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communicated itself to the aboriginal tribesmen at the eastern portion of the island, with whom the leaders of the Chinese league have formed an alliance to fight the Japanese. great many pow-wows have been held between the Chinese and their ancient enemies, and wine and blood in human skulls have been mutually drunk to cement this new friendship, Already over 8,000 Remingtons have been given to aid in arm- ing the savages.
Governor Tang of Formosa has been tele. graphed for from Peking to leave his post and go up for an audience with the Emperor.
TALPERTU, 6th May. On the 28th H.M.S. Spartan arrived, followed on May 2nd by the Centurion with the Admiral or board, who after a trip up the river to Twatu- tia, where the foreign interests are centered, oame to the conclusion that the situation war- ranted the services of outside protection and thirty marines were accordingly ordered from the Spartan, which with the Germans from the Irene gives fifty-five men. A steam launch has been fitted out with two machine guns from the Redbreast and patrols the river.
The Redbreast still remains inside and about a mile up the river. She will be joined in a day or so by the German gunboat Wolf. The American Consul, Mr. Kemper of Amoy, suc- ceeded in getting the American orniser Coneord here from Nagasaki, in a remarkably short time. but as in the meantime the British Admiral had ordered marines up the river, the Concord's com- mander considered the forse sufficient and left after a two days' stay for Amoy on the 4th.
Considerable amusement was caused over a telegram from the Governor containing the order that the United States ship was not to be allowed to enter the river, as she was filled with armed Japanese soldiers. The armed force con- sisted of three Japanese stewards.
The soldiers in the South are causing a great deal of trouble and it is considered unsafe to travel overland. Two Chinese merchants while on their way to Taipehfu were relieved of $10,000. The Centurion departed on the 4th for Chefco and the Spartan for Hongkong.
13th May.
Word has been received from sources con-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
sidered reliable that the island is to remain in the hands of the Chinese until the 17th of July, when the Japanese will take possession. Appar ently the Chinese on this island do not consider that the main government has any right to settle its disputes by handing over the property and de- stroying the interests of a people set apart and having had no share in the controversy, for the mandarins continue to strengthen the defences. Three foreigners have lately been engaged as military instructors and the 800 men employed at the Arsenal and Powder Mill keep the works running at full capacity. The representatives sent to Peking to protest against the cession of the island have returned, practically kicked out of the heavenly city.
The Taisang, which arrived at Shanghai on the 15th inst. from Hongkong, picked up four shipwrecked fishermen off Breaker Point.
The Russian men of war Mandjour, Zabiaka, and Otvajny left Shanghai on the 11th inst. with sealed orders, but were afterwards seen going North.
A Russian steamship compan y intends, it said, opening a regular line between Vladivostoc and Hakodate, in order to encourage trade be tween Siberia and Japan.
The steamer Rhodora, after being ashore, put into the harbour of Hakodate on the 7th inst., having landed a part of her cargo and received temporary repairs at Omori Bay.
An application for judicial separation by Mrs. J, E. Beale, Japanese by birth, and for alimony from her husband, the manager of the Japan Mail, has been heard at Yokohama by Judge Wilkinson in Chambers.
The Tientsin correspondent of the Mercury writes: All being now fixed, it is reported that Mr. von Hanneken goes home in place of Mr. Mandl to arrange about the C.M.S.N. Co. The former needs change, owing to his wounds re- ceived in the Yalu fight.
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[May 23, 1895,
Telegrams have been received by the Shang. hai mandarins, the N. C. Daily News says, of simultaneons insurrections in the Fukien pro- vince about a fortnight ago in the districts of Kutien and Chungan, near the sea coast. Both cities have been occupied by the insurgents and the Chehsiens have escaped to Foochow to re- port the matter to the Viceroy. A strong body of troops is reported to be already on the way to the scene of disturbances.
The steamer Wieland, with munitions of war |from Hamburg, arrived at Woosung on the 15th inst. with her bow considerably damaged, the steamer having run on "The Brothers" rooks between Swatow and Amoy on her way up. She ran on the rooks in a dense fog; but owing to the tide rising she succeeded in backing off in about three hours, and the weather fortunately being fine the steamer managed to reach Shang hai. Her forehold was full of water and her bottom badly damaged.
The working account of the Japan Brewery Co., Limited, for last year shows a profit of $17,605, which, added to the sum of $829 brought forward from last year, makes a total of $18,484. Deducting from this the interim dividend of 4 per cent., absorbing $6,000, which was paid on The Singapore Secretary of the Raab Austra 18th October, 1894, a balance is left of $12,434, lian Gold Mining Company, Limited, has re- which the directors propose to dispose of as fol- ceived the following telegram from Mr. W. lows:-In payment of a final dividend of 4 per Bibby, Mine Manager at Raub, dated 7th May: cent. $6,000, in payment of directors' and aadi. Rough clean up of Battery yielded 1,400 oz. tor's fees $1,250, in payment of bonus to brewer amalgam. estimated quantity of stone crushed and other employés $2,120, balance to carry for- being 1,000 tons. Battery resumed work this ward to year 1895/96 $3,064, total $12,434. morning." This, the Free Press says, will pro- The N. C. Daily News of the 11th inst. says bably mean a little over 500 ounces gold, or 10A private telegram from thoroughly reliable dwts. to the ton, the percentage of gold to amal-sources at Tientsin was received yesterday by gam being most likely 36 or 37 per cent.
The captain of the steamer Kaifong, which arrived at Shanghai from Tientsin on the 10th inst., reported that soon after four o'clock the same morning, while in the lower river, the chief engineer of the steamer, Mr. C. Ramage, was found to be missing. All parts of the ship were searched, but no trace of him could be found. As Mr. Ramage had been in a financial difficulty for some time over a share transaction, and had been very despondent during the entire trip, the supposition reluctantly come to by his shipmates, the Mercury says, is that constant brooding over his troubles had anhinged his mind, and that while in this state he had thrown himself overboard. The sad affair has cast a gloom upon all who knew the gentleman, who was genial and well liked by all his acquain tances,
one of the mandarins of high rank at Shanghai in which it was stated that the Manchu colleague of Taotai Wu Ting-fang took with him to Chefoo an autograph letter of the Emperor Kuang Hai to the Mikado, the main subject of which was the wish of the former to wipe away all feelings of enmity between the two countries and engag- ing to stand by Japan with men and money whenever the latter should be menaced by foreign Power. This is affirmed to have been written as an answer to an autograph latter of the Mikado to the Chinese Emperor concerning the same subject.
The North Borneo Herald says:-A public meeting was held on the 27th March to consider a sugestion that His Excellency should be en- tertained at a public dinner before his departure from the country after his long term of office as Governor. A representative Committee was: It will be remembered, says the N. C. Daily elected to wait upon His Excellency with an in-. News, that in order to raise funds for the war vitation. His Excellency in thanking the de- the local authorities of Hupeb province resorted putation for the compliment paid to him and. to the scheme of compelling landed proprietors Mrs. Creagh was reluctantly obliged to decline. to subscribe one month's rent to the government, the invitation, the state of his health not allow- This example was subsequently followed by the ing of his attending a public dinner. It is uni- local authorities at Shanghai, mention of which versally regretted that this method of expres- was made in these columns at the time. By ssion of the regard and esteem in which the Go- recent memorial of the Boards of War and of vernor and Mrs. Creagh are held by all should: Revenue to the Throne the above method of fall through from such a cause, and we all trust. collecting war funds has been declared illegal, that on laying aside the cares of office the results inasmuch as it was not suggested by them in of the pressure of work with which His Excel their memorial last year about the raising of lency has had to grapple may soon be dispelled funds for the prosecution of the war. The Em-by the sea voyage. peror has concurred in the Boards" views and a The Taipebfu correspondent of the N. 0% Rescript was issued on the 28th ultimo prohibit Daily News writes:-The commander-in-chief of ing the further collection of funds in the above the Pescadores, a poor old man eighty years of age, lame and nearly blind, arrived here several manner.
On the afternoon of the 15th inst. a gallant day ago, and immediately came and gave him- rescue from drowning of a Chinese girl about self up to the Governor. He will probably bes pineteen years of age was effected at Shanghai called before the Board of Punishments and end by Mr. John Morrison, of the China Gazette office, his career at the hands of the headsman, for ba From the N. C. Daily News report, it appears sides losing the Pescadores the poor old man iş. Mr. Morrison was seated in one of the summer in sore difficulty owing to a little act of anticipa houses of the Public Garden, and hearing shrieks tion. Almost before the fighting had com. proceeding from the water and seeing a Chinese menced the Governor here received a tele. policeman running he at once proceeded to the gram stating that two Japanese men-of-war. spot and found a person struggling in the river, | had been sunk. His Excellency wishing to about a hundred yards off Ewo jetty. He encourage such conduct answered that they divested himself of coat and hat and plunging were entitled to twenty thousand taels, the into the water succeeded in reaching the girl | scheduled reward for the capture of two men-of- just in time, though the wind and tide contri- war. Some of the money on hand at the buted to render the rescue difficult and dangerous, Pascadores was therefore taken and divided- - and ere the shore was reached he was greatly exhausted and had to call out for help. The Chinese constable stepped into the water, but his assistance was unnecessary, as a firm footing had already been obtained. Mr. Morrison had, how ever, to hand over the young girl, whom the Admiral Ito is said to have presented an ela- constable took to the Station. This is a case borate report to the Government upon the pre-deserving the attention of the Royal Humane sent state of tho Japanese navy.
It is thought by several, and with good reason, that the Governor allows the people to believe that the island will not be handed over to the Japanese without a struggle and also continues all preparations of defence, that the 80,000 well armed soldiers may not make trouble, as they certainly would if they were ordered to return to the main. land from whence they came or were allowed to hang about the towns with no occupation. The rows and riots that have lately occurred show that these men are only too willing to attack their own people if there is any advantage to be gained. However, it is more generally believed that the Governor is sincere and that the island will not be handed over to the Japanese until they take forcible possession and it is my opinion that the 17th of July, if the Japanese arrive that day, will mark the beginning of a struggle far the greatest and the most disastrous in its result of the whole war.- - N. C. Daily News.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Afghan got off Gough Island and went up to Shanghai on the 11th inst.
We hear that two persons were killed by lightning at Macao on the 17th inst.
Viscount Kabayama has been promoted to the full rank of Admiral on his appointment as Commander in Formosa.
Society.
among certain officers, probably on the basis of -- a huge confidence, for they wisely considered it - safer to secure the money first, as the matter of sinking the two men-of-war was but of small moment, and could be accomplished without any difficulty at their pleasure during the day. In the heat of the battle they evidently forgot their obligation. for it is now an old story that they left in great confusion, scarcely firing a shot.
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