and especially enhancing the not of rising, exchange there suddenly comes ing with this undoubted evil, would be to even exportation coke abroad. A British to making the best of her resources: complexities of foreign traders. In Hongkong a drop of a halfpenny or more in a single impose a tax on cigarettes but we scarcely This she seems determined not to do. the question of overcoming the original day! What can the honest, careful mer- think that such a course would have the de- firm has tentatively, spéculated, in the ex- portation of clean, nice-fed Chinese pork There is wisdom in these words of our con- difficulties of the subsidiary currency has chant do under such circumstances? Hesired effect. It would be costly to collect become historical and the Government with is practically forced to be a gambler whether and the return would be entirely incommen-" from Bankow, and, however much we may temporary and in the same vein of sarcasm

it continues: "We learn that the Anhui all the talent of the financiers of the Colony or no? Profit is turned to loss, hope to surate with the expenditure involved. Whereas ridicule the speculation, it certainly is a very

at its command confesses that it is practically despair, and a promising outlook to if it were made an offence to sell cigar- striking sign of the limes., Prof Parker did Mining Concession, so well and so lament-

cites to children of tender years and unformed not profess properly to understand currency ably known as the Tungkuanshan fair which impossible to devise a satisfactory way out of gloomy certainty. There is no escape from questions, but, so far as he could sea China's was the property of a British syndicate of the impasse. When we find that one day such risks either, unless Chios, in common habits a direct blow would be struck at the safety consisted is, maintaining a silver basis, which Sir John Lister Kaye was the leading Hongkong banknote stands at a premium of with the test of the world, throws in her root of the evil, and what is more it would and in keeping the standard of living as low spirit, is to be bought back by the Chinese 9 to 10 per cent and that economical people lot with the stable standard, gold. It is have the support and approval of the most as possible. Iven the Japanese are begin Government under pressure from the gentry find it worth while to visit the money chang absurd to say that she cannot get it, that pronounced and confirmed smokers. Such a She can buy course has been tried with success in London, ning to see, despite their gold currency, that and other ho'er-do-well of Anhui for the ers daily before visiting the markets one can it is. costly, and so on. their true economic safety lies in the simpli sum of £52,000. It appears that the holders realise how it is that the price of all house- guns, and machinery, and foreign pro- New York and elsewhere with the happiest city of personal wants. The saying, "Man of the concession have already spent some hold commodities continues to increase, ducts of all sorts. Gold is but another pro-results and there is no reason why the plan needs but little here below, acquires new £48,000 in the preliminary development of he fluctuations in the value of the white duct. It can be got as other products are should not be put into execution with equai' weight when applied to the restless luxury the concession and that there was ore to the meal are also a source of perpetual trouble got, and it has this advantage over most of success in Hongkong. At all events the to the mercantile community and handicap the rest: it is practically indestructible." Government would be doing a service to the of our Western social system. Concerning value of over three-quarters of a million ster Chinese banking, Professor Parker said that ling in sight. When the Anhul folk had the simplest of business transactions in a The suggestion that China can afford to Colony and to the rising generation if the

manser that is almost incredible. An able buy guas, clc., seems to contradict the state idea were adopted in Hongkong. in principle it was very much the same as found out what a vast source of wealth had our own except that a larger proportion of been lying under their fect for ages without writer in the National Revietu, who has been ment regarding the poverty of the country, the Chinese business was done in exchange being drawn upon they became angry and contributing a series of articles to the but we may let that pass. While as we have. pure and simple. The true currency of put every obstacle in the way of the develop. Shanghai publication ou Chinese affairs, said the article in question is interesting, it China was not silver in any form, still less ment of the mines, and even when they were takes up the subject in the latest issue of adds little or nothing to our knowledge. It gold, but hard bronze coins strung together in offered a share in the enterprise they declin-that journal, but we are afraid that he is an only says in another way that the difficulties jointsof a hundred so as to form a full string ofa ed to have anything to do with it unless the far off from discovering the solution as surrounding the currency question grow Dr. Cook was in planting the Stars and greater every day. Possibly a way will be thousand There were several varieties of foreigners were completely ousted. It is un- cash of different values, and hence, in spite necessary to follow the whole story in detail. Stripes on the North Pole. Neverthe found in the near future to habilitato Chipa's are as interesting currency and such a consummation is of the activity in trade, in spite of the intro. The upshot is already known; exit foreign capi- less his theories

Io con devoutly to be desired, duction of railways, of scientific mining and tat, enter-what? Nobody knows. Probably as his style is philosophical. innumerable new industries, the economic nothing." The importance of foreign capital sidering the attitude of those in China who condition of the laborious masses was more and foreign labour to China is borne out in are opposed to drastic reforms in the cur. precarious at this moment than ever it was, other directions: It is useless at this juncture rency of the Empire he says: "The ob- and all trade transactions were in a state of for China to imagine that she can do every jectors are first and foremost those who have thing for herself. Her army is the creation of vested interests. Besides them there are

(10th March.) uncertainty. The obvious remedy was radical reform and standardisation of the foreigners, what is left of her navy is the bide-bound conservatives incapable of ap-

One of the many forms of mild dissipation currency. But far reaching and injurious remnant of a navy built up by foreigner that preciating anything newer than the beginning though all this petty tangle of copper cash" would have been able to give a good account of the last dynasty. These latter will oppose which have been condemned out of hand by payments might be, it was nothing when of itself but for ignorance and stupidity and a new monetary system simply because it is one section of the medical profession and re- Dew. "Cesht" was good enough for their garded with a certain degree of tolerance by compared with the huge system of hocus-corruption ashore. Her only reliable revenue

comes from the Imperial Maritime Customs grandfathers: it is good enough for them. the other is indulgence in the habit of to pocus carefully nurtured by the first-class

and that has been built up by a foreign staff. If there is a different value to the lael in bacco smoking. We have seen the cigarette banking element who juggled with taels and dollars every day.

There is not a single sphere of political and every province now, so there was in the days habit described in terms that were almost national activity in which China has made of the Mings. Men weighed their silver equal in their rancour to the most perfervid progress without the help of foreign brains then, why not now? These excellent people denunciations of the opium habit and on the and guidance. Perhaps the writer in con- forget that times have changed. Many of other side the medical supporters of the con- demning wholesale the Chinese administra them have never seen the new life of a sumption of tobacco through the medium of tors are going a step too far, but there is foreign Settlement. They know that there the cigarette have been no less strong in truth in the statements from the fact that are such things as railways because their malotaining that little or no harm is done One of the exploded aspirations of patrio-when men like Yuan Shiti-kai and the acrepaper tells them so, but they do not by this form of smoking. Of course, tic Chinese would appear to be the proposal late Chang Chih-tung proved their ability know that what the railway means in the in such matters there are always two sides coming, for is it not laid down that the lion to the question and the difficulty is to dis- to be open to traffic is July next and that' it will be completed by December of this year," for the redemption of the national debt. they were summarily dismissed and even world of travel, a modern currency means.

forceful statesmanlike Shum against in the world of business, viz., a saving linguish between the value of the respective. The figures show that for every mile. laid on That those responsible for the suggestion that the debts of China should be con- whom the Chinese can have no grievance of time, together. with greater certainty opinions. Wherever there is over indulgence the British, section of the Kowloon-Canton On February 28, 19:0, at Shanghai, Charlen solidated and met by public subscription were as to bis foreign proclivities because they are in operation: All that is wanted to con- harm is bound of necessity to accrue, but if railway something like $53,800 will have to Sturmann..

animated by the loftiest motives cannot be wil, is allowed to rust in retirement. What vince such as these is experience." Of there is any real injury done by the smoking be paid, Credit the total amount to the railway doubted, but it seemed evident from the

is the remedy then? China, we are told,course that is largely academical, and the of tobacco in moderate quantities one would if necessary, but the sum of over twelve millions first that it was doomed to failure on ac-

needs new life, new energy, new motive, new writer scarcely, gets beyond that stage when fancy the effects would be apparent in the bas to be liquidated by the Colony. How count of its Utopian grandeur. It was

financial engagement fulfilled by a Colony driving power. So far she has but been he says that, "To such old-world objections, Far East generally, and in Hongkong in many of us will live to see that enormous pointed out by promoters of the scheme tickled in the ear by foreign energy. She and there are many of them, there must be particular, where old and young, men, wo which, but for the unexpected resources of the that if only a few of the four hundred wil needs to wake up thoroughly and put forth added the arguments of the interested. men and children, daily enjoy their quantum Opium Farm, would have been on the worge lions of Chinese gave substantial aid to the her immense strength in an active and not There are the old-fashioned bankers who of tobacco in the various forms in which it is of insolvency, is just capable of paying Its way and keeping the broken at arm's length? National Debt Redemption Association the in a passive form. This she cannot do so hitherto have pretty well monopolized the prepared. And yet it cannot be said that fund raised would be amply sufficient to pay long as divided councils prevail, so long financial profits of native trade. If the new there is any real evidence of the pernicious in bis joyous spirit of optimism, His Ex- off the foreign creditors. of China, which, if as the provinces, are content to bluster system is to cut at the root of their gains, effects of indulgence in what is cheerfully cellency spoke of the admirable work done. we'remember aright, amounts to some $130,- and Peking is content to be browbeaten, then it is but natural for them to kick, and known as the "fragrant weed." While the We will great that the work done has been members of the seafaring community visiting admit the enunciation, that the extras are don admirable, although we do not necessarily 000,000. But while a few officials indicatedIt is not suggested that the foreign powers, kick hard, against change. If there are a their intention of subscribing the majority which are united in a common rescotment good many Shansi men, bankers by birth, Hongkong almost invaribly cling to the pipe, to the failure of those in charge of the railway decided, in vulgar parlance, to wait and against China's procrastinating characteris bankers by descent from other bankers for and the taipans to the cigar the average youths to remember that such charges as interest on The imposition of a higher rate of duty see how the cat jumped. They were tics, will do more than make diplomatic generations, we need not be surprised if they pin their faith to the humble cigarette, and capital expenditure and loss on exchange on Silver in India with its consequential taking no chances of throwing away

We do not, ovaa aik... drop in exchange as affecting the Colony, their money, especially as the merchants suggestions on the advisability of engaging strenuously oppose everything tending, as it is no uncommon sight to see Chinese should be included in an estimate, should be Fortunately, for the nonce we can leave that once again bringe into prominence the ques and gentry manifested no special enthusiasm foreign advice especially in her railway they may now think, to their detriment. ladies of the middle classes unostentatiously blindly passed over.

Now, what are these con-over. But, what we should like to know is this," tion of the currency problem in China in in the scheme. Nor is their attitude to be. Tentures, but it is submitted that there But we do not anticipate that such opposi- puffing away at the last named even in the what the Gual revised account is likely to be.

are forms of foreiga Interference which lion will be of very long continuance in public street. respect to which Hongkong has-long since wondered at. China after all, outside the would be much more gailing than a straight their case, for the simple reason that they sumers of tobacco tendering themselves Who was originally responsible for the idea been wedded. Professor E. H. Parker, of leisured and fortunate class, is inhabited by"

true nature of things to discern that in the with so much disfavour by certain bigota? was only likely to cost a few million dollars, Manchester University, at a recent meeting people who are practically on the verge of up and down fight and this China may are possessed of sufficient insight into the liable to by their habit, which is regarded that the railway was a more paltry afair, which

to her sorrow and discomfort discover. of the Manchester Statistical Society brought starvation all the time. If the rains Are Our contemporary in Shanghai observes that and the new system will mean as great a The question is answered by Dr, Walter Law. compatible with its extent and commensurate to the notice of its members a paper on over-plentiful and the rivers burst their it is almost cerisin that the foreign Powers total of profit as the old by reason, for ton in à paper contrituted to the Pharmaces with its value? His Excellency the Governor was in course of construction long before thit Chinese commerce, banking and economics, boundaries the peasants are immediately have, not the slightest intention of partition one thing, of the great amount of tical journal which is quoted by Mr. Frank dated bis remarks from 1907, but the railway whichris of special value in enlightening those faced with the spectre of famine, Witnessing China, but whatever their intentions may business that will be done," He argues Browne, Government Analyst, in his report time. Every reader possessed of the bowels of who have little conception of the chaotic the condition of affairs along the West River be there is nothing in the world to prevent that the people may be inclined to consider on opium which was tabled at the last compassion will commiserate Sir Frederick In Lugard on the fact that be was to shoulder the condition of China's monetary system, when that stream was in food a few years China falling to pieces, even at this time of the claims of the money changers who will meeting of the Legislative Council, In the course of his remarks Professor Par ago and the same thing is true of other days if the Various elements in the simply be ruined" were there any change.in that paper Dr. Lawton wrote: "Tobacco bardens of others, of saddles not of his own ker sald that Manchester merchants will parts of China which are less known country' do not exercise themselves in the the existing system and says: "Then there is frequently smoked to the full extent making, but that makes the matter no better "pay, pay, pay." We do not yet know whether naturally be more interested in cotton goods than the "populous river in question. direction of cohesion. Just as the various is another class which may argue that China of a person's capacity for its enjoyment, from the point of view of those who have to than in anything else, and it is therefore sad It was almost absurd to expect that such members of the solar system are held has got on all right without the new-fangled and it is hard to say what a moderate the Colony may not have yet to pay four lakhs to have to record for. 1908 a decrease in long-headed people as the Chinese together by gravitational forces, and each things now being forced on her. That is not dose of tobacco-smoke really is. But the of dollars le excess of what was estimated for value of Tis, 8,000,000, which sum (had the 'would throw away their money without even

assists to hold the other in its place, so true. China has never got on 'all right.' She consumption of from a half to one.ounce of the privilege (of erecting a terroipal station. tael been valued as highly as in roo7) means the hope of a prospective return. When Chins must keep place in the family of is one of the poorest of lands, and her people the strongest forms of tobacco, shag or Such is one of the advantages of living under Tls. 18,000,000 from the British manufacthe Cantonese rushed to subscribe towards nations by accepting aid and strength from the poorest of people. Only by using the cavendish, daily, is found, sometimes to the thumb of those who know little or nothing turers' sterling price and quantity point of the building of the Canton-Hankow railway the other antions; and just as the various best means can she rise to the higher level cause unpleasant symptoms, after ten or Diwhat they are talking about. We refer, of view. Similarly, woollen and cotton mix they had clearly before their minds the probodles are held in shape and form by mole of other lands. Besides, even if it were true fifteen years. These symptoms are: Tremor, course, to-the Crown Colony system, sadar ters are reformed regarding which they have no tures declined by one-half in quantity, and bability of the line paying handsome divid.cular attraction so must China retain her that she had done so well in times past, there the commonest, fine, rhythmical and inter- which to permanent officials in London mat- by Tis, 1,100,000 in value. Woollens de ends, but such an idea could not be enter integrity and her form by the close binding it no reason why she should not do better in mittent; giddiness; vaso-motor effects, cold knowledge. And that in not all. We know time to come," Whether it is a fact that ness of the extremities, pallor of face and practically nothing of what the Governmast of clined in quantity only, but not in value-tained where they were asked to make a together of every portion of her Empire,

China is one of the "poorest of lands" is sweating of forehead; sleeplessness--what Hongkong is to doin the matterel "Inexpensive de, the Chinaman had to pay more silver free gift of their cash and dollars, The for the same sterling value. The misfor Shanghai Mercury prophesied a few weeks

certainly moot point; at all events has been called intra-nocturnal insomnis buildings. That is phrase which we have seen it is open to argument, unless the writer thesufferer goes to bed and to sleep, but wakes before, and while we can honestly attribute so tunes of Lancashire, on the other hand,ago that China's effort to pay off her nation- are the triumph of China, for the Shanghai al debt by means of voluntary contributions

(9th March.)

means that individual Chinese are among after two or three hours to spend a night of the Governor the intention of axercising a rigid His Excellency is necessarily bound to respect yarn mills la 1908 distributed 88 per cent. was likely to come to,naught and the predic-

Of all the questions which concern the the very poor of the nations, a fact which unrefreshing dozes; tobacco-amblyopia, ecosomy, it must always be bome in mind that more yarn than in 1907, and vast quantities tios, seems in a fair way to be realised. The prosperity of China probably there is none will not be disputed. But to any that vision goes down to 6/4, 6/50, or less, the the recommendations of his principal abb are now being pressed and packed in Sbang amb seems to be the fate of the Navy Fund, which has received a greater degree of atten- the Empire a whole is poor, that it patient, as in the case of cataract, sees best ordinales. And there are few subordinates bal, shipped to Dainy, and thence taken by. We have heard a good deal about promises tion than that relating to the currency of the is "one of the poorest of lands" will not is twilight, and there is a characteristic cen- who, when dealing with public money, err on Ho goes on to refer to the distral scotoma for red and greeti. This is, of the side of parsimony. Take it an you will, they train straight to Moscow. As recently of subscriptions, we have heard of nona be- Empire. It has inspired the peas of writers bold water. pointed out by Mr. Moreton Frewia in the ing paid, we have beard nothing of the ap of the most diverse views, it has been the inclination of the Chiness to accept foreign course, of the greatest importance in sailor tale of the railway is not a happy on WERDE

termed "defeciva bridges"--which says 16-- North American Review, this all means that pointment of a receiving office for these subject of treaties and conventions, it has help and proceeds: One argument there and engine-drivers. It is specially caused seed only instance the care what is oficially the yellow races, if they persistently hold on subscriptions, and we heard nothing for some been dealt with in edicts and memorials and is which has some weight. Exporters argue by smoking on an empty stomach, and occurs ibing of bridges that had to be blows up, of to a silver currency, will soon have us in time of the subscriptions themselves. As nauseam, it has exercised the wit and fotelil that the new system, which we are supposing most frequently in cases of extensive tobacco bridges washed away, of bridges founded on dustrially at their mercy. The silver dollar far as can be ascertained the thing hiss ended, gence of British and American financiers, will eventually be based on gold, would in-smoking accompanied by alcoholism. The mud, of bridges that could hardly bour: Tha (exactly the same in intrinsic value as the is lows they smoke, and it le probable that and above all, the woful chaos into which stead of benefiting them, he detrimental." It" "most unploessat form of tobacco polanging strela of a construction (las," Thest deg mars

Local and Genoral.

BIRTHS.

On March 1st, 1910, al Shanghai, to Mr. and Mr. J. E. Lucas, a daughter.

On March 1,1910, at Shanghai, to Mr. and Mr. H. G. Simms, a daughter..

MARRIAGE.

On March 3, 1918, at Shanghal, Geoffrey Herbert Wright, second son of William Wright,

of Clifton, Bristol, to Nora Elizabeth, second daughter of William Bowie Bayers, of Shang

hala

DEATH..

The Hongkong Celegraph

MAIL SUPPLEMENT, ISSUED GRATIS TO SUBSCRIBERS.

HONGKONG, SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1910.

CHINA'S CORRENCY.

(7th March.)

F

THE LACK OF COHESION IN CHINA,

(8th March.)

CHINA'S CURRENCY QUESTION,