}
December 5, 1903.]
NEW TERRITORY NOTES.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
· 30th November.
SAN ON, Chan Leong-kit, the ex-Namtau Magistrate, returned from his crusade against the robbers some time ago. His soldiers have been returned to their regiments. Chau Leong-kit, it is said, will not take up his old appointment. Rumour has it he was obliged to pay $4,000 to the Viceroy to retain his rank. Really, however, none of the local Chinese seem Lo know the exact facts surrounding his case.
AGRICULTURE,
The paddy is not yet wholly cut. The recent rains delayed progress somewhat Grain in Shamchun at present fetches from 82.50 to $3.00 per bient=1334lbs. The barley patches are beginning to show green, but to a Wester- ner's idea the Chinese sow the barley too thin A commencement to cut the sugar-canes may be expected as soon as the last of the paddy has been secured.
Some disease, probably rinderpest, has broken out at Chak Un village, in the Santin district, B.T. About 30 cattle have died within a very short time. The Colonial Veterinary Surgeon is going out to make investigations.
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POLICE,
new
The N.T. Police will less an able and con- scientious officer in the presout A.D.S.P., Mr. E. R. Hallifax, who leaves to take up s appointment in Hongkong. Mr. Hallifax bas made himself very popular with the mea in charge of the various stations to whom he has characterised himself as a just and consi erate superior., Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe, from the Land Court, relieves Mr. Hallifax
[FROM OUR
CANTON.
OWN CORRESPONDENT]
Canton, 39th November. THE EMPRESS DOWAGER'S BIRTHDAY,
On Saturday E.E the Viceroy gave a banquet to the Consular Body and some of the Customs officials in honour of the Empress Dowager's birthday. Unfortunately the state of H.E.'s health did not permit him to be present. The chair was taken by the Turlar General, who is a member of the Imperial family. This gentleman toasted the Empress in a speech which was rendered into English by Mr. Wen the Viceroy's interpreter. The United States Consul-General replied and was followed by the German and French Consuls, whose speeches were ably translated for the benefit of the Chinese officials. An excellent Chinese dianer was served up in foreign style, and the whole affair passed off very successfully.
A HAPPY 1SCAPE.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
to gaol, while the mailen was returned to her home, where doubtless the good deeds of the fan kwai will be long remembered. This tale with its happy ending has excited considerable interest in Shameen.
The following true story is a tribute to foreigners in China, showing as it does that the Chinese believe that justics can be obtained at their hands. Some time ago a young girl was kidnapped up country and sent down on a launch to Canton to be sold to the usual people who indulge in this traffic, The poor girl, while on her journey down, was bemoaning ber evil lot, when an old countryman informed her that if she took refuge in the place where the foreign community live she would be rescued from her guardians. The Shameen was described to her as an island on which were built vast houses in the foreign style, and the girl recognised the place when she was out for a constitutional with her guards. No sooner had she arrived opposite the entrance to the British concession than she made a dash for liberty, and avoiding the sen- tries whose duty it is to prevent unwarrantable intrusion, she sought refuge in the first foreign house available. Her pitiful tale was listened to with sympathy, and she was consigned to the British constable for safe keeping, This gentleman put her under the protection of bis wife, and awaited develop ments. Sure enough, ere long the old couple who had brought her down to Canton ar- rived on the scene, and asked for their poor daughter, whose loss they professed to be lam- enting. The constable induced them to come inside, saying that he was sorry to hear of their sad loss. Once inside the premises he, however, changed his attitude, and the couple were sent
as
[ FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT. ]
My momen
Canton, 2nd December, RAISING MONEY.
It is said that the Chinese authorities at Canton intend to charge ten per cent, on the winnings of the Wai Sing and other Intteries a contribution to the military expenses, This order was sent t› the officials of the Bureau of Reorganisation to be carried out. While the Bureau was deliberating, the monopolist of the Wai Sing lottery, by nama Lo, appeared and interrupting the assembly said: "If you want to charge ten per cent, on the winnings our company has no objection to pay; but please issue a notification to that effect as soon as possible," The officials demurred, and did not know what to do, for fear of disturbance; and
to cow this question remains unsettled.
up
AO BUN,
Kwangtung to invite the notorious brigand chief Ao Sun to go to Kwangsi to be their chief, and the latter, it is said, has accepted the arrangement and wil start thither soon.
The Kwangsi rebels sent emissaries to
FOOCHOW.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
Foochow, 28th November. FOOCHOW ARSENAL.
ARRIVAL.
421
H.M.8. Vestal arrived here from Shanghai on the 26th inst,
PORT ARTHUR.
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) -
Port Arthur, 18th November. MILITARY ÖHANGES:
A good deal of activity is going on here at present in military circles. I noticed five new regiments arrive here from the north yesterday. They were the 23rd, 27th, 28th; 320d, and 168th; all of them East Siberian Regimen's, so that we have now here, in addition to the above- named, the 2nd, 5th, 14th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 18th at least. Quite a considerable number « of Japanese gentlemen seemed to arise out of the earth on the appearance of these troops, which they followed at a respectful_dis- tance, displaying on the way such a keer interest in the geology and botany of the district through which they passed that their object was, presume, purely scientific. The Russians did not seem to notice their,' I do not
know if all the above regiments are here on only a part of some of them, but it is very doubtful in any case if Russia over keeps here a very large force, which would only be s source of weakness instead of strength on scoount of its tendency in case of siege toerhaust the stock of provisions and increase the dan- ger of sickness while not adding to the strength of the place, which could be perfectly well de- fended by a garrison of 20,000, including the fortress infantry. Chaplains have been ap The report in my last letter that the contract pointed to the 26th, 27th, and 28th East Sibe. made by M. Dovèrs with Messrs Racine, Acker-rian Regiments, which are referred to as the re- mann & Co., the FrenchC-hinese firm in giments" newly formed in Port Arthur."-- On Shanghai, would be repudiated is confirmed. the 18th of October the Vladivostock fortress Temporarily, at any rate, the Chinese authorities infantry regiments were incorporated, the 1st have definitely refused to recognise any portion with the 29th, and the 2nd with the 30th Eist of it. I understand the French Consul from Siberian Sharpshooters. Shanghai is now at Pagoda Anchorage going into the matter, and M. Doyère has been requested to stay pending his enquiries. The only Englishman on the staff, referred to in my letter of the 4th inst, as engaged by M. Doyère, has resigned at the request of the present authorities, but expresses every satisfaction with his treatment at their hands.
OFFICIAL IN TROUBLE.
The Amoy Tautai has been here for some days now. It is currently reported that he and others have been denounced to the Throne on a charge of unscrupulous squeezing, and for certian transactions in the camphor monopoly contrary to treaty regulations.
MINING EXPEDITION,
Very little news has filtered through of the expedition referred to in my letter of the 2nd ult. for exploiting this province for mines, etc. But I understand that the French expert, who is due back here shortly, laments that if mines of any real value were found the nature of the country would make a railway impossible and transport exceedingly difficult.
BURNING OF 8.8. ARNOLD LUYKEN," No little excitement was caused by the report which reached here at noon on Tuesday last, 24th inst, that a large oil steamer was on fire near White Dog Rocks, about 15 miles from Sharp Peak. The representative of the Langkat Oil Co. here received a telegram from Amoy about 8.3) p.m. giving the name of the ship as above. Your readers will have heard all the subsequent particulars which have reached us here. Turnabout Island, where the survivors were rescued, is about 47 miles from Sharp Peak.
A.D.C.
The A.D.C. commence rehearsing Our Boys next week, and it is hoped Mr. Balloch may be back in time to act, at any rate as our stage manager.
SPORT,
The griffins are still disappointing, and we are almost within a week of the Races, but none of the old ponies are going strong, and with a new consignment of a very promising kind from Shanghai we are looking forward to some good racing. It is still feared that we shall be short of jockeys.
|
The first game of hockey will be played on Monday. Ladies and men are playing toge her owing to a thinning of the ranks of both in last season's players.
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COREA.
The Vostochný Vestnik says that on the 30th October and the 14th November, a sale of land took place at Sanchejen in the foreign settlement at Gensan, 38 lots in all being sold. Japanese got 20 lots and Russians 18, a lot situated along the sea-shore falling to the agent of the Chinese Eastern Railway Steamship Co
KUSSIAN KEROSENE,
According to an Odessa paper, the negotia- tions of the Japanese Consul in Odessa, Mr. Izima, with the oil-manufacturers at Baku, concerning the direct export to Japan of Russian kerosene, have not ended satisfactorily. The firms of Nobel, Mantasheff, Shabaeff, and others have told the Consul that until the lapse of the term of their, contracts with foreign agents, they cannot undertake the direct ex- portation of kerosene to the Far East.
THE NOVI KRAI. The Novi Krai is to be made a daily paper oa the 1st of January next, about which time the new English and Chinese papers published in connection with it are to appear. The establishment of a Chinese paper in Russian is an especially good ide. Colonel Artemeieff is to be congratulated on his business capacity, the fruits of which are seen in the best newspaper in the Russian Far East,
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OPENING OF A SCHOOL.
On Sunday last the Viceroy opened a Realny, or Professional School, and a Girls' Gymnasium in the presence of a large number of officials and leading residents.
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NEWS FROM CHÍTA, The latest and most important news from the prosperous Siberian centre, Chits, is that the students of the local seminary have been forbidden to read the local papers. The local Press revenges itself in two words—"comment superfluous."
TRADE IN VLAI IVOSTOCK. Vladivostock sent a deputation to the Viceroy on the 31st October to complain about the way Port Arthur is ruining them by its free trade. The Viceroy told them that the people of Port Arthur would probably be sending him a deputa- tion with the same story a few years hence. His Excellency probably meant that a natural reaction to the present building manis is sure to set in here in the near future. The money market has lost its fluidity in consequence of all the cash available being sunk in houses and-
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