·400
to Mr. COOPER's scheme, is 188,152 square Jeet, which might realise when sold $376,000, Roughly speaking the loss to the colony on the transaction would be half a million dollars. It is believed that by a modified scheme of reconstruction, which would comply with all sanitary requirements, this loss might be reduced to a quarter of a million, or even less. The amount involved is sufficiently large to justify a reference of the whole subject to a committee of experts, for the colony can hardly be content to be guided entirely by the opinion of one man in a matter of such magnitude.
3
THE LICENSING OF PRIVATE
VEHICLES.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
with the Japanese they will be seized and killed at once.'
33
"(Signed).-All the populace of Formosa." feeling of at least the Chinese merchants and It is thought the above does not express the farmers, who may bo only too glad to get rid of the mandarius, the squeezes, and corrupt govern ment. Ku Hung-kuk claims Ito have over 100,000 volunteer soldiers, and says that if the Japanese suce ed in capturing the north and south of the island, he will not resist them, but all central Formosa has been declared indepen. dent, and neither China nor Japan shall be its
rulers.
It is very reasonable to believe that the Go- vernor intends to fight the Japanese when they arrive, and the menting held yesterday with Kn Hnng-kuk and his officers was for the purpose of enlisting their services. The fact that 1,000 Cantonese soldiers arrived by the steamer The Bill for regulating the licensing of Martha three days ago, and 1,500 more are ex- pected in a few days, and that more rifles and private vehicles was passed at Thursday's ammunition are being landed from every Chi- meeting of the Legislative Council, but is nese steamer, it scarcely looks as though the hardly likely, we think, to receive the sanc- Governor intended to peacefully band over the tion of the Secretary of State in its present island, although the excuse given is that a few form. If a person wishes to keep a car-days ago it was thought that France would in- riage he has, according to this new measure, terfere, so that the additional men and ammuni- to apply for a licence the grauting of which tion might be needed. is to be "in the discretion of the officer ap pointed to issue the same." No one henceforth
will be entitled to keep a carriage as of right, but only by favour of a Government official. A provision of that kind is opposed to English ideas of right and liberty. Carriages, are a fair subject for taxation if additional revenue is required, but any one willing to pay the tax ought to be entitled to keep bis carriage without
Ku Hung-kuk, mentioned in my yesterday's further question. The same considerations letter, was ordered to appear before the Gover- apply
used to vehicles
for businessner, but refused point blank. His strength is purposes. A person having occasion to growing daily, the natives hear his district flock. use a cart or truck in connection with bising to join his standard. | Anarchy prevails in trade ought not to be dependent on the the Kapsulan district and it isnt safe to convey The Geelan good will and favour of a Government officer, valuables along the highway!
hsien has succeeded in capturing and decapi- even the Governor himself, for permission tating a number of offenders, but it had no to do so. We hear that representations are effect in lessening the revolt, which threatens to be made to the Secretary of State against the whole neighbourhood; the measure..
**
THE REBELLION IN FORMOSA.
[SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DAILY PRESS." |
SHANGHAI 27th May. Considerable quantities of munitions have been shipped hence to Formosa.
The Japanese were sighted off Tamsui yester-| day.
Telegrams are much delayed.
The sum of $500,000 is expected from the Viceroy at Nanking to the Governor, which might be accounted for as the result of a little diplomatic thinking in Peking. We the Im- peral Government cede Formosa to the Japanese, but we do not guarantee that the inhabitants there will peacefully submit to their rale. They may rebel and defeat, the Japanese, which would be so much the better for us; therefore let us "encourage them a bit."
18th May.
0
TIENTSEN, 19th May.
The Viceroy Li Hung-chang's son, Li Chin- fang, has been appointed Commissioner to nuder- take the odious duty of handing over Formosa to the Japanese.
:
PEKING, 19th May. The appointment of Li Chin-fang as Commis- sioner to deliver over Formosa to Japan was the result of the hostile combination against Li Hung-chang's Treaty at Peking. The argu- ment used was that as Li Chin-fang had so will ingly consented to Japan's demands for the ces- sion of the island it should be his duty to bring the matter to a conclusion by handing the island of Formosa personally to the Japanese Commis- sioners. No exenses will be accepted by the Emperor..
TENTAN, 22nd May.
Mr. Foster has left hore-to join Li Chin-fang on his mission to Formosa. -M C. Daily News.
THE JAPANESE RESCRIPT ON THE
RETROCESSION OF LIAOTUNG.
Taipehfu, 17th May, Chinese official circles are à triflo stirred up over the report that the Japanese will arrive in two weeks. In conversing with General Tcheng Ki-tong, late of the Paris Legation, who arrived here several days ago to act as adviser to the Governor, I was informed that the above report was fully credited by the Governor and himself. In discussing the probable reception of the Japanese, it was the General's opinion that the Chinese would make considerable trouble, aud that it would be some time before they would settle The following translation of the Japanese down and submit peacefully to Japanese rule. Emperor's rescript on the retrocession of the Formosa was declared independent and noti- Liaotung Peninsula is published by the Japan fication was sent to that effect to the Taungli | Mail:- Yamên (Foreign Office) at Peking yesterday, We recently complied with the request of General Ku Hung-kuk, who I have mentioned China and in consequence appointed Plenipoten. in my previous lettem is at the head of the new tiaries and caused them to confer with the government, and many of the most influential Plenipotentiaries appointed by China and to men in the central part of the island have joined conclude a Treaty of Peace between the two him. A meeting was held yesterday with the Empires. Governor, but what transpired has been kept Since then the Governmouts of Their Ma- secret; whether the Governor sanctions this re-jesties the Emperors of Rusia and Germany bellions movement or not is difficult to ascertain; aud of the Republic of Frane have united in a at least he is not in a position to interfere or to recommendation to Our Goverument not to even disapprove, for his head would probably permanently possess the Peninsula of Feug-Tien, pay the penalty for such indiscretion. After the meeting the main government was notified and the following proclamation was published about the city -
"China has been so insulted by the Japanese that all the Chinese should be angry with them. Therefore, we the literati and all the populace ought to join together and oppose the Japanese if they dare to land. If anyone sympathises!
Our newly acquired territory, du the ground that such permanent possession would be detrimental to the lasting peace of the Oribuit.
Devoted as Wo unalteribiy jaro and ever have been to the principles of Fee. We were cou- strained to take up arms against China for no other reason than Our desire to secure for the Orient an enduring peace.
Now the friendly recommendation of the three
|
[May 29, 1895.
Powers was equally prompted by the same desire, Consulting therefore the best interests of peace and animated by a desire not to bring upon Our people added bardship or to impede the progress of national destiny by creating new complications and thereby making the situation difficult and retarding the restoration of peace, We do not hesitate to accept such recommendation.
By concluding the Treaty of Peace, China has already shown ler sincerity of regret for the vio- lation of her engagements and thereby the justice of Our cause has been proclaimed to the world
Under these circumstances, We can find no- thing to impair the honour and dignity of Our empire if We now yield to the dictates of magnanimity and, taking into consideration the general situation, accept the advice of the friendly Powers,
Accordingly we have commanded Our Govern. ✨ ment and have caused them to reply to the three Powers in the above sense.
A
Regarding the arrangements by which we will renounce the permanent possession of the Penin- sula, we bave specially commanded Our Govern- ment that the necessary measures shall be made the subject of future negotiations and adjust- ment with the Government of China.
Now the exchange of ratifications of the Treaty of Peace has already been effected; the friendly relations between the two Empires have been
re-established, and cordial relations with all other
powers are also strengthened.
We therefore command Our subjects to respect Our will; to take ino careful consideration the general situation; to be circumspect in all things; to avoid erroneous tendencies; and not to impair or thwart the high aspirations of Our Empire.
The 10th day, the 5th month, of the 28th year of Meiji.
(L.S.) [Imperial Sign-Manual | (Countersigned) By all Ministers of State.
ROBBERY BY SERVANTS.
严
The police are enquiring into a robbery which took place on Friday at Mr. Arratoon Seth's house, Norman Cottage, Peak Road. In. the early morning Mr. Seth had to go out before he had his matutinal bath, and he returned home about noon. He then decided to have his bath, and thereupon placed a gold watch and chain, a gold ring, and a gold pencil case in a drawer of his dressing table. Ile returned in about ten minutes and dressed, but did not go to the drawer for his watch and chain. About one o'clock Mrs. Seth went to the drawer for a pencil, and at that time the articles mentioned were not there, and she concluded that Mr. Seth was wear- ing them. It was not until eight o'clock that, Mr Seth himself missed his property, and he at once informed the police. A tailor had been employed in the house, and Mr. Seth remembered that this man and two washermen were on the
verandah, and near his room, when he put the articles in the drawer. He also remembered that about three o'clock in the afternoon the tailor endeavoured to leave the house, but as he had not completed his day's work Mrs. Seth ordered him to remain. These circumstances led Mr. Seth to suspect the tailor, who was arrested, when he made certain statements which incriminated the washermen, and they were also arrested. They were taken before Mr. Wode. house on Saturday and remanded. The articles are valued at $600, but apart from the intrinsic worth of the watch, Mr. Seth prizes it very highly, as it had been in his family over a bundred years.
It was made in London in
1787, and naturally Mr. Seth is very anxious to
recover it. I
The robbery from Mr. Seth's house has cul- minated in the recovery of the much prized watch, but not the other articles, and the dis- missal and apprehension of the whole of the ser- Fanta. At the Police Court on Monday the two washermen who were arrested were discharged on the application of Inspector Stanton, and the tailor was placed with-nine servants and all were charged with complicity in the robbery, and remanded until Saturday. The watch was found in a drawer in the room, but not in the
drawer in which it was first placed.
The steamer Renown, which arrived at Naga- saki from Cardiff on the 19th inst.. has, the Naasguki Express bars, been sold to the Japan- The Mitsui Bussan Kaisha are reported to be the purchasers; they will re-christen her Asosan Maru.
ese.
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