September 30, 1907.)
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
of the schools already opened, where such and military degrees, greatly to the disparage- schools need government assistance, and are ment of the latter. The simultaneous develop. very conservatively opening дет одев ment of an appreciation of the weakness of where they are in demand. Thus there is the nation in official circles, and of the national good prospect that this grave traditional defect sense and a spirit of patriotism among the of Chinese education will in time be remedied. people, prepared the entire country for change One especially interesting feature which should of attitude towards the soldier From being be no'ed in connection with this movement is a despised occupation his suddenly became a the disinterested benevolence it had called most honoured one. forth. Houses for school purposes have beened for the military or naval officer was put The training prescrib given freely or at greatly reduced rental, on a par with that required in the civil money has been contributed, and many ladies service. In order to cultivate the martial have given their services as teachers without spirit as well, probably, as for its value from remuneration.
the educational and the military points of view, compulsory military drill has been introduced into all the schools for boys. Students are also required to wear the uniform of their respective chools. Students in the high schools will be. instructed in military tactics and the regulations for the army. The law department of the University comprises courses in the bearings of the subject on military affairs. In those places, like Tientsin, where the students have bad the advantage of observing the evolutions of foreign troops and of foreign drilled native troops the drill in the schools is commendable for the enthusiasm of the students and the precision of the movements.
TUITION FEES.
The official regulations provide that tuition in the lower elementary and advanced normal schools shall be free. All other grades of schools should collect fees. The income thus provided will make it possible to open addi- tional rohools. The authorities also have the idea that students will better appreciate pri- vileges that they pay for. But the fees are to be regulated in each locality according to the ability of the people to pay. In the University free scholarships are provided for, which will be awarded to successful competitors. This is rather the ideal condition towards which they are aiming. The present practice does not con. form in several particulars, chiefly in the dirao. tion of greatly enlarging the application of free tuition, and in the temporary continuance of the old custom of gratuitous aid to students in the higher courses. It had been felt that this subsidizing of education was necessary in order to introduce the new s. stem, offering special inducements to students to take the courses. It is believed that after a time the benefits of the new learning will be apparent, and will in them. selves offer sufficient inducement to the student class.
ETHICAL INSTRUCTION.
There is one remarkable particular in which the curricula of the Chinese and Japan 8 schools of the lower and higher elementary and middle grade agree. It is in the time devoted to the study of Morals. This subject is given two hours a week for the first nine years, and one hour a week during the next five years of the students course in both countries. But the basis of this ethical teaching in Japan appears to be loyalty to the Emperor as the lineal descendant of Heaven, while in China the final appeal seems to be to the authority of the sages. It is not therefore matter for surprise that the Chinese should regard the sanctions of morality as taught by the Japanese as insufficient. They think that Chinese conduct can only be influenced by their respect for those writings which long use has led them to regard as sacred. The older students in Japan complain that ethics is the most tedious of all their studies.
This may be regarded as inevitable where ethics is entirely divorced from reli. ion, and referred in its last analysis to a merely human authority. Men need further help and incentive in doing right beyond the knowledge simply that it is right. Here is where Christians have a decided advantage over government schools in both countries
*
A UNIFIED LANGUAGE. Here is a most important extract from the Educational Regulations. Every (western) nation has its own language which can be under- stood by all the people of that country. This forms a national bond of unity. * China has a great many spoken dialects. Even inha- bitants of different parts of the same province often cannot understand each other. This makes the transaction of business (between the different sections) difficult. Therefore Mandarin must be made the universal language of China. Mandarin must be taught in the Normal schools, and in all grades of the common schools begin ning with the higher elementary.
Ta the near future Mandarin must be used as the medium of instruction for all subjects in the schools of all the provinces." Unquestionably some such legislation as this is necessary for the unifying of the Chinese spoken language. Already Mandarin is being taucht as a subject in very many of the schools, and every where military orders are given in that dialect. We must expect that before long Mandarin will be made the universal language of the schoools.
MILITARY DRILL
* *
Under the old system of examinations a sharp line of distinction was drawn between literary
[To be continued.]
DOUGLAS STEAMSHIP CO.
The ordinary general meeting of shareholders in the above company was held on September 28th at the Company's offices. There were present Mr. H P. White (chairman), Hon. Mr. Keswick, Messrs. R. hewan, A. G. Wood, (directors) G. C. C. Master, J. M. Forbes. Dr. Noble, Chan Tong, Chun Sue, Mr. J. E. Gomes (secretary).
The SECRETARY having read the notice convening the meeting.
your
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The CHAIRMAN said Gentlemen:-The report and accounts baving been in your hands some time, I will, with permission, take them as read. It is with a measure of gratification that we are able to come before you with a report showing marked improvement in the year's working, in the face of the keen competition which we have to meet, During the period covered by the accounts cargo has been plentiful, in fact, more than we could cope with, so that we frequently had to shut out cargo-which of necessity went to our competitors- and I can only emphasize the statement made by me at our last general meeting: that had the services of the new steamer-which we proposed to have built some two years ago— been available, the profits on the working of the steamers daring the year would have been very considerably sabanced. The coast trade of China is increasing in volume and we have a valuable constituency whose confidence and whose business, it is absolutely necessary we should retain, but to do that we must have more tonnage than we have at present. The altered conditions of the coasting trade require steamers of larger capacity-which can
b. worked at very little more expense than our smallest boat the Haiman." to inform you that we have decided. with the fall approval of your consulting comittee, to procure a good class steamer of larger carrying capacity than any of those at present comprising the 'ompany's fleet, which, while meeting our own special requirements, will be available for other work when opportunity offers. Exchange is in faron purchasing at the present time and we are confident that such a boat will prove a profitable asset to the Company; as our experience goes to show that only with the most modern type of boat of large capacity and a low ratio of working expenses, are good profits to be mide on the China coast, while on the other hand we are equally satisfied that the day of small or riers is past. Reference was made at our last general meeting to the saving in insurance premia and I am glad to be able to state that we have been able to make a still further reduc-
14
i have therefore
of o ir
tion in this charge, while expenditure for coal will be less than that of last year. As regards propects for the current year it is perhaps early to forecast, but the earnings for the first three months, are fully up to those of the same period last year, and with a fair trade and the
201
lessened expenses above referred to, I am hopeful of a continuance of the improvement in the position of the ompany. With reference to the Company's funds on mortgage, some of te mortgages have been paid off sinos the closing of the year's accounts, and the valuations of the Company's surveyors show that the pro- perties now held by the Company form men, I do not know of anything further that I ample security for the advances made. Gentle-
can add, but before proposing the adoption of the report and accounts, I shall be pleased to answer, to the best of my ability, any questions that Shareholders may wish to ask.
There being no questions,
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report.
Mr. MASTER Seconded. In doing so he said: I congratulate the general managers and all those who have had anything to do with this improve- ment. I take it that the agents up the coast have had something to do with this improvement as well, and I think our congratulation should be conveyed to them. This, I think, is the best report that has been presented to shareholders for many years. I was looking through reports since 1991 and it seems to me this is the best since that year. With reference to the Chair- man's remarks anent purchasing a new steamer, the general managers and consulting c ›mmittee know more about the business than shareholders, If it is decided to buy a new steamer I trust every effort will be made to secure a good and economical boat which will pay her way. I should like to close my remarks by tendering my thanks to the Chairman (applause).
The report was adopted and the CHAIRMAN thanked Mr. Master for his kind remarks,
Mr. FORBES proposed and Mr. MASTER seconded the re-election of Hon. Mr. Keswick and Messrs. Shewan and A. G. Wood to the consulting committee.
Carried.
Messrs. W. H. Potts and A. R. Lowe were re-elected auditors on the motion of Dr. NoBL, seconded by Mr. FORBES.
The CHAIRMAN-That is all the business, gentlemen. I trust we will be able to give you as good or a better report next year. Dividend warrants will be ready on Monday.
CANTON.
(FROM OUS CORRESPONDENT.)
September 20th.
FRACAS AT HONAM,
The following is a literal translation of an article published in the Kwok Sze Po," one affray. It is headed," Police Sergeant Besten of the leading local papers, on the recent Honam by Unreasonable Foreigners."
"At one o'clock on the night of the 14th Sha Tai Kai, Honam, met a police sergeant. August five foreigners while passing the Pao
the police sergeant and afterwards beat him. The foreigners began by teasing and soolding The police sergeant was seriously injured by a blow and fell to the ground and could not get up. The foreigners then endeavoured to snateb the policeman's revolver, but he held it so Fortunately a policeman who was on duty in tightly that they could not eastch it from him. another district heard the row and blow his whistle to call for assistance. For a long time no other policemen turned up to help. At neighbourhood were aroused and there was that time a large number of people in the great excitement. Shortly afterwards over 10 policemen of the 3rd Police Station Street arrived. The foreigners, on seeing them, rau straight to the riverside and swam away. One of the foreigners was very distance. He swam to the sure at a quiet place. fat and heavy and was unable to swim a long
It happened that one of the inmates of a shop saw the foreigner land. He arrested the foreigner and handed him over the police, whe took the foreigner to the police station and questioned him On arrival at the police s afirm to their surprise, the foreigner s'arted to jamp Deputy Chu of the 3rd Police Station got afraid and shout, and continued in that behaviour, of him. Shortly afterwards Superintendent
Ma of the Head Police Station in Honam arrived and questioned the foreigner and the policemen after which the foreigner was ha ided over to a European of the I. M. Customs. W.
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