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188
FOOCHOW.
Foochow, 3 th August.
The Commissioner of Customs has issued the following notification: The quarantine inspection of vessels arriving from the Southern, the Formosan and the Northern ports, which was proclaimed in Customs Notifications No. 142 and No. 143 of date 20th June and 3rd July respectively will cease after this day. In future vessels are to be governed as regards quarantine by the 9th of the standing Harbour Regulations of June 1900, which reads as follows:-9. A vessel arriving with a tagious disease on board shall not come nearer than one mile below the lower limit of the Harbour, shall fly at the fare a yellow flag, and shall not allow any one to disembark or come on board without permission from the Harbour
Master's office."
con-
H.I.G.M. cruiser Schwalbe arrived at Pagoda
on the 26th inst.
A "snipe-shooting" (double rise) competition for a prize presented by "A Friend" took place on Green Island last Wednesday. No less than twelve competitors faced the traps, a larger number than we have seen for a long time. Mr Howell again scored a victory, shooting in fine form. The prize was hauded to him by one of the three ladies present with a few charming words of congratulation. Mr Gitting retired at the fifth round. Mr. Ross kindly
undertook the office of scorer.
Kuliang. The question has been asked. "How are they going to get the captured tigress out of the pit in which she is confined, alive ?" and no satisfactory answer having been given, it will be interesting to some to know that a second pit is being dug clos beside the old one. Into this an iron cage is to be lowered, and after breaking down the wall between the pits, the animal is to be enticed into it. This is expected to be successful. We learn that three foreign sportsmen were on the watch on Tuesday night for the tiger which had been seen by natives hunting for its mate. Their guide bad arranged their place of concealment lower down the gully leading to the imprisoned tigress than he should have done and as a consequance the noble beast crossed behind instead of in front of their shelter, placing himself to leeward of the breeze blowing up the gully at the time; and, catching scent of the enemy, he roared aloud. This was faintly responded to by the tigress in the pit, as were also his repeated roars as he beat a retreat. It appears that the shelter was so constructed that the sportsmen could not fire on any object behind thm without leaving it, and this they did not do in the ex- pectation of the beast continuing his descent and passing in front of them. The first intimation they had of the approach of the beast was at 2 a.m. when the heavy footfalls of the animal at 2 trotting pace put them on the alert. The
trot was reduced to a walk, then there was a halt and then the first roar, followed by the retreat. Undaunted by this failure these keen sportsmen are going to make another attempt immediately.
There is a story current at Kuliang about a tiger in some other part of the province giving trouble. It is said that a couple of missionaries, a man and his wife, had been worried by a tiger prowling nightly around their house and they were determined to get rid of it. To this end they, one night, tied a cow up in the back yard and a dog in the front of the house, then they armed them selves with guns and kept watch. The tiger appeared, the missionary fired and killed the COW. The wife rushed to see what bad
happened and in her absence the tiger ate the dog.-Foochow Echo.
According to a Peking despatch to Shanghai, Grand Councillor Chu Hung-Chi ard Vice President Hu Yu-fen went together to see the Russian Minister on the 19th ult. asking when Russia would hand back the Chinese Railways outside the Great Wall of China. In reply, M. Lessar said that he was not in a position to fir a date for the purpose, as mounted brigandage was still rampant in the vicinity of the branch lines of the Railway.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
1
VLADIVOSTOCK.
[FROM A JAPANESE CORRESPONDENT]
A COMMERCIAL CRISIS.
One of the most significant features of Russia's territory in East Asia is the mar- vellous progress which the trade of Vladivostock has made of late years. Twenty odd years ago, when the Imperial Japanese Commercial Agency was first established there, the office had no rival in the town in its appearance and gives place to so many edifices which mark the dimensions. To-day the building, however,
prosperity of the e.ty that it becomes difficult ven to discover its location. In 1892, the city imported goods amounting to 3,976,200 pood (1 pood-36 rng. lbs) and exported 447,000; while in 1900 the amount of imports had increased to 21,760,955 pood and of exports to 2,221.946, showing an increase in eight years of 447 per Now that the construction of the Trans- cent. in imports, and of 397 perc nt. in exports. Fiberian Railway is completed and new lines of this port have been opened, the future of steamship service connecting several places and
Vladivostock may be magined without difficulty While admitting the promising future of the city, however, it will be noticed that it is now the beginning of this year not a few Russ an experiencing some economic difficulty. Snce
merchants have closed business, and some have become bankrupt. Circumstances suggest that the present depression may continue for some time to come.
[September 8, 1902.
matter, but one of international importance It is to hoped that the day is not far distant when earnest efforts will be made by the Russian Government to deal with the question to which I have here directed attention.-Kobe Chronicle,
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.] UNDESIRABLES AND HIGHWAY ROBBERIES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRE:8,"
Hongkong, 3rd September. SIR, How is it that we have had so many highway robberies of late, in broad daylight? The answer is very simple. Owing to the large number of undesirables residing in the Colony. And why have we so many of absolutely nothing is dous to prevent them these creatures in our midst? Simply because visiting this happy hunting ground in unlimited
numbers. They are a8 free to land and reside here as the migrating snipe is to locate himself in a paddy field, and their prospects are ever so much brighter, for while the harmless migrant is liable to pen to them is to find themselves if they come be shot it any moment the worst that can hap- to grief in palatial quarters with a menu vastly superior to the one they had to cater for them- selves. One cannot help smiling when one thinks of the solicitude shown by the Gorerument for the welfare of natives leaving the Colony for the Straits and other places, while it is quite oblivious to the influx of the scum of Kwangtung. True, we have that white elephant the gaol, which is as favourably known to the rascality of the neighbouring | rovinces as the Hotel Cecil is to the élite of London. What more natural than that they should give it a trial when hard times are struck ? From what one hears they are quite satisfied with the accommodation, but are disappointed with the food or rather the quantity of it as the visiting comforts for which a benign Government receives Justices can testify-showing that the creature credit fall somewhat short of expectation.
That there has been no diminution in offences
during the past decade is amply proved by the enormous number of prisoners in gaol, which feel sorry for our hard-working Magistrates I suppose must average 500 daily. I often
It is quite evident that the new Customs tariff system, applicable to the goods imported through ports on the Eastern coast, which went into operation last year, is the principal cause of the present economic disturbance. That the import trade of the city lost its activity from this cause is also very evident from the figures of goods imported in the last year. which show an increase of 656,754 pood when compared with those of 19.0. Beside the cause above mentioned, several other circum- stances are worthy of consideration. On the decreased after the completion of the railway one hand, the demand for labour considerably and other works which have employed large numbers for so many years past, and on the other hand the steps taken by the Russo- Chinese Bank in order to absorb capital from small part in the present crisis. Another cir the money market undoubtedly played not a cumstance none the less significant as a cause
who seldom or never get home before 6.30, was the free trade arrangement on the frontier havig day after day to try scores of criminals between Tussian territory in Asia and China. whonshould not be here at all and who are Article of the Treaty signed in the Russian most desperate creatures who have just arrived capital in 1881 provides in substance that the from yhe country. Things would not be quite subjects of the high contracting parties- so bat if our management of the natives were namely, Russia and China-are permitted to different, for John Chinaman has changed very engage in free trade within an area extending little in recent years, but I think it will be fifty versts (about thirty-three miles) from the admitted that he is more easily spoilt than a respective frontiers of the two countries. It child by nnjudicious treatment. in proof of need scarcely be pointed out that the Vladivo this, I found when recently in Macao that the stock market cannot but be seriously affected if natives there were extremely civil and obliging a trade on these lines should be developed on a and secured, contented with their lot, in such large scale, as has been the case of recent years,
marked contrast to the overbearing and at the same time that goods imported into insolent demeanour displayed by natives here Vladivostock are subjected to heavy taxes. In when employed by Europeans. Why should face of the injury which the city has sustained, there be such a difference in the manner of the the Vladivostock Chamber of Commerce pre-natives in the two places when they are sented a memorial to the Government in practically recruited from the same districts February last, in which it compared the state
I have no hesitation in saying it arises from of trade in Vladivostock and on the frontier, and
the difference in Government. It is not asked that measures be taken to remove the
so long ago since we had a Protector of obstacles to the economic development of the Chinese in the Colony, what is now wanted port. The appeal asks, among other things, for is a Refector of Undesirables. While giving the revision of the clause in the Treaty above undesirables referred to so as to put a limit to free trade on
the frontier.
The operation of the Customs tariff upon goods imported through ports on the Japan Sea -a tariff which proved tantamount to prohibit ing the import of untaxed goods-had good reason from Russian point of view. It assisted the agricultural and industrial progress of Siberia and protected its products, But bow can such a principle be justified, when the arrangement concerning the frontier trade remains unaltered, and the smuggling of foreign-made goods becomes more and more prevalent? The Russian Government is justly criticised when it is said that the Government closes the front gate while leaving the back | door open. The readjustment of the commer- cial conditions of this port is not merely a local
a very warm reception every
be encouragement should given by the Government to honest Chinese coming here in search of employment; they should be housed in healthy buildings and every care should be taken that they are not preged on by unscrupulous harpies under the cloak of one of the many guilds 80 common in the Colony. The reader will say this sounds very well, but how is it to be carried out? Simply enough, but it will entail a considerable amount of trouble and expense, but nothing like the cost to the Colony of the gaol with its horde. of inmates, which I should expect under the new order of things to dwindle down to some- thing reasonable. Every pawnbroker is com pelled by law to keep a book which is available at any time for the inspection of the Police showing the articles pawned and who pawned
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