Page
October 8, 1904.]
By balance brought forward 31st Decem.
ber, 1903
Yen,
427,667.884 By amount of gross profits for the half-
year ending 30th June, 1904............ .6,061,750.310 Yen 6,489,418,184
We have omitted only the usual certificate of audit. The chairman's speech at the share holders' meeting we have already published.
CANTON NOTES.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT].
3rd October. AMENDS TO MR. XAVIER.
In my account of the fire at Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg's oil godown here last week I did an injustice to the Portuguese caretaker, who was burnt, not in trying to save his own property, but in a brave attempt to put out the fire in the godown itself. The fire was caused by a China- man, who dropped the iron used for soldering tins into the oil, which immediately took fire. All the Chinese present fled, but the Portuguese did his best to stamp out the flames. He was only successful, however, in setting himself on fire, and had it not been for the presence of mind of an Indian, who rolled him over into the river, he would have been burnt to death. I much regret having given a wrong impression about a plucky act, and hasten to correct it.
ANOTHER FIRE.
There was another fire here on Saturday afternoon. It started in a shed on the water- side at Honam, and burnt its way for some distance along the bank.
POLITICAL.
Of political news there is little to record. The Viceroy is still in Kwangsi, but must return before long, as there are several ques- tions of the first importance awaiting his decision. The affair on the British bridge, into which preliminary inquiries have been held by the American Consul board the Helena and by the Namhoi magistrate at his Yamên, will perhaps require the Viceroy's attention, but apart from this there are other matters to be decided,
on
8.8.
Firstly, the long-talked of loan-its amount I cannot vouch for-must be negotiated, as the Provincial coffers must be filled, in view of the continuance of the rebellion. There is also the question of the New Bund, which has been built so far into the river as to cause anxieties for the future of the front reach. Finally, the abolition of the office of Hoppo, and the substi- tation of a Customs Taotai, is to be carried out shortly. Taotai Chu, who is to take over the duties of the Hoppo, has been here for some time, and I understand that the Viceroy's presence will be imperative at the time when the transfer is effected.
The post of Hoppo has always been held by a Manchu, who only remains in Canton for a short term of office, during which time he is said to "make" vast sums of money. The new regime will be hailed with delight by the Cantonese.
CE
[FROM THE CHUNG NGOI BAN FO."
Viceroy Shum, who was reported to return to Canton before the Chinese Mid-autumn festival, has received a despatch from the Peking Government to stay in Kwangsi till order has been restored in every part of the province. Consequently His Excellency has sent to Canton for winter clothes.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
I numbered were at last defeated and routed, the, number of rebels being over seven thousand, all well armed. Some say that General Wong has been killed, and others say that he is only wounded.
Letters have been repeatedly received the last few days from the magistrates of the districts of Kwang Ling, Sz Wui, Hoi Kiu and Fung Chuen in Kwangsi by the Canton Government, asking for reinforcements and saying that the rebels, numbering about three thousand, most of whom belong to the Triad Society, are now on their way to the said districts from the district of Wai-Chop, where they have ransacked most of the villages, and where every line of business is at a standstill; and the merchants and well-to-do citizens have removed to other districts for safety. In reply to their demands the Governor has sent three battalions of soldiers to Kwong-Ling.
It is reported that General Wong-Tin-Sbp had an encounter with the rebels a few days ago in Sheung-Yau-tong, in Lau-Chow, with five battalions of soldiers. The fight lasted three days, and the soldiers being greatly out-
been
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265
of Parliament was heard to murmur in the British House of Commons the meaningless but somewhat poisonous word Rats." Nothing happened; "there wasn't even the customary calling to order by the chair. What-what Li-King-Hi, the new governor of Kwangai, would happen, supposing-be careful, I only and nephew of the Late Li-ung-Chang, arrived said supposing-that someone, quite acciden- in Chuen-Chow of Kwangsi on the 21st ultimo. tally, of course (in a moment, say of temporary His Excellency has not yet taken up the seal; insanity), whispered that terrible word in the for he has now discovered that Governor Aw Hongkong Legislative Council? The Colonial has taken away with him over one hundred Secretary (having administered the Government thousand dollars from the treasury, and he for a brief period) would probably have a fit on determined to make enquiries into the case the spot; indeed he nearly had one at the last first, in consequence of which ho has meeting. Would the Governor collapse ? wired for the prefect of Wuchow, who is the Not he! It is probable that the only other principal witness. Or account of the rebel-casualty would be, I am sorry to say, no less lion in Kwangsi, a large number of soldiers a person than the esteemed Editor of the stationed in various districts have
Daily Press." sent thither, BO that many places ha e been left unprotected, and the poor people being entirely neglected by the mandarins are now at the mercy of the robbers. Therefore the robbers, knowing that they can carry on their depredations unmolested. multiply gradually, and are fiercer than ever; they generally issue forth at present in broad daylight in a gang of about a hundred. On the 24th alt. a gang of about twelve dozen robbers made an attack on the village of Wu-Ti-Chong in Shun-Tak district. Eighteen houses belonging to the well-to-do citizens were ransacked and very valuable booty was carried away. The robbers being not satisfied with what they had already in their possession, seized three persons. of rice-shops, whom they carried away with them. When they took their departure they burn- ed the watchmen's station. On the following night the same gang broke into a neighbouring village nained Kwai-Chow-Li. This time only one house was plundered and a well-to-do citizen was added to their list of prizes. When they left, they told the villagers that their leader's name is Pun-Lung-Ting, and told them to go to a certain place to redeem the captives.
CORRESPONDENCE
masters
HON. MR. SHEWAN'S SPEECH.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
SIR,-Your daily dissertations, dealing as they do with an infinite variety of subjects, seldom fail to awaken more than a languid interest. Your opinions, moreover (save the impertinence !), are inculcated with a power and wealth of literary allusion, and an apt facility of expression which do not make them either less palatable or less easy of digestion. It is on these grounds that I differ from you on the subject of Mr. Shewan's speech with great diffidence and with a sense of responsibility.
In your leading article of to-day's issue you admit the existence of grievances against the Government which, in common with Mr. Shewan, you wish to see remedied, or carefully safe guarded against in the future. You are also able to discover many gratifying features in the said speech. e.q., evidence of distinct ability, and a good casus belli. But your fatal objection to it is its alleged want of dignity. You are apparently in absolute sympathy with Mr. Shewan as regards essentials, but you object to the Debating Society style and want of dignity. You object, however, not incidentally, but in such a way as to make one feel that if at any future time one wishes to inspire an emotion of sympathy in the noble breast of the leader- writer, one must comport oneself with a degree of dignity which would prove an insuperable obstacle to many a worthy aspirant to such high favour. Does the manner of presenting the facts matter very much so long as it is effective? Does it not look like swallowing the camel and straining at the guat? Surely sufficient incense is already burnt on the altar of dignity by the members of the Legislative Connoil? If the latter suffer from anything in their deliberative capacities, it is a plethora of dignity, and a Sphinx-like silence. A little less of both would be an improvement. After all, little flippancy-which might be encouraged if not carefully cultivated, in some of the younger official members-is not one of the seven deadly sins, even if perpetrated in so august an assemblage as the Hongkong Legislative Council. The other day a Member
During the interregnum the members of Council have enjoyed a period of exemption from public oriticism. The Press has resounded with the praises of the late Officer Administering the Government, and well has he deserved them. But even the summer time comes to an end, and to the evil humours that occasionally collect in one's alimentary system after an unusual surfeit of good things Mr. Shewan's speech, with its biting sarcasm, will prove & powerful antidote, if not an effectual preventa- tive.-Yours truly,
SCOTLAND FOR EVER.”
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24
QUERULOUS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS."
Hongkong, 1st October.
SIR, I was able to comprehend without much difficulty the masterly specimen of Com- mercial Oratory which appeared in your paper this week, thanks to the frequent aid of my little Webster which emanates from the office of a certain gentleman who has made Milwaukee famous. Largely through his efforts many throughout the world have given up the worship olo custom" and have now become of the god ardent devotees at the shrine of the Milwaukee goddess.
Talking of oratory reminds me that I am not keeping pare with the Times. Tempora mutan- tur! I realise with a thrill, that the requisites for a popular speech nowadays re that it be of great length, rambling and “slashing," sprinkled with contradictory statements and generally muddled. It seems to be the fashion to say that you are finished when you have only begun. The scholarly practice of quoting from the Classics continue in popular favour.
-
Is it a fact that such phrases as English gentleman, code of honour, playing the ame, contra bonus mores, infra dig, eo, are now obsolete? Was it Francis Bacon who gave a budding politician the absurd advice to refrain from mixin personal animosity with public duties? I understaud now the appropriateness of Macaulay's memorable sentence. Are any of these words interchangeable in a speech: Man, caddie, eulogy, toady, fawning publican, Corsican bitters? My grammar teacher at Rugby used to tell me that words constantly changed in meaning.
11
Please state, in millimetres, the difference between "hitting at the belt' and "hitting below the belt."
I think culture is the latest fad of the business world, is it not? What literary treasures should I invest in? Would you recommend Scotch novels, Dickens, Lives of Kaiser Johann and Austen Chamberlain? Shakespeare, of course. I can't remember at the moment any of his heroes except Othello, Cæsar and Caius Cassius. I don't suppose I need go in for Dr. Smith's Principia Latina; Tit-bits ad- vises its readers to use instead the Appendix of Phrases at the end of dictionaries. I had no difficulty in locating the Latin command to turn your head round if you want to see behind you.
The journalistic custom of interspersing bracketed words in reports has apparently been consigned to the limbo of things forgotten. This is regrettable. Even sensitive Mr. Cham- berlain needs the encouragement of large audiences. However, not all orators like Bir- mingham, and may such receive time's noble
vindication.
Trusting you or your readers will kindly oblige with answers, and that the labour fo
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