November 18, 1905.]
quantity of rice by auction in the Sam-Wai. Hang Godown at Fa-ti, The Sui-cheong firm was the highest bidder and the rice was knocked down to them. A certain sum as birgain money was deposited immediately in the hands of A. V. Rozario. Last week the Sui-cheong firm went to take delivery of the rice but Rozario refused to deliver the cargo. The Sui-oheong firm have addressed a petition to Vicery Shum about the matter. The Viceroy has replied as follows:
"The Sui-cheong being the highest bidder is entitled to the goods and Messrs. Siemisen and Co. did not act properly in refusing to deliver the cargo to them, as the Sui-cheong firm had acquired their rights by paying bargain money. I have also learned that this case has already been laid before the German Consul who has promised to request Messrs. Siemssen and Co. to pay back double the amount of the bargain money deposited. If you insist on the goods being delivered to you it would lead to a lawsuit which would entail a lot of trouble and expense. You should go to the German Consul and request him to press Messrs. Siemssen and Co. to pay you back double the amount of the bargain
money.
15
TO STOP PIRACY.
In accordance with the new regulations all steam launches, and towing junks are to stop at all the military stations en route to be searched for firearms. One of the stations on the Fatshan river has reported to Viceroy Shum that the junks Yuen Kee and Hang Kee, which were being towed by steam launches, had refused to stop to be searched. Viceroy Shum has in-. structed the Commissioner of Customs to seizo these two vessels for not complying with the regulations.
6th November.
EMPRESS DOWAGER'S BIRTHDAY. A great banquet was held to-day at the Pa- Chi-Hui-Kuan in honour of the Empress Dowager's birthday. Numerous invitations had been sent to the prominent members of the foreign community. Two gunboats were placed at the disposal of the foreign guests. About thirty foreigners responded to the invitation, and a special landing was erected in front of the Pa-Chi-Hin-Kuan. The guests were received by a guard of honour, and the regimental trumpeters and drummers, who played an appropriate air as the guests marched through the entrance court towards the Reception Hall; where they were received by provincial officials. Tiffin was served in 8 lavishly decorated dining room. The table was double "T" shaped and laid out in foreign style. The scene was gorgeous with native and foreign uniforms. H. E. the Tartar-General presided, Viceroy Shum being unavoidably absent owing to illness.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
were anxious to introduce reforms, and that the abolition of promotions through the literary examination, hitherto resorted to, showed the earnestness of purpose of Their Majesties to modernise China. Onen Taolai asked the Chinese officials to drink to the health and happiness of the Foreign Sovereigns and to the prosperity of all the nations represented at the banquet.
7th November.
LINCHOW MASSACRE ENQUIRY, I am informed that Won Taotai has been ordered by Viceroy Shum to proced to Linehow to investigate the sad affair. I understand Wen Taotai is going there with the American Consul General, and Mr. Suewin, Reuter's correspondent. The party is leaving Canton this afternoon or to-morrow morning.
The following guests attended the Banquet Mr. Huygen (Consul for Holland), Mr. Solange. Teyssier (Asting Consul for France), Dr. Walter (German Vice Consul), Mr. Zundel (Consul for Mexico), Commissioner Mayers, Deputy-Com- missioner Russell, Dr. Davenport, Dr. Dupuy, Dr. Shelby, Dr. Razlag. Professor Leach, Profes- sor Martel, Professor Heinberg, Mr. Dupuy, Attache of the French Consulate, Mr. Wyon (of the Canton Mint), Mr. Laprentz, Mr. Beat, Mr. Snewin, Reuter's Correspondent, Mr. Lindt, Adviser to the Canton-Hankow Railway Co., Lt. Noble, Commander of the Moorhen, Lt. de Vaisseau Jeannel, Commander of the Argus, Mr. Ogawa (Professor of Japanese at the Imperial College), the Director of the Telephone Co., and the Japanese Military Officers and Instructors of the Military College.
Amongst the prominent military and civil officials present were : H. E. The Tartar. General H. E. the Provincial Treasurer, H. E. The ex Hoppo of Canton, Ouen Tsotai, Wei Teotai, and Magistrate Shneh, foreign secretaries of His Excellency Viceroy Shum. The Prefect, Nam Hoi and Pun-Ya Magistrates, Admiral Cheong, General Li and other official heads of the dif- ferent Government institutions of Canton. Dr. Walter proposed the toasts of the Emperor and Empress Dowager and called for thres cheers and a tiger. Ouen Taotsi responded, thanking those present for honouring the function by their presence. In the course of his speech he mentioned the departure of the Special Mission as a sign that Their Majesties
NINETY-THREE INCOMPETENTS.
Sometime ago Viceroy Shum memorialized the throne against forty civil and fifty-three military officials declaring them to be avar- icious and incompetent. On the 1st inst. a telegraph edict was received by Viceroy Shum authorizing him to deal with these officials in accordance with the memorial despatched. That is to say that Viceroy Shum is empowered to cashier, banish, degrade or temporarily dismiss them from the service. They are of all ranks.
MILITARY COLLEGE OPENED.
The new Two Kwang Military College was formally opened on the 4th inst.
EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT,
The Lieut.-Colonel at Ching-Yuen has shot himself by accident. It is said that to amuse himself be fired a shot at some hard substance, the bullet rebounded and struck him in the chest, and he has since died.
THE PATH OF REHABILITATION.
The provincial judge, Ching Yu-lok, who was degraded three steps for showing leniency towards Deputy Cheong who had tortured au innocent prisoner to death, has now been recommended to the Throne by Viceroy Shum for promotion. The Viceroy states in his memorial that Ching Yu-lok is an honest and competent official, having managed to save an important sum of money for the Govern ment Ching will be granted an Imperial audience and no doubt will be restored to his former rank.
BRAVE VILLAGERS.
A baud of 150 robbers attacked on the 31st
I
ultimo the Lin-Chi-Tong village and ransacked many houses, The villagers showed fight, however, and chased the robbers, capturing three of them. The robbers retreated towards the Leung Ho village, where two more were captured. The villagers chased these desperadoes as far as the Fatshan railway station, where they dispersed. One of the villagers was wounded in the melee. If resistance was shown in every village visited by robbers their number
would soon diminish.
NEW DAILY PAPER FOR CANTON,
A new native newspaper will shortly appear here. It will be called the Kok-Chi-Po. The first issue will be published on or about the 20th inst.
AN INTERESTING SIEGN.
A large band of robbers arrived in the Sin- Tong village by two steam launches and entered the principal pawnshop of the place. As they were about to leave the villagers arrived in great numbers and surrounded the building. A railway station being close by, a message was immediately sent to the nearest military station, by the railway telegraph. A strong force soon arrived on the scene and are assisting the villagers to capture the robbers. Three of the robbers, who attempted to force their way through the ring of soldiers and villagers, were captured. The others have barricaded them- selves in the pawnshop and will not come out. On the other hand, the besiegers are afraid to go in. The steam launches left as soon as they saw there was going to be trouble and the robbers will no doubt be starved out of their fortress. The position is curious, indeed, and typically Chinese.
8th November.
VOLUNTEERS FOR CANTON,
337
decided to sanction the creation of a Volunteer Corp. He sent a despatch to the provincial judge instructing him to consult with the gentry to find suitable quarters for the men. The Viceroy has subsoribed Tla. 2,000, the Treasurer $1,000, the Salt Commissioner $1,000, The provincial judge $5,000, the Canton prefect Tls. 1,000 and the keeper of the temple of the Guardian Spirit of the city $1,000. These sums will be used for the equipment and main- tenance of the corps in Canton. The Govern- ment will make good any deficit arising through insufficiency of funds. The Viceroy adds that the matter must be taken up without delay. Members of the gentry, acting as directors, will receive taels 30 each for chair hire expenses. The magistrates of the different districts are instructed to raise money from their respective districts and to form a local volunteer corps.
THE LINCHOW MURDER. American Consul Lay and party have not yet left Canten; they are leaving to-morrow. In connection with this sensational case I am in- formed that an Imperial edict has been received to-day from Peking, ordering that the Linchow prefect be degraded at once and that he be allowed ten days to have all the murderers arrested, failing which he will be further dealt with. The taotais of Nam Hung Chao, Shui- Chow-Fu and Linchow will, no doubt, be involved also.
KING'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS. Preparations are actively being made for the celebration of the King's birthday. Invita tions have already been issued and an elaborate programme has been prepared for the sports that are to be held on the Tennis grounds. Owing to the difficulty of laying a convenient floor for daucing, the Al Fresco Ball has been unavoidably postponed. I understand it will be given in the new ball-room of the Shameen Club Theatre, when the building is completed.
NATIVE HOSPITAL FOR CANTON, It is reported that Lau-Luk-Hang and other doctors who hold European diplomas are initiat- ing a movement for the construction of a native hospital in Canton on foreign lines. A meeting was held yesterday in the Canton Chamber of Commerce to which the leading merchants and gentry mere invited, and a committee was appointed.. The gentry and merchants unanimously approved the scheme and have promised to give their assistance and support. It is hoped that funds will be promptly raised and the building of the hospital commenced at an early date.
As acts of brigandage are of frequent occur rence and the province generally is infested with robbers and bad characters, Viceroy Shum'
SPORT ON THE SHAMEEN.
The new recreation grounds laid out on the Shameen are being will patro: ized. A football match was played yesterday and a hookey match will be played on Saturday nex'. A tennis handicap is also on the cards, while the croqust handicap final was played off yesterday after. Mr. J. Pro'on, a popular member of the French community here, was the winner; he was loudly cheered.
noon.
THE LINCHOW MASSACRE.
9th November. Viceroy Shum bas reported this affair to the Peking authorities by telegraph. H.E. has now received intructions from the Wai-Wa-' Pu to take immediate action in view of the seriousness of the affair, and to have the guilty parties punished, officials and commoners to be treated alike.
The Wai-Wu-Pu farther in. structs the Viceroy to prevent any disturbances arising through the boycott. It is said that four missionaries have left for Linghow to bring the wounded back. Dr. Machle and Miss Patterson arrived here this morning. Accounts of the origin of the affair are more conflicting than ever.
CHINESE LUNATICS FROM HONGKONG...
The Kwongchow prefoot and the Nam-Hoi and Pun Ya magistrates have petitioned Viceroy Shum with reference to the insane Chinese that are sent back to Canton by the Hongkong Government. H. E. has appointed Shueh Yung Nien to settle the matter with H. B. M's Consul-General here. All the lunatics sent to Canton from Hongkong will be forwarded in future to Fong-ohnen where there is an asylum for such people. Five dollars per month will be paid per head to the asylum for the lunatics' maintenance, and seven dollars will be allowed for the burial expenses of
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