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CANTON.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
CANTON, 19th August.
REGISTRATION OF SERVANTS.
Becently robberies committed by house servants have been of frequent occurrence on the Shameen. It is said that the firm of Messrs. Carlowitz have complained of thres robberies perpetrated on thier premises during the current year, and valuable articles such as a gold watch and chain, costly rings etc., were reported to have been lost. A few days ago a meeting of the Consular Body was held to consider what precautions could be taken to prevent repetitions of these most annoying practices of servants.
Yesterday I was informed that at the meet- ing it was decided to issue notifications to all residents on the Shameen requesting them to furnish in three copies the number of Chinese servants in their employ with their names and addresses to their respective consuls. Two copies will be deposited with the Police Stations (i e.) one for the British, and the other for the French, and the remaining copy to be lodged at the Consulate. So far I have not as yet seen the notification which I am told has already been sent out by the H. B. M. Consul General. I presume it will be presented in due course.
OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS.
The Tin Pak Magistrate Chan Pak Hau has been appointed Acting Nam Hoi Magistrate by Viceroy Shum. Woo Ming Poon, the present Nam Hoi, has been promoted to a higher position.
Viceroy Shum has received telegraphic in- structions from Peking to appoint Ng Wing
to be Taotai of Wai Châu Chin Chan and Ka
Hing Chau. He is said to be one of the Empress Dowager's favourites and has had very rapid promotions. During the Boxer troubles he was only an acting magistrate in a small town up north and was said to have rendered valuable services to the Empress Dowager while she was en route to Nanking. Sham Cheun Yee, the present Taotai of the above places, has been ordered to take up the Taotai's position of Ko Chan Lai Chan and Yeong Kong.
RISING IN WAI CHAU.
Viceroy Shum has despatched Acting Admiral Li Tsun with seven hundred braves to suppress the insurrection in Wai Chau. It is said that the rising was attributed to one of the notorious rebel Chiefs named Wong Wo Shun who joined the bandits of that District about two months ago.
BODY GUARD INCREASED.
I hear that several hundred recruits have been enlisted to the Viceroy's bodyguard. It is said that they were all picked men recruited from the various parts of the Kwangtung Province. These men have been divided into four divisions-numbering from one to four. Taotai Li Cham Yin has been appointed by the Viceroy to take command of them.
Canton, 22nd August. GOVERNOR CHANG'S DEPARTURE.
Governor Chang's promotion to the Governor ship of Shansi was confirmed by wire from Peking last week. He will leave here for Shanghai by one of the China Merchants" steamers on the 23rd instant. All the tablets of honour conferred upon him by Emperor Kwong Hsu and the Empress Dowager were removed to the Eight Bannermen's Hall yes- terday. It was intended at first to disband the Governor's Body Guards, but subsequently Viceroy Shum discovered that the rank and file of the Governor's Body Guards were very well trained and disciplined soldiers, and now he intends to take them over. That means another huge increase to his Body Guard Corps.
OFFICIAL CALLS,
It was announced yesterday that Mr. James Scott, H.B.M. Consul-General, and the United States Consul-General, would call on His Excel- loney Viceroy Shum officially at 10 and 11 a.m. respectively, I believe the object of their visit was to discuss the America Boycott affair, which has come to the point of paraly sing foreign trade in general.
OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS.
His Excellancy Viceroy Shum has promoted Woo Ming Poon, the present Nam Hoi
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Magistrate, to be his Foreign Deputy. He has ordered the Tin Pak Magistrate, Chan Pak Hau, to come immediately to Cauton to take up the Nam Hoi's position, and has despatched Sit Wing Nin to relieve Chau Pak Han
DISASTER CAUSED BY RAIN.
During the heavy downpour of rain at noon yesterday, two houses, Nos. 15 and 17 Ching Wan Lane (West end), collapsed. Fortunately no lives were lost.
YESTERDAY'S EXECUTIONS. Thirteen criminals of the Nam Hoi anl five of the Poon Ya's prisons, who were all sentenced to capital punishmat, were taken to Ma Tan yesterday and executed by order of Viceroy Sham. Seventeen of them, whose crimes were considered to be of a more serious character, were beheaded, and one named Lai Ah Hang, whos› crime, I believe, was that of kidnapping the son of a wealthy man up- country, was strangled.
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VICEREGAL BANQUET.
Viceroy Shum gave a larga banquet at the Eight Baupermen's Hall, on the 18th instant. to discuss the following four important subjects: viz:-The Canton Hankow Railway, Standing Army for the Kwangtung Province, Americau Bycott, and the Establishment of a Sanitary Board. There were pressut at the feast: -His Excellency Viceroy Shum (Host), H. E Wong Ching Mok (Special Envoy, commissioned by the Board of Commerce to investigate the Commerce of Kwangtung Province), the Provincial Treasurer, the Provincial Judge, the Salt Comptroller, Wen Taotai, Mesars. Ng Kai Ming, Shum Chi Lau, Leong Tat Chin Wong, Chiu Ping, Chu Chai Ching, Cho Siu Chuk, Leong Siu Shan (all directors of various charitable societies in Canton) and Ex. Admiral
Ho Cheung Ching. The proposition of taking over the Canton Hankow Railway was the first subject debated. Nine of the principal con- ditions proposed by Viceroy Shum were unani- mously adopted at the meeting. These con. ditions have already been telegraphed to Viceroy Chang Chih Tung.
MORE MEMORIALS.
Yesterday, Viceroy Shum received telegraphic requests from Viceroys Yuan Shih Kai anl Tun Fong to memorialize the Throne to abolish public examinations of the Kue Yan" and
Tsun Sze" degrees.
Canton, 22nd August.
KILLED BY A TRAIN.
A country girl about fourteen years of age, who attempted to cross the line neur Chai Pin Heang Village, was knocked down by a train and instantly killed. Her head was severed from her body. The mother of the deceased girl insisted upon burying the body in the place where she was killed.
CLAN FIGHT.
I hear that there has been a serious clau tight in the Loong Kong Village. The combat was confined between the two clans surnamed Lau and Chan, but the rest of the villagers did not take any part in the warfare. The Shun Tak Magistrate went personally with an armed force to the village and suppressed the distur bance. Ou investigating the matter, the Magistrate discovered that the Liu clan had set fire to and burat over forty houses belonging to the Chan clan. There were several com- bitants killed on each side. The Magistrate has ordered all fire arms to be surrendered to him. He has also issued warrants for the arrest of the ringleaders of both parties.
THE CANTON-HANKOW BAILWAY,
The following is a literal translation of the nine principal conditions (referred to in my correspondence of the 21st instant) which were telegraphed to Viceroy Chang Chih Tung by His Excellency Viceroy Shum: —
1. The first and foremost point is to protect the moneys invested in the Railway Company by shareholders. The holder of one share in the company shall be entitled to a rote in any meeting that may by held by the company. When the railway is completed, the power to manage the company will be vested in the share- holders of the company.
2. The company will not have power to make such regulations that may be in con- travention of the laws of commerce.
3. No Foreigners shall be admitted as share- holders of the company or be allowed to take up shares in the soncern.
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[Angust 26, 1905.
4. That a chief promoter of the company be elected whose duty will be to invite people to tak shares in the company. Before the com. pauy is actually floated the chief promoter is empowered to convene meetings in the event of any matters of importance arising; and to decide on the best course to adopt. Any promoters obtaining the number of shares
subscribed for will in the mantime be entitled to so many votes. [A temporary vote for each share applied for, we suppose.-Ed.]
5. Shareholders who are officials will have the sam privileges and rights as a merʊhaut shareholder. Shareholders will not be entitled to any special privileges just because they are officials.
6. The capital of the company must be employed for the use and benefit of the com. psny, whether subscribed by officials merchants, and cannot be applied for any other
purposes.
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7. Shareholders desiring to dispose of their shares will be at liberty to do so at market rates. Shareholders will not be allowed to withdraw their capital from the company, and the authori- ties will not be allowed, to force the merchants to sell their shares to them so as to take over the whole company and run it themselves.
8. There will be a limited power granted to both official and merchant shareholders. In the event of any disputes that may arise between the company and the authorities the Viceroys of the three Provinces (ie., Kwang- tung, Hunan and Hupeh) will protect the company and have power to investigate into such disputes. The Minister of Railways will also have power to investigate questions relating to railways. All money matters and the employ- ment of men for the working of the company shall be carried out by the managing director of the company who will be elected by the shareholders.
9. The above conditions will be submitted to the Viceroys of the three provinces and the gentry for their approval. If they all agree to these conditions, we will units in sending a memorial to the Throue and have it on record. The Throne will issue an Edict commanding all officials and subjects to obey for ever. Other minor conditions will hereafter be drawn up and decided by the company.
Canton, 23rd August. LARCENT.
Wong Fook, formerly employed on board the river steamer Honam, was charged with stealing three articles of clothing, one pair of socks and a five dollar note from one of cabins
of the s.s. onam.
On the 21st instant he was sent to the
Namboi by H. B. M. Consul General.
Wong Fook was tried by the magistrate yesterday. He denied having stolen the things, but stated that he went on board of the steamer to look for one of his relations. Failing to find his cousin in the 'tween deck, he went "top side" to have a "look-see." The msgistrate remanded the case to procure further evidence.
MORE EXECUTIONS.
On the 21st instant the Namhoi Magistrate received official instructions from His Ex- cellency Viceroy Shum to take the following criminals from his prison and have them executed viz: -Kwan Kwai Ting. Chui Hong Ki, Wong Ah Mow, Yeong A'h Kan (these four were beheaded), and Ip Tat Sam (strangled).
A BIG SPECULATION.
Recently, a merchant named Lo Wang Fat petitioned Viceroy Shum offering the sum of $200,000 for the purchase of 28 mow of land, lately reclaimed by the Government, which extends from Tung Ho Han to the Eight Bannermen's Hall, near the East Gate of the City. The price of land in this part of the City is very cheap, but the enormous price offered by Lo is to include the rights and privileges to build and erect theatres, "sing song" houses, fan tan shops, hotels and build up another Ho Chan Tong in the eastern quarter of the town. He is prepared to pay in to the Provincial Treasury half the amount ($100,000) of the purchase prios, at once, if the above privileges are granted to him. Excellency has referred this matter to the Sin Hau Kok for consideration, and yesterday Lo Wang Fat was requested by the members of the Sĩn Han Kok to attend at a meeting to
His
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