when the latter mounted their horses ad came the conclusion that it was time to be off. According to the Russian accounts, the robbers lost 178 men killed and about 2: 0 wounded and had to leave bohjud 25) horses and a large number of gans as well as considerable supplios of cartridges.
The Russian losses consisted of one officer wounded, and of four men killed and dine wound d. A local. English doctor, à Mr. Learmont, and his wife te..ded the wounded with an attention which was much appreciated by the l.ussians,
THE SITUATION,
Th› situation is now so bad that it could not well be worse, he Russians say that the Japanese evidently want a war and are acting in the right way to get it. The conduct of the Chinese on the borders of Manchuria is als disquieting, in fact it is clear that they are encouraging and supporting the monuled bandits, a course of policy in which they are believed to be assisted by the Ja anese but which is a very mistaken line for them to take. If China openly joins Japau in a war with Russia, her position will be still worse, for the Russians will annex Mongolia and Chinese Turkest n and perhaps overthrow the Manchu dynasty. However that may be, there can be no doubt that we are now trembling on the brink of war.
COREAN NOTES.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
Mokpo, 29th December.
THE HAGIWARA AFFAIR.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Mr. H. N. Allen, United States Minister at Seoul, and Mrs. Allen have arrived from America.
****
WILL THESE BE WAR?'
The following views on the Russo-Japanese question I venture to submit to your readers. It is erroneous to argue that Russia could not give way before an Asiatic Power. She did to in the early eighties, when she yielded up Ili and Kuld Ja to China, after both countries had been hovering for months on the verge of war, and she will do so again, as Japan is quite resolute in the stand she has taken, and is supported, to some extent, by both Great Britain and the United St tes. To her Corea, which is involved in the Manchurian issues; is a matter of life or death Japanese interests in Manchuria are far from being merely commercial, such as “aro those of Great Britain and America, They are a matter of vital importance to her, and henc she will remain firm, and not, like the United States, ask for any more opening of ports. If Russia does not give way it is firmly believed that Japan will fight, and will invade Manohu. ria by way of Corea. In a contest with Japan Russia will have to depend not on her whole strength, but on that portion of it which she can bring to bear in the Far East. would be closed to her, and the lesson of the South African war must have taught her the inefficiency of a long single line of railway as a nteaus of transportation of troops. In the event f war Japau would in all probability pour troops into the Liaotung peninsula, put forth all her efforts for its redaction and the capture of Port Arthur, and then fortify herself beyond its patrow neck, and thus baving command of the sea, hold it securely as a base of operations, whence she could advance her troops as deemed neces sary. It is, therefore, a mistakejto say that Japan could do little against Russia the coins- sal, for Japan is also colossal in Manchuria all she can, she will eventually give way to the Whatever Russian diplomacy may do to keep
shall not see a war between these Powers. pressure brought to bear by Japan, and we
T'he sea
REFUSE DUMPING IN THE HARBOUR.
The real truth of the Hagiwara incident at Yong-ampho is said to be as follows:-Mr. Hagiwara, Secretary of the Japanese Legation in Seoul, made a trip to the north of Cores by boat and entered the harbour of Yong-ampho but the Russians who had occupied the place refused to allow him to land. As soon as this fact was transmitted to Seoul, the Japanese Minister enquired of the Russian Minister CORRESPONDENCE. what the cause of this might be. The reply was that as the whole matter of Russian opera- tions along the Yalu was in the hands cf Admiral Alexieff the Russian Legation in Seour knew nothing about the matter. The Japanese therefore made representations in the proper quarters, and the Russian authorities said that it had been all a mistake. Thereupon Mr. Hagiwara again went to Yong-ampho and was received very courteously and shown all over the place. According to his report in regard to the supposed fortifications, these turned out to be nothing but stables ! At least they were not fortifications. It is quite evident that there is more behind, this than the paplio is supposed to know, but it makes little difference what may be behind it so long as peace is preserved in the Far East.
**
LEADING NAMES,”
I
TO THE EDITUE OF THE DAILY PRESS."
Hongkong, 12th January. SIB. In your issue of this date, under the heading of "Hongkong Jottings," I notice that reference is made to the throwing of refuse into the harbour by the Government scavenging contractor's meu. There is no doubt that, in the absence of the sanitary inspectors, the ontractor's men have often dumped refuse into the sea while the dust-boats are along the Praya, or while they are on their way to the depot, as that would save the men the trouble of carrying the refuse on shore again thither. But is there not a clause in the present scavenging contract stipulating that the contractor shall so that the whole of the City refuse be deposited at the depôt on land at Tsun-Wan Bay not less than ten feet above high-water mark and be coming, on and the sanitary regulations are there burnt? Now that the plague season is being strenuously enforced, perhaps some of our energetic unofficial members of the Sanitary Board will find out the reason why such an important clause of the contract should be treated as a dead letter ? The drop in 、xchange brought the intrinsic watchman should be appointed to supervise the At any rate a reliable value of Corean copper cents above their exchange value, and immediately the Chinese be-burning of the refuse and keep a look-out on
There is a curious custom in Corea called C'ha- ham, "Lending Name." It consists in a man being made an official just for a day or two in order to be able to tack that particular title
to his name for ever after. Of course it costs
something, but there are plenty of men who have more money than titles, and who are willing to make an exchange. There is, however, a Government department which does not counten- ance this sort of thing.
EXCHANGE Aand copper?
[January 16, 1904.
SUPREME COURT
Monday, 11th January.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR A. G. Wise (PUISNE JUDGE),
of
CLAIM BY WENDT & CO. claimed from the Chop Yik firm the sum
Wendt & Co. merchants, 6, Ice House Street, $1066,54 restricted to $1000, being damaise sustained by the plaintiffs by reason of the non-acceptance by the defendants of 20 cases. of Oxford shirtings contr.cted to be purchased by them from the plaintiffs under contract dated, 18th February last. Mr. H. W. Looker of Messrs. Deacon, Looker and Deacon, solicitors, appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. M. W. Slade, birrister-at-law (instructed by Mr. F. X. d'Alm'ida e Castro, solicitor), was for the defendants,
Mr Looker in opening the case for the plain- tiffs said that on 18th February they entered into a contract with the defendants for the sale of 20 cas s of Oxford shirtings to be delivered. within two months. They telegraphed home and were info: med the goods could not be supplied within four months. On this they told the defendants and the contract was closed, the goods to be supplied “the soon- est possible." His. Lordship would have to decide what these words meant. When the goods cime to hand they were repudiated by the defendants, solely on the question of time,
be case was adjourned.
Tuesday, 12th January.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE HIS, HONOUR A. G. WISE (PUISNE JUDGE).
CLAIM BY A CONTRACTOR
The Yow Lee firm claimed from Tsoi Tsung the sum of $965.97, being the balance due for work and labour done and materials supplied in respect of the buildings on Marine Lot No. 135. Mr. E. J. Grist, of Messrs Wilkinson and Grist, solicitors, appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. R. Harding, of Messrs. Ewalls and Harston, solicitors, for the defend.ut.
Before the commencement of the hearing of the case,
Mr. Grist said he was informed by Mr. F. X. d'Almada (who was in Court) that the defendant was a partner in the Wai Ty firm, in respect of which a receiving order had been recently made, In that case he could not proceed with the case,
Mr. Harding said he understood that the defendant was a different man altogether.
The defendant on being called up said he was not a partner in the firm pamed.
Mr. A. Turner was the first witness called. He deposed that he was the architect in respect of work being do e on the lot in question, the Taiping Theatre at Shektongtsui. Some months A man named go the contractor ran away. Sheung Ty took over the contract. After a time he said he could not carry it out, the defendant isoi Tsung took it over from an arrangement was made whereby
him. There was Bora concrete work to be done which was not completed. It was had been done since Tsoi Tsung took over i not finished yet. Most of the concrete work
and
the contract, Also there was some work to be
gan to buy them in right and left and send them the dust-boats while they are on their way to done in the way of fixin the iron pillars; all
to China. The result was that the copper cents went to a premium of 20 cents as compared with the nickel coins. It is said that the Customs interfered with the export of copper and a Lumber of Chinese failed to connect,}
CEREMONY INTERFERED WITH,
The young prince Yung-chin was for a few days afflicted with an eruption th t frequently snçoe de small-pox. This interfered with the celebration of Independence Day, and his Majesty gave no audience to the foreign -representatives and employees.
OFFICIAL MATTERS.
Yi Chi-yong was appointed Corean Minister to Japan about the end of November.
the depot-Yours faithfully.
SANITATION.
The N.-C. Daily News Tokyo correspondent wired on the 7th inst, that Russia appears still to hope for a peaceful settlement, but the situa- tion is considered here to be most grave and to have now reached the stage where it must be han- dled by the military arm." Later he telegraph ed: "Russia's answer is un-atisfactory, especial- ly with reference to Corea. The negotiations between Japin and Russia have no common ground on which they can be continued. The so-called friendly negotiations are undoubtedly fatile."
of this had been done since the taking over of the contract.
Mr. Harding was proceeding to cross-question Mr. Turner with reference to whether of no it was the custom in Hongkong for a contractor who took over a contract from another contractor to assume liability for the other's arrear debts, when Mr. Grist said he did not intend to seek recovery of the original contractor's arrears, There were some $590 arrears, so that the amount claimed would be about $450.
His Lordship sail that at any rate he could not have allowed that part of the claim.
After the examination of Chinese witnesses the case was adjourned.
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