t
January 28, 1901.3
*d he Frotick
on the 18th inst.
Vior Canton
The British hospital ship Carthage left on Sunday for Calcutta.
Mr. E. R. Hallifax has been appointed. As sistant Superintendent of Police.
Captain C. G. Pritchard, R.G.A., has been appointed to perform the duties of adjutant to the Hongkong Volunteer Corps until the end of March.
The new regulations as to launches in the harbour, which come into force on the 1st February, are published in a Government Gazette Extraordinary.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
3 Owing to a strike in the printing office of them-- Shanghai papers report the sudden ilng Echo de Chine, the publication of the paper was suspended for several days last week, at
Leave of absence has been given to Colonel Buck, the U.S. Minister to Japan. He left Yokohama a few days ago for the States by the msteaer China.
the Rev. Dr. J. R. Hykes, Vice-Consul Genera for the United States.. He was taken ill on the morning of the 16th instant, soon after his re- ception of the new Tsotai at the offices of the Consulate. Latest papers report an improve. ment in Dr. Hykes's condition.
A novel scheme of amusement for bicy Arrangements, it is stated, are being made for lists is proposed at Shanghai. It is the holds Chinese exhibition in London in 1902. The ing of a paper hunt on bicycles, the riding of scheme is being engineered by a syndicate, and it which will be confined to Chinese paths. will depend upon the support given during the General Voyron telegraphed to Paris last next few months whether the exhibition will be week from Tientsin that all his troops were in on a larger scale than usual. No site has yet occupation of their barracks, and that they had been decided upon. The exhibition will include been ordered not to leave them except for the many examples of Chinese life, with pagodas, protection of the inhabitants. Snow was abun-temples, and Chinese villages.
The concert which was to have been given on board H.M.S. Tamar on the 21st inst, was can- celled in consequence of the grave news redant, and the sanitary conditions excellent. ceived as to the condition of Hor Majesty the Queen.
An earth-coolie was carrying out some under- mining work in Pokfulam Road on the 20th inst., when a sudden collapse took place, and the unfortunate man was buried alive. The body was removed to the mortuary.
The return of visitors to the City Hall Library and Museum last week included 459 non-Chinese and 137 Chinese to the former in stitution and 227 non-Chinese and 2,420 Chinese
to the latter.
The Hon. C. P. Chater, C.M.G., District Grand Master of Hongkong and South Chins, has announced to Mr. E. W. Mitchell, Hon. Seo.; Masonic Ball Committee, that, owing to the death of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, no Masonic Ball can be held on the 4th February as arranged.
We were informed on the 23rd inst, by Mr. A. R. Marty that he was just in receipt of telegram from the firm's Haiphong agent as fol- lows:-8.8. Hué ran ashore during a fog yesterday,"21st, 4 a.m., N.W. by W. of Cape Canie, 8.8. Hating ordered to proceed im- mediately to render assistance, have no farther
news.
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The Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, agents for the Osaka Shosen Kaisha, inform us that they have received from Amoy further particulars respecting the accident to the s.8. Tams Māru. It appears that the steamer on her way from Tamsui to Amoy, at about 9 a.m. on the 21st inst., stranded in a dense fog on a reef off Quemoy Island and made a hole under her bunkers. She was run ashore to save her sinking, and it is now hoped that she may be saved from becoming a total wreck.
A Seoul despatch of the 12th inst. to the daahi says that the electric railway projected by Americans to connect Seoul and Kaijo has been sanctioned. It will avoid the route of the proposed Government railway between the same towns. A contract has been concluded between the Corean railway authorities and Mr. Cawlbran -so the name is given in the telegram.
The Siamese Government has determined to establish a department of paper currency in the near future. The currency notes will be issued at Bangkok and will be exchangeable for cash on presentation at the currency office Mr. Williamson has already been appointed director-general of the department to work out the details of the scheme.
The project of a trip to Europe and America by the Japanese Prince Imperial is again upon the tapis. It is known that his Imperial High ness entertained a wish to go abroad some time ago, but his departure was deferred until after his marriage, and subsequently by the outbreak of the Chinese troubles. The present idea is that he will set out in the spring.
We have received the fifth annual report of Bell's Asbestos Eastern Agency, Ltd. The directors regret to report another loss on the year's operations, principally accounted for by the loss in closing the Singapore branch, and partly by the disturbance in China. Some im portant economies have been effected in estab- lishment expenses. The company's business here has been transferred to local Agents. The total balance against the company is £3,648 48. 10d, the balance brought from last account being £3,150 158. 2d.
The statement comes from Constantinople that a proposal is being considered at Yildiz for sending an extraordinary mission of Ulamas to China to preach peace to the Chinese Mussul mans, and to strengthen the relations between them and the Khalifate. The idea is said to have emanated from one of the great Powers, which is reported to kave suggested that the Sultan should exercise his influence as Khalif over the Chinese Mussulmans, numbering about 200,000,000, with a view to bringing the distur bances in the Celestial Empire to an end. It is not surprising to learn that it is thought in diplomatic circles that the scheme will not lead to anything.
A new Japanese. Admiralty port is to be opened at the Maizuru, in the province of Tan- go, during the next fiscal year. On the opening of the port, the warships and torpedo boats now attached to the Admiralty ports of Yokosuka, Kure, and Sasebo, will be distributed among the four ports, including that of Maizuru.. The new Admiralty port will be provided, as are the other ports, with a marine corps and a shipbuilding yard. Work on the new port has been rapidly progressing, and should no hitch occur in its completion, the naval institution will be formally opened simultaneously with the arrival in Japan of the battleship Mikasa, the last of the ships on the extensive shipbuilding programme drawn up after the conclusion of the Japan-China war.
The demolition of the wall of Tientsin City has been commenced on the south side, adjoin- ing the Japanese Settlement, says the P. & T. Times. It was reported at one time that the whole wall was to be levelled and converted into The Universal Gazette says that the Chinese a tramway road, but we now hear from some Government has appointed H.E. Yang Ja, quarters that the work is considered too expen- The Return of Stamp Revenue for the years Chinese Minister to St. Petersburg, to be aaive. If the demolition of the wall is necessary 1899 and 1900 shows an increase for 1900 of Peace Commissioner with full power to ne- or advisable, we fail to see why it need prove $116,236,96. The principal items in which in- gotiate with the Russian Government on the expensive at all. If instead of paying the ridi- crease were made were :-conveyance or assign-subject of the evacuation of Manchuria by the culous wages for coolie labour which the Mill- ment, $47,214.25; probate or letters of admini-
tary Authorities have paid, they had seized the stration, $44,246.28; bank note duty, $9,222 50;
hundreds of loafers and mischevious characters adhesive stamps, $6,101.24; mortgage, 84,361.40;
thronging the city who were largely respon lease without fine or premium, $1,579.68; trans-
sible for the mischief lately wrought, and made fer of shares, $1,296.40; charter party, $1,080.00.
them carry out public works for merely their No decrease exceeded $700 in amount, and the
rice, they would be conferring a boon on re- sum of the decreases only came to $2,425.65.
spectable Chinese, accomplish a great deal for the general benefit, and save many items of heavy expenditure from the National Treasury, while giving the said loafers a wholesome lesson on supply and demand.
J
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MISCELLANEOUS,
A Seoul telegram reports that a party of Americans have secured a contract for building waterworks inside the Palace grounds for a sum of two million yon.
A Japanese contemporary reports that an American syndicate seems likely to secure the contract for water works in Seoul. The or penditure is estimated at two million yen.
A serious mishap occurred at the Peitang Forts when a salute was being fired in honour of the New Year. A Chinese gun exploded: while being loaded, killing six men. They were buried at Tongku in a snow-storm on the 3rd
inst. Several more were wounded.
The slump in tin is exciting some apprehen- sions in Pahang. The why and wherefore do not seem clear. At the end of the Chinese year there is nearly always a fall, as quantities of ore are thrown on the market by miners who have to settle up with coolies and other om- ployees...
The Bank of Formosa has been purchasing since December last the gold discovered in the island, and had accumulated about 160 momme down to the 31st ult. It is estimated that the gold purchased in one year will amount to 1,603 memme, the market price being 5 yen per momme.
Russian troops. The same paper also states that a special steamer of the C. M. S. N. Co. will be sent to Corea to convey H.E. Hau Shin-peng, Chinese Minister to Cores, whose recall at the instance of H.E. Li Hung-chang has already been mentioned.
The yearly expenses of the Househeld of the Sultan have been estimated at no less a sum than six million sterling. Of this & million and a half alone is spent on the clothing of the women of the harem, and £80,000 on the Sultan's own wardrobe. Nearly another mil- lion and a half is swallowed up by presents, a million goes for pocket-money, and still another million for the table. It seems incredible, says the Straits Times, that so much money can possibly be spent in a year by one man, but when it is remembered that some 1,500 people reside within the palace walls, live luxuriously, and dress expensively at the cost of the Civil
List, it appears more comprehensible.
According to the N.-C. Daily News & Hang- chow despatch to hand at Shanghai states that all guilty officers concerned in the Chuchou Masssore in Chekiang last July seem to have combined to lay the whole blame of the atro cities upon Pao, ex-Taotai of the said place, and make him a scapegoat for the lot The inten- tion of the Governor (Yün Tan-yi) therefore, says our contemporary, now seems to be to memorialise the Throne recommending that Pao Taotai be banished to penal servitude for life on the military postroads outside of China Proper; while the hereditary rank of Baron of the 1st class held by Pao be taken away from him and given to his eldest son to preserve the family rank and name to uphold the honour of the ex-Taotai's father, the late celebrated General Pao Tsʼao.
..
The N. C. Daily News Wenchow correspon dent writes on the 9th inst..--"
-“Wenchow is
once more looking like itself, so far as the pres ence of the foreign community is concerned, as the last steamer of the year brought the ladies and children of the Methodist Mission from Ningpo, along with some of the C.I.M. missionaries from Shanghai, while others arrived by the first steamer in January. The visible appearance of ladies and children in the streets seems to give universal satisfaction to the natives, and conveys a sense of security,⠀⠀Al- though the city is perfectly quiet, it is not so in the country. Certain districts are still very much disturbed by local banditti." The first instalment, the correspondent states, of the indemnity for mission property destroyed and other losses has now been paid over by the officials of the respective districts. “One would hope that, now they have to pay up, the officials and others concerned will be convinced that it is more profitable to repress anti-foreign feel- ing while in the bad, before it is allowed through sapineness or sympathy to blossom out into actual outrage. It is probable, however, that those who pay the piper are not those who danced to the music." This is precisely what might been have expected.
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