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March 18, 1896.]
slong the southern shore of the island would | make breaches in these embankments and the flood of water issuing therefrom would soon complete the ruin, and then, with these reservoirs dry for some months and the harbour block- aded, we would know what it was to have no water at all Another method might be fol- lowed, viz.-spies or agents of the enemy might destroy these embankments some night with dynamite. Or still another course might be adopted, and the enemy land in force on the south side, out the water mains, and reserve the water supply for their own use.
Well, sir, don't you think it high time that a progressive community like Hongkong sank artesian wells (several of them) both in Hong- kong and Kowloon at suitable points if only to supplement the present water supply, not to mention as an insurance against the danger I have pointed out, It would be a purer, cheaper, and more abundant supply than would be obtained by another reservoir besides being safe from a coup by the enemy.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
8
THE CENSURE OF COLONEL CHAN. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE DAILY PRESS."
SIR-I agree with you that your contempo- rary the Hongkong Telegraph's defence of the militant members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce is hardly a happy one. As you say, the suggested analogy between the action of those gentlemen and the case of an invitation by French or German residents to a French or German official passing through to open a club in Hongkong does not hold. Put the case of a German official in Heligoland, before the cession, or a Spanish official in Gibraltar, aud. one comes much nearer the mark. But still, as you point out, the analogy is not even then quite complete, for the Chinese officials have been in the habit of referring to this colony as though it still formed part of Kwangtung province, and this fact by itself would suffice reason for publishing the Viceroy's censure on his officer and explicit repudia- tion of Chinese jurisdiction. I am one of the last of those who would seek to curtail in any unnecessary manner the rights and liberties of our Chinese fellow residents. On the con- trary, not knowing what great events may be in store for us within the next few years. I and with the southern shore if possible, too; believe that our true policy, from an Imperial the latter portion should be as far as possible as well as from a local point of view, is to ont of reach of shot and shell fire from an augment our prestige and inspire confidence in enemy's ships. The tramway would in case of pur rule amongst the population of the main- an armed attack or blockade be a great addition land by just and sympathetic treatment of the to the effective power of our defending force, large Chinese population within our borders. enabling the troops to be rapidly massed where But surely insistance on the fact of British so- required. Some light field artillery oughtvereignty within the colony against all challenge. besides certainly to be kept on the heights, ready direct or indirect, is a duty incumbent on all of for use and for the defence of the reservoirs. us, officials or uuofficials. If I may hazard au As regards the extension of the frontiers, opinion I should say, that an unfortunate all the islands of the surrounding archipelago practice of carping apparently for carping's ought to be annexed and the frontier carried sake, on the part of one or two prominent well beyond Mirs Bay and Deep Bay. China citizens, otherwise marked out by experience will cede a province as easily as a small barren and ability as leaders of a compact Reform island, as witness the Russians having practi-Party, has done, and does, more to alienate cally taken over the whole of North China.
(2)- Another great trouble in Hongkong is the over-crowding. Well, it is high time there were at least one line of tram communicating along
the whole of the northern shore of the island
More torpedo boats are also required and then, if the garrison was sufficiently augmented, our fleet would be free to go out and strike effectively, Hongkong being a refuge for them if necessary.
AN OLD NAVAL RESERVE MAN. Hongkong, 14th March, 1896.
SHAN MATERIAL.
public support from them and the cause than any other circumstance whatever.
E. ROBINSON.
Hongkong, 16th March 1896.
CANTON NOTES.
[FROM THE “CHUNG NGOI SAN FO The manager of the China Merchants Steam HOW TO DEAL WITH THE TAIPING- Navigation Company in Shanghai arrived at Canton the other day. He is going with the Canton manager of the said Company to Wuchow. It is said that his intention is to establish an office in Wuchow, which has been declared a treaty port.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS."
་་
DEAR MR. EDITOR.-Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The answer is not very far to seek when six scientific and otherwise intelligent men meet together to discuss a vital question and cannot come to any definite understanding with regard to what shall be done with the houses, &c., within the resumed area of the plague stricken Taipingsban. I believe most of these houses are built of Chinese blue bricks, red carth, and a promise of lime. If so, I firmly believe that the germs of plague bacilli are in those porons bricks in their bundreds of millious, too small to be detected as such by the most powerful glass, but there all the same, as there is not sufficient lime in the mortar or upon the walls to keep them out, and wherever air will pene trate there they will be in great numbers, and no fumigation will kill them while they remain in their aurelian state. What is to be done, sir ? To sell these houses as they stand for re-erection while any doubt remains would be a disgrace to this colony for ever. To pull the houses down and throw away the bricks, &c.; would be dangerous and a wilful waste. If I am not presuming too much I would (through the medium of your columns) suggest that the houses be pulled down and the bricks re-burned on the ground (and all the rubbish and earth with them) on the old fashioned closed clamp system. This would cost about $1.50 per thou sand for coal and labour. After being subjected to this process they might be sold by auction to be used again for house building, or any other purpose, without any fear of infection. If there is no one on the Board who understands this process I should be very pleased to give them any information I can, providing my employers were willing.Thanking you in an- ticipation, I remain, yours very faithfully,
OBSERVER.
Hongkong, 14th March, 1896.
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buy copper and lead to make more small coins. The new cash, the making of which is intended to be commenced on the 15th instant, is smaller
than the old one..
Two hundred more soldiers have been sent by order of the Viceroy to be stationed on Shameen under the command of Colonel Cheng Yun-tsoi, son of Admiral Cheng Shui-chung. A good number of soldiers have been sent back from Waihow and Fa-un to Canton.
་་
RAUB GOLD.
The following telegram from Ranb, dated 4th March, has been received at Singapore-
'Crushing finished, 2,200 tons stone realized 1.119 oz. smelted gold. Prospects are more favourable."
The above is the result of the Company's operations for the period from 6th January, 1896, the date of last general clean up, until 29th February, 1896, the end of the Company's financial year in Singapore ; during this period a few days were non- working ones, on account of the Chinese New Year holidays. The gene al clean up has been made after only two months' crushing, instead of the usual three months, for the purpose of enabling the Company's accounts for the past financial year being correctly closed.
The total returus for the past financial year are:-6,174 oz. 17 dwts. gold from 12,299 tons stone, an average of 10 dwts. I grain per ton.
The total value of gold extracted during the financial year is nearly £23,500.
THE MAGAZINE EXPLOSION AT
KIANGYIN.
Since writing one week ago, your correspon- dent has attempted to get a little more at the inwardness of the trouble in the camps here, but little success has attended his efforts. However, that a rebellion was planned to take place, beginning about the 13th of the Chinese moon, seems to be evident. The plan was to kill the General in command, get possession of the magazines and rifles, and then make them. selves strong in the city. The foreign iustruc- tors in the forts were to be put under arrest, and sent in well guarded boats, without injury to their persons, to Shanghai, or some place where That all this was they would be out of the way. not carried out was owing to the accidental ex- plosion of the main magazine, just across the river, north from the forts. The magazine was being rifled of its contents at the time of the explosion, and a very large proportion of the The Tartar General and the Assistant Tartar powder and cartridges had been removed. General have issued a joint notification to the Much of the powder was very old and the tin cans in which it was stored had rusted. It is effect that a despatch has just been received from the Tsungli Yamen to the effect that the Ministers supposed that the explosion was caused by of Great Britain and Holland have reported friction set up by these caus being opened with that false coins, which are most probably made cleavers. But no one really knows how the ex- in the districts of Ka-ying-chow, Hing-ling,plosion did occur, since no one in or immediately Fatshian. Amoy, Swatow, and their neighbour- around the buildings escaped. An expert has hoods are often imported into foreign countries. estimated that the amount of powder consumed could not have been less than fifteen thous- either by passengers or by merchants who send them thither as merchandise, and that if steps and pounds. Four-inch shells were thrown three hundred and fifty yards. A shell, at are not taken to stop this fraudulent practice
the distance of three hundred yards from the trade in general will be endangered. Viceroy has consequently ordered all the local magazine, cut a man into two about the middle. A hole ten feet deep by twenty feet in circum- officers to do their utmost to hunt out all the false coin makers. This notice is especially issued ference was blown in the ground on the site of to announce to all the Mauchus and people the magazine, so that the mangled condition of who belong to the eight standards that if any those in or about the building can better be one is discovered to be guilty of making counter-imagined than described. Rifle firing had begun feit coins he will be severely dealt with. A reward of $200 will be given for the capture of offenders.
The
Admiral Cheng Shin-chang is seriously ill. His thigh is swollen up. He still remains at Tiger Pass.
Fire broke out on the 4th instantin a theatre in Sai-chiu. The natives worked promptly and the flames were got under control by pulling down the structure, which was a mat shed. Sixteen persons were reported injured, but no lives were lost.
The likin station in the South Gate district for levying the tax on salt fish was broken down by the salt fish sellers on the 9th instant. The farmers of the tax have petitioned the Super- intendent of likin to effect the arrest of the offenders.
As cash is so dear the Viceroy has recently sent a Weiyuen to Foochow and Shanghai to
among the opposing factions, and even the camp under the guns of the forts had taken violent possession of all the rifles and ammuni- tion in their reach, and firing had commenced among them. But the explosion was so terrific in its character, and so destructive to life, nearly 300 persons being killed, that the muti- nous factions were completely and immediately awed. So that it is probable that the explosion was, under the circumstances, a blessing in disguise.
The soldiers in rebellion were Anhui mén who had been stationed here for over twenty years. Last year the Viceroy, Chang Chih- tung, placed a Captain Kao in command of a portion of the troops. Captain Kao had been in Kwangtung for a number of years, and brought some improved ideas of discipline and drill back with him, while his commissariat department was looked after in something like
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