December 30, 1897.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The deceased was well known and mnch
THE ROUND-THE-WORLD CYCLISTS.
He told us that land and people were alike poor; -no resources beyond a little insignificant pro-respected in Shanghai, but it is feared he had duce such as beans, pulse, beancake, cabbages, lately got into pecuniary difficulties. He had and pears.
Neither coal nor other minerals been the Manager of the Club for some five existed in his district,-much less well-to-do years, and previous to that was an Inspector He leaves a merchants or indeed any trade worth mention in the Municipal Police Force. ing.
widow and several children with whom much Why then has China been occupied by 500 sympathy is felt in their sudden désolation at a German troops? As far us we could learn, it season when the bulk of mankind puts on a real is to prevent the re-assemblage of any Chinese or masquerading garb of festivity and rejoicing. troops in the neighbourhood of their old camps. —China Gazelle.
Upon our return to Tsingtao we found that the Chinese general had been released on the 3rd of December from his confinement on board the Prinzess Wilhelm in consequence of the now established good relations between Germany and China precluding all future danger of attack by the latter. At 9 o'clock in the evening, after our interchange of presents, the deposed General rode off on horseback at the head of his soldiers also set free-escorted by a defachment of our troops and headed by a com- pany of Chinese lantern-bearers. On arriving at the "East Camp" he took leave of our land Commander, where champagne was drunk and the General expressed his gratitude for the kind treatment he had received at our hands. Already on the following day a letter was received from the General from his quarters outside our lines again expressing his hearty thanks for the many kindnesses shown him. Shortly after this his private belongings were
sent on to him.
We found the British cruiser Undaunted in port on our return, the first foreign warship to visit the place since the German occupation.
Tsingtao, 9th December.
THE AMOY INCIDENT.
Singapore, 16th December. The British Minister at Pekin, in reply to the Straits Government, has refused to acknow. ledge Khun Yiong as a British subject.
Sir Claude Macdonald has forwarded to the Government a long statement from the British Consul at Amoy.
In that stutement. the Consul traverses the allegations made by Khan Yiong in his petition to the Straits Govern- ment. The Consul denies that the petitioner is a resident in the Straits Settlements. He says Khan Yiong has always resided in Amoy, where he has a wife and family. He has always passed as a Chinese subject, and he owns landed property in the interior which no British subject is allowed to do.
Shanghai, 24th December. With machines looking as if they had seen a good deal of service, dressed in very workman- like suits of brown, square but healthy-looking, Messrs. Fraser, Lunn, and Lowe completed their 524th day of travel since leaving London, at Jessfield yesterday morning. Before the public reception Mr. and Mrs. Hogg entertained them at luncheon. Soon after three the public began to gather in the grounds of Uukaza, and by half-past thr e there was a large assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, the majority of whom had come on their bicycles. Tables had been spread with refreshments on the lawn, and at four o'clock Sir Nicholas Hannen, as Chairman of the Reception Committee, raised his glass. and, addressing the gathering, said
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am sure you will all join with me in extending to Messrs. Fraser, Lunn, and Lowe a most hearty welcome to Shanghai. I don't want to make a long speech. I only want to say enough to convince these gentlemen how glad we are to see them safe here, how much we admire their pluck, deter- mination, and endurance, and how pleased we shall be if we are able to make their stay in Shanghai a happy one.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
here is their health. Three cheers for Messrs. Fraser, Luan, and Lowe."
very
The three cheers and a tiger were
the heartily given and three travellers bowed their acknowledgments. Then Sir Nicholas proposed the health of Mr. and Mrs. Hogg, with thanks to them for their kindness in throwing open their beautiful grounds, and again three cheers and a tiger were heartily given. Preparations were then made to escort the cyclists to Shanghai, and the procession was quickly formed. Two members of the Re- ception Committee, Messrs. Craddock and Firth, preceded by a couple of monuted police. led the
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refuge to the Russian Legation. It therefore seems that M. de Speyer is merely carrying out the policy inaugurated by his predecessor in accordance with instructions from St. Peters- burg.-N. C Daily News correspondent.
FORMOSA.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Twatutia, 23rd December. Dr. C. Merz, the very efficient and popular Consul for Germany, departed from Formosa on the 20th for Amoy, where he will serve as the future guardian of German interests. While we must congratulate the doctor upon having secured a more pleasant post and more agreeable and homelike residence for his family, yet we regret that our little settlement at Twatutia should lose the genial hospitality so freely extended by Doctor Merz. Mrs. Merz, and her sister Miss Firns. Bachelor parties will now perforce replace the pleasant evenings at the German Consulate. Dr. Miller is in charge of the Consulate pending the arrival of Mr. Reinsdorf, former Acting Consul at Amoy, who, it is reported, will have charge of the Formosan Consulate for the present.
It is perhaps not generally known that the finest building in the island is the German Consulate at Twatutia. It is on the bank of the Tamsui river. conveniently located and a great ornament to the city. The English Consulate is established down the river at Consular office has been Hobe, although a opened at Twatulia. It is reported that the English Consul desires to establish the Con- sulate here and is looking for suitable quarters. The Spanish and French Consuls would also establish themselves permanently here if suit- able quarters could be obtained, but notwith- standing the construction of many new buildings there is still a great demand for bonses, which can be rarely satisfied and only then at an ex- cessively high rental.
The report published in some Shanghai paper from an Amoy correspondent regarding the great preparations the Japanese are making to defend the island (presumably against the French) and the large numbers of transports carrying troops to Formosa is a pure canard. There are no preparations out of the ordinary in progress and no transports are arriving with troops-it might be well for the internal peace of the island if there were. The report regard. ing the French and Formosa does not appear to have disturbed the Japanese in the least. On these grounds, the British Minister at
Then came Messrs. Fraser. Lunn, and Should the French ever come to Formosa it Pekin refuses to acknowledge Khun Yiong. Lowe, riding abreast, and behind them one bun- will be necessary that they come better equip. A copy of the Consul's statement has been dred and twenty-four Shanghai cyclists, ladies pel than the last French expedition to the
As the pro-islaud. forwarded by the Government to Messrs. Brad- and gentlemen, riding two and two. dell Bros,, who are representing Khuy Yiong. cession passed along the Jessfield, Siuz», Carter, with the request that they will produce such and Bubbling Well Roads, other cyclists joined evidence as they can in support of the peti-in, until before the Maloo was reached, there were tioner's statements.
way.
some two hundred wheelmen and wheelwomen Until the Straits Government are in posses-riding behind the globe-girdlers. Down the sion of evidence that will clearly prove Khun Yiong to be a British subject, and that will robut the evidence of the British Consul, noth- ing further can be done.-Straits Times.
F
HAJ
SHOCKING SUICIDE AT SHANGH
Shanghai, 24th December. A shocking tragedy was enacted this morning in the Manager's office of the Club Concordia, which has thrown a depressing gloom over the usual Christmas festivities which make that favourite institution a centre of attraction at this season of the
At tiffin time to-day year, it was noticed by some of the members that the usual menus were not on the tables, and a ser- vapt was sent upstairs to see the Manager about the omission. The door of his office was found locked on the inside and suspicions were thereby aroused. Some workmen on the premises were re- quisitioned to break open the door, when some of the members and Committee-men entering, found Mr. Obaldo Kluth, the Secretary and Manager, lying dead upon the sofa Medical assistance was hastily summoned and Dr. Macleod was first to arrive; but the unfortunate man was beyond the reach of medical skill, life having been A bottle of chloroform extinct for some time. was found alongside the body, which smelt strongly of the drug, and it was plain how death had been caused, namely, by inhalation of its fumes,
Maloo the footpavements were crowded with Chinese who took the greatest interest in the exhibition, and with this escort Messrs. Fraser, Lund, and Lowe reached their quiet retreat at the Astor House.
They left Soochow, as already noted, on Tuesday, pedalling quietly along the bank of the Creek, and sleeping in their boat, which they found uncommonly cold. They propose to stay in Shanghai about a fortnight.-N. C. Daily News.
THE RUSSIA › ISATION OF KOREA.
M. Alexeieff has taken charge of the Koreau finances and one of his first acts was the appointment of six Kursian-speaking Koreans All arrears of salary have from Vladivostock. been paid to Korean officials and the money which remained in the Treasury has all been nsed by the King, so that it is now empty. The Gorernment is consequently contemplating a new loan which will doubtless be obtained from Russia. As yet Mr. Alexeieff has not interfered with the Customs, which is doubt- less due to the fact that there is as yet no to take the place of those whom it is intended to dismiss. It is, however, only a question of time.
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It is now known that the appointment of M. Alexeieff to the control of the Korean finances was arranged soon after the King had fled for
The country is very much disturbed, reports of attacks by armed bands of robbers coming in nearly every day. Travel in the interior is nusafe at present. Not much improvement can be expected nutil after China New Year.
CANTON NOTES.
FROM THE "CHUNG NGOI SAN PO." | The gunboats On Lau and To-nan, which were despatched for Yamchow to receive the Black Flag General by the order of the Viceroy some time ago, will arrive at Canton in a few
days with the General on board. It is said that the General has hired a good number of
soldiers in Yamehow.
In the explosion of the Tchang-bo Govern- ment Powder Factory, which occurred at 3 p.m. on the 17th instant, it has turned out that seven persons were killed and eighteen were severely injured. The officer in charge of the factory has been dismissed by the Viceroy for neglect of duty.
As has been repeatedly reported, famine has made its appearance in the prefectures of Loi- chow and Kiu-chow, and many letters have been sent by the san-sz of the sail districts to the Government and the charitable institutions asking assistance. A few days ago the gun- boat Nam-mo was sent to the places in question carrying a charitable fund of ten thousand dollars.
A fire broke out on the 19th instant at 5 p.m. Over one in San-chung-bow, in Fatshan. hundred wooden huts belonging to the boat people wre completely destroyed. Most of the occupants of the huts were away at work at
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