Page
May 1, 1905.]
on the western bank, being connected with the interior by a narrow path over hills. There is no local trade except by junks and native produce. The latter, very cheap, consists of poultry, fruit and vegetables. Indo-China currency is the standard, bat Chinese or other money is acceptable. A plentiful water supply flows from the back ground highlands, and a ticket of virgin forest stretches across the country.
The following Government notification. (No. 285.) was issued :-
It is hereby notified that the terms of the Proclamation made by His Excellency the Governor on the 17th November, 1904, ander the Military Stores (Prohibition of Exportation) Or linance, 1862, will henceforward be strictly enforced with regard to coal, except with regard to such bunker coal as shall be supplied to any vessel with the consent of the Harbour Master.
By Command,
F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary.
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE BEPORT.
had not left the ship with the pilot at the Cape but had continued the voyage. But he did leave the ship at the Cape with the sum that he went to receive for provisions supplied by his firm, more than 20,00) francs.
A PRAYA "BUNDER
+1
A rumour was afloat on April 26th that one of the steamers of a well known line, currying a cargo of provisions for the Baltic Flee, wished to clear at the Harbour Office, and that the Harbour Master refused to grant a permit. Bumour want on tɔ say that she left port with. out ber clearance papers, but was intercepted by a British craiser which hal ben communicated
with by means of wireless telegraphy an ordered to return to Hongkong. A representative of the Daily Press yesterday interviewed the Hon. Captain Barnes-Lawrence with regard to this matter and learnt that it was a fictio. "What you have probably heard", said the Harbour Master, "is about a smill French coastal steamer
which had 150 tons of banker coal aboard with- out my permission. The agent came to clear her, but I would not grant à permit until he
Colonial Secretary's Offics, Hongkong, 20th made the necessary application to me for
April, 1905.
HOW CAMRANH BAY WAS LEFT.
From private sources comes a story for which we cannot vouch. It is to the effot that a French officer went off to the Armada in the Bay, and explained that he and his comrades would be delighted to welcome Admiral Rozh- destvensky to a longer stay; but that pressure from Paris necessitated the ra leness of request- ing as hasty a departure as possible. Glistening moisture in the eyes of the French officer convinced the Admiral of the sincerity of the sentiments expressed. Formal notifications he had calmly ignored, bat this personal aɔpal touched him. He held out both hands, the two men embraced each other. Orders were issuel. Next morning, at daylight, the Armala was not to be seen, only two ships remaining.
**
A CONSPIRACY OF BILENCE IN TONKIN.
We are informed by a correspondent that telegrams to be dispatched from Toukia have now to be vised by a censor.
It
We notice, too, that a writer in the Hauoi paper, Avenir du Tonkin, refers to
Conspiracy of silence." An article headed "Courrier de. Hanoi" begins with words to this effect: "The Russian Fleet has been for some hours anchored here in the Bay of Annam, and we know nothing. is the conspiracy of silence. We can under stand very well that the Government must show itself to be discreet, but there are moments when an official communique becomes necessary."
The writer of the article fears the effect which the presence of the flet might hare on the native imagination. RIPORTED SALE OF A FRENCH STEAMER TO
RUSSIA.
|
permission to carry the coal. This being done, the clearance was granted."
BRITISH CRUISERS.
Three battleships and two oraisers of the British Fleet, which were seen by th› Captain of the s.a. Ceylon in the vicinity of Mirs Bay on Tuesday, were yesterday seen by Captain Hannah of the s.8. Calchas, which arrived from Singapore, steaming in a south westerly direction near Lingting Island.
BOKOTO ISLANDS.
On April 14th, it was announced in the Tokyo Oficial Gazette that the Law of Siege
will be enforced in the Bokuto Islands, and their vicinity, until further notice.
STRANDING OF THE S.8. "KONG NAM,"
PILOT JEOPARDISES HER SAFETY. The following gentlemen, confirmed as a Marine Court, mat at the Harbour Office on the 27th April to enquire into the circum. stances connected with the stranding of the s.8. Kong Nain on Capsing Island on the 5th instant, viz. Hon Capt. L. A. W. Barnes-Lawrence (President of the Court), Judge D'Arcy (Com- mander H.M.S. Albion), Captain J. G. Spence (8.8. Lightning), Captain P. H. Rolfe (8.8. Yuen Sing) and Capt. J. J. Loissius (8.8. Kin Shan),
Master Mariners.
The first witness was Charles G. Frampton, 1:-0a Master of the Kong Nam, who deposed: the night of the 5th April I left the wharf at 715 p.m. on a voyage to Kongmoon and the West River. We proceeded down the South channel to the stream of the anchorage at Green Island. Myself and a native pilot were on deck When I The Saigon correspondent of the Avenir du also two Chinese at the wheel. Tonkin states that the steamer Eridan has ben
oleared the shipping I told the Pilot to W. sold privately to Russia by the Messageries set the course Boruss Capsaiman N. Maritimes. She loaded coal and 250 bullocks, half. W. This was done. My compass is and left Saigon on the 17th inst. "but not to correct. When I was abreast of Chung Hue revictual the Descartes," All she hai of value, Point we were still steering the same course, I left the deck for such as armament, was taken out, as well as the and heading for the pass. effects of the crew. Only one officer remained about four minutes, and let the Pilot run the on board with the bare number of sailors vessel himself. I told him before I went, to necessary for the navigation of the vessel. The look out for the red light on Mahwan Island correspondent also states that the Mpanjak, When I returned for'ard I found that he had belonging to the same Company has been hauled out West, when he should have set up to notified to take off the crew of the Eridan in the Nor'ard. There were junks in the vicinity Kamrank Bay. Probably, the correspondent when I left the deck. After I had been there adds, a Russian crew will take possession of the about five minutes I said "Hallo! Where's the vessel there. It is said that the M. M. Co,│red light?" It appears I mistook the big sold "this old ruin" for 60,000 piastres and that they have done an excellent stroke of business.
REVICTUALLING THE RUSSIAN SQUADRON.
A Saigon contemporary of the 19th inst says: "Several more vessels yesterday left our port, going to revictual the Russian squadron. The rallying place appears to be Kamranh?”'
"$
K
**
A LITTLE AFFAIRE AT SAIGON. The following story of misadventure which befel an employee in a commercial house at Saigon is told in a Tonkin contemporary, The employee having made an important delivery of goods on board the Russian hospital-ship Orel had some difficulties with the officer who received the goods. He remained on board for the purpose of adjusting the difference in the course of the voyage down the river. As nothing was seen of the man of commerce when his return was expected it was believed that he
Mahwan Island for the small one, as I could not 100 the latter the night being very dark. At 8.5 p.m. I realised that I had made a mistake, as I saw the white beach of the small Mahwan Island. I thought I was a quarter of a mile off, and immediately reversed the engines and went full speed astern. I had about 250 souls on board the ship, so I did not try to get her off, as I had not anough boats. We swing the two boats out, and I told the passengers not to get frightened. I then sent up rockets and at 9.15 p.m. the first staam launch osme. sent as many passengers as possible away in her. During the time I sent this launch to Hongkong the Hankow and other boats sent over to see if I wanted assistance. The last lot of passengers was taken off at 2.15 a.m. on the 6th with all their baggage. During this time I found the water was gaining in
|
|
the hold. At 9.35 p.m. on the me evenin all the fires were extinguished At 10:45, p.m the donkey engine stopped. The ship's head was west when she struck. I took sounding | immediately the vessel took the ground and found the starboard side aft 12 feet amidships, 10 feet amidships and six feet forward. The port side was six feet aft, seven feet amidships and seven feet forward. The draft of the vessel on arrival at Hongkong was 9 feet 10 inches aft and 7 fost 3 inches forward.
By the Court: I was not taking soundings before the ship struck. The Pilot of theTM bost is left to his own resources to a certain extent.
If I am in doubt, I question him about sny- thing.
Witness continuing-When the ship struck I communicated with the owner in Hong- kong at the earliest opportunity. The owner on the 6th. He made arrived at noon inquiries and returned to Hongkong to make arrangements for salvage. On the 11th instant. the draft of the vessel floating was 8 foot 6 The inches aft and 6 feet 3 inches forward.
ship came off on the afternoon of the 11th when the draft was 6 feet forward and 3 feet aft. She was towed into Hongkong, and is now afloat.
By Commander D'Arcy: I was travelling at a speed of about nine knots after clearing the shipping.
Witness continuing: What the Pilot did when I went away he would not tell me. He has since run away. Having been up four times with the same pilot, I had perfect confidence in him. The only answer I could get from him as to how he got out of the course war- "Have made a mistake." I have been master of the ship for four months, and I did not reduse have made four trips in her. speed, as I thought I was clear.
[The chart of the course was here produced and the position verified by the Court.]
By Commander D'Arcy: When I rung down to go fall speed astern, the engines answered satisfactorily.
To Sai, Quartermaster, declared :-I was steering on the Kong Nam on the 5th April from this port to Capsuimun. I was steering when the ship went ashore. When I left the harbour the pilot told me to steer N.W. half W. I did so for a short time, and then the Pilot told me to st ser N.W., which course I kept for about ten minutes. The course was then altered to N.W. half N. on the Pilot's instructions, and I steered in this direction for another ten minutes when the course ordered was N.W.
point north.
This operation lasted The Pilot then told me to five minutes. alter the course to starboard a little, and afterwards to port. The direction of, my steering, according to the compass, when the ship struck, was west. I do not know why the Pilot continued to alter the helm, as I did not see any other ships in sight. I gave ten minutes as the time I steered the various courses because the Pilot told me to do so.
one
Captain Frampton recalled, explained the steps he had taken to find the absconding Pilot.
The Court, after about half-an-hour's con- sideration, found as follows -The 8.8 Kong Nam which left Hongkong on a voyage to the West River took the ground on Capsing Island at 8.6 p.m. on the 5th instant" and
remained there until the forenoon of the 11th instant, when she was towed to Hongkong and placed on the slipway. She was found to have been strained, ani to have a hole in her bottom. It appears from the evidence that the safety of the ship was in the first instance jeopardised by the Pilot altering the course during the Master's temporary absence from deck without any apparent reason. Also the judgment of the Master was faulty in not having reduced the speed after finding that the course was altered, and also in being mistaken in the identity of the island he was approaching. The Court was of opinion, however, that it was not necessary to deal with the Master's certificate.--
His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint the following gentlemen to be Public Vaccinators: Jeu Hawk, M.D. (Oregon) Au 8% Cham, L.M.S. (Hongkong), and Ying Kwan, I.M.S. (Hongkong), No. Queen's Road East, and No. 42. First are additional public stations for the par: public vaccination.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.