August 16, 1902.]
THE HONGKONG CORONATION
CONTINGENT.
[FROM OUR PECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)
Alexandra Palace. London, 11th July, 1902. There has not been much doing since I wrote last. On the 5th inst., 16 men of our Contin- gent were to have acted as stewards for the King's dinner, but, as there were enong stewards, our fellows fell in with the rest as Guard of Honour to Frincess Christian, who visited the dining-rooms. Major Chapman was second in command of the Guard of Honour.
to morrow.
Church Parade was held in the Palace last Sunday, The Archbishop of Canterbury preached.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
MARCUS ISLAND.
On the morning of the 24th ult.. Baron Komura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, is reported to hare waited on the Emperor and represented to his Majesty the Marcus Island question in detail, : Is reporting the despatch of the cruiser Kusagi to that island.
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Captain Rosehill, his mate, a cook, fivesailors, and five coolies who will be employed in gathering guano. There were also with the expedition Professor Bryan, a naturalist, and Professor Sedgwick, a chemist, who will examine the animal and vegetable products of the island. There is much speculation on the result of the expedition."
The Kobe Chronicle reports that the cruiser Kasaki, which on the 23rd ult. was despatched to Marcus Island, returned to Yokosuka on the 3rd inst. Mr. Ishii, of the Foreign Office, returned by the cruiser, and Captain Sakamoto, in command, reported the result of, his mission report is to the effect that twenty-nine Japanese on the 4th inst. to the Navy Department. The
were residing on the island, and Lieutenant Akimoto and sixteen men were left in charge, with instructions to explain the situation on the arrival of the expected expedition from the United States under Captain Rosehill. Mr. Ishii gives the following account of his visit to the island :-
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Contrary to previous statements, the Jiji reports that the expedition organised in America to take possession of the island left Honolulu in a sailing ship on the 11th nit. As the leaders of the expedition may be ignorant of the relations between Japan and the island they will probably be surprised to discover the General leave to several of the men was grant-he Japanese iu turn will be surprised at the Japanese in possession and settled there, ed some time ago, but all have been recalled to form part of the troops to receive Lord Kitchener appearance of a body of foreigners, and trouble
might
The The following have not turned up
very likely
Japanese Government has therefore deemed it necessary owing to illness:-Sergt.-Major Rodger, Pte. Gillings and Corpl. Gubbay. Special leave
to take precautionary measures and has instruct was granted to Pte. Horley, whose father died
ed Mr. Ishii, Secretary to the Foreign Office, a couple of days ago.
to proceed to the island and explain the situation to the American expedition on its arrival there. The Jiji adds that it was in 1879 When I left Yokosuka I intended to stay (the Kokumin gives the date as 1883) that the on Marcus Island about ten days, and await the Japanese first visited the island. Mr. Mizutani, arrival of the American expedition, but we the present lessee, visited the island for the first found it impossible to remain there so long. time in 1896, and sent over twenty labourers The island is a coral reef the coast precipitous, from Bouin Island in December of the same and there is no harbour for the shelter of vessels. year and commenced the trade in "fool" birds The water is so deep in the neighbourhood of ie, birds which allow themselves to be caught the island that it was impossible to anchor the without attempting to escape. "boobies ressel, and consequently wo had to cruise. The English sailors call them. In the following supply of coal was limited, and it was impossible year. Mr. Mizutani returned to Tokyo and for the cruiser to remain long. As it was not obtained the lease, and in July 1898 it was known when the American expedition would announced that the island would be placed arrive, it was decided to leave a lieutenant with under the jurisdiction of the Tokyo-fu Govefn-sixteen men. Temporary quarters were fixed ment. The occupation of the island by Japan up for the marines, and a Japanese flag hoisted.“ according to the law of natious is, it is urged, Mr. Ishii left a letter with the commander of complete both in form and fact, It was in 1890 the party, explaining their mission to the that the Americaus first visited the island. island, which was to be shown to the Commander
of the American expedition ou its arrival.
There are
The men are having a good time. always a number of free passes to theatres, etc.. issued. We have had fine weather barring a couple of days.
Our special correspondent with the contin- gent telegraphed under date London, 10th August, 10.55 8.m.:-
On a cold and overcast morning. from a.m., the Hongkong Contingent was for twelve hours stationed with the unmounted Colonial forces at Whiteball. Tremendous crowds were about, cheering and singing the National Anthem. The maguificent coaches and horses in the procession particularly struck our fancy. The firing of guns signalled that Their Majes- ties had been crowned, whereon all the Colonials broke into cheers.
We leave here on the return journey to Hongkong on the 19th instant.
THE HEALTH OF HONGKONG.
Up to noon on the 9th inst. one fresh case of plague was reported, and up to noon on the 11th inst. two more. Since then 5 cases have been reported. All these were Chinese and all fatal.
The year's figures are now:-5-10 cases (515 Chinese, 6 Europeans, 19 Other Asiatics); 528 deaths (4 Europeans, 569 Chinese, 15 other Asiatics).
The cases of communicable disease in the Colony last week were:-Plague 14 (Chinese) with 13 deaths; cholera 12 (Chinese), with
11 deaths.
Cholera has claimed over 400 victims this year and small-pox more than 50.
The death returns for the month of June (which appear belated in the Gazette) show a total of 592 deaths, of which 29 were in the European and foreign community (25 civilians, -3 Army, 1 Navy), and 563 in the Chinese com-
munity. 18 deaths were due to plague, 102 to chest-affections, 35 to chelera, and 32 to malarial fever. The death-rates in the principal registration-districts were:-British and foreign civil community, 30.5 per 1,000 per annum; Chinese, Victoria, land, 23.3 harbour 21.6;. Chinese, whole Colony, land, 22.9, boat 243 and and boat 23; total civil community, 23.2.
In the Yokohama Chiho Saibansbo on the 29th ult., an American sailor, 20 years old, belonging to the U.S. warship Kentucky, was sentenced to pay a fine of 8 yen for coming in collision with, and causing the death of Shiba. yama Kanekichi, 56 years old, while riding on a bicycle on the 17th May this year.
According to a telegram from Formosa, about eighty men belonging to the native volunteers (Jieidan), stationed in the neighbourhood of Sekibekisorei, rebelled on the morning of the 1st inst., and after killing four Government inspectors, attacked the contingent of troops stationed at Shokosho. The commander of the contingent and several men were killed, a number also being wounded. Two companies of infantry were sent to the assistance of the contingent.
The Osaka Mc ini hi states that Mr. Mizutani took with him thirty-seven men and women when he first settled On the island. Many of them, however, returned, and the present number of permanent inhabitants is only six. From that fime to the present the island has been visited twice by American vessels and in 1898 a warship called there for a supply of water and fuel. The fart of the occupation of the island by Japán is, it is thought, probably known to the American Government. Upon arrival at the island, the American expedition may be surprised at the presence of a Japanese war-ship, but doubtless question is not likely to cause any trouble there, an understanding will le arrived at. The
The Asali states that about 1898 an American but will probably become a diplomatic oue.
sailing vessel visited the island and fired upon the Japanese residents there, carrying away water and eccoannis, But surely this is in- credible. In January last year another vessel called at the island and offered to carry away, the inhabitants, who explained, however, that they were there of their own free will bird- catching. The vessel then put to sea.
The Osaka Asahi publishes a letter from Honolulu, dated the 15th ult, which gives some particulars of the Rosehill expedition :-
L
Marcus Island, which it is also considered would Guano is produced in large quantities on
make a splendid fishing station. Captain Rosehill, a resident of Honolulu, has declared that the island was discovered by himself. He addressed a memorial to the United States Government, declaring the island to be au American possession. He consulted with Mr. Peacock, a rich merchant at Honolulu and Mr. Thomas Fitch, an engineer. Marcus Guano Company.. Recently Captain Rosehill visited San Francisco to charter a vessel and make other preparations for proceeding to the island There he learned (as already reported) that the island had been occupied by the Japanese. It is regarded as impossible for Captain Rosehill to abandon the scheme now, and the members of the expedition declare they will drive the Japanese away from the island. It is believed here (Honolulu) that the Japanese will not easily yield to the expedition and that a diplomatic question will ensue be tween the United States and Japan. Cap tain Rosehill and his party sailed from Honolulu on the 10th inst. in the sailing ship Julia E. Whalen, bound for Marcus Island. The crew of the vessel consists of
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Marcus Island has been described, continues Mr. Ishii, as being situated in 24 deg. 14 min. North latitude and 154 deg. East longitude, but according to the close survey made by the Kasaki, its situation is 24 deg. 17 min. 30 sec. North latitude, and 154 deg. 4 min. 30 sec. East Longitude. It is one of the coral islands iu the Pacific, and long coral reefs are visible in rows in the vicinity-a very fine sight. The island is covered with trees, including palms. and birds of various species are very namerons. Ihe Japanese on the island live in huts made of palm leaves, and are engaged in the pursuit of birds are stuffed, sent to Yokohama, and fishing and bird-catching. The skins of the
stated to be the intention of the settlers to exported to Europe for millinery use. proceed further south to some of the uninhabited islands, as the birds were getting scarce.
THIE
"
It was
TERRIBLE'S NEW
RECORD.
Yesterday, says the Singapore Free Press of the 5th inst, was a great day for Singapore and greater still for the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, for the world's record for coaling, splendid fastion by the Tanjong Pagar people, hitherto held by Hongkong, was beaten in
who put aboard the Terrible in five hours, the grand total of 1,510 tons of coal, an average of 302 tons per hour, or actually 30 tous per hour more than was effected at Hongkong, whose average only amounted to 272..
How it was done remains to be told and also of the adverse circumstances under which the. ask was performed. Preparations had cer- tainly been made by the Tanjong Pagar Com- pany, instructed by Messrs. Paterson Simons aad Co. the Navy Contractors, but these were for Sunday, when the Terrible was expected and coal had been stacked along by the wharf edge at section six and lighters loaded ready for the fray. Crowds of coolies had received orders to work at their hardest pitch with a hint of extra kudos at the end and in fact if the Terrible had come in at daylight on Sunday morning all was prepared for her arrival and the coolies would have tackled her in the cool morn,
But Capt. Scott had in some way or other received a message, certainly not from the Tan- jong Pagar Dock Company, to the effect that he would not go alongside the wharf here, but
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