January 3, 1903.]
for the North German Lloyd, who are repre- sented here by the great shipping firm of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire. One of the Lloyd vessels left here with a full complement of passengers for Bangkok, the rate of passage by which amounted to only $1, whereas it never was lower than $10 heretofore. The agents for the opposition line are the well-known German firm of Messrs. Melchers & Co. The first vessel consigned to the latter agency has left Swatow already for Bangkok, but with scarcely any cargo or passengers,
HOIHOW.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
ANNUAL SPÓLTS.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
FOOCHOW.
We take the following items from the Foo- chow Echo of the 20th December :-
*
most men when engaged in the refinements of the putting green.
The upsetting of a single cart sufficed to keep the Chien Men Street in Peking entirely The festivities of the race-werk were brought blocked from 10 a.m. until late at night & for to a close by two cheerful entertainments, one days ago, long strings of carts lining up on dinner given by. Mr. Dragoman, the prond either side of the obstruction. Fortunately winter of "The Champions and other raros,time has little value in China, or it might have on Saturday evening, to which twenty-four sat occurred to the people either to pass round down; and the other a tiffin by Captain Hope some other way, or to remove the overturned at his residence at Kuliang on Su day, at which cart. The latter would have been the easiest twenty-seven were present. Both functions and most practical procedure. passed off successfully and were much enjoyed by all. The guests at both included our sport ing visitors from other ports, the movem nis of the coast steamers having accommodatingly allowed of their prolonging their stay over the last race day, which has seldom happened before when we have had racs-meetings.
The 3rd annual Hoihow sports meeting was held on Christmas Day on the Customs Palm prices were realised: Malgache $200, Merida At the auction of race-ponies the following Tree Site, in the presence of the Taotai, and a a goodly muster of European and Chinese $58, Nipup $15, Boxer $10, Dotsan $10), Be- a-way and Doban wore disposed of privately, residents. The weather was threatening We understand that three or four more are throughout, but the programme was
likely to be offered at auction next week. through without a hitch. Details:
Judge-J. Acheson, Esq., Commissioner of Manchu, Adonis, Calibre and Blancmange have
left the port.
Customs.
run
On Wednesday last the Provincial Judge, Starter-G. A. Forsaith, Esq.
Yang Wen Ting, entertained a distinguished Committee-Dr. G. Sibril, Messrs. B. Ryau, company at his yamen in the City, including and F. G. Veitch.
RESULTS.
PIG RACE.-Owners to dive their own pigs.
Two prizes.
Mr. Veitch's .. Mr. Pedersen's Mr. Ryan's...
Silk Par e II.^ I'
Kjobenhaben 2. Moriturus II. 3
11 started.
100 YAR HANDICAP.+Two prizes.
Mr. Murray (10 yaɩds)
Mr. Otto (3 yarus) ...
Mr. Bocher (G yards)
10 started.
SACK RACK-Two prizes.
Mr. Mottram
Mr. Muir y
Mr. Pedersen '.
10 started.
EGG AND SFOON RACE.-Two prizes.
Mr. Veitch
Mr. Murray
Mr. Mottram
9 started.
133
1
STONE AND BUCKET RACE.—Two prize,
Mr. Mottram
Mr. Murray
Mr. Pedersen
9 started
3
THREE-LEGGED RACE-One prize for each of
the two winners. Partners drawn for.
1 2
Messrs. Murray and McKenzie Messre. Pedersen and McDougall Messrs. Mottram shd Veitch WATER-POT RACE-Competitors to carry a tin full of water on their heads for 100 yds. Two prizes.
Mr. Mottram
Mr. Pedersen
Mr. Murray
CONSOLATION RACE.+One prize.
Mr. Bocher
+++
1
Mr. Dougall GREASY PIG.-For boatmen and Chinese in
European employ.
Wou by No. 1 Customs boatman. POINTS COMPETITION.—Winner of each event
to receive 5 points, second 3 points, and third 1 point. Previous winners of this event were debarred.
Mr. Murray, 1st prize (Faotaî's Cup). Mr. Pederson, 2nd priz›.
A letter has been received in Singapore from Calcutta, from Mr. Allan Hamilton, Mr. Brough's manager, relating to the forthcoming visit to Singapore of the Brough Company :- "I am wrting the Town Clerk by this mail, asking for the Town Hall to be reserved for Monday, February 9th, on which date we shall pass through Singapore en route to Hongkong per steamer Nam Sang. We shall play Are you a Mason? the datest London farcical comedy, on the night of February 9th. As you have no doubt read, it is the merriest farce we have had for many a day, and infinitely more amusing than The Private Secretary and Charley's Aunt. We have been playing the farce here to the heaviest receipts in our experience of Calcutta."
most of the high officials, the foreign Consals and the Commissioner of Customs. It was the 50th anniversary of His Excellency's birthday, Beyond the banquet given there was a theatrical | entertaiment which was spoken of by those present as being of unusual'excellence, both as regards the dresses and style of acting. The yamen was beautifully decorated for the occasion, varied with bandsome banners and scrolls of silk embroidery, most if which had beeu presented to him in the early hours of the day.
We hear that the French have been grant d mining concessions in the district of Shau wu in this province, and that other national.ties are negotiating for similar privileges.
It is understood that the authorities have engaged the services of a British artillery officer as instructor to this branch of the local army, and that this officer will reside at the White. Fort.
It is proposed that a general loan exhibition of photographs be held, under the auspices of the Foochow Camera Club, during the first week of February, 1903.
NORTHERN NOTES.
The following items are taken from the P. & T. Times of the 20th ult. :-
The promoter of the Cantonese Company
which has obtained sanction to establish water- works in Peking is the son of the present Vice- roy of Canton.
The price of sheepskins in Peking remains very high, as the troops have all been given sheepskin coats,
The safe of the German post-office in Tientsin in 1900 has been placed in the Museum of the Impl. German post-office in Berlin. It got a bad battering from the Chinese sholls.
The Dowager announces her intention to return to the Winter Palace on the 15th inst., and a course of theatricals will take place.
The new Governor of Szechuon is steadily going on with his extermination of the Boxers, who are daily being either killed or made prisoners.
The Empress Dowager pointed out to the Viceroy her desire that an industrial institute be opened in Tientsin like that in Peking. She enquired very minutely into the general condi- tion of things in Tientsin.
The Boards of Public Works in Peking is to be brought up to date by modern examinations in civil engineering, etc.
The Jih Jil considers that the establishment of a State Lottery in Peking is almost certain.
Schools are now opened in Peking for the children of Manchu soldiers, and unless the children attend, the ananal allowance to the family is not allowed to be drawn.
We hear that a Scottish reel was danced on Monday night in Peking at a Le atico Bill with the greatest vim and eclat. Who, after this, will dare to say that Cambalac is not at the very apex of civilisation ?
Robberies are so frequent in Peking that the police now signal each other with rifle-shots.
The Jih Jih says that nothing has been notified about the China Merchants, and that all the reports about the Government acquiring bable the head office will be in Tientsin instead it are untrue. It says, however, that it is pro-
of Shanghai.
The Poking police recently ordered the people to do away with the posts in front of their houses, to which they customarily attach mat- sheds. The people did not take the order seriously, thinking that it was only some official freak, but one day an official came round in a chair, with several carpenters and sawed every post off, also some of the more obstructive sign-boards.
We hear that the golfers have agal been submitted to stray shots on the links. The music of the whizzing bullet is apt to disconcert
port of Tientsin for the year 1902 has been The registered British tonnage entering the
375,943 tous; as the number of vessels was 339 this gives au average of 1,109 tons per ship. The Lualagous figures for 1901 were 356,893 tons and the number of vessels 344, giving an averag tonnage of 1,037 tons per vess 1. imagine the deduction from these figures is not that the size of the coasting steamers has increased, but that larger occan going vessels have come to Taku bar straight from England and Europeau ports.
CORRESPONDENCE.
We
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE SECOND STREET HOUSE COLLAPSE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,” Hongkong, 30th December. SIR,-Being one of the unfortuaáte jurers in the Second Street collapse. case held at the Supreme Court last Sessions, whose verdict brought upon them the severe criticis us of the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, and your evening contemporary, allow me through the medium of your paper to make a few comments thereon, with a view to show that our verdict and rider were perfectly consistent and did not merit the censure passed upon them.
The prisoners were charged with manslaught er for directly or indirectly causing, through their negligence, the death of a boy. Very minute evidence was given and opinions expressed by experienced judges of bricks and mortar, one of them drawn from the ranks of the
E., to wit Mr. Hewitt, and another from the ranks of the much abused P.W.D., Mr. Haggerd, both of whom condemned the careless and negligent manner in which No. 10 had been erected, but (to show that even experts may differ greatly in opinion) Mr. Tooker said that the mortar was fairly good and the wall, the one that collapsed, was well built and a good wall; however, upon the evidence of these men we were satisfied that the work was done in a careless and negligent manner, owing to the want of skilled supervi- sion. After evidence had been gi.en-by Dr. Hunter as to post-mortem, etc., on the dead body of the boy; from Mr. Figy, proving there was a gale blowing in the Colony about the time these two houses collapsed, during which gale we were informed 89 other houses fell; and from the Poli-e Inspector who found the body among the ruins we came to the evidence of a witness who was supposed to have actually seen the collapse; this man, a bricklayer, in the curse of his evidence stated that he lived in a house on the opposite side of the street to No. 10 and on the night in question was looking out of the window and saw the wall of No. 10 collapse,
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