March 6, 1895.]
THE GAOL REPORT.
The following report of the Superintendent of Victoria Gaol for 1894 was laid before the Legislative Council on Wednesday last.
Victoria Gaol, Superintendent's Office,
Hongkong, 28th January, 1895. Sir-I have the honour to forward for the information of His Excellency the Governor the annual report on the Victoria Gaol for 1894.
2.The total number of admissions was 3,913, of which number 753 had been previously con- vioted. The number of old offenders admitted during the last two pears is nearly 49 per cent. less than in 1892,
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
and conscientions officer and served in the prison service for 21 years.
12.-During the year I have reported fully as to the improvements which should be made in the Gaol. If my recommendations be approved I trust that by the close of the present year the yard space in the male prison will be increased and that proper accommodation will be provided for female prisoners.
13-I forward herewith the usual returns, I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
H. B. LETHBRIDGE, Superintendent. The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary.
WAR ITEMS.
The Japanese men-of-war Naniwa-kan, Yoshino-kan, and Akitsushima-han arrived at Nagasaki on the 20th ult. from Weihaiwei.
3-The daily average number cocfined in the Gaol was 455] as compared with 458 in 1893. Daring the months of July, August, and Sep- tember the daily average number of prisoners was greatly reduced owing to the effect on the colony of the epidemic of bubonic plague. The numbers for those three months were 401, 398, and 404 respectively. The lowest number in gaol on any one day was 373 on the 11th August, but as the epidemic disappeared the number in-wei. creased till the daily total reached 539 on the 10th December.
t.
4.There wore 5,120 offences against prison discipline committed during the year, being 11 27 offences to each prisoner as compared with 11,15 in 1893.
5.-The sanitary state of the Gaol was good. There were three cases of bubonic plague, the first case being noticed on the 21st May. The pri- soner, who was discharged on the afternoon of that day, had been two days in gaol. In the second case the prisoner was admitted to gaol on the 5th June, was admitted to hospital on the 8th, and was released on the 14th June. In the third case the prisoner was admitted to gaol on the 12th June, was admitted to hospital on the 20th, and was released on the 21st June. The Gaol Medical Officer informs me that he is of opinion that in no case was the disease con- tracted in the Gaol. All prisoners were sub- jected to a searching medical examination on admission before they were told off to cells, and every precaution was taken to prevent the disease from spreading.
6. Attention has been directed during the year to the very large number of prisoners on. light labour by order of the Medical Officer, The daily average number of these prisoners was 105, or about 23 per cent. of the prisoners in gaol. This is a very large proportion and under such conditions the Gaol becomes an
sylum.
7.—The amount paid into the Treasury during the year on account of industrial labour was $382.33 less than in 1893. This is due to the
decreased profit on the sakum sold, owing to the further increased cost of paper stuff.
8. The daily average number of females was 14. The want of proper accommodation for female prisoners has been severely felt.
9.-The record of casualties in the staff shows that 48 third class turnkeys, 4 second class guards, and 1 nurse of the female prison joined during the year; 1 second class and 22 third class torn keys and 1 second class guard were dismissed for misconduct; 2 third class turnkeys deserted and the services of 7 third class turnkeys were dis- pensed with, being found nseless; 2 second class End 9 third class turnkeys, 1 first and second class guard, and I nurse of the female prison resigned their appointments; 1 first class turn- key was invalided; 1 third class turnkey and 1 Indian sergeant were pensioned; 1 third class turnkey was transferred to the Sanitary Depart ment; 2 second class and 4 third class turnkeys were promoted to the rank of first and second class turnkeys respectively, and 1 second class guard died.
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at Tientsiu, the vote of the country being ap- parently waited for,
dated Peking, 25th February, appears in the The following telegram from a Chinese source N. C. Daily News:-The military authorities at liüach'an, on the Amur river, report that it has been stated by men sent over into Russian ter- ritory that there cannot be less than 60.000 Russian troops under arms on the northern banks of the river. Moreover, that warlike and other stores have been accumulating there and attained "the dimensions of mountains."
Some this news from the north east provinces. The anxiety has been felt by the Imperial Court at entire force of Chinese and Manchu troops in that vicinity cannot exceed 4,000 men, but there are some 15,000 military colonists who can be enrolled at any time.
We (Kobe Chronicle) hear that an epidemic of typhoid fever has broken out at Port Arthur »< and Talienwan, owing doubtless to the number A Nagasaki telegram of the 1st inst. to the of bodies which remained for so long unburied in N. C. Daily News states that the Japanese were the neighbourhood. For weeks after the fight destroying the forts and big guns at Weihai-bodies continued to be found on the neighbouring hills and buried. All the dogs of the neighbour- hood have been shot by the Japanese soldiers as it was fourd that they had been feeding on the anburied corpses of Chinese killed. According to the Hiroshima correspondent of the Kobe Yushin Nippon, six Japanese soldiers at Talien- wan were recently attacked by a disease resem- bling Asiatic cholera, and four died within a few hours. The danger of an epidemio is evidently regarded as serions by the Government, as it is stated quarantine regulations are to be enforced in Japan upon all steamers coming from Port Arthur and Talienwan.
A Peking telegram to the Mercury dated 25th February, sta es:-At a meeting of the Grand Council held on the 24th it was agreed that all the High Officials from the first to the third rank should vote, sending their replies by telegram, whether they agreed to a prolonged war or to have peace. All have expressed their opinion that the war is unjust, but that they are anxious for peace; some are anxious for peace if Japan's terms are bearable.
10-These figures I submit speak for them. elves and clearly show how extremely unsatis- factory the condition of the staff was during the year and the necessity for placing it on a better footing without further delay. I was again obliged to ask for the services of some men of the garrison to act as turnkeys, but latterly I have been successful in obtaining a far superior class of men to fill the vacancies. I am glad to be able to report that this perpetual weeding out of the staff has been attended with good results and that the conduct of those serving the end of the year has been generally satisfactory.
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11.-The Warden J. Jones retired on a pen- sion on the 1st August. He was an energetic
00-
The following appears in the Hyogo News:- "Japanese friends of the late Admiral Ting are proposing to hold a memorial service in his honour. Some members of the Diet are the chief Kiangaan Arsenal, Mr. J. A. Ballard writes to Respecting the proposed insurance of the movers in this scheme. The life of the deceased the North-China Daily News As the para. Admiral is said to have been insured with a Brit- graph on the above subject which appears in ish Company at ougkong for £30,000. A re-this morning's issue of your paper does not quite presentative of the Company is reported to have correctly represent the facts of the case, I shall started northwards charged to fully investigate feel obliged by your giving publicity to the the manner of his death." The latter part of following statement of what actually this paragraph is, we fancy, founded on im-
curred. Towards the end of December. at agination only.
the roquest of the Shanghai Taotai, I tele- With regard to Mr. Howie, who is now in the graphed to London to enquire upon what hauds of the Japanese, it is stated, according to terms insurance to the extent of £2,000,000 the N. C. Daily News, that before Weibaiwei could be effected upon the buildings and con- was attacked the Tsungli Yamén sent peremp.tents of the Kiangnan Arsenal :-(a.) To cover tory orders to Admiral Ting that neither Howie all risks, including war risk, and (b.) to cover the nor his companion should remain longer at Wei-fire risk only. By correspondents telegraphed haiwei. The latter left, but Howie petitioned a- miral Ting to be allowed to stay, declaring that if anything should happen to him the Chinese Government would be absolved from all responsi bility. This document is now in the hands of the northern authorities.
Many of the natives at Shanghai, says the N. C. Daily News, including quite a number of the official classes, appear to give credit to a rumour now in circulation at this port that Japan will demand from China as conditions for peace, first, an indemnity of six hundred million dollars; secondly, certain strongholds, such as Port Arthur, to be ceded in perpetuity to Japan; and, thirdly, the island of Formosa as a guarantee of China's pledges. The above are the three principal conditions; there are saidto be, how ever, twenty other minor conditions.
A Tamsui telegram to the N. C. Daily News of the 26th February says:-The high autho- rities here evidently expect the island to be at- tacked by the Japanese in the near future, and have been busy making efficient preparations for receiving the enemy ever since the news of the sighting of a Japanese squadron in the Formosa Channel. Although the garrisons at Kelung and Hawei, with the large covering force in the neighbouring hills, seem to be quite sufficient to give a good account of themselves if called to do 8o. Governor Tang has decided to reinforce the troops there with several more regiments. An inspection was made the other day to select the men that are to be sent to Kelung
A telegram of the 28th February to the N. C. Daily News states:-Li Hung.chang is expected to leave Peking for Tientsin in a day or two. The Empress-Dowager presented him with a rich fur robe, the style of which is only permis- sible to Princes of the Blood.
The Emperor has given Li nothing on this visit to the capital, which action is being commented apou. Li also visited all the foreign Ministers and Sir Robert Hart. The visits to the British and American Ministers were the most prolonged and occurred several times. It is reported that Li's final instructions from the Emperor will be sent him
ent periods under both headings, and these me in due course definite quotations for differ-
were submitted to the Taptai accordingly. My proposals were laid by the Taolai before the Viceroy Chang Chih-tung at Nanking and remained for some time under the consideration. time, however, the political situation under- of the provincial authorities there. In the mean-
went a change; and the publication of the instructions regarding the protection of the Yangtsze and its approaches forwarded by the British Government served to allay the apprehensions of the Chinese. to Admiral Fremantle The Viceroy consequently telegraphed the Tao tai that he considered the proposed insurance unnecessary. The statement that underwriters would not ereu quote a rate for the risk is thns incorrect and there is no doubt that insurance could have been effected in Loudon, if desired, on favourable terms.
REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.
LONDON, 28th Febrnary. that Li Hung-chang has been well received by The Times' correspondent at Peking states the Emperor in three audiences and that he proceeds to Japan on a mission of peace.
LONDON, 1st March. The Japanese are evacuating the advanced outlying positions at Weihaiwei and Ninghai and the bulk of the army has sailed for Talien- wan.
LONDON, 4th March, 1895.
On the afternoon of Sunday (24th ultimo)? thirteen thousand Chinese attacked the Japanese at Haicheng and were repulsed after severe fighting and the loss of 200 killed. The Japa nese loss was 270.
dentials of the Chinese Envoys are proceeding Negotiations relative to the powers and ore. favourably. It is proposed that the Envoys first meet at Shimonoseki if their powers to negotiate are approved of, and afterwards to transfer negotiations to Hiroshima.
The Japanese are advancing in Manchuria and forcing the Chinese to retreat northward.
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