December 7, 1901.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
463
I am only too conscious that at times per expected to extend beyond a period of one year,, sovereignty over the small island of Lappa' haps I may not have shown myself entirely will be selected from amongst the Macac opposite Macao, which the Celestial Empire adequate to performing them. But I shall at Government officials, and although no definite has obstinately refused to recognise. If this all times, Sir, carry with me, when looking back pronouncement has been made on the subject, be so, Senhor Jos de Azevedo .mbark & in this it is understood that Mr. A. O. Marques will special mission as an accredited ambassador, upon this Colony, a recollection of the very
with a crutary and a staff. Certain papers, be the gentleman selected. great kindness and courtesy which have been
The Macao Government steau-launch ju-tly alarmed with the imminence of the neces invariably extended to me by your Excellency
mission would involve, ask if it could not be and all the members of this Council, official Colowan, which brought over Dr. Lello and thesarily large expenditure which such a special and non-official alike; and although there have aide-de camp on Sunday, was to have accom- been occasions-as there must be always-panied the Zuire to Macao with His Excellency's dispensed with, seeing that the diplomatic That official has already where the Attorney-General was not able to see luggage, but had to put back at Cheung Cha on representative of Portugal in th East is the eye to eye with some of the other members of account of the rough sea, which made its nusafe Governor of Macao
conducted the negotiations in reference to this this Council, must say, Sir, I have always for her to proceed further.
matter several times; and he can therefore met with the very greatest patience from those
agaia do so now, the more so since Senhor Horia e Costa is a well-informed official who is who differed with me and the very greatest kindness and consideration upon every occa
Fury highly thought of in this part of the worl 1. and is thus beter circu nstanced to arrive ion. From my heart, Sir, I thank you for the extremely generous words in which you
at a favourable solution of this old q'estion. have spoken of me, and the members of the Council for the cordial manner in which they
On th_other hand, the Portuguese pro-Govern- ment Press urge that it is absolutely necessary have received the words which have fallen from
at this juncture to vive the subject the char- you. (Applause.)
acter of a special mi sion, inasmuch as it is expected that issus giving rise to controversies affecting internation il politics might result as an outcome of this embassy
The Council then adjourned sine die.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council. The Colonial Secretary presided.
THE EPIDEMIC HULK. The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,244 60 in aid of the vote of $1,000 for Repairs to Epidemic Hulk Hygeia. The CHAIRMAN said-The Principal Civil Medical Officer pointed out that certain altera- tions were necessary on board in order to improve the ventilation; and this money is necessary to cover the expenditure in order to carry out the improvements recommended by him.
The vote was agreed to.
NEW PROPELLE FOR THE
每年
STANLEY.
The Governer recommended the Council to vote a sum of $2,545 to cover the cost of two new propellers for the steam tender Stanley.
The CHAIRMAN-Hou, members will remem- ber that one of the propellers of the tender Stanley, which was built only a year or two ago. unfortunately met with an accident which necessitated the renewal of it or rather furnish- ing her with an entirely new propeller; and the Harbour Master at the same time reported that he thought it would be wise and indeed in the long run more economical if an additional propeller were also obtained so that if an accident of a similar nature occurred in future the ship would not be rendered unavailable while it was being made. I think hon. members will agree that that is a wise suggestion on the part of the Harbour Master.
The vote was agreed to. This was all the business.
ARRIVAL OF THE PORTUGUESE ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY.
THE VISIT TO HONGKONG.
Senhor Conselheiro Jose de Azevedo Castello Branco, new. Portuguese Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Peking, who is journeying to the capital city in connection with the delimitation of the Macao boundary, arrived here on the 1st inst. by the Mes sageries Maritimes steamer Yarra. Mr. J. J. Leiria, Vice-Consul for Portugal, accompanied by Dr. Lello, Colonial Secretary for Macao, and a military officer sent done by H.E. the Governor of Macao to be at the disposal of the Minister, went on board the Yarra His and brought Senhor Branco ashore. Excellency stayed the night at the Hong kong Hotel, and on the 2nd inst., along with Mr. Leiria and Dr. Lello, visited in turn H.E. the Governor, H.E. Major-General Gascoigne, and Rear-Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, the last named on board H.M.S. Glory. At nine o'clock Senhor Branco embarked on the gunboat Zaire and fifteen minutes later left for Macao, where he will be the guest of the Governor of the Portuguese Colony. After a stay there of some days, His Excellency will return to Hongkong and thence continue his journey to Peking.
Senhor Branco's salary in connection with the Mission which has brought him to Far Eastern waters, is £20,000, besides which he is allowed a sum of £10,00) to meet expenses. The interpreter to the Mission, which is not
FROM OUR MACAO CORRESPONDENT.]
Macao, 2nd December. ENTHUSIASTIC REC PIONIS MACAO,
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According to the second version, generally believed to be the more likely, Conselheiro José de Azevedo comes out to represent Portugal in the international conference to be held at therofrom Portugal's abstent on Poking. would be considered unjustifiable, seeing that large interests link her with the Celestial Kingdom -interests which might, were she to remain unrepresented, be jeopardised. Those nterests, the Portuguese Press affirms, cannot for one moment be allowed to develop into subjects for political controversies, but rather must be firmly established and properly re- cognised.
BALL.
[FROM A LADY CORRESPONDENT.]
At a quarter past one o'clock this afternoon the Guia Fort fired one gun, announcing that roceeded with the gunboat Zaire (which bad the Colonial Secretary. Mr. Alfredo Lello. to Hongkong on Thursday last) had just been sighted, with His Excellency Conselheiro José de Azeredo Castello Branco on b ard. Upon this signal the Colonial S-cretariat at once issued invitations to the dena e and the departments of Government for their members and all public officers to receive His Excellency on his landing in the Colony. At once a large nu uber of people, the native element predominating, gathered ourt along Praia Grande, from pposite the House to the Public Garden. The orderliness of the crowd was remarkable. By three o'clock every point where a good view of the landing could be obtained was taken up, and just about this time the Zuire crossed the San Francisco barrier, when immediately there belched forth from the Fort a salute befitting the rank of the envoy. At the same time the troops, under Capt Vilella, drawn up in line in front of Hing Kee's Hotel, presen ed arms, and the band struck up a martial air. The Zaire steamed DRESSES AT THE ST. ANDREW'S slowly round Barra Fort into the Inner Har- bour, the Government launch Colawne with the Harbour Master (Capt. Alves Branco) on
The Hongkong season may now be said to board, escorting. After the Zaire had ta en up her anchorage H.E. went on board the Coloanne and in her he was conveyod back round Barra to have commenced in all truth, and the success of Praia Grande, where by this time were assembled its opening fe tivity was such that one is all H.E. the Governor, accompanied by his A.D.C. agog with curios.ty to ascertain whether the (Lieut. Carvalhaes, R.A.), the members of the following gaieties will be dulled by the bril Executive Council and the Municipal Commis-liance of the St Andrew's Ball. The patron sioners, the Administrador do Conselho (Capt. E. Lourenco), the Senior Officers Commanding the Military Forces, the Chief Justice (Dr. Magalhaens), the British Vice-Consul (Mr. F. Ongley Seaton); and others. The military and other officers, in their full uniform, made a brilliant spectacle amidst the large concourse of spectators. Conspicuous among the uniforms
The entrance hall was prettily decorated was noticed that of Major Bragança, command- ing the Expeditionary Force recently arrived, with wreaths and pots of flowers and ferns, On landing. His Excellency the Portuguese and the central landing of the grand stair- Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extra-case was a true work of art. Masses of soft ordinary was received at the pier by Senhor Horta Costa in person, whose cordiality of recention was manifested in the exc range of On marching past the troops, who embraces. How present arms, the military band played the Portu.uese authem. The Minister was shown by the Governor to the state chair in waiting, and was conducted in it to Govern- ment House, where a formal reception was afterwards held.
THE MEANING OF THE EMBASSY,
As must only be expected, there is much reticence in official circles as to the immediate purport of the present Portuguese embassy to China; and it has therefore been difficult to ascertain, with even the smallest degree of certainty, what is the nature of the royal mandate which His Excellency is entrusted with to deliver to the Emperor of China. Conjectures have been formed and surmises It will therefore be in freely speculated in. teresting at this juncture to present a sum mary of public opinion in Lisbon, as traceable in the Press. representing the various shad of politics. Conselheiro José de Azevedo Castello Branco left his post as Civil Governor of the district of Lisbon to act as Envoy, it is said, in an important diplomatic mission to Chian.us to whose object there ura curent two different versions. According to the first, it is -aid that the Envoy comes to Ca na to see whether it may not be possible definitely to settle with the Chinese Emperor the question of Portuguese
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saint of Scotland can certainly have no cause of complaint in the manner in which his votaries celebrated the day dedicated to him (or rather the eve of that day, to be absolutely correct), rows of chairs and rickshas drew up in for even in quite the most depressing weather front of the City Hall in an apparently un- ceasing stre.m.
a 30
green foliage, with brilliant flowers relieving its sombreness, the barnished nozzles of two howitzers, a brilliant phalanx of bisonets anl ramrois, and the whole enhanc d by coloured lumps of electric light flaming ine jewele from a dark setting, made a beautiful and The two dancing rooms, St George's and St. Andrew's halls, were striking scene. most tastefully d corated, and the floors were beyond reproach. The arrangement of the bandstand between the two halls was also very pretty. The dancing began at nine o'clock, following the entrance of H.E. the Governor, who was received by the President, the Hon. T. H. Whitehead. Å set of Lancers was the first item on the programms. after which the gaiety bagah in full swing and
of kept up till past three o'clock the net norning. In the Governors st war Lasy Gascone, wearing a handsome moiré sitk; Mrs. Stewart Lockhart in black,
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with a plait of Stewart tart in fastened on the And rson in black; Mrs. Richardson in a pretty shoulder by a large silver brooch; Miss white dress with sprays of tiny. pink ranksia
Among roses; and Mrs. Wool, the bride of the energetic. and, 4 barn Seersary of the St. Andrew's Society, in white satin and lace.
other ladies prestat at the Ball were:- th The Hon. Irs, Berti in white gauze with a
blue accordion lace-trimmed fichu; Mrs. Layton in a very of pale a panel beautiful dress of white and silver brocade with
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