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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND progressed that their completion is looked for Chinese, while the Military Court has hanged during the coming spring. A later report, tour; in all cases the Chinese had been guilty dated 31st December, 1900, says that on that of stealing arms. At the entrance to the Bay day the line had been laid 37 kilometres north of Kisochan a lighthouse was finished in Novem- wards of Taintan and 46 kilometres to the ber, 1900, on the island of Yunnisan, and it north-east of Kisochau, and thus there re-began to work on 1st December. mained then only a section nine kilometres long to be laid for the completion of the line, which ought to be thrown open for traffic in the coming spring.
The requisite rolling-stock is already for the greater part in readiness on the spot. Up to the end of November eight locomotives, 226 waggons, and three waggon-cranes had been shipped, and of these, six locomotives and 170 waggons had arrived. Four locomotives and 90 waggons have been put together, mainly by Chinese workmen under European super vision in the temporary workshops erected at Taintan and at Taputou. In the autumn of 1899 courses of instruction were opened for teaching Chinese employees German, arithme- tic, telegraphy, and the usual railway duties. Thirteen young Chinese attended these
courses with success, but most of them
There has been a keen demand for land in
In conclusion attention must be drawn to the very admirable maps referring respectively to the military events, railway construction, and arboriculture in the Protectorate, and the White Book contains a large chart of the two harbours, the harbour works, and roadstead of Kiaochan. Nine phototypes representing the results of German activity complete an official report, which is stamped throughout by evidence of the closest regard for detail.
This exhaustive report, the maps, and views, are the work of the German Naval Authorities, who are responsible entirely for the development of Kiaochau.-Globe.
HONGKONG DOCKYARD.
The
Surprise has been created in Dockyard circles at home, says the Naval and Military Record, by the Admiralty's application for candidates to fill nine appointments as chargemen of ship- wrights, one as chargeman of joiners, and one as chargeman of blacksmiths, at Hongkong Dockyard. For the past two years the Admir alty have been quietly strengthening the staff there, and it was only recently that authority was given to increase the Metropolitan police at Hongkong from 45 to 67, whilst the staff of officials at the yard has been increased during the past few months from 41 to 52. mechanics are, with one
or two exceptions, natives, and it is largely in consequence of complaints of a want of sufficient supervi- besion that the large staff of extra chargemen is to be sent out. It is not generally known that the Admiralty have arranged for consider ably extending the naval hospital accommoda. tion at Hongkong. For this purpose a piece of land adjoining the present hospital has been parchased at a cost of £1,300, and on this will be erected a magnificent building, which is estimated to cost nearly £35,00. This exten- sion is not taken in hand before it is needed. for when the China squadron was less than half its present strength it was found necessary, for want of accommodation at the naval establish
hospitals on the station. Additional accommoda- tion for the storage of ammunition is to be provided at Hongkong at a cost of £2,750, whilst the torpedo depot at Kowloon, on the opposite side of the harbour, is to be extended at a cost of £2,000.
fied from T'sintan in July, on the out break of the Chinese disorders. The pro- jected railway from Kiaochau to Kanmi, in a north-west direction, and also the light rail. way from Kiaochan to Taputou on the bay to the south-east, a distance of 13 kilometres, have been carried so far as the completion of all the work necessary for laying down the track. the go-called industrial quarter" in the vicini- ty of the small harbour, but private building activity has not kept pace with the demand for good and cheap dwellings, and house rent is still comparatively high. A Land Registry Office, after the Prussian pattern, has been established; and sound mortgages can obtained at eight per cent. The Chinese postal communication established in 1899 be- tween Teintau and the interior was great- ly interrupted by the disorders. The German postal communication is maintained by Ger- man steamers every four or six days in either direction, between Shanghai and Tient- sin, calling at Chefoo and Tsintan. At Shanghai these steamers meet the German Imperial mail steamers. In addition the mails are sent occasionally by German men-of-war or cargo steamers that happen to call. A most important improvement in telegraphic comments, to send patients to various private munication was brought about by laying a German cable from Chefoo to Teintau, and thence to Shanghai, as thereby the Protectorate was put into direct intercourse with the leading submarine cables, and was thus independent of the unreliable Chinese land telegraph system. The telegraph office at Tsintau was opened on 5th October, 1900.
The shipping trade of Tsintau tends to be- come limited almost entirely to British and German craft. The figures are 22 and 149 steamers respectively, while Japan, China Russia, Norway, and Austria contributed, all told, only 20 steamers, of which 19 were Japa- nese. The Chinese Customs system at Taintan is regarded as provisional until a definite arrangement is arrived at with China on this point. The White Book remarks that in any case strong adherence will be given to the principle of preserving to this German Pro- tectorate the unqualified character of a free port."
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HONGKONG.
The recognition of Don Jesus Mauso de Zuñigs as Honorary Consul for Spain at Hong- kong is notified in the Gazette.
Chevalier Z. Volpicelli, Italian Consul- General, left by the French mail for Shang- hai on Tuesday, where he will pay a visit to the Italian Admiral now on the China station.
The seaman Burke, of H.M.S. Centurion, who was arrested on the 24th inst. for stealing a watel and chain, was brought up before the Commanding Officer on the 25th inst., and after the evidence for the prosecution had been taken, the sconsed was remanded.
A football match, Scotland v. The World, will be played at Happy Valley this after noon. So far, the composition of the teams promises a good match, and included there are not a few of the Siege Train eleven, the win- ners of the Challenge Shield.
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The Secretary of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce on the 25th inst. informed us the Chamber was in receipt of intelligence from the Government that the following tale- gram has been received from the Colonial Sec- retary of the Straits Settlements: Hongkong declared infected." We received a Government notification to the same effect.
In May, 1900, the electric light was in work- ing order in Kisochan under a concession grant ed to a German company, and the rights of the Government and of the consumers were alike carefully safeguarded. A Colonial company, the Shantung Mining Company, was formed on 19th October, 1899, with a capital of £600,000 in shares of £15. The company receives the right of working coal, minerals, and petroleum for a distance of 15 kilometres on either side of the Shantung railway for the space of five years, and it binds itself to supply on demand its coal to the German Navy at a price five per cent. below the actual market price of coal of the same quality. As a rule the Chinese have A fatal accident occurred in the docks at shown a friendly disposition to the German Hunghom on the 24th inst., when a Japanese miners. * Six new firms were registered since waiter employed on the Nippon Maru, at 1st October, 1899, and the Imperial Admiralty present dry-docked there, fell a distance of forty Department sends a yearly report of the register feet from the gangway leading to the vessel, of trade at Kiaochau to all Chambers of Com- sustaining injuries to which he succumbed an meroe and interested circles in Germany. Bo hour later. He had just returned from shore far the Civil Court has sentenced to death six" leave, and was under the influence of drink,
[March 30, 1901/.
inst. for the North.
The Japanese cruiser Takow left on the 21st;
During the indisposition of the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Colonial Secretary. Mr. T. Sercombe Smita, Acting Puigne Judge, will be Acting Colonial Secretary,
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, in South Africa, las Major W. R. H. Beresford, 1st Battalion
been selected for the command of the 2nd Bat- talion of this regiment at Hongkong,
rived here from Sumatra ou the 22nd inst., is a The Russian battleship Poltava, which ar- turret-ship of 10,960 tons displacement and 11,225 i.li.p., built at St. Petersburg in 1891. Her armour is 15 in. belt, 10 in. H.S. gun- position, and 3; in. deck. She carries four 12 in twelve 5.9 in. Q.F., and 34 smaller guns, and six torpedo-tubes. Her speed is 16.2 knots.
Quite a number of changes have been effected in the local mercantils marine during the past few days. Among them we notice Mr. Murdoch. the Chief Engineer of the steamer Wingsang, leaving for Europe this week. Mr. Purvis, Chief for England, and his place has been taken by Engineer of the steamer Fausang left last week. Mr. Drummond, and Chief Engineer, Thompson of the steamer Pakshan has handed over charge to Mr. R. H. A Khella.
of some dimensions was averted by the fore- What would undoubtedly have been a disaster sight exercised on the part of a machinist on the U.S.S. Concord on the 22nd inst. By the boilers of the vessel was allowed to become some means at present unexplained, the water in so small in quantity that had the machinist not noticed it an explosion must have taken place during the next hour. damage was done.
As it was, some little
(No. 419 E. C.) in the Masonic Hall, Zetland At a meeting of the United Mark Lodge Street, on the 25th inst., the following office. bearers for 1901 were installed :--Worshipful Master, Bro. C. Lockhead; S.W., Bro. G. G. Barnett; J.W., Bro. H. W. Wolfe; M.O., Bro. Wooley; P.O., Bro. Angus; J.O., Bro. Baker; Chaplain, Bro. Varcoe; Treasurer, Bro. I. A. Wheal; Secretary, Bro. H. G. Garrod, R.M., Bro. E. A. Hickman ; S.D., Bro. R. F. Bowery J.D., Bro. J. T. Walton; I.G., Bro. F. W. King; D.C., Bro. W. Kent; Steward, Bro. J. R. Craik; Tyler, Bro. John Maxwell.
The Brough Comedy Company's Hongkong Tuesday, the 16th April, and continue for season will commence at the City Hall on about three weeks. The repertoire will con- opening play); The Gay Lord Quer; The sist of The Liars (which will be the Manoeuvres of Jone; The Adventure of Lady Ursulu; The Tyranny of Tears; The Brixton Burglary; Sowing the Wind; 4 Mon of Forty; A Village Priest; The Second Mrs. Tanqueray; Dandy Dick; and Niobe; all the plays will be mounted in the same manner as formerly Everything in the way of scenery, costumes, and stage furnishings being carried for each play. The Box-plans, we are informed, will be open on the 10th prox.
Hongkong Police Force, died in hospital at Sergeant Clark, a well-known member of the
eight o'clock on the 23rd inst. from heart failure. The deceased, who had formerly been a member of the Dundee Police Force, in which body he saw three years' service, arrived in the colony on 17th December, 1891 He took a keen interest in his duties, and, combining other good qualities with a knowledge of Chinese, was rapidly promoted, till he finally attained the rank of sergeant. The deceased was for a considerable tims stationed in the New Territory, Superintendent May which was surrounded and and made one of the party under Captain
fired upon on 16th April, 1899, on the occasion of the taking over of the New Territory, Sergeant Clark was credited with" bringing down the first man of the rebellious Chinose, His work in the New Territory brought on severe attack of never fully recovered. Transferred to the Peak
malarial fever, from which he
district, Sergeant Clark was apparently bene- fitting wonderfully by the pure air of the higher altitudes, when his constitution suddenly broke down, and on Thursday, 21st inst., he was admitted to the where he died on the 23rd instant.””” He was
● Government Civil Hospital, about 27 years of age, and unmarried." The funeral took placo at Happy Valley on the 23rd inst. at half-past three, and was well attend- ed by his old comrades of the Police Force."
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