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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
is no difference between Americans and Spani- | first entered the city by spending money too ards, in order to influence the common people. | freely and paying any price asked. They will not for a moment look forward to the future and they will not recognize the local difficulties of the situation.
It is interesting news that the insurgents have started a daily newspaper called the "In- dependencia." It is published at Malabon and its purpose is evidently to hold the faithful to the flock and inspire others to join the cause. Its tone reminds one much of the amateur and school-boy papers at times printed in England and America. In some respects it is bright. but its attitude is so "blood and thunder.
independence or death," without giving any good reason for its position as far as Americans are concerned, that I doubt if it will be very influential. Several prominent natives have told me that its only purpose was to agitate and keep alive the sentiment for independence.
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Two conditions of the insurgents are now quite noticeable, especially as they are in direct contrast; the first is that many of the best men in the insurgent camp and some of Aguinaldo's particular adrisers are deserting him and coming to live peacefully in Manila with the hope that America will retain possession. I have met four or five such men who, I had supposed. | would always remain faithful to Aguinaldo, and I have heard of a dozen more who have un. doubtedly given up supporting Aguinaldo's antenable attitude towards America. The second is that the rank and file of the insurgents are what might be termed very "cocky and at times insolent without canse. They seem to prefer and seek a manner which may lead to trouble and quarrels. Whether this spirit is fostered by the officers I do not know, but it exists and should be curbed. In this connection it can be added that at the slightest provoca tion the insurgent garrisons which are located in the city limits spring to arms. If a child blows off a pop gun or a soda water bottle bursts in the vicinity, these appareutly lazy soldiers jump to their arms like a cat upon its prey. All this is very well if the Spaniards are to bold the Philippines, which is extremely improbable, but very, very unfortunate if the Americans are to remain in possession, as we all hope and pray. As several insurgent steamers are still cruising in Philippine waters, all vessels #ying formerly the Spanish flag are making a rush to secure American register and so have the right to fly the American colours and obtain the protec
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Colonels Orenshime, Whittier, aud Hale have been promoted to Brigadier Generals of Volun- teers; and Brigader-Generals Anderson. Greene, and McArthur to Major-Generals of Volun- There are some regrets that others did not secure the coveted honours, but nobody will begrudge these able officers their step up the ladder of military glory.
teers.
The Rio Janeiro leaves in a few days for San Francisco with the convalescent wounded of the American army. They will be given a royal reception when they arrive.
We are daily expecting to see the Powerful in port to relieve the Immortalite but we shall greatly miss Captain Sir Ed. Chichester, than whom a better skipper never lived.
A WONDERFUL CHANGE.
Hongkong. 10th September. Almost every despatch which arrives from Manila refers to the wonderful change which has come over the city. Previous to the thir teenth of Angust there was noticed on every body's face à careworn and haggard look as of men battling against heavy odds and without chance of success. But now that has all changed. The cloud of depression has been lifted off them, and although they have lost the day their enemy is a humaue oue, enabling them to sleep peacefully at night without worry or auxiety, knowing that they are well protected all round the city from the rebels-their most dreaded foe. Business is in full swing. For the past few weeks the banks have been crowded with American soldiers wanting to change gold dollars into silver. The river is full of the Compania Maritima Steamers, who are compelled to fly a neutral flag, while all is alive in the Bay. Up to the present the Americans have not moved their out-posts beyond Pakko and the districts within two or three miles of Manila, the result being that the rebel troops commence where the others leave off. A cor- respondent who lives within the rebel lines writes :-
DOW
"What a contrast between the two!-between discipline and a rabble. The place is full of natives hurrying about with the air of con- querors-some with rifles, others with bayonets, and others with nothing but bolas. The Loisa of badly-tuned and badly-played bugles is inces- sant and consequently rather trying to the ears.
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[September 17, 1898.
CONGESTED CONDITION OF THE YARN MARKET.
SHORT TIME IN BOMBAY MILLS RECOM -
MENDED.
The following telegrams have been inter changed by the Chinese merchants dealing in Indian yarn and the Bombay Millowners' Asso- ciation," through the medium of Mr. H. M. Mehta. The reasons assigned by the Chinese merchants for making the request conveyed in their telegram of working the mills in Bombay short time has been principally the heavy ac- cumulation of Indian threads in this market and in Shanghai without having sufficient out- lets open for their immediate consumption ow- ing to the rebellion in Kwangsi and Kwang- tung. They emphasize the urgency of the measure and advocate against the present almost unprecedentedly congested position by the computation of stocks as under :-
Unsold stock in Hongkong... 55,000 bales Sold stock in Hongkong Unsold stock in Shanghai Sold stock in Shanghai
42,000
32,000 18,000
These figures speak for themselves, and as the uncertainty of the duration and course of the rebellion in the two Kwangs increases, the. demoralization in the principal markets is pari passu on the increase, and unless the curtail- ment of arrivals transpires the likelihood is that the markets will further get into demor ialzation to the serious detriment of the yarn trade in India, China, and Japan.
TELEGRAMS.
To Bombay Millowners' Association, Bombay--- Chinese merchants unitedly urge necessity mills working short time-Rebellion Kwangsi Kwangtung seriously interfering-closing outlets. Stocks sold unsold oue lac Hong- kong-half Shanghai-Urgency retarding shipments extreme.
8th September, 1898.
H. M. MEHTA.
To H. M. Mehta, Hongkong. Committee will consider question of short time provided China and Japan mills co-operate. MILLOWNERS. 9th September.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
tion they mean-now eren as they never did The cries of the drill sergeant trying to instil/ reservoir was 2 feet 5 inches below the overflow,
before. very busy. At one time it looked as if he might be without a billet under the present regime. but not so now. He has his hands full looking after shipping and kindred matters.
This work makes Cosul Williams
By an order issued a few days ago Consul Williams was duly appointed by Major-General Otis to perform Consular duties in this locality under the United States Military Government here established, in certain particulars, as follows:
To attest nuder the U. $. Consular Regulations all bills of sale of veskels; to certify to all invoices of exports, and to administer and make attestations to all required oaths necessary in the preparation and compilation of shipping articles.
a little order and discipline into his squad of natives rather reminds oue of one's childhood, when one used to march round the garden with tin sword and tumpet, playing at soldiers.
Unfortunately for them the rebels are now beginning to find it is not all beer and skittles
that their present style of living is very far from that blissful life they all expected and meant to live. They anticipated being in Manila. occupying the houses of the rich Spaniards and revelling in the spoils of war. But this has all been knocked on the head.
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The insurgent leaders find it difficult to get money with which to pay their followers. In order to raise funds the rebel chiefs collect a tax on every native cart entering their lines and passing through to Manila, and have also in- stituted a poll tax far heavier than that issued theby the Spaniards and which was the primary
cause of the rebellion
com-
It will concern the business interests of Hongkong. Singapore, and Shanghai that, notwithstanding the first orders to contrary issued before the armistice menced, vessels can now sail from Manila to any and all ports of the Philippines carrying cargo, so that the feared lock n of goods in Manila godowns will be obviated. Conditions of business are improving every day, the Custom House is working with excellent precisiou and rapidity, and withal the American officials seem to be handling the situation most successfully.
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4 strike is now on among the tramway drivers and conductors and among the launch orews. They have made a demand for res diculously high wages-three times what they were getting, because they think the Americans have plenty of money and can afford to pay what they demand. Indications are that they will fail, beyond possibly obtaining a slight in- crease, deserved on account of rush of work. This incident proves that even in distant tropical climes strikes can be carried on with the same system as in the United States and Europe. No tram ran yesterday or to-day and none but nary launches were seen at work on the river. The Americans spoiled the natives when they'
The Spanish and American soldiers appear very friendly with each other, the Americans saying they wish they had been fighting the rebels instead of the poor youur Spaniards toru away from the fields against their will, but I expect the Yankees will have their wish grati. fied before long."
the
The steamer Pekin, while on the passage from Shanghai to Ningpo on the 7th September, when off the Little Beacon heard cries in the water. The steamer was stopped and a boat lowered, five men being discovered clinging to wreckage of a juuk, which they reported had been run down half an hour previously by an outward-bound steamer, which had not stopped to see what damage she had done, or try to All their rescue these ou board the junk. clothing and effects had been lost in the wreck, so they were supplied with food and clothing, and a subscription raised for them among the Pekin's officers and passengers. The men were taken on and landed at Ningpo.
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On 1st September, 1898, the water in Tytam
representing a storage of 364,550,000 gallons, while Pokfulam reservoir was fall to the over- flow level, representing a storage of 66,000,000 gallons. The total storage was thus 430,550,000 gallons.
The following are the figures on the corres- ponding dates last year,
Level. Tytam full Pokfalum full
Storage.
384,800,000
66,000,000
Total 450,800,000 The total consumption for all purposes during August was 107,485,000 gallons, giving with an estimated population of 196,500 an average daily consumption of 17.6 gallons per head.
For the corresponding period last year the total consumption was 91,629,000 gallous, or an average daily consumption of 15.5 gallons per head for the population of 190,500.
The Government Analyst reports that the water is of excellent quality and that the supply from Pokfulam is not inferior to that from Tytam.
HONGKONG HOTEL COMPANY, LIMITED.
THE PROPOSED BONUS TO THE DIRECTORS.
On the 15th Sept. an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in the Hongkong Hotel Company. Limited, was held at the botel, for the purpose of considering the following resolution, of which due notice had been given, by Mr. Ho Tung That a bonus of two thousand dollars be hereby voted to each of the three existing directors, or the sum of six thousand dollars in all, out of the profits of the Company during the past half year, as some recognition by the shareholders of the success ful exertions of the Directors in placing the concern once more on a dividend-paying basis." Mr. E. Osborne (Chairman) presided,
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