1910-04-27 — Page 5

CANTON-BANKOW RAILWAY.

GOVERNMENT INSPECTION.

A correspondent writes to the N. C. D. News under dato 9th April:-

2

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 1010

JHE KUBBER BOOM.

SLA 'FRANK'SWETTENHAM'S VIEW."

In the curse of an interview with a repre

5.8.

KWH/YANG"

OPIUM

TRANSFORMATION IN SZECHUAN,

"PROTECTOR 10 THE RESCUE.”

Capt. W. H. Lunt., of the C. M. S. N. Co. sentative of the Rubber. World (a new produc... Kangtah, which arrived from Shanghai. C. D. News of 19th lust, i—.. tion), Sir Frank Swettenbam, G.C.M.G, said yesterday, repons baving sighted (at noon; or There are far too many new rubber com- the 25th inst., the s.. Xtudyang ashore on the

C.N. Co.'s ... Youngs was standing by.

The investigation is now in progress by the Yuch'uanpa of the work completed, under construction and contemplated, on the Cna-panies being promoted. It is dificult to under-southern side of the cuter Ockson Rocks. The Lonare section of the Yuot-Han Railway. A commission from Poking arrived here yesterday by launch, which included Lork. Lund (?) and the Vice-President of the Yurb'enup. Ac companying them was Mr. Choi, a Chinese engineer trained in Singapore, who bas becs working on the line as engineer until recently: one of the Directors was also with the party, The visitors stayed one day, then returned to Canton to report. '

•

Several experienced engineers who have bren "over the line have loformed us that it is being well made, io fact too well made for a new line. Sometimes temporary expedients have been suggested by which the line could be made more quickly and cheaply, improvement to be effected later when the traffic is producing ravenue; but these methods have been tabooed by the Chief. For iaalance in one place, a sharper curve-known technically as a five- degree curve-would have saved some thou sand yards of rock excavation, but the regula linn for degree curve was insisted upon,

CHECKB TO PHOGRESS.

Your correspondent has been over a large part of the line within the fast fortnight and indications are not lacking that the affairs of the Cantonese company are passing through n crisis. A month ago nae of the foeien engine- era was summarily dismissed, and a few days before the commissioner fram Peking came up the North River, instructions were sent to cantel all coptracts for material, including store, saad, wood, etc., save where the work in band was nearing completion. Thus things, are practi- cally at a standstill. Mest of the antive con- Tractors have brea badly hit by this older, as in some cases they had bught quarying rights and engaged huge gangs of men; but-il, as we hope, ibis stoppage is only temporary, things will; no doubt, right themselves in time.

and bow the flotation of one or two, and some times three, companies a day can possibly

We learn that the Protector went out to help be justified. Some of the compaules recently, her and from Amoy lighters are being sent. promoted are quite sound, but there are many The Boryang's cargo is being jelsoned. The that none but a lunatic, so one would think, weather is perfectly calm and the sea smooth, so would dream of trusting with his money. the ought to be brought off easily. The Captain There is over-capitalisation, extravagant prices is one of the finest navigators on the coast and paid for estates add lack of faronight. Thas hitherto been uniformly fortunate. pie-ac areas are now being rapidly put under rubber, and three difficulties will have to be faced by the directors of rubber companies, The first is the labour question. With large alea put under cultivation there will be a cor. responding demand for labour, and though no doubt it can be met by Chiba, ladia and fave, it cannot be met at once.

With this demand

for labour competition to secure such as there is will be keen, and wages will rise in proportion to the scarcity experienced.

"Secondly, there will be a great demand for competant, trained European suporvisors, and bere the shortage will be acutely felt, and com- petition to secure the best men has already brought about a great rise in salaries.

"Thirdly, at no distání data certainly not later than 1915, the production of cultivated rubber will be enormous, and unless the de- mand keep pace with the supply there will be a drop in prices which will severely tax the resources of all but the oldest and soundest companies, besides killing the wild-rubber trade of South America altogether, for I be. lieve wild Para rubber cannot be collected for much less than 35. a pound. I think old. established, well minaged, and, moderately capitalised companies, especially those with a good reserve or a second culuvation, like tea, sugar, or cocoanuts, will be able to stand the strain of a reduction in price, but that recently. established companies will only be kept going with difficulty, and that badly managed and In many places work is impossible owing to greatly over-capitalised companies will in the failure of the Company to purchase the land evitably collapse. For all that, there will over which the line passes. The land negotia bave beco established a great commar tions are entirely in the hands of Chinese official, may also say imperial, asset; and, when things have nighted themselves, there cials and whether the delay is being occasioned

will remain a great industry of which Britain by the exorbitant demands of the owners or by

may well be proud," " Jack monry in the Compa: y'a coffers is not Ore locks for the English system by clar which, after Parliamentary 'sauction has been secured, prices in contested cases are fixed by a neutral.valention, ten per cent being added for compulsory purchase. But this method seenis Utopian here. Last week a riot abcuried near Washar, twenty miles south of us, because four hundred groves were being removed before compensation had been paid.

..

At Mongfukong, the land on which the engineers' bungalow stands has not yet been hought, and the nepers have more than once threatened to burn down all the quasters in which the staff at present resides,

CANTON DAY BY DAY,

PLAGUE IN THE CITY.

From Our Own Correspondent.]

Cantoo, 25th April, 1910. Several cases of plague have been reported to bave occurred during last week'in the Western suburb of Canton. A letter received from Supaing slates that there is an outbreak of plague in several parts of the district and that a number of people had died of the disease,

EXECUTION.

A Szechuan correspondent writes in the 1 bare now travelled some goo miles through territory which even as late as last year was covered with poppy. This year not a single plant can be seen anywhere either contiguous to the so-called great roads or off them.

I have made the most rigid inquiries from all sorts and conditions of men and received invariably the same replies. I have questioned Protestant and Roman Catholic missionaries of all nationalities, native. Christians, Chinese residents all along the road and any number of promiscuous travellers as well as officials,

I thought in one 'instance that I had dis-

covered a place where oplum was being growo, for upon putting the usual question to a Indy missionary in the farthest west of Szechuan she replied that less was grown than {armarly.

*

to a native merchant who travelled much in the

I said that some must then be grown, and asked whether she could indicate. She replied the course of various questions and boswelk that she bad not seen any herself, that she did not know any Chinese who had seen any, but supposed less was being grown because she had pot seda say. I was referred by this lady district and who had very extensive business connections and kaew all about the question, 1 Three prisoners, ChuChai Fook, Ng Yu Chue promptly repaired to his place of business and and Lo. Hop, having been found guilty of arm was informed in the most, categorical fashion ed robbery, were sentenced to death by the that not a single stalk was growing anywhere. Viceroy. Those criminals ware on the 23rd inst. in one place the local official in an informal and cakes out from the Namhol prison to the axe-friendly chat volunteered the news that he had cution ground and beheaded.

discovered one man who ventured to disobey the proclamation, that this unfortunate had been taught to obay by being fioed heavily, bamboood and by having his crop torn up by the roots and destroyed.

HONGKONG NEWSPAPERS.

As the rejult of a generál meeting held on

the 23rd instant, the Canteb Self-Goversment Society has presented a petition to the Viceroy urging him to remove the prolibition against the importation and clrculation in Cantou of all Chinese newspapers, published in Hong. koog.

INCIPIENT RIOT.

Last evening there was almost a rint on the

|

‚I found' upon talking to the farmers 'a very wholesome fear of consequences, if they dated to disobey. The almost universal reply was,

We do not dare to grow aap opium."

As a result of this absoluto prohibition a few consequences are immediately apparent ;;

1. Laad has depreciated 25 per cent, in. value.

1. The price of opium has advanced as much as Buo per cont, over last year.

new band. In front of the Pat Yup Asseinbly Hall, where specimens of intended exhibits for the forthcoming Nanking Commercial Exhibi 'tion are collected and exposed for inspection, a bimban structure was erected for the display of -fireworks that evening. A large crowd of people

numbering several thousand collected on the 4. Anvaller in couplers villa,es and Lowas bund awaiting to sea the fireworks. Al8 p.m. sees no sign of upium smoking, one has to a notice was posted up saying that the fire-hunt diligently to find a place where opium

can be procured or smoked.

Incidentally he gives some interesting facts concerning the origin of rubber cultivation in the Far East About 1876, he states, the In dian Government commissioned Mr. Wickhamw.rks were not then ready and that the display to collect to liraz I seeds of Heves Brasiliensis, the free from which tkp-kighest quality wild rubber is secured. Several thousands of seeds were collected and sent to Kew, and the re- sulting seedlings were in due course dispatched

would be postponed to two'days her. The people, especially of the lower class, were greatly disappointed and began throwing stones al the Assembly Hall. Serious disturbance was then threatened. The Police Taptai and several other officials at nace proceeded to the spot, to "testore order.

After twelve of the

to Singapore, Ceylon, and to sir Hugh Lộw at Penk. Plants from these seedlings were care. fully reared in the Singapore Botanical Gar-soffiags were riested the crowd dispersed. dens and in Perak, ad, maturing in six years,

sredid. From the Perak seeds were raised

MUTINY COMMISSIONER.

The Special Commissioner Chu Yoo Put

to the Southern Capital to, izquise into matte.s connected with the recent mútiny in Caston, has now completed his work and will leave

-Lower dawn the river, near Yingtak, 1.400 Trees and thenceforward seeds were up who was depurred by the 1mpe ial Government contractors bave frequently been hindered plied to such planters as required then.s from beginning new work owing to the in-long ago as.1863 Sir Hugh Low, then Resident timidation of the villagers; and the engineers complain bitterly that for miles their stakes and hebs have been dug out or smashed, thus Crusing them endless trouble.

of Yerak, was pressing on British capitalists the advantages of rubber cultivation in the Malay penosula and archipelago, but it was not until 7 years later that the developments commenced which have resulted in the present boom,

.

STRANDHED SEAMEN.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE'S GARY CONCLUDED.

DIFFICULTIES WITH CROWN COLONIES.

a

One wonders how far the Gävelament is prepared to asist in such matters. Some bave a growing suspicio that the authorities are net exerting themselves to the utmost, in the hope that they may uuimately step in and take over the work on the grounds that the Company is unable to cany it through. Cer- tainly it should not be necessary, as it some- times has been, for foreign engineers to threaten The departmental committee appointed by that they will shoot down the obstructionists, the Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for the before work could be proceeded with.

Colonies, on Distressed Seamen, has conclud- Most of the engineers complain, that tooed its investigations and its report should much is expected from them especially in the matter of clerical work, and that the Chinese in charge have no idea of all that is required to build a railway.

BRIDGE AND EXCAVATIONS, On the eighth section, including the Blind Boy's Pass, the work of excavation is well Advanced, but owing to the removal of the en- gineer, nothing is being done meanwhile.

rench Singapore shortly. The subject inquired into is wider than the short title of the com miltee would indicate, comprising the coo sideration of the problems of making provision for the maintenance, and repatriation, where possible, of distressed Indian and Colonial subjects of the King stranded in England.

"It is suggested that provision should be made for repatriating" "stranded ladinos ani Colonials so that the burden shall press more equitably upon both sides. At present, when the visitors become so reduced la circum- stances as to be incapable of helping theṁ.

At the Yirgiak bridge, 7eb feet wide. tons of scaffolding, have been erected preparatory to sinking foundations. All the foundations are being supk simultaneously, with the seault that when the Spring freshes, come,aelves, they not infieq tently become a cake "A great deal of timber will be subject upon the British ratepayer. This is felt to be ed to a severe strain. The engineers are unfair, and proposals will be submitted by the not unprepared for such a contingency and comniittee for mitigating the evil, lo ibe cato have beats in readiness to salve any wood that of Canada and Australia and the larger Överieя may be washed away, but some of us are States, there has beco a generous disposition apprehensive, at this river sometimes rises ten shown to cooperate with the Mother-country; to fifteen feel in a few days.. The rains are now on, but so far we have only had a rise of four feet bera

On the eleventh section, Nonth of Shahow, the rock excavations are proceeding rapidly and we could note a grest, diffrence in the bank since we passed this way months before. It is now generally accepted that the work will proceed no further than thinchou to the mtsotime. This will give a line of 142 miles From Canino, leaving the remaining fifty to sixty miles between here and Husan for future consideration. One engineer only is doing location work north of us at the time of writing.

Canton on the 26th instant for the north.

zoth insi

QUESTIONS OF THE HOUR.

3. The poppy acreage being dovalod, to cereals, foodstuffs are plentiful and cheap.

5. I saw in many cases the opium. cooking vessels being used for cooking purposes.

1 presume this transformation is one of the Lost wonderful ever seen. At the word of the Governor-General some seventy millions of people tremble and obey, and not one dares "disobey an order which has at once reduced the income of half the population. I venture to think such a change could be affected in one year in no other country of the world. Only in absolutely autocratic China would this be possible.

The Chinese Goveinment is opposing for. eigners requests for improvements and cos cessions has again and again based its relusul on the opposition of the people. This concrete example shows that the officials are only fool* |ing foreigners-apparently a very easy thing

to do-by such frivolous objections.

Talking in Chengu, the capital of the Pro-

The

To-day's

Advertisement.

NOTICE.

DWHITE from the Colony, Mr. G. W. the absence of Mr. H, ·P. BARTON will have charge of the interesis of our Firm and will sign For Procuration.

DOUGLAS LAPRAIK & CO.

+

| Hongkong, 27jb April, 1010,

COMMERCIAL.

"TO-DAY'S RUBBER QUOTATIONS,

13 8

April 27th, 4.30 p.m. The following quotations for rubber sbares, by wire, are supplied by Mesars. E. S. Kadoorie

&.00.

Allagars

An lo-Javas

Anglo-Malays.........

Balgowriestes

7/0

Tii. 23

..32/9

.Sa6

Batu Tigan · „......................................... 130/- Bertamse

Bukit Kajangs.

100/-

Bukit Rajah................................. .'s....380/- Carey United............40/• prem Castlefields...................................130).. Changkat Serdangs. ...................................517

Damausaias.... ............es 190/;. Eastern Internationals......37/6 prem, Fed. Salangoisə anadan +340/-. Glenoalys

"Golden Hopes comme

Gleashiels .....ṛ5984

160/-

Highlands and Lowlands.16716 Indragiris......

.5474

Jequies.....................................................!3/-

fach Kenneths

Jonglandors.............. ....27/6 plem... Kämusings ...

Kuala Lumpori

Lanadrons (ppd.) .......................112/6, piem."

10/6 prem,

...230/-

'Lanadrons (fully paid)

........150/-

Labu

205/-

Ledburys ... 29TH

110/

Linggisz!?!/en

..66/6

.165/-

London Asiatics ....... London Ventures... Merlimaus......ERLASTED) 42 Pojams.carrieredeti.534

Pegols

.8/9

Rubber Trusts...... 71f* prem.. ox. p. i, Saggas............ ........320/- Sandycrofts...........................$40 buy, Sapongs” ..................minilung umin5j-'

·Seafields...atur

155/ pram. Schoogs

*** 50f- prem. Shelfords......

..87/6 Singapore & Johores

$15 Sumatra Paras

..18/6 ....125- Sungel.Choha Sungai Kapary

.....205/ Tandjongs Tangkobs.....

Dlu Ranta............................ United Serdangs

.70). prem. ...35/- prem. ........tì6.ex n, i. ... 155/

sales 14/0

United Singapores....... 5 United Sumairas ........................ United Langkats. ............. .....87/6 ex rights

Para Rubber...teré

Intimations.

THE

At present, the 'letion of the people in Canton is wholly takes up with the two

alection of A questions, the

vince, with a Taotai on various subjects CHINA PROVIDENT LOAN AND official as president of the Capton-Hankow referred to a prominent 'mising case, Railway Company and the proposed abolition Taotai said that really the people objected

suitable

of the gambling farms in the whole province and consequently the Concession had to of Kwanglung. There has recently been con by revoked. When he had finished speak. siderable discussion regarding these questions, ing I said, "But the people also objected bat so far no definite resolution has been ar to being prohibited from growing opium." rived at, The Provincial Deliberative Council Ho smiled, emphasized the fact that has referred the matter to the Viceroy and bas the officials would now have to send some traordinary meeting on the 10th day of the 4th foreigners. I said that it used to be a fengshal, obtained perinission from bim to hold an ex- other pausible ex.use with which to put off

maon (the 18th May) for the paipose of dis the Taotai immediately replied, "Oh, we don't care for fengshui, and if ever the idols get in cussing these two vexed questions,

the way we pitch them out into the road or rivar."

HUMAN HAIR BOOM,

It has been reported that at present there is great demand for human kair by foreign firms in Canton and the price of this article has ad- vanced considerably. The boom bap induced many people laɛtry by all, manser of means to collect human hair iṛom various places to meet the demand. Several cases have been brought to notice of men having been discovered to break open caffias on the bill sides and stolen

the bair from the dead bodies. The Canton Fong Pia Hospital has therefore offered re wards of $100 each' for the apprehension of such desecrators.

FATAL COLLISION,

At about an aim, bo Sunday, a jook with a

but in that of loss important Crown Colonies, large number of passengers on board proceed. such, for instance, as British Gujana, difficulties log to Lung Tam collided with another pars. have presepted themselves which are by no suger juok, when passing near Chun Tsun. merus easy to deal with.

As the result of the accident the first juok was considerably damaged and twenty-three pass. twenty ware saved and the others drowned.

| When foreigners, and foreign officials especially, really understand the Chinese better they will not give heed to the frivolous excales which have so far satisfied them, nor suffer a device which is bring so satisfactorily exploited even now by the Chinese in their disputer.

When the Chinese Government wanis to put and is abundantly able to keep it down. its foot down with its owo people, it can do so

Events Coming.

Wednesday, 77th April, Bandmand Opera Co, "The Dollar Princess,"

9 pm.

Thursday, 28th April, Hughes and Hough action sale of Furniture, at 23 Conduit Road, 3,30'p.m.

Friday, 30th April.

Geo. P. Lammert, auction sale of furniture at the "Derrington" 5 Pank Road, 2,30 p.m.-

The Governor "At Home," ŷ p.m. Geo, P. Lammert, Auction sale of furniture

HONGKONG NEWSPAPERS, Bosides the submission of a petition by the Canton Saif-Government Society, the focs! Provincial Deliberative Council bos taken action against the order of the Viceroy, pro bibiting the admission and circulation in Can- ton of all Chinese pewspapers published in at No. 4 Observatory Villas, Kowloon, 11 am.

In the case of Australians stranded in London, the evidence taken went to show that failorsengers were thrown into the river. Of these sometimes jined ships in Colonial ports for the passage to Eugland only. They were given to understand that it would be easy to work a passage bick; but this was found by bitter experience to be untros. Captains refused to ship sailors unless they would undertake to make the passage out and home. Australian seamen have been circularised na'the subject through orders given by Mr, Darkin, but this | Hongkong, Yesterday the Council addressed un has not put a stop to the evil.

official despatch to the Viceroy informing him that the prohibition was greatly detrimental to the Canton commercial community and also disadvantageous to the people generally. The Viceroy was urged by the Council to rescind his 'order and to permit Hongkong Chinese newspapers to circulate in Canton as before.

The debate on the Veto Resolutions in the i House of Commons generated great beat. The THE Police interpreter Chan Yu Fing who action of the Unionists in cheering Mr. John was yesterday charged by Detective Sergears Redmond, leader of the Nationalists, as the Terrelt for accepting a bribe of Sto from the ." Master" of the Liberal Party, nearly led to a keeper of a sly brothel was this afternoon

fracas in the lobbies,,

!

THE Chibodas estate in Java, bas passed into the hands of a Frosch planting syndicate for 640,000 guilders, The extate lles cear Buften- sorg, with an area of 0,500 acres, and it agessed at $40,000 guilders in the land tax. The crops ginder cultivation are rice, can, and coffin,

committed for trial

THE Government of Cochin-Chlum has under consideration a scheme for deepening and ex- tending the cabals and waterways to the rice producing districts of the colony. The works now in progress are expected to cost 44 millions of frauci

SEVANTEEN mon appeared in the Police Court this morning in connection with en oplum ('divan at No. 11, New Street. The two keepers were fined $7; and Sto; respectively, while the rest were dued Sa each for smoking the drug.

Saturday, 30th April,

Hongkong Electric.Co., Ltd., Annual Meet- ingat Company's offices St. George's Building, 12 o'clock soon.

H.E. the Governor's departure of home leave.

Volunteer Smoking Concert, 9.15 p.m. Y, M. O. A. Concert.

Kowloon Cricket Club Annual Dlapar

Monday and May, Geo, P. Lümmert, Auction sale of Leasebold Property, at sales room; Noon. '

Shanghai Race Mesilog,

MORTGAGE CO.; LD.

(CAPITAL PAID UP..................1,150,DOU),

Leges on Mortgage of House Property, &c, Goods received on Storage. Advances made on Merchandise, Loans made on the Provident System.

(etes and Particulars on application)

THE OFFICE OF TRUSTRE, EXECUTOR OF WILLS, ATTORNEY, &c. Undertaken and Ensented, -

SHEWAN, TOMES, & CO,

Gencial ManagÚIS. Bemalunt, za h March, tgok

Intimations.

THE

DAIRY FARM Úộ.,

LIMITED.

Choice Australian

BEEF, LAMB, MUTTON,

RABBITS and HARES.

ASAHI BEER

SAPPORO BEER

TO BE OBTAINED

FROM ALL WINE DEALERS

NOTICE.

R. LI HON FAN, a Chinese graduate

Mversed in literature, has been a teacher:

10 European officials and merchants in this Colony for over ten years.

He has a good method of trainlog Euro- peans to pass in the Chinese examination, and is possessed of a first rate cortificate as a Chinese 18acher. He has also a good know- |ledge of Mandarlo...

Those who latend learning the Chinese language are requested to write care of Hongkong Telegraph office or direct to 37, Hollywood Road, and floor.

Hoogkong, zrd January, 1910

́GREEN ISLAND. CEMENT COMPANY, LIMITED,

PORTLAND CEMENT.

In Casks of 375 lbs. net $5,50 per Cask ex Factory. In Bage of ago lbs, net 88.45 per-Eng ox Factory.

SHEWAN TOMES & CU

General Managers,....

Honoknug, reth August, 1958,

NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS,

FROM and after 1st January, 2000, the rates of Subscription to the Hongkong Telegraph (dally and wackly issues) will bo as follows

DAILY $35 per annam. WEEKLY-S13 per annum.

The rates par quarter_and_par mensam, pro. portlonal. Subscriptions for any period less than one month will be charged as for a full month.

The daily İsrat is delivered free when the address in accessible to messenger. Peak subscribers can have their copias delivered et thair residences without any extra charge, Da coplas sent bý post an. additional $1,89 per quarter is charged for postage. The postage on thin waskly issue to any part

of the world le go cents per quarter. Single Coples, Daily, ten, cants, Weekly,

twenty-fre cunts (for cash only).

(PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.) There will be no rebate to Misslopary, Subscribers as heretofora.

By Order,

THE MANAGER, Hongkong Telegraph Oo., L.d. voksne, sand" Varauskas, 120*

DRAUGHT BEER.

ENGLISH ALE

AND STOUT In Stone Jar at $1.25 per Gallon.

ENGLISH ALE AND STOUT and also ASAHI BEER

In Syphon at $1.60 per Gallon.

THE POPULAR DR. MACKENZIE'S STOUT.

(Nothing beats it for this climate, it being light, wholesome and very digestible.) PER DOZEN PINTS

Splits

$2.60

1.75

H. PRICE & CO., LD

WINE MERCHANTS,

12, Queen's Road,

Telephone 185.

Krogkung, ajth April, 1935,

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