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lished show, not only an increase in the heavy makes of goods, that might be required for the use of the cooltes engaged on railway works, but also in almost every article, many of which can only be treated as luxuries. It seems to 08 that this is an earnest of what might be expected in all parts of the country so soou as railways are generally introduced, no matter by whose money and influence they are built. The vast possibilities of this count. ry, when it is properly openet up, are only foreshadowed, but unfortunately the necessary confidence in the integrity of its Government has not yet been established.
SERIOUS CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED ARSON IN SHANGHAI.
INSURANCE COMPANY'S LAXITY.
hanghai, 11th l'ecember. Another instance of the gross carelessness with which the local agents of various fire in- surance companies accept risks on rickety na tive shops and dwellings was made apparent st
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
|
[December 23, 1899.
H. M. 8. Rattler, taking on board_thirty | Bertie Cameron is to b› congratulated upon his marines from the Hermione, sailed out to Borneo rendering of an unpopular character. The to laul a party to save Labuan from thief, Mat duties of the band were undertaken by two Salleh, whom Mr. Cowie most foolishly patted young ladies who relieved each other at the on the back when he should have been hit on piano and in no small degree contributed to the the head. If matters get serions, Mr. Clif- success of the evening. ford's temporary resource would be to ask the High Commmissioner to read a body of Sikhs from the Federated Malay States. Therefore, at present, we greatly fear the advent of a stranger. We wish to have a Governor who knows Malaya, and who knows the Malay-a man of broad mind and generous instinot: a man whom we can trust because we know him. That man is Sir Frank Swettenham.
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THE JAPANESE IN CHINA.
At a meeting of the To-a Dobun-kai (East- Asian Fellow-thinkers) held in the Maple Club on the 2nd instant, Prince Konoye spoke of the impressions produced on him by his recent trip to China. He was struck above all things by the hugeness and the vast material resources
of the empire, and he saw many opportunities for Japanese industrial and commercial enter. prise-opportunities which ought to be utilized, since Japan can never hope to be prosperous by means of agriculture only. At the same time, be observed, with satisfaction, that there were
Mr. H. Schlee Mr. Ronald Greig Mr. G. Ballach Mr. R. R. Westall Miss Linklater
The cast was as follows :- Colonel Challice Stratton Strawless Bertie Cameron Dr. Micklethwaite Maude Trevor Mrs. Thornton Maid
Misa Lay
Miss Mackinuan
SAIGON.
[FROM OUR COBRES: ONDENT,
SAIGON, 16th December.. Prince Waldemar of Denmark, who is coming out by the Valkyrie, is expected here about the middle of January and great festivities are being prepared. There is also a rumour that Prince Heary of Prussia may come at the same time. Amongst the festivities will be a gala representation in our new theatre, which is nearly finished and is reliva splendid building. There not many towns in Europe with a theatre like ours It covers the immense square be. tween the old Theatre and the old Town Hall,
and has cost over two million of francs. Saigon
is really becoming a handsomer town every year. Amongst the new buildings the promises of the Public Works Department, in the Rue Pellerin, must be noted as a really artistic structure. go
the Mixed Court this morning before Mr. S. F. Mayers (British Assessor) and the Magistrate. Inspector Matheson prosecuted a Chinese shop keeper who was caught redhanded setting fire to No. 1 Shantung Road under the follow- ing circumstances. Accused, the occupaut of a cookshop, 119 Sungkiang Road, which signs of Japanese activity in the south of China. Formerly such of his countrymen as might be adjoins No. 1 Shantang Road, was on his
seen there were of the out-at-elbow, adventurer owu confession a poor man and indebted to the extent of $60. He crossed his own back-class, but respectable men were now making yard scaling a ladder entered an empty room at the rear of the Shantung Road. He produced a quantity of cotton wool carefully saturated with kerosene, which he placed against the wooden partition dividing the two houses and was in the act of setting it alight when he was discovered and promptly handed over to the police. When arrested his clothes were damp with the kerosene which he bad carried up the
ladder in a brass kettle.
Contrary to general custom prisoner admitted the crime and in effect pleaded that poverty and the possibility of obtaining Tls. 900 for which he was insured led him to commit the deed. The Court sentenced him to twelve months imprisonment.
Had prisoner succeeded in his nefarious designs, a most seriousfire maat have been the result having regard to the congested character of the district. The value of the goods insured by the accused we are credibly informed would fall far short of $200, so that in effecting an insurance some six times the amount it is obvious that the Insurance Company concerned place a positive premium on arson.-China Gazette.
THE STRAITS GOVERNORSHIP.
By the death of His Excellency Sir C. B, H. Mitchell, G.C M.G. the office of Governor of the Straits settlemente having become vacant, the administration of the Govern ment in accordance with Her Majesty's Letters Patent, devolves upon the Senior Civil Member of the Executive Council present in the Colony, Sir Alexander Swettenham, K.C.M.G., the Colonial Secretary
their appearance in Canton and elsewhere, and it was a fair presumption that they did not there for nothing. With regard to the often. noted fact that the Japanese have not made any use of the facilities obtained for them by the negotiators of the Shimonoseki Treaty, and that the specil settlements allotted by weeds only. Prince Konoye found that in each the terms of that document are inhabited by of the towns adjacent to these settlements some thirty or forty Japanese were living. They did not attempt to take up land in the settlements, however, not because they lacked enterprise, but because it was obviously impossible for euch small communities to bear the expense of occupying new lands in a place where con siderable sums would have to be spent on roads, drains. lighting and other municipal necessities. The Government ought to come to their aid in these matters.—Japan Mail.
FOOCHOW NOTES.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Foodbow, 11th December. The little theatre at Foochow cannot in a general way be compared with the London Lyceum, but in some ways it can do as well as the best. In the hands of so energetic and genial a manager as Mr. Pennington, assisted by the Foochow Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society, it can be the means of affording a manity, and even the Lyceum can do no more. pleasant evening to practically the whole com- Those who braved the darkness of our rural paths on Friday last to see the amateurs play "Alone" had no reason to be dissatisfied. Al- though the principles of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity are not so universally practiced as they might be, still everybody knows everybody else and is quite able to take an interest in the actors, not only as Dr. Strawless or Cousin Micklethwaite, but as old So and So. About the play itself there is really nothing to say, but the players all acquitted themselves in a highly creditable manner. The ladies all did well and it is difficult to decide to whom to award the palu, but Maude Trevor was the most difficult part and the rendering bore evidence both of care with a quiet ease that was the subject of gen- and talent, whilst Mrs. Thornton was pourtrayed eral praise. In the matter of make up and general metamorphosis perhaps the greatest Buccess was scored by Dr. Micklethwaite a giddy young thing indeed on the stage as compared with the reverend, grave, and potent
The Annamites are not very content with the new projects of our Governor-General, who now wants to put a tax on tobacco and betel nuts. Matches, salt, and alcohol are already taxed, but the project for the taxation of tobacco and betel nuts is unlikely to come into effect on account of its unpopularity.
Fortunately this year has been a very pros perous one. The quantity of rice exported will reash 2,000,000 piculs by the end of December, which will be the highest figure yet attained, and next year also promises a most abundant. crop, notwithstanding which prices remain un- usually high and the demand active. Plunters are rich and can afford to wait.
Public opinion in Saigon is full of joy over the defeats of the English in South Africa, “ What right have you to go there," people ask.
CANTON NOTES.
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[FROM THE CHUNG NGOI BAN PO
It is reported that the Canton authorities bave received instructions from the Peking Government to consider whether it is advisable to make coins weighing respectively one tael, ve mace, two mace, and one mace, instead of the present coins. The Viceroy has accordingly instructed the Provincial Treasurer, the Pro- vincial Judge, the Grain Commissioner and the Salt Commissioner to make enquiries and to give reports of their own opinions.
mail from the high officials have become more Cases of notorious robbers demanding black- frequent, for the robbers, knowing that the mandarina are perfectly useless and powerless and may be easily frightened by menaces, from them as are calculated to weaken their in- purposely use snch ways of asking blackmail clination to take steps to root them out. A low days ago the duty collection station at Kong. bers demanding three thousand taels as black- mail and threatening to plunder and burn the station in case of refusal. The officials in charge of the station have reported the case to the Viceroy, who seems very much afraid to do anything against the robbers.
mun received a letter from some notorious rob-
An discussing the appointment of a new Gov. ernor the Struits Times says :~~~
-We mourn the dead; but still the world rolls on. It would be impossible to deny that the keenest interest exists as to who shall be the next Governor of the Straits Settl monts. It is
an important appointment, and it петег Was so impor. tant as it is now. The deciding factor in the present importance of the office is that there is proposed a combination of railway interests that shall connect Singapore and Penang with the whole of the Malay Peninsula, and shall alt imately form the basis of a great trankline to In- dia and to Europe. Further, the prosperity that permits this great investment on the part of the Federated Malay States aud of the Straits Settlements is a prosperity that is very largely based on the tin-mining industry. Turning again from these local matters, we have to signor of every day life.. Of course an old hand | districts, rion is exceedingly dear. The charit- remember that the Governor of the Straits
Settlements, who is Commissioner for the
like Col. Challice might he relied upon to give
a good account of himself and there can be no Malay States, is also the High Commissioner question as to his being a first rate amateur. for Borneo. Borneo is a huge territory. Stratton Strawless, too, was in good hands and and native troubles exist there, which
evoked the marked approval of his hearers, while must be handled with a firm grip. To-day
several telegrams recently from the Tsuugli It is reported that the Viceroy has received
Yamen with regard to the question of Kwang. chanwan. The details are kept very secret and
are unknown.
Owing to failure of the rice crop in some
purchase rice from other places to be sold in able institutions have opened subscriptions to Canton at low prices to the poor people. The Viceroy has appropriated a sum from the Go vernment Treasury to bring six hundred thou- sand piculs of rice from foreign countries and
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