4
350
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
trees to allow free growth to the better ones it has been clearly proved that even a battleship which remain.
PROTECTIVE SERVICE.
The year has seen a further reduction in the numbers of illicit tree ontting, only 640 trees having been reported. The number of cases
would have small chance of escape if attacked by a number of destroyers. The torpedo store- ship, which was to be built according to the second programme, was abandoned for similar reasons, and more destroyers will be built in. gramme will authorise the construction of pedo-boat destroyers only.
MACAO.
[May 19, 1800.
[FROM OUR CORERSFONDEST.]
Madno, 11th May. The arma-dealers of this colony”
brought forward by forest guards was only 25, stead. It is anticipated that the third pro-busily engaged again in pressing upon the
of which there were 24 convictions.
FIRES.
I am not able to report so favourably of grass fires. These were very numerous and destruc. tive. The total number of fires was 52, which destroyed 13,229 trees, compared with 27 and 8,285, respectively, in the previous year. The m at destructive fire was on Mount Davis on March 19th; this killed 8,448 trees, some of them in gallies being of good size. Twenty out of the 52 fires did no harm beyond burning grass.
FIRE BARBIERS.
Fifty-three miles of old barriers were cleaned and 64 miles of new ones were made. Low combustible vegetation having grown higher than formerly in many places I had all the barriers which were only 10 feet wide in- creased to 15 feet, which affords greater security in preventing fires leaping the bared lines.
NEW TERRITORY.
JAPANESE IMMIGRATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Up to this point, says a Washington des patch, nothing has been done by the Washing ton authorities in regard to the restriction on the immigration of Japanese into the United States beyond the application of the contract labour laws. The enforcement of these laws is entrusted to the officials of the Treasury Department, and so far as is known they have not discovered any movement towards the bringing into the United States of Japanese coolies under labour contracts. They are not, however, authorised to interfere with the incoming of the Japanese who can satisfy the requirements of the laws in the matter of freedom from contract obligation and ability to maintain themselves. It is believed that, unlike other Orientals, few Japanese, even of the labouring classes, fail to make a sufficient showing on these points to pass muster and secure admission at the Golden Gate. Al though the recent reports from San Francisco of the arrival at the port of considerable num- bers of Japanese labourers, taken in connection with the steady increase of the Japanese popu: lation of the Hawaiian islands. has attracted the attention of the executive branch of the Government, it is said that even supposing the Governor when travelling in the territory came
presence of the Japanese should be regarded to the conclusion after seeing the sugar cane
as undesirable, the subject of restriction is growing there that new varieties of cane might entirely beyond executive reach at present, be introduced, and at His Excellenoy's request being one for the corsideration of Congress. I have made arrangements for new varieties of The figures of the immigration bureaus of the cane to be obtained from different countries, some Pacific Coast are, however, being closely of which have arrived and been planted near Ha watched; for upon their showing may depend Tsun. His Excellency also obtained two Chatan-important recommendations upon this subject. nooga Sugar Mills which this department had fixed in the New Territory and exhibited the ▲ JACOBITE RELIC IN SHANGHAI, working of to the sugar-growers there. The advantages these.mills possess over the Native
Soon after the New Territory was taken over I commenced a series of journeys, which were continned as occasion allowed, oved the whole ter- ritory to acquire information on all points in which this department might be called upon to operate in its special functions. It was found that tree planting was required around the various new police stations and the buildings occupied by Europeans at Taipo, and that treel planting could also be done with advantage in other places. Operations were therefore commenced in October for planting about 80,000 trees dur- ing the ensuing year. His Excellency the
Goodness only knows how it got here, says
mills may lead to their extended introduction. The Shanghai Daily Press, but there was dug up I have also obtained improved varieties of pine-a few days ago from the bottom of a mouldy apple plants from Ceylon which will be useful introductions to the districts where pine-apples are now cultivated to a considerable extent. The best fruits from the New Territory are now brought over to Hongkong and canned at a factory at West Point. The New Territory has features which show possibilities of consider able development in forestry and kindred work, but these matters cannot be fittingly dealt with in an Annual Report of work done; they, how ever, should receive best and early attention in another way.
old mass of half-forgotton papers, books and miscellaneous articles, hidden away in the strong- room of the British Consulate of Shanghai, a geunine and highly interesting relie of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender. It was a handsome white metal "tea-caddy," which, an ancient looking piece of parchment enclosed within stated to have been the identical receptacle in which the unfortunate Prince carried his tea, whenever he was lucky enough to have any, throughout the dark year 1746 when he was being hunted through the High- lands and Western Isles after the fatal field of
JAPAN'S THIRD NAVAL EXPAN- Culloden. The parchment further relates that
SION SCHEME.
J
the oaddy was originally the property of Flora Macdonald, the heroic sharer of the Prince's vicissitudes and adventures. It stands about eight inches high, is of a handsome fluted pattern, and is inscribed with Flora Macdonald's monogram on the cover. It no doubt formed part here of some "deceased estate," which the Consulate administered, and, most likely, got shoved aside and forgotten. It is now in the possession of Mr. T. Macdonald, Usher and Clerk of the Summary Court, who will be glad to show it to the curious in such matters, and who, we understand, if the relic is not claimed, intends to send it home to some Scottish an
In view of the immense augmentation of the naval forces, either contemplated or already put into execution by the great Powers, it is report. ed that the Japan Naval authorities are about to enter on the third naval extension programme, as it is termed in contradistinction to the two programmes already carried out. Pro- bably the estimates will be submitted to the fifteenth Diet. The interest accruing on the naval fund amounts to three million yen per annum. This sum is to be augmented by two million yen from the Treasury and thus five mil- lion yen will be yearly devoted to the scheme-tiquarian society. a sum just sufficient to cover one-third the cost of a battleship, provided the price of steel and other materials remains at the present rate. But the chances are that the materials will in- crease in price year after year, and by the time fifteen million yen is collected it will be found inadequate for defraying the cost. Such is the opinion held by naval experts, and men like Admiral Luouve aooordingly recommend the construction of torpalo destroyers. This class of bost costs about half a million yen, so that thirty destroyers can be built for the price of The recent mayal manœuvres demonstrated their efficiency; in fact,
Government their petition that the Government Council here should request the authorities at your port to allow exportation of arms to Masso. The honourable members of the Governmont Council are too serious to permit the illicit trade to be carried on during the time of their administration. The public in general knows that the business of arms is not a genuine and honest one. It is, however, a pleasure to be able to say that the principal or only culprit ip this matter, to whom it was owing that arms were imported and exported in such great quantities, has now gone and will return no more, leaving it to the Council to make
up for the past. It is gratifying too to be able to say that the members of the Government Council know what to do, and at least it is a case of "better late than never." The reason why I call the arms business (only in this colony) an illicit one is easy to explain. The so-called-arms-dealers
he import mest into this colony have not get an open door, and arms whether imported or ex- ported do not pass under the name of the firm; the business is done by means of a kind of breker. Yet if the business were a fair one, why should it not be carried on openly ? Much more, they pay about $30 yearly for their licence. It is hard to believe, but it is true that they are pro- mising to any person who can get them permis- sien to export arms from Hongkong to this colony fifty cents on every weapon, whereas about a year and a half ago it was twenty-five cents each. The expenses are very great, and I give a table which will furnish an approximate idea of them
***
***
Shop licence for one year Cost of dealing in dangerous articles (say)
Arms as\ seon as they reach Macao must go to the Government depot (Camoens Grotto) and pay 10 cents each for a month or part of a month. If they arrive on the 30th of any month and go out on the 1st or 2nd of the next month, this counts two months and they have to pay 20 cents each. So that if a man deposite 1,000 arms, say for two days, he has to pay
Licence from the Government Offise to bring the arms, to the depot, at one cent each, say on 1,000 rifles
***
Licence from the same office to take out the arms from the depot also at one cent each, say on 1,000 rifles...
Commissions to brokers to get per- mission, at 25 cents (though they are now offering 50 cents)
Payment to smugglers and presents to same for non-interference with trans- ports during dark nights, etc.
30
100
10
10.
250
If this business is a fair one it could easily be prosecuted openly, and could be done by the dealers themselves, thus saving commission to brokers, etc., and a lot more money and trouble. The Government Council should stop this business altogether during the time" their administration continues. When the time comes for a revolution in China the Government Council will then be able to say that they did not help the revolutionists by letting them have arms and ammunition either to fight their own Government or anyone else. No doubt twenty thousand or more firearms have been supplied, but that was in the past; for the future the authorities should and must- ont at the root of the matter.
In spite of the hopefulness of the early rumours the prospects in the gold mining
The plague continues so bad that the Chinese industry in Hokkaido are now reported from community is now having recourse to night Japan to be doubtful. There has been a processions to the temples to pray for health. remarkable increase in the number of gold-Bome good may come of this, bec seekers this year, and tens of thousands of going about in the streets get free! men are leaving for the district. A reliable secondly because joss sticks and report has it now, however, that the quantity burning everywhere. But, no of gold washed in the island was not so great time has come to take as have been stated. Some three hundred men spread the inhabitants in had left the district as they could not get along, away with the housen în and besides, several hundreds are in a poverty- the city. If this is not des stricken condition.
plague with us all the your
|
}
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.