118
FIRE ON THE "HONGCHOW."
THERE LIVES LOST.
On Saturday, the 8th inst. at 2.3) a.m, fire broke out on board the steam-launch Hongchow as she lay alongside one of the small wharves
Canton west of the
steamer wharf. It originated somewhere below the deck-exactly where has not yet been ascertained-and before the arrival of the Fire Brigade and a floating The flames fire-engine, was in full fore. burned fiercely for a couple of hours, by which time the incessant streams of water pouring into the vessel began to have their effect; very soon afterwards they were completely overcome, and the firemen were enabled to board the launch to ascertain the nature and extent of the damage. The deck and filtings had been totally destroyed, and practically nothing but the hull remained. It was believed that the entire crew had escaped, but this impression received a rude shock in the finding of the dead bodies of three Chinamen-two firemen and the cook. They are supposed to have been sleeping in their banks when the fire broke out and to have been suffocated; the blies were removed to the public mortuary. The total damage to the launch is $2,500.
The Hongchow had a capacity of 60 tons, and was engaged in trading between Hongkong and West River Ports. The owners are the Shun Tai Steamboat Company. Wing Lok Street.
ARMED ROBBERY.
On the 5th inst. between 6.30 and 7.30 p.m. four men armed with revolvers and chop pers broke into a first-floor house in Wellington Street, and after intimidating the inmates rob- bed them of property--clothing, jewellery, and a little money-of the value of about $100, with which they got clear away. One of the inmates, a woman, was found crying over her losses by the constable on the beat and was taken to the Central Police Station, where she gave fall information regarding the robbery. The case was taken up by Mr. J. W. Hanson, Chief of the Detective Department; and under his directions a careful disposition was made of the men so that all the pawnbroking shops would be under surveillance, it being presumed that the robbers would endeavour to get rid of their plunder through this agenoy. piece of practice had the desired The next morning at 8 o'clock a man entered a pawnshop with five buttons, made from American gold dollar-pieces, part of the stoleu property. When he saw that the pawnbroker was showing signs of suspicions, the man bolted but was pursued and captured. The pawn- brokers had of course been put on their guard by the police. As a result of this capture, the three accomplices have since boen arrested. Nearly all the stolen property has been recovered.
This smart
result.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
HONGKONG Y.M.C.A.
OPENING OF THE CHINESE DEPARTMENT.
The opening reception in connection with this important branch of the Y.M.C.A. here occurred on Tuesday evening. The 11th. By eight o'clock a large number of Chinese adherents and many European fri-nds of the movement, had assembled in the comfortable and spacious rooms in Des Voeux Road Central.
The Rev. W. J. Southam, the promoter of the Y.M.CA. movement in Hongkong, intro- duced the President, the Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving, who, in an able exposition of the purposes of the Y.M.C.A. movement in general, and of that of Hongkong in particular, laid stress ou the great importance of the formation of character in youth and early manhood, and its necessity to the well-being of the community of Houg. kong, which needed men of integrity for the great future before it.
A speech in the vernacular from Mr. Dyer- Ball was very well received by the audience, whose appreciation was shown by frequent applause.
[February 15, 1902.
THE NEW TARIFF.
or
A first draft of the proposed new Tariff bas been sent by Sir James Mackay to the various Chambers of Commerce on the Coast, says the P. & T. Times, The form enables the reader to see at a glance the old and new scales of charges; our sole objection to it is that in many cases the units or standards are different-thus the units for taxing many forms of piece goods under the old tariff was the "chang ten Chinese feet, whereas now it concists of the length of the average "piece." A rule of three sum has therefore to be done by the curious reader before he can effect his comparison. As far as a cursory examination enables us to judge, the increment in piece-goods generally is con- siderable, but in woollens, as distinguished from cottons, it is very marked. We observe that in some forms of sugar the new scale is actually less than the old. Beer is to pay one mace (say 31 pence) per dozen quarts; champagne, eight and a half ma e; spirits, three and a half. Spirits and wines in casks are to pay one mace per gallon.
The Rev. W. J. Southam spoke on the Many articles in domestic use in foreign purposes of this department, giving particulars households are not scheduled at all but are as to membership, and placing emphasis on the simply annotated with the Protocol phrase "five He per cent. ad valorem." In metals the increase Christian character of the Association. hoped that many would take advantage of the of the duty is not so marked, unless we except classes for Christian instruction, strictly optional quicksilver, in which case it is doubled. Asiatic as they would be. He farther hoped that the coal is promoted from half a mace per ton to members would derive not only moral, mental two and half (a quintuple increase); while and social. but physical advantages. Applause foreign coal is to pay six mace (say one shilling followed Mr. Sontham's earnest and eloquent and eight pence). Kerosene remains in statu speech.
A conversazione, remarkable for its vivacity, followed, and ample refreshments were provided, the ladies being to the fore in this department, During the evening Mr. F. G. Whittick sang appropriate sougs, which were greatly appre ciated: Mr. Sykes accompanying-Contributed.
THE MURDER OF A FRENCH
MISSIONARY.
The Canton correspondent of the Echo de Chine writes: You have already got the news of the murder of poor Father Julien and two of his people. We have yet very few details; his district is so far from Canton, to the North of the province, on the confines of Kiangsi. The father was murdered on the night of the 15th and 16th January. He certainly did not expect to be attacked, for a letter written and despatched by him on the 15th January, received here by Monseignor Merel on the 22nd, did not indicate any fear or auy trouble. The father spoke of his projects and hopes for the future. He expected to lay the foundation of Christianity in the place where he met his death. He was murdered in a honse which he had entered in the Market of Matsen-hao, snb. prefecture of Chiling. The first blow must have been given during his sleep. He had nine horrible wounds, telegraphs Father Collas, which must have been done with a cutlass. A telegram SERIOUS LARCENY BY A SHROFF. from the Viceroy adds that his hands were cut
over
ou
off. A servant of the father was also stretched out in the room. the body covered with wounds. A shroff in the employ of a compradore at Another body was found outside in the same the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank has been state, at what distance the telegram does not arrested on a charge of stealing nearly say. The prefect of Nanyingchow, the military $25,000.
The thefts are believed to extend authorities. Fathers Collot and Marque are at a lengthy period, and have only just the scene of the drama. As yet it is not known who were the assassins. This event has caused come to light. The arrest was made Wednesday night at eight o'clock by Ser- great excitement at Canton, so much the more as nothing of the kind was expected, the country geant Kerr, who went down to the Bank
the accused sitting at and found
his being tranquil. The Viceroy, prevented by desk in total ignorance of the serious dis- illness. sent the governor of Takso to pay a visit closures that had been made concerning him. of condolence and apology to the Consul of His Excel- He made no objection, submitting quietly France and to Monseignor Merel. to be taken into custody and vouchsafing_nolency Tao Mau has given orders to search for What will they statement at the Central Police Station. The and arrest the guilty parties. arrest has come as a surprise to many. the do afterwards, and what will the French accused being a well-known figure at the Bank, where he has been employed for a number of years and where, by his obliging manner and businesslike methods, he had earned general appreciation. Although the money stolen is in reality that of the Bank, it will not lose one cert in the matter, the security paid by the compradore who employed the accused being From the census returns in Iloilo it has been sufficient to cover the amount of the loss. Mr. gathered that out of a total population of J. S. Harston has been retained by the defen-415,000, at least 100,000 have died owing to the dant, and Mr. G. C. C. Master will conduct the effects of the war and famine. How does this prosecution.
compare with the mortality in South Africa?
|
Government do?
A proposed ordinance for the prevention of cruelty to animals is at present before the Manila Municipal Board. There is need in Hongkong for something of the kind.
quo.
Gourmets may be concerned to know that the first quality of birds' nests is raised from five and a half mace to one tael four mace a catty, and that the rate on sharks' fins is trebled. Cinnamon is also nearly trebled. American ginseng goes from something between "6. to 8” taels per pical to 40 to 46," an enormous increase. Foreign leather seems to have hitherto been let in cheaply, for it now rises from 4 mace to 4 taels. Lacquer goes up from oue faci per picul to three and a half. Common timber remains the same, but the more valuable woods are now penalised like everything else.
Chen
SWATOW.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Swatow, 11th February.
of the wealthiest
A RELIGIOUS FUNCTION.
one In Ting, merchants at this port, became a Protestant, joining the Presbyterian Mission, the other day.
The baptism, which was performed by the Rev. J. C. Gibson, took place on Sunday, the 2nd instant. Chen, having the rank of a Mandarin, appeared in his full official robes, and owing to his great popularity the
remony in church was largely attended by all the different classes of the native population. The latter, in honour of the occasion and out of respect to Chen, were sumptuously attired in robes befitting such an event.
CHEN YU TING
who is in great affluence, as well as of consider- able influence, is of a very charitable and philanthropic disposition, and spends larga sums of money annually for the support needy. Close to the indigent and of the Presbyterian Mission compound has been women. now nearing built a hospital for completion, to which Chen contributed the He has also largest share of the cost.
piece of ground in bought a large healthy locality not far from the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company's installation, where he intends to have erected an Anglo-Chinese college, which, when finished, he is going to hand over to the Missionary body for entire management.
CHINESE NEW YEAR
has come and gone. There have been two processions headed by the symbolic and tradi tional dragon and with the usual concomitant of gong-beating the effect of which, combined with the frequent letting off of fire-crackers, is not very pleasant for the acoustic organs, We have had exceptionally fine weather, entire absence of slightly cold, and an
rain, which, however, is badly wanted.
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