+
*
250
ARMS FOR KWANGSI. According to the N.-C. Daily News, it is reported from reliable sources in Canton man- darin circles that, having nearly exhausted all the modern arms and ammunition available in the Canton arsenals and ordinance godowns of that province, as well as drawn freely upon the arsenals in Shanghai, Nanking, and Wuchang, the total number in rifles from the above places being nearly 164,000, with sufficient ammuni- tion amounting to 600 cartridges for each rifle, Viceroy Shum has lately further applied to the high authorities of Foochow for more arms and ammunition. In compliance with H.E.'s request twenty-five large ses going cargo-juuks were despatched from Foochow about ten days ago (the N.-C. Daily News wrote on the 22nd inst.) for the South, adeu with no less than 12,000 rifles and a considerable amount of ammunition. The junks rera escorted by a couple of Government cruisers. It is stated that two more instalments comprising 30,000 more rifles are to follow the first. This will enable Viceroy Shum to have within a short time no less than 280,000 good serviceable rifles of modern make available for use in Kwangsi province, and in this number are in- cluded also the modern arms of precision already in Kwangsi when H.E. arrived there nearly three months ago.
Besides these small arms, Viceroy Shum, who is an enthusiastic admirer of rapid-fire field guns, has at the present moment no less than seventy-six of them or various calibres, ranging from fifteen pounders to forty-five pounders of the Armstrong type, whilst among this number are also twenty-nine Krupp guns of modern make. All of thes field-pieces are well provided with smokeless powder, shell case shot, and shrapnels Batteries have been formed and the gunners are being constantly drilled aud exercised by experienced instructors. It is stated that, not counting a reserve of 40,000 men, the Vic-roy anticipates to be able to put in the field 16,00 well-armed well-drilled and well-paid troops by the begin ning of next spring.
HONGKONG'S ASSETS AND
LIABILITIES.
CANTON.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.}
Canton, 25th Septem'er. THE VICEROY'S RETURN.
Six large launches have been sent up to Wuchow to bring the Viceroy and his suite back to Canton, where he should be in a week af most, unless, indeed, the rumour be true that, owing to the death of Fung and the lack of experience of Cheung, he will be compelled to stay longer in Kwangsi.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[October 5, 1903. beg Mr. Conger's friendly interference to and thirteen associates. Then there is the soften the Japanese objections, which the Inspector (head of the invigilating branch) and American Minister declined to do, considering his deputy, the Superior Proctor, and the the task a hopeless one. All the Chinese Comptrollers of the Inner and Outer Precincts. Government can do is to await the progress and Another branch includes six Receivers of the development of the negotiations that are, going Essay, six Sealers, and six Transcribers, and s on at St. Petersburg between Japan and larger number of Comparers and Stampers. Russia.
Altogether it will be seen that the examination is a great affair. The strain on the candidates, who live for nine days in small cells in the midst of dirt and evil odours, must be terrible, and the relief when all is over correspondingly great. A sweep-stake is held annually on the names of successful candidates. If too many men of the name, say, of Wong, have entered with a chanos of success (for details as to favourites are as keenly studied by the interest- ed people as they are in a race at home), steps will be taken to prevent their success. Some at all, if doing so interferes with the sweep. are even prevented from entering their names Last year the prize was won in a most remark Two men at least are awaiting his return
able way. The lucky winner had not only hit with anmixed feelings of dread. One of these
upon every successful candidate, but had been is Li Ka Cheuk, of whom a great deal has been of merit, thus making a large sum of money. even able to get them in their proper order beard in Hongkong. Less known is the fate It should perhaps be added that this winner was of the ex-Namhoi magistrate. Some time ago
the Chief Examiner himself. He was impeach- I referred to his appointment to a taotai-shiped, but managed to get the matter hushed up in Kiangsu after his degradation here as a pecu-
in the usual way. li+rly flagrant case of failure of justice. This promotion bore the aspect of a successful move on the part of the Viceroy's enemies, the first, as many thought, of a series which would culminate in his removal. But Shum is not to be treated so lightly. He has given the strictest orders that the ex-Namhoi should be kept under guard, and on his return the unpopular official will be very severely punished. It is not unlikely that he will be beheaded; much correspondence has passed between the Viceroy and Peking over this affair. It is whispered that Prince Ching has espoused the cause of the Namhoi, but the general belief is that Shim, with the influence of the Empress Dowager behind hin, will win the day. Marshal Sa's escape from death should, however, be borne in mind. “Auri sacra fames."
MILITARY TRAINING,
The mesting at Whampoa Military College has come to an end, after a week's duration, The students had long complained of bad food, bad teaching, and bad lodging. They have now consented to return to work, having been met half-way by their learned professors on two points-not, however. I should imagine. $
on the second. The academy will continue to 41,723.04 send out brilliant young reoraits! 1,3 10,000,00
The following statement of the Colony's assets and liabilities on the 31st July, 1903, appears in the Gazette:-
Advances, &c. Subsidiary coins
ASSETS,
Total assets Balance
Total
C.
$1,341,723.04
998,529.26
.82,747,252.30
LIABILITIES,
$
Deposits not available
Crown agents' drafts
Money order remittances Balance overdrawn, bank Balance overdrawn, Crown agents
Total
Subsidiary coins in transit Estimate of silver at mint
Total.
C.
$2,340,252.30
$350,00)
661,404
$1,014,474
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 27th September.
THE M.A. EXAMINATION.
The M. A. examination began yesterday-the 8th day of the 8th moon in-Canton, as in the 485,144.48
other provincial capitals. The number of can. 1-0,000,0
didates is above the average this year 13,212 ont 16.089.50 1,708,423.62 of the 14,000 cells at the well-known examina. 80,594.70 tion-hal being occupied. Only natives of Canton and of the province of Kwangtung are allowed to offer themselves. T'he vacancies number about eighty, of which three are open to Bannermen and Manchus. The whole affair is conducted with great pomp and ceremony. The leading officials attend on different days, and occupy special halls, where they sit in state. The place undergoes a thorough cleaning before the examination, and broken windows are mended, floors repaired, and ovens renewed, for the large staff of officials has to be fed during the nine days of the examination. The candidates have to take their own food with them. They remain in the "schools" for thres days, and are then allowed to return to their homes for a night's rest. This is repeated twice, so that nine full days have to be spent in the precincts.
CHINA, RUSSIA, AND JAPAN.
The N.-C. Daily News correspondent at Peking telegraphed under dite 25th September :-
Prince Ching and the Ministers of the Grand Council and the Waiwapa are agreed on conceding all the new demands made by Bussis, except the two articles relating to the establishment of lunding places on the river Sungari, and the line of military stations between Blagovestohensk and Tsitsihar. Vice- roys Chang Chih-tung and Yuan Shi-kai, see- ing that there is nothing else to be done, have withdrawn their objections.
The Japanese Minister, Mr. Uchida, has strongly objected, his latest protest being to the effect that, in case Chics secretly decides to concede any points which have not received Japan's previous assent, Japin will take her own course of action.
Prince Ching is in an awkward position between Russia's demands and Japan's objec- tions. His visit to M. Conger, the U.S. Minist, last Tuesday had for its object to
This year the subject for the first three days is Foreign History during the 18th and 19th centuries of the Christian era; for the second period, Chinese History-both internal and in connection with for ign states; and lastly, the Chinese classics. For the first subject it should be mentioned that any gentleman taking books in with him will not be punished, and the importance of this part of the examination is thus neutralised.
As usual in China, there is a vast number of officials and their hangers on present. First of all is the Chief Examiner, who has one assistant
[FROM THE ** CHUNG NGOI SAN PO.”.
THE VICEROY. H.B Vie woy Sham Chun-hun, who arrived to Swatow on the 2nd inst. to inspect the forts from Kwangi ou ·h 27th ult., was to proceed and investigate the characters and conduct of the officials, some of whom have been brought to the notice of His Excellency for making squeezes, levying illegal taxes, and inflicting unnecessary hardships on the people.
POSSIBLE TROUBLE.
As a rumour has been current in Canton that a plot has been concocted by the members of Canton at an appointed day, the local mandarins the Anti-Manchu Society to capture the city of have made every preparation beforehand. People are strictly prohibited from firing crackers, decorating the houses with lanterns and flags, and climbing on to the roofs to view the moon at the mid-autumn festival, the 5th inst.
A RAILWAY SCHEME.
province is now raising capital for the construc- A syndicate started by a native of Fohkien
tion of a railway from Swatow to Sam-Ho. A sum of about seven hundred dollars has been subscribed. When he has succeeded in raising the sum of one million dollars, he will petition the Viceroy for permission to build.
DISLOYALTY,
It is said that the disbanded soldiers who were under the command of the dismissed sub-prefect Li Ka-Cheuk are now trying hard to save Li. One of his subordinate officers named Ma Wong-pat, who was formerly a notorious robber, but after- wards was made an Imperial officer under the influence of Li, has gathered together a good number of the disbanded braves, who are committing robberies and crimes of every des- oription in Waichowdistrict. It is said he intends to make an attack on the prison where Li-Ka- cheuk is confined, when he has got a sufficient
number of men.
END OF THE REBELLION
The Kwangsi rebellion is nearly at an end, though skirmishes are still constantly reported in various districts. The troops are generally victorions. Merchandise can now be transported River without to and fro by the West obstruction from the robbers. The leaders of the rebels have either surrendered or ran away to other places, for the soldiers leave no
stone unturned to effect their arrest. The famine in Kwangsi has also practically disappeared. the late harvest being reported excellent and the antama rice-crops giving favourable promise. l'he price of rice is at present about thirty catties a dollar, against fifteen catties a dollar a month ago.
Com pзnlər. Yəɔ, a Chiaasɔ nival officer arrived at Shimonoseki from Shanghai at the end of last month, on his way to Kobe under a commission of the Viceroy of Nanking to inspect the work of the construction of s gunboat for the Yangisse now being built at the Kawasaki yard.
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