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to ascertain the sentiments of the general British community on the subject. Many of us are very sensible of the neighbourly feeling displayed by our Teutonic cousins during the last two or three years, and notably on the oc casion of Her Majesty's Jubilee.
Re Li Hung-chang's impeachment, nothing more is known beyond the fact that he has been formally and seriously attacked by one of the Censors. The charge is renality, to wit, nothing less than the receipt of a sum of 1,000,000 taela (some say half as much again) | to bias bim towards a certain treaty. Every thing in connection with Li is as great a riddle da the Sphinx, and it is nseless to speculate on the likelihood of the truth of the charge. Just as likely as not it is a partizan move to hinder his return to power. The Roman satirist asked Quis custodes custodiet? and it might well be asked who will censure the Censors? They assuredly often need it, many of them are what the old English dramatists called "Knights of the Post," ready to sell their censure, their testimony, their souls to the highest bidder.
I referred in a recent letter to the ver- nacular paper the Kiro Wen
Pao and the great good it Was doing among official Chinese in desseminating political know- ledge and in re-publishing the best foreign opinion. Since its establishment the Russians have subventioned the paper by the old device of subscribing for so many copies; they thought this would secure a Russ ophile tone, and waxed hotly indignant when the management held ou a course of fair criticism in which Russian designs and policy in North China were occa- sionally severely handled. They protested, and complained to the Tsungli Yamen; nothing was done; they then got a Censor on to the job and things looked as if they were about to bum; but lo! Salvation came in the form of a Jap. The latter bought the paper and now conducts it on an ex-territorial basis. The odd thing is that it still continues a well written, intelligently critical paper; it is thoroughly patriotic and well informed and deals its strictures all round with an impartiality as great as it is unprece-
dented.
} The Japanese curiously euongh now own. four vernacular papers in different parts of China,
CATON NOTES.
4
[FROM THE CHUNG NGOI SAN PO” A destructive fire broke out on the 21st instant at 11 p.m. in an oil shop in Tasanhu, Kiukiaug district. One hundred and seventeen shops were destroyed and the loss is estimated at over one hundred thousand dollars. There were altogether two hundred shops in the place. The cause of the fire is unknown. No lives were lost.
Heavy rain was experienced in Canton and the surrounding districts on the 21st and 22nd instant. In some places the farmers are busily working in the fields to plant the crop, but in others still more rain is wanted before planting can be commenced, The restriction on the slanghtering of swine has been withdrawn, and the people who have been fasting from meat for so long a time are very glad to again have pork for their meals.
On the 23rd iustant twenty-three criminals were taken out from the prisous of Nam-hoi and Pun-u and carried in baskets to Tin-tsz-ma- tau for decapitation, and on the following day twenty-seven were taken out from the same prisons and suffered the same penalty,
At few days ago the guuboat Fou-Po, which was sent by the Government to convey rice from Chinkiang and Wuhu, arrived at Canton. Her captain, who was discovered to have been cheating the Government, was dismissed. He had taken the opportunity to load a large quantity of rice on board for his own benefit.
H.E. Wu Ting-fang, Minister to America, has forwarded to the Peking Government a plan for organising the army. The plan has been sent by the Emperor to the Sonki Military Court for consideration.
As the Government is seriously embarrassed is pecuniary affairs, the Censors are now using their utmost endeavours to gain the favour of the Emperor by recommending so-called wise Ways of raising money. The Government in such hard times is ready to accept any way, wise'
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
or foolish. The Canton Government has recent ly received a despatch from Peking to levy a tax on shops according to their business, large or small,
On the 24th instant on the arrival of a steamer from Macao, among the passengers who landed were two men carrying a large box, which excited the suspicions of the lukongs, who opened the box and found therein a girl of about twelve years of age. The men, who were at once arrested, said that they hid the girl in the box in order to cheat the steamer of the passage money. The girl was asked and said that she was ill-treated by her mistress, so that she intended to run away and follow these two men. The girl and the two men were sent to the Namhoi Magistrate for trial.
HONGKONG.
[April 30, 1898.
On Friday evening a coppersmith accident- ally slipped into the water at No. 2 Dock, Hung Hom, and was drowned. The body was recovered at about four o'clock on Saturday morning and conveyed to the mortuary.
A woman residing with her husband on the ground floor at 34, Bridges Street. committed suicide ou 22nd April. The couple did not live very comfortably together, as the husband persisted in spending his evenings in an opium divan. They had a quarrel on Thursday evening and the man went out as usual. On returning home at about five o'clock yesterday morning he found his wife laying down with her throat cut, a vegetable chopper lying beside her. She was not yet dead. He called the police and Dr. Jordan was sent for, but on his arrival the woman was dead.
At the regular meeting of the Victoria Chapter, No. 525, E.C., held on Monday even- ing, M. Ex. Comp. E. C. Ray, acting for the D. G. Superintendent, attended by the D. G. Officers, installed the three Principals elect for the ensuing year, namely, M.E.Z., M. Ex. Comp. D. Macdonald; H., Ex. Comp. R. Mitchell; J., Ex. Comp. G. J. B. Sayer after which the M.E.Z. invested his officers as follows: Sc. E., Comp. G. Piercy, Jr.; Sc. N., Comp. G. C. Hayward; P.S., Comp. J. Lochead; 1st A.S., Comp. F. M. Richardson; 2nd A.S., Comp. H. W. Kennett: Treas., Comp. M. M. Tackey; St., Comp. J. J. Bryan; D.C., Comp. B. Brotherton Harker; Janitor, Comp. J. Maxwell.
The dispute between America and Spain has been the all-absorbing topic of conversation during the week. On Saturday evening, in pursuance of instructions from home, the Acting- Governor issued a proclamation of neutrality. and in consequence on Sunday the greater part of the American squadron cleared out of the harbour for Mirs Bay, the remainder following on Monday. On Tuesday Mr. Williams, the American Consul, arrived in Hongkong from Manila, and the following morning he and one of the chiefs in the late insurrection in the Philippines joined the fleet and sailed with it the same afternoon for Manila. The Esmeralda At a Regular Convocation of United Chap- sailed for the same port on Thursday. Last ter, No. 1,341, E.C., held ou 21st April, M.È. Saturday was St. George's day, and the King's Comp. F. C. Ray (in the absence of M.E. Comp. Own celebrated it by trooping the colours, the Hon. C. P. Chater, D.G. Superintendent), making a very fine display. The Hongkong attended by D.r. Officers, installed the follow- Schools sports, held at Happy Valley on Saturing Principals for the ensuing year:—M.E.Z., day afternoon, were a great success, there being E. Comp. W. C. H. Hastings; H., E. Comp. over 1,000 entries.
H. E. A. Hoile; J., M.E. Comp. W. L. Ford. The M.E.Z. invested his Officers as follows:- Scribe E., M.E. Comp. G. J. W. King; Scribe N., Comp. J. Wheale; Principal Sojourner, Comp. W. H. Smith; 1st Assist. S., Comp. J. Blake; 2nd Assist. S., Comp. G. W. Watling; Treasurer, M.E. Comp. W. Baker; D.C., Comp. W. H. Woolley; Steward, Comp. J. R. Grimble; Janitor, Comp. J. Maxwell.
At a meeting of the Gymkhana Committee held on Tuesday it was arranged to hold the second meeting on the 21st May.
The small river steamer Chingpo, which was recently beached near Doshing in a damaged condition has been floated off by means of two cargo boats and is being towed to Hongkong for sale.
Messrs. Bradley & Co.'s steamer Sishan, which left Hongkong on 22nd April for Swatow, put back the following morning and went to the Kowloon Docks. It appears that she had tonched a rock near Middle Rock, and as she was found to be leaking after the accident she returned for repairs.
At about one o'clock on Saturday au accident occurred at 276, Praya West, which resulted in the death of one man. Two men were eng- aged in loading a cargo boat with bags of rice when a number fell on to them, killing one outright and injuring the Lack of the other. The latter was taken to the Government Civil Hospital.
A ricksha coolie named Tse Yat was on 22nd April fined $5 by Commander Hastings for be having in a disorderly manner the previous day. Defendant was engaged by a European who bad just arrived by one of the steamers, At
the end of an hour and a half defendant was offered 40 cents. He did not think this was enough, and he accordingly became abusive. The European appealed to P.C. Lippincolt, who told him to pay the coolie his legal fare-25 cents. He did this, whereupon defendant again became abusive and had to be arrested. i At the eighth annual meeting of the District Grand Chapter of Hongkong and South China held on the 28th April M. E. Comp L. Mallory presided, and invested the following Officers for the year :-D. Third Grand Prin. cipal. R. Cooke'; D.G. Scribe E., A. O'D. Gour- din; D.G. Scribe N., F. W. Heuermann; D.G. President Committee of General Purposes, J. D. Christie; D.G. Treasurer, G. J. W. King; D.G. Registrar, John Bryant; D.G. Principal Sojourner, G. A. Caldwell; D.G. First Assistant Sojourner. W. C. H. Hast ings: D.G. Second Assistant Sojourner, F. W. Wright; D. G. Sword Bearer, F. Salin- ger; D. G. Standard Bearers, E. T. Bond, F. W. Edwards, D. McDonald. T. G. Gowland; D.G. Director of Ceremonies, G. P. Lammert; D.G. Deputy Director of Ceremonies, R. Mit- chell; D.G. "Assistant Director of Ceremonies, H. E. A. Hoile; D.G. Organist, C. W. Lon- guet; D.G. Janitor, J. R. Grimble; Unofficial members, G. C. Anderson and W. L. Ford.
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The charge against the clerk named Lo Chi, who was the other day fined $10 for behaving in a disorderly manner in Upper Station Street aud obstructing Frank Allen, sanitary inspector, in the execution of his duty, was re-heard at the Magistracy on 23rd April. Mr. Bryan, Assist- ant Sanitary Surveyor, said complainant, Frank Allen, was an inspector of nuisances and acted under his orders. He remembered giving him written instructions on the 16th to the effect that the house No. 8, Upper Station Street, was to be cleansed and the partitions to the cubicles destroyed. At about 12 o'clock on Monday Mr. Harker called to see him in reference to the matter, and asked him if the tenant could cleanse his own house out. He replied, " Most certainly, I should be very glad of him to do it." At about half-past two the same day he went to the house himself, complainant accompanying him. He instructed the tenant to cleanse the house and to destroy the partitions to the enbicles, adding that unless he had cleansed the house by the time the Inspector came round the Inspector would have to send his own gang, as the work could not be delayed. In answer to Commander Hastings, witness said he generally gave shops 48 hours']notice and tenement houses 12 hours' notice. He visited the house on the Saturday and told the interpreter to tell them to clean the house out. He did not give the tenant a permit to have the house cleansed. Such a permit was not required. If a house was cleaned when the Inspector visited it it was all right, In reply to Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), who represented the Sanitary Board, witness said that when he visited the house again on the afternoon of the 19th he found that the house had been cleansed. Com- mander Hastings said he could not understand why the Inspector should take a gang of coolies to do work the occupants of the house were willing to do themselves and were doing before the Inspector's men got there. Mr. Reece, who appeared for defendant, said he could pro- duce evidence that the work had really com menced on Monday. It was resumed at half- past five on Tuesday morning, and was actually going on when the inspector came. Defendant was discharged.
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