September 15, 1897.]
Captain Superintendent acts judicially no doubt he sits to try some report of neglect of duty or breach of discipline preferred by some Inspector or other third part against some constable. in dealing with which, not being the accuser himself, he is in the indifferent position of any other magistrate. But if the law has constituted a prosecutor-judge tri- bunal, let it be undone. Such a thing may be good enough for Russians or Spaniards or Japanese and perhaps some other great nations, but not for Englishmen nor for Americans. Keep a constant eye on the legislature and you will often do a public service. The tendency here is clearly and constantly to derogate from English standards, so that an Englishman finds himself under a code which is only xcusable as applied to Orientals unaccustomed to freedom. It speaks well for our English officials that they so seldom abuse weapons which ought not to be in their grasp at all.
223
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
useful work. It is all very well in its way the proposer should be told at once that his plan to follow in the crowd and heap cheap abuse is not feasible. It is already three months and on the Chinese Government, interspersed with you have not said anything. Perhaps you look general statements of the neglect of treaty upon me as une quantité negligeable and the right stipulations in the two Kwan provinces.subject of the proposal not worth consideration. What that neglect amounted to, and how the I am a Westerner of not very high standing, my
but exclusion of British goods from the large and rank is only a Commissioner of Customs; fertile delta of the three Canton rivers was have been a resident in China for over 30 years. effected, we for years looked in vain to the and I have been at all the ports, and bave had Hongkong Chamber to discover. The members dealings in commercial matters be th with Chi- of that Chamber have in fact eren more than
nese and foreigners, and wherever I have been I elsewhere in China been in the hands of their have obtained a good reputation, I baye drawn compradores, and the comprodores of Hongkong, the country's pay and have done the country's if not the chief agents in the effectual closing work, which was my duty. At Chefco I of the Chu-kiang, have certainly actively as assisted at the making of the treaty, and I trans- sisted the local officials. That under the cir acted another matter for hinu with regard to cumstances Mr. Andrew's plucky ente prise a certain foreign euntry. I was sent on a should have excited the hostility of the entire mission to settle certain religi a matter which compradorate is bat natural, and equally had been in suspense for many years, and which natural it is that the Chamber, under the I carried through successfully, as well as the influence of this powerful clique, should have the Kuangcheu aû. ir. i was the first one sent used its influence to prese.ve the status quo. to Japan. These arts were all done in obedience There is reform needed in the Colony in other to lmperial Ediets. When these were completed, directions than the Police.-Shanghai Daily the Chinese government gave me sneb recognition Press.
that I was grateful and exerted myself for the goo of the country; I used my strength and mind, but nevertheless, at the end I did not obtain the yelow jacket I received us a favour from the Empero the decoration of the Louble TRANSLATION OF PETITIONS PRESENTED TO Dragon of the 2nd class and the premier button,
In your present crusade for English justice and English methods you will find the true expression of English feeling if you turn to the Colonial Office Rules, Edition of 1894, Regulations 83 to 91 and 96 (d). And. Sir. have you ever considered closely the question MR. DETRING AND THE TSUNGLI whether the local law Ordinance 14 of 1887 does in fact oust the Colonial Regulations?
* RUNNYMEDE. Hongkong, 10th September, 1897.
THE STATE OF THE KOADS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS."
"A Ratepayer" in the Daily Press of yesterday's DEAR SIR,--Referring to the letter signed by issue with regard to the disgraceful state of the upper part of Elgin Street, I would esteem it a favour if you will allow me a small space in your valuable columns to call the attention of the P.W.D. to the disgraceful condition of Bonham Road, a road much more important than the upper part of Elgin Street. How- ever, they both deserve due consideration and ought to be attended to and repaired without delay. These roads have been in their present
state for over a month and yet they do not seem to attract the attention of the P.W.D.
Bonham Road is a continuation of the Caine Road westward and leads to Pokfulam and
YAMEN.
THE PRINCES, GRAND SECRETARIES AND MINISTERS OF THE TSUNGLI YA- MEN BY G. DETRING :-
In the first month I presented a petition. by which the present difficulties may be alle inviting the establishment of a bureau of Mines riated. In advocating this matter there is no question of seeking for any personal advantage. China has now had intercourse with foreign nations for some 50 years. In the West, military, mercantile, agricultural and industrial questions, and handicraits are fostered, for they are considered important to the prosperity of a country and its people. As regards China, in these respects, they are entirely neglected. There is, however, one exception and that is the establishment of the Foreign Maritime Customs. Foreign officials have charge of it and at each port there are branches of the Customs for the collection of the duties on im-
and on this account. I exerted my best powers in the interest of the country to a still greater extent. At the end of last year I returned to China to offer for the constraction of railways and to negotiate loans. China, however, was in foundation for Chin; but upon reaching Shang- a great hurry. My object was to lay a rolid
hai I heard that some-one else was going to construct the railways, on lines totally different from my ideas, and I could not, therefore, offer my plans. I gave Li Chung-tang two letters treating upon the difficulty of borrowing foreign money and recommended a certain party who could manage a loan. I have finished all I have to say on these matters; but in the matter of financing the loan, if the right person is not appointed, it will be like getting a wolf to assist you to bring home a sheep. You may provide everything tempting to induce the sheep to come, but it will not come. Chinese and foreigners alike
Aberdeen, and is a very popular road for ports and exports, all conducted in the Western all agree in denouncing a certain individual.
air
pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians, who will no doubt give me their best support in this matter. This road, like Kennedy and Bowen Roads, is mostly enjoyed by the European community of the colony for their open exercise. I do not suppose the proposed Jubilee Road round the island has caused the P.W.D. to disregard the best existing roads of the colony and overlook their reparation. I think the P.W.D. ought to perform its duties
pro- perly without giving the public a chance to rub caustic in now and then, which doubtless does them a deal of good. I enclose my card and thanking for the insertion of this.—I am, yours -faithfully,
ANOTHER RATEPAYER. Hongkong, 9th September, 1897.
→MR. JOHN ANDREW AND THE
HONGKONG CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE.
Mines
manner, without a single blemish, and yearly im- proving. These constitute a large part of the revenue of the State, and certainly not less than the land tax of the twenty-one pro- vinces. The result of the employment of foreign officials is therefore evident. are very numerous in China, they are richer and more plentiful than in the West. They have been neglected for several thousands of years and have never been opened. At present, although there is little mining going on, it is not that the people in the different provinces have no good systems, it is owing to defects and blemishes. After the late war, the country had to borrow money to pay the war indem nity and a great many plans were devised to meet this object, such as the construction of railways and the like. Without more than a thonsand million taels these things cannot be carried out. The duties can- not be increased. To borrow money is not easy. The products of the mines are the advantages which Heaven sends; why not then think of a good method by which to reap these advantages? If such a large sum is needed, where is it to come from? If any danger to the empire Chambers of commerce like most other human should suddenly arise, there will be nothing to in stitutions have not yet attained to perfection, do but to await death, or allow others to en- and certainly, according to Mr. John Andrew's croach upon the country. Is this not to lose the showing, in the Hongkong Daily Press, that of advantages of one's land? If you wait till the Hongkong is yet a long way off the goal. Mr. advantages and the land are lost. and become Andrew accuses the Chamber of half heartedness conscious of the fuct, it will then be too late.
I have been in the receipt of Customs' pay in the first place and secondly, when Mr. Andrew himself alone and unassisted succeeded in expos- for many years. I have an idea which I offer ing the deliberate breaches of treaty stipnla-you-a plan which will bring with it advantages tions of which the provincial government of the Liangkiang had been guilty, the Chamber not only ignored his exertions in the matter, but when through Mr. Andrew's representations the British Government had at last taken the subject up the Chamber quickly appropriated to itself the whole credit of the transaction and did not even mention Mr. Andrew's name. We might indeed go further the Mr. Andrew and affirm that from beginning to end the Hongkong Chamber has never done a stroke of
A SHANGHAI JOURNAL GIRDS AT THE
CHAMBER.
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He thinks he can secure the assistance of the
high officials; he assumes much responsibility and speaks high-sounding words to the Throne; his language is at entire variance with his acts; be is simply deceiving the Emperor, while the danger of injury is concealed. What I have now said I declare to be the truth.
Formerly Russia was inll of corruptions and errors. The great Peter visited all countries; on returning he borrowed foreign appliances to strengthen his country. The people he selected to assist him, if they were not from England or the United States they were Germans or
French. He used their knowledge to strength- en his country. That country has now becomě large and powerful-there is no country to be compared with it. China has reaped advantage from the Customs and there have been great gesults, end my plan as to mines is that they should be managed like the foreign Customs. In my opinion China is in the position of one in the act of drowning. I wish to save her and establish the dignity of t e country and remedy all its faults. I am r turning very shortly to my own country. I dare not add more words, I am waiting to see China turning from the bad to the good. This is my sincere wish and
am afraid of having said so much.
Having been in China for many years I know that Manchuria and Chihli are exceedingly rich and superior in minerals to other parts of the country. Now that China is labouring under great difficulties, something must be done to remedy the state of affairs. “If you wish `Übina. and no barm. I have already sent you a petition to become wealthy rapidly there is nothing on this matter, setting it forth. I have heard superior to the opening of mines. Hence, at my own ex, ense I have brought out to China from another source that you have seen it and have handed it to the Board of Reveune for with me a distinguished German mining en. consideration. That Board has the administra-gineer, to investigate the regions around Shan- hai-kuan. He reports that to open mines and tion of the country's finances. The present is a time of great difficulty for this Board to pay out develop them, they must be in the proximity monies. Now suddenly there appears on indi of coal mines-the coal is necessary to melt the vidual who proposes a plan which, if adopted, iron-and there malso be speedy mode of If the measure pro- conveyance so that much money need not be must be adopted at once. posed be thought inconvenient and impossible spent on initial expenses. This is the English
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