October 7, 1905.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
247
accounts, thus making an aggregate deficit of patriotism in the breasts of their Chinese | DES VOEUX ROAD FIRE INQUIRY. nearly two million taels.
▲ KIDNAPPING CASE.
A woman named Io Li-shi kidnapped a boy named Leong Awah in Wuchow and took the lad to Canton to sell. While walking along the Sha-ki-ta-kai street, close by the offices of the Imperial Maritime Customs, the couple un- expectedly met the lad's father, Leong Ah-shing. The latter, recognising his son, immediately gave the alarm. A big crowd: assembled and completely surrounded the trio pending ex planations. The Shameen Guard turned out and, after exchanging a few words with the lucky father, arrested the woman, who was immediately taken to the Nam-hoi magistracy, followed by the father and son.
THE RICE crop.
The second crop promises to be a good one, rain having been plentiful. The fields are now in good condition. The seventh and eighth moons have had their average rainfall and as the Chinese farmer holds that rain in the seventh moon is golden and that in the eighth silver, the "joss" is good.
2nd October.
THE CHUNG YANG FESTIVAL.
Saturday next the 9th day of the 9th Moon is the Chung Yang Festival. Great crowds of Chinese visit all the high monuments in town or go to the neighbouring mountains, as it is believed that good fortune is in store for those who get nearest to the heavens OD that auspicious day. The fige story pagoda and the bill on which stands the temple of the Goddess of Mercy are the favourite spots for those unable to leave town or too weak to climb the White Cloud Mountains.
A CURIOUS CUSTOM.
During the 8th and 9th Moons the different districts of Canton celebrate the feast of the God of Fire. The streets are lavishly decorated with lanterns, flowers and huge chandeliers which are brilliantly illuminated at night. A small theatre is erected in one of the shops which has to be demolished for that purpose. Every year a different shop is selected by lot and the district corporation pays the cost of refitting the shop after the celebrations are
огет.
VICEROY SHOM.
Viceroy Shum's health is now completely restored and although His Excellency is still on sick leave, he personally attends to all important matters.
3rd October,
JAPANESE IN KWANGTUNG.
}
patrons. Chinese booksellers' stalls are over- flo ing with Japanese books and pamphlets. An active propaganda of Japanese influence is made in all quarters of the town, and if the same activity is displayed in all the important centres of Chine, the Japanisation of this huge empire will at no distant date be a fait accompli.
CABINET MINISTERS.
Local authorities received private letters from Peking saying that two of the present Ministers of the Cabinet, viz: Wong Man Shui and Luk Cheung Lam are about to resign their posts on account of their opinions clashing with those of their colleagues. Most of the officials at the Capital recommend Viceroys Yuan Shih Kai, Shum Chun Shoun and Sik Liang to fill up the vacancies should they occur. According to general opinion Viceroys Yuan-Sbih Kai and Sik Liang will not be able to leave their posts, the former being at the head of the Pei-Yang army and the latter having the rebellion in the Sze-Chnen district to suppress. Most of the officials favour Viceroy Shum's appointment to the post as his hauds are practically free now that the rebellion in Kwang-si has been quelled.
Whereas two or three years ago but a few Japanese were to be found in this province there has since been a steady increase in their number. It was natural to expect that this rich southern emporium of China would sooner or later become a centre of Japanese activity. Signs are not wanting either, that the islanders have not been idle of late. The military colleges are entirely under Japanese management; over 20 instructors, all picked officers from the Japanese army, have been engaged within the last twelve months and are fast reorganising the southern army. The naval college at Whangpoa is also under Japanese supervision and a staff of Japanese teachers are instructing the numerous scholars who attend that institu- tion. The telephone exchange is in Japanese hands, and a Japanese adviser was attached for some time to the local Board of Education. Things Japanese are to be seen in every street. The war between Russia and Japan and the prestige gained by the victorions Japan has given an impetus to trade and created a demand for Japanese articles hitherto unknown on the market. The adoption of a semi-foreign uni- form by the military cadets has created a demand for caps (made in Japan of course) and ย new word has been added thereby to the Chinese vocabulary, the word Ki-pu. Lada and men who have uo conuection whatever with the military institutions are to be seen in the streets wearing this western heed-gear sup- plemented generally by a pair of foreign
MACAO.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
2nd October.
THE ROYAL BIRTHDAY.
our
The event passed off without much display on the 28th ultimo. At 9.30 in the morning there was the Te Deum in the Cathedral, and at 10.30 | H. E. the Governor held a reception at the Government House which was attended by all the officials and public servants, the consuls, and the commander and officers of the British torpedo boat destroyer Janus. Mr. Ponsonby, the private secretary of Sir Matthew Nathan, came over especially to congratulate Governor on behalf of your Governor. A guard of honour was posted in front of the Government House during the reception. At noou a royal salute was fired from the Monte Fort, and at 4 o'clock H. E. the Governor gave a garden party at Flora, which lasted till late. Though the weather was unfavourable, tennis was indulged in by a few ladies and gentlemen. They had to give it after a few games as rain began to fall in torrents.
shoes. It is curious to note that after so many years of constant intercourse with foreigners the adoption of these western forms of coiffure, etc., should be introduced through Japanes, influence Japanese Cinematographs and Dioramas are exhibiting war pictures calculated to rouse
up
THE FANCY FAIR.
The Fancy Fair of last Saturday and Sunday was not so successful as it deserved, the influx of patrons was not great, and a good many of the prizes were still on the stands at the time of the closing of the bazaar. The unfavourable weather was partly responsible for the non- success of the fair. I hear also that the object, for which the bazaar was promoted did not meet with the approval of a good many of the Macao residents, so that this also would account to a certain extent for its non-success.
THE EARTHQUAKE AGAIN. Another shock of earthquake was felt here at a quarter past twelve on Monday morning, but I have not heard of any damage done.
DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN RESIDENT.
On Satur1ay morning Mr. Fermino Machado Mendonça died after having been ill for some time. The deceased gentleman was employed by the Opium farmer, and was well-known and respected by many of his own countrymen and the Chinese. Mr. Machado was a member of the Leal Senado and of the Board of Directors of the Santa Casa de Misericordia. He leaves a widow, two daughters and a son to mourn his death.
DR. GOMES DA SILVA.
At the Magistracy on the 3rd October Mr. F. A. Hazeland resumed the inquiry into the circumstances of the recent fire in Des Voeux Road when the Cheong Lee furniture store was practically destroyed. Mr. H. W. Looker attended in the interests of the Fire Insurance Companies, and Mr. R. A. Harding watched the proceedings on behalf of the owner of the premise.
The manager of the Cheong Lee furniture shop was the next witness called. He stated he had no idea what caused the fire. The pre- mises were well stocked.
Dr. Gomes da Silva, our Colonial surgeon, is very
ill.
Under examination by Mr. Looker-He kept the sales book but the other books were kept by the firm. The accountant kept some, but he did not where he was. Witness subsequently admitted that he knew where the accountant was. Witness was subjected to a se rching examina- tion as to the method of keeping accounts which obtained in the firm, and was questioned as to his estimates of the goods destroyed by the fire. Althongh ten to twenty fokis usually slept on the premises, only the master and himself slept on the premises the night before the fire. Mos of the fokis had fled through fear of the plague or had succumbed to that disease. He had not a share in the business and when he wont to increase the insurance by $5,000 a month ago he did not tell the representative of the Insurance Company that he had a share in the business or that he was the master. At this stage an objection was taken to communication passing between Mr. Harding and a witness outside.
An Italian seaman, whose ship had been captured by the Japanese during the war and who had been detained in that country till May, was brought up on the charge of being a vagrant. "No work, no money, no nothing was his plaint, and he was committed to the House of Detention, pending the time when he would be sent home by the Italian Consul.
to
go
His Worship-I can't allow solicitors clerks out during the case to speak to witnesses. Mr. Looker-It is a most opprobrious, practice.
Inspector Warnock-It is a witness who bas been asked for.
Mr. Har ling-No, it is the master. His Worship-The witness has a right to be in court.
The examination of wilness was. then resumed.
The inquiry was again adjourned,
The inquiry into the circumstances of the recent fire at the Chenag Les furniture store was resumed on the 5th October before Mr. F. A. Hazeland. Mr. H. W. Looker appeared for the Fire Insurance Companies interested,
and Mr. Beavis watched the interests of the owner of the shop.
The master, recalled, stated that on the first and second floors of both houses were stored the furniture, and that on the second floor the men~- were engaged making pieces of furniture. Some of the men slept there and some on the verandah. Some of the workmen used to sleep on the floor of No. 31 before they ran away. The second floor was as full of furniture as the first. He paid the fokis their wages before they ran away. He attempted to persuade them to stay, but they would not stay. He could not remember whether any wages were owing to the fokis before they ran away. Witness was told to look at the books. Most of the fokis who ran away had overdrawn their wages. There was some electric plate on the first floor, certainly not more than ten pieces.
Mr. Looker-How is it, when you have such a hazy idea of what the premises contained, you are so definite as to the amount of damage ?
Witness-It is ouly approximate.Į.
Mr. Looker-You say the damage amounted to 20,000 and when we ask for details you, cannot furnish them.
Witness I cannot remember every article. Mr. Looker-You are not asked to.
Witness added that the value of the goods damaged on the first floor was over 81,000 and on the second floor was between $2,000 and $3,000. The goods on the ground floors were samples. Both floors were fully stocked. He could have placed more there but the appear- ance would not have been improved. The samples were all finished articles, every one being ready for sale.
Mr. Looker I put it to you that the bulk of farsiture of this description on the ground floors was in a very unfinished condition and the larger portion of it unvarnished and unpolished and in the rough ?
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