F
442
if they wished to do business with China they must see the Chinese merchants and learn exactly what they wanted. He had had a busy three weeks in doing that, and the time had been well spent. His Government wished to encourage good relations with the Chinese merchants at Hongkong, Shanghai, Canton, and other marts of commerce which he hoped to visit. He would tell his chief in Queensland how nobly they had treated him, and Mr. Morgan would send back to them his acknowledgements and best wishes in his capacity of chief representative of the Colony of Queensland. He hoped to meet them all again.
Mr. A. A. H. BOTELHO toasted
the Press," Mr. T. C. SWABY responding, and an enjoyable evening shortly afterwards brought to a close.
CORRESPONDENCE.
W88
A GROWING SCANDAL.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,”
SIR, Can you explain the action of the authorities in dispersing the European women from Lyndhurst Terrace and allowing them to settle in those parts of the city inhabited by respectable families? Surely this cannot be allowed to go on. Such blunders as this are not excusable and should be remedied without delay. There seems to be no proper control of this matter, as the town is being filled by undesirables of all nationalities, and now one is accosted in the street-a thing that should not
be allowed.
Surely the state of things at present existing in Hongkong is not likely to improve the opinion of Asiatics towards us Europeans.Yours, &c.,
ANGLIAN.
THE FERRY LANDING.
EL
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,"
SIE,-Now that the Star Ferry Co. are obliged to reconstruct their ferry landing on the Hongkong side, might I suggest that they make a structure in keeping with the surround- ings? The jetty to which the steamboats run is situated in the most beautiful part of Victoria City. Of course it is difficult to construct an elaborate affair on such flimsy foundations, as typhoons would soon make short work of it. What could be done, though, is to encircle the pier with neat metal hand-rails after the same fashion as Blake Pier.-Yours, etc.,
KOWLOONITE.
PORTUGUESE AND PLAGUE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
• DAILY PRESS.
Canton, 7th June. SIR-Looking at the number of patients admitted into the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Hongkong during 1903 suffering from plague, one cannot help being struck by the very small number of Portuguese attacked by the dread disease. I have not the figures of the last census at hand, but I believe I am not is stating that the Portuguese greatly out. number the European community.
wrong
Of the latter 27 were admitted against only 3 of the former, and against 55 of nationalities other than Chinese-a remarkable fact which cannot be accounted for by better feeding and healthier surroundings, since the Portuguese, taking the community as a whole, have more limited means, and are more poorly housed than the Europeans. It will be very interesting to trace the cause of their immunity, almost com- plete, from a disease which respects no race or nationality,-Yours, &c.,
SANITAS.
[Our correspondent is mistaken in his supposi- tion that the Portuguese greatly outnumber the European community. According to the last census returns (1901) the Europeans and Americans in the Colony other than Fortuguese numbered 3,860, while the number of Portuguese was 1,956. There still remains, however, a most noteworthy difference in the ratio.----ED. D.F.]
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
AN INQUIRY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
6th June, 1904. SIE, Can you give me any information about a certain Yan
Ngoy Hospital," Yaumati ? A well-dressed Chinaman brought me a written subscription form, which stated that the directors of the above hospital among. other things "serve out tea to those who care to partake of it," and begging for funds to carry on the good work. As no directors' names were mentioned, and my Chinese interpreter had never heard of such an institu. tion. I wondered whether the numerous firms whose names (appear as subscribers were being victimised, or whether the Yun Ngoy Hospital is really worthy of the support of Europeans and Chinese."-Yours, etc.
INQUIRER.
[We have not been able to learn that a hospital bearing this name exists.-ED.]
THE Y.M.C.A. AND OUR DEFENDERS.
4
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS."
Sir, May I ask if soldiers are to be admitted to the Young Men's Christian Association at Hongkong; and if not, why not? They come
out here not to enrich themselves but to defend those who are doing so.
Many of them would show an example of the manly, humble, Chris- tianity which, with Mr. Gershom Stewart, we wish to see ousting self-righteous namby. pambyism. Not a few too can sing a good song which would help much.
I remain yours truly,
E. J. HARDY, Chaplain H.M. Forces.
Hongkong, 11th June.
CANTON NOTES.
[FROM THE CHUNG NGOI SAN PO}
FINANCIAL SCHEMES.
It is reported that Viceroy Shum, finding
that he is handicapped in carrying on the
works of the Government on account of the
financial difficulty, proposes to obtain a loan of 3,000,000 taels from the people, repayable in ten years by instalments at the rate of 7 per cent. per mensem, the security being the revenue of the gambling farms. Certificates of one hun- dred taels each will be issued, and the Com- missioner of Customs of Canton will have the matter entirely under his management. The certificates can be employed to pay all sorts of taxes. The loan is especially wanted to pur- chase firearms and ammunition, to establish a police force, and to build railroads.
COUNTERFEITERS RAIDED.
On the 25th ultimo the Pun-yu magis
PAKHOI.
[June 13, 1904.
June 4.
THE ACTING BRITISH CONSUL Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Pearson arrived here on the 24th ult. Mr. Pearson has assumed the charge of the British Consulate, while Mr. M. Hughes, who had come from Hoihow on the 9th ult. to await the arrival of Mr. Pearson to hand over to him the charge of the Consulate, left on the 2nd instant for his post in Kiungchow.
THE CUSTOMS.
Mr. Robert Henkel, examiner I. M. Customs, was transferred to Hoihow as Acting Tide Sur- veyor and Harbour Master vice Mr. G. A. For- saith, who is going home on leave.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Pastor Witt, of the Kiel Mission here, accompanied by Mrs. Witt, Misses (2) and Master Witt, left on the 2nd instant on furlough.
The German man-of-war Tiger left the port on the 21st ult., after two days' stay.
MANILA NOTES.
CHINAMAN WINS HIS CASE.
The Hawaiian-bórn Chinaman, who claimed to be an American citizen, has been admitted into the islands. This important test case has been before the Court for some time.
CORPUS CHRISTI.
On Corpus Christi a parade started from the . cathedral at 5.30, went down Calle Palacio, along Calle Victoria to Calle Solana and returned to the cathedral by Calle Santo Tomas. Thou- sands joined in it. During the early hours of the evening the streets were lined with wor- shippers wending their way to the evening exercises, and the thoroughfares were blocked for several hours. In this connection it might be stated that not only the religious festival is remembered, but thirty-one years ago on that day the islands were visited by one of the most disastrous earthquakes known in the archipelago's history. The old cathedral which stood on the site of the present structure was completely their destroyed. Hundreds of people lost
the
The lives in
terrible catastrophe,
between three and earthquake occurred
services
four o'clock in the afternoon as were in progress in the cathedral. The falling of the cathedral killed hundreds, among them many padres, and hundreds were killed in other portions of the city.
THE CITY OF MANILA,
Governor Taft's report for 1903 contains some items particularly interesting to Hong- kong on account of the similarity of many existing circumstances:-During the year about 150 buildings were condemned and ordered to be removed.. Much has been done in the way of repairs to streets, widening streets, and giving the city a modern cleaning every day. Of course the absence of the sewerage system
entails very heavy expense in the introduction of the pail system. The falling-off of the trate went with some officers and soldiers to a house in Tang-Yin-Lane, East of Canton, population. of the city of Manila between 1900 and 1903 from 260,000 to 221,000, as shown by where appliances and dies for making counter-
two censuseS, is not inexplicable. In 1900 feit small coins were found, together with
there was much disturbance throughout the several hundred pieces of counterfeit twenty-country, and the insurrection had not ceased in cent, ten-cent, and five-cent pieces. persons, including a young woman, were arrest- ed and brought back to the Pun-yu magistracy. They pleaded guilty, and said that small coins
Five
to the value of a hundred dollars were sold to the people for thirty dollars.
THE OPIUM TAX.
The Canton high authorities have deputed officers to reorganise the prepared opium-tax. An office has been established in the Great Monk Monastery for this purpose. On the 2nd inst. the local magistrates were ordered to ascertain and report the names of the opium- divans and the prepared-opium shops together with the names of the different owners within their jurisdiction.
EDUCATION.
It is reported that the scholars selected by the Educational Department to proceed to foreign countries to complete their education, will leave Canton on the 22nd instant for their various destinations. Those that have been chosen to go to Europe and America are under the control of one Chan-Kam-To, a former pupil of Queen's College.
many parts. The effect of the insurrection upon those who were wealthy or who had money enough to come into Manila was very marked, and they fled to Manila as a place of refuge. As soon, however, as conditions became more tranquil they went to the country, so that the reduction in the population of Manila is a significant evidence of the tranquility of the provinces. The introduction and maintenance of a modern fire system and a metropolitan and native police force, and of an effective street- cleaning gang are all shown in the report of the city. There is considerable doubt as what ought to be done about taking down the walls of the walled city of Manila and how the open spaces in the city ought to be improved.
to
There are in the city itself and in the environs of the city great opportunities for beautifying the landscape, and it is hoped that in time the city of Manila will be made the handsomest city in the Orient. Improvements are expensive, however, and must be socordingly slow.
Manila is interlaced with what are called esteros, small arseks or arms of the sea that
a
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