41
240
been
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE ROYAL NAVAL CANTEEN.
[September 29, 1900.
The present Shanghai Taotai has been promoted, and is replaced at Shanghai by the intensely reactionary protégé of Kang-yi.
Count von Waldersee reviewed six thou- sand troops and volunteers here to-day, con- sisting of British, French, Germans, and Japanese. The review was most successful.
SHANGHAI, 24th September, 10.25 p.m. Local officials report that Prince Tuan has issued a secret edict in the Emperor's name, in which it is stated that the Chinese Government is determined at all costs to continue the war against the foreign Powers.
SHANGHAI, 25th September, 7.55 p.m. An Imperial Decree has been issued granting posthumous honours to Li Ping- heng, who committed suicide after the Tung- chow affair.
The officials here are alarmed at the
(Daily Press, 22nd September.) We have an appeal to make to our readers and trust it will not be made in vain. "Jack Tar" has always been a favourite with the British public, and since he proved himself so helpful at Ladysmith and in North China, he has established new claims to our gratitude. We speak now on behalf of the Royal Naval Canteen, which has just been opened at Wanchai. The building in which it is located was purchased and fitted up at a cost of about $140,000. Of this sum some $60,000 has been paid, and the rest is due to the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. The property is vested in the Commodore and the Hon. C. P. CHATER, C. M. G., and the debt is not perhaps an unmanageable one; but in their opinion it is rather too large for the institution, as the interest must prove a heavy drain on its earn- report that Count von Waldersee in an ings. This fact, as the Commodore stated at ultimatum threatens to stop all supplies the opening cert mouy, has been recognised by from the Yangtze and despatch an allied the Admiralty, who have liberally promised force to Shansi unless the culprits are sum give the to of £1,000 sterling if the promptly punished. Club will bestir themselves and procure a like sum. The Commodore and Mr. CHATER are prepared to act as honorary treasurers if the friends of the institution will come forward and reuder assistance. Are the British community ready to help in this praiseworthy object? To be out of debt is to be out of danger, and to get a debt substantially reduced is an encourage ment to new efforts to clear off the whole amount. The club do not and cannot expect. to wipe off the $80,000 in a day, but if they can obtain $10,000 they will secure the General Mei Kungyi, under orders from Admiralty's donation, which together would Governor Yuan Shikai, has expelled the make 20,000. There have been several Boxers from Shantung, and is now follow- serious calls on the purses of the community ing them into Chibli. this year, but we cannot doubt that those Munitions of war are still being shipped who were so ready to give the “ Terribles" | northward by the Chinese from the Arsenal a hearty reception will be equally ready to at Shanghai. help their comrades to ease their little load. of debt.
The German ironclad squadron has gone to Taku to-day with the new German Minis- ter to China.
SHANGHAI, 27th September, 8.52 p.m."
The Chinese expect that after the Ger- mans and Russians have captured Lutai the Russians will proceed to Shanhaikuan, intending to secure the whole of the Northern Railway, ie, from Taku to Shanhaikuan, which is pledged to British bondholders.
we trust the doctor will pardon the phrase | -did not end there. Dr. HARTIGAN, in re- sponse to his question when first handed in, received a written reply from the secretary of the Sanitary Board to the effect that brevity of time before the meeting prevented its being discussed at yesterday's assembly. but it would be dealt with on October 11th. The latter part of the letter is worthy of quotation. It is thus:- "The President "also directs me to say that he will be glad if you will omit the words or any other 'department from your question. In "conclusion I should like to point "out that the stability of structures is a matter which does not concern the "Sanitary Board, being regulated by the "Building Ordinance which is administered "by the Public Works Department." Now, considering that the buildings which col- lapsed in Hollywood Road had reported on before they fell by the Sanitary Officers, whether to the Sanitary Board or P. W. D. we know not, as being dangerous structures, the reply of the secretary practically places a premium on indifference in its officers. Not only is Dr. HARTIGAN ignored but officers of the Sanitary Department are instructed to ignore dangerous walls and to mind their own business. It infers the principle also that any ratepayer wishing to draw the attention of the exact Government depart ment responsible for a dangerous building or a public nuisance must be persuaded to purchase a library of local ordinances, study the same, and if necessary consult his legal adviser in fixing the question of exact responsibility. The departmental system is delightful in its way, providing each and every department is competent in equipment and numbers to do its work unaided. But the most optimistic dreamer could scarce offer this as a tribute to the local Government departments. They all complain of being undermanned; some, it is fresh in our memory, made murmurings of being under- paid. Therefore, for two departments so closely allied in the cause of public health and safety as the P. W. D. and the Sanitary Department to take exceptions to mutual help in such a matter as the one before us, is cutting it very fine indeed. At home in a similar case such a course of inaction might produce a very unpleasant rider at a coroner's inquest. If the P. W. D. were warned in this last case, as they were we believe in other previous cases, by the Sani- tary inspectors, and they ignored that warning, then the P.W.D. were guilty of a grave neglect of duty. The President of the Sanitary Board, who is the head of the P.W.D., may consider it a proper and fit thing as an official to evade Dr. HARTIGAN's point, but the public think otherwise. The col-obstructing the channel of the Yangtze well. lapse of buildings in Hongkong is becoming below the Kiangyin Forts to hinder the so frequent that the cry goes up as to how Germans from going up the river. long it is to continue unchecked and uncon- trolled. Fortunately over and above the palatial heights of the P.W.D., rests the shadow of H.E. the GOVERNOR, who may consider that public interests are best served by having the question of dangerous build- ings promptly and effectively dealt with The ignoring of serious reports made by any officials is not a procedure likely to find approval anywhere. The explanation of the President at the Sanitary Board to be given at the next meeting will therefore be awaited
with interest.
The proposal to form a Coal Trust by the mine owners of Japan, as noticed in these columns a few days ago, has fallen through in consequence of the great opposition shown to the proposed details of the scheme by the prin toped owners at Moji.
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.] SHANGHAI, 20th September, 8.50 p.m. Li Hung-chang takes the Chihli Viceroy's seals to-morrow, the 21st inst., and starts directly, for Peking, joining Prince Ching
there.
Eight thousand veteran foreign-drilled and well-armed sldiers encamped at Yang chow are proceeding north to support Li Hung-chang under command of Chang Kao- yuan, who was General at Kiaochow when the Germans seized the place.
FURTHER CASUALTIES AT TUNGCHOW.
The following three telegrams, received on the 21st inst. from General Sir A. Gaselee, all dated 20th September, have kindly been forwarded to us from Govern- ment House :-
(1) My telegram of the 17th-following further deaths have occurred, R.W.F. 4,567 Corpl. Hughes, Privates 4, 187 Wogan, 3,953 Cook, 4,661 Jones. 1st Chinese Regt., five, 7th Bengal Infantry, one. Captain Hill and remaining injured progressing favourably.
(2) 4,723 Private Hughes, R.W.F., dead, Captain Hill passed very bad night, condi- tion precarious.
(3) Regret to report death this morning It is reported that the Chinese are of Captain Hill; remaining injured doing
SHANGHAI, 21st September, 9.2 p.m. Count von Waldersee arrived to-day (Friday) and was received by guards of honour from the Indian, French, German, and Japanese troops, and the British and German volunteers.
An American missionary, in his account to the N.-C. Daily News of the siege of the Peking Legations, tells an amusing story in connection with the defence of the Methodist chapel which was converted into a fort by the defenders. It was learnt later, he says, that the Boxers de cided that they would need 10,000 faithful and tried men to capture this fort. "It was re- ported among the Chinese that the Boxers had On Thursday, the 20th instant, the Ger-seen a very large figure in black standing upon mans and Russians attacked the Peitang Forts. Their casualties were 300, but they succeeded in capturing the forts, and the city was burnt.
3
the cupola of the church, and although thou- sands of incantations had been made every evening just before dark, that same figure made its appearance upon the chapel. For this reason the taking of the fort had to be put off. The dreaded being seems to have been Mr. Gilbert Reid, who came to take his watch on the church
wonder the Boxers thought it was some super-
SHANGHAI, 22nd September, 9.38 p.m. Defying the Foreign Powers, the Empress tower at the same hour every evening. No Dowager has appointed Prince Tuan Pre-natural being who had dropped down, when they sident of the Grand Council, and Tung saw Gilbert Reid's feet and 2 inches, in a long Fuhsiang generalissimo of the armies in black coat, standing on the very pinnacle of the North China,
temple."
འ
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.