t
36
undersigned and others that no measure is more urgently required under the circumstances than to settle the question of past maladministration and make the Ministers of State resign their portfolios. The undersigned and other mem- bers of the House of Representatives do thus give expression to the sentiments of the nation, humbly praying for Your Majesty's august judgment.
THE BUDGET.
Tokyo, 29th December. The Budget of the 29th year of Meiji was presented to the Diet to-day.
The total estimated revenue for the coming year is 138,070,677 yen, and the expenditure 152,071,463 yen, thus showing an estimated excess of ex- penditure over income of 14,000,785 yen. The deficit is to be met by new taxation proposals, which will be shortly introduced.
HONGKONG.
On New Year's Day the annual sports in connection with the Taikoo Sugar Refinery were held. The weather was perfect and there was a big holiday crowd present. On Friday the Sanitary Board met; at the Police Court Mr. Minhinnett, building overseer, was fined $50 for giving false evidence against a ‘ricksha coolie, and at Shaukiwan an Indian policeman fatally shot a Chinaman and afterwards com- mitted suicide. An appeal in an alleged theft of pearls case was heard at the Supreme Court on Saturday and proved unsuccessful. sequel to the case a recommendation will be made for the release of the man sent to gaol on the charge of stealing the jewellery. The light and pass regulations, which caused considerable ill-feeling amongst the Chinese, have been
modified by direction of the Governor.
As a
Sir William Robinson gave
dance at Government House on Thursday evening.
The Volunteer Corps will take part in the
Garrison mobilisation on the 11th inst.
There were 1,284 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 131 were Euro-
peans.
A shop accountant was sent to gaol for six months on Saturday for embezzling $410. He admitted misappropriating $200. -
At West Point on Monday afternoon one man was killed and five others sustained injuries by the fall of a scaffolding in connection with a building on the reclamation.
A Chinese procession took place on the 2nd inst. to celebrate the reopening of the Kun Yun Miu temple, which was blown down in the 1894 typhoon and has since been rebuilt.
The yacht Catarina, which left Singapore on the 23rd December, arrived here on the 1st inst., with Messrs. Wallace, Johnstone, W. Johnstone, Sturges, Payne, Holmes, Beerne, and Horner on board.
At the Police Court on Monday two men were sentenced each to three months' hard labour for assaulting a Chinese constable who in the execation of his duty had arrested a man for being out without a light.
Mr. H. V. Ermekeil, of Messrs. H. H. Kirch and Co., Ice House Street, was summoned for keeping two dogs without a licence. The de- fendant produced the necessary licences and the summons was dismissed.
At the Supreme Court on the 31st Dec. Mr. Herbert William Looker (of Mr. Deacon's office) was admitted by Sir Fielding Clarke (Chief Justice) to practice in the Supreme Court of Hongkong as a solicitor.
At a meeting held on the evening of the 3rd inst. of the Committees appointed by the various Lodges it was decided to hold a ball on Monday, the 17th February next, in celebration of the Jubilee of Freemasonry in Hongkong and of the Zetland Lodge.
A very successful bachelors' ball was given at Canton on Friday evening, at which a num- ber of visitors from Macao and Hongkong were present. The room was tastefully decorated with foliage and flags, and a very pleasant even- ing was spent.
The chief and first class petty officers of H.M.S. Centurion gave a smoking concert at the R. N. Seamen's Club on the evening of the 2nd inst. and there was a very good attendance. The programme contained many excellent items, all of which were warmly appreciated.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
There was a report in circulation on Satur day to the effect that instructions had been received for the appointment of two additional unofficial members on the Legislative Council, but we believe, the report was at least pre- mature and that nothing has yet been definitely decided in the matter.
A Chinese clerk, living in Gough Street jumped overboard from the Ying Fat ferry launch on the 1st instant. He was picked up by a water boat and while there he again made an attempt to reach the water. He was charged at the Police Court on the 3rd inst, with at- tempted suicide and remanded.
The fire alarm bell was rung at 3.30 p.m. on the 31st Dec: The Fire Brigade and a detachment of police from the Central Station turned out and hurried to a narrow lane off Queen's Road Central. It was then found that a few bits of rubbish had been on fire in an unoccupied room. Someone had extinguished the flames before any damage was done, and so the services of the brigade were not wanted.
and H.M.S. Centurion in the Hongkong Foot- The tie between the 35th Company, R.A., ball Challenge Cup Competition was played on Saturday and resulted in a victory for the Centurion by three goals to two. The opposing teams in the third round are as follows:- B Company, R.B., v. 12th Company, S.D., R. A. F Company, R.B... Hongkong Football Club.
Kowloon H.M.S. Centurion, v. C Company, RB. v. Hongkong Colts. The Committee have decided that teams must wear distinctive colours. The first mentioned teams have choice of ground and must supply balls. Kick-off at 4.30. This round must finish before 1st February.
against Kwok U Tan, master of the Wing LA A charge of manslaughter has been preferred
ferry launch. The launch was proceeding from Victoria to Yaumati on the morning of the 2nd
inst. when she ran down a small fishing boat, in
which were three men.
The occupants were all thrown into the water and due of them, named Keung Yung Tak, was drowned. The other two were picked up by a cargo boat. The allegation against the master was that he made no efforts to save the deceased. He was brought up at the Police Court on the 3rd inst. and remanded.
Operators on the stock exchange would find it a convenience if the Stockbrokers Associa- tion would quote the shares of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank and the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co. in dollars instead of at so much premiam. The latter course involves a calculation in respect of every transaction to determine the price, which is a waste of time and trouble. On the London market Bank shares are quoted in pounds, not at so much premium, and, substituting dollars for pounds, it would be well if the same course were followed here.
As will be seen by the report of the Sanitary Board meeting the military authorities have been complaining of the stench from the con- servancy beats which anchor in the neighbour hood of Stonecutters Island. The sanitary authorities seem sceptical as to the existence of any ground of complaint. The bathing parties which go over to Laichikok Bay and Stone- cutters in summer will, however, be glad if the complaint results in the removal of the nuis- ance, of the existence of which various high officers of the Government must be convinced from their own experience. It may be difficult to determine the precise range of the stench, but it would be rather singular if it did not sometimes reach Stonecutters.
Two death inquiries were held at the Magis- tracy on the 31st Dec. One concerned the death of a seaman named James Lawton, who sat on a narrow beam overhanging the water near the Canton wharf two or three days ago. As he was drunk a fellow seaman warned him of the risk he was running. Lawton replied "G d-you; leave me alone." He then fell into the water and was drowned. The other inquest was on the body of the Rifleman named William Killick, who was drowned during a boating trip on the 15th December. In both cases the Magistrate found that death resulted from drowning, and in the second case he added that there was no evidence to show how the boat capsized.
Jannary 8, 1896.
A sneak thief was sent to gaol for four mon by Mr. T Sercombe Smith on nday prisoner went on board the Gaelic and cu the coat of à Chinaman with the obje getting a purse full of money. The attem however, was noticed in time and the rascal was caught red-handed. !.
The following returns of the average amount" of bank notes in circulation and of specie-in reserve in Hongkong during the month ended 31st December, 1895, as certified by the Mana- gers of the respective Banks, are published
Average Specie in amount. reserve. Chartered Bank of India, 8
$ Anstralia, and China... 1,731,656 1,000,000 Hongkong and Shanghai
Banks.
Banking Corporation. 4,816,624 2,500,000* National Bank of China,
Limited
Total
428,151 212,000
6,976,431 3,712,000- The Honorary Treasurer of the Edgar Relief Fund begs to acknowledge with thanks the fol- Mowing donations:
The European Staff of the Kow-
loon Dock
Mr. N. A. Siebs...
Mr. R. Inglis
Mr. T. Sercombe Smith
Mr. H. Skött
"A Poor Broker Man The Praya East Hotel
Brought forward
Total up to date
845
25
10
10
10
10
5
$115
671
$786
A very pleasing little ceremony took place China. For a number of years the boat has been on the 3rd inst. on board the German steamship
under charter to Messrs. Tungkee & Co. and employed by them continuously in the Saigon trade, and the very kind and courteous treat from the captain and his officers induced them ment which her passengers have always received
Chinese flag, made of heavy red coloured silk to present the ship with a very handsome and having large embroidered Chinese charac ters in the centre meaning Good luck and s prosperous future." The fine flag was hoisted amidst a tremendous roar of firecrackers, and those on board, representatives of the firm of Tungkee & Co. and their foreign local agents and brokers, enthusiastically drank the health of the genial skipper, Capt. Voss, and after- partaking of a splendid repast, followed by a good deal of speechifying, this pleasant little episode in the Hongkong shipping trade came
to an end.
CANTON NOTES.
"
[FROM THE CHUNG NGOI SAN PO On the 1st instant the Magistrate of Namhoi ordered two prisoners to be sent to the Tin-tsz-` ma-tan for the ling-chi or slicing process. One of them was a Shau-tsoi who had a fight with his uncle and killed him in the struggle. The other's crime was that he killed an old man' belonging to the same clan as himself.
The Tartar-General pays visits every night in the disguise of an ordinary individual to all the police stations in the city. On the 22nd ultimo he visited the police station in Tai-sz Streat, where he discovered that one of the policemen was absent. He asked the other policemen where the absentee had gone. One said that he had gone to see his mother, who was ill. His Excellency said that every one should ask permission before leaving his duty. He at once sent some one to call the absentee back... When the man came back, His Excellency ordered him and his friend who spoke in favour of him to be beaten with twenty blows each. The former was punished for being absent without asking permission, and the latter for telling a lie.
About one thousand five hundred soldiers lately arrived at Canton from the province of Hunam. They were sent for by Viceroy Tan for the defence of Canton.
Lau Hok-san, one of the most powerful San-sz in Canton, was brought to the military court for trial the other day. He was prosecuted by a good number of San-sz for misconduct,
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