486
SANDAKAN NOTES,
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
21st November.
The Labuan was released by the American authorities at Manila on the 10th inst., and arrived here on the 13th inst. Captain Pfort had, however, to pay a fine of 8:40, being 82 (Mexican) per ton on the ship's tonnage. This insignificant penalty clearly shows that the Americans made a mistake in seizing the ship. and probably a heavy claim will be made to recompense her owners,
The last steamer arriving here.from Salu reports that Zamboanga is now in the possession of the Americans. It was expected all along that the taking of this place would be a some. what difficult piece of work, but it turned out to be an entirely bloodless victory.
On the departure of their proprietor from these parts the Candakan Engineering Works have been purchased by the China-Borneo Co., Limited. This latter Co. has also purchased the steam-launch Dart from the same quarter.
It is understood that Messrs. Jardine, Mathe- son and Co. have abandoned the German competition on the Hongkong-Borneo run, and do not intend to trade here again on their own account. It is hard to understand their reason for this, as unquestionably the Mausang made money all the time she was on the run, The result is that this British Colony has now to rely absolutely upon German steamers fo all its communication with the outer world.
THE PLAGUE AT KOBE
THE TOWN PRACTICALLY FREE
Kobe 27th November,
No new case of plague has been reported in Kobe since the 17th inst., the suspected case of the maid-servant at the wax refinery having been now declared not to be the disease. Within a few days it is expected that the medical author- ities will declare the port free of plague. As we have said before, it seems to us that the local authorities cannot be too highly praised for the energy with which they have dealt with the out- break. If, as may now be hoped the disease has been effectually stamped out in a fornight, after seven cases had occurred our local authorities have succeeded in doing what no other port in the Far East has done.
A case of suspected plague occurred at Moji on Friday, and the patient was at once isolated. The guild of coolie contractors has engaged four doctors for the inspection of the men, one of the doctors being stationed at Hyogo, and the three others remaining in the head office at Sakayemachi. The men examined daily average 1,200, and the expenditure required exceeds 30 yen a day.
It is believed that the prohibition of theatrical and other entertainments will shortly be removed, but, even in the event of the total suppression of the plagne, the examination of the health of the people and the cleansing of the streets and premises now being carried out, will be continued for about six months, as a matter of precaution and in order to promptly deal with any outbreak that may occur.--Kobs Chronicle.
HONGKONG.
Fifty Indians have arrived in the colony rom India for service as police in the New Territory, There were 2,654 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 207 were Europeans. The M.M. homeward bound mail steamers will in future leave at noon on Monday instead
· of ́ Saturda y as hitherto.
THE HONGKONG" WELKLY ERESS AND
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The only case of communicable disease re- ported last week was one of enteric fever im- ported by the Gefion from Shanglimi.
Owing to the scaroity of steamers in the Eset, the stock of coal at Moji is rapidly accumulat. ing. There are said to be some 500,000 tons awaiting shipment-Nagasaki Press.
H.R.H. Prince Henry of Prussia was enteri tained to dinner in the German Club on Saturi day evening by a large assembly composed of German gentlemen who had formerly served in the Germany.army.
The Hongkong Amateur Dramatic Club announces performances of the laughable farce "Mother-in-Law" on Thursday, 21st, and Ba- turday, 23rd December. After the recent euc- cess in "The Magistrate,” which showed that the A.D.C. is at present exceptionally rich in talent, the new piece will be looked forward to with much interest
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De dealber 028. The flags at Government Home andi Hoad- quarter Bouse were half-maatedɛon Thursda in consequence of the death of Bir. Charles:Mit« chell, Governor of the Straits Settlements. The cause of Sir Charlene Mitchell's douth, was paralysis.
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Miss. Halverson, the American Missionary dostor, married her Chinese fiance at thepest- ablishment of the American Board of Com- missioners for Foreign Missions, in Pokfulam Road, on Tuesday, the Rev. C. R. Hager per- forming the ceremony.
At the regular meeting of Zetland Lodge, No. 525, held on Friday evening, Wor. Bro G. Piercy was re-elected Worshipful Master of the Lodge for the ensuing year. Wor.Bro. G.J.B. Sayer. P.M., was elected Treasurer. A am of $250 was voted from the Lodge funds to the Patriotic Fund for the relief of the sufferers by the Boer war.
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The sentence of death passed upon TangTai. on the 20th ult. for the murder of another coolie named. Fong Wai, by striking him on the bead with a bamboo pole, has been: com. muted by H. E. the Governor in Council to 10 years' imprisonment with hard labour, alt will be remembered that the jury who found prisoner guilty of murder, recommended bim to mercy.
After having been closed for some time the premises formerly known as the Windsor Hotel, in Queen's Road Central, were re-opened on the 1st inst. as a private hotel under the name of Connaught House, with Mr. Antonio Fonseca as manager. Considerable structural alterations have been made and every room has been re-decorated and is being re-furnished. At present only about half of the rooms are avail. | able, but Mr. Fonseca expects to have the whole We are informed by Messrs. John D. Hum- ready by per week end. A visit to the pre-phreys and Son. General Managers of ( livers mises showed that everything is being done to
Freshold Mines, Limited, that they have re- make those who stay there comforta le,
ceived a telegram from the Mines, giving the In view of the Sanitary Board's taking into result of the November crushing as follows →→ consideration the destruction of rats on the 685 tons of quartz crushed for a yield of 437 ground of their being propagators of plague oss. of smelted gold; mill ran 26 days. From the following from the Kobe Chronicle is of advices received by the Airlie the General some interest-lt is stated that since the en- Managers learn that the yield for October in- cluded 50 oz. gold obtained from soraping amalgamation plates.
couragement given by the authorities to the destruction of rats on account of the outbreak of plague, the sale of rat-traps has increased largely, and the stocks at Osaka aud Kobe have been ex- hausted. A doctor writing to the local verna cular press points out that cement mixed with boiled rice is an effective rat-destroyer, as the cement hardens in their stomachs after they have eaten it. This method, however, is open to great objections. For besides the oruelty of the method itself, there is always the danger that the rat may die in some hole, and ret there an discovered, thus making matters worse. From the number of dead rats lying about in the rond- ways it hardly seems to be realised that the mere killing of the rats is not enough. Their bodies should be destroyed by fire.
At the Magistracy on Saturday, before Mr. Gomperts, Mr. T. H. Reid appeared to give evidence against ricksha coulis No. 43, whom he had summoned for using abusive and insult. ing language. He said that on Thursday night, between six and seven o'clock, he hired defen-
dant to take him from the wharf at Kowloon to
Knutsford Terrace. On paying him bis legal fare and after he had gone a short distance from him defendant began to use insulting language. Complainant went back to take de fendant's number. Defendant ran away. He followed him about a mile and a half...and when in Macdonnell Road defendant drop ped his ricksha and bolted. Complainant searched the riobaha, but could not and the license. He took everything movable out of the ricksha to the Police Station -aud asked Inspector Macdonald to find the man out and get him summoned. He identified defendant as the man whom he hired.--Defend- ant said that he was going to put on another jacket, as the day was cold, when complainant rushed at him and wanted to strike him with a stick. Complainant did not touch him, as the ran away. Complainant said he did not threaten to strike defendant. He was never within ten yards of him until he got into Macdonell Road. He added that he had brought this case before His Worship because the rioksha coolies in Kow- loon are particularly annoying, especially to women folk. There were not many people who hour afterwards. Decessed had been at Taat Tex would take the trouble to prosecute, because they Mui for seven years and was much respected by had to go to Yaumati to lay their complaint and the locality. He came to Hongkong in August, doing that and appearing at the Magistracy took 1884. He had served previously in the Dundee ap considerable time. He asked His Worship Police Force, the Royal Irish Constabulary, and to deal severely with defendant in order to pro the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Hevent other ricksha coolies in Kowloon from be: was a native of Banffshire, Scotland. Deceased ing so abusive and cheeky as they had been was a member of the United Service Lodge of His Worship said he was glad defendant had Freemasons, No. 1341, and the funeral was at- been prosecuted. Some people would have as tended by brethren of that and other Masonic | saulted the coolie. He would be fined $5,
Lodges.
seven days.
On Saturday afternoon the remains of P.C. Robert Patterson, who died suddenly the pro- vions afternoon, were interred. Deceased, who was 50 years of age, was sitting on the verandah at Teat Tes Mui Police Station Quarry Bay, at about half-past three, when he suddenly became anwell. He went to his quarters and died about_half_an
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At the Magistracy on the 1st December Chan Kat, postman No. 7, was sentenced to 21 dave' imprisonment for unlawfully delaying a regis. tered letter. On the 27th November a registered letter from Rangoon to Hongkong was handed to defendant for delivery. On the 30th No vember, in consequence of a report made to him. Mr. A. Barron, superintendent of the registration and parcels department, askedɔde- fendant to show him bis drawer. In the drawer be found three registered letters, including the one in question. If defendant could not deliver the letter it was his duty to return it to the No.
postman.
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We regret to bare to announce of the death, Mr. H. J. Holmos, solicitor, which occurred on Sunday at his residence, Kowloon. Mr. Folmes had been resident in the colony for very many years, having come out as clerk to Judge Ball in 1862. After serving in that capacity for some years, he was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court. He was a prominent member of the old Volunteer Corps, in which he held a commission, and he took a keen interest in rifle shooting up to quite recently. He leaves a widow and a grown-up family. One of his sons is a lieutenant in the Irish Fusiliers ` and was one of those who had the misfortune to be taken prisoners by the Boers.
Mrs. Holmes left for home recently, in ill-health, and much sympathy will be felt with her and her children in their bereavement.
At the Magistracy on Saturday, five persons were charged with attempting to remore the body of a shroff employed by Mr. Ho Tung from the colony without permit, these persons being deceased's widow, an undertaker and his runner, the coolie who carried the body on to a boat, and the boatman himself. It appears that the body was found at No.5 Wa On Lane, on the 30th November, by Sani. tary Inspector Fisher. Be had it removed to the mortuary and reported to Dr. Clark that there were no suspicious circumstances, and consequently a certificate for burial was issued. In the meantime Dr. Atkinson made a post mortem examination of the body and reported to the police that death had ben caused by poisoning. Immediately afterwards it was found that the body had been removed from the mortuary, not for burial in colony by virtue of the certificate given by Dr. Clark, but to be taken to Canton. The Police serrébéd for the body, and found it in an undertaker's boat in Yaumati Bay. Chief · Detectiva 'In- spector Hanson had the boat towed over to West Point, and the body removed to the mortuary, “Defendants were remadded.
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