December 21, 1901.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
12
someone dropped a lighted match, or cigarette, | 36 New Krupp guns (1897) on the floor, which smouldered and gradually | 60 burnt some matting and part of the woodwork. The poor fellow was suffocated by the fumes.
THE STEAMER SERVICE.
We hear that a large number of steamers are prevented from leaving Taku by the lowness of water on the Bar. Bad weather also aids in making the departure and arrival of mails most uncertain.—N.-C. Daily News.
KIAOCHAU.
7
A Berlin telegram of the 5th inst. to the Ostasiatische Loyld says:-
The German Reichstag received to-day the Budget of Kinochan for 1902-03. It shows expenses amounting to 12,528,000 marks, render- ing necessary an allowance of 12,168,000 marks from the treasury of the German Empire, the revenue of the Colony itself being calculated only at 361,000 marks. During the present year the expenses were calculated at 11,050,000 marks, whereof 300,000 marks, was the income of the Colony and 10,750,000 the contribution of the Empire.
The ordinary expenses reach the suims of
against 1902. 1901. Increase. Marks. Marks. Marks Civil administration 799,547 723,062 76,485 Military administra-
tion.
2,458,593 2,119.599 338,994 General expenses...1,688,040 1,403,615 284,425 Among the extraordinary expenses are men- tioned:
1902 1901 Marks. Marks. Marks.
...3,400,000 3,385,000 15,000
Building of bar-
bour Construction of
buildings Floating dock - Election plant
2,105,000 1,590 000 515.000 400,000 300,000 100,000 350,000 The following addition to the military forces is required commencing from the first of Octo- ber 1902: one chief of the Staff, one company of horse, and one detachment of Marine-Artil- lery; altogether one captain, three officers, and 165 men.
NORTHERN NOTES.
The following items are from P. & T. Times of the 30th ult. :-
Prince Ching reached Peking yesterday shortly afternoon,
Football is going strong in Tongshan. It was understood that the Club was to challenge the Tientsin men in the course of the winter.
The tides at the Bar have improved a little this week, but on Wednesday, there was only eight feet of water. Congestion although less marked than before, is so great that there is no hope of overtaking arrears beforo the final closure.
Huong Fa-nung the Customs Taotai, left for the South yesterday to join &heng in the Con- ference for Tariff revision. His Excellency Sheng is suffering from the usual attack of asthma which overtakes him at this season of the year, but it is not causing his friend up here any anxiety. In answer to telegrams inquiring about his health, reassuring replies have been received.
We regret to chronicle the death from pneumonia of Staff Sergeant Edwards attached to the Royal Engineers. The sad termination to his brief but aouts and painful illness took place on Tuesday. The deceased officer was greatly respected by all members of the British garrison, and had a wide circle of intimate civilian friends whom bis affectionate nature and sterling qualities as well as his social qualifica tions, had gathered round him. The funeral service took place at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, and was an imposing and impressive ceremony; a great number of officers as well as civilians attended to pay the last token of respect to a staunch friend and a good soldier.
The following taken from the British blue- book is an exact list of the weapons found in Hai Ku Arsenal by Admiral Seymour. They have a historical interest to Tientsin residents, as it was only want of organisation which pre- vented them being put to prompt use for our destruction.
42 Maxim Nordenfelts
42 Nordenfelts...
31
2.41 inch.
2.75 2.24 1.85
42 Nordenfelts made in Shanghai... 1.45 19 Maxim machine guns
1.45 10 Maxims smaller calibre
91
39,000 Manulicher and Mauser rifles of fatest
mark.
30.000 bayonets, &c.,
Total value £2,5000.000.
A correspondent draws our attention to the facility with which Chinese can acquire fire arms in the Settlements, saying that he has soen natives buying rifles at auction sales in the Concessions. He indulges in some acri monious criticism at our collective folly in tolerating such a thing after the experience of 1900. There is of course no real defence of such procedure, but there is something to be said in mitigation of blame. Most of the weapons we have seen sold are fowling-pieces, and nine times out of ten in the case of a rifle it is out of order, and there is no ammunition to guit it. We may add that if the good feeling of the sellers does not dictate to them the right course to follow, officialdom does not come to their help. We all have a notion that by the Protocol the importation of arms was forbidden for two years, but as far as we know there has been no formal prohibition by the Consular | authorities of the local sale of weapons.
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE CATHEDRAL CHAPLAINCY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRASS
Hongkong, 14th December. SIR,As a regular Church-goer I fully endorse all that your correspondent A Seat holder" writes in his letter which appeared in yesterday's issue of your paper, and I think the thanks of the English church- going community are due to. him for taking the initiative in a matter which affects all Church people so deeply and upon which many feel very strongly. At the same time, I cannot but regret that the action of the Church Body renders it necessary that the publicity of the Press should be requisi- tioned for the discussion of a subject which would otherwise have been better discussed at a meeting of seatholders, subscribers and regular attendants at the Cathedral,
it
I believe am right in saying-I have there is оп excellent authority-that no doubt that the appointment of a successor to our present Senior Chaplain was actually made some time ago.
That being the case, I should like to ask through the medium of your paper-there would seem to be no other means of doing it-(1) Why, granting its power to do so, the Church Body has taken such a responsibility, as this appointment undoubtedly is, upon its shoulders without allowing any of the seatholders, subscribers etc., any voice in the matter? (2) Why, with the general meeting of seatholders so near at hand, did the Church Body think it necessary to rush the matter through before the majority of church-goers even knew that our present. Senior Chaplain contemplated resigning-and, as a matter of fact, before he had actually resigned? (3) Does the Church Body consider that it has done its duty as the representative of the congregation in trying its best to procure a really suitable man as successor to our present Senior Chaplain ? (4) Can the present Church
46 considered Body te
representative of the Congregation, seeing that the majority of its members have joined since the general meeting of seatholders, etc., in January last F (5) Were all the members of the Church Body present at the meeting when appointment wa made? (6) Why has not the Church Body made known to the congre- gation, before this, its decision with regard to the appointment?"
this
With regard to the first question, surely the seatholders, etc., have a right to be consulted on a matter of such importance to them and for which they provide the neces- sary funds? It would have been only courtesy on the part of the Church Body to give them
503
some say in the matter. In fact, throughout the whole business, it seems to me that the Church Body have been lamentably wanting in conideration for the feelings and wishes of those whom they are supposed to represent. I enclose my card.-Yours, etc,
CHURCH-GOER.
A SMOKE NUISANCE.
TO THE EDITOR OE THE "DAILY PRESS.”
Hongkong, 14th December. SIB, With reference to the correspondence published in your issue of this date complaining of the smoke nuisance in Queen's Road at the foot of St. Francis Street, I think it is high time that the authorities should take some decisive steps to remove the noxious and offensive trades outside the City of Victoria. If my memory serves me right, some such scheme was brought before the Sanitary Board about 16 years ago, but owing to the want of empty houses outside the City the scheme was dropped. Now there are hundreds of new houses nearing completion at Mongkok- tsui and other parts of the Kowloon Peninsula, there is no reason why the carrying out of that scheme should be any longer delayed, inasmuch as it will help to relieve not only the overcrowd- ing but also the high rent that is now prevailing in the City, in which the attention of the Government had been so much occupied. Thanking you for the insertion of this letter in the columns of your valuable paper-Yours etc.,
P.
PRIVATE CHAIR AND RICKSHA COOLIES.
14
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY FRESS." Hongkong, 14th December. SIR,Your correspondent T. certainly gives some valuable advice as to the treat- ment of coolies by their employers, but his specific is too generally stated, viz., "to treat the coolies as human beings." The value of this advice would have been increased manyfold if fuller definition had been given, A Prime Minister, a Congo native and an Andamanese are equally human beings with a Chinese coolie, but not quite on the same plane of evolution. If "T" could therefore give some practical working formula as to how to treat Chinese coolies so as to secure their goodwill, even to the extent of four crowding into a space sufficient for two, he would earn the gratitude of many others besides-Yours faithfully,
GENERAL CHAFFEE ON THE PHILIPPINES.
W.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 17th December. SIR,The article in your issue of this morn- ing entitled General Chaffee on the Philip- pines" I read with great interest, but imagine my surprise when discussing it with an American naval officer just arrived in Hongkong from the United States via Manila, on being informed that General Chaffee disclaims all knowledge of the alleged letter, that " Major Health of Montana" is not to be found on this earth, and that the article, whatever may be its merits, can find nobody willing to assume the respon. sibility of parentage! We all know, Mr. Editor, the fate of "the man who tried to hustle the East
and it may be that our countrymen are encountering some of the obstacles which con- tributed to the melancholy fate of that unhappy creature, but history affords many examples of the removal of the immovable and of the inter- ruption of the irresistible, and there are many Americans still who have faith that order and progress may yet be established in the Philip- pines. Yours, etc.,
AMERICANO.
The Toyo Kisen Kaisha (Oriental Steamship Co.) intimate the inauguration of a regular service between Hongkong and Manila. The Co.'s well-known steamer the Rosetta Maru has been placed on the service and will make her first run from this port to Manila on Tuesday next at noon. Passengers by this vessel are assured of every comfort and accommodation.
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