16
and made no application, and in a few cases they declined on the score that the rate asked was too high. In a still fewer number of cases the owners were contumacious, and after due investigation the land was ordered to be confiscated and sold. In no case were any steps taken without a full and open investign tion. So far there has been not the slightest reason for the use of the extraordinary language to which our contemporary has committed himself. The ground in question had, it is true, been occupied for years by the Shen family, but this it may be said was according to the Chinese law an aggravation of their offence. They had, it was alleged, never during that period paid land tax and the penalty for this is not only corporal punishment but a fine equal to the entire of the taxes unpaid and the confiscation of the land. This is no Shengko Office statement but is to be found in Ta Tsing Luli, a copy of which is to be found in every yamen. More than this, the plaintiffs produced the last remains of a fungtan, or certi ficate of ownership, and the possession of this, could its legal acquisition be proved, would have placed them in full ownership. Unfortunately the fangtan when compared with the register proved to have been for an adjoining piece of land, many years ago registered in H.B.M. Consulate, and the Magistrate was prepared and willing to produce the register in court if asked. Now it may seem an anomalous thing that a fangtan should remain in the hands of an occupier while the property is registered as owned by a foreigner in his Consulate, and such would be the case as business is now conducted. But the title deeds for the two lots of land, one lying immediately to one side of and the other in front of the lot claimed, were registered in the early sixties, and fangtans were never de- posited in the Consulate till the seventies. The reason was that the original owners were content to believe that the foreigner was only a bird of passage, and that when he had passed out of the land his fangtan would entitle them to reclaim the land of their ancestors. Such was the complicated net work which the plaintiffs in the case of Sang Hoonghai and others re- quested the Judge of H.B.M. Supreme Court to decide in their favour. It was under these circumstances that the Judge stated that his decision could in no way affect the right or wrong of the case, and that should he be forced to give a judgment he would be very careful to zo word it as to affect no one outside.
This, we may point out, affords but very slender argument for the wild statements which have been carefully spread abroad. It is not too much to say that had it not been from in- stigation and interference from without, the plaintiffs would never have been indiscreet enough to place themselves in the position of being practically nonsuited.
NEWCHWANG.
On the 1st of April in an article in these columns on Russian designs we pointed out that the construction of the Russian railway from Petuna via Kirin to Talienwan meant the ruin of the treaty port of Newchwang, unless the latter port was promptly connected with the North China system of railways, We have already mentioned the route that the Russian railway is to take, but we may repeat that it is to pass from Talion Bay through Southern Kinchou, Hsinyen, Fuchou, Kaichou, Haicheng, Liaoyang, Moukden, and so to Kirin. The district through which it passes produces about seventy per cent, of the exports from New chwang, so that this amount of trade will pro- bably be lost to Newchwang when the railway is made and Talienwan is opened.
The Russian line, it will be observed is not to go through Newchwang, but to pass it at some distance to the eastward Between Kai- chou which is some 24 miles southward of Newohwang, and Haicheng which is some 40 uiles to the north-eastward, there is a village called Kanwangchai which is ander 20 miles eastward of Newchwang, and through which tue Russian line passes. From this village a branch line is to be laid to Newohwang, and meanwhile until Talienwan is ready to be opened, which, as we mentioned a few days ago, is not likely to be for three years, the material and plant for the Russian railway is to be landed
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
at Newchwang. This branch line, therefore, is apparently to be the first section undertaken, and when it is in running order, the construc tion of the main line will be undertaken both north and south from Kanwangchai.
The Chinese, as we have already said, are ready and anxious to extend their northern railway system to Newchwang and Moukden. This would tap the valley of the Liao river and the districts from which about thirty per cent of the present exports come, saving to New- obwang a not unimportant fragment of its trade. It would also put Newchwang in direct communication with "valuable coal measures, from which both steam coal and coal suitable for Shanghai's manufactories can be procured. It is estimated by a capable authority that even with the loss of the districts through which the Russian railway will run, the construction of the proposed Chinese railway will maintain the trade of Newchwang at its present level and probably largely increase it. It is not improb able too that to face the competition of the proposed Chinese line, the Russians will make the branch which they are making to New ohwang for construction purposes a permanent one, and this would without doubt divert to Newchwang a considerable proportion of the traffic that would otherwise go to Talienwan.
Newchwang has advantages which are not realised by those who regard it as a small out-of-the-way port, frozen up in the winter, and with no attractiveness at any time. It is so little regarded by the powers that be, that, important as it is that the Chinese should have no reason to think that England has abandoned Manchuria altogether to Russia, the white en- sign has not been seen there this year, although a large British fleet has been lying for months within a day's voyage. Newchwang has a fine river extending for a long distance into the in- terior, with a bar with 18 feet of water on it, Its trade is already well established, and the port well provided with lighters, warehous. ing accommodation, mills, etc., etc. It is cer tain that so long as it remains under the Chinese flag its trade will be open on equal terms to all nationalities, without preference or distinction; and it is the nearest seaport to the immense districts to which the imports into Manchuria go, and from which the exports come. The great drawback to it is that it is ice-bound every winter for some four months. But it must be remembered that the demand for its staple produce, beans, in the Japanese and southern markets, where its principal ens- tomers are, is quiescent during the winter months.
[July 2, 1898. system to Newchwang and Monkden. In this connection we note with pleasure in a Japan paper à Peking telegram saying that China has succeeded in borrowing from the Hong kong and Shanghai Bank £2,000,000 sterling for the construction of the railway between Shanhaikuan aud. Newohwang,.-N. C. Daily | News.
FREEMASONRY AT NEWCHWANG.
An event of considerable importance in the history of Newchwang took place on Saturday, 18th June. This was the consecration of the new Masonic Lodge, "The Northern Star of China," No. 2,673, English Constitution. It had been expected that the official opening of the Lodge named would have been held in the autumn of last year, but owing to the non- arrival of the warrant from England before the closing of the port for the winter, this had to be postponed until later. On Saturday last, however, the impressive ceremony was per- formed in a most effective and solemn manner by Rt. Wor. Bro. Lawis Moore, the Dis- trict Grand Master for Northern China, assisted by Wor. Bro. W. H. Anderson, D.D.G.M., and the warrant handed over to the members of the Lodge. The meeting was attended by a considerable number of both re- sident and non-resident Masons. After the Consecration, the Rt. Wor. Bro. Moore in- stalled Wor. Bro. J. N. Segerdal as first W.M., and invested the following officers-Bro. A. Schmid, S W.; Bro. G. Fawcett, J.W., Bro. F. C. McCallum, Treasurer; Bro. W. J. Lister, Secretary; Bro. G. H. Pennefather, S.D.; Bro. F. Hopkins, J.D.; Bro. J. Clark, I.G., Bro. J. Armour, D.C., Bro. W. Sloss, Steward.
At the close of the ceremonies the Brethren adjourned to the Assembly Rooms where a sub- stantial repast had been prepared. The usual Masonic toasts having been duly honoured, several of the most prominent residente, who are not Freemasons, but who had been invited, arrived, and, although they only
14 came in at the tail end of the banquet," joined heartily in contributing to the passing of a very pleasant musical evening. The stage in the ball room was utilised for the convenience of the singers, and the entertainment was kept up until a late hour.
The Freemasons of Newchwang are to be con. gratulated on the spirit which has incited them to conquer many difficulties, to establish a lodge of their own (which now numbers nearly forty members) and to obtain and furnish such a com. fortable room for the meeting.
THE JAPANESE IN FORMOSA.
A correspondent writes to the N. C. Daily News, from Taipeh, under date of 9th June, as
follows:-
If the Chinese system of railways is extended to Newchwang, and if the Chinese and Russians are disposed to encourage its trade, Nowohwang should make vast strides when the two railways are completed. The danger to the port is that in their anxiety to encourage their new port at Talienwan, the Russians may successfully
Though, taking the island as a whole, it oppose the extension of the Chinese railway cannot be said that the effects of good govern- system to Newchwang, and remove the linement have generally shown themselves, still, Kanwangchai, thus leaving the port isolated.
notwithstanding all the terrible drawbacks to they are making for construction purposes te Or they may hereafter claim Newchwang people and the trade generally have by no peaceful existence and the undoubted lawless- ness which does exist, the prosperity of the being within their Manchuria, and then establish a system of dif- means retrograded. sphere of influence in ferential duties for the whole province,
Whatever fanits the impartial critic of the past four year's régime New-there cannot be the slightest doubt as to good. may justly find in the effects of Japanese rule, will and desire on the part of rulers to bring about better results than unhappily have been attained.
concerned in the present and future of
The existing foreign interests most nearly chwang are the Americans. British, and Japan- ese, There is a British concession at New. chwang; the foreign-owned land outside the con- cession in nearly all in British hands. The foreign firms established at the port are mostly American, British, and Japanese. About fifty per cent. of the imports are American, the re- mainder being mostly British and Japanese; while of the ships that had come to the port this year up to the middle of June, 60 were British, 56 Japanese, 17 Chinese, and 36 of other nation- alities. Of these 169 ressels, 98 cleared for Japan, 64 for Chinese ports, and 7 remained in port. In conclusion, it is evident that the future prosperity of Newchwang as a treaty port depends on the extension to it of the Chinese railway system; that the Powers mainly interested in this prosperity are Great Britain, the United States, and Japan; and it is there. fore for the Ministers of these Powers at Peking to do everything they can to strengthen the hands of the Chinese railway authorities, who are anxions to extend their
The Chinese people accustomed to that splen- did system of popular government and control. to which the cohesion of China (in spite of the iniquities of her nominal rulers) is undoubtedly due, suddenly finding themselves prevented from carrying this on, and the new system the Japanese sought to impose having thoroughly failed to obtain a footing, they have been re- duced to a condition of confusion, if not actually chaos, which has more or less resulted in "every man being his own master," and so a state of general lawlessness, approaching anarchy, is more or less reigning throughout the whole island.
The offenders, however, can, in no sense, be classed as "rebels," if that term is meant to imply resistance to any special government.
The disorderliness simply arises from the fact that the Japanese have made the mistake of assuming that what would de in Japan would,
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