2
May 12, 1897.]
A FEW GRIEVANCES,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
have been allowed to draw the reasonable | else beneath their notice. inference from such refusal. But in that the congestion of the traffic at the foot We refer to case the absurdity of the present law wasof Wyndham Street and the absence carried to its utmost extreme, the Chief of any control over it. The congestion is Justice passing an implied censure upon a in large part due to the fact that every police officer for even asking the prisoner public chair that is engaged at this point his name. That is a thing that is done in has to be turned round, and in the act all cases and the only alternative would be of turning it occupies the greater part to brand accused persons in some way and of the width of the narrow street identify them by marks like cattle. It and persons passing at the time have to seems more reasonable that they should be keep a sharp look out to avoid being identified by their names. The rule laid struck by the poles. It would be an down by the Chief Justice, if it be good easy matter to make the chairs stand law, is also excessively absurd.
pointing up the hill, ready to receive pas- sengers, while there is no advantage gained by keeping them pointing in the opposite direction, except that the coolies think they can better attack the prospective fare by rushing at him with the front end of their vehicles. Whenever a chair is engaged at this point it is for the purpose of going up the hill, not for going along Queen's Road, the rickshas having completely cut out the chair traffic in that direction, and it would be conducive to everybody's convenience and comfort and would save the coolies themselves trouble if the chairs were kept pointing in the direction in which the journey has to be made instead of in the opposite direction. superior officers of the police force would of the stand on the Club steps at the Wyndham Street corner some day from a-quarter-to- one until a-quarter-past he would, we think, be convinced of the desirability of making the change suggested.
If one
THE ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN.
367
to guard ourselves against any imputation demand of the home Government but wish on our loyalty. The phrase with slight variations has been used over and over again in the Straits and Hongkong
in con- nection with the military contribution dis- pute. Apart from its associations, how- ever, the expression "yield to none strikes us as being an error in taste;
the use of comparison. Also, seeing that our we can very well express our loyalty without
friends of other nationalities are to be invited to sign the address, the phrase, "that freedom of commerce which distin-
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guishes your Majesty's Government from "all the Governments of the world," might with advantage be omitted, for however favourably impressed residents of other nationalities may be with our liberal com- mercial policy they may not unreasonably object to appending their signature to any implied disparagement of their own Govern- ments. If it be contended that that is not the construction our foreign friends will put upon the passage in question, and if it be also held that the phrase yield to none" is not inadmissible, the address as a whole would still be open to the objection that it is trite, cold, unenthusiastic, and occasion. lacking in the eloquence befitting, the
RENEWED REBELLION IN FORMOSA.
ATTACK ON TWATUȚIA. [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE "DAILY PRESS."]
TAIPER, 8th May. The natives of Formosa become Japanese subjects to-day.
TEA.
With weather such as we have had during the last few days, trying alike to health and temper, it is natural that the voice of the grumbler should be heard in the land. An esteemed correspondent writes suggesting that we should make " a very strong re- mark"-he does not say whether the re- mark should begin with a big big D-as to the dusty state of the roads, especially the Praya and Ice House Street, caused by the building operations now going on, also be- cause lime is allowed to be carried about in open baskets and because coolies are allowed to drag timber along the road, instead of carrying it, so that building contractors save the cost of an extra coolie. The cloud of dust along the Praya at 8 p.m. on Wednes- day, our correspondent says, was some thing thick,” got into one's mouth and eyes, and was in evidence everywhere where win- dows were open. The roads, he suggests, should be watered morning, noon, and night, say 8 p.m., and two things ought to be
The draft of the address to be presented to stopped, namely, carrying lime in open Her Majesty on the occasion of Her Diamond There have been several disturbances outside baskets and dragging timber along the roads. Jubilee will have been perused by the com- and at one o'clock this morning the rebels That street watering should receive proper munity, we think, with some feeling of disap-strongly attacked Twatutia. After heavy firing attention every one will agree, and we com-pointment. There is an absence of all warmth they retreated at 6 a.m. mend the subject to the consideration of of sentiment, and the literary composition
The Twatutis natives remain loyal, the department concerned; but at the same barely reaches the standard of mediocrity. time it must be recognised by the public We would respectfully recommend the Sub-THE UNITED STATES TARIFF ON that it is practically impossible to altogether Committee in charge of the matter to try do away with the dust nuisance when gusty again and see if they cannot produce some- weather follows upon a long season of thing more worthy of the occasion, which is drought.
one that readily lends itself to eloquent treatment. The Victorian era will stand out in English history even more promi- nently and gloriously than the Elizabethan era, and in congratulating Her Majesty on the completion of the sixtieth year of Her reign reference might appro- priately be made to the achievements of that era, as regards national expansion, progress in the arts and sciences, and social advancement. Literary inspiration, we are aware, will not always come at command, but we think that even in Hongkong it ought to be possible on such an occasion as this to produce an address that would more adequately than the one now before us. express the affection in which Her Majesty is held, that would appeal more closely to our national pride, that would make the blood run a little more quickly in our veins and our nerves give a responsive thrill to the expression of noble sentiment. Of all who have read the present draft we venture to say that not one has been in any degree moved by it, unless it be in the direction of dissatisfaction. Not only is the draft unsatisfactory by reason of its omissions. and the inadequate expression it gives to the feelings of the community, but it con- tains two passages to which actual objection may be taken. The phrase "Your Majesty's "subjects resident in Hongkong yield to none in their devotion and loyalty," etc., is not only excessively hackneyed, but it is almost invariably used in controversy, as, for instance, when we are resisting some
As to requiring lime to be carried in covered baskets or boxes and forbidding coolies to drag timber, the demands of our correspondent appear somewhat extreme. In busy towns sniall annoyances must be expected and endured and we cannot have every trifle controlled by rigid regulations. It is on very rare occasions that any sub- stantial annoyance is caused by the carrying of uncovered lime through the streets, while as to requiring that two coolies should be employed to do work that can be performed by one in the removal of timber, merely to save one end of the timber dragging on the ground, reasonable objections might be raised on the point of the increased cost that this would mean in building opera tions. The cost of building has already been increased enormously within the last year or two, and increased cost of building means increased rents. Every item tells in the sum total and if two-coolies had to be employed to do the work of one, con- tractors' bills would be increased pro portionately, for the contractor would not pay the cost of the additional labour out of his own pocket.
While on the subject of minor grievances there is another, to which attention has often been drawn before and which may again be mentioned, though; the mention will probably prove as ineffective as on former occasions, since the matter, though simple, appears to be beyond the intelli- gence or the energy of the police, or
SE
Mr. J. S. Van Buren, Agent of the P. M. Co, and O. & O. Co., courteously informs us that he has received by cable the following in- formation:-"The United States Senate have reported favourably on the proposal to put an The new duty will go into effect on July 1st import duty of ten cents per pound on tea. next."
THE REBELLION IN THE PHILIPPINES.
FURTHER SPANISH SUCCESSES.
We are indebted to Senor Don José de Navarro, the Spanish Consul, for a copy of the following telegram, received from Govern ment House, Manila :-
Manila, 5th May, 6.35 p.m. command of the General-in-Chief, captured In successive victories our troops, under the Buenavista, the fort Quintarra, and the villages of Amadeo, Naig, and Indan, in the province of Cavite. All these places were strongly forti- fied and defended by the rebels, who had 600 men killed and a great number wounded. We ing pardon are every day becoming more took more than 200 prisoners. The rebels ask-
tinued and the result will be wired to you. numerous. The war operations will be con-
The Straits Times says:-Mr. Bibby is expected from Raub shortly, with the gold that may result from the next "clean-up." From Singapore he probably goes to London just in time to see the diamond jubilee. Mr. Bibby's after a very long spell of work; but, no doubt, absence-if he go-will probably be "on leave," it may be arranged that while in London he shall look into the question of electric and mining plant for Raub.
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