February 1, 1902.]
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BRITISH AND JAPANESE PRESTIGE ON THE
YANGTSZE.
The N.-C. Daily News in its Notes on Native Affairs" says:——
In this country it is quite simple to find out what country's prestige is ahead in the estima- tion of Chinese officials by the amount of attention given to the study of that country's language over those of other nations. This s'imate in regard to prestige is not usually general, but more according to local conditions. For instance, in the North the Russians are apparently in the ascendant in the estimation of the Chinese officials in Peking, hence more particular attention is devoted to the Russian language than to others, and as many scholars as possible are obtained to take up the literature of the Muscovite. In the South as in Kwangsi and Yunnan owing to the contiguity of the French territorities, great attention is being given to the study of that coun- try's language in preference to English, which at one time was the only language laught, and students, at Canton even, are being especially encouraged to take up France studies. In the Yangtsze provinces, however, neither France nor Kussia in considered of much im- portance to the political conditions of that region, but Great Britain and Japan are, and not only is their prestige considerably above the other Powers, but what is more, these two countries ure looked upon with really friendly eyes not only by the officials but also by the merchants, gentry, aud literati. Th English and Japanese languages are therefore to be the principal studies in the various new schools of Western learning in the Liangkiang and Luang provinces, beginning with the commence. ment of the next Chinese year, that is, after the 8th of February next. In the Government schools also, such as the Tzechiang College at Wachang and the principal Government schools in Nanking where hitherto German, French, Russian, English, and Japanese have been taught, the first three are to be abolished and only the instructors of the latter two-English and Japanese-will be retained from the middle of February next. As the language of America is the same as English what has been said of the latter also refers to the former. Indeed friendshi towards the U.S. would have been
greater than towards Great Britain, were it not for the ill-feeling entertained by the officials in regard to the Exclusion Act passed by the former country.
HONGKONG.
The only case of communicable disease report- ed in the Colony last week was one of diphtheria. The Supreme Court will go into vacation from the 8th to he 14th inst. inclusive, owing to the Chinese New Year holidays.
The local A. D. C. finds itself unable, after all, to stage His Excellency during the Race Wesk. The Colony seems to suffer at the Iresent moment from a great dearth of available
amateur actre: sez.
The return of visitors to the City Hall Library and Museum last week shows that 219 non-Chinese and 116 Chinese visited the former, and 56 non-Chinese and 1,778 Chinese the
latter institution.
In the annual musketry course of the Police Force some very good shooting has been shown. Inspector McLennan, a well-known shot in the Colouy, is first with 148 out of a possible 168. Sergeant Cameron, with 16 to his credit, is likely to win the silver cup presented by Inspector McLennan for the best shot amongst those members of the Force below the rank of inspector.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
P.-S. Walter Kent has been appointed Inspector of Nuisances in the Kowloon City district:
The return of deaths in the Colony in Decem- ber shows a total of 573, 30 in the European and foreign community (18 civilians, 10 Army, 2 Navy) and 543 in the Chinese community. 160 deaths were due to chest affections (includ- ing 6 non-Chinese), and 59 to malaria. The death-rates in the principal registration districts were:-British and foreign community (civil) 22.5 per 1,000 per annum; Chinese, Victoria, land 25.5, boat 24.3; Chinese, whole Colony land 23.4, boat 22.0, land and boat 232; whole civil community 23.2.
The return of the stamp revenue for the two Years 1960 and 1901 shows a total decrease dur- ing the latter period of 828,867.31. This is principally accounted for by a drop in Probate or Letters of Administration of $33 910.20 and in Conveyance or Assignment of $20,206.65, no other item showing a loss of $1,000. The prin- cipal increases were in Transfer of shares, $5,517.10; Bill of lading, 85,137.70; Bánk note duty, $3,836.31; Bill of exchang and promis. sory note, $3,806.98; Policy of Insurance, $2,8 8.6); adhesive stamps, 82,773.54; Broker's note, $1,855,50,
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A special meeting of the members of S. John's Cathedral hoir was held on Thursday evening to consider letters from the Bishop of Victoria relating to na insinuation published in the China Moil against he choir and reported to have been made by the Bishop at the recent meeting of Seat- holders and Subscribers, The Bishop having pointed out that he was confident he did not make the statement in question (though he said in the confusion of the breaking up of the meeting he might have done so) and having at the suggestion of several members publicly withdrawn the statement published, the choir considered the matter ended.
M. Droeze, Consul-General for the Nether- lands in South China, informs us that the Governor-General of Netherlands-India has decreed that all ships or vessels arriving from Hongkong or having called at this port are subject in Netherlands. India to a quarantine of ten days from the date of departure from this port or since the last case of plague on board. Importation is temporarily prohibited of animal refuse, claws and hoofs, animal or human hair and bristles, hides which are untanned and which are salted or cured with arsenic, raw wool
and rags, bags or sacks which have already been used, coming from Hongkong or transhipped at this port, and tapestry and embroideries, unless transhipped as personal baggage.
manu-
In a letter which is too long for publication a correspondent again draws attention to the smoke nuisance caused by what he describes as "several ill-constructed funnels erected by two firms carrying on business in Queen's Road East, near the foot of S. Francis Street." The two firms complained of are the Tin Hing Company, engineers and shipbuilders, and the Kee Heong Chan, sweetmeat facturers and importers, whose businesses, our correspondent says, are carried on in the heart of a dense population, and surrounded by six rows of houses. Some five months ago, the letter points out, Messrs. George Fenwick and Company, Ld., had to make extensive altera- tions to abate such a nuisance, owing to the complaints of people residing about three hundred yards away,
but the S Francis community, living within fifty yards of the ill-constructed smoke-stacks of the two Chiness firms in question, have had on heed paid to their repeated representations to the sanitary authorities on the subject.
H.M.S. Blenheim left on the 27th ult. for Amoy, while H.M.SS. Terrible and Cressy went cut on a cruise.
H.M.S. Eclipse returned from a cruise and H.M.S. Endymion went out on a cruise on the 28th ult.
H.M.S. Ocean arrived from Amoy on the 30th ult.
The German flagship Fürst Bismarck arrived Macdonald, on the 3 th ult. from Tsingtau.
There sailed by the 8.8. Malacc on the 25th ult. for Singapore, Major Dorebill. Lieuts, Ensor, Argus, Thomson, Nanson, and Watson. non-commissioned officers and men of the 50th 10., Royal Garrison Artillery; for Bombay,
Lieuts. Captain Cruikshank, Bosanquet, Sheppard, non-commissiond officers and men of the 82nd Co., Royal Garrison Artillery; and for London, Major onnolly, RAM.C., Lieut. Blake, East Yorkshire Regiment, son of H.E. the Governor, and military details from R.G.A., R.W.F., A.O.G., RAM.C., etc.
According to a Foochow despatch, the French are negotiating with H. E. Viceroy Hsu Yingkuei with a view to getting mining concessions in the Chienning and Shawon Prefectures, Fohkien.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
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The Italian Consul at Seoul has forwarded an official note to the Corean Government covering an application for a mine, the Italian Government being desirous of obtaining equal privileges with other powers.
Of 56 American vessels entering the Philip pines during the year ended 30th June, 1901, 12 were from Hongkong. Of 47 American vessels clearing from the Islands 14 were for Hongkong. The number of vessels of all flags that entered the Philippines from Hongkong during the same period was 254 out of a total of 719, while the number cleared for Hongkong w8 287 out of a total of 664.
The Russian authorities have under contem- plation, according to a Japanese vernacular paper, a scheme to ran Russian steamers to Japanese ports, making Vladivostock the head- quarters. Up to now attention has been chiefly directed to the services between Vladivostock and Nagasaki. In 1903 the arrivals and departures of Russian steamers between these two ports were only 95, but last year they totalled 225.
he service of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha be- tween the two ports has been seriously affected by the growthof the Russian competition, as passengers naturally prefer the Russian steamers, which run direct between the two ports, while the N. Y. K. boats call at Fassu aud Gensan.
As the Siamese Press is so fond of retiring Admiral de Richelieu and then contradictiug the report, we take the following from the Bangkok Times without guaranteeing its authenticity in any way:-Admiral de Riche- lien's retirement from His Majesty's service, which has been impending for some time, will take effect from next month. All arrangements have been made, and the Admiral will leave Singapore for Europe by the German mail steamer Hamburg on the 24th of February. He will go on with his work as usual to the last, but when he does go down the river Admiral de Richelien will no longer ha the Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Navy. Failing health has compelled his retirement, and it is doubtful if, when it came to the push, any other consideration would have induced him to leave his work.
After
M. Doumer's Yunnan railway scheme has brought a party of fifteen Italians to Tonkin to work on the line, as diggers, cutters, masons, bricklayers, &c. Two other Italians have joined them there in other lines of business. Their success will mean the arrival of fresh batches of Italians to seek fortune on the railway. Bitter complaint arises that these foreigners readily find employment, while Frenchmen are too often allowed to roam about the country vainly seeking work, or only getting it on wretched pittances. M. Doumer is now in Tonkin. He is not expected back at Saigon until the 3rd March next. putting the finishing touches to his handiwork in Indo-China, he will return to France in the M.M. boat leaving that port in the middle of that month. He is expected to start again on The anti-official a political career in France. Press hails with joy the departure of M. Doumer. A Shanghai native paper publishes the following from a correspondent in Peking:- The reason why the Chinese Government has over the native customs refused to hand establishments at Canton to the control of the Maritime Customs until now is because the continuance of the management of these establishments in the hands of the native au- thorities is to the personal advantage of the Empress-Dowager. Hitherto the Emp:ess- Dowager has bought many things annually from Canton through the Head of these establishments, the Hoppo, who is always a Manchu and always owes his lucrative appoint- ment to her Majesty. Therefore he never charges his patroness for whatever articles he purchases for her and be is, in a certain sense, her private accountant. If these customs be transferred to foreign control,. the Empres- Dowager will not be able to use their revenue so freely as before. Hence she stood obstinately in the way of their transference, until Prince Ching intervened and persuaded her Majesty to give way. The Prince told her Majesty that, after the transfer of these customs establish- ments, she can draw public money to buy things from Canton if she should so desire.
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