THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The Avoca, with the King's Own on board, left for Singapore on 17th Jan. We wish the departing Regiment a pleasant time on their new station.
Viceroy Tan has received a telegram from There were no cases of communicable disease H.E. Liu Kun-yi, Viceroy of Nankin, request-reported as occurring in the colony last week. ing him to send General Liu Yung-fu and Lieut-General Kong Chi to Nankin with all the soldiers under their command. Lient.- General Kong Chi is now engaged in enlisting five more regiments of five hundred soldiers each;
the force at present under his command is not large enough.
Rumours have been current in Carton to the effect that three Censors have memorialised the Throne recommending the cashiering of H.E. Lin Kun-yi, Viceroy of Nankin. The charges brought against him are that he is lazy and alow in the execution of public duties.
As cash is in great demand, Hongkong cents are accepted in many places as legal tender Some money changers have come from the districts of Sunpak and Sansi to Canton for the purpose of collecting a supply of cents.
The groundnut crop is reported to be very favourable this season, in consegnence of which the price of groundnut oil has greatly declined. A jar containing thirty catties is now sold at the price of three taels and three mace against four taels and two mace last month.
As the price of firewood is going up daily the Acting Provincial Treasurer has sent some expectant officers to buy supplies in Kwangsi and other provinces where the article is produced abundantly, to be sold to the peoble in Canton at low prices.
As the Chinese New Year is approaching. robbers are bolder than ever. It is very dan. gerous to travel either by land or by water. The latter is much the worse, for the robbers appear in large numbers in long boats, so that it is very seldom any one in a small boat can make his escape. Though many guard boats have been established at the expeuse of the villages, they are not a match for the robbers, who are all armed with rifles of new patterns.
HONGKONG.
The Avoca left on 16th Jan for home with the King's Own.
There were 2.824 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 212 were Europeans. We have reason to believe that correspond. ence for the Daily Press has been impounded by the postal authorities in the Philippines.
A notification was issued by the Cable Com- panies on 16th Jan. to the effect that telegrams to Manila containing political news or references are subject to censorship by the United States Authorities there,' and can only be accepted at the senders' risk.
It is notified in the Gazette that Lieut. A. H. Lee-Norman, Hongkong Volunteers, resigns the appointment of Aide-de-camp to His Ex- cellency the Governor from the 9th instant. Becond Lieut. R. W. J. The Viscount Suirdale, 3rd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, is ap- pointed Aide-de-camp to His Excellency the Governor with effect from the 9th instant.
A registered packet was recently sent from Yokohama to Sydney, ustralia. It took some time over its journey, for instead of going direct, the Hongkong Post Office kindly sent it to Liverpool, whence it travelled to London and then back through the Suez Canal again, fin- ally reaching its destination two months after "duplicates" despatched from Yokohama a mail later-Japan Mail.
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l'he cook employed by Mrs. Wagner, of Garden Road, Kowloon, appeared before Com mander Hastings at the Magistracy on Thurs . day charged with baring administered poison or some other noxious drug with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Mrs. Wagner went to Hongkong on the 10th inst, and on returning Bome at noon she found her five servants in a state of stupefaction. Being alarmed she at once went to the Yaumati Police Station and made a report. The men were taken to the hospital but were well enough to leave the next day. They stated that as they were preparing their meal defendant came with a jar of fat, which he put into their food, and as soon as they had partaken of the latter they became ill. The jar was subsequently discovered in the ashpit broken. but on some fat which was soraped from it being examined by Mr. E. Browne. Acting Government Analyst, it was found to contain datura. Defendant was com- mitted for trial.
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The maximum temperature last month was 79.7, on the 1st, and the minimum 50, on the 15th, the mean for the month being 62.1. The rainfall amounted to 0.025 in. There were 254 hours of sunhine.
At the regular convocation of the Victoria Chapter, No 525. E.C., the election of Officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:- M.E.Z., Ex Comp. R. Mitchell; H. Ex Comp. G. J. B. Sayer; J., Comp. G. Pieroy, Jr.; Treasurer, Comp. J. J. Bryan; Sc.E., Comp. E. Ralphs; Sc.N., Comp. B. B. Harker; P.S., Comp. J. D. Ball; Janitor, Comp. J. Maxwell.
Vice Admiral Sir Edward Seymour, Captain Jellicoe, and the Officers of H.M.S. Centurion gave a ball on board the flagship on the 12th January at which Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess Henry of Prussia, Sir Henry and Lady Blake, and Major-General and Mrs. Gascoigne were present. The ship deck being closed in with flags and decorated had been turned into a veritable fairyland, the with flowers and the electric light. The dais and alcove arranged at the stern made au especially beautiful picture.
At a regular conv cation of the United Chapter, No. 1,341, the following office-bearers were appointed for the ensuing year :-)
:--M.E.Z., Ex. Comp. H. E. A. Hoile; H., M. E. Comp. W. M. B. Arthur; J. Comp. J. Bremner; Treasurer, Comp. J. R. Grimble; Scribe E., M.E. Comp. G. J. W. King; Scribe N.. Comp.. J. Wheel; P. 3. Comp. W. H. E. Smith,; 1st Assist. S., Comp. G. Watling; 2nd Assist. S., Comp H. Gilmour; Dir. of Cer., Comp. J. Varcos; Steward. Comp. F. Stainton; Tyler, Comp. J. Maxwell,
We understand that elaborate preparations are being made at Bangkok in view of the approaching visit of Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Henry of Prussia, who will probably leave Hongkong in the Deutschland on the 28th inst, the day after: the birthday of the Emperor of Germany. They purpose staying with the King of Stam, whose visit to the Emperor a year or two ago they are returning, for about a fortnight, after which they will go to Shanghai and then to Kisochow. On the 25th inst. a ball, at which the Prince and Princess will be present, will be given by the German community at the City Hall.
came to
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At the Magistracy on Thursday afternoon the shroff employed at the Cattle Depot at Kowloon was charged with causing to be impressed, on January 6th, the mark of a broad arrow with- out lawful authority, it being the duty of In. spector Watson to pass animals fit for slaughter and to order. their marking. Mr. Dennys appeared for the prosecution and Mr. Grist for the defence. It appeared that on the fifth of January, a butcher at Hungbom brought up six cattle to the depôt to be passed for slaughter, and Inspector Watson passed four of the number, the other two being retained in the depôt. Next morning, the butcher the depot to take away the rejected cattle, and was met by the shroff who told him not to take them away; he would pass them on payment of $1 each. The butcher paid the money, and the shroff told the coolie to brand the cattle with the counterfeit arrow. This was done and the cattle were being driven along the road to the slaughter house, when Inspec. tor Watson, who had been watching in a place of hiding, went down and arrested the butcher and then the coolie. The butcher and the coolie were taken before the Magistrate on the 7th, and were each find $10, with the alter. native of three months' imprisonment. coolie said he had only done what he was ordered to do by the shroff, bat the shroff denied all responsibility. The matter was further en- quired into, and the counterfeit marking iron was found secreted in the chimney of a cookhouse at the depot. The evidence of the Indian watch- man at the slaughter-bouse showed that the shroff had been connected with the affair, the shroff having endeavoured to induce him to join in the business. In consequence the shroff was arrested and he was seuleuced in six months'
hard labour.
The
[January 21, 1899,
The stamp revenue last year amounted to $351,422, being an increase of $77,977 on the amount collected in 1897.
We are informed that subject to andit the Directors of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bánk. ing Corporation propose to pay at the forth. coming meeting a dividend of £1 10s. per share and a bonus of £1 per share, to add $1,000,000 to the reserve fund, to write off $500,000 from property account, and to carry forward about. $830,000. The £250,000 23 per cent. Consols special London reserve remain at 28, 6
6d, and £95. The £525,00 27 per cent. Consols have been written down to 490 and exchange 2s. The balance of sterling securities, about £300,000, remain as at present in books and exchange 28.
The new river gunboat the Sandpiper was suc- cessfully launched on Wednesday at Hung Hom slip, taking the water very well. Mrs. Holland performed the ceremony of naming the vessel, previous to which a short service was conducted by the Rev. Francis Flynn. Among those present? were H.E. Sir Henry Blake and Lady Blake, The Bishop and Mrs. Hoare, Major-General and Mrs.Gascoigne, Rear-Admiral and Mrs. Holland, Davieson, and Plenderleath; Lieutenant Com- Colonel and Mrs. Evatt, Commanders Napier, manders Carr (of the Sandpiper) and Haywood Booth. The vessel was towed round to the Kowloon Naval Yard and will go out for a steam trial to-day. She will probably commence her duties in the West River very shortly.
The following notification appears in the Gazette:-The attention of the Governor having been directed to the similarity of the ribbon attached to the Jubilee Medal with that of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, His Excellency hereby directs that such ribbon may not be worn for any other official medal or decoration than that for which it was instituted, and that the Jubilee Medal must be worn attached to a ribbon not so appro priated. His Excellency has further been pleased to approve of the Jubilee Medal being. worn with a yellow and white striped ribbon one and a balf inches in width, the onter stripes to be of yellow half an inch in width, and the inner stripe to be of white half an inch in width. * The new ribbon will be obtained by the Govern- ment and issued in due course to gentlemen entitled to wear the Jubilee Medal.
A large congregation assembled 'in'St. John's Cathedral on 16th January on the occasion of an organ recital by Mr. A. G. Ward. Miss Gaspar, who was announced as the vocalist, no donbt proved an extra attraction. She sang both her pieces beautifully. Mr. Ward played with his usual ability. The following was the programme:—
Sorata (No. 2),
.
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:
“endelssohn'
Grave-Adagi-Allegro · nestoso-Fugue: Offertoire (on two Christmas themes) Giulmant Recitative." O, worse than death,”.... .....Handel
Mi-8 Gn-par "Angels ever Bright ad fair," Handel
Miss Gaspar.
Air...
Grand Chœur
a. "Berceuse"
b. "Romance" Soug
...Salomé
from iz Pieces for the Violin arranged by Lott {O. King and Paliner.....
.“Ora pro nobis "
Miss Gaspar.
\.arshall ..Piccolomine
March in E flat ..........................................
............................Hoyte **par A Chinese boatwoman was charged at the Magistracy on 16th Jan, with having neglected to exhibit a light on her boat on Saturday night, Fok Chin, steersman of the Guiding Star, said that he was steering straight from Hongkong to Kowloon. On passing the east side of Jardine's No., 1 buoy he saw a shadow on his star- board side, but saw no light. He at once re-t versed the engines, but too late to prevent defendant's boat fom colliding, He towed the boat to Kowloon, where she filled and sank. R. E. Humphreys, who was a passenger on board the launch at the time of the occurrence, said the whistle was blown sharply and the engines reversed, but this did not pre. vent them from running into a junk which
Was under sail. There was no light at the mast- head of the junk. After the collision the sail of the junk was taken down and he saw * light. being hoisted at the jigger mast. Defendant said the light was hoisted at the mast-head, and the launch was hailed twice. A flue of $25, or aix months, was imposed.
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