April 2, 1906.1
FRENCH CONVENT PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.
HIS RXCELLENCY'S PET SUBJECT.
必
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
you know what pleasure it gives me to come to the quiet and peace within these walls where one forgets for a few minutes the rush of business and pleasure outside. I think the children are very fortunate who get their train- ing here under such good influences, and with such a bright example as they have before them in the sisterhood's lives. After all, if the world` is improving it must be by conscientionsness, and this conscientiousness, which is working for others rather than for oneself is what is taught here. The children must remember, however, that if they want to help others when they grow up in the same way as they have been helped themselves, they mast not grow up ignorant, but work hard at their lessons, remembering "En travaillant pour soi on travaille aussi pour les autres. The old saying that power comes from knowledge applies just as much to the power to do good as to the power devoted to more worldly purposes. I don't propose, ladies and gentlemen, to refer in detail to the work of the school here, but I should like to say that I hope at the next examination in hygiene the French Con- rent will take a higher place than it has done this year. The most pressing need of our Colony is that it should be more healthy that we should be spared these visitations of plague and smallpox such as we now suffer from, and that the men and women of the Colony should be strong to resist disease. We must all work for that end, and the part of the French Convent is to teach the ohildren bere the laws of health. There is ano ber subject which it is peculiarly fitting should be well taught in the French- Convent that is the French language. The more people know of each other and understand each other, the batter they will love each other, and the easier it is for them to converse together the better they will learn to under. stand each other. Of course besides that important advantage of learning the Freuch language here, there is another less important but still real, and that is that it is the most beautiful language spoken in the world. Lalies and gentlemen, the school is honoured to-day first of all by the presence for the first time of His Lordship the Bishop, and ther by the presence of the Admiral commanding the French fleet in the Far East. I am sure we, and the Mother Superior and the sisters and children all feel greatly honoured by His Excellency's presence amongst us, and I shall mark my own sense of his kindness in visiting this British institution at Hongkong by presenting my special prize on this occasion to the child who has done best in her French studies-Miss Jessie Marchant (applause).
H.E, the Governor presided at the annual prize distribution of the Isle de la Ste Enfance held in the convent on March 29th. The Rt. Rev. Bishop Pozzoni was seated on his right and Admiral Richards, of the French navy, on his left. Amongst others present were Mr. R. A. B. Ponsonby, private secretary to His Excellency, Mr. G. Liebert, Rev. Bro. Sylvester, director of St. Joseph's College, and a number of French officers and priests.
After an overture, Miss E. Rendle made the following address,-Your Excellency, your Lordship, Ladies and gentlemen. The return of prize-giving day is to us, the scholars of the French Convent, a very happy event and one we look forward to with great pleasure and much interest, for it crowns our past work with success and stimulates as to friendly rivalry in the future. We are deeply honoured by the presence of your Excellency here to-day. In sparing a portion of your very valuable time to take an interest in our school it shows that you are deeply interested in the welfare of the children of the Colony, and are pleased with the progress they make in their education. It is then with much gratitude I am trying to fulfil the honour allotted me by the Rev. Mother of expressing her heartfelt thanks to your Excellency for your kind attendance to-day, and for the leading part you are taking I have also to express the Rev. Mother sincere thanks to your Lordship for your first appearance at our prize distribution, and to you, ladies and gentlemen, the honour you have conferred on the Rev. Mother, the teachers and. the scholars. We have prepared a little entertainment to show our appreciation of your kind interest in the school, and if you will remain to witness it we shall be delighted. In conclusion, I trust I have conveyed to you the deep gratitude of our Rev. Mother, the sisters and my fellow scholars for your kind interest and presence, and our united prayer is that the bounteous gifts of our Almighty Father, which are extended to the good and kind hearted, will be yours, and that He will bless all of you and yours and guide and direct you in the future.
for
His Excellency was then presented with the address, and a lengthy musical programme such as is rarely heard by those who attend prize distributions was proceeded with. Most of the songs were rendered in French, while the
mario of French composers was naturally strongly in evidence. The skill with which the performers accomplished their allotted tasks speaks volumes for the excellent taition of the sisters.
After the report of the Inspector of Schools on the convent had been read, the prizes were distributed, a noticeable feature in the distribu- tion being the adorning of the more successful pupils with a laurel crown.
After the playing of the National Anthem His Excellency inspected the Convent, and before leaving prevailed on the Reverend Mother to grant the scholars a holiday until Monday.
CANTON.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
DEAREE RICE.
March 24th,
The children who received prizes were:- Vara Davies, Jack Patterson, Edward Pereira, The price of rice is increasing here. During Frank Dixon, Nellie Knight, Mabel Musso, the first moon, rice could be bought at one dollar Kartoon-Rumjahn, Frida Davies, Zaithoon for 20 catties (Ist olass), or for 27 catties (2nd Ramjahn, George White, Louis Lecour, Kath class). Now, with the same amount the people leon Hardwick, May Badcock, Dorothy Hard- can only get 18 catties (1st class) or 25 catties wick, Elfrida Dizon. Amina Madar, Ada O'Brien, | (2nd class). The increase is due to the report that Fook Chi, Noel White, Dorothy Murray, Florin Shanghai, Mo-n and Chan Kiang a discussion ence Kebler, Mabel Cotton, May Leonard, is on to forbid the exportation of rice. It is Lizzie Leonard..Tani Mei Ngo, Maria Theresa also due to the fact that Kwangsi merchants are Jalyan, Julia Loyzaga, Jubeda Arab, Louise buying rice from the rice shops in Sha-Kee Tai Chapman, Andrés Lecceur, Dermot Dixon, Kai, and are offering good prices. Flora Knight, Mandy White, Winnie White, Halima Madar, Kathleen Coyls, Grace Phil. potts, Jessie Marchant, Marguerite Paques, Grace Murray, Leontine Ellis, Grace Ellis, Carmen Loyzaga, Pepita Kahler, Kathleen O'Sullivan, Florence Murray, Alice Tayler, Elsie Rendle, Maggie Hoskins, Connie Jorge Louis Leomar, Tani Mei Ngo, Flora Knight, Louise Chapman, Kathleen Coyle, Grace Ellis, Leontine Ellis, Julia Loyzaga, Carmen Loyzaga, Esmes Woodcock, Gwendoline Woodcock, Renés Galluasi, Marie Rozaric, Hilda Cabral Aids Alves, and Winnie McNeill.
After the presentation His Excelleney said,— Bor. Mother, I think you know when you asked me to give the prizes here today that I should accept your invitation very readily, for
IMPUDENT SMUGGLERS,
The Customs have a revenue boat cruising in the vicinity of Nam Shik Toa. It is there for the special purpose of preventing smuggling. Recently this boat received a threatening letter from some rascals who demanded a considerable sum and 40 per cent. of the yearly revenue of the boat. The letter says that if the request is not complied with the bost will be burnt.
MILL'S TOO MUCH CIVILIZATION,
239
Hankow Railway and requesting them to report without delay stating how they will pay the railway loan. The Viceroy says that the first instalment of interest on the railway loan will fall due on the 6th April. After deducting the income of the Fat-shan Railway, there still remains a sum of £4,178 short which must be raised. merchants have collected more than $1,600,000
He (he Viceroy) having heard that the.
and believing that they will find no dificulty in raising the $20,000,000 necessary, and having confidence in the undertaking, asks the mer. chants to appoint several wealthy members of the gentry to take charge of affairs and to submit their names to him so that be may memorialize the Throne and transfer the control of the line to them, as His Excellency is very anxious to see this done as quickly as possible.
The Viceroy has issued an order to the effect that all officials shall commence to wear summer hats from the 25th inst.
BAILWAY MATTERS.
On the 21st inst. the Chamber of Commerce received another dispatch from the Viceroy urging the merchants to take over the Canton-
S A
March 26th.
VICEROY ACCUSED OF FAVOURITISM.
ontside his Yamen :-"The Wei-yuen deputy in Viceroy Shum has posted the following notice charge of the native Customs at Chan ohues, revenue of that station, and absconded a few named To Ying-fook, has embezzled the Customs days ago.
petitioned to me about this matter. I imme- diately memorialized the Central Government requesting them to cashier To Ying-fook, and
The director of the Customs here
I have caused a warrant to be issued for his arrest."
Viceroy's conduct, saying that To Ying-fook The Aze Man Po severely criticises the
was an old and intimate friend of Viceroy Shum, being formerly employed as his private chuen secretary. The position of deputy at Chan-
was given to To 18 a favour. The Viceroy has paid Tls. 3000 out of his own pocket, and has arranged to pay the balanes of Tis. 4,000 by taking it out of the bonus fonds Customs. Viceroy Shum did not arrest To's which belong to all the employees of the native family and keep them under vigilant surveill-
auce.
The journal compares this case with crime is exactly the same. Chau also embezzled that of Chan Tung-shang, saying that the
with, whereas Viceroy Shum has actel with Customs revenne, but was severely dealt · suspicious leniency in To's case.
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HIS PLEA IN MITIGATION.
When Viceroy Shum read the above remarks in the Se Man Po. he ordered the following notice to be hung outside his Yamen : --
.
Chan-chuen.
In investigating To Ying-fook's case I find secretary but left that position about two that he was formerly employed as my private
years ago. In enquiring into his official career I may state that he has not committed faults before and therefore I gave him the any position of deputy of the native Customs in I never expected that while being. in charge of an important position in which he is entrusted with funds that money would blind his eyes and make him forget his position and act in such a naughty way. As To was a man appointed by me, I regret that I have made a mistake, and the
money embezzled being Government money I have ordered part of the money to be refunded out of my own pocket. 1 am very grieved to have committed such an error through appointing such a man. But the Se Man Po compares this case with that of Chau Tung sheng, stating that it is a similar crime and that To's family should be arrested and placed under vigilant surveillance. The prime is the same as that of Chau, but that I havO dealt with it in a much milder manner.
A RED HERRING INTRODUCRD.
I must say that comparison was unjust. In Chau's case, over Tls. 2,000,000 were embezzled while To embezzled only Tis. 7,000. In Chau's ose all the properties confiscated did not cover even half the amount, while in To's case every cent has been replaced and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. ... If Chau had paid up all the money he had embezzled.I would not have arrested his family or had them placed under surveillance In comparing Chau's case to that of To one will find a great difference between them. The Ess Man Po has not investigated the matter thoroughly, and starts by criticising and slander- ing me.
In reviewing former issues of that and other papers, I find that they have all said that Chau Tang-shang was in fault and deserved the punishment meted out to him. Your remarks -
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