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sit dues, would not allow for in its assess. ments, but the lekin officers would lose their means of subsistence, and their discontent would constitute a danger which the established all- thorities would not disregard. Even were all the transit dues received paid over to the pro- vincial treasury, the amount would fall far short of the gross lekin lost, and the accurate returns of the Imperial Maritime Customs would enable the accounts of the local officials to be checked in a manner naturally displeasing to men on nominal salaries at posts not always obtained without expenditure.
At the present moment the foreign loans raised by China increase the difficulties and the hosti- lity of the Canton Government, for although the Imperial Maritime Customs' revenue is the se- curity on which these loans have been raised, the payment of the interest does not fall solely on that revenue, but is distributed over the lekin, the native customs, and the land-tax receipts of each province. As the amounts demanded must be paid on the due dates, the provincial treasuries, often drained by the cost of rebellions and cala. mities, are reduced to great straits, and the pro- vincial authorities may be pardoned for com- plaining that Peking, instead of retrenching its own expenses to meet the charges incurred owing to the war, prefers to lay the extra load on the overburdened provinces,
Owing to a difference of opinion between the Chinese and British authorities as to the terms on which outward passes should be granted no native produce was brought down in this way during the year. The form of outward pass and the restrictions on its use afford another notable example of the whittling away of a treaty right. By treaty a British merchant could, armed with a passport, proceed into the interior and, if he found a profitable chance of purchasing native produce suitable for use abroad, he could take such produce to the nearest customs' barrier, have it examined, and, after giving a declaration that it was his pro- perty aud to be exported from a certain open port, could obtain a certificate which would pass it down free of taxation to the port where transit and export duties were payable. This great privilege was doubtless open to abuse, and the malpractices of some have been made an excuse for restrictions. Thus, at some ports bonds must be entered into, the sorts of native produce purchasable, under pass are limited, a time limit within which the produce must reach the port is imposed, &c., until at Canton it has been claimed that, when applying for a pass (which is in itself an addition to the treaty obligation), a merchant must give the fullest parti- culars, marks, weights, numbers, of the produce he merely contemplated buying. This pre- posterous claim is, happily, after a year's delay, likely to be modified.
CANTON NOTES.
{FROM THE CHUNG NGOI SAN PO] On the 27th ultimo a band of about one hundred robbers made an attack on the village of Sai-kin, in Fa-nn district, where a large number of rich families of the clan of Lo reside. As the robbers were so many, the policemen dared not offer any opposition, so the robbers were able to carry on their work of plunder without molestation. Over forty houses were plundered and the value of the booty was great. On the 28th and 29th ultimo a good many houses in Kin-kiang village were also robbed by the same band. The robbers, it is said, are brethren of the late notorious robber Chang Wan. As the local officers have not yet taken any steps to suppress outrages of this description the Sansz and the merchants of the district have applied to the Governor of Canton to be allowed to engage lukongs at their own expense for local protection. The robbers, upon hearing this, became very angry and they have made up their minds to rob all the shops and the well-to-do families there. A few days ago the shopmen and a good number of villagers had an encounter with the robbers. Nine robbers were killed and a good many were wounded.
Firewood is exceedingly dear in Canton. A dollar will only buy one hundred and fifty cat ties, The reason of the dearness is that heavy likin taxes have been imposed on firewood at various likin stations on the route from Kwangsi, and besides that the officers of the
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
likin stations try their best to squeeze the firewood merchants, so that very few merchants are willing to send firewood to Canton from the West River for sale.
The local officers of Hoihow have made a report of the calamity suffered by the people during the late typhoon and flood. The Viceroy has sent a gunboat in charge of a Weiyuen to convey rice to the distriot for distribution to the sufferers.
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The woman who was condemned some time ago for murdering her father-in-law by giving him poisonous food to eat, but whose execution was deferred on account of her pregnancy, gave birth to a daughter several days ago, but the child died immediately after birth. murderess will be executed by the ling-chi or slicing process in a few days.
The
On the 3rd instant the Viceroy of Canton re- duced the wages of all the soldiers by com- mand of the Peking Government. The soldiers were greatly dissatisfied and many have resigned. Some went to beat the military officers. There are no guards now at the entrances of the Viceroy's and the Governor's yamens, because all have resigned the service.
HONGKONG,
The Hongkong Volunteer Corps went into camp on Saturday. The weather was unfortun- ately very inclement, Sunday night being par- ticularly stormy, but yesterday the sun shone gloriously and there is every prospect of a long The cricket,season spell of fine weather.
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¡October 13, 1897.
We bear that Inspector Hanson has been promoted to the rank of Chief Detective Inspector.
The stamp revenue last month amounted to $21,136. being an increase of $173 on the amount collected in the corresponding month last year.
The despatches in connection with the denunciation of the treaties of commerce with Germany and Belgium are published in the Gazette.
An extraordinary meeting of the Punjom Mining Co., Limited, is called for the 27th October to consider a scheme for the reconstruc- tion of the Company.
On the 11th September a piece of Crown land in Wing Fang Street, known as Inland Lot No. 1,450, was sold by auction by Mr. Malsch. The land contains 24,960 square feet and the annual rental is $374. The upset price was $8,237, and the only bid was one made by the Hongkong Land Investment and Agency Com. pany, Limited, to whom the land was sold for. $25 above the upset price. The purchasers intend to erect Chinese houses on the site. The land sold yesterday comprised about half of the old Colonial Cemetery, and the whole of this ground has now been sold.
The Queen has been pleased to grant to several officials of the Zanzibar Government Her Majesty's Royal licence to accept and wear the insignia of orders conferred upon them by the Sultan of Zanzibar in recognition of ser- vices to the Sultan. Amongst them is the fol- ':-" Order of Hamoudieh of the 3rd class, lowing: Francis Harry Wilson, Law Adviser to His opened on Saturday with a match between the Highness the Sultan of Zanzibar." Mr. Wil- First Eleven and All Comers. The season
son was for some time in the late firm of Wot- ton and Deacon, now Messrs. Deacon and Has- promises to be a most successful one, aud re- sidents are looking forward with great interesttings, and his friends in Hongkong will be glad to the cricket week to be held in the early part to hear of bis distinction.
A Chinese thief will cause no end of incon- of next month, when Shanghai and Singapore will visit Hongkong and play in interport venience for the sake of getting a few cents. matches. An interesting case of forging bank A youngster of this type was caught near the notes was heard at the Police Court, the defen- Sailors Home on Wednesday. For some time dant being committed for trial. An important past fittings have been surreptitiously taken court martial on a sapper in the Royal En- from the Home boat while it was elung in the gineers, who was charged with rendering himself davits on the Praya and a man was told off to watch. He saw the boy go to the boat and unfit for duty through excessive indulgence in
unscrew a brass key, which he would probably alcohol, was held on Friday, Saturday, and Mon- day. The case presented features very interest-have sold for a cent or two. The hoy was ar- ing to the medical profession, scientific evidence rested and at the Police Court on 7th Oct, Mr. A. Moir, the Superintendent at the Home, said being called on both sides. The prisoner was convicted and his sentence awaits confirmation the loss of the key would have entailed much by the General Officer commanding.
inconvenience. The prisoner was ordered to receive twelve strokes with the birch rod.
There were 2,201 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 196 were "Euro- peans.
H.M.S. Grafton, accompanied by the Hart and Handy, torpedo-boat destroyers, arrived from the North on 10th October.
A Chinese barrack sergeant has been dis- missed from the Police Force for having taken bribes from a gambling house keeper.
On 8th October two Indian sergeants were dismissed from the Police Force for having re- ceived bribes from gambling establishments.
The Queen's exequatur empowering Mr. Rounsevelle Wildman to act as Consul for the United States at Hongkong has been issued.
The death rate last month was, for the British and Foreign community, civil popula tion, 22.5, and for the Chinese community 20.
"A Pair of Spectacles" is to be produced by the Amateur Dramatic Club during the visit of the Straits and Shangbai cricketers next month.
It is notified in the Gazette that a general valuation of the rateable tenements in the whole colony for the year commencing 1st July, 1898, is to be made on or before the 30th April next Hon. H. E. Wodehouse on 7th Oct. concluded the inquiry into the death of a woman who was recently murdered in Praya West. The fol- lowing was the verdict:-" Death from asphyxia, caused by a wound inflicted on the neck of deceased with some sharp instrument by some person, supposed to be the husband of the deceased, and with the intent to murder."
The return of samples examined under the Sale of Food and Drugs. Ordinance for the quarter ended 30th September is published in the Gazette. The samples were as follows Four of beer, all of which were found genuine; one was found two of coffee, of which adulterated; three of milk, of which one was found adulterated; and one of whisky, which was found genuine.
A correspondent of The British Realm sup- plies that journal with an account of the Hong- kong britery scandal as it presented itself after the arrest of Witchell but before his conviction. The account is on the whole accurate, except that Mr. May can hardly be said to have "unearthed" the system of bribery and cor. ruption, seeing that the matter was fully disclosed to him through the medium of Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C. The accounts concludes as follows:-You may take it from me that the public service in Hongkong is in a shocking state of corruption. The only regrettable fea- ture is that the higher authorities will never be able to reach all the delinquents. Mr. May, who has entered upon this apparently hopeless crusade, is one of the ablest young men in the Colonial Service. He is a son of the late Chief Justice May of Ireland. He came out to Hong- kong as a cadet, and after studying the Chinese language at Canton and Peking, returned to the colony to fill acting appointments in manner customary in the service. As Assistant Colonial Secretary he showed When Major- himself a master of detail. General Gordon died, Mr. May succeeded to the captaincy of the Police. It may be said at once that he is not popular with the men. He is regarded as a martinet, and even in a force which is essentially semi-military is held to be too severe in his punishment of petty breaches of discipline. That, however, may be set. down as the opinion of men who have been held loosely in hand for some years." Mr. May is still a young man, and in his dealings with large bodies of men has doubtless much to learn, but he is able, energetic, and con- scientious as a public servant, and too straight- forward to make allowances for men who are neither energetic nor conscientious, but who merely try to put in as easy an existence as possible to qualify for the inevitable pension.
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