June 21, 1902.1
THE IM, CUSTOMS COLLECTION.
| JANUARY-MARCH QUARTER. The just published Customs Casette dealing with the period January-March 1902 contains the following report of dues and duties at Chinese ports during the quarter, the figures of 1901 being added for comparisˇn};-
Chefoo
PORT
Kisochau
Chungking Ichang Shasi Yochow. Hankow
100
Kinkisug Wuhu
Nanking
Chinkiang Shanghai.. Soochow . Hangchow Ningpo Wenchow Santuao Foochow Amoy
TOTAL COLLECTION Hk, Tha. 11,104
..1,811,456
SAME QUARTER,
19 1.
Яk. Tle. 3.787
37,154 147 582
21,625
Newchwang
Chinwantao
19,472
Tientsin
255,523
144 093
35,368
93,712
141,010
146,333
271,832
1,790
694
2,145 149
་་་
320,637 118,746
92,454
254,749 111,719. 200,382
52,478
239,963
46,271 235,273 1,262,357
8,785
+
301,102
118,251
6.928
162
..
182 161
156,96
***
165,382
146,788
Swatow
389.422
380,361
Canton
596,424
509,227
West River Trade
Bamshni
23,661
21.982
Kongmoon
8,829
8,898
Kumchuk
6,754
Wachow
61,665
Kiungohow
57,625
Pakhoi
39,796
5,110,785
23,612 80,771 140,915
3,666.
88
3.275 72,633 37.589 39,387
4,361,337 We omit the subdivisions of the Haikwan Tael in the above.
Total
THE COREAN INDEPENDENCE
CLUB.
The Korean Review, gives an explanation of the cause of the recent action on the part of the Corean Government against former members of the Independence Club. A man named Na Hyunta, in sympathy with the pro-Russian party and cherishing a violent antipathy against the Independence Club, was determined to bring trouble upon former members of that organisa- tion. With this purpose, Na Hyunts and a friend named Choe Hakna, invited Kim Kwangta, formerly an active member of the Club, to a conference. Kim was told that the Corean party lately formed in Japan had agents in Seoul, and that the Club was going to co. operate with that party in attempting to gain control of affairs in Cores. The three leading spirits in this proposal were Nam Kunguk, Yu Hakja and Chong Kyo, and if these men were watched and spied upon, the Government wou'd, substantially reward the informers. The proposal was that Na, Choe and Kim should watch the three prominent members of the Club, and also that a fourth man, Yi Chanyung, should spy upon Yi Sangja, another member. When Kim Kwangta heard this he asserted that it was all false, that there was no such plan on foot, and that the whole thing was unreasonable and foolish. He left the house and communicated with the three suspected members, telling them what he had heard. The secret leaked out, and there being a danger of the authorities becoming acquainted with it through other channels, the pro-Russian, Na Hyunta, went to the palace police and told them 8 long story about how the Corean party in Japan and the Independence Club in Corea were arranging matters, and gave a long list of those interested in the seditious venture. Twenty policemen were immediately ordered to arrest [these men, but only about seven were captured, including the Editor of the Whang sung Sinmun. - The Chief of Police, having investigated matters, and finding the alleged conspiracy t to be a hoax, advised the Govern. tent that the charge against the arrested men be dismised, but the Government, thinking that the subject had not been fully investigated | ordered the retention of the arrested men.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
SWATOW.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.
Swalow, 14th June. DARING BURGLARY.
487
bodies. If it were a case of murder or private engeance the beads and clothes would have been removed as more easy to dispose of, and the bodies left as less recognisable.
CORRESPONDENCE.
search from Fong Tai and has been equally nosuocssful. It would be no matter of surprise to find two henda with bodies hard by on the permanent way, for incredible as it may appear, it is not uncommon for coolies to go to sleep on the track, using the rail as a substitute for the One of the most daring robberies was comin this case consists in the disappearance of the hard Chinese pillow; the essence of the mystery mitted on the 10th instant at 2 o'clock in the morning. From 4 to 50 men, armed with knives and revolvers, forced an entrance into the Chiong Hop exchange shop sitnated close to the American Baptist Mission, in the Chinese city. They went through everything in the place and took away with them about $ 0.009; this consisted of cash, notes, drafts, and two boxes containing small silver coins, which were readily packed for shipment to Hongkong. The marauders have oleared out with their booty and there is no clue as to where they came from or where they went to. There were. at the time four inmates in the shop, who. greatly alarmed, rushed up on to the roof of the house whence they made their exit into the street. They went then to the night patrol and related what had happened; but these guardians of the peace refused to go without their obief, who was absent. The fonr men ten proceeded to the topozee who also would not send any assistance before receiving a petition. This example of official supineness takes a lot of beating.
MORE ROBBERIES
+
On the 11th instint a man was carrying $55 to the Hsing Yü Bank, known as the Customs Bank, when the money was taken off him in broad daylight.
After 11 p.m. of the 12th instant, a house of ill-fame was entered by six men with blackened faces and armed with long knives. They overawed the mistress of the place and took away with them one box of clothing. It would seem as if there is a well organised gang of desperadoes in onr midst, bent on pillage and plunder.
RAIN.
Two months ago, rain was badly wanted and apprehensions of a water famine entertained at that time. It has now been raining incessantly for over two weeks and one fervently wishes it would stop at last. overflowing, and I hear that the rains have cansed damage to the fields.
Our reservoirs are
NORTHERN NOTES.
now
The following items are from the. P. & T. Times of the 7th inst.:
Col. Browne, the Milit ry Attaché to the British Legation in Peking, left for home this week. Major Ducat is not expected at the Legation for another month,
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
ALLEGED RELIGIOUS FACTIONS. NEAR SWATOW.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,' Swatow, 13th June. SIB-I have just read your last weekly number dated June 7th. On the first page you quote an article written by the Swatow correspondent of your Shanghai morning contemporary who says that "fighting between so-called Protestants and Roman Catholics has closed," etc. According to this article, the Catholica "threatened to resign in a body and the head of the Mission had not the moral courage to persevere in the right course The prime mover, encouraged by his immunity, has sent his messengers to the camp of his enemies offering them the alternative
[Catholic Mission, I joining_mission"
of
presume], "or leaving the country. So it is in many places".
To the Swatow correspondent, I should like, through you, Mr. Editor, to address a few words in respons`.
Firstly, Why has he not the courage- since he formally accuses Catholic missionari-s -to divulge his name? If he believes his statement to be true, why should he fear to be known? Granting that it is fear which prompts him to withhold his name, is it not indeed laughable that he should cast reflections 59 in others. upon the want of “moral courage For Mr. Correspondent's tranquility of mind I will say that Catholic mission ries hold no spite; on the contrary. they desire very much to know their honourable detractor. Again the correspondent speaks of fighting between Protestants and Catholics. If he is in earnest, why does be not indicate the locality where Protestants and Catholics are contending? Too true, unfortunately, fighting has been going on in some places between followers of the above religions, but not in the Swatow district. For my part, I protest strongly against this correspondent's method of accusing. Instead of specifying the persons and places, he launches ont a general accusation, thereby throwing descredit upon the whole body of Catholic missionaries.
The new Japanese Military Attaché has arrived in Peking. The only regret pertaining to his arrival is that which concerns linguistic difficulty: so far as we have been able to hear, the gallant officer speaks no language but his own.
The British Railway Administration is con- emplating a great reduction in its telegraphic charges. The word-tariff is to be 10 cents I protest also in the name of all the Catholic Never instead of 4), and urgent messages are to be priests in this part of the country. 20 cents a word instead of 60. The high tariff have our Catholics resigned in a body for the which has ruled for such a long time was purpose of molesting and driving out their imposed to stop abuse and the impairment of enemies. Never has a Catholic missionary Our a diabolical thing. the public service by trivial messages!
permitted such One of our local "curiosities of literature" is unknown detractor is mistaken. "So it is many the total disappearance of the late Mr. W.places." says he. In which places, I ask? Pethick's manuscript of the Life of Li Hung- To these questions the correspondent of the chung. We understand that all the efforts of his executors to trace these valuable documents have hitherto been unavailing. That Mr. Pethick himself did not destroy them is certain, as he spoke to friends about them just before his death in such terms as to leave no doubt in their minds that they were all in safe custody.
A Bailway Mystery. Between Sunday and Monday last an incident happened on t'e rail- way about 12 miles from Peking which would have provoked an immense sensation at home. Two men's heads were found between the metals on the permanent-way, but no trace whatever of the corresponding bodies. The discovery was made about two miles from Huang Toun, and the decapitation was probably the work of the Inst up-train on Sunday. The station-master at Huang Tsun had the line minutely patrolled and the adjoining lands examined, but no trace whatever has been found of the bodies. More over the foreman platelayer has made a detailed
Shanghai morning paper referred to will answer, I hope. In the meantime I pray your readers, Sir, to postpone their judgment in this matter. When the details now asked by me are given by the accuser, I shall be able to bring the true and undeniable facts to light.- Yours, etc.,
+
L. PENICAUD,
Catholic Priest; Procurator of the R.C. Missions in Swatow.
1
CHINESE REPRESENTATION ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
A
TO THE IDITOR OF THE “ DAILY PRESS.”
Hongkong, 13th June. SIE have read Mr. Tse Tran Tai's letter of the 6th instant again and over again and I have come to the same conclusion as others have, viz., that Mr. Tse's motive was to insült the Eurasians, and in particular Mr. Ho Tung,
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