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June 18, 1904.]
has any representations to make he must make them to His Majesty's Minister in Peking if he thinks there are circumstances which ought to be brought to the notice of His Majesty's Minister.
Prisoner again attempted to demonstrate. His Lordship-Remove the prisoner. The condemned man was led away to the cells.
His Lordship in thanking the jury said- Gentlemen, fortunately for Canton, the jurors are not called upon often to take part in tcriminal trials, but to show my appreciation of he trouble you have taken and the time you have been detained I order that you be released from jury duty until the end of next year.
The Court rose.
THE FAR EAST IN PARLIAMENT.
The following extracts are made from the Parliamentary reports to hand by the week's mails:-
THE PEKING SYNDICATE RAILWAY.
Mr. YER BURGH asked the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs in what position the negotia- tions with the Chinese Government concerning the railways of the Peking Syndicate now stand. Lord PERCY-The only railway with regard to which the Peking Syndicate is negotiating is the Taokow-Tsechow Railway. The negotiations at Shanghai between the agent of the Syndicate and the Director-General of Railways are still proceeding.
"NO PROTECTION AT ALL. AT NEWCHWANG.
Mr. C. M ARTHUR asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the British Consul at Newchwang had requested the dispatch of a gunboat to that port for the protection of British interests, in view of the danger of pillage by brigands upon or immediately subsequent to the reported Russian retirement; and could he say what steps were being taken for the safeguarding of British life and property in the contingency mentioned.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
point of starting with Chinese indentured labourers for the Transvaal had been cancelled.
Mr. LYTTELTON : No, sir.
In reply to Mr. Weir Mr. LYTTELTON said: I am informed by the officer administering the government of Hongkong that intending emigrants on arrival there during the last fortnight have been accommodated in ordinary Chinese lodging-houses in Kowloon, of which a number have been hired and placed under A permanent special medical inspection.
four miles isolated depot is being built
Kowloon. and isolated temporary from accommodation will be ready in two days. All emigrants who satisfy the emigration officer and pass strict medical examination will be sent there pending shipment, those rejected being sent home.
Mr. LYTTELTON, replying on a subsequent occasion to Sir W. Foster, said he was not aware of the cost of housing intending Chinese emigrants for the Transvaal at Hongkong during their detention, but the charge of isolation and inspection would be borne by the importers.
THE CHINESE WAR INDEMNITY.
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the Transvaal should not be permitted in any way to undercut Kaffir wages..
THE SHERWOOD FORESTERS,
IMPRESSIVE MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE CATHEDRAL.
The 15th inst, was the day appointed for the unveiling in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, of a Memorial Brass to the memory of the officers and men of the 1st Battalion the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbyshire Regiment) who fell in the Boer War; and in connection with this occasion a most impressive service was held yesterday morning in St John's Cathedral, when 250 officers and men of the Regiment in the force at present forming an item garrisoning the Colony, attended. of the Regiment present were Colonel Watts, the officer commanding the Battalion; Captain Green, D.S.O., Captain Pennell, V.C., Captain Radford. Lieutenant Manby, Sub-Lieutenant Dumbell. Sub-Lieutenant Foster, Lieu-Adjut- ant Popham. and Lieutenant-Quartermaster Barrow.
The officers
There were also present His Excellency Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G., the Officer Administering the Government; attended by his aide-de-camp, Captain
Mr. McCrae in the House of Commons on the 16th ult. asked the Chancellor of the Exche- quer whether he could now state if the annual instalments of over £300,000 receivable in respect of the Chinese war indemnity would. after the private claims of British subjects had
M. K. Hodgson; Major-General been satisfied, be applied to the reduction of debt
Sir Villiers-Hatton. C.B., the Officer Com. according to the terms of the undertaking of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1992.
man ling the Forces. with his aide-de camp, The Chancellor of the Exchequer: The instal-Capt. E. S. Ward (2nd Grenadier Guards); ment receivable from China at the end of next Major A. B Hamilton. Major Chichester, month is expected to suffice for the paying off D.S.O.. Com:uodore Dicken, and many others. the balance of the private claims. The remain- ing instalments will be applicable to the discharge of the British Government claim and of certain claims in respect of damage to the northern railways, which were included in the Government claim. It has not yet been settled in what manner the railway claims are to be liquidated. Pending settlement on that matter, it would be premature to propose to Parliament to decide as to the ultimate application of the receipts.
THE TIBETAN MISSION.
Earl PERCY: The auswer to the first question is in the negative. Newchwang being in the theatre of war, His Majesty's Government took some time ago the only course open to them by
In reply to questions by Mr. Trevelyan and addressing representations to the belligerents, Mr. Bowles. Mr. Brodrick stated that the and requesting them to take such measures as advance on Lhassa has been sanctioned, unless the circumstances might permit to safeguard within a period fixed by the Indian Government the interests of British subjects at Newchwang. the Chinese Amban arrives at Gyangtse, accom- A reply was received from the Russian Govern-panied by a competent Tibetan negotiator. ment stating that all precautions would be taken for the protection of the lives and property of British subjects.
If
Mr.
this condition is not fulfilled, the advance will take place without any further delay. Brodrick added that the Government have left it to the Government of India to decide the
that period is. He declined, in reply to Mr. Lambert, to furnish the House with details as to the strength of the Mission then at Gyangtse and the stores possessed by them, on the ground
Mr. C. M'ARTHUR:-But what is the position of British subjects and property if neither belli-period. They have not yet been informed what gerent is in charge? What protection is there from brigandage? My point is that in the interval between the retirement of the Russians and the entry of the Japanese, what protection will there be for British life and property? that it would not be desirable at the moment Earl PERCY: I do not suppose, if there was to publish details. The Government have sanc- such an interval, there would be any protectiontioned the despatch of any reinforcements which at all.
Mr. G. BowLES:-In that event would not Newchwang revert to its own proper sovereign. the Chinese Government? Would they not be responsible?
the India Government may consider necessary for the safety of the Mission or for the lines of communication.
In reply to Mr. Lambert, who asked for an early opportunity to discuss the new Earl PERCY was understood to say that he development of the Government's policy in did not believe the Chinese administered New-regard to Tibet. Mr. Balfour said there was no chwang.
THE PLAGUE AND CHINESE EMIGRANTS.
Mr. LYTTELTON, the Colonial Secretary.reply ing to Sir W. Foster, said he received a tele- gram from the officer administering the govern- ment of Hongkong stating that one case of babonic plague had occurred in a lodging-house partly occupied by emigrants, the patient was a rejected emigrant, and that there had been no other case among the emigrants up to the pres- ent time. He (Mr. Lyttelton) believed this was the-case. So long as the medical advisers of the local Government did not regard the conditions under which the Chinese labourers were in- troduced into the Transvaal as involving undue risk, and subject to such precautions as they thought necessary, he did not, as at presentadvised, propose to interfere. The length of the voyage from China was largely in excess of the period of incubation of the disease, and this very great. ly reduced the risk of the introduction of plague. Mr, BUCHANAN asked the Colonial Secretary
whether, owing to the outbreak of plague at Hongkong, the charters for the steamers on the
new development that he was aware of. No doubt if there was reason for such a discussion it would be found possible to carry out the sug- gestion.
CHINESE LABOUR.
The Headquarters wing paraded at Murray Barracks in review order at 8.40 a.m. and marched to the Cathedral without music. the Processional During the singing of
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Through the night of doubt and Hymn. sorrow." the colours of the Regiment were brought up the nave of the Cathedral by Sub- Lieutenants Dumbell and Foster, escorted by three men with fixed bayonets, and stacked in front of the altar.
The service was conducted by the Rev. E. J. Hardy, Chaplain to His Majesty's Forces, assisted by the Bishop of Victoria and his acting Chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Jenkins. The processional hymn was followed by the recital of the Lord's Prayer, the 23rd Psalm, and the reading of the Lesson, which was taken from the Book of Wisdom, iii 1-10. Then followed the Apostles' Creed and five prayers.
These concluded, the Band of the Battalion, under the direction of Bandmaster Bradley, played with magnificent effect the Dead March in Saul. Then came the "Last Post." sounded by three buglers inside the Church, three volleys being
fired from outside the Cathedral in the intervals.
Then the Bishop of Victoria recited from the Burial Service the words "I heard & voice from Heaven saying," etc., and three buglers from the altar steps sounded the "laveille." The congregation standing, the Bishop reaited two prayers from the Burial Service; the hymn Brief life is here our portion" follo ved, and then the Bishop pronounced the Bensdiction. God Save the King," sung by the entire congregation with grand effect, brought a solemnly impressive service to a close.
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Outside in the Cathedral grounds Major- General Hatton distributed to a large number of men who had won them the Queen's South African medals. Following is a list of the recipients:-
"B" Company.-Lance-Sergt. T. Pritchard, 6780. Corporal F. George, 6855, Corporal G. Walker, 6618, Lance Corporal D. Brandon, 6725, Lance-Corporal P. Doolan, 5306, Privates C. Johnstone, 6776, W. Lewington, 6733, R. Mantle, 6178, J. Mellars, 5513, S. Thomas,
"E" Company.-Sergeant Blackwell, 4915, Lance-Corporal Jones, 6216, Privates Henson, 5942, Rice, 6316, Wilkins, 5924.
In reply to Mr. H. Samuel, on the 18th ult.. Mr. Lyttelton. said: The Chinese labourers will be employed on piecework and will be able to earn about 50s. or more-the best workers should earn 60s. Those not employed on piece-6771, A. Dodd, 6365. work will receive wages according to the schedule at p. 151 of c. 2,025. If the average pay of those in the service of any employer does not equal 50s. for thirty working days within six months, the minimum rate will be increased from 1s. to ls. 6d. per working day of ten hours. I understand from the above schedule that the present pay of Kaffirs for underground labour varies from 1s. 2d. to 2s. 6d. a day.
·G" Company.-Sergt. R. Johnson, 5065, Corpl. L. Hannon, 6572, Lance-Corporal T. Madin, 6695, Privates J. Bowler, 5879, E. Bilbie, 6669, A. Binns, 6078, E. Dalton, 6831, E. Elshaw, 5703, W. Innis, 6774, J. O'Donnell, 6852. T. Pridmore, 6784. J. Stuart. 6600, A. Thomas, 6811, W. Welsh, 6161, W. Collier, 6752. Lance-Corporal J. Barnes, 6745, Lance- Corporal J. Foster, 6212, Private J. Storer,
In reply to Mr. Markham, Mr. Lyttelton said the definite position he had endeavoured to uphold in the negotations with Lord Milner was that the introduction of Chinese labour into ' 6797.
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