-36
TIENTSIN.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.J
Tientsin, Jubilee Eve. The re-opening and dedication of the French Cathedral in the native city took place this morning in perfect calm, but in most unpropi tious weather. This event has been looked forward to with considerable anxiety by the native high officials, as the turbulent elements in the city have been breathing slaughter and destruction for months, and have been oracu-
larly expressing their intention not to permit it The great edifice, on a commanding site at the junction of the Grand Canal with the Peibo, has a great history. Its demolition was the first thing effected in the paroxysm of reli- gious fury which broke out in 1870 and which culminated in the massacre of the Sisters and eventful date, it has stood there gutted and roofless in weird desolation, a horrid memento of a ruthless crime. For twenty-seven years the Lazarist Fathers have focussed their many benevolances in the French Settlement. Το many there has seemed inadequate reason for restoring the building and reviving the fana- tical displeasure of the Tientsinese. Some ascribe the restoration to a desire of M. Gerard to revive French prestige in the North. but as the scheme has had the warm approval of Pere Favier-probably the ablest, most cautious, and most far-seeing missionary in China--it would be well to suspend adverse judgment.
the French Roman Catholics. Ever since that
It is understood here that the most urgent whips were issued from Peking to the Provincial authorities to maintain order, and they were told that condign and prompt punishment would be meted out to all if a contretemps oc- curred. During the last few days, strong mili- tary patrols have been seen in the streets, and several battalions of the best available infantry were held in readiness for any emergency. The opening ceremony was fixed for June 21st, and as fortune or sedition would have it, the date coincided with an intense public excitement about kidnapping." It would not be too much to say that for the last month the Tientsin natives have been panic-stricken on this account. The most incredible stories have been current as to the culpability of the Catholics in particular, and the foreigners in general. There is no doubt that political malcontents have gladly seized this opportunity to try and make mischief, but happily up to date all has ended well.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Roughly 85 of these are married men, the same number married women, a rather larger num. ber bachelors. The children approximate to these are 200. Of course a large number resident in outlying mission stations. We have subscribed Tls. 9,000 for a General Hospital and Nurse's Institute. We Britishers have built it and presented it to the community as a lasting memorial of the Good Queen- Empress; but we hope to have our neighbours' support in its permanent maintenance. Peking has co-operated with us handsomely in this beneficence. Then $1,200 have been subscribed for the purpose of decoration and festivity to-morrow; this is exclusive of a banquet (say $600 more).
The programme consists of (1) Foundation of Victoria Hospital (Masonic honours), (2) Placing the memorial stone of the Anderson Pavilion in the Recreation Ground (Masonic honours) (3) Children's fete, (4) Gymkhana in the Re- creation Ground, (5) Banquet, (6) Illuminations and fireworks. Bacchus and music are to be liberally dispensed all day, and all the hongs and public buildings are beautified. Under the unstable position of affairs in the city, the Chinese are not to be admitted into the Settle- ment at all, but we hope by the help of our foreign neighbours to make a brave show with-
out their aid.
Mr. Detring leaves Tientsin for Europe to-
morrow.
CANTON NOTES.
[July 7, 1897:
The Hongkong Electric Co., Limited, notifies a final call of $2 a share, payable on the 9th August.
A dissolation of the partnership of Gande, Price & Co., is announced. The Shanghai - business will be continued by Mr. J. W. Gande under the style of J. W. Gande & Co., and the Hongkong business by Mr. Herbert Price, trading as H. Price & Co."
Messrs. John D. Humphreys & Son, General Managers of Olivers Freehold Mines, Limited, inform us that they have received the following telegram from Australia:-"Eureka 150 tons yielded half-an-ounce to the ton. Additional and improved milling machinery ordered as directed."
The London Gazette hus the following noti- fication:-The Hongkong Regiment. The fol. lowing Lieutenants of the Indian Staff Corps to be Wing Officers-Hugh S. Moberly, in succession to Captain W. C. M. Woodcock, I.S.C., and A. L. Barrett, vice Captain MacC. R. E. Ray, 1.8.C.
The Hon. Treasurer of the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals begs to acknowledge with thanks the following donations to the funds of the Hospitals
Poultry Guild Hi Choo
$40 20
At the Magistracy on 1st inst, Capt. Webster. of the steamship Glenturret, was fined $25 for discharging kerosine at the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf & Godown Company's Wharf. The charge was proved by Inspector Hanson, who said there were 310 cases, of kerosine on board. The defendant said that after dis- charging cartridges in the man-of-war anchor- age he went to the wharf in the ordinary way, but he did not know the kerosine was on board, as he did not see it shipped.
[FROM THE *CHUNG NGOI SAN PO.” The pawn-shops, which went on strike, as already reported, on account of the arrogant and extortionate behaviour of a Bannerman named Ku Tsun-yung, resumed their business H.E. the Governor has given his assent, in on the 28th ultimo, the Bannerman having the name and on behalf of the Queen, to the been sentenced by the local Magistrate to six Ordinance authorising the appropriation of a years' imprisonment and the officers having further supplementary sum of $900 to defray promised to do their best to put a stop to the the charges of the year 1895, and an Ordinance annoyance caused by the Banner people. The to give effect to the change in the name and Viceroy has memorialised the Throne stating style of the office heretofore known as that of how unruly the Banner people have been lately. the Colonial Surgeon. In reference to the Owing to the late heavy rains, the West River latter, it is also notified that the office of in Namhoi, Suntak, Samsui, Sanoi, and Hok- Colonial Surgeon has been abolished and the shan districts is ten feet higher than usual and office of Principal Civil Medical Officer sub- the rice crops in these districts have been dam-stituted therefore, and that Dr. J. M. At- aged. The streets near the river in Canton are kinson has been appointed Principal Civil flooded at high tide. A village in Si-oi district Medical Officer with effect from the 29th June. has suffered the most. A good many houses have been destroyed and rice crops and fruit trees have been badly damaged.
ex-
The Volunteers had a sad duty to perform on the 1st inst. It was to pay the last tribute of respect to a comrade, the late Bomba- dier J. A. Tuglis,-who died from enteric fever in the Government Civil Hospital on Tuesday night. Considering the necessarily short no- tice the members of the Corps had that the deceased would be buried with military honours As the number of destitutes in the Home for there was an exceedingly good turn out, the The ceremony to-day was chiefly attended by the Blind and the Poor House, which are sup- officers on parade being Major Sir John Car- officials. There were very few laymen of any ported by the Government, has largely increas-rington, Captain Chapman, Lieutenant Wylie, nationality present except naval, military, and ed, the sum allowed by the Government for the and Lieutenant Fullerton, the last named being consular officers. The building has been ud-maintenance of the institutious is not sufficient the only member of the Maxim Gun Company mirably restored and the service was impressive
present. By the kindness of Colonel Gor- officers of the West Yorkshire in the extreme. It is understood the church
don and is not at present to be used for daily congrega-
Regiment, the band of the Regiment, at- tional worship. The presence of the yellow
tended and on the way to the cemetery tiles has as formerly been the subject of much
played Beethoven's funeral march, Handel's adverse native criticism.
Dead March, and Chopin's funeral march. The coffin, on which was the deceased's helmet and side-arms, was covered with the Union Jack and many beautiful wreaths sent by the officers and
There was a strong body of French sailors present to-day and as a large contingent of
A long continued drought has been British blue-jackets are up here for the Jubi-perienced in Lo-li, in Yunping district, and lee we have no fear whatever. The vigilance fears are entertained that the crops will fail if of our Consular authorities and the hearty co- rain does not soon make its appearance there. operation of the native officials have left The natives are beginning to pray for rain. nothing to be desired.
Prince Uohtomsky is understood to have modified his plan of returning via Kalgan and the Desert. His Excellency is expected here this week en route for Vladiwostock. It is asserted that the reason of this change is that he has found the receptivity of Peking official- dom beyond even his most liberal estimates; that he has had to be so lavish in his presents and largesse that he has an insufficiency left for the Mongol Princes and therefore must outflank them. While in Tientsin the Special Envoy manifested a deep interest in the Russo-Chinese educational movement. Besides bestowing handsome rewards on the students and ́liberal · · backsheesh to the underlings he offered Tls. 1,000 as the nucleus of a fund, to found a Mining College under Russian aus pices.
to defray the expenses. His Excellency the Viceroy has therefore given ten thousand dollars out of his own pocket to aid the es- tablishments.
As the price of rice in Canton is exceedingly high, the Sin Hau-kuk Charitable Institution has obtained permission from the Government to send two gunboats named the Fuk-Pon and Nam-mo to the provinces of Hu-Kwang to convey rice back to Canton for sale at low prices.
4
HONGKONG.
All traces of the Jubilee festivities have now disappeared and people have settled down to the normal conditions of life. Very little of im- portance has transpired during the week. On Saturday Mr. J. M. Armstrong, one of the oldest and most respected residents, died, to the deep regret of everyone. On the 1st inst. the Sanitary Board met and after some interesting
|
men,
and it was conveyed to the cemetery on a gun carriage drawn by Volunteers, while the firing party consisted of men drawn from the deceased's detachment. The service was a most impressive one. After the coffin had been lowered into the ground the firing party fired three volleys over the grave and the bugler then sounded The last post" amidst a silence that was most intense in its solemnity. The arrangements were admirably carried out by Captain Chapman, acting Adjutant. We under stand that a movement is on foot to place a memorial stone over the grave of the deceased, who was a few years ago a quarter-master ser-
Danaos a Chinese, however, refused. Timeo discussion passed, by the casting vote of the geant in the Royal Artillery. He was a most-
et dona ferentes.
President, a resolution calling upon subordinate officers in the Board's employ to furnish parti- culars of any private business in which they may be concerned. Bombardier Inglis, of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps, died on the 29th ult. and was buried with military honours on
Our Jubilee festivities are on a modest but effective scale. The splendid generosity, of Hongkong with its fifty or sixty thousand dollars has profoundly impressed us up here. In the district of which Tientsin is the base there are only 480 British subjects in all, Į the 1st inst.
enthusiastic member of the Volunteer Corps. He always did good work on thei
guns and his absence at futura parades will certainly be felt. Yesterday was the first occasion on which a member of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps has been buried with military
honours.
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