338
those dying in the asylum. Should the num-¡ ber of insane sent not exceed ten the Nam-hoi and Pun-yu magistrates will defray expenses. Should the number of patients exceed that figure the expenses will be borne by the Sin- Hau-Kuk.
ANOTHER MISSIONARY AFFAIR.
In Kai-Ma-Tong village, in the Pan-yn dis- trict, a German missionary was recently pre- vented by the people to teach doctrine in the protestant church of that village The church was surrounded by the mob who were armed with a variety of weapons and a serious affair was averted by the timely action of the Fa-yuen magistrate who, having learnt that the German missionary was being starved out in the be- sieged church, immediately sent a strong body of soldiers, to deliver him from his dangerous position. The German missionary was subse- quently removed to the church at Toi-Hang, and the mob dispersed. It is reported that the Pun-yu and Fa-yuen magistrates are searching for the leaders of the affair to cause them to be arrested. The matter having been reported to Viceroy Shum, His Excellency has given instructions to Pun Yu Magistrate to protect at once the church and property of the mission at the above-named village.
A BOYCOTT ARMISTICE.
The
Several of the leading American merchants of Hongkong and Canton being desirous of coming to an understanding with the boycott committee have expressed their desire to the members of that association by letter. boycott committee have replied accepting the proposition to discuss matters in view of a settlement of the boycott question, and have promised to select a meeting place after the 11th inst.
A POLITICAL SCARE.
It is reported that Viceroy Shum has issued a proclamation forbidding the boycott agitation, cartoons, etc., and warning the people not to interfere with or do harm to missionaries.
PAKHOI.
[November 13, 1905.
COMPANIES.
OF CANTON, LD,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
concerned, one might find them engaged in all sorts of callings, but the former are occupied in actual plunder. Most of the inactive members, it is true, were forced to enlist under threat, THE UNION INSURANCE SOCIETY but they are nevertheless as dangerous as their active brethren at times of disturbance. big gathering took place about two months ago in an eating house, where they were being intertained at lunch by a leader. When the authorities got wind of the affair the gathering was dispersed. There were over one hundred of them at that meeting.
A NEW CHAPEL.
A
The foundation stone of the Church Mission- ary Society's new Chapel is going to be laid on the 22nd instant. Mrs. E. B. Beauchamp, the widow of the late Rev. Mr. Beauchamp, is to perform the ceremony. The chapel is attached to the east end of the Mission House.
SHANGHAI'S POPULATION.
A census taken at Shanghai on October 14 shows the foreign population to be made up as follows. The increase in Japanese is remarkable. In 1900 there were only 736, and in 1895, 250. British in 1900 numbered 2,691. The figures given do not include the French settlement.
British
Japanese Portuguese Americau German... French
Danish Norwegiau Swedish
Swiss
3,713 2,157 1,329
991
785
393
Russian..
354
Austro-Hungarian
158
Italian
148
Spanish...
146
121
93
80
80
Dutch
58
Belgian
48
Greek
32
Turkish
26
Roumanian
12
Brazilian
Venezuelan
November 7th.
Indian
568
Malay, &c.
171
Corean
Persian... Sundry
6
3
Total
11,497
(From our coRRESPONDENT.)
A FATAL ERROR.
A piratical craft, emboldened by several successful coups, the last of which had been committed on the 23rd ult. between this port and Hamchow, on a firewood junk, came across the guard-boat No. 6, named Hong Kwok- cheong on the evening of the 24th ult. Mis- taking her for an ordinary trading junk, the pirates tried to board her, but the guard-boat gave them such a hot reception that the marauders turned and fled. The guard-boat in turn chased and captured the pirate boat, where sixteen pirates were found on board, out of a crew of over twenty. The remainder had escaped by jumping overboard, in which attempt they must have been drowned, as the night was exceptionally dark. The guard-boat, with the junk in tow, arrived here on the 27th alt. The prisoners were landed and forthwith escorted to Limehow to take their trial. On
board the pirate junk several hundred dollars' worth of stolen goods were found, including fishing nets, wearing apparel, blankets, a few hundred strings of cash, etc. These goods were offered for sale at a cheap price later on.
LIMCHOW JAILS, --
It is reported that the prisoners lodged in Limehow jails are accumulating in great numbers, and provision must soon be made for dealing with them as they are a great burden on the Government purse. Not a few are charged with serions crimes. Executions of prisoners happens now very seldom, while culprits from this port and other districts under the prefeo- ture are being sent over almost daily. It is reported that the present sub-prefect is either too conscientious or he lacks energy.
THE TRIAD SOCIETY.
SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF GAME, ETC., IN CHINA.
A special meeting of this Society was held at Shanghai on Oct. 31.
The Society was started in 1899 and has, with the energetic assistance of Mr. Rocher, Commissioner of Customs in Shanghai at that time, been the means of inducing the authorities to prohibit the export of pheasant skins. The Society has also done good work in impressing upon the Municipal Council the importance, from a food supply point of view, of regulating the sale of game in the Municipal Markets, and establishing a close season as far as sale was concerned.
Mr. W. V. Drummond mentioned the fact that steamers leaving Shanghai often took quantities of game away from the port in the middle of summer-in the breeding season. He suggested that moral pressure be brought to bear upon the agents or representatives of such steamers.
After a short discussion, Mr. W. D Little proposed and Mr. Cecil Holliday seconded: That the Society be dissolved and that the funds in hand be handed to the Shanghai Gun Clab with a request that they accept the same and therewith endeavour to carry out the objects for which the Society was formed.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
It is reported that the members of this nefarious society here and in the surrounding villages have never been so numerous as at present. This port is said to be full of them, Mesars. Hartigan, Marple, Rhode, and And the authorities seem to be unable to dis-Guitierrez, a Manila law firm, receive for tinguish them from the law-abiding_section of 'defending in a land claim the sum of 200,000 the population. They are composed of active pesos. This, says the Cablenews, is the biggest and inactive members. As far as the latter are fee ever paid to lawyers in the Philippines.
An extraordinary general meeting of members of this society was held at noon on Nov. 4th at the offices of the society, Queen's Buildings. There were present: Messrs. H. W. Blade (Chairman), A. G. Wood, N. A. Siebs, A. Forbes and S. H. Medhurst (directors), W. G. Saunders (secretary), J. Y. V. Vernon, F. D. Goddard, A, B. Rouse, C. M. G. Burnie, J. A. Jupp, W. H. Gaskell, F. P. Hett, J. C. Peter, H. M. Tibbey, H. Carvalho and Ho Fook.
The SECRETARY read the notice convening the meeting, also the resolution which has been published concerning the proposed amalgama- tion with the China Traders' Insurance Com-
pany.
+
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the adoption of the resolution said-Gentlemen, the special resolution which you have just heard read may seem to you rather long and somewhat difficult to comprehend, but it has been carefully settled by our legal advisers, and when studied it is really very simple. Reduced to ordinary phrases it practically means that the society takes power to enter into partnership arrangements with other marine insurance companies, to purchase shares in such com. panies, and generally to invest in such manner as may be determined. We have already in our articles of association an investment clause which is a sufficiently full one and would seem at first sight to authorise the pur- chase of shares in other marine insurance companies, but we are advised that it is very doubtful if this authority is valid unless also conferred by the memorandum of association, and we, therefore, seek to alter our memorandum by adding to the objects of the Society the further objects detailed in the resolution. While our main reason for seeking these additional powers is to put our- selves in a position to purchase for the Society the shares of th China Traders' Insurance Company and to carry out the scheme referred to in the circular letters issued to the Society's shareholders under the dates of the 29th August and the 17th October last, yet, quite apart from this scheme and whether it be carried through or not, we think it very necessary that, we should have these powers and that all doubt as to the validity of our investment clause should be removed. It will not be out of place, how- ever, if I take this opportunity of saying a few words with reference to this proposal to pur- chase the shares, or rather the majority of the shares, of the China Traders' Insurance Com- pany. Although our circulars of the 29th August and the 11th October were very care- fully worded and set out the proposal in precise terms, yet there seems to be a good deal of misapprehension in the minds of the general public as to what will be the actual effect of the spheme when carried through. First I may say that although the interests of the two com- panies may be amalgamated there is under the soheme no amalgamation of the two companies themselves. Each will retain its constitution unimpaired with its own articles of association, its own seal and its own board of directors. Each, we hope, will retain its constituency un- impaired. Those that now insure with the China Traders need not cease to insure with the China Traders because the Society be comes a shareholder in that Company. They will still be able to get China Traders' policies and all their contracts with that Company will remain in full force. It is true that in Hong- kong, in London, in Shanghai or in Yokohama they may have to come to a different door and find a different man at the receipt of custom, but that will be all the difference, and in other places where there are mercantile agencies we hope that these will continue to do the business of the two companies in just the same way as at present. We further hope to make such arrangements that it will be quite immaterial to everybody concerned (whether shareholders or constituents of either company), as to which company does the business. The idea is that with one set of premises and one staff instead of two sets of premises and two separate staffs
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