378
as to call for the tax, then the Government have neglected their duty, in not dealing with such a glaring want in their administration during the last quarter of a century.
In brief the Government are asking the Legislative Council for a doubtfully necessary blank cheque, drawn on the shipowner, and this matter should engage the careful attention of the Chambers of Commerce and especially of the Hon. T. C. Bogaardt, before it is accepted for debate. In any case it should be insisted upon that if the Government want this money they should get it themselves from the proper person-the coolie and not the shipowner.
LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT.
CHAMPIONSHIP (FINAL.) Gibson beat Farie by three setts to one. There was a large attendance on the ground to witness the match and the players were frequently applauded. The play was charac- terised by hard hitting throughout. At the conclusion H.E. the Governor presented the prizes won in the tournament so- far, and in presenting the championship prize highly com- plimented Mr. Gibson on his magnificent play.
A CLASS SINGLE HANDICAP
(SEMI-FINAL.)
Moberly beat Mayson. Moberly beat Farie (Final.)
PROFESSIONAL PAIRS (SEMI-FINAL.) Mayson and Skelton beat Pellew and
Bartram.
DOUBLE HANDICAP (FINAL).
Platt and Pellew beat Smith and Atkinson. "B" CLASS SINGLE HANDICAP.
· Hume best Wood.
THE HONGKONG, WEEKLY PRESS AND
RUSSIA, JAPAN, AND KOREA.
We take the following Tokyo press des patches from the Kobe Chronicle's translations:--
Tokyo, 27th April.
In reference to the reported engagement of Russian soldiers by the Korean Government, Count Okuma, the Foreign Minister, has issued an instruction to the Ministers at St. Petersburg and Seoul, ordering them to communicate to the Governments of the countries to which they are respectively accredited that although the engagement of Russian soldiers has no direct relation to the Russo-Japanese Convention, yet neither Japan nor Russia may send more | soldiers to Korea than the other. Under these circumstances (whether it be on the application of the King of Korea or not) the dispatch of more soldiers by Russia to Korea is át variance with the spirit of the Convention. Ministers to the two countries are instructed to inquire of the Government of each country if there is any truth in the report.
The
Seoul, 28th April.
It is believed to have been the design of Russia since the arrival here last year of the first Russian officers to send a larger force under pretext of training the Korean army. The Russian Minister is said to have urged on the Korean Minister for War the advisability of obtaining more Russian officers for this purpose, On the 21st inst. a draft contract for the en- gagement of Russian officers was presented to the Foreign Minister and the question was con- sidered by the Cabinet on the following day.
Korean Ministers and officials in the main object to the proposal, but are afraid of op- posing Russia. The Foreign Representatives In Seoul appear to be watching what action
E. D. Mallinson, R.N. beat Grant Smith-Japan will take. 6-4, 6-1.
Z
VETERAN'S SINGLE HANDICAP (FINAL.) Skelton beat Sercombe Smith--6-4, 7-5, 6-4
THE PHILIPPINE LOAN, · The following telegram, dated Madrid, 30th April, appears in the Comercio :—
The Hispano-Colonial Bank, with which negotiations have been proceeding for the issue of a loan of $30,000,000 for the Philippines, requires that the loan should be guaranteed by the Spanish Treasury. The Colonial Council declares that it has no anthority to accede to this demand. Under these circumstances negotiations are being opened with other Banks for the realisation of the loan.
A Madrid telegram to the Comercio dated 3rd May states that all negotiations with re- ference to the proposed Philippine loan have been suspended. Until the Chambers authorise the issue of the loan the Banco de Espano will provide the necessary accommodation,
THE BOUNTY ON THE DIRECT EXPORT OF RAW SILK FROM JAPAN.
Mr. O. Keil, Secretary of the Yokohama Ge- neral Chamber of Commerce, writes us under date of 28th April as follows:-
With reference to my communication of April
• 12th, regarding this Chamber's protest against the bounty on raw silk exported by Japanese subjects direct, I am instructed by my Com- mittee to inform you that the Doyen of the Foreign Representatives at Tokyo has replied thereto :-
Tokyo, 29th April.
The Foreign Office has received replies from both the Japanese Minister at St. Petersburg and the Japanese Minister at Seoul to inquiries respecting the proposed engagement of more Russian officers by the Korean Government.
The Minister at St. Petersburg says he is informed that the Russian Government last year agreed that a certain number of officers should be lent to Korea in order that the Korean army might be reorganised, the application coming from the Korean Ambassador who at. tended the Tsar's coronation. But since that time the situation has changed, and it is not the wish of the Russian Government to do any thing that may endanger the peace of the Orient.
The Japanese Minister at Seoul states that he is informed the agreement with Russia to engage more Russian officers was made some time ago, and that as there is no occasion now for fulfill ing the contract, the agreement will not be car- ried into effect unless Russia presses the matter. It is reported that the Japanese Government will conclude a more detailed Convention with Russia, in order to avoid trouble that may pos- sibly arise in connection with the dispatch of military officers and men to Korea from either country.
SIR CLAUDE MACDONALD'S VISIT TO FOOCHOW,
"2
[May 12, 1897. THE DIATH BY DROWNING OF THE REV. J. S. COLLINS.
Foochow, 1st May,
The telegraphed news last week of the death by drowning of the Rev. James S. Collins, of the C.M.S., has, we regret to say, been con- firmed. The sad occurrence took place on According to the Tuesday, the 20th ulto. account received he had taken a passage in a rice-boat on his way from Yong Ping to Kucheng. The large steering oar of the boat broke in passing down one of the rapids and the craft becoming unmanageable Mr. Collins jumped into the river. Good swimmer though he was he was unable to cope with the strength of the stream and was seen to sink. The body was recovered several miles lower down the river and was brought to Fooehow. An inquest was held on Wednesday morning, which, however, after viewing the body and investigat ing the circumstances attending the death as far as possible, was adjourned until further witnesses could be present at it.
The funeral of the late Rev. James S. Collins took place at noon on Wednesday, at the Foo- chow Cemetery. It was very largely attended, and besides foreigners there were quite a number of native converts of both sexes present. The burial service was impressively read by the Ven. Archdeacon Wolfe and the Rev. L. Lloyd. Before leaving the chapel the beautiful hymn "Peace, perfect peace" was sung--and after the inter- ment the native converts, led by the mission- aries, sang a hymn in Chinese. Before the final close of the service the Archdeacon ad- dressed the natives in their own language and it was pleasing to notice the marked attention paid to and interest taken in the Archdeacon's words. The solemn service was brought to a olose with the benediction. There were in- numerable wreaths on and around the coffin brought by sympathising friends.-Echo.
ANOTHER CHINESE - LOAN.
The following telegrams appear in Japan papers :-
Peking, 27th April. The Chinese Government, acting through Li Hung-chang, has entered into negotiations with an English mercantile house for a loan, with a view to paying in a lump sum the balance of the indemnity due to Japan. The negotiations are almost complete. German financial representa- tives have offered to float a loan, but the Chinese Government evades the offer.
Tokyo, 29th April. The Chinese Government is very anxious to have the Japanese troops at Wei-hai-wei with- drawn, and the Japanese Government, desiring to be on terms of friendship with China, has agreed to the suggestion on condition that the Chinese Government pay in a lump sum the balance of the indemnity due to Japan. The Chinese Government has accepted this sugges- tion and is taking steps to comply with the condition.
OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICES OF THE REV. GILBERT KEID.
The following gratifying testimonial was presented by H.E. Li Hung-chang to the Rev. Gilbert Reid a few days before he left Peking
on his return to America :~~
Foochow, 1st May. The event of the week has been the visit of Sir Claude MacDonald to this port. He arrived on Monday, the 26th inst., in ́H.M.S. Humber and' was met at the Pagoda by Mr. Consul
Peking, China, 12th April, 1897. Carles and Mr. Vice-Consul Joly. The fol- To Rev. Gilbert Reid, Founder of the Mission lowing morning at an early hour he re-
to the Upper Classes of China, Peking, That the Foreign Representatives do notceived the Committee of the Chamber of Dear Sir, Having on various occasions consider that it would be expedient, under ex- Commerce and was subsequently "at home gladly shown my interest in the good work isting Treaties, for them, as a body, to make to callers until luncheon time. In the recently organised by you among the educated any representation whatever to His Imperial afternoon, accompanied by Consul Carles and and official classes of China, through whom the Japanese Majesty's Government in regard to attended by his two secretaries and two naval masses may be readily enlightened by means of the matter."
officers, His Excellency called on the Vi- Western knowledge; and knowing also of the ceroy, which, owing to the distance of the many years of self-denying labour you have yamen from the Consulate, occupied the rest devoted to the welfare of the people in various of the day. On Wednesday morning His Ex-parts of China,-it is with much pleasure that cellency received the return visit of the Viceroy, I offer you this testimony on the eve of your and later in that day he started to see something departure for the United States. of the beauty of the Yuenfoo branch of the river before embarking again in the Humber.
Individual replies from most of the Foreign Re- presentatives state that they will give the mat- ter their fullest attention.
The proposed measure has now become Law, having received the Imperial sanction on April 22nd; but no details have yet been settled as to either the amount of the subsidy or the manner in which it is to be given.
These details are left to be settled by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Com-
merce,
The Humber went to sea yesterday, bound for Shanghai. It is certain that our distinguished visitor left the most favourable impressions be- hind him here.-Echo,
|
I have admired the bold and tireless energy with which you have faced the difficulties of your present task. It is unfortunately true, that suspicion, prejudice, and self-sufficiency are peculiar traits of educated Chinese, especially noticeable in their estimation of other
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