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May 5, 1906.1
it may not be improbable that the China Association and its branches may play a0 important part in political pilotage. At any rate, the members resident in China can all be look-out men, an it will greatly depend ou their seeing aright what action shall be taken by the Association's management in London, and maybe through them by the British Government. Both Shanghai and Hongkong have opportunities of being useful daring the next year or two, and they may be trusted not to allow those opportunities to pas because of any fancied slothfulness in London. If they will "play the game", there are members in London who will see that their activity is not frustrated by want of zeal here.
THE NEW SHIPPING BILL.
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It is to be regretted that the present Govern- ment has decided not to take any action in the meantime to codify the Merchant Shipping Acte. The time is ripe for this reform. But it is satisfactory that the Government has decided to place on the Statute Book a measure that will, we all hope, add to the safety and comfort of the British sailor, while at the same time affording the ship-owner some measure of protection from the unfair competition of the foreigner. Mr. Lloyd-George, as President of the Board of Trade, has introduced a Bill which should have some effect on the shipping trade at Hongkong, in common with other parts of the Empire, and doubtless it is already receiving the consideration of the local Chamber of Com- merce. The new measure aims at the preven. tion of overloading in foreign vessels trading with British ports. It does seem anomalous that an old British ship sold to a foreigner after being condemned, perhaps, as unseaworthy, should be allowed to enter our ports without any load-line and compete with our own craft tied down by all sorts of Board of Trade regulations. After a certain date, to be fixed by the House of Commons, overy vessel coming to our ports must not only be seaworthy but must-have the same disc as on our ships and carry the same life-saving apparatus. They will also be subject to the same cabin passenger regulations. In order to meet the argument that Britishers will not become sailors because the food on our ships is either bad or badly cooked, the Government propose that every ship shall carry a certificated cook, and in other ways the lot of the sailor-man is to be safeguarded or ameliorated. There is, unfortunately, a tendency among the Labour members to cavil at the employment of Lascars whom they would class as foreigners and bring under the new restrictions proposed with refer ence to foreign seamen on British ships; but it is satisfactory to note that Mr. Lloyd-George speaking for the Government, did not miss the opportunity of impressing upon the House the fact that the Lascars are our fellow-subjects, and that having taken away their occupation by the introduction of steamers in the coastwise trade of India
have we
an obligation to provide a livelihood for them. Labour members preach the doctrine of the solidarity" of the labouring classes through out the world, and the Socialist members are growing more insistent that the time is ooming when mankind shall surely be brothers. It is therefore somewhat inconsistent to say that only white men are to be considered. Is it too much to hope that the growth of socialistic ideas may even yet reconcile the British elector- ate to the presence of Chinamen on the Rand
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NEW PACIFIC LINER.
The
The arrival of the 8.8. Monteagle, which the Canadian Pacific Railway Company have detached from their Atlantic fleet and trans- ferred to the Trans-Pacific route, marks a per- formance which no other company has been able to rival, inasmuch as passengers can now for the first time travel round the world on one company's service. Two Montreal gentlemen have almost completed this journey. They 1ft their Canadian home in one of the C.P.R. steamers for Liverpool and afterwards set out, from the port on the Mersey for the East on the Monteagle, leaving her at Hongkong and continuing the journey on another of the Com- pany's steamers to Yokohama and Vancouver, and will finally entrain from there to their homes. Of course other people have travelled round the world on one ticket, but this is the
CHÍNÁ OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
first occasion on which the entire journey has been completed on one company's service.
In these circumstances it will be understood that the little party of guests who went on board the Monteagle on April 30th felt more than ordinary interest in the vessel which they were to inspect. She has been brought out here by Captain Parry, and after her cargo had been discharged little time was left to get ber in order to take her place on the increased service of C.P.B. steamers on the Trans-Pacifio route. Although she is still in the hands of numerous artisans, it is not difficult to see how admirably adapted she is for passenger | and cargo traffic. The Monteagic, which made her debut on the Eastern run on May 2nd, will be a companion ship to the Athenian and Tartar, the two vessels of the intermediate service inaugurated this year. A large modern, twin-screw passenger steamer of 6,163 tons, she has accommodation for 125 saloon passengers. As is already known these are one class named " 'intermediate ". A look ronnd her comfortable cabins and the usual apartments which convenience and pleasure demand nowadays will convince anyone that the Monteagle is a most desirable vessel in which to travel. It should be noted that a new departure has been made here. It is a European steerage, which should meet with the apprecia- tiou of travellers who find it desirable to economise. On board the ship there is accom. modation also for over 1,000 Asiatics.
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by means of twigs dipped into an enormou brass basin carried by twenty bearers. This water is supposed to give immunity to those who are touched by it.
FOREIGN ENGINEERS,
That Canton is developing no one will doubt. We have (now amongst ua, a new firm, Messrs Howarth Erskine, who have opened a branch office here. This well-known firm of engineers are to be commended for their enterprise; they are apparently working under the motto come, first served ". They are sure to secure a fair share of the engineering constructions in Canton.
THE INUNDATION.
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May 2nd
It is reported that the Fatshan-Samshui line is heavily damaged through the flood. At one place above Fatshau a five hundred feet section of the line has sunk. The company is said to have brought over 10,000 bags filled with sand to fill up the gap. The line is not operating yet. The roads in Fatahan áre bridged over with bamboos where convenient. In other places trading is done by means of harbour boats. Fatahan has not weathered such a severe flood within the last fifteen years. |
RAILWAY DIRECTORATE.
At a meeting held by the merchants and gentry the following men have been appointed as members of the Canton-Hankow railway directorate :-
Taotai Chiang To-chai, President; Wong King-tong, Vice-President; How Ying-hung,
A MISADVENTURE.
After tiffin a few additional facts were gleaned from the speeches that followed. Mr. Craddock, the acting general agent, made the incontrover-Chan Lun-shut, Cho Chung-fan, Li Yuk- tible statement that the Monteagle was Bn won, Kwok To and Lo Ting-kwong, directors. acquisition to the intermediate fleet, Although Their nomination has been submitted to and the work necessary for her adaptation to the approved by the Viceroy. Eastern serfice was not finished it would be completed next trip. Captain Parry would take the ship cross to Vancouver, where Captain Robinson, of the A henian, would take command, Mr Cooper, chief officer of the Athenian, being promoted to the premier position on that vessel. Mr. Richardson, the superintendent, gave some details of the work contemplated, pointing onl that a ship coming from home must undergo considerable alteration to suit the different con- ditions obtaining in the East. The Monteagle was the first ship from the Atlantic fleet to be placed on the eastern service, but he hoped to see some more Empresses. Mr. Craddock com- mented on the fact that when the Empresses were put on the run first they were alluded to | as "white elephants", but now they were
white swans likely to be known as the Other complimentary speeches followed.
CANTON.
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(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
FLOOD IN CANTON.
April 30th.
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The heavy rains that have prevailed during the whole month, when scarcely a day has passed without a heavy shower, have swollen the river to such an extent that reports are to hand from all quarters regarding the loss of life ad damage to property done all over the province. The country between Fatsban and Tam-shui is almst entirely under water, the trains have stopped running, and the damage done to the line is said to be considerable. In certain places the track has been almost completely washed away. The rice crop, of course, is lost; and the first silk crop will not yield more than 20 per cent. of the average. Famine is looming ahead and in prevision of a rise in the price of rica consumers are purchasing all they can at the present rates. In the Canton river alone, over fortylives have been lost within the last few days. Honam is flooded and at flood tide the streets in the neighbourhood of Shamoon are completely under water. It is reported that in Fatsban the business is conducted by means of boa's, the town being transformed into a Chinese Venice.
PLAGUE AND SUPERSTITION IN CHINA.
Plague is as prevalent as ever in Canton aud many victims die daily. A big procession has been organised, and the God of Medicine is being carried about the city to obtain an abatement of the epidemic. Large crowds assemble where the procession forms, and “obin-chin the joss" as it forms, while holy water is thrown on the crowd
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Steamers might give more ample warning of their departure by blowing their whistles twice. The gangways are often drawn away suddenly, and people seeing friends off are sometimes entrapped in this way. It is reported that a European officer of the Imperial Chinese Post Office had to jump off the steamer leaving this morning. He missed his footing and dropped into the river. There was a strong current running, but he got out safely. It appears that he had asked the steward to warn bim in time, but this the Chinaman naturally forgot to do.
CANTON IMPERIAL CUSTOMS.
The Viceroy has appointed H. E. Woo, the provincial treasurer, to be superintendant of the Imperial Customs in Canton.
RAILWAY 80BSCRIPTIONS.
Up to the end of the third Moon, $2,561,820 have been collected by the Canton-Hankow Railway Company from subscribers in Hong- kong, Fatshan, and Canton.
DOING HIS BEST.
Viceroy Shum has greatly pleased the people by his efforts to frighten away the rain. He personally offered sacrifices on April 30th, and prayed that the rain would cease. As extra precautions, no pigs are to be slaughtered for a few days, and the provincial artillery is ordered to blaze away twice daily and nightly at the clonds. This keeps everybody awake, but it has had no other effect so far. It is still raining.
MACAO.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
RECLAMATION WORK.
April 30th. The Government of this city is at last waking up a little, and I am glad to be able to state that work has already begun to reclaim a further ten metres of the sea front near the Heungshan's wharf, and also of that part immediately under the "Boa Vista" Hotel up to the Bishop's Bay, altogether about 150 metres.
CURIOUS THEFT. Yesterday morning the Macao-Hongkong cable of the Eastern Extension A. & C. Tele- graph Company was found to be interrupted.
The Company immediately set about find ing what was wrong. On examination it was discovered that the cable house near Cacilhas had been broken open and several yards of the 'submarine cable were missing. The work of
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