July 30, 1898.]
is anxious to do the right thing; but his position
a difficult one, and he is credited with a cer-- tain amount of moral weakness which, in an evil hour, might easily enough betray him into the committal of serious error. For the famous Mr. Lai is his friend-a fact which will tend to duplicate his difficulties at the Provincial capital where the Governor-General resides. By-the- by, we have not yet heard who is to take the place of H. E. Yu (who was not allowed to take up his appointment as Viceroy of Szechuan).
The Fu examinations passed off quietly, and the prospect of an early Wan Kao does nothing to excite our fears. Of course the ugly Kiang- peh affair is still with us, although that too has made some slight progress towards a settlement, Within the last few days the tenement in which the murder was committed, together with the adjoining buildings in the same compound, have been sold to the American Mission, and the deeds authoritatively sealed. This is always Something to be thankful for, although, as has already been said, no one has been punished in connection with the affair.
Under date of 7th July the same correspon- dent writes:-
Since writing the above news has come to hand of an outrage upon a Roman Catholic family in the city of Hochou, and of a brutal attack upon a native Christian colporteur who only left Chungking three days age on a book selling expedition. There are also other dis. quieting rumours in regard to Tachouhsien and even Paolin itself. The British Consul in view of what is going on has requested missionaries not to proceed into the country during the next few days without his permission.
WEIHAIWEI.
14th July.
Things are now going on smoothly and quietly here. Among the natives business is beginning to boom. Mr. Balfour's original statement was very explicit: Weihaiwei would never be anything commercially. Lord Salis. bury, driven into a corner, seems to have com- mitted himself to the opposite opinion. But probably ordinary mortals know as much about the matter as the aforesaid illustrious uncle and nephew. And one judges that if it only gets half a chance it will become, for this part of China, & fairly important business centre.
Many Chinese business men, from different parts, are locating in the place. It is the usual thing for business to prosper under the British flag; and there is no reason why Weibai should be an exception, unless it be the agreement with Germany to do nothing to hinder the growth
of Kiaochon, etc. The latter seems to be an attempt to run the British Empire on new lines. No doubt it would be all right were we in the millennium and the Golden Rale universally practised; but since we are not, one doubts the success or continuance of these altruistic inter- national dealings,
The flagship Centurion and several other men-of-war and torpedo-catchers are still in the Bay: Among recent arrivals are the Bonaven- ture and Waterwitch. The latter is employed in making a thorough survey of the harbour.
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During the past two or three weeks there have been many rainy or foggy days. We begin to fear that the rainy season has come a few weeks earlier than usual this year. One is sorry for the small families over the Promontory. For first of all the drought considerably damaged the wheat crop, and now they are au- able to thresh it owing to the rain. In this part of China there are no barns in which to store the unthreshed grain, so they are un- prepared for rain just now. And the Chinese, who live from hand to mouth, can never lose a crop without corresponding suffering.
Three or four days since the steamer Mount Sirion arrived here from home via Hongkong, and is now being unloaded of a supply of coals and stores. The little steam-tug Pioneer of Chefoo is being employed in this work.
I hear that Consul Hopkins, who has been on a visit to the Minister, is expected back any day, Perhaps there will be some change made in the governing of the place which may now be described as a benevolent despotism.-N. C. Daily News correspondent.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT:
18th July.
The Chinese flag no longer floats over Weihaiwei. It came down on the evening of the 15th not to go up again. At 8 o'clock next morning the British flag was formally hoisted and saluted-first from an English ship and then from a Chinese. That same afternoon three hundred blue-jackets, from different ships, were landed on the mainland and the streets. In this way the word has gone forth to China and the world that England intends to maintain her hold on this place. It was a hot day but I only heard of one man who had to fall out of the ranks suffering from heat prostration.
The territory occupied, I understand, is a plot of ten miles in any direction from the shore of the bay. In this Chinese troops cannot locate except by special permission from the English authorities. Outside of this is the zone of joint occupation extending, as I said in a previous letter, to 121.40 E. longitude. There both English and Chinese troops may be quartered. At any part of that coast England may erect such forts or barracks as she may deem neces- sary for the protection of her interests. On the whole this seems a wise arrangement, for it quite precludes any other Power seizing a har- bour on the Promontory and does away with any backdoor to Weihaiwei.
The importance of the latter will be appreciated by those who remember how the Japanese took the place from the Chinese. Probably this con- tains about 800 square miles of country. It contains about thirty market villages, several walled towns, and hundreds of smaller villages and hamlets. I would set down the population as well on to 200,000-mostly occupied in cul- tivating the land and in fishing.
But the official towns, in the above territory, including Weihaiwei proper, are excluded from English jurisdiction. This is a new departure in taking possession of a district and it remains to be seen how it will work. It will allow Chinese officials as usual to continue their government or misgov rnment of the natives as formerly. It will be a solution of a serious problem if it only answers satisfactorily.
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the home Government takes this matter seriously; that all that is desired is to make a show without doing anything. The reports after they are read are put aside and never thought of again.
The Fazenda National is becoming more severe day by day with those who make default in the payment of their taxes. The authorities Chinese go to the office to pay their taxes, should understand, however, that when the which may amount perhaps only to a dollar, they days and sometimes even a whole week, when the are kept dancing attendance for three or four
there was anyone to attend to them. Also when whole thing could be put through in a minute if distraints are levied precautions should be taken amount levied and that no overcharge is made. to see that receipts are given for the exact Chinese have to pay say $18 or $20, but only get a receipt for $3 or 34, being told that the should be placed in charge of this business, or balance is for costs. Responsible persons some day a grave scandal may be brought to light.
HONGKONG.
A notification of a sale of land in the Tai-
plugshan area appears in the Government Gazette, the term of the lease being seventy-five years for many years past has been the usual term for only. The term at the last sale was 999, which
town lots. We hear that the alteration is in from the Secretary of State and that henceforth consequence of a despatch received recently
no Crown land is to be let on leases of over seventy-five years' duration.
At the Police Court on the 23rd July. Eugene Bernheim, manager for Messrs. Ull. man and Co., and Filix Blum, clerk in the employ of the same firm, were charged with selling at the shop 74, Queen's Road Central, indecent exhibits having corrupting tendencies. Both pleaded that they were unaware that the sale of such articles was prohibited. In con- Mr. Hopkins has returned from his visit to sequence of information received, Inspector Peking. A proclamation to be issued in the
Moffat sent a person to the shop in question on district by the native officials has been sanc- the 21st July to purchase one of the articles tioned by the Tsungli Yamen. We hope to complained of. $10 was paid for it. The follow soon see it posted all over the country. It willing day another was purchased for $8. The give the people generally to understand hence- manager was fined $100, or three months, and forth how matters stand.
the clerk $5.
Mr. Hopkins, I learn, is shortly to return to his post at Chefoo; and is to be replaced by Mr. Wilkinson, from Peking, who for a few weeks past has been acting as the Consul's locum tenens in Chefoo. Mr. Gaunt of the Narcissus, who I hear is to be congratulated on his promotion to be Commander, has been made Warden of Liukungtao and will remain here at least for a time.-N. C. Daily News correspon- dent.
MACAO,
[from our corRESPONDENT.]
At the Police Court on the 28th July William Grimshaw, a private of the King's Own Regiment, was charged with throwing a dog from the second story of his barracks on to the ground below, and letting the severely in- jured animal lie in its agony for two hours, when he went down and clubbed it to 'death. Defendant claimed that the dog was rabid, but was unable to prove his statement. His worship stigmatised the action of defendant as the most brutal aud inhuman he had ever heard of being perpetrated by man upon an animal. Even if the dog was rabid, he said, it did not justify defendant's atrocious condnot. Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of £5, in default to undergo six months' hard labour,
Macao, 22nd July. The Chinese are at present busily engaged in making arrangements for a series of festivities,
A couple of vessels from the Philippines en- including day and night processions, theatricals, etc. The Government has granted a licence for tered the harbour on 27th July-the Yiksang one week, commencing on the 8th August. and the Kwongsang. The former, which had a Most of the articles to be carried in the proces. cargo of hemp, came from Cebu, which she left sions are those which were prepared for the on the 22nd instant. She reports that there is Vasco de Gama celebration. When the no change there. The Spaniards were still in date for that event arrived the city was possession of the place, the insurgents keeping, in dread of the epidemic of plague extending to the hills, where they await the arrival of the Chinese processions being amongst the items and the programme was greatly curtailed, the Americans. When the latter, who are expeated any day, appear the insurgents purpose swoop- cut out. The paraphernalia that had been pre-ing down on to the town. The Kwongsang, pared was kept, however, and now that the which is laden with sugar, comes from Iloilo. plague has disappeared the Chinese want to As yet this town has seen nothing of the dis. make a demonstration of joy and to thank their turbances. When the Kwongsang left on the gods for the disappearance of the disease and 22nd, all was as quiet as ever. She reports a the restoration of healthful conditions,
little incident which befel her on the 13th in- stant when on her way to Iloilo. At about eleven o'clock at night, when about 40 miles from her destination, she was signalled by an Com-American warship, which brought her flash-
light into play, an officer calling out and asking her name and where she was going. The reply was given, "The Kwongsang, for Iloilo." " All right, go on," was the response. No doubt the American vessel was the Boston on her way to meet the second American expedition.
The Boletim Official contains a notification appointing a committee to report on the harbour improvement question. We are tired of con- tinually hearing this same old tune. mittee after committee is appointed and report after report made, but they pass for nothing more than a farce. Since the departure of Engineer Loureiro about fifteen years ago this child's play has been going on. Here in Macao we quite understand that neither the local nor
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