March 29, 1902.]
Continuing in the same strain, His Ex- cellency said that the regiment had that day been paid the highest compliment almost pos- sible for it to receive, for at a special meeting of the Executive Council convened by him to discuss the question it bad been decided that those best entitled to represent the Colony at the forthcoming Coronation of His Majesty were the men who gave their services to the Colony free. A telegram had been received from the Secretary of State to the effect that the home authorities were willing to have a representative contingent from Hongkong to take part in the Coronation procession, and it had been unanimonsly decided by the Execu- tive Council that the formation of that con- tingent should be left to the Volunteer Corps. That those selected to go home to London to represent the Colony would acquit themselves as men, as true soldiers of the King and the Empire, he was fully confident.
Major-General Gascoigne afterwards pre- sented the Challenge Shield to "C' Machine Company, which has won it two years in succession.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
CIVILISING THE MALAY.
[FROM A SPECial corresponDENT.]
Singapore, 15th March.
Of the various civilising experiments to which the Malays hav been subjected since their contact with white influence, none surpasses in instructive value that yet developing in the The story covers Federated Malay States. transition in a few years from wanton rule to Malays doubtless held high orderly control.
station in earlier centuries. hospitable impulse, and disdainful courage survive from the original stock. But when racial decadence opened the way for encroach ment, and Chinese adventure pushed its pioneers into the Peninsula, that region became a breed- ing place for outlawry. The cohesive attraction which had held the Malays together as a people could not withstand this strain upon it, and the race split into tribes occupying sepa- rate districts, and with no community of in- terest. Jealousy and fend crept in, interual On returning to Headquarters, Major CHAP-strife, corrruption and bribery prevailed, and MAN, before dismissing the parade, expressed human life, ever lightly regarded in the East, his thanks to all ranks for the enthusiasm with had no protection or safeguard whatever, ex- As cept in the readiness of the individual to defend which they had noted under his command. to the men to be selected to go home in connec- himself. Intrigue, robbery and murder at home, tion with the Coronation, it had been decided and piracy abroad filled the common thought. by His Excellency the Officer Administering the A condition of savagery must have resulted had Government to call for more names, in order to not English intervention been sought and ex- facilitate the work of selection. Those who were tended. The effort at redemption encountered chosen to go to London would be carried there and obstacles, some of which had to be removed by back at Government expense, and would travel military force; but it has never moved back according to their rank; in London they would ward, and its successive steps in the last 28 probably be quartered in barracks, and would years have worked in these States a trans- be under strict military discipline. Conclud- formation almost without parallel, and have ing, Major Chapman said that names should be added a memorable chapter to English colonial sent in as soon as possible, as many arrange-history. ments would have to be made, including the providing of new uniforms.
courts.
245
an
construction of roads, of railways, and by works of drainage and irrigation. Security for life and property were furnished by systems of police and
Free hospitals and schools were opened, and land titles were adjudicated and fixed. Naturally the British free trade policy became operative, with the abolition of import duties, except on opium and spirits, and of sil restraints on trade, commerce, and industry. There were three States under British protection is 1875, whose combined revenue was $409,394, and whose expenditure was $436,872. In 1889, four States had a
revenue Pride of bearing, combined
of $5,013,000, with expenditure of $4,091,078, the new State contributing to revenue $30,390 and being responsible for the expenditure of $142,620. Federation was established in 1896, the ad- ministration having previously been through Under the amended Resident Councillors. arrangement, the native rulers agreed to con- stitute their territories into a federation, to be administered under the advice of the British Government; to accept a Resident-General, in addition to the separate State Residents; to render one another such assistance in men, money, and otherwise, as the British Govern- ment might advise; and to send a body of armed Indian troops for service in the Straits Settlements, should war break out between England and any other Power. Revenue in the year in which federation went into effect amounted to $8,431,083, and expenditure to 88,598.147. In the last fiscal year, the figures reached $15,699,807 and $12,728,930. Tin, the principal source of revenue, contributed $7,000,000 to the assets of the year, railway receipts furnished $2,000,000, land revenue $700,000, and posts and telegraphs nearly $200,000. The assets of the States include more than 300 miles of railway, 1,300 miles In a limited degree only may comparisons be of cart road, 1.400 miles of telegraph, an justified between the Malay States and the irrigation scheme which is about to throw Philippines. Whatever the shortcomings of open to development 60,000 acres of land in one of the States, and waterworks, wharves; hospi Spanish rule, it maintained at least the appear. ance of an undivided sovereignity and of account-tals, prisons, schools, and a full equipment of a central power. Its dealings, public buildings, Under federation, revenue ability 10 however, were with racial elements quite like nearly doubled and showed an increase as great those in the Peninsula, Malay in the beginning, in figures as had occurred in the marvellous and disclosing later a strong Chinese infusion. progress of the preceding twenty years. The veneer of civilisation with which Spain Comparisons have been drawn from these the Resident-General, Mr. overlaid this composite appealed neither to its figures by loyalty nor to its interest, and character and ten-Treacher, in which he shows that the revenue dencies in the peninsula and the Philippines have of the States is larger than that of any of the Mal-probably always been closely allied, and so British Crown Colonies, with the exception of remain. Methods may differ with conditions Ceylon, and that even Ceylon stands second in and purposes in handling the wards in the respect to surplus in the last fiscal year. The Administration by States contain 26,300 square miles, a population present world movement. one Government need not taken pattern from of 676,138, and in sterling the revenue was that of another, but when policies part on the £1,561,000 and the expenditure £1,273,000. esentials of fair dealing and consideration for Ceylon, with 25,362 square miles, and a po- native welfare, better illustration of results can pulation of 3,391.443 produced a revenue of The hardly be fond than has been furnished within £1,727,000 and expended £1,639,000. a few years, with people strikingly alike in Straits Settlements which stand sponsor for the origin and racial development, in the Philip. States and political guide to them, seem so pines under Spain and in the Malay Peninsula small by comparison as to be suggestive of the tail wagging the dog, They contain 1,542 under England.
square mi es of territory, a population of 572,249, produced a revenue of £538,684 and expended £601,643.
The parade was then dismissed. In connection with the Coronation contingent, we are informed that up till Saturday afternoon sixty-one names had been sentin to Headquarters.
FOOCHOW RACES.
FIRST DAY,-19th March. The Flyaway Stakes.-Capt. Hope's Recorder. The Spring Cup.—Mr. Madagaskar's gache.
The Amoy Cup.-Capt. Hope's Adonis. The "Sirius" Cup.-Capt. Hope's Recorder. The Hack Stakes.-Mr. Dorset's Knightly. The Yuen Foo Stakes.-Mr. Madagaskar's Malgache.
The Nantai Stakes.-Mr. Oswald's Sirius. SECOND DAY.-20th March. The Fobkien Cup.-Mr. Graham's Persian Rose.
The Min Cup.--Mr. Madagaskar's Malgache. The Lottery Cup -Mr. J. S. Bruce's Ace of Hearts.
The Stand Cup.-Mr. Min's Sans-átout. The Consolation Cup.-Mr. Min's Chicane. The Champion Stakes.-Mr. Oswald's Sirius. The Welter Cup.-Capt. Hope's Recorder. There were only twelve ponies (excluding hacks) entered altogether. The consequence was that only five were qualified for the solation, and eight for the Champions.
|
Sovereign rights affect not at all these re. sults, for while Spain owned and England merely supervised, rule was no stronger or more
The mining has been the most profitable in- complete in one case than in the other. Why these growths from the same trunk fruited dustry. Those who incline to caution in regard respectively in revolt and in prosperity and to the future of the States doubt whether contentment; in a divorce of interest and as-expectation may not run too high, in view of Con-piration, against a relationship so close as to the large shipments of ore from alluvial depo
Sir Frank Swettenbam, amount to actual allegiance in everything ex-sits every year. cept
in name;
and Governor of the Straits Settlements, comment. implacable hatred intolerance, against an affection thoroughly ing on the apprehension that the mines must loyal and steadfast, are questions to be soon be worked out, says:-"I do not share answered by reference to the disposition with these views, except in so far as I agree that which government was undertaken and carried | about 500,000 tons of tin, worth over £40,000,000. on in the two territories. Since Philippine have been exported in the last 15 years. The supply has been unquestionably reduced by government now promises to be conducted on humanitarian lines as broad as those applied to that amount; but just as it is certain that the Peninsula-although varying radically on tin has been worked in the Malay Peninsula for treatment-the snocesses recorded in the Pen- centuries, so I believe it will still be produced insula may furnish at least partial forecast there centuries hence. No doubt the industry of what may occur in the Philippines when has grown in recent years to very large pro- portions, but it would take a long time to work conditions there shall have become pacified.
British policy in general has always been to out the alluvial deposits in the lands already alienated, and these comprise but a fraction of the unexplored lands which still remain, where there is every reason to believe the mineral will be found in paying quantities. This only applies to alluvial deposits. No one can guess what are the reserves of ore in underground rock forms- tions. The Government has not, however, over- looked the fact that in ita export of tin its capital
The following items are from the Foochow
H.M.S. Echo of the 15th inst.:
Talbot arrived at Pagoda Anchorage on the 8th inst.—— T'he cruiser Friant arrived at Pagoda Anchor- age this morning, bringing the French Minis- ter, who immediately proceeded to visit the Viceroy in the city.-—If the weather continues as fine as at present over next week Foochow will have a good time of it. There is to be a oricket match on Monday, racing on Wednes- -day and Thursday and no doubt the return hockey match, Foochow v. H.M.S. Talbot, will be played on one of the other days.-On Thure-interfere as little as possible with the manners, -day the Foochow Lawn-Tennis and Cricket Club played a match against the officers of H.M.S. Talbot which resulted in a win for Foochow by 6 goals to 5. [Among the Foochow players in this match we notice the name of Von der Pfordten, the late Hongkong foot- -baller)].
customs, methods, and prejudices of the people, to let them alone in their religion, to attract capital for the development of natural resources, to encourage labour immigration-the native product being constitutionally averse to that sort of service—and to make the land attractive for industrial and commercial uses by the
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