September 13, 1902.]
prophecy still remains unfulfilled. Such a record es this is a very good iudication of the excellence of the non-commissioned officers of the Regiment, and of the high standard of discipline that must prevail. I am glad to have this opportunity of testifying to the good work done by the British N.Ö's.. and also by the Chirese N.-C.-O's., who are entitled to a share of the credit for such satisfactory results. The succesful training of Chinese N.-C.-O's. is a feather in the cap of the British officers responsible for it. Major Bruce and officers, you have shown what the British officer, who has been much decried of late, can
circum- accomplish under stances the most unpromising. The mater. In a ial at your disposal was of the rawest. short space of time you have couverted a raw lot of country-bumpkins into the smart well. disciplined force we see Lefore us, which hus done good work in the field, and proved itself remarkable for its good behaviour.
You must not be discouraged because, through disbaud- ment, you see the excellent result of your strenuous labours gradually disappearing. You have proved yourselves such ready moulders of raw material that your country will not forget your good work, but will know where to find the right men for similar work, when the occa- sion arises, as it most certainly wil.”
SINGAPORE'S WATER FAMINE.
On the 1st inst. about sixteen of the leading gentlemen of the Chinese community waited apou the President of the Singapore Municipa- lity for the purpose of impressing upon him the great inconvenience caused to the poor by reasou of the carcity of water. The first suggestion put forward was that tLe Lumler of stand pipes in the congested districts be iLercased so that every person going for water may have a chance of filling his tub before the mains are closed, The next suggestion wes that, in addition to the morning and evening supply, the mains should Le queued from mech one p.m. The question of the closing of the wells was touched upon, and the deputation made a strong point of the fact that building operations are largely retarded owing to want of water 11 which the closed wells would have supplied. is perhaps not generally kucwn that the seloc! going population are not the least sufferers from the drought. Should it continue, each pupil will henceforth have to carry his supply of drinking water to school with Lim. point touched upon was the amount of water Lat the Tanjong Pagar Deck und the other suppliers of water to ships are allowed to purchase at a reduced rate when the people of the town are suffering from thought. It is alleged that these concerns pay 6 couts per ton for water, which is re-sold 81 per ton, and that they take away 7,000,000 or 8,000,000 Jer month in that mauer. This, it was contended. should not be permitted uider the present circumstances.
Another
As a keynote to how some ignorant and doubt- les mischievous Chinese feel on the matter, the Straits Times remarks, it may be noted that a police was posted upon the walls of the Chinese protectorate last night offering a reward for the Governor's head: The police, it may Le added, are not in the least alimed over this interesting incident, and little efficial attention has been paid to it.
The same paper also says:-The inevit able occurred last evening (the 2nd inst.} when two opposing parties of Chinamen and Malays-both clamouring for water-uter- ed into a gruesome couflict at the bydrant opposite the Victoria Bridge School, Victoria Street, and the fight for the water lasted for upwards of half an hour. The quarrelling started at about half-past four o'cock, half an bour before the time for turning on the vesper All the men had hour's supply of water. buckets, and of course the row originated in a scramble for the first serve. In less time than it takes to write it, buckets were crashing on the heads of the water-collectors with a loud din, sticks were freely requisitioned, and stones were flying about in hundreds. Several men were slightly injured. One was taken to the hospital by the police, and released.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
famine seems to have hitherto escaped notice, nod that is that last week the death rate was lower than that of the corresponding week last year, the figures being respectively 4365 and 49.88. Considering that the rate has been very high of late, the drop at such a time as the present cannot fail to be lailed as a satisfactory sign. There is no doubt that when the rain cmes, as come it must in good earnest, the mortality returns will show a dec ded increase on the present figures. It is generally so in the case of heavy rains after a prolonged drought.
POPULATION OF FEDERATED
MALAYA.
The Malay Mail writes :-The results of the census of the Federated Malay States. held on the night of the 28th February. 101, are now issued in a
volume which fully justifies the opening words embodied in it, that this is the first complete census that has ever been taken of these States.
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The Singapore Fice Prees of the 4th inst. writes:- One fact with regard to the water
A satisfactory and noteworthy feature of the occasion has been the lack of all disturbance, arising from suspicion of possible further finan- cial burdens to come, ou the part of these amongst whom the enumerators had to wend their weary "ar. It appears that the majority of the inhabitants submitted to the attentions of these with a good grace, and-to quote the words of the report this not unuoteworthy fact speaks for itself of tho belief and coufi- dence reposed by all races living here in the Government Proclamations that were issued to warn the people. Generally speaking, the people viewed the taking of the census with more or less indifference and made their returns honestly.
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The following figures wil explaiu briefly the relative uumerical positions of the various 1891. nationalit'es now, as compared with Europeans and Americans have increased : 83 per cent; Eurasiaus, 198 per cent; Malays and other natives of the Archipelago, 345 per cent; Chinese 83.4 per cent : Tamils and other races, 140.6 per cent."
the
The highest proportional increase is that of the Tamils and other Indians: Europeans have coubled, as have, practically, the Chinese, with a much larger icial Malays, it is satisfac- tory to note, show a normal increase, due, let us hoje, to better conditions of life under their present rules. But perhaps the most signifi- cant feature of the census is the total shown or Chinese. These HOW outnumber Malays of all classes in Perak and Selangor fewer than 76,036, the latt r State by fo being chiefly responsible for the increase, Tamil show the greatest proportional increase in Negri Sembilan, with Selangor a good second, whilst the returns for Perak are ign.ficant in the same direction.
Of minor races. Japanese, Cingalese, Araks, and Sisme e have been the chief immigrants, the above order representing
tle ratio of increase.
It is noteworty that there is an increase of 10 persons to the square mile in the States since the last census, and that the largest increase (27 persons to the square mile) is in Selangor." atisfactory as it is to note the rapid rise of population in our States, it is, unfortunately, mainly an illusive increase; for it is the stream of Chinese immigrants who continually come Lut to go that swell the total. So remarkable has been this influx of Chinese labour for the tin mines that we now find that the Aalays themselves are cutnumbered in the Federated States, and especially so in Perak and Selangor. Now the Clince are a wonderfully industrious and thrifty race, willing and able to assist in the rapid development of a country, however back- ward they may be at home, but the fact that a vast majority of them are merely visitors lends an element of instability and uncertainly to our States which we would fain Fee removed. It is not an inspiriting sight to see territory being developed over the heads of its inhabitants, who are contert to look calmly on, and who do not seem to be roused by that spirit of emulation which one would expect to see. The Gorein- ment is doing what it can to persuade the Malay to take an interest in his own country and welfare, and let us hope that the near. future will show that the efforts made are being appreciated.
SIAM'S FINANCES.
201
Mr. Rivett-Carnac, Siam's Finaccial Adviser has issued his report on the Budget for the cur
ent year 121 (1902-03). At the outset he deals with the actual accounts of the year 119 the result of which has already been published. The estimated revenue was Tcs. 33,600,000, and the actual Tes. 35.611.306, while the estimated surplus of Tcs, 330,034 became Tcs. 3,770,049. Mr. Rivett-Carnac remarks on this:-Out of this gross surplus His Majesty has decided to appro- priate a sum of Tes. 3,000,000 for the creation of a "Special Reserve Fund" to be devoted to railway construction or other emergent objects which it might in some years be otherwise difficult to provide for out of the ordinary revenue of the Kingdom. The net surplus for the year 119 will therefore be Tes. 770,049. The satisfactory result shown by the above figures is attributable partly to the fact that the revenue for the year 119 included the revenue for the last three months of the year 118 of the Province of Puket, the accounts of which were received too late for incorporation in the books for the appropriate year, partly to the improve- meut in the revenue of the Kingdom under the beads. peddy, field-ax, fisheries, forests, tin, judicial s amps, and capitation-tax, and partly to saving under expenditure heads.
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The Budget estimates for the past year showed an estimated revenue of 35 million ticals and a deficit of Tes. 2.574,88 due to the inclusion at the last moment of Tcs. 2,800,000 for the payment of the award in the railway arbitration.
The Financial Adviser says :— Notwithstanding that it has been found neces- sary to make a further allotment during the past year of Tcs. 2,000,000 for railway construc- tion, and that the expend ture on cremation cermonies and in connection with His Majesty's Tours to Jara and Pitsanuloke has been considerably in excess of the amount provided in the Budget, it is probable that the accounts for the year, when finally closed, will not show a deficit iu excess of that estimated, which will be easily met out of the large cash reserves at the disposal of the Government."
The estimates for the year 121 stand as follows:-
Ticals 39,000,000
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Revenue Expenditure
Surplus
"}
38,971,271
28,720
The following statement compares the revenue of the Kingdom for the three years 119, 120, and 11:-
Actual revenue, 119 } stimated revenue, 120... Estimated revenue, 121...
Ticals 35,611,306 35,500,000 39,000,000
Notwithstanding that the estimates have been- fram d with caution and that a lump deduction has been made from the of Ticals 493,60 aggregate of the departmental estimates to provide for possible short collections during the ear, the revenue during the year 121 is expected to le no less than Tcs, 3,500,000 in excess of the estimated revenue for the previous This satisfactory forecast is based upon year. estimated increases under the beads spirit-farm, opium-farm, lend and fisheries taxes, enstoms, miues. Sundry fees and licenses, railway traffic receipts, and capitation tax, counterbalanced to a certain extent by decreases under the heads gambling-farms, and forests.
The increase in the revenue may be safely attributed partly to improved administrative revenne collection and methods, both of general administration, but chiefly to the greatly increased prosperity of the people resulting from better goveinn ent.
In consequence of the anticipated increase in the revenue it is now possible to provide in the year 121 larger tums for the general adminis tration of the Government and for public works, especially in the luterior of the Kingdom where suitable Government offices and other buildings and improved means of communication are much required.
The following statement compares the ex- penditure if the Kingdom for the three years' 119 and 120 and 121 :
Tcs. 31,841,257 31,074,28 31,971,271
Actual expenditure, 119 Estimated expenditure, 120 Estimated expenditure, 121
JT
1 be great increase in the estimated exper diture for the year 120 as compared with the
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