298
CORRESPONDENCE.
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE RAMTINHU INCIDENT AND HOW THE BRITISH GET FOOLED.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
than once without discomfort and to my great convenience.
GHARIWALLA.
Hongkong, 4th October, 1898,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
"DAILY PRESS." SIR,-I have read with considerable amuse- ment "Ghariwalla's" critique of my article on the above subject. His objections are sweeping; but the letter from an authority like Mr. R. K. TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.'
Leigh, M. Inst. C.E., which appeared in yester. Dear Sir, The British Anthorities are quite day's issue above "Ghariwalla's "remarkable con- right to demand satisfaction for insults to the tribution gives proof sufficient to all persons, flag by Chinese, but why do they allow them not absolutely fossilised, that the scheme is a selves to be fooled? It always happens when practicable one, and is answer enough for me. massacres of women and children take place (as Ghariwalla" is kind enough to introduce at Kucheng under Viceroy Tan, at present of the personal element into the early part of his this Province but then of Fukien) or the Bri-letter, but little less could be expected from one tish flag is insulted, that some poor coolies are
who would squeeze a 'richsha coolie down to 15 made scape-goats and the real instigators and cents for (his own words) "an hour's steady criminals get off scot free. Why is it?
pulling." I am happy to be able to congratu late him on the appropriate nom de plume he has chosen.-I am, yours very truly,
J. DALZIEL.
BRITISHER.
Hongkong, 3rd October, 1898.
TRAMWAYS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
DAILY PRESS,
Sir, With reference to the article by M J. Dalziel on Tramways in this morning's issue, I beg to inform you that I am the Secre- tary of a Syndicate who obtained an Ordinance in 1883 for the construction of tramways in this city and we are only waiting for the completion of the Praya Reclamation before commencing operations. Yours truly.
R. K. LEIGH,
M. Inst. C.E.
Hongkong, 4th October 1898,
"
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
1,
Sir, I have read with much interest Mr. J. Dalziel's letter in your issue of to-day and note that he bases his estimates of the cost and profits of a tramway in Hongkong on the return of American and English Companies. I cannot help thinking that it would be more to the point if he were to base his statistics on the results shown by tramways in the Orient, notably those in Calcutta and Madras, where the conditions which obtain are not dissimilar to those which would obtain in Hongkong were Mr. Dalziel's scheme accepted in extenso. I believe that the tramway in Bombay pays ex- ceedingly well, the reason being that for about nineteen twentieths of its length it runs through a densely populated district inhabited by a well- to-do population. Mr. Dalziel's proposed tram- way seems to be planned mainly for the adván- tage of the employés at the Taikoo Sugar Works who want to visit the city. It might possibly prove an advantage to the proprietors of the Bay View Hotel and the restaurant which, I am told, is to be opened at the Mica Works, but probably most of the visitors to those resorts would just as goon drive, take a ricksha, or ride a bicycle.
The following among other objections to Mr. Dalziel's scheme occur to me :—
(1) The curse to bicyclists, riders, and owners of carriages of a tram-line laid on their only road.
(2) The utter impossibility of conducting the existing coolie trolley system satisfactorily on a road with a double line of rails. It would be difficult enough on the narrow Hongkong roads with a single line of rails. (3) Owing to our comparatively pleasant winter, the temptation to ride rather than walk is not so great during half the year as it is in Cal- catta, Madras, and Bombay.
(4) The fact that very few people have any actual need to move beyond a radius of a mile east and west of the Clock Tower. (5) The (numerous rickshas plying for hire at rates which are less than Mr. Dalziel's pro- posed scale of fares. I believe 15 to 20 cents is the recognised rate for an hour's steady pulling, say, for 44 miles.
I could add to these objections and expatiate upon them, but I have no reason for combating Mr. Dalziel's scheme beyond an impression, possibly an erroneous oue, that Hongkong is one of the most unlikely places on the face of this earth to furnish a site for a profitable low lorel tramway. I have no serious objection to tramways. I have ridden on a tramcar more
64
Hongkong, 6th October, 1898.
•
THE NEW CLOCK TOWER.
19
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS,'
SIR, Amongst the items of expenditure on public works I note that a sum of $30,000 is set aside in next year's estimates for a new Clock Tower. The present, Clock Tower is to be pulled down because it is visible from nowhere and congests the traffic. Who is to say whether the new one twenty years hence will not have to be pulled down for the same reason? The most sensible plan would be to build the Clock on the New Law Conrts. As regards cost I do not expect there would be much to choose, bat as regards architectural effect and utility there can be no doubt that a Clock Tower on the Law Courts would be best.
|
[October 8, 1808.
and the naval forces of the Peiyang Adminis- tration, which in a crisis like the present makes him the master of the situation. But Jung Lu is a senior member of the Imperial Clan, which powerful body is said to have considerably | strengthened the hands of the Empress Dowager and of Li Hung-chang in their recent deposition, and possibly murder, of the Em. peror; and above all things Jung Lu has the name of being a thorough courtier. The favour and high honours which the Emperor for at least eighteen months past has literally rained upon this high official as a mark of Imperial esteem and confidence ought to make him anxious to hasten to his Imperial master's side; but there is too much reason to fear that he goes up as one of the leaders of the Imperial Clansmen and chief supporters of the Empress Dowager.-N. C. Daily News.
THE PORT OF WOOSUNG.
Shanghai. 26th September. The survey of the Hort of Woosung has been completed and plan will be ready in a few days. Hsiang Tantai has been appointed to take charge of the Land Office there, which was de- clared open from to-day. That is to say that lots are
now officially ready to be sold.- Mercury.
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Macao, 30th September.
A notification was published in the Boletim Official last week permitting the free exporta- tion of rice to foreign markets, and the mer. chants are at last satisfied. Under the previons
order they had to obtain a special licence for each shipment, which involved a good deal of trouble and also some expense.
The drainage of the city is in a most dis- In London I cannot call to mind a single graceful condition. Both the public and private Clock Tower placed in the middle of the road, drains urgently call for attention and for some though I remember several which form part of expenditure to effect the necessary improve- public buildings, to wit, the Houses of Parliaments. The drains of San Francisco's, Travessa ment, the Holborn Town Hall, &c. Another
do Paiva, and Ruo do Gamboa are especially reason agaist having a Clock Tower in the bad. middle of the road is that it depreciates the value of shops immediately surrounding it by obstructing them more or less from view. I am, dear sir, yours truly,
Hongkong, 5th October, 1898.
ALARIC.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
"
SIR-The objection of your correspondent "Alaric" to the Clock Tower being moved
forward appears to be based on the idea that it would be placed in the middle of the road again, and impede the traffic. From what I under- stand, the proposal is to erect the Tower in front of the Praya, the site, projecting beyond it and thus rendering the clock conspicuous for some miles along the shore and the most pro- minent object in the whole city from the water, I do not think "Alaric "nged trouble to specu late on any further reclamations from the water in the central portion of Victoria. We have territory sufficient for all our wants, and further reclamation in such deep water would prove very costly. Yours faithfully,
OBSERVER.
Hongkong, 6th October 1898.
THE VICEROY JUNG LU'S JOURNEY 10 PEKING.
The gunboat Liberal left for Hongkong this morning en route to Japan. She is to bring back half-a-dozen cannon bought in that conn- try some time ago. This is the second pur- chase of the kind.
Timor, our sucking pig, is now sucking our treasury with all its might. H.E. Senbor Galhardo, who Las much influence with the Lisbon Government, knows that Macao itself is in urgent need of money for public works, not only harbour improvement works but many- be sent almost monthly to that fruitless island others as well, and yet he allows large sums to
Timor, Does His Excellency use his influence as he ought? Timor is robbing us.
The British gunboat Pigmy came over on the 27th to be present on the occasion of the King's birthday, and was duly decorated and fired the customary salute. The celebrations included a reception at Government House, thanksgiving service at the Cathedral, and illu- minatious and ball at Government House in the evening.
CANTON NOTES.,
[FROM THE CHUNG NOOI SAN PO."] It is rumoured that a Sansz has sent a petition to the Viceroy asking to be allowed to farm the Fantan gambling. He is willing to pay to the Government six hundred thousand taels per annum as the rent the farm.
Shanghai, 28th September. A Tientsin telegram received yesterday states that "the Grand Secretary and Viceroy of Chih- Last month a rebellion broke out in Kinchow, i, Jung La, started for Peking by special train the leader of which was a Sansz named Nam almost immediately after the receipt of the Em Kan-ko, who had about two thousand rebels press Dowager's edict commanding his im- under his influence. The rebels plundered the mediate presence at the palace. There was no houses of all the rich families and made an ceremony of handing over of the seals when attack on the yamen of the local Magistrate, who, Yuan Shih-kai (better-known as the Chinese having but a small force under him, dare not offer ex-President at Seoul) took over the acting any resistance. The rebels then broko open the Viceroyship of the Peiyang Administration." prison and set free twenty-six prisoners, leaving l'o the superficial observer this last sentence only two prisoners, natives of the province of way not mean much, but it really possesses a
Hanan, bebind.. "The local Magistrate at once meaning of the greatest significance and politi- applied to the Toatai of Loikin prefecture for cal importance. In other words, Viceroy Jung assistance, in reply to which six hundred soldiers Lu took his seals along with him to Peking, for were sent. When the soldiers arrived on the by the possession of them he has the supreme scene the rebels, being poorly armed, were com- control of the armies of Chibli province | pelled to retreat into the mountain fastnesses
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