The CHAIRMAN said the next minute was one in which the Governor recommended the Connoil to vote a sum of $4,C19.95, in aid of the | following votes:-Provisions $2,800.00, Medi- cal Comforts $200.00, Fuel and Light $300.00, Washing $60,00, Incidental Expenses $ 100.00, Coal for Health Officer's Launch $130.00, Repairs for Launch $129.95, Total $4,019.95. He added that the Principal Civil Medical Officer explained that the excuss in provisions and medical comforts was caused by the increase In the number of patients, there being 120 more up to the 31st October than in the corresponding period last year. Then more money had had to be paid for milk owing to the outbreak of rinderpest having obliged the Hospital to go to a fresh place for milk. * Curried.
The CHAIRMAN said the next minute was one in which the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $7,700, in aid of the vote "Telegrams sent and received by Government." This inoresse had been chiefly caused by tele. grams sent in connection with the Kowloon extension, the West River, and other matters. *Carried.
The CHAIRMan said the next item was one in which the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $14.000 for the purchase of arms and other stores for the Police Foros. It had been considered desirable to re-arm the Police Force with the Martini-Enfield carbine.
Answering the Hon. T: H. WHITEHEAD, the CAPTAIN SUPERintendent of POLICE said the old carbines were practically worn out and would not realise much if offered for sale.
* The CHAIRMAN—I am sure if we can get a
good price for them we shall do so.
Carried.
The CHAIRMAN said the next item was one in which the Governor recommended the Council to vota a sum of $27,090, in aid of the following xotes in the Sanitary Department :---- Incidental Conveyance Allowance $250.00, Uniform for Staft $850.00 Electric Lighting of Central Market 31,201.00 Watering Streets, $600.00, Total $2,700.00.
Carried.
The was all the business.
WRECK OF THE U.S.S. “CHAR- LESTON."
THE CREW SAVED.
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Į
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Some little time after the occupation it was reported, on what was understood to be good authority, that the home Government had of fored to restore the town to the Chinese on pay ment of an indemnity of $90,000. The public opinion as to the inadvisability of such a step was freely expressed, and as time went or and the occupation continued it was hoped that the danger was past and that the probability was rather in favour of the extension of British territory up to the natural fron ier marked by the bills behind. This hope, however, has been dissappointed. China has expressed her willingness to pay the indemnity demsuded and has asked for the retrocession of the town of Shamohan, to which the home Government has agreed.
The inhabitants, who had become accustomed to the British occupation are said to view their transfer to Chinese jurisdiction again with disfavour, or at least without enthusiasm A serious aspect of the case is that the transac- tion is causing a feeling of insecurity amongst the inhabitants in the territory already delimit ted as British. Intelligent men to whose ears the report of the retrocession of Shamohun bas come ask what their own position is, and whether they are to regard themselves as British sub- jects for good and all or are liable at any time to be re-transferred to Chinese jurisdiction.
An addition to the report is tha: China has been supported by France and Russia in her demand for the retrocession of Shameban and that Great Britain has in fact yielded to pres- sure. This portion of the report may be dis- missed as a fignent of the magination.
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November 18, 1899.
for the collection of lekin, and as the money is collected it shall be paid into the Head Ollos and receipts for the same obtained, and the Head Office shall deliver the amount of lekin collected to the Lekin Bureau once every five days.
7.-The Tsoli tax and the fort tax shall also be collected by the guilds and from time to time paid into the Head Office. In case of trouble arising through the inability of any shop to pay on account of the dalness of trade the matter shall be settled by the merchants themselves. If any merchant refuses to pay the taxes he shall be prosecuted.
8.-1f any crafty merchants shall carry on business in the names of foreigners, or shall make use of transit passes to avade the payment of lekin, or resist the examination of cargo with a view to defraud the revenue, the repre- sentative merchants shall be at liberty to peti- tion the Authorities to have the matter investi- gated.
9-If any unprincipled merchants or local · banditti shall make use of any pretext to give trouble or create disorder about the collection of lekin they shall be arrested and punished by the local authorities.
5. Should the exportation or importation of goods be interfered with by any extraordinary event such as war or local disturbances, so that the lekin cannot be collected, the guilds shall be allowed to give up the Farm; but in case of small trouble the merchants shall settle it amongst themselves.
10. Should the transit pass system be largely used and many passes be issued lekin would be at a sad discount. The guilds will therefore be entitled to ask that the rent of the Farm ɛshall
THE LERÎN QUESTION AT CANTON. be adjusted according to the circumstances and
PROPOSED FARMING OF TUE TAX BY THE
SEVENTY-TWO GUILD8.
The visit of the Higa Commissioner Kang Xi to Canton has resulted in a good deal of discussion in native commercial circles as to the methods of collecting the lekin and othar taxes on trade. The High Commissioner proposed that a shop tax should be substituted for lekin, but to this the merchants objected. The pro- posed shop tax, we are informed, would only have been lekin in another, and, as the merchant- feared, a more oppressive and irksome form. The Seventy-two Guilds hare now proposed to
[SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE "DAILY PRESS."] farm the lekin themselves, and before the High
Manila, 16th November.
The United States oruiser Charleston was wrecked on an uncharted rock, where 80 fathoms of water is marked, off North Luzon, on the morning of the 2nd inst.
The crew of 335 displayed perfect discipline and were all saved.
Commissioner left Canton they pressured a petition to that effect. The mutter has not yet been settled, and it is considered improbable that the proposed Farm will be constituted. The petition embodied twelve articles, of which the following is rough translation:-
1.-The principal office for the collection of lekin and other taxes by the guilds shall be call-
They rowed eighteen miles to Casuagained the Mercantile Head Office, shall be situat. Island, where the Natives proved friendly.
Lieutenant MacDonald sailed in a launch to Lingayan, where he found the U.S.8. Oregon
`and Asteo.
The U.S. gunboat Helena has been sent to
the relief of the Charleston's orow.
RETROCESSION OF SHAMCHUN TO CHINA,
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ed in Canton, and shall issue sealed certificates for the payment of lekin and other taxes au.i keep records.
members or associates. If any shop makes fai
2-Etch guild shall stand security for its
lure or delay in the payment of lekin the guild shall be responsible, and if any guild makes failure or delay the seventy-two guilds shall be responsible.
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3-Upon taking over the farm the members We regret to learn that instructions have of the seventy-two guilds shall elect several res been received from home that the town of Sham-pectable and trustworthy persons as their re- chun is to be evacuated by the British troops
presentatives. - now stationed there and to be given up to China.
4. The said representatives upon their elec.
· After the disturbances that occurred in counec- tion shall present a petition to the Government tion with the taking over of the New Territory requesting the appointment of a Weiyuin, the home Government determined to mark their through whom all official communications sense of the duplicity of the Chinese authorities shall be
made and received, and in the in a suitable manner, and orders were socord- event of any local disorder or trouble about ingly issued to the military to seize Kowloon the lekin, the said Weiynin shall make walled city and Shamohun. At the occupation the necessary representations for its suppres- of Shamchun the troops were commanded by sion; but the representatives of the seventy-two Mejor General Gascoigne in person. The guilds shall be responsible for the collection of occupation was effected on the 16th May and on the following day the General issued a proclamation, saying that the district was would be done to everybody, that the inhabitants now under the Queen's dominion, that justice were no longer to pay any taxes to Chinese omcials, and that if any Chinese officials came them for taxes they were to report the matter to the officer commanding the troops. The town has remained in the military occupation of Great Britain ever since.
all lekin and for the payment of the rent of the Farm to the Government, and in these matters the Weignin shall not interfere.
the first quarter the guilds representatives 5. Upon the payment of Tls. 1,000,000 for shall be entitled to apply for permission to work the Farm,
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6. The rent of the Farm for the first quarter having been paid, and permission to work the Farm having been granted, the guilds shall establish branch offoes in Canton and elsewhere
the amount of business that is being done.
11.-No foreigners or Native Christians ör persons unconuected with the guilds shall be allowed to acquire any share or interest in the Farm, but ouly truly honest and trustworthy merchants, who shall each sign a bond betere the competent Authority.
12.-The Provincial Treasurer shall arrange for the issue of a pass to be called the Waluan Pass, which shall confer the same privileges as the transit pass. The pass shall be signed by dre authorities and shall entitle the holder to carry cargo to any part of the province.
SENSATIONAL SOCIAL INCIDENT AT CANTON.
A MISSIONARY LADY TO MARBY HER
CHINESE COOK.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 11th November. The missionary and European community of Shameen are much wrought up over the ap proaching marriage of a female missionary doctor to her ex-cook, an ignorant illiterate Chinaman of the coolie class. The infatuated woman, who heretofore has had the liking and respect of all classes, is thirty-six years of age, highly educated, refined, and has been quite a successful practi- tioner.
About five years ago she took into her employ a house-coolie, eighteen years old, named A Tean, and promoted him to the post of cook. Listaly, however, ho has been one of the attendants at
Dr. Kerr's Home for the Insane in Tak Ti and dibbling in medicine. He is most unattractive in appearance, and shows, amistakably, the signs of bis coolie origin,
Up to within a year ago the lady was a mem. ber of one of the leading American Missions in Cautos, but her open courting of her servant became so marked that after receiving several warnings from other members of the Mission, and still persisting in accepting the attentions of the man, her connection with the society was finally dissolved. Since then she has lived in a native house in Honam, and a short time ago announced her intention of marrying her ex- servant, and the wedding is to take place" nert week, unless the former friends of the deluded woman can devise some means to prevent it.
It goes without saying that none of the-z sionary preachers will perform the ceremony and marriage will therefore have to be celeb in Chinese style.
£ome five years ago this another- missionary;
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