August 4, 1900.J
Queen's Road West School, the Roman (atho- lic St. Theresa School, the Roman Catholic Cathedral School, Division II., and the Wes- leyan Mission Kennedytown School.
Out of the
on the roll only 87 were examined. Two schools were te persed owing to the house in which they were
temporarily dis located being rendered unsafe by the demolition of an adjacent house, and were excused exami- nation, the grants being assessed on the results of the three preceding years. One school had to leave premises occupied by it on a month's notice; a few of the scholars attended a school in the vicinity under the same management for the remainder of the year and were examined there. Four schools are closed pending the engagement of teachers. The teachers of two schools died during the year.
Two years ago I pointed out that 99 per cent. of the boys and 93 per cent. of the girls in Chinese Grant-in-Aid Schools were in the three lowest standards. I have tabulated the returns made by each school at the time of examination, and it appears from them that with the exception of Girls Schools in Class III more than half the scholars spend not more than a year in any particular school. A small percentage may have attended other Grant-in- Aid Schools in previous years, but, the number cannot be large. In considering the educational problems of Hongkong these two facts aro worth bearing in mind.
CANTON.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 28th July, PRINCE TUAN AND THE HEAD-HUNTERS. The following is an extract from the Chinese paper Ling Hoi Pao of the 27th inst.:- "Prince Tuan has issued orders that any one who has killed foreigners is to bring the heads to his yamen. As foreigner's heads are not easy to obtain, all Chinese having high noses and deep eyes have been beheaded by the "Boxers," and their heads have been continually brought in, and rewards claimed for them as being the heads of foreigners! Lately it has been found impossible to give any rewards, on account of the great number of supposed foreigners' heads brought in daily."
LI HUNG CHANG'S MOVEMENTS. A rumour through Chinese sources that Viceroy Li Hung-chang, having failed in his mission at Shanghai, will return in a few days to Canton, is unfounded, as three days ago H.E. wired here for a gun-boat, and yesterday the Fook Poh, under command of Lui Mon- king, left for Shanghai, there to await orders.
have
THE PROMOTED BANDITS RELAPSE.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE SITUATION,
98
| States cruiser Princeton and were congratulat- of soldiers patrolling the streets for
Last week we had a visit from the United the foreigners and promised to have a ing ourselves that the powers that be had in-tection of the foreigners.
The Taotai has duced the States to assist in doing what they kept his promise and we now see our streets should do themselves, viz., have a pernament patrolled by Chinese soldiers three days, however, she sailed for Amoy, floating armament stationed at Swatow. After I pity the person who places any relía
day and night. these Chinese soldiers. It is merely relying a broken reed To all appearance the natives of Swatow pro- are actually scared is shown by the following ed for support. That the natives per are perfectly quiet and orderly, but how incident. The Princeton had scarcely arrived much warning did the white inhabitants of in our port she has since unfortunately de- India have before the mutiny? Is not the parted, as you know Chinaman as inscrutable? We are indeed glad the Tootai waited upon the German Consul to when a deputation: from of one thing in Swatow-the personality of our implore him to use his utmost exertions to pre- missionaries. If these gentlemen will continne vail upon the Commander to leave the port, as in their policy of not interfering and of sojourn the Chinese were greatly scared and feared the ing at our local health resort for the sea bathing, taking of Swatow by the Princeton. The Ger- moved. then one source of possible trouble will be re-man Consul, when calling on board the Prince- ton, related the above to the Commander, and We do not anticipate any trouble in the Swarequested him not to allow any of the orew to tow district; at the same time every precaution land here, as it might cause trouble. The Com- should be taken. To an observer the manner of mander informed him that he would in no case the populace, although peaceful, has distinctly permit the landing of his crew, as he had in- changed in the last three months, and there is structions to that effect from his home Govern. an aggressiveness that before was not apparent. ment. A fracas like that on the s.s. Woosung last Sunday,
NO PROTECTION. ending in bloodshed, with the chief officer badly We are now without any protection in this mauled and only stopped by the tact and pluck of place and there is no likelihood of getting men-of- Capt. Dowson, would not have happened a few war stationed here. I hear that when the British months ago. The crowd of coolies in China- Consul applied for a man-of-war, he was in- town who used to open a lane for one's advance formed by his Government that for the present now has to be walked round. The demolition no man-of-war can be spared. We may, how- of a partly-built mission station eighteen miles ever, get a German man-of-war, when the Ger- from here, the carrying away of building man squadron arrives from Europe. Certainly material and the warning off of the alleged it would be the safest thing to have a foreign soldiers by the mob-all these straws show man-of-war stationed here, as long as there is which way the wind blows. Are we ever to trouble up North. learn a lesson ?
The pirate chiefs, Foo Chan-hoy and Ao Sung gone back to their old haunts again on the West River. They allege that the money they receive from the Government here is not enough for their daily expenses. They have already recommenced their plundering on the river and reports are current of the great mischief they have been doing of late.
GENERAL LAO RECALCITRANT.
General Lao, the Black Flag Chief, who was ordered to proceed to Peking overland by Viceroy Li Hung-chang before his departure from Canton, had refused to obey the order unless he has 20,000 men at his disposal.
SWATOW.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Swatow, 27th July.
THE DEFENCE (?) OF THE PORT. Since I wrote last matters have been quietly taking their course. As I informed you, a gen- eral meeting of the European residents was beld and a committee elected to formulate a scheme of defence. As far as one can find out this mountain has given birth to the proverbial mouse. Three weeks have passed and no plans have yet been announced, no second general meeting has been called, and all are ignorance as to what is being done. This not add to one's sense of security, in the event of
and e trouble there would be a grave charge to be made owing to the supineness of H. B. M.'s re- presentative and the credulity of the Senior Consul In perfect fairness let it be added that three weeks, through the exertions of the Committee, a circular has been sent round ask- ing what arms and ammunition we possess.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.
If trouble were to occur, individual efforts would be futile. The whites of Swatow are scattered over a mile of frontage. I hear by rumour we are all to make for a certain place. Puzzle-How to get there! Besides no addi- place. tions have been made to the provisions of that
Under certain circumstances a little food comes in useful. What must be insisted on is the stationing of a gunboat in the Swatow river. That and nothing else would be of the slightest use.
[FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT].
OUTBREAK AT TINGCHAU-FU.
Swatow, 80th July.
A STEP IN THE EIGHT DIRECTION.
In pursuance of a resolution passed by the De- fence Committee, the Chinamen sent to all the shipping firms of
this port a circular asking them if they would agree always to have one steamer remaining over night in port to receive refugees in event of trouble. I believe all the shipping firms have given their consent to the request.
THE STATE OF TRADE.
The Northern trade is still at a comparative standstill. Very little export for the North leaves this port and I hear there is an enormous amount of sugar in stock, to the value of about $400,000, which has considerably reduced the price. One can indeed buy a picul for $2.
PILOTS.
Word - reached Kiaying on the 24th inst.
The Northern crisis has also affected the local chau-fu and Ho-tien had been destroyed. Ho- Consul asking for an increase in their pilotage. that the chapels of the London Mission at Ting-pilots, who have sent a petition to the British tien is a small market-town 40 li down the Hon At a meeting held in the Customs Library, at River from Tingchau. At Tingchau-fu there which all the representatives, the Harbour in charge of a native of Amoy. Mr. Chang, pilots attended, it was agreed to increase the was in connection with the chapel a dispensary Master, the German and British Consuls, and the the fu magistrate, has hitherto been exceptional pilotage from $3 to $5 per foot. ly friendly, and there is quite a camp of soldiers just outside the city. In this prefecture there market-towns and villages. are many chapels of the London Mission in
HOW TO TREAT A RISE IN PRICES.
A CUSTOMS ASSOCIATION.
I have it on good authority that the Chinese Imperial Customs are forming an Association, the object being to have a Committee of five, representing the interests of the Customs' Mem- In Shang-hang hien, 240 li south of Ting-bers, and to take such action as it finds neces- to the dollar. There was trouble between the S. Taylor, officiating I. G., and Mr. F. Unwin, chau there is a famine, rice selling at five shing sary in the present crisis. I hear that Mr. F. magistrate and the people. The latter won by Commissioner, are the promoters of this 8- closing all shops for two days.
KIAYING AND KIEH-YANG.
i.
Kiaying seems absolutely tranquil, though there are rumours of the rising of the Three Dot" society. Two soldiers guard the vacated premises of the Basel Mission.
All is quiet at Kieb-yang. The recent des traction of the chapel at Ng-yen-tung has only local significance.
[FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.]
Swatow, 31st July,
THE SCARE AMONG THE NATIVES.
sociation.
Daily Echo of the 21st ult.: We hear of isolat- The following items are from the Foochow ed cases of uncivil remarks being made to Missionaries, but they are quite exceptional and cannot be taken as betokening any change in there is no change, the same general friendly the temper of the people towards us indeed
feeling of the natives for us remains unaltered. That it is so, and that we have thus enjoyed freedom from anxiety, is largely due to the wise discretion of our Consuls and the Provincial Authorities. It is a fortunate thing for us that After the first two meetings of the Defence we are living in a province governed by so Committee the British and German Consuls wise and loyal a ruler as H. E. Hou Ying- intimated to the Taotai their intention of apply-k'nei. The rice growers could not possibly ing to their respective Governments to station have had finer weather for their harvest than men-of-war here for the safety of foreigners. they have had this past week. The The Teotai instantly sent a reply to the Consuls to be turning out better imploring them not to send for any men-of-war, the time of the flood, but as the Chinese population would greatly resent average is not very much mor the presence of foreign
u men-of-war in this port, ; a full crop, certainly not looking upon such an act as the initial ste
step to annual match of the Gun Clab with the partition of the Empire. This notion seems was won by Foochow, v score of 69 against to have taken firm root with the frightened | 68. Mr. C. L. Howell of Foochow Chinese. The Taotai guaranteed the safety of highest possible."
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