September 29, 1897.]
ment of Chinese in the Force to the detective branch, in which they are a necessity. But he would have liked to gradually replace all lukongs by Sikhs or Indians, who he declared were worth double as much as policemen and cost little more. Some years back a fine opportunity to commence this process occurred. About sixty lukongs were dismissed for receiv. ing bribes from gambling houses. But Captain Deane, or the Government, with characteristic fatuity, filled their places with sixty other Chinese who probably were within a couple of months in receipt of similar comfortable re- taining fees.
cope
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE EMPRESS DOWAGER AND HER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.
FRANCE AND SIAM.
259
The
CHANTABOON TO BE EVACUATED. The Queen Regent of Siam, says the Siam It is rumoured amongst the local mandarins that the Empress Dowager has refused to accept Fress Press, received an important telegram the Emperor's proposition for a grand celebra- from the King of Siam, immediately after the tion of the anniversary of Her Majesty's 63rd latter's visit to Russia. This message brought birthday this year, which would cost, including word that the Siamese mission had completely the special decorations along a portion of the succeeded at the Russian Court, and that the route between Peking and Ebo Park, Her Czar and his Foreign Minister would use their Majesty's favourite residence, over half-a-million good offices in arranging some of the difficulties taels, as previously noted in these columns. Her between France and Siam. The King's tele- gram to the Queen states that he has good Majesty's objection is the very reasonable one
reason to believe that Chantaboon will be soon that the country cannot afford such extravagance
eracuated by French forces, owing to the in the face of being compelled to borrow money from abroad, and that celebrations of this na-friendly representations of the Czar. ture should take place only when the Empire telegram then goes on to add that Russian in- finence will settle the disputed question of is in a state of both prosperity and peace, and there is also a surplus in the Treasury. But French protection over "Levantines-Greeks, owing to the importunities of the Emperor her Turks, and Arabs. The Swiss also come under Majesty has been compelled to allow a partial this category. The Siamese Government insist decoration of Ebo Park in honour of the event that people of these nationalities fall under next November, and her Majesty has also made Siamese jurisdiction, and have no right to the it a sine qua non that she must first be made French protection they have hitberto claimed. acquainted with what is intended to be done before anything is actually settled. The local mandarins are filled with admiration at her Majesty's self-denial for the sake of the country, and say that this will make her more popular than ever when the story gets abroad amongst the masses.—.
-N. C. Daily News.
THE HARDSHIP OF CHINESE EXAMINATIONS.
There is another side to this question which perhaps the Government has not taken into consideration. yet it is one that should receive grave attention at the hands of the Colonial and War Offices. With the present slender garrison of this colony it is most essential that all the troops should be at liberty to act against any possible invader: they should not be em- barrassed by a possible riotous outbreak in the slams of Taipingshan. To this end the Police should be able to
with any
such outbreak, and even perhaps be able to lend assistance with the Volunteers in defending some portion of the island. But while the Force is half Chinese how is this possible? I say therefore make the Force semi-military and wholly effective by disbanding the Chinese con- tingent, and filling their places with Europeans and Indians. The chances of corruption would then be reduced to the minimum, and we should have a fine body of men not only to preserve order but also capable of assisting the garrison Despatches received from Canton report that at a pinch. I hope the Government will grasp at the recent provincial examinations in that their nettle boldly, and not lay up further trou-city for the chujen degree over 13,000 candidates ble by a resort to half measures.
competed for the 109 M.A. diplomas within the gift of the examiners. Owing to the great THE RAILWAY QUESTION IN THE heat prevalent at the time 1,763 candidates were incapacitated from going on with their Apropos on the third day. examinations of the examinations, a despatch received from Hangchow reports that of the 9,000 and more candidates in that city, the great heat on the 9th inst. followed by rain in the evening which chilled the thinly-clad stnd- ents to the bone in their flimsily-boarded stalls, was the cause of the death of 27 youths on the following day, while during that day (the 10th). the government doctors deputed to do duty at the examination halls were constantly employed in prescribing for 3,000 ailing students. On this occasion alone, there didates who were unable to hand in full papers It is also feared owing to choloraic attacks. by the authorities that the germs of disease carried by the many thousands of candidates to their homes, after the examinations, will be the means of causing an epidemic in Chêkiang province this autunm.-N. C. Daily News.
NORTH.
to
It will be remembered that the Tientsin- Shanhaikwan railway, which had been first placed under the control of Sheng Taotai, has fately been handed over into the charge of Hu Chufu, the Governor of Peking, together with the Peking Tientsin line. According to re- ports in Peking official circles forwarded to us by our correspondent at the capital, the reason for the step is this: the Tientsin- Shanbaikwan railway is destined be extended to Kinchow, Moukden and Kirin and finally to connect with the Russian Trans-Siberian railway, and such an undertaking demands the attention of an exclusive directing manager, while Sheng Taotai has to construct the Lu- Han railway and attend to multifarious other projects of an important character in Mid China. With Sheng Taotai in Hankow, it is felt at Peking that is would be most difficult to control him in his direction of a great work in the North, and the construction of the extensive railway beyond Shanhaiwan would necessarily thereby be impeded. This argument was sug- gested by the Special Russian Ambassador, Prince Ouktomsky, while he was in Peking, and was assented to by the Tsungli Yamen which considered the argument to be fair and reasonable. Hence the charge which was made with Sheng's full concurrence.-China Gazette.
THE CHINESE EASTERN RAIL-
WAY.
According to a letter received from a corres- pondent at Kirin a telegram had been received by the Governor-General from Vladivostock under date of the 1st instant, advising that the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway, seotion 761, was officially commenced on the 28th of August in Chinese territory near Pol- tavy, to the westward of Vladivostock, in the presence of the Russian Governor-General Soubatasch and Chinese Mandarin Tai, and other Russian and Chinese officials. According to the latest plans the railway will not touch Kirin, as apparently it is not the object of the Russians to open up Manchuria, but to find a convenient terminas för their line. The name given to the line-the Chinese Eastern Railway -means nothing at all, and to all intents and purposes it is the Russian Manchuria Railway, and will probably be generally known by that. denomination.-Ñ. G. Daily News.
LABUAN.
were 164 can-
COAL AND SHIPPING, Advices from Labuan in the British North
Borneo Herald report trade in coal to have been
so brisk there last month that stocks ran low.
their
ways.
steamers
year. 8
July was a good month as regards shipping as a total of 25 steamers of 26,127 tons register were entered for the month. This included eleven ocean-going steamers which took be tween them over 5,000 tons of Labuan coal. The Natal line of steamers are opening up a direct line between Foochow and South Africa (via Labuan for coal) by running
and Pongola
Congella These two vessels four times met at Labuan on the 1st instant going opposite The number of oceangoing steamers calling at Labuan for coal hus steadily in creased, as the shipping returns show; 35 snch vessels entered this year to date, which com- pares favourably with the total of 33 for the It is hoped that the new whole of 1896. Singapore Agents of the N.C.B. Co., and their Acting Manager at Labuan, have noted the lack of men employed in working the mines and the coaling of ships, and that labour of some kind (Japanese by preference) may be so as to increase the output of coal imported and give ships quick despatcb.
Dr. Taylor Grant, lately Municipal Health Officer at Shanghai, is a passenger homewards by the M. M. steamer Laos.
|
ELECTRIC LIGHTING IN HUNAN.
Hnnan has got so far forward in her adop tion of western civilisation that her provincial capital of Changshia can now boast of an Elec- tric Light, Company. Incandescent lights are used all over the offices of the Company and the residences of the directors and higher off- cers, while in addition to a large 2,000 candle power light, called by the natives "amoon," at the gates of the Governor's yamên, the greater portion of the yamêu itself is also lighted now with incandescent lamps. The company is also prepared to light up any house or shops in Ch'angsha, and a notification to that effect has
Per lamp per night. been published giving prices as follow
No. I grade electric lamp-500 cash No. 2 No. 3
++
་་
32 30
39
51
JA
28
59
"
多重
25
No. 4
No. 5
27
25
That is to say, there will be five descriptions of lamps, and the above charges are made for lamps that are lighted from sundown to the second watch of the night (about 10 o'clock). Lamps used all night are to be charged double the above prices.
The hitherto exclusive province of Hnnan is proving far more progressive than even those provinces of the empire where Western im. provements have been in favour for some years past. We noted in our yesterday's issue that the electric light had been established at Changsha, but we now learn that the halls for the examination for the M.A. degree now going on there are lighted by electricity, which is an adoption of Western inventions to an extent not yet attained by any other province n the empire.-N. C. Daily News.
MACAU.
FROM OUR correspondeNT.]
Macao, 24th September, By order of the Government, Sergeant Mattos has been sent to Shanghai to bring down a man named V. B. de Souza, who has been charged with the embezzlement of Tis. 10,000 in Messrs. Reiss & Co's office. It is said. that Mr. A. J. Bastos, advocate, has been en gaged by the firm for the proscation, but I be- lieve the case will be taken up by the Attorney- General, as the crime is considered a public one and therefore the Crown must proseente.
The lottery of the Santa Casa da Misericordia has been farmed out to a syndicate, and the bulk of the profits, I fear, will go to the farmers. Has this system been adopted for quite disinterested motives, and would it not be better for the Santa Casa to run the affair itself ? It is said that the tickets are to be gold at $3 each.
•
Invitations have been issued by H.E. the Governor for a soiree at Government House on the 28th proximo to celebrate the fête day of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Portugal, and orders have been given for the illumination of the Praya Grande. Last year, under the regime of Mr. Tello, the late Colonial Secretary, the day was celebrated in a very dull and quiet way and not at all in the manner of former years.,
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