September 24, 1896.]
PRISON TREATMENT AT HONG- 8
KONG AND SINGAPORE CONTRASTED.
A correspondent writes to the Straits Time as follows:
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE WELSBÀCH BURNER AT SINGAI ORE.
The Singapore Municipality has adopted a new lighting contract with the Gas Company for two years. It had been left to the Presi dent and Engineer of the Municipality to arrange terms with the Manager of the Gas Company, and ata meeting of the Commissioners held on the 9th September the terms so arranged were submitted and approved.
In the course of his statement the President said-Then there was the delicate matter of the incandescent light. Mr. Ford showed them the correspondence between the Company and the patentees of the light at home, which left no doubt that it was impossible for the Gas Com- pany, under the present circumstances, to do justice to the incandescent light here. The cost of the lamp and of its upkeep were so great that all the saving in the consumption of gas was absorbed. They had, therefore, waived the clause relating to these burners; but, if the Commissioners chose to adopt the burners themselves, purchase them, and maintain them, the company would supply the gas.
As compared with those incarcerated in the gaol at Hongkong, the prisoners in the Singa- pore establishment receive far better treatment and have happier times than those in the sister colony, and this, no doubt, is the reason why the number in Hongkong hardly ever exceeds five or six hundred at the most, whilst in Singapore the general average, as a rule, is between eight and nine hundred prisoners. The secret, if it can be called a secret, lies in the fact that the prisoners here are tolerably well fed whilst those at Hongkong-that is, those undergoing short sentences, six months and under-fare somewhat badly, having just suffi- cient served out to them to keep body and soul together, and nothing more. Two meals per diem is the bill of fare, with a pint of congee at mid-day; the meals consist of rice, which, by its colour and quality, may be more pro- perly termed paddy, with a couple of ounces of fish or vegetables five days a week. On Mr. Shelford, speaking ou the same subject, Saturdays and Sundays, which are termed said-There seemed to have been a good deal of punishment diet days; when no labour is per- misapprehension as to the Welsbach light. He formed, the short sentence prisoners, European stated on a previous occasion that the light and Chinese alike, are regaled on plain boiled had proved unsatisfactory-in its results, of rice and cold water. Yet notwithstanding this course--and he was prepared to re-affirm that not over elaborate menu, the prisoners seem to statement. It was quite true that in the Ad- thrive upon it, and the death-rate in the Hong- ministration Report for last year the Acting kong gaol is much lower as compared with that Engineer showed a very large saring of gas in Singapore. It must not be understood for a by the burners; but against that large saving moment that the prisoners here are over-fed, of gas there was a very great increase of but that they fare better both as regards quality cost in the light. The cost of the gas lamp and quantity is well known. There are no
under the present contract was $37.25. By punishment diet days, the same as in Hong- using the Welsbach lamp they saved $17.07 kong, unless it is to those undergoing solitary bringing the cost down to $20.18. But then confinement for breach of prison rules. The the Welsbach lamp cost $26.40, bringing the rattan is sparingly used, whilst in the sister total to $46.18, as against $37.25, being an in- colony scarcely a day passes without some five, crease of $9.34 per lamp. The consumption six, or more prisoners tasting of its quality for of gas had been somewhat greater than it very simple offences. The aim of the authori- might otherwise have been, owing to the lamp ties there, it would seem, is to make the place having been interfered with by the weather as hot for the prisoners as it can possibly be and other causes. Reference had been made made, without being unnecessarily harsh, in to Bombay. The Engineer, in order to deter the inmates from looking previously presented, showed distinctly that a report upon the establishment #8 boarding- instead of an increase in Bombay there had house or hotel. Here, in Singapore, though been an actual saving of about 13 rupees many of the prisoners are dead a lamp, equal to $6,84, as against an extra cost than alive (from the effects of opium-smok-in Singapore of $9.34. The upkeep in Bombay ing and other causes) when entering the prison had been $7.10, whereas on the most modified gates, yet they are so well treated that six out terms in Singapore it would be $14.28.
In of seven on release merely take a bit of a Bombay, at the end of four years they would stroll around the town, visit a few old friends, have paid for the cost of the lamp, and there- and commit another offence, in order to be after 13 rupees monthly per lamp would be sent back again to the Pearl's Hill Sana- saved. If they, however, were to adopt the torium. It is as well, perhaps, to temper principle adopted in Bombay, they would not justice with mercy, but, like everything else, be able to recover the cost under about 20 years. it may be overdone; and it is thought, in order to thin the over-increasing numbers of criminals, who are evidently fond of prison life, that some more severe code of punish- ment is needed, especially with those prisoners having a record of many convictions and who have spent years of their lives in gaol:
饔
more
FREIGHT AND WAGES IN JAPAN.
The continued fall in the rates of freight is the cause of much anxiety to small owners en- gaged in the coasting trade. At present the freight on fish guano between Tokyo and Otarn -is only 35 yen per 100 koku; on rice between Tokyo and Hyogo 15 yen for the same quantity; while the freight on coal hetween Tokyo and Moji is 85 sen per ton. The keen competition prevailing among. shipowners also leads to dis. counts on these rates. It is evident that ship- owners must be experiencing considerable diffi- culty in making both ends meet. The sudden increase in the merchant marine of Japan has ansed so much competition among shipowners at a Japanese captain who drew at most 40 yen per month before the war will not accept less than 100 to 150 yen now. For similar reasons an increase has been made in wages of sailors and stokers, rates rising from 5 or 6 to 15 yen Japan Mail.
was the Russian cruiser -Koretz, not the flag ship Pamiat Azova, that recently went between Gensan and Vladivostock.
Under the circumstances, he ventured to re- peat that the Welsbach light, as tried in Singapore, had not been satisfactory.
It is explained that the reason the Welsbach burner was not a success at Singapore is that owing to the Municipality being unwilling to incur any initial expense the delicate Welsbach appliances had to be fitted to the ordinary street lamps, which were eminently unsuited for this purpose, being neither rain, nor dust, nor insect-proof, and shaking every time & carriage passes.
HONGKONG.
We at length know for a certainty that the rebellion in the Philippines is of the most se- rious character, the latest information showing that the country is in a dire state of insurrec- tion. On Saturday the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce held a meeting to protest against the recent increase in telegraph charges. Vigorous speeches were delivered on the subject and important resolutions passed. The Cham- ber, then re-elected Hon. T. H. Whitehead as their representative on the Legislative Council. There was a double murder in the colony Saturday night and two men, one of whom has confessed, were arrested. Heavy rains have fallen lately and the reservoirs are now over- flowing.
⚫on
The promotion is gazetted of Lieut. W. C. M, Woodcook, Wing Commander, Hongkong Regiment, to be captain.
The report of the Director of the Observatory, for 1895 is published in Saturday's Gazette: ---- There were 1,765 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 144 were Eu- ropeans.
Lieut. A. J. R. Greene, R.A., arrived on the 18th September from Singapore by the P. and O. steamer Pekin to join the Hongkong Garrison.
An inmate of a Square Street brothel was drugged by a man on Saturday night and then robbed of jewellery of the value of $30. The police are anxious to find the man.
Commodore Boyes struck his broad pennant at sunset on the 17th September and that of Commodore Hollond was hoisted at 8 a.m. on the 18th. Commodore Boyes sailed on Tuesday in the Peru.
Manager at Raub details the crushing results The following telegram from the Mining for the last two months-Crushing finished, 2,030 tons stone realized 1,176 ozs. smelted gold; prospects remain unchanged.
On the arrival of the P. & O. steamer Shanghai on the 17th September from Shang- hai she went into quarantine, but was released during the day. A man had died on board from cholera on the passage down. The body was buried at sea.
Taitam reservoir is now fall to overflowing, a condition it has not been in since its extension. Pokfulam reservoir is of course also running ensuing dry season is practically assured. Since over, so that a continuous water supply for the Monday last 5.54 inches of rain fell in the colony.
A rather brutal assault was dealt with by the Magistrate on the 16th September. Two men at- tacked a washerman who keeps a shop in Queen's Road, simply because a box which they wanted was in Jervois Street and "it was too far to fetch it." The washerman was badly beaten and one of his eyes was seriously damaged. One man was sent to gaol for four months and the other for two months with hard labour.
A Chinese passenger on board the Fatshan had his pockets picked on the 18th September dur- ing the voyage to Hongkong. He was relieved suspicions were directed to one man and when of his purse and the money it contained. His
he arrived at Hongkong he informed the police and gave them a description of the man he suspected. A detective went on board, found the man, and searched him. The identical purse was found in his possession, and he was accord- ingly arrested and charged with the theft. At the Magistracy yesterday he was sent to gaol for six weeks.
Gambling appears to be rife at West Point. Another raid was made on a licensed lodging house in that locality by a party of police under Inspector Hennessy and Sergeant Moffat on men, including the two masters of the house, Wednesday evening. They found eighteen
playing the game of pakan. They were all arrested and brought before the Magistrate on the 17th September. The two masters were fined $50 each with the alternative of two months' imprisonment, and each of the other defendants was ordered to pay $3 or receive fourteen days.
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At Nagasaki on the 7th September the United States Marshal arrested a passenger in the European steerage of the steamer China, who, it appears, is the companion of the man recently arrested charged with desertion and the theft of $1,000 from the U.S.S. Boston, The man, whose name is Hennessey, was travelling under the alias of Wm. Hunter, had come from Hongkong, and was booked for San Francisco. He came ashore on Sunday, night (6th), got drunk, and said his name was Hennessey, which admission led to his arrest Nagasaki Express..
At a Marine Court held at the Harbour Mas ter's Office on Monday, Commander R. Murray, Rumsey presiding, F. Morgan, steward's store, asf keeper on board the Empress of Japan, charged with absenting himself from his ship Charles Seal, the chief officer who prosecu whilst lying in this harbour on the 17th inst
on behalf of the captain, stated that it was ported to him that defendant was absent the ship on the 17th inst. without p On the 19th he was brought on boar of a constable. Commander Rumsey se the defendant to three days hard labour,
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