·
September 2, 1896.1
The Rifle Brigade concluded their birthday celebration by giving a concert in the City Hall on the evening of the 25th August. It is questionable whether at any previous time in its history the theatre was so densely packed and the enthusiasm of the audience so hearty and sustained as on this occasion. Quite two hundred people could not find geats, and yet at the finish everyone seemed loth to leave, not- withstanding the heated atmosphere. The programme was worthy of the memorable occasion, and the artistes were appreciated so much that many encores had to be given. We congratulate the Brigade upon the possession of such an abundance of musical talent, and the ladies and gentlemen who assisted the soldiers well deserved the loud bursts of applause awarded them. The artists were Mrs: Vallings, Mrs. Norcott, Mr. C. H. Grace, Private Lang (who is another Brady), Sergeant Smyth, Mr. A. H. Grayson. Mr. J. H. Thresher, Privates Pinching, Newman, and Payce, Mr. A Bannerman, and Mr. C. T. Robinson. The Band of the Brigade gave pleasing selections of music in their customary style, and Private Libbons ably acted as accompanist.
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT).
28th August. Very sad news has been received from Timor. A few days ago a telegram arrived saying that the Portuguese had occupied the village of Cotubaba and Balibo and would continue to attack Sauir and Fatumean. Yesterday another telegram was received saying there had been three deaths and forty-seven wounded and asking for money and war material. Over here no one knows what are the ideas of the Gov. ernor of Timor with reference to the natives. Since he took over the government there has been constant war, a constant drawing of money from the Macao treasury, constant requests for a man-of-war, war material, soldiers, officers, &c. It is sad indeed to see such a large amount of our money being spent ou such a useless country, a country in the hands of a man who seems to think that the only way he can secure the respect and affection of the natives for the ruling nation is by wag- ing constant War upon them, the
only result of which will be to make the natives hate everything Portuguese. War is some- times necessary, but not such a war as that which has so long been going on in Timor, which has already ruined the island, thrown the coffee plantations ont of cultivation, and driven the natives to seek protection in Dutch Timor. The Lisbon Government should take note of the way the Governor of Timor is acting and recall him.
The island of Timor could be made to yield a good revenue, but if this is to be brought about Portugal must send out an able Governor, one who would know how to induce the natives to work and make the island prosperous, one who would take measures for their education and civilisation.
The gunboat Diu arrived here yesterday morning from Singapore, which port she left on the 20th nltimo. She will shortly go to your port for cleaning and repairs.
I hear that a meeting was held last Saturday in connection with the affairs of the Lycen National. It seems that this educational establishment is going from bad to worse, and great differences have arisen among the professors. These professors will be the ruin of the school and the parties who will have to suffer will be the boys and girls of Macao, The Government is spending a great deal of money to keep up this school, but it should be strictly laid down that one professor should never take more than two classes, as he cannot attend to more. At the Lyceu, however, while some have only one class the Principal has no less than four, and he
he has moreover, many Government duties to attend to outside, besides having an engagement with the Chinese Imperial Cus. toms. People justly ask if one man can discharge so many diverse duties.
The repair of the Praya wall and roadway makes practically no progress and it looks as though the wall would be left in ruins like the San Domingo Market.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REFURT.
3. M
CANTON NOTES.
| FROM THE "CHUNG NGOI SAN FO." | A new standard was established in front of the yamen of the Viceroy on the 23rd instant in place of the old one, which was broken down during the late typhoon on the 29th ultimo. All the officials were there to witness the sight and some ceremonies were performed in celebra- tion of the new standard.
185
these
The preparations for opening the Australian line of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha have been completed, and the service is expected to be started by the Kinshu maru in October next. The Nagasaki Shipping List Bays.
The steamer Porro has now been handed over to her new owners, the Mitsu Bishi Company, whil the Wing Hong and Bonnington are now flying. the Japanese flag. The Tai-yick is, we under stand, to be transferred to the Osaka Shosen Kai- A fire broke out on the 21st instant at 9sha in a day or two. The new names of p.m. in the theatre in the village near Pon- vessels have not reached us as yet. tong. On the report of the fire the people were greatly frightened. Some broke their legs by jumping from the benches to the ground and some were knocked down by the rush of the people. Over one hundred persons were severely injured, but fortunately no life was lost. The fire was extinguished without diffi- culty by the actors and the damage was small. The cause of the fire was the upsetting of a kerosine lamp.
The Viceroy has sent a weiynen to Kuchow to report as to the damages caused by the typhoon on the 4th instant.
On the 18th instant a junk which was sailing from Shekloong to Canton was robbed near Sap-taz-au. The junk was heavily laden with silk. Some robbers boarded her as passengers before her departure and when she was sailing near Sap-taz-au, two boats were rowed up to her. The robbers who were in the junk then drew out their revolvers and fatally shot the master of the junk. The other robbers from the two boats also boarded the junk and they then took away all the valuables from the pas sengers and the junk to the value of over ten thousand dollars.
The flower-boats which were recently driven away by the local officers now anchor at the same place as usual.
H.E. Chang Pat-sz, Consul-General at Sin gapore, arrived at Canton on the 25th instant. After arrival His Excellency went to pay his respects to the Viceroy and the Governor. It is said that he will soon leave Canton for Peking to help to build the Peking and Hankow rail- way.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Mr. Julius Neumann, of the I.M. Customs, who has been acting as Professor of German in the Tungwêukuan at Peking, is now on his way to take up the post of Aoting Commissioner of Customs at Shasi.
Arrangements are being made, we learn from the Free Press, to tow to Singapore the Amer ican ship Lillian L. Robbins, which put into Saigon dismasted in December last, after en countering a severe typhoon. She has been lying at Cape St. James ever since, and is now to be brought to Singapore for repairs.
Among the samples analysed by Dr. Bott, of Singapore, last year, was one of wine (hock) produced in China, where large vineyards have been started by certain Singapore residents. The wine, though young, was of good quality, and appears to have a fair chance of successful competition with the brands now imported from Europe.
The first European child was born at Kuling, the new health resort on the mountains near, Kiukiang, on Tuesday, 18th Angust. There are sixty Europeans now enjoying the cool temperature there. The lowest reading of the thermometer was on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, 19th and 20th, when it fell to sixty-one degrees. The highest reading of the thermometer there this summer was 81- degrees. Mercury.
The Jiji says that the Japanese authorities in Formosa have established a system of medical inspection of fallen women, Japanese and others, for checking the spread of disease. The in- spection is of course carried out by Japanese officials. In consequence, two Chinese girls. have drowned themselves in the Tamsui river, two have poisoned themselves with opium, and many have left the country. Only fifty or sixty Chinese girls remain, willing to submit to the regulation.
The N. C. Daily News says: The native papers have given currency to a rumour that certain Japanese have employed a native to ap- pear on their behalf for the purchase of some 130 mow of land on the Pootung side. There, it is said, will be built a number of steamer wharves for river and ocean going steamers to run between Shanghai and Yangtze ports, and Shanghai and the coast poris. Also on the Soochow creek will be built a pontoon for a Japanese Steam Launch Company with twelve launches to run between Shanghai, Soochow, and Hangchow.
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COMMERCIAL.
TEA.
EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO GRŽAT BRITAIN.
1896-97
lbs. Canton and Macao.
***... 2,900,904 Shanghai and Hankow.....13,587,568 Foochow
1895-96
Ibe. 3,991,193
13,607,320
5,976,756
22,464,628
7,509,809
25,108,322
EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
Shanghai Amoy... Foochow
1896-97 1805-06
lbs.
Iba. 11,994,717
3,036,356
6,998,012
5,903,381
1,131,222
1,608,219
12,065,590 19,506,313*
EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO
ODESSA.
1896-07 1895-16
bs.
lbs. 26,706,212
According to native despatches received from Hangohow, the first silk filature with foreign Shanghai and lankow ...22,541,381 machinery ever built in that city commenced work on the 15th August. The filature has only sixty odd sets of reeling machines, which are worked by some eighty women specially engaged from Shanghai. The water where the new filature is situated is reported to be specially adapted for making silk thread.-N. C. Dažy News.
EXPORT OF TEA FROM JAPAN TO UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
1896-97
+
A native with rather novel ideas concerning the administration of justice within the Settle- ments was brought before the Mixed Court Magistrate at Shanghai on the 23rd August for having returned from deportation. He appeared most indignant at his arrest, as he said he had paid $60 odd to two of his friends to "square" matters with the Municipal detectives and Mixed Court runners. Fortified with this dodge he had quietly returned, but has by this time very probably lost faith in the effects of a bribe. He was sentenced to deportation a second time, whilst his two trustees. (?) also appeared and received the same punishment with the very considerate addition of 200 blows,
Mercury.
Yokohama.....
Robe
lbs. 15,615,625
1895-96 lbs. 19,829,325 8,399,901 11,180,509
30,959,834
23,819,526
SILK.
SHANGHAI, 27th August(From Mr. A. R. Burkill's circular).-London advices to 25th cur- rent advise a quiet market, and quote Blue Elephant 10/6 and Gold Kilings 8/3. Raw Silk -The market remains very quiet with a small daily business doing and no change in quotations, Tsatlees.-350/400 bales have been booked at quotations below. Offers at anything less do not meet with sellers. Tayssams. About 100 bales have been setted at higher rates. – Coarse Silla are very small indeed Yellow Silks are in good demand, and new mediate market at very per Customs Returns from 20th to 26th are, 717 bales White, 146 piculs Yellow
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