396
CANTON.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
November 28th.
▲ USEFUL RESIDENT.
I hear that Mr. P. G. Jones, of the British Consular service here, is transferred to Peking and that he is leaving for the North in a few days. Mr. Jones will be missed by his many friends here, while the AD.C. loses one of its prominent members.
PATHETIC REJOICING,
Shameen is quite up to date now. We have a dentist in the person of Dr. Ishiwara who has just established himself here. He holds diplomas both from the Japanese and Ameri- osa universities. Now we need not
go to Hongkong to I ave our teeth attended to.
THE FIRE SEASON.
This is the fire season and hardly a day passes without a fire here and there. The night before last ten houses were burnt down in Chan Mok street. During this fire a second one started in the immediate neigh- bourhood. Rumour says that it was done purposely by one tenant who had a spite against his neighbour and wanted to burn him out,
NEW VICEROY BEGINS WELL.
The New Viceroy H.E. Chou-Fa has started his reign with a very humane sot by releasing the unfortunate members of Chow Tang Bang's family who were locked up by Viceroy Shum. All the women and children have been set at liberty by H.E's orders and
are now back in their homes
December 2ud.
OFFICIAL CALLS,
A few days ago all the foreign Consuls called on H.E. the Viceroy according to the establish- ed custom. Yesterday morning H.E. returned the call at each Consulate in tara. Being popular H.E. Chou Fu does not need a large escort and as he is known to be very simple in manner there is nothing of the pompous show that his predecessor was so fond of. The Sha meen guard was lined up on the Concession and looked smart in their new uniforms. Shortly after Viceroy Chou Fu arrived and was received by the commanding officers of the guard, who saluted with their swords while the drums and trumpets played a lively air. H.E. first called on the French Consul and then proceeded to the British Consulate, where, owing to Mr. Mans field being ill, he was reo ived by Mr. Sly and Mr. Joues. Consul-General Mansfeld is suffering from a bad chill and I understand that a change of air having been recommended, Mr. Mausfeld may take a short trip to recruit his health. We wish him a prompt recovery.
DARING ROBBERY.
It is reported that a few days ago an armed gang of robbers broke into His Excellency Tong Shao-yee's house in Heungshan. The robbers looted the place and carried away jewellery and valuables amounting to over 40,000 tael. The affair was reported to Viceroy Chou Fa by Tong's family, The Viceroy immediately despatched Commander Wong Pui-chung, Ex- pectant Prefect Choi-heung and 100 soldiers to Heungshan to capture these sud-oions desperadoes. Orders were given to Commander Wong that if any of the robbers were captured, they were to be "tried and beheaded on the spot
"
NEWSPAPEE AGENt arresTED.
4
On arrival of the day boat Fateha on Saturday, the 1st instant, Wong Hoi, a Hong kong Chinese newspaper agent, was arrested at the steamer wharf by the L. M. Customs watcher Lui, while taking from the steamer delivery of all the Hongkong Chinese newspapers. Lefore arresting the newspaper agent, the watcher produced a document issued by Viceroy Shum empowering Customs officials to seize and arrest any persons who are agents for the distribution of certain Hongkong newspapers that are prohibited to enter Canton. Wong Hoi was handed over to the Chinese authorities, but the following newspapers which are not prohibited by order were sent to Wong Hoi's shop for distribution, vis:-Chung Ngoi San Po, Wah Tse, Wai Shum and Cheun Wan.
-RESIGNATION OF A HIGH OFF.CIAL.
His Excellency Wu Ting Fang is still in Canton and is staying in the Viceroy's Yamen.
1
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
It is reported that he received a cablegram from the Central Government yesterday socepting his resignation from all the official positi›ns he holds.
KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY.
The local Kwok 8ze Po received a telegram from Shanghai stating that the Cantonese gentry and merchants in changhai have sent cablegrams to the Waiwapa, Viceroy Chou Fa and the Canton Chamber of Commerce request ing them to protest against oɔrtain term of the Kowloon-Canton Railway agr ement which will be signed by the British and Chinese & vera. meats during the course of this week,
December 4th.
AN ORDER FOR " CHINA LIGHT."
Viceroy Choa Fu brought a very large staff to Canton with him and most of them are staying in his yamen. As the place is insuff. ciently lighted H.. has ordered the Chias Light and Power Compaqy to install 300 more electric lamps in the yamen.
SHOM'S REPUTATION.
The Kwangsi Governor Lam Shia-ain, who was recently appointed by Imperil ediot to be one of the ministers of the Imperial Grand Council, has cabled to Peking that he left Kweilin on the 1st instant t proceed to Peking to take up his new ap. pointment. It is said that Governor Lam's extraordinary promotion was due to Viceroy Shum's recommendation and influencs. Viceroy Shunt appeared to have no influential friends in the Grand Council to pull the strings for him. As everybody knows, Vicercy Shum lid not at all like being transferred to Yuan- kwei and relies on bis protégés's influence at the ospital to secure him another appointment.
VISITS HONGKONG.
His Excellency Wa Ting Fang left for Hongkong yesterday. Viceroy Chou Fa went personally to see him off. His Excellency will return to Canton in a few days
THE YUET-HAN RAILWAY IMBROGLIO.
It will be remembered that the Ya-t-Han Railway trouble broke out about the middle of January this year owing to a difference of opinion between the officials and the gentry and the merchants.
Viceroy Shum during his tenure of office had but one aim, that of keeping foreigners out of everything and acted up to his motto of "China for the Chinese"
to the very day of his departure. There has been a great deal of correspondence between the Viceregal Yamon and the Central Govern rent. Viceroy Shum had continually obstructed the Kowloon-Canton Railway scheme by the usual dilatory answers so dear to the Chinese official, which finally ended in vigorous notion taken by the Hongkong Government - the probable сапе of his removal from the Liang Kwang,
December 10, 1906.
the
case of trouble. Taotai Cheang, as every one knows, was fo.ord to nocept the appointment by the ex-Viceroy's olique; "he is a wealthy man and his done everything to resign his post since his appointment. It appears now that the funds collected were invested by herds of the different charitable insʻitutions, Three million dollars were drawn to pay for the redemption of the concesion and out of the remaining $3,000,000 it is said that $1,000,000 has been invested in local, banks and pawnshops and the rem under $2,000,00 invested with various shops, the proprietors of which are intimate friends of the directors of the charitable institutions. Owing to this staguant state of aff irs it is rumoured that many of these shops are on the verge of failara and that it is very problematic whether the funds invested could in many cases be recovered. Moreover it appears that many of the shares taken up by the " Sia Kwan 19 only taken up by them with the object of placing or gentry were
them amongst their friends, have not besa placed at all, and when the first call of $1,00 was made these gentry got the shops to hand in promissory notes stating that the money was invested with them. I shall have morɔ to say on this head in my nex‘.
December 5th.
THE YUET-HAN RAILWAY |MBROGLIO. To continue where I left off, the public has now lost confidence and nuless matters are thoroughly straightened out it will be difficult to restore that confidence so essential very for the success of any enterprise. The Hoog. kong merchants must have had an inkling of what was going on as they have persistently refused to send over the $2,000,000 subsoribed by them, unless the money was deposited in for. eign banks in Cautoa. The nine charitable institutions refused to do so on the plea that it would entail a loss ọi account of the promiam on exchange, smaller interest, ets, and the result was that the money was invested in Hongkong pending satisfactory arrangements in the management here offering more security than what is given at present President Cheang To-chal has a very difflonlt proble n to solve. Liquidation would spell disaster as the $2,000,000 invested with the loo il shops must be accounted for, on the other hand nobody will take the re- sponsibility of taking over the managemen* without a clear account being given of the fuuds in baud. As I have already said it is an open secret that most of the shops that have handlei the maies deposited with them are in a bad way and it is next to impossible for them to repiso the money lost within the next few months. Taotai Sbum Tung has refused to accept the responsibility of taking over the concern as it stands and very wisely too. Taotai Shum is an experienced man. He was secretary to H. E. The Viceroy was determined to carry out his Wu Ting-fang when that official was minister scheme with Chinese funds alone and had to the United States. He remined six yeıra devised plans to raise the capital by increased in Washingtou and devoted his time to the study taxation. Following the advic, of his old of law an politics. He bas expressed his will- friend Cho Siu-chak, who, by the way, was ingness to take over the presidentship when already appointe director of the Yuet Han malt ra are «traightened out. The situation Railway and President of the Chamber of has now reached its orisis and it remains to bɔ Commerce, it was decided to raise funds by seen how the dilemma is to be solved. If taxation ostensibly for the construction of the Taotai Cheang elects to demand accounts Yast-Han Railway but with the intention of from the nine charitable institutious, a panic applying the funds to the Kowloon Cantou may be the result and the whole affair sa scheme so as to oust the British out of it. On exposed may become a complete fasco, the 9th of January this year a meeting was
even to the winding up of the company. convened to submit to the gentry and merchants In that case no more subscriptions would be the Viceregal ideas regarding the raising of forthcoming and the remaining two installments funds for the Yuet-Han Railway. Owing to would never be paid. The alternative solution the presence of uninvited officials who mide would be for the managers to make good out of themselves rather conspicuous by making their own pockets what defluit exists. Chesug threatening remarks the meeting took a lively is said to be a millionaire in dollars and might turn and ended with the Lai Kwai Pui episode, altim stely dad himself obliged to pay to extricate Telegrams were sent to Peking and through himself. The Vice-President of the company, the energy of the unofficial element the officials doug King-tong, foreseeing the storm that was had to give way and the Viceroy's canning about to burst, has left for the Straits Settlements scheme to divert the Yuet-Han Bailway fonds after having tendered his resignation prior to was thus frustrated. Since the arrival of H.E. his departure. The situation must be cleared Chou Fu his Chief Secretary (Sham Taag) basap, and interesting developments will no been offered the past of President of the doubt occur within the next month or two. Yust-Han Railway Cómpany but has declined to accept it owing to the mixed up state of affairs. The present situation of affairs is as follows:-A sum of $6,000,000 was collected the movements of the new and old officials. through the nine charitable institutions in ❘ This last not of the ex-Vivroy is well in koop- whose hands Tuotai Cheng To-casi, presideating with his character and there is no reason of the company, had left the daty of collecting to doubt its veracity. It appears that Sham is the subscriptious so to avoid responsibility in afraid that the new officials will undo part of
VICEROY SHUM.
It is reported that Viceroy Shum has left here a score or so of secrat emissaries to watch
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