January 22, 1896.]
inventors, though the honour has also been claimed for an American missionary. Who ever the inventor may have been, these were certainly the first to obtain Government per- mission for running it. It was, then, nothing more than a box supported by four props which rested without springs on the axle connecting the two wheels. A few cars of this description were kept on the southern approach to Nihonbashi, with a large flag set up to attract fares. As these jinrikisha were most uncomfortable to ride in, they failed to command public patronage. To Akiba Daisuke are due the improvements which have made the jinrikisha the most popular vehicle in the Far East. Akiba was a nativa of Yedo and supplied arms and saddlery to samurai, until the Restoration, when the gradual decay of his trade obliged him to look for a more lucrative employment, and be first commenced the manufacture of carriages, which he built both to order and for hire. He prospered in the trade. When he saw the newly-invented jinrikisha in its crude state, he at once perceived the possi bilities in store, and, after months spent in improving it, he opened a work-shop in Ginza, the main street of Tokyo, for the manufacture of his jinrikisha; and as it was both com. fortable and handy, his shop was soon flooded with orders. Akiba, after making a fortune by the vehicle, died in 1894. An ex-official of the Tokugawa Government was the first to apply the calash-top to the jinrikisha. The body of the vehicle was at first lacquered black, yellow, crimson, or green, and adorned in addi- tion with highly coloured representations of famous sceneries, warriors, actors, women, birds, beasts, fish, trees, or arabesques. In a corner of the back was given the owner's name with his address in full. But of late these glaring -pictures have gone out of fashion; and generally
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
however, that the statements in the letter which has been placed at our disposal are categorical, and, although the news comes as a surprise, it is not improbable. That surveys are being made there can be no doubt, but, like those made recently at Quemoy, they may be only with a view to ascertaining the suitability of the place for settlement and may not indicate that a cession of the territory has already been made. The German man-of-war Irene left Hongkong on Sunday on a cruise to the southward, and it is possible her voyage may have some connection with this matter.
The island of Lappa is immediately opposite Macao and forms one side of the inner harbour. On the other side of the island the main stream formed by the junction of the West and North Rivers debouches. At the time of the Franco-Chinese war the French Admiral had it in contemplation to take some of his vessels ap that stream and make a demonstration above Canton.
THE MEKONG SETTLEMENT.
(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]
LONDON, 16th January The Anglo-French agreement re Siam was signed on Wednesday. The Mekong becomes the French boundary up to the Chinese frontier Great Britain and France undertake to refrain from armed advance in the Menam valley, but Siamese territory East and West of the raller is excluded in this clause.
LONDON, 17th January. France obtains Mongsit and Battambang, the buffer state scheme having been apparently abandoned.
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The Chief Justice, who was evidently deeply moved, said-Mr. Attorney-General, gentlemen of the Bar and gentlemen practising in this court, the officers of the court, and the many friends that I see around me who have done me tho honour to meet together to-day to wish me farewell, I beg to thank you very heartily and sincerely for your kindness, and I take this opportunity of acknowledging, as I do with deep gratitude, the kindness and consideration which have been always extended to me by the legal profession during the seven years that I have had the honour to sit upon this Bench. I need not tell you that I leav8 this colony with very great regret. I havo been most kindly received and treated here, and I have had a very happy period of office, and I shall have with me wherever I go most pleasing and happy reminiscences of the time I have had here. I am cheered and pleased on this last occasion I shall sit here to see my friend Mr. Francis again at his seat at the table in front of me after a very serious illness, and I congratulate the members of the Bar and the public generally most heartily on this account, From you all I take leave with regret, and I' you that I shall long remember your kindness. I wish you all farewell.
asure
Mr. Francis-Will your Lordship permit me ference to me, and also permit me to add on be- to thank you very heartily for your kind re- half of the practising members of the bar our most hearty thanks for all your Lordship's patience, consideration, and kindness, which we all have experienced so very frequently. We thank you most heartily, for all your kindness und consideration to this Bar.
The Chief Justice--I thank you.
only the owner's crest is painted in gold on sober THE DEPARTURE OF THE CHIEF Street. It was proved that the defendant had background."
My Holidays in China. By WILLIAM R. KAHLER Shanghai: Reprinted from the Temperance Union. 1895
THIS is an account of three houseboat tours, from Shanghai to Hungchow and back via Ningpo, from Shanghai to Le Yang via Soo- chow and the Tah Hu. and from Kinkiang to Wahu. Mr. Kabler is a close observer and enquirer and has set down in much detail the narrative of his trips. He has also apparently been a careful collector of in- teresting items from the Shanghai native papers, which he introduces into his pages in connection with the stories told him by the natives while on his trips, so that we have a large amount of legendary and folk lore. This makes good reading in small doses, though its sameness makes it wearisome if too many pages are taken at once. The accounts of the trips have previously appeared in the Temperance Union, of which Mr. Kahler is the editor; in reproducing them in book form the writer might with advantage have applied the pruning knife and cut out good deal of trivial matter that encumbers his pages. A notice of "My Holidays in China" would be incomplete without mention of the illustrations; there are twenty-six of them, re- produced from photographs, and they form a very interesting collection.
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JUSTICE.
LEAVE TAKING AT THE SUPREME COURT.
On the 16th January Sir Fielding Clarke (Chief Justice) left the colony for England prior to taking up his new appointment in Jamaica. At the Supreme Court the previous morning the members of the legal profession bade his Lord- ship farewell and the ceremony was a very touching one. on the Bench by Mr. A. G. Wise (Puisne Judge) His Lordship was accompanied and the legal gentlemen present in the Court were- -Hon. W. M. Goodman (Attorney- General). Messrs. J. J. Francis, Q.C., H. E. Pollock, Hon. Ho Kai, Dick-Melbourne, A. B. Johnson, H. L. Dennys, V. H. Deacon, E. C. Ellis, E. J. Grist. C. D. Wilkinson, G. Q. C. Master, H. J. Gedge. J. F. Reece, H. Holmes, and M. J. D. Stevens. The Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Colonial Secretary, also attended. The whole of the officers of the Court were also
present.
As soon as his Lordship took his seat every- one present rose and
The Attorney-General said - May it please your Lordship. We are met here on this occasion for the purpose of expressing to your Lordship on behalf of the members of the Ingal profession in this colony our sincere regret that you are leaving us, and our high appreciation of the able, impartial, and independent manner in which you have discharged the important duties REPORTED CESSION OF LAPPA TO Russell, who was your deeply respected prede- of your high office. A few years ago Sir James
GERMANY,
20th January.
A private letter received from Macao yester- day contains a passage to the following effect:- The Chinese Government has ceded Lappa to the Germans, who are very busy surveying and cutting roads, etc. There are some marines, numbering forty or fifty, guarding the place. It is said the Germans intend to build a town like Hongkong on Lappa, as the West River is about to be opened. They are looking for a decent anchorage so that steamers may be able to come direct to Lappa instead of the cargo having to be transhipped at Hongkong."
A raport to the same effect as the above has. we learn, reached some members of the Por- tuguese community, who regard it, however. with incredulity. More definite news will probably be received to-day. It will be noted
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cessor, left our midst, and he did so under the shadow of an illness which compelled him to retire from public life and which soon after- wards proved fatal to him. We are indeed thankful that the circumstances under which you are leaving us are RO widely different. You are going on promotion to another colony where your judicial abilities will find a wider scope than in Hongkong. In that new spllere, my Lord, you will. doubtless find many friends, or make many friends. Lord, permit me to tell you that though they may be more numerors they will not be more sincere than those you leave behind you here. It remains only for nie, on behalf of the professional gentlemen aronud me, to wish you a hearty farewell, and we trust there will be many years before you of prosperity and wel- fare, and we trust you will find your new duties, congenial to you. I say once more "Farewell.',
But, my
His Lordship then proceeded with the case in which the National Bank of China sued for a writ of foreign attachment against the property of Chung Chu-ting, formerly of 40, D'Aguilar
property in the colony and his Lordship declared it liable to satisfy the claim of the plaintiffs. Mr. H. E Pollock (instructed by Mr. Ellis) ap- peared for the plaintiffs. The Chief Justice did not wear his wig and gown. and before commen- ing the case he remarked to Mr. Pollock. "I must ask you to excuse the absence of the judicial clothing as it has been packed up."
and a large party assembled on the wharf to bid On the 16th January Sir Fielding and Lady, Clarke left by the Kaisar--Hind for England, them goodbye, among the party being Major- General and Mrs. Black, the Acting Chiof Justice and Mrs. Goodman. Mr. T. Jackson, and many others.
HE PO LEUNG KUK SOCIETY'S.
NEW HOME,
LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE.
On Saturday afternoon His Excellency the Goreruor, Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G., per- formed the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new home for women and girls which is being built by the Po Leung Kuk Society. Special arrangements had been made in connection with the ceremony, the complete success of which foretells a prosperous future for this worthy Society. His Excellency and suite were escorted from Government House entire length of the route large crowds of by four mounted troopers, and throughout the
people assembled on each side of the street. Punctually at the appointed time, 2.80, His. Excellency arrived at the site of the new home, and he was received by a guard of police under Chief Inspector Corcoran. A very large number of ladies and gentlemen had assembled in response to the Committee's invitation, amongst those present being His Excellency Admiral Buller and Mrs. Buller, Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart und Mrs. Lockhart, Hon. W. M. Goodman and Mrs. Goodman, Hon. F. A. Cooper and Mrs. Cooper, Hon. E. R. Belilios, Hon. A. McConachie, Hon. J. J. Bell Irving, Co- onel Austey, Major the Hon. E. Noul and Mrs. Noel, Hon. Commander W. C. H. Hastings, Hon. A. K. and Mrs. Travers. Hou. T. H. Whitehead, Hon. Ho Ka and Mrs. Captain Stirling, A.D.C., Dr. Wright, Mr. J. J. Francis, Q. C., and M Francis, Rev. Dr. Chalmers and Mrs, Chalmers,
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