January 2, 1904.1
The visitors to the City Hall Library and Museum for the week ending 27th December, were 154 non-Chinese and 42 Chinese to the former, and 34 non-Chinese and 1,641 Chinese to the latter institution.
H.E. Mr. May, with his usual sporting in- stincts and generosity, has presented the Polo
Club with a challenge trophy to replace the R.A. one, won outright by the Civilians, and to be played for by representative teams from the various corps in the Colony,
Seven more racers arrived from Shanghai by the 8.8. Kwangtah-two Derby grifling for Mr. Craig, two old ponies (Algerine and Vancouver, who won the S. Leger in record time at Shanghai) for Mr. Craig, one waler (Dandy) for Mr. Grey, and two China ponies, Primo and another.
It may be of interest to the gentlem-n who are responsible for the project of running a turbine steamer between here and Canton to know that the new turbine passenger steamer Brighton established a record recently when she succeeded in passing the pierhead at Dieppe 2hrs. 59mins after leaving Newhaven piers, a distance of sixty-four knots, or seventy-five
miles.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The Justices of the Peace assembled on the 29th ult. at 2.15 o'clock, at the Magistracy, to consider the application of James D. M. Cameron for the transfer of his Publican's Licence to sell liquors on the premises known as the Occidental Hotel, Nos. 40 to 44, Elgin Road, Kowloon, to one Rudolf Matthaey. The applicant was represented by Mr. Grist, of the firm of Wilkinson and Grist, solicitors, The justices present were Mr. T. Sercombe Smith, presiding, Captain Lyons, C. S. P., and Messrs. J. H. Kemp and C, A. D. Melbourne. There being no police or other objections to the transfer applied for. the application was granted unanimously. There being no other business before the meeting the sessions were then adjourned.
A daring case of piracy is reported as having occurred in Chinese waters, two days' sail from Swatow. The facts appear to be as follows. On or about the 8th ult. a junk laden with porce lain-ware for two firms in Hongkong set sail from Swatow. Two days later, on the 10th ult, the junk in question was overtaken and boarded by pirates, and all but a small portion
of the said cargo was seized and transferred to
MISCELLANEOUS.
13
In the case against Mr. Le Prevost, charged with fraud in connection with the silk business of Messrs Cornes & Co., Yokoham, the defendant has been acquitted,
A Shanghai record in price was reached at a sale of Chinese curios at the rooms of the Great Eastern Dispensary 1st Thursday last when Messrs. L. Moore & Co, knocked down two pre- sent Manchu Dynasty vases (reign of Yung Ching 1723/36) for Tls. 575 and a bronze bowl (sung dynasty 11th and 12th century A.D.) for Tis, 200.
1
Chinese burglars appear to be getting very much up-to-dat in Shanghai On the night of the 19th inst. a member of that fraternity was seen stealthily entering a house on the Weihai- wei Road, by Sikh policeman, and on the lat- drew a revolver and fired at him as well as ter's attempting to ariest the man, the burglar
at another Sikh constable, who came running up in response to his comrade's whistle. The first man was hit on the doubled part of his belt, and not much hurt, the second receiving a The arrest of esh-wound in the thigh. this man led to that of the whole gang that raided Shanghai last winter, and on its voyage to Hongkong, where the remainder
for whose apprehension a reward of $500 of the porcelain was handed over to the owners,
had been offeret. A large quantity of stolen and a report of the piracy made to the police, a notice being also sent to the authorities at property was also recovered from their houses, Swatow. On the 26th ult. Inspector MeNab It is always interesting to compare other arrested one Sui Ching Me, a shopkeeper in Bon-people's idea about our Government with our
OWD. We read in the Manila Sunday Sun :- "The ⚫enate favours the treaty recently signed by the Chinese Government which cone des special privileges to American traders in the Celestial empire. Only a few more months of inactivity on the part of the tate Department and any commercial treaty with China will be absolutely worthless if the Powers in favour of dismemberment are allowed to proovel as Russia has in Mancuria, France in the south is watching the Kwangsi rebellion, wait ng to- pounce upon that unprotected province at the slightest pretext, while the Germans and English are both playing a desperate game to obtain coutrol of the Yangtsze valley. we cannot see a trace of activity, much less "desperate play," on the part of our Government in the Yangtze region. The long sleep, as far as we are able to judge out here, continues as sound as ever.
It has often been observed by visitors to the the pirates' boat, which, immediately after, set New Territory that the verdant-looking hill-sail and disappeared. The junk then continued sides which meet the eye at every tura are bar- ren of both stock and cultivated growth. Why not stock the place with sheep? It is hardly possible that Southdowns or Cheviots would stand the climate, but Australian sheep should be able to do so, accustomed as they are to arid plains and torrential rainfalls. The Govern-ham Strand, for being in possession of about $160 ment's acknowledged policy is to develop the country. Surely the raising of stock would be a good thing to start experimenting upon? In the same way, suggestions have been made for the introduction of rabbits into the New Territory. The objection is always made that snakes destroy them, but it is also said that the snakes are two-legged. However that may be a trial in the way of introducing rabbits into the territory would not be far amiss. The rod- ents could not do any damage to the young crops in the valleys unless they developed the capability of swimming among the flooded paddy fields.
Though money has been somewhat tight of late, business on the whole is good. The bountiful rice-harvest, too, ha greatly added t general prosperity. Cattle continue to arrive in a very healthy condition from Kwangtung and Kwangsi pastures, and Canton industries for the greater part are in a flourishing con- dition. Cracker-factories are particularly busy preparing for the Chinese New Year, and so, indeed, are the various confectioners. The New Year is still too far distant, though, for general preparations, A notable illustration of Chi- nese thrift has just come to light: the wives of a very wealthy resident at Canton-a family just rolling in money, so to speak-being em- ployed daily making large quantities of moon- cakes, which are hawked on the streets and sold at cut-throat prices. The sale of sweet-smelling jasmine from the same gentleman's front gar den, also, is said not only to pay the gardeners' wages, but yield a considerable income.
worth of what is suspected to be a portion of the pirated property. On the 28th December the prisoner was placed before Mr. J. H. Kemp, Acting Police Magistrate, at the Magistracy, when, after evidence of the arrest had been taken. the case was adjourned until Monday, the 4th inst. Mr. L'. W. Goldring, of the firm of Messrs. Deacon and Hastings, solicitors, has been retained for the prosecntion, while Mr. C. E. H. Beavis, of Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist, solicitors, is engaged for the defence.
The Club Lusitano, one of the pioneer clubs of the Colony, is undergoing extensive improve- ments, which, necessitating a heavy outlay, must indicate prosperity. The cluh, ever since the days of Governor Coelho d'Amaral of Macao, who laid the foundation stone of the building, has always been of good standing. Perhaps, though, it was never so flourishing financially as at the present time. A few years ago, the building covered more ground than it does now, a portion of the property-the theatre-being sold when the concern was turned into a limited company. Under the new arrangements there arê two billiard-rooms, one on either hand
two tables the hall;
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COMMERCIAL.
SILK.
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CANTON, 17th December, 1903.-Re-reels-Are now becoming scarce and there are probably not another 200 bales to come forward this season. in each room. At the back on the right Sales amount to 10 bales in all, at $775/760 for is the library, and on the left the bar.
Nos. 1 & 2, Blue Ticket, and $745 for Nos. 1 & 2, The whole flooring downstairs has just been White Ticket. Filatures.--The movement report- tiled in handsome design, replacing planking; ed in our last rapidly developed into a general up-stairs, on the first floor, is a spacious ball good enquiry, and over 3,000 bales were taken room, the windows facing Shelley Street. A from stock on the basis of, or at alightly under, Values jumped noteworthy feature here is a large oil painting the quotations of that date. of the King of Portugal. Other decorations, $40/50 per picul and have since remained firm, though simple in themselves, are displayed with although little subsequent business has been great taste. By erecting a stage in the ball-done at the advance. Last sales made are room it becomes a good ball for amateur theatricals; ordinarily the chamber is used as a sitting-room. The dining-room, also on the first floor, looks on to Elgin Terrace; there is a green-room on the opposite side. also to the rear of the ball-room. Second and third floors are From a verandah, opening on to the third floor, one gets a very fair view of the harbour.
The water supply on the higher levels is so bad at present that a correspondent affirms it as a fact that he dreams o' nights that he has had a bath, only to wake up to disappointment and a dry tap. Even on the low levels the supply is not good at times, water being unobtainable during the hours when the mains are supposed to be turned on. While house-used for members' bed rooms holders can get barely enough for cooking purposes it is rather anomalous that builders can get an unlimited supply for the purpose of soaking their bricks. Any day one can see the workmen on the new buildings in the centre of the town lavishly throwing water by a hosepipe over heaps of bricks lying on the ground. Certainly they must have fresh water for this purpose, but there are more economical ways of soaking bricks than by deluging them with a hose-pipe, in which case about 90 per cent. of the water goes not into the bricks but into the ground. A minimum of water-consumption
would be reached were builders to soak the bricks in tabs or barrels. During the water famines of previous years the supply was cut off from buildings altogether, so that builders would only be serving their own interests by exercising economy in this direction.
Wing Chong Sing 11/13 at $985, King Seng 11/13, 13/15, at $960, Yu Loong Hing 10/12 at $910, Shun Kee 10/12, 11/13 at $905/885. The above have been paid for 5th and 6th crop silk. The bulk of the ready stock is 3rd and 8th crop, “Native filatures are very strong at the advance and have given rise to no fresh business that we know of. Short-reels.-Considerable transactions have also taken place in these at rather better prices. We quote as last paid. $912)/910 for Min King Lon, Han King Lon, Kwong Shun Ching, $890 for Ling Chai, Chung Sun Hang, $852/855 for Kwong Lun Hing. Waste Silk. Steam has hardened - în sympathy with silk and rules strong. Buyers however seem unwilling to respond and business is difficult. Other sorts are in only small supply and are practically nominal.
RICE.
The Allahabad Pioneer's London correspon- dent telegraphs that a diplomatist who was interviewed by the Paris Eclair, but whose name was withheld, says that Lord Carson's tour in the Persian Gulf and the Tibet expedi- tion are designed to take advantage of Russia's
HONGKONG 31st December.-The prices are. preoccupation in Manchuria.
England wishes to make Eastern Arabia a dependency of India, further advancing, holders being firm.
Saigon, Ordinary ....................................................................$8.20 to $3,25 for which reason Persia looked unfavourably
Bound, Good quality ....................... 4.90 to 4.95 on the Viceregal tour. England long intended
Long
................................ ́5.10 to 5.15 to dispute with Russia certain vastly important Field mill cleaned, No. 2 regions of Tibet. She shrinks from no merifice and will some day announce her supremacy as an accomplished fact !
#
Siam,
H
Garden, White,
Fine Cargo
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BROTT.
3,80 to 3.83. No. 1 ...... 4.50 to 455.
5.00 to 5.05:
................................................................... 5.50 to $55.
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