February 24, 1906.j
did not s
Manila, but remained in Hong- kong. She had paid plaintiff on account a sum of $400, and also signed an I.O.U. for a certain sum, part of which they were now claiming.
Mr. Grist said he had filed a special defence in the action. They had paid 865 into court without admitting legal liability.
After hearing the evidence, his Lordship gave judgment for the defendant with costs, and ordered the money paid into court to be paid out.
CANTON,
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT).
Feb. 16th.
CFINESE EDITORS BEPRIMANDED.
Yesterday the Nam-Hoi and Poon-Yu Magistrates sont invitation cards to all the editors of the local press, to attend at a private meeting to be held at the Nam Hoi Magistracy. It is rumoured that they have received instruc- tions from the Viceroy to reprimand them for their hostile attitude against the Government in connection with the recent tronbles about the railway.
DR. BEATTIE'S ASSAILANTS.
Capt. Lan Kai-cheong sent a force of braves in charge of a petty officer Ho Tin-leong to Fa-Ti to search for the robbers who recently ransacked Dr. Beattie's house. Information having reached Ho that the gang was in hiding at Shek-Wai-Tong, he immediately went to the place indicato i with twenty braves and surrounded the house. A fight ensued, during which guns and revolvers wore freely used. Four of the gang were ultimately captured and are now at the military station awaiting trial. Another gang entered last night a mission house close to r. Beattie's residence. After looking over the premises they left without taking anything away with them.
At about 11 o'clock last night a robber was caught at the French Consulate. He was in hiding un er the roof. The Viceroy will no doubt give short shrift to these desperadoes, who are becoming more and more daring.
MR. LAI'S RELEASE.
I have just telegraphed to you that Lai Kwai- pui's release has been ordered by Imperial Edict It is rumoured that the Viceroy used the follow- ing stratagem to bring this about without losing face. He got the ex-President of the Chamber of Commerce, a man called Tso, to petition to the Throne, saying that Lai regretted what he had done and praying that he be released and his rank and titles returned to him. The petition purported to represent the wish the Chamber of Commerce, hence the issuing of the Imperial Edict
Lai Kwai-pui will be released this afternoon and will receive a grand send-off from his prison. He will be received afterwards at the Chamber of Commerce with great ceremony.
February 17th.
LAI KWAI-PUI'S TRIUMPH.
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Lai Kwai-pui was arrested on January 12th and was released yesterday (Feb. 16th). On the previous night, the Nam Hoi Magistrate and a deputy named Ting Nai-ching went to the place of his confinement and informed him that, in reply to a cable sent by Viceroy Shum on the 13th it, an Imperial Edict was received ordering his release. Lai Kwai-pni calmly replied that, as it was late, it would be incon- venient for him to leave that night. The Nam Hol replied that there was a obair ready outside. The prisoner objected that was not prepared to go, as he had not yet written his statement. The embarrassed Nam Hoi and the deputy implored him to leave, and Lai hal to telephone to the Provincial Judge for permission to remain. This being granted, the Nam Hoi and the deputy left. The next day at 2 p.m. the members of the Chamber of Commerce, the 72 guilds and an immerse crowd of gentry and merchants went to meet him - and escorted him as planned beforehand to the General Chamber of Commerce. He WAS cheered all the way and thousands of dollars worth of orackers were exploded en route,
SAVING FACE.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
railway scheme was a sign of repentance. Although Lai had slandered the Government. and so deserved his punishment, his repentance and encouragement of the people to subscribe for railway shares entitled him to clemency, and as the people desired his release, he (the Viceroy) wished to free him. If he continued his present good behaviour, the Viceroy would memorialise for his restoration to rank. If he failed to raise the necessary capital (and "the money said to be actually subscribed tas not been submitted to me for inspection "), or again incited the people to disobedience, he should be severely punished.
February 19th.
A GERMAN LOAN.
Some time ago Viceroy Shum cabled to the Board of Revenue in Peking requesting that permission be granted to him to borrow a certain sum of money (Tls. 10,000,000; from German merchants to carry out varions pablic works in the Kwangtung Frovince. The Board of Revenue refused its sanction.
It appears that after sending their reply to Viceroy Shum a conference of the Minister of the Board of Revenue and the Chancellor of the Exchequer took place. They re-considered the matter, and the result was that a telegram was despatched to Viceroy Shum granting him permission to borrow five million taels from foreigners. But the Viceroy is requested to state from what revenue he intends to draw the money necessary to redeem the loin.
A JAPANESE ENTERPRISE STOPPED. A Japanese merchant, Sugiyama, recently opened an insu ance office in the Shun Tak district, proposing to insure crops against damage. The district magistrate, having reported the matter to the Viceroy, an official despatch was sent to the Japanese Consul in Hongkong, requesting him to order his subject to close the business, Shun Tak not being a treaty port. The Consul has complied with the Viceroy's request and has ordered Sugiyama to close his business.
IMPERIAL GIFTS,
The messenger sent by Viceroy Shum to carry new year greetings to the Throne has returned and has brought to the Viceroy various presents, including tablets written by the Imperial hand, a fur coat, and a silk robe.
Feb. 20th.
ANOTHER RAILWAY LOAN,
148
"I have reported that on the 16th inst. the British Consul General here sent a despatch to Viceroy Shum requesting him to temporarily cease enforcing the new increase of the opium tax until the question was decided upon by the two Governments. The Viceroy, in reply, said that the tax ou prepared opium was enforced in the Kwangtung Province since the 10th year of Kwang-Han. A Government bureau was then established collecting the tax but that in the 25th year of Kwang-Hsu it was farmed by the monopolist Wing On-tong. All your predecessors and your honourable Consul General did not protest. In the 28th year of Kwang Hsu, this monopoly was given to the Kwang Hing Company and instead of granting the privilege to this concern to tax prepared opium the government gave them the privilege to tax the crude opium imported to Kwangtung in order tɔ enable the monopolist to collect the fullest amount of duty as it would be difficult for the monopolist to obtain the full amount of the tax after game is imported to be turned into prepared opium. The above appeared to be a double taxation on crute opium. That was the first time we received a letter from your honourable Consul saying that you had received instructions from your respect. able Minister that it was in contravention to the Chefoo Treaty and requested us to stop the tax. The present operation of the pre- pared opium tax is to issue licences to the shops that boil orude opium and sell it in its prepared condition. These shops have been requested to rake out a licence, and pay a tax for the privileges or licence. Therefore, we are not collecting tax on crude opium, and in that case it does not concern the Chefoo Treaty in the slightest way. Not only has this tax been enforced in this province for a long time, but it has also boen enforced in various other provinces. It is now very difficult to give instructions to stop it. You, honourable Consul-General, have been in Kwangtung for many years. Heretofore you have been known as just and equitable, and, - therefore, I am sure you will overlook this matter. This is in reply to your despatch, and I bag to enquire after your health. This is my despatch.
VICEROY SHUMËS REASONABLENESS. Viceroy Shum writes to the Tartar General and Literary Chancellor that the reported popular sabscriptions to the railway funds are all empty talk, and nothing substantial has been pr、 Tød, i he is doubtful if all the ospital require will be forthcoming, as no doubt mach that has been promised will not be paid. But
A Peking telegram received here states that Viceroy Chang Chih-tung has memorialized the Throne to raise far ber funds from British merchants (or Hongkong Govern-personally, so long as the capital is forthcoming, he does not care how. He is not in love with ment?) for the construction of the Canton his own taxation scheme. Hankow Railway. The former agreement entered into by him and the Government for the loan of £1,000,000 was very fairly drawn up, and the terms in that agreement were very satisfactory to both contracting parties.
NEW MILITARY COILEGE.
The Governor's yamen is to be transformed iuto a large military college. It was formerly occupied by the head office of the police, who moved out a few days ago. The construction of the college has already commenced. It is estimated that the total cost will amount to about $400,000.
*
FLOUR FROM SHANGHAI,
Viceroy Shum has received a petition from the Fan-Tung Co. in Shanghai (Chinese Flour Mill Co.) stating that they are exporting their flour to Kwangtung Province and requesting Customs him to give instructions to the authorities not to charge 1 kin and Customs dues in accordance with the regulations of the Board of Commerce, which provides that necessaries of life manufactured in China are free from duty. The Viceroy has issued instructions to the Customs and likiu stations not to tax this flour.
February 21st.
VICEROY RECOMMENDED FOR PROMOTION.
Viceroy Shum has received a telegram from Peking informing him that his name has been inscribed on the records of the Censorate, with a note to the effect that he has rendered good services to the State and deserves promotion. This list is presented to the Throue every three years by the Board of the Censors.
CANTONESE STUDENTS' STRIKE, A letter received from Peking announces that all the Cantonese students there are on strike as a protest against the action taken by Viceroy Shum in connection with the railway affairs, and that they have requested the In- spector General of Colleges, Chang, to memori alize the Throne on their behalf and state their grievance.
A BIG SUBSCRIPTION. The Chamber of Commerce has received cablegram from Singapore stating that two very wealthy Chinese, surnamed Cheang and Wong, of the Keiling Islands, have subsoribed for $12,400,000 worth of shares between them.“ They would like to have official confirmation that the merchants alone will control the con- A large junk plying between Fatishan and Canton, carrying, amongst other valuable mer-struction of the line before they remit the chandise, 300 bales of fine Fat-shan hemp, was
money to Canton/ looted by pirates on the 17th inst. The pirates made good their escape and no arrest hai yet been made.
MORE PIRACY.
THE OPIUM TAX.
The Viceroy's petition for his prisoner's The secretary of Viceroy Sham sent the release was a cunningly we ded document. It following reply to H. B. M's. Consul General, pointed out that Lai's constant exhortations who had written about the increased tex on -from his prison to his friends to prosecute the ́ ́ opium:
KWANG-SI TROUBLES.
The Central Government has cabled t Viceroy Shum to send a large army to que - the rising in Kwang-si and to furnish a list of all the officials who have showed themselves incapable during the last campaign in Kwang- si, so that they may be cashiered.
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