March 30, 1901.]
THE FUMIGATION AND DISINFECTING
BUREAUER
Read letter from the Colonial Secretary in reply to the Chamber's letter of the 14th February on this subject, dated 22nd idem, stating that a copy of the letter and its en- closure had been sent to the Government of the Straits Settlements inquiring whether they would consent to the proposal made by the Chamber
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT:
KEEL AGAIN.
283
our colleague. Mr. Gray presided over the THE "CANTON RIVER" ON EVEN Chamber for some four years and gave great | attention to the work. I do not think it is too much to say that the remarkable progress made by the Chamber of late years was aided by his efforts. I therefore now move that the Com- mittee do tender to Mr. R. M. Gruy their very hearty thanks for his eminent services as Chairman of this Chamber during the past four years, and the Secretary be instructed to
afternoon the appliances enwrapping the gnaken Between five and six o'clock on Thursday dredger, with the connecting hawsers to H.M.S, Centurion, bore the steam pressure placed upon them so successfully that foot by steadily turned into position, until became perpendicular, and was on
list the
The Chairman said that they must now await convey this resolution to Mr. Gray in writing. keel once more. It has been a work the decision of the Straits Government in the matter.
(Applause).
have 1
considerable anxiety to those who devised the plan by which it could the management of it, as well
The Vice-Chairman said he cordi lly con curred with the remarks made by the Chairman about Mr. Gray, and he had much pleasure in carried out. In at
seconding the resolution just proposed.
The resolution was then put and carried amid This concluded the business.
THE PROPOSED BEGISTRATION OF SERVANTS. In accordance with the decision come to the last meeting, a letter was despatched to the Government on this subject, in reply to a reacclamation. quest to the Chamber for their opinion, to the effect that the Committee considered that the enactment of such a law would be inadvisable and probably impracticable.
The Chairman said he thought that closed the matter so far as the Committee were con- cerned.
:
THE PROPOSED RE-SURVEY OF EASTERN SEAS. The Chairman_said, as they were aware, an- other letter on this subject had been received from the Secretary to the Fourth Congress of Chambers, after further communication with the Foreign Offices. He thought it would per- haps be well to first read the Chamber's letter, which was dated the 5th February.
The letters were then read.
The Chairman, continuing, expressed the opinion that there was nothing further to be said, and, after some discussion,
It was decided to send a courteous reply in acknowledgment.
QUARANTINE.
Read letter from Government, in reply to Chamber's letter of the 11th February regard- ing the publication of quarantine notifications, te the effect that H. E. the Governor had decided to ascertain the views of the Govern- ment of the Straits Settlements before definite- ly deciding this question.
Also read letter from Singapore Chamber of Commerce in reply to an inquiry addressed to it by this Chamber as to what publicity was given to the notification declaring Singapore infected. stating in reply that the notification in question was posted in the Shipping Office, published in the local newspapers on the 29th and 30th November, and in the Government Gazette, and the Committee did not see how it could well have been made more public.
Also read two letters of 6th March and one dated 11th idem from the Colonial Secretary forwarding quarantine notices from Rangoon and Calcutta, which had been acknowledged, the attention of the Government being then drawn to the apparently comprehensive means adopted by the Rangoon Authorities to secure publicity for theiz notifications.
Further letters, dated 12th, 15th, 16th, 16th and 18th March, from the Government with reference to quarantine notices were then read. The first stated, that quarantine as against Hongkong had been withdrawn at Calcutta and
to
referred to the two purchases which had we described 18gue of Saturday. operations in detail, placed into position. The third having securely fixed, it only remained for conzection to be made between the dred
SERIOUS TROUBLE IN VICTORIA ger and H.M.S. Centurion. On Monday
GAOL
the connecting work was commenced, and Government Notification warned any craft from passing between the dredger and the dolphin off Murray Pier, and intimated that while the work of righting was in progress, an Canton River and the Centurion. A straight additional obstruction would exist between the course having been secured for the hawsers by the removal of H.M.8. Tumar, the double pur- the Centurion, and the third to a mooring chases were connected with the steam-power of lighter, with the result that at a given signal righted, as we have stated. She is now held by the haul was effected, and the dredger became the anchor purchase, and, according to those best able to judge, cannot swerve in any way,
The following is the description of the opera- tions above referred to, from our issue of Satur day last:
Shortly after noon on the 27th inst., a rather serious incident occurred in Victoria Gaol, three Mr. R. H. Craig, assistant superintendent of Chinese convicts rising in revolt and attacking the prison, and Mr. E. J. Pierpont, chief warder. Through the courtesy of the Hon. dent of Police, we are able to give the follow F. H. May. C.M.G., Captain Superinten ing account of the affair. Mr. Craig and when without warning they were attacked Mr. Pierpoint were inspecting the yard, by two convicts, one of whom is undergoing complicity in a robbery in Winglok Street in sentence of fourteen years' imprisonment for 1894, when it may be remembered, au Indian police constable was shot; the second man was last year sentenced to ten years' imprison- ment for piracy committed upon one of the operations now in progress for lifting the Can-. What may be termed the final stage in the many launches running from Hongkong to ton River was reached on the 22nd inst., when adjacent ports. A third convict, undergoing the second parbuckle out of the three which will three years' imprisonment for forgery, joined be employed in the work was placed in position. in the attack, and the three men, two armed The task so far has been exceptionally: hasar- with knives and the third with the blade of dous, inasmuch as, in the first place, before a joiner's plane-which weapons they had pre- anything could be done towards carrying sumably obtained in the workshop-rushed out this last conceived plan of raising her, from behind upon Mr. Craig and Mr. Pierpoint.nine-ounce guncotton charges had to be The first intimation the former received of the used in blasting holes in the ground below, so existence of anything out of the common was as to enable the lifting chains to be roved a stab on the back of the neck. He wheeled through the ground and round the vessel. This round, and, taking in at a glance the gravity was rendered all the more difficult because of of the situation, got his back against a wall the rocky substances which compose the and defended himself, Mr. Pierpoint grappled bed of the Harbour inshore at that par- with one of the convicts, and was attacked by ticular spot. The holes having
been thus another of the gang, who cut him on the leg. bored, two beds" Hearing the disturbance, four Indian warders to speak, had to be constructed, and fitted or clamped rafts, so and two European prisoners rushed to the into position (n her starboard side, above assistance of the two menaced officers, whose the surface, the forward one being 7 feet 9 position was becoming perilous. The three inches in height, and the after one 7 feet 7 armed convicts turned furiously upon the inches. In this detail heavy timbers had to bu rescuers, and one of the Indian warders was used, some of them measuring 30 feet by 14 stabbed severely in the neck, the remaining inches. These beds having been completed, two three warders and the two Europeans receiving sets of chains were made fast to the starboard slight cuts before their now desperate assailants rail, and, encircling the dredger, were brought up were overpowered. Mr. Craig's wound is the and attached to two extremely heavy purchases, most serious, but it is nevertheless fortunate the standing parts of which were anchored be- that his assailant's knife
at Saigon against arrivals from this port pon. The injuries to the passage of the wea to be borne to one of the men-of-war in har- Chittagong; the next that it had been imposed which prevented the fur countered the bone, low. The hanling parts of these purchases are
for twelve days; the next that it had been imposed at Netherlands Indian ports against Hongkong on account of small-pox; the fourth that it had been removed at Burmese ports as against arrivals from Singapore; and the last
others are superficial. The three convicts will be charged before the magistrate by Captain Superintendent probably next week.
May,
-
It appears that there is a cry now raised
bour, which will be taken to the spot, and by the aid of steam winches it is hoped the dredger will be pulled on an even keel. It now only remains for the third parbuckle to be
fred, when the nam
purchases will be put into action. It is stated that those who have the
giving a return of cases of plague at Singaporo, against British money circulating in Nether management of the work in hand are confident showing that ten clear days had elapsed there lands West Borneo. Patriots suggest, the of success. without a case being reported, and that a clean Straits Times says, the enforcement of the use bill of health had been issued accordingly,
PROPOSED REVISION OF THE CHINESE TARIFF.
رادة
The home papers gave the following details about Mr. Donald Matheson, who died on the 19th ult, at his residence in Queen's Gate Gar- Mr. James Sutherland Matheson, of Messrs dens, aged 82. Mr. Matheson was the son of Jardine, Matheson and Company. After re- ceiving his education at the Edinburgh School, Mr. Matheson went out to Chi
ose to be
of Dutch money, so as to do away with the evil. The Chairman said the Secretary had, of foreign coin supplanting it. People on the owing to pressure of work, been unable to spot my that this is no easy matter. It all draft a letter to the British Minister at Peking and Singapore being in the hands of Chinese arises from the trade between West Borneo, to give the views of the Chamber on this saject and other foreign Asiatics. Among them as requested. He thought this matter would British influence is so noticeable that in West entail a good deal of enquiry and consideration, and from the present aspect of affairs up North met with, but not one who speaks Dutch. assistant in the firm.
Borneo many English-speaking C Chinese are he was afraid the opportunity for the settlement There is indeed no chance of foreign coin being of the Tariff and former, kindred questions was ousted from there until Dutch traders control still distant.
business in that quarter. The Batavia Niemos blad also dwells on the fact that foreign coin is ousting Dutch mintage from other localities in Netherlands India and urges, that at least all payments in Dutch territory should be made in Dutch coin.
The Cha
THE LATI CHAIRMAN.
hat concludes the business gentlemen, but before we think we should take some special the services of the late Chairman and
but resigned of the opium
of the Presbyteria president and Alliance. In daughter of Lieut Horace and his heir is his son. Major Duncan of the Inniskilling Dragoon.
Ligh
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