July 1, 1901.]
WEIHAIWEI.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Weihaiwei, 21st June.
THE ADMIRAL'S CUP.
Another cup is being sailed for to-day by midshipmen of the fleet, each officer sailing the boat to which he is attached for duty. At the time of writing the race has not finished.
THE BRITISH FLEET.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
| advantages, should, with a little ' nursing,' grow into the most important sanitarium and sea-side resort of North China.
THE STEAMER COMPANIES.
Capital invested in land, and in buildings erected in excellent situations for the con- venience of visitors coming here for the summer mouths, has hitherto secured very little interest. The sailing race for the Admiral's Cup took The crisis in the North prevented an influx year there is place here on the 18th inst. A triangular of visitors last season. This course was selected inside the bay, the boats no such obstacle. Surely-if no other reason exists-the prospect of a possible increase of sailing round the mark-bnoys twice. The race,
revenue from a colony that is anything but which was well entered for, produced au un- usual amount of interest, as it was the last self-supporting should lead to some special cup that the squadron, will sail for under the effort being made to create easy communication regime of the present Commander-in-Chief, and increase the general attractiveness of Sir E. Seymour, by whom the cup is presented. the port.
A splendid breeze-not too s'rong-enabled all classes of boats to compete without any But if we have gone from bad to worse as disadvantages, and to carry every stitch of sail regards means of communication between im that could be hoisted without any risk. Private portant parts of the colony, the situation as rigs being allowed, most of the competitors regards our intercourse with the treaty ports is adopted them, the larger boom boats of the still more serious. Almost daily steamers flying Centurion and Argonaut resembling British the British flag pass within sight of this revenue-catters giving chase. The result of harbour, but leave us severely alone. The com- the race gave tho Isis the cup, the Centurion panies ask as subsidy a sum that on the face of taking second place, and the Terrible's pinnace it seems absurd-$300 for each ship calling being third. The latter boat, sailed by Com- here! It should be borne in mind that a mander Ogilvy, only used a service rig. steamer need only turn a few miles from her course, and if passing through with passengers and mails only for this port, need scarcely drop an anchor. As it is, the cargo brought hore in the ordinary course of business is sufficient for a steamer from Shanghai to call on the average A strong fleet is now assembled hero. Both once a week. But there are no exports, and flagships are present, but on Monday nex, the therefore there is little, if any, inducement for Rear Admiral's and all other larger ships leave steamers to come in on their way to Shanghai. for Chefoo and other ports, probably returning It is the accepted policy of the British here again after the transfer of command. Government to leave as much as possible The new Commander-in-Chief, Sir Cyprian to private enterprise, and to avoid the bolstering Bridge, is expected on the 24th inst. from Japan up of industries by subsidies. Apart from this, in his flagship the Glory; the Centurion, with Sir owing to our entanglement in South Africa, E. Eaymour, leaving for England on the 26th. fands generally available for the improvement Owing to the plague it is expected the Cen-of distant colo ies and stations are turion will not call at Hongkong, but proceed Nevertheless the authorities are prepared to to Singapore. An impressive farewell order subsidise to some extent, but the long-standing from Sir E. Seymour was read out last Sunday difference with companies trading under the after Church Service on board all ships of the protection of the British flag, as to the exact fleet, in which the China Squadron was men- amount of subsidy, is no nearer settlement. tioned as being second in importance only to Rather than submit to coercion, the expensive the Imperial Fleets on the various stations. and unsatisfactory expedient of sending a Their fficiency, ha stated, must be maintained gunboat to Chefoo to fetch the mails is very to meet any duty the Squadron might unex-frequently adopted. The cost in coal alone pectedly be called upon to perform; as was the for cach trip of a boat, as small even case last year. It goes without saying that Sir H.M.S. Britomart, cannot be much less than E. Seymour has found a warm spot in the hearts $150. It is understood that a local firm has of both officers and men, who in this age, offered to run a launch twice a week for recognise and appreciate a good leader when a subsidy of $800 per mensem. they discover one and such this distinguished does not appear to have had a favourable Admiral has proved himself.
reception. I have it or reliable authority that negotiations have been opened with a Japanese firm. and it is not unlikely that we shall have the trade of the new English colony pass into the band of outsiders satisfied with a smaller
**
["N.-C. DAILY NEWS CORRESPONDENT.] Weihaiwei, 10th June.
THE LAUNCH SERVICE,
so long maintained partly by private effort and subsidised by Government, has ceased to exist. The proprietor threatened to withdraw his boat when a proposal was made to reduce the subsidy and to limit the number of passengers. He has made good that threat. Government for their own convenience ran a launch twice daily, but so far as the convenience of private residents and visitors to this health resort is concerned, the last state of the place is worse than the first, The inconvenience becomes a hardship to private individuals living on the mainland.
scarce.
18
The cffer
subsidy. We may accept as one of the principles governing commercial life both of private individuals and of corporations, that where Government contracts are concerned the profits should be well above the average. But in this pariticular case we may well ask where esprit de corps and patriotism comes in. By their persistent endeavour to coerce Government into offering a subsidy altogether out of proportion to the service rendered, it almost looks as if the British steamer companies will allow business of much potential value to pass out of their hands altogether.
4:
FOOCHOW
11
The following items are from the Foochow Echo of the 22nd June :--
The fire on Wednesday night between Mr. Melnikoff's house and Ewo garden was not a very serious affair, though there was a good den! with of noise in connec lon the moving of fire- engines to the spot.
In accordance with time-honoured custom about this period of the year the river is full to overflowing and the bridges are impassable. The Race-Course and Recreation Ground are under water, as is also much of the low-lying land about, but there is no great depth of water, and the paddy fields appear to have no more, so far, than they can comfortably manage with.
Mr. C. le Bas Rickman, lately Acting Deputy Commissioner of Customs at this port, is voluntarily retiring from the service and going home. No one can gainsay the actions of the I.G., but it does appear somewhat hard that 21 years' good service should have met. with no recognition when the opportunity presented itself, and that Mr. Rickman should be driven to adopt the only course left open to It is with regret we him, namely, to resign, part with him, and the circumstances under which he is going make his leaving us doubly In his official capacity he was regrettable. always courteous and oblig ng, and socially he was very much liked and made many friends. He leaves with Mrs. Rickman and his family by the German Mail to-morrow, and the good wishes of the community will go with the travellers.
Eventually the seat of colonial government will almost certainly be in Mahto, to the no:th of the harbour. At present the commissioner's residence and the naval and military head- The Pinang Gazette sympathetically com- quarters are all on Liukung tao. The cable of ments on the third article which appeared as the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company The Need of Municipal Freedom in Hong- also lands on the island. The steamship com- kong," and concludes by saying:-We who live panies have their offices there. The dweller in under the benign influence of a Municipal Mahto requires the best part of a day, if Commission know that beatification does not he wishes to make sure of the meeting some always follow in the wake of a Municipal passing vessel. Our local news sheet. The Council, but if Hongkong wants a Municipa! Weihaiwei Gazette, reaches subscribers on the Board in place of a Sanitary one, and can get other side of the water as a rule, 24 hours after a sufficient number of responsible ratepayers to issue on the island! When it is stated that there form it, we do not see that the Government is not even a cable connecting the island and should raise auy objection. As far as can be mainland, the isolation of the civilian living on judged from the papers, there is widespread the latter can be realised. From whatever point dissatisfaction at present in that Colony, and in the question is viewed the lapse of steam com- any case the remedy can scarcely be worse munication across the harbour for those willing than the disease; though whether it will be to pay a reasonable charge is distinctly 'very much better will depend entirely upon the retrograde step in the general development of ratepayors and the interest they take in its a port, which, considering its very great natural formation and efficient upkeep.
Our new Deputy Commissioner of Customs is Mr. F. W. Mase, and whatever may be pass- ing in our minds about the iniquity of over- looking the merits of long good service as intimated in the above note, this appointment of the I.G.'s will find favour with this com munity, if it has not already done so.
We hire to congratulate Mr. G. H.-Mac- gregor, Superintendent of the Joint Telegraph Companies here, on his promotion. He leaves for Banjoewangie to-morrow, and we wish him bon voyag
The business passing in the tea market has been small this wees as compared with last year and previous years at this early period of the season. Prices for Congou are easier, bat the teamon must lower them yet considerably before the normal daily June transactions can be expected to take place.
NORTHERN NOTES.
The following items are from the P. & T Times of the 15th June:-
Li Hung-chang's family arrived here on Wednesday afternoon, and proceeded direct to Peking after a brief halt,
The villages west of Peking are being heavily taxed by the brigands whom they are compelled to support both in money and kind.
Yuan Shih-kai has adopted the plan of the Provisional Government in having a box for the recaption of petitions and suggestions of reform. Prince Ching and Li Hung-chang are strongly opposed to the Court's proposal to institute a poll tax, as they opine it must inevitably lead to trouble in the country.
The Allied Villages" movement is reported to be spreading in all directions, and it is now stated the Russians have had trouble with them beyond Shanhaikuan.
The Chinese believe the fire in the Palace must have been caused by electricty, as no one was in the building, which is a detached ‘one without anyone living near it.
Prince Ching and Li'Hung-chang_are re- ported to have solicited the aid of a Japanese official in the Municipal control of Peking, bat we have serious doubt as to the truth of this.
The Chinese plenipotentiaries are endeavour- ing to get the Foreign Legations to choose an entirely new site outside the Tartar City, offering to pay all expenses of removal and erection of spacious legations and barracks.
The Imperial silk looms at Boochow and Ningchow are to be stopped, and added to thể silk factory at Hangehow, so that greater economy may be exercised in the supply of the Imperial silks, from one factory instead of three.
The Jé Je comments on the English schools being opened in the City by Chinese who are
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