232
were given that a proclamation should be issued A permitting the free sale of the goods. proclamation was accordingly issued by the Prefect of Wuchow to this effect, but with an intimation added that when the goods had passed into the hands of native merchants they would he taxed with lekin and duty again. It appears that the Viceroy, instead of condemning this action on the part of the Prefect, supports it. maintaining that it is not contrary to the instructions of the Tsungli Yamen and that when once goods conveyed inland under transit pass have reached their destination and heen sold to Chinese the foreign merchant has nothing more to do with them; in other words, that the native authorities can tax them to any extent they please. If this contention were admitted the transit pass would be reduced to worse than a nullity. It is satisfactory to have the matter brought to this concise and definite issue, for the whole question of transit passes in the South must now be decided one way or the other. The treaty provision on the subject must either be upheld or it must be formally abandoned once for all. Mr. Andrew's case is now proved up to the hilt by Chinese document- ary evidence and a case more clear and complete
could not be found.
THE CHINESE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE.
THE COLONEL OF KOWLOON OFFICIALLY RE- PRIMANDED FOR TAKING PART IN THE
OPENING CEREMONY,-
It will be remembered that at the opening of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which was attended by very objectionable features, the principal part in the ceremony was taken by Colonel Chan Kwan-shan, the officer in charge of Chinese Kowloon. It appears that the Gov- ernment complained to the Viceroy of Canton of this official's procedure, and on the 12th March a proclamation in Chinese to the follow- ing effect was issued
PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY SIR WILLIAM ROBINSON. GOVERNOR OF
HONGKONG.
Hongkong is a British possession and with its business, great or small, the Chinese officials have nothing whatever to do, nor are they entitled to come here to make inquiries in re- ference thereto. This is known to the whole world. At the opening of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce the Colonel in charge at Kowloon came over here to take part in the ceremony. His interference in the sphere of the Hongkong Government was quite improper.
';
по
[March 18, 1896.
THE REPORTED TROUBLE AT
CANTON.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND abandoned by the crew as the boats had gone, and the boat ropes were hanging over the side, indicating that the boats had been lowered. Theref
then was
Reports recently appeared in one of the ensign on the vessel but two signals were flying. Shanghai papers of an intended rising at Can- namely, Assistance necessary," and "Canton, which, however, failed to eventuate. We now you tow me off?" It was in consequence of hear-and this may perhaps explain the origin of these signals that the captain of the Holstein the Shanghai rumour that about China New weut close up to the wreck, but when he saw that Year time letters were sent to the French and the crow had left and that it was impossible for American Consuls at Canton warning them that him to tow the vessel off the rocks on account there was going to be trouble and that they had An English and a of the rough sea, he resumed his voyage, leaving better get gunboats up. were
Can- already at the Spondilus in a very critical condition with German gunboat
One letter is said to her stern low in the water and her stem high out ton at the time. of the water. Before reaching Cape Varela have been written by hand, while the other the first officer while on watch saw a mattress was type written, the latter being headed and some blankets floating in the water, and Beware, Beware, Beware." The letters were later he saw several pieces of wood. He re- sent from Hongkong and professed to be writ- marked to the captain that there had evidently ten by a Chinaman recently returned from a been a wreck, and a sharp look out was con- visit to Canton. Whether the affair was in- sequently kept. It is satisfactary to learn, tended as a hoax, or whether the writer was an however, that the crew of the Spondilus have agent of the Canton Government who took this arrived at Singapore, The steamer Germania, method of securing the presence of foreign war- which arrived from Saigon on the 11th March, vessels, or the letters had some other motive However, will probably never be known. saw them picked up by the P. & O. steamer Borneo, and telegraphic advice of their arrival at Singapore has been received.
I have communicated this matter to the British Consul at Canton, requesting him to report it to the Viceroy. I have now received a copy of a despatch reprimanding the said Colonel, and I now issue this proclamation with the re- primand attached. My object in so doing is to let all people know that the power of the Government is supreme and that no one can entrench upon it. The Viceroy's despatch re- primanding the Colonel is as follows :~~
44
I have received a despatch from the British Consul informing me that a complaint has been received from H.E. the Governor of Hongkong that on the occasion of the opening of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce at Hongkong the Colonel in official robes went over to take the leading part in the ceremony. But Hongkong is a British possession, and the Colonel's going over to represent the Chinese in the ceremony was most improper. It is my duty to re- primand him and he is hereby reprimanded accordingly and informed that if in future he interferes with any of the affairs of Hongkong he will be dismissed. Let him not disobey."
THE LOSS OF THE " SPUNDILUS." There can be no doubt that the vessel which was wrecked on Cape Varela is the tank steamer Spondilus and she has no doubt by this time become a total loss. The German steamer Holstein, from Singapore, arrived in Hongkong | on the 10 March and from information gathered on board we learn that the Spondilus was seen on the rocks on Friday evening. The Holstein was then about two ships' length off and it could be plainly seen that the vessel had been
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THE LOSS OF THE “HUMBER.” The crew of the steamer Humber, which was wrecked on Sand Island on the 1st inst, arrived in Hongkong by the Hailong from Amoy. At the time of the accident the Humber was on her way from Yokohama to Flume, Austria, with a cargo of rice. She left Yoko hama on the 27th February, and the weather was throughout very thick and observations could not be taken. On the morning of the 1st inst. a dense fog was encountered and about seven o'clock the vessel struck a rock on Sand Island and a huge hole was made in her bat- tom. Water rushed into the hold and in a very few minutes it contained fourteen feet of water. The crew put off in boats and went to Fisher Island and then to Makung Harbour. The crew waited here five or six days, when they were taken on board H.M.S. Plorer and conveyed to Amoy, where they transferred to the Hailoong. Before leaving Amoy an official inquiry was held respecting the loss of the ship, which became a total wreck in two days, and the captain and officers were exonerated from
all blame.
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were the only indication of trouble they and apparently were not thought worthy of much consideration. So far all seems quiet and likely to remain so, The only quarter in which there appears to be the faintest sug. gestion of disturbance is in connection with the clearing of, the Shameen Canal. It is said the shops along the Canal Road facing Shameen, although they have no right what-
ever
to do so, lease their frontages to the boats lying in the canal and that they are now instigating the boatpeople to resist being moved. The officials seem half-hearted about tackling the work, and this may have had some- thing to do with the letters above mentioned. It has been decided to dig out the canal iu sections and only the boats in one section at a time are to be moved.
MARINE OF COURT INQUIRY.
:
VAGUE CHARGES AGAINST A SECOND OFFICER. On the 16th March a Marine Court of In- quiry was held at the Harbour Master's office to investigate certain charges of misconduct brought against P. J. Donovan, second mate of the British steamship Chittagong, official number 86,878, of London, by Oliver Davey, master of the vessel.
The Court was constituted as follows-Hon.
THE DISPOSAL OF The bodies OF Commander R. Murray Rumsey, R.N. (Stipen-
PLAGUE FICTIMS.
Some gruesome tales are in circulation with reference to the occasional disposal of the bodies of persons who have died of lagne. The following appear to be authentic. Last Sunday week a box, carefully matted, was put on board a steamer at Hongkong, the contents being declared as sharkfins. On arrival at Canton a female passenger claimed it and de- clared the contents to be her dead son, a boy of thirteen or fourteen, a victim of the plague. The box was of course released at once and the Customs made no difficulty about its removal without going through the form of examining the contents. On the previous Saturday the contents of a new camphorwood box taken on board another steamer by a passenger were found to be a dead man, another victim of the plague. In this case, it is said, the man was alive when put in the box. After the steamer left the wharf the box was opened, but the man was then dead. On arrival at Canton an inquisitive and not easily satisfied Customs officer examined the box and found the contents to be a dead man as stated. In both these cases there is little doubt the box and caso will be used again to pack clothes or goods in, and may form a deadly instrument in spreading the plague.
A mint for the coinage of silver dollars is to be established soon in the province of Chokiang, We hear that another case arrived at Canton a few days ago from Hongkong which on being opened was found to contain the corpse of a plague victim.
Mr. Den Kenjiro chief of the Communica tions Bureau, was to leave Tokyo for Europe on the 3rd March to attend the International Telegraph Conference.
diary Magistrate), Commander Kepplewade, H.M.S. Centurion, Mr. G. A. Lee, master of the British steamship Empress of Japan, Mr. J. Spence, master of the British steamship Lightning, and Mr. H. A. Matyer, master of the British steamship Anjer Head.
Mr. Dennis represented the second mate. The captain's letter applying for the appoint- ment of a Court was read.
Captain Davey said-I am master of the British steamship Chittagong. The second mate has been on the articles of the ship since 14th January, 1895. On the return voyage from America in July last year
The Stipendiary Magistrate-Do you wish to go back as far as that?
Witness-Yes. On the 10th July the de- fendant was put off duty because he was insolent to me on the bridge.
The Stipendiary Magistrate-You must not expect the Court to come here and hear generalities like that; you must go into details. Did you make an entry in the log?.
Witness Yes. (Log produced). On the 21st February last he refused to perform his duty. On the 12th February I asked him if he had secured some dunnage and he said it ought to have been done long ago, besides using other insolent language.
: The Stipendiary Magistrate You have brought a charge against the second mate and you have not given details. You cannot expect people who are not acquainted with the circum- stances to form any opinion simply on what you have told us now. We do not know anything at all about the circumstances. Do you propose. to go into more details about the charges?
Witness-The insolence was continuous throughout the voyage.
The President-Yes, but what you in your posi- tion as captain might consider as insolent might
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