370
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
i
[November 8, 1902.
Second Port Health Officer.
Mr. F. T. Keyt, M.B., has been appointed
land in the Colony for a period of three months. Dogs from Shanghai will not be permitted to On the 31st ult. a Chinese employes at the Ta koo Sugar Refinery, Quarry Bay, fell a junk with which the French steamer Eclair. Damage to the extent of $100 was done to a distance of four feet on to an iron pipe, and, collided on Wednesday night, the police report- sustained internal injuries from which he died.ed yesterday, as she was leaving the harbour at The st amer Hotho was arrested in connection tae Capзnimun end. The steamer's bow was with au action for damages by a collision which also damaged. took place on 7th March in the Canton River i near Taihi light-house, the amount claimed ¦ of 555 deaths, 31 in the Europeau and foreign The death returns for September show a tot:l being $19,000. She was subsequently released į community (23 civilians, 6 Army. 2 Navy) and on security being filed. Messrs. Mounsey and 524 among the Chinese. Bratton, solicitors, are for the plaintiff, Messrs. accounted for 123 deaths, malarial fever for 30, Chest affections Wilkinson and Grist, solicitors, for the defend- and cholera fr 25, the non-Chiness figures ant.
being 5, 3, and 3 respectively. The death-rates in the principal registration districts were :— British and foreign civil population, 28.1 per 11,000 per annum; Chinese, Victoria, land 23.3, boat 19.8, land and boat 21.1; whole civil harbour 20.1; Chinese, whole Colony, land 21.7, community 21.6.
A practical joke brought to a tragi: end a gmbling party in an unoccupied house at 25. Third Street, West Point, on Friday last. During the game one Chinaman outside and imitated a police, call so cleverly stole that an immediate stampede ensued, during which one man fell or was crowded over a low parapet wall into the back-yard, a distance of about forty feet. An Indian constable informed of the incident, and on going to the place he found the unfortunate Chinaman seated on the ground with his back to the wall and Lis head hanging forward. He was appar. ently uninjured, but on the first touch it was seen that his neck had beon broken.
M. Rocher, at the request of the Chairman, addressed the meeting. He observed that Yunnan, oa account of its great mineral deposits, had been for the past ten centaries the objective of the Chinese Government, but it was only during the Ming dynasty that this province was declared a part of the Chinese Empire. The aborigines who occupied the whole area were driven into the hills, and the new settlers, nearly all Chinese soldiers coming from the banks of the Lower Yangtsze Valley, took posses-ion of the plains, and began to develop the agricultural and mineral resources of the newly-acquired territory, which has been the only great metal producing territory of China. The population of Yu nan, estimated before the rebellion at 20,000.000, was reduced by war and plague to 8,00000; but since peace was restored it had increased, and was now estimated at 10,000,000. A great part of the surplus population of Szechuan also found its way there. The inhabitants might be divided into three kinds (he did not say races, for there were many among the natives)-aborigines, Mahomedars, and Chiuese. They all lived now on good terms. The country was perfectly quiet, and there was no reason to believe that peace would be disturbed. It was on account of the geographical position of the province and of the different races of which the population was composed that foreigners were welcomed there. The case was rather the reverse in other parts of the Empire. Owing to the altitude of the province, which averaged 5,903ft. the climate was healthy neither cold nor warm--and the agricultural products were numerous. The annual production of opium was estimated at over £2,000,000 sterling, and of musk about £1,000,000, while the other products were far in excess of the needs of the population, although they could not be exported owing to the diffic- nlties in the way of transport. Eeferring after-in wards to a map of Yunnan, he described the situation of the concession which had been granted to the Syndicate, remarking that the area embraced a little over a third of the province. He pointed out the country to be traversed by the projected railway, which, he stated, passed through the centre, of the concession.
After some remarks by Mr. U. E. M. Bourke, who said the concession was obtained by the co-operation of the British and French Govern- ments, Sir R. G. W. Herbert proposed, and Sir F. Astley-Corbett seconded, a cordial vote of thanks to M. Rocher.
HONGKONG.
Next Monday, the 10th inst., will be observed as a public holiday throughout the Colony, in celebration of the anniversary of the birthday of H.M. the King.
On the 3rd inst. the anniversary of the birthday of the Mikado was celebrated by the Japanese here, and the Japanese shipping in the Harbour was dressed with flags.
Was
There is no doubt much wisdom in the present curtailment of the water supply, and every sympathy is felt with the authorities in their difficulty, but it is matter of common complaint in the Colony that residents are Quable to get water even during the hours stipulated in Mr. Chat am's recent notice. For the past two or three mornings famine conditions have preva led in localities less than five minutes' walk from the Clock Tower, and already the obnoxious traffic has had to be begun
water collec'ed promiscuously from the hillsides or wayside runnels. In Wanchai the Chinese are being supplied to some extent by a large water-boat which brings water from the other side.
The Austrian cruiser Kaiser Karl VI arrived on the 3rd iust. from Singapore.
The battleship Ocean arrived last Saturday from Nagasaki and the surveying-ship Water- witch on Sunday from Mirs Bay.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Archbishop Guidi, the Delegate Apostolic to the Philippine Islands, will come out, with his suite, by the next French mail. He will tranship for Manila at Singapore.
The French syndicate for the exploitation of the mines in Pohkien has received imperial authorisation to proceed with its proposed work, according to L'Echo de Chine.
The two Japanese warships Asama and Taka- sago arrived at Singapore, on their way home from King Edward's Coronation, on the 27th and 28th ult., having left Colombe on the 21st.
signed a decres to forbid the exportation of rice The day after his arrival the Governor-General
from Toukin.
Cctober, says that Viceroy Chang Chih-tung A telegram to Japan dated Peking, 26th
vince in order to relieve the finances of his tried to float a loan of 400,000 taels in his pro- Goverumeut; but he was unsuccessful Viceroy is now trying to borrow one million taels from the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank- ing Corporation.
M. Beau, the new Governor-General cf French Irdo-China, arrived at Saigon on the 15th ult. and was to leave shortly for Tonkin, The members of the C.M.S. Baxter Mission begpricos-reaching even five dollars a picul. On where rice has, owing to drought, risen to famine who bought so liberally at the sale of work in to thank those who so kindly helped and those
the City Hall on Tuesday. It was the most successful salo that they have had for years, the amount taken being $1,758. The Governor permission of Colonel Candy aud the officers and Lady Blake were present, and by the kind of the 14th Bombay Light Infantry their band played during the Sale. The ladies at the stalls werd: Miss Blake, Vrs. Denny, Mrs. Hastings, Mrs. Langlands. Mrs. Saunders, Mrs. Mas'er, Mrs. Watson, Miss Ifazland, Mrs Atkinson, Mrs. Lang, Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Goetz, Mrs. Krieg, Mrs. Sharp. Mrs. Dennis, Mrs. Paker Brown, Mrs. Bateson Wright, Mrs. Lammert, Miss Seth, Mrs. Goodman, the Misses Goodman, Mrs. A. Anderson, Mrs. Tooker, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Swau, Mrs. Tames,
M:8. Turner, Miss Hancock, Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Dawes, Mrs.
The number of visitors to the City Hall Norris, Mrs. Canton, Mrs. Milton, Mrs. Library and Museum during the week ending Woolmer, Mrs. F. Hazeland, Miss Elwin, Mrs. 1st November, was 203 non-Chinese and 6R. T. Wright, Miss Hunter, and Miss Danby. Chines to the former, and 51 non-Chinese and 2,094 Chinese to the latter.
During last week the only case of communi- cable disease notified us occurring in the Colony was one of enteric, an European case at the Peak. Within the day ending at noon ou Monday, however, a fatal Chinese plague case was reported in Des Voeux Road West.
Kowloon Marina Lots Nos. 74 and 75 and Luland Lots Nos. 1,140 and 1,141 were exposed to sale by public auction on the 3rd inst. at the office of the P.W.D. The property is situated at Tsimshatsui Point, and extends to 5 9,952 square feet,
The upset price was $232,800. After spirited bidding the property was bought by Mr. J. Orange of Messrs. Leigh and Orange at the price of $151, 0).
On the 1st inst., the procession of the Holy Rosary took place in the Roman Catholic Cathedral at Glenealy. This is the first year that it was held, and we are informed that this religious fixture will be made an annual ons in future. The service was beautiful and impres- sive; the banners, cross, and other paraphernalia used at the procession were all new. The committee of the feast worked hard to make the procession a success.
-Contributed,
On the 1st inst. the members of "D" Infantry Co., H.K.V.C.. met in Thomas' Grill Room for the purpose of saying farewell to their late Instructor. Sergt. S. Moore. R. W F. Sergt. Moore has been associated with the Company in the above capacity for some time, and the great interest he has shown in the advancement of the unit, as well as his unvarying and gonial tem- perament, have made him an universal favourite with all ranks, who herefore choss this occasion to present him with some tangible mark of their esteem. Colour Sergt. McKenzie, in handing Sergt. Moore a handsome pair of prisimatic field glasses by Ross, of London, thanked him on behalf of the members of the Company for the able and tactful manner in which he had done his work while attached to the unit, aud suitably expressed the extreme regret of all concerned at his approaching departure. He trusted that Sergt. Moore would find the present which he now had the pleasure of handing him an useful one, and begged to convey to him therewith the hearty good wishes of the members of "D" Co. for his future welfare and advancem-nt. The meeting terminated by those present drink ing Health and success to Sergt. Moore."
The
The correspondent of the British North Borne Herald at Beaufort draws a glowing picture of progress there. It in his opinion, that there is a bright fitare beyond doubt, before Beaufort as an agricultural centre. Mr. Chee Swee Chang's ago-factory
expected to do great things and when the Now London Borneo Tobacco Company's land above the Penotal Gorge commences to yield. Beaufort should benefit substantially in the transport and provisioning of the estate coolies, while the tobacco will provide traffic for the railway and help to swell the Jesselton export returns.
ibe Militar-Zeitung, of Vienna, stated last month that at the beginning of October two Austrian warships, the cruiser Kaiser Carl VI. and the t.g.b. Żenta, would leave for foreign stations. The destination of the Kaiser Carl VI is the Gulf of Pechili, which she will reach in March next, when the gulf is free from ice. She comes out to relieve the cruiser Maria Theresia, which vessel she has now met at Singa pore, where they will spend Christmas together. The Maria Theresia will leave Singapore soon after the turn of the year, and arrive home in the spring of next year. After landing meu to relieve the small Austrian detachments in Tientsic and Peking, the Kaiser Curl VI, will make a cruise as far as Vladivostock and then t Japan. In the course of a year's cruise the Zenta (which was on this station a few months ago) will visit the German and Portuguese settlements on the East African Coast, then Madagascar, the ports of Cape Colony, and German West Africa. In May, 1903, she will cross the Atlantic to South America, where she will visit Rio de Janeiro, Bahia. Pernambuco, and the ports of Guiana and of Venezuela, and then return home via Gibraltar.
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