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January 11, 1908.1
consider that day by day and year by year these ladies and these Reverend Fathers a e cease. lessly engaged in trying to alleviate suffering, and of trying to better the prospects in the future of what I may call the flotsam and jet- sam of humanity; the waifs, the strays, the blind, the balt, the maimed, and the most unpromising material, I think we can 8-y that it is good for us occasionally to be here (applause).
HIS EXCELLENCY then opened the front door of the Convent. The numeroas guests entered and inspected the premises, and before departing partook of the hospitality of the sisters.
THRILLING STORY OF
CASTAWAYS.
TRR: IBLY PRIVATIONS OF SEA MEN.
One of those tales of the sea, unique in the realm of romance comes from New Zealand and is invested with local interest by reason of the fact that a brother of Mr. H. Eyre, the manager of Messrs. Wm. Powell, Ld., was one of the crew of the wreck. The four-masted barque "Dundonald," of 2115 tons, sailed from Sydney for Falmouth on February 17th last year. On the morning of March 7th, at 12.30 p.m.,
the ship struck on the precipitens cliff« of Disappointment Island, a bleak and burren islaud to the west of Auckland Island, and a place where many a Lond ship bas been driven by mountainous seas ou to the cruel rocks. In the case of the "Dundonald," when the versel struck, a heavy sea swept the crew over board, and twelve of the uufortunate men, including the capt in and his sOD, were drowned. Disappointment Island! The place is well named. It has been the last port of call for many seamen, and it was a cheerlers haven for the survivors of this wreck. The mate of the "Duudenald." Jabez Peters, worn out with fatigue, and disappointed with the ducovery that the island was not one on which a dût was itated, died after a fortnight.
The remainder of the crew, fifteen all told. spent seven montbs 00 tha Islau i いよ Disappointment, during which time they e dured terrible privations, au-l as they scanned the ascap day by day for a friendly sail without success, must bare realised fully the meaning of the proverb, Hope deterred maketh the heart sick." During their stay on the island the seamen lived on the young mollyhawks (pen, uils?, aud the stem of planis. Later, when the birds migrat-d. seals came alony, and these were clubbed and provided ford and clothing.
As month succeeded month, and no ris al
hove into sight, the castaways decided to try to reach the main Auckland Island. They m da a canvas boat, seven fast loug, pieces of canvas being sewn together for the necessary covering. The needles the Bai ors used were made of birds bones. When the frail skiff was ready for sua some of the seamen ret :al for the main Auck- land Islands, the nearest abou five miles distant, in search of provisions. After an a's nce of seven days, in which trip they had been unsuccessful, they returned to their omas, A second attempt was made 1 ter, and af er terrible difficultis they succeeded in reach- ing the depo", where the story of their adventures was told. The boat povided for castaways was then secured, and the sailors faced the beavy sea once more to resine their comrades. They reached the island which had been their dreary home for so many long mouths, the remainder of the orew were suipped, and all arrived safely at the depo where they remained until the arrival of the New Zealand Government steamer Hinemos," by which Vessel they were taken on to Auckland.
The survivors are M'Lachlan, second male; Kundsen, third mate; Eyre, Walters, Ju'e, Fulay, Santiage, Herman and Pretz, A. B'-. ; Ellis, Peel, Stewart, Grattan, ordinary seam 'n ; Ireney, deck boy; Rb ris, cabin boy.
Those downed were J. Thurborn, captain; his son, J. Thcrboru, jan.; W. E. mith, steward; E. Lor, oirpenter; T. Crawford, sailmaker; J. Cromarty, deck boy; Hallerson, Andersen, Laagerb.com, Lowe, Navarat and Watson, A. B's,”
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Other disasters on the Auckland Island include the wreck of the French barque "Anjou,' in February, 195; the brig " ralton and schooner "love cauld" in 1861; the ship "Derry Castle" in 1887; the barque "Compadre" in 1891; and the ship" Stoneleigh" in 1895. A notable disaster was the loss of the " Genersi Grant," an American vess), in the year 1866.
She rad into a cave about 250 yards long She had a large number of pissing ra on board, 68 | of "wLom were drowned. Од November 21st 867, ten Aurvivors were re cued by a brig. thers tried to reach New Zealand ia a small bost, but were never heard of again. Altogether 80 lives were lost in the wreck. Many attempt have siace been made to recover some box s of gold which were on board when the ship went down.
|
Mr. Eyre has not yet heard from his brother, but his people at hom have written him that they have received a cible from the young sailr, stating that he is in the best of health.
MACAO.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
TH BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
The year 1908 has dawned with no promise of impror. ment and pra perity for the Cong Business has bean bul, and the immediate guilook is unt cheerful. Iwo Cuinese b..k- the Koo Cheong and the Tay Bo-stepped payment in the last we k of the old year, and much distress was oured among those whose The savings were deposited in the banks. rear la witnes-ed a considerable redne ion in the number of Chinese shops, and if a com- parison of the number of shops in existence on Chinese New Year Day 1907 could be made with the number which will re-open after th Chinese New Year holidays next month would fiod, 1 ventare to
Fay, striking evidence of the d. cadence of the part.
AN EXPENSIVE SURVEY,
We
General Branco and a large staff have beu in the Colony now something like a tw.lre. month drawing up a s: beme for the much- uceded improvement of the barbour, and a risin other public improvem n's. This survey has already cost com thons inds of dollars, and the public would be interested to learn what pros pects there are of these projects being e rried
out.
F RES.
There have lat-ly bɔsu ather frequut out breaks of fire, and a strict official inquiry ought to made into the causes of these fires.
On Friday morning two h us, No. 39 and 40, Rua da Taitions, were entirely destroyed by fire, and other contiguous buildings narrowly 80.ped the same fate. The houses destroyed were occapied by joss-stick dealers.
RL CTRIC LIGHTING
A petition has been sent to the Lal Senado by Mr. G. Hermonier, repes using the So: été Electricité Indo-Chiúvis requesting the trap-fer to them of the contract misde with the Socié é Elect iqus d'Extrè de Orient for the lighting of the thoroughfares of the Colony. Te petition stiles bat now installation in the power house is necessary, and they soek
·lesre to establish a power house ou another site. Fifteen months will be required for the new installe ion and meanwhile the petitioner asks the Leal Senado to light the city with kerosine lamps as form rly at the Clony's expense. Now, the contract made with the Société Electrique d'Er têms Orient
that they should preservs and keep in good condition the old kerosine lamp, and it should be the duty of the Leal Senado to see in the interests of the public, that the terms of the contrict are faithful y observed. Moreover, if a transfer is required why was a request nut male by the present,
concessionnaires ?
was
A SUICIDS.
On Saturday a ruuter of the Macao Hotel, nimed Silva was found dead on the hill near the lighthons», karing Lon shot in the right tmple. The weapon, as-umed to be a revolver, could not be found. The dea aced is stated to hav, left a letter in his room announcing bis intention to end his life,
*
THE GUARDSHIP.
The "Rio Lims" left on Friday for Canton.
EVOLUTION OF HONGKONG.
25
[Written for the Hongkong Daily Press.]
(Continued from last week.)
XV.
In England the Cant n inoi lent had a ourions and unexpected effect It sort out the pusil- lanimods self-sʻyled philosophio radios's from the mass of the nation still sound, and by a strange coincidence brought together Lord Derby, the Conservative l ́ader and Cobden the most intractable of the new freetsders. Lɔri Palmerston was challeng «l in both Houses, and defeate I in the Commous. Instead of resigning he appealed to the country, at the same time qaistly continuing his prepara'ivas. The re- sult was to replace him in power with a larger....
Meanwhile the war in majority than before. China went on. China made even a worse stand than in the previous fight; Canton was taken with little los ou either side, and the bɔastful Yah was ignominously seat a prisonor to Cal- catta and the City placed under an allied Com mission, the French having joined in the war, No more incapable agent thau Lord Elgin was, probably, ever employed on a mission of national importance, but the conduct of the Chiunga at last did what Elgin would never have dono had he found a mousehole to creep out of. He dawdled irresolutely at Cautoa quarrell- ing with every on", merchant or official in- differently; protesting against the job he had undertaken to accomplish, yet without the plack to throw it over. The more truculent of the <fficials seing they could do so with impunity recommenced the old style of boastful inter fereno, and openly net abɔut drilling their braves, while the old system of cutting off stragglers from the garrison was revived, The Canton officials at last ordered all Chinese subjects at Hongkong to leave; and proceeded, 33 in the old days, to cut off supplies, which compelled Sir Juhu Bowring take the affair into his own hands greatly to Elgiu's chagrin. At last finding that the other plenipotentiaries who had been sent out by the
to
uropean Powers had made up their mind to go worth, to Peking, if necessary, Elgin with bad grac, made up his mind to go there too. The season was too late for operating that year, s the expedition had to be postponed tili the apring, what last it got off.
00
governora
дог
Then at last, early in the spring of 1858, it started, and went up to the Gulf of Peohili; here the Taku Forts at the entrance of the Priho, thought impregnable by the Chinesɔ Gorerament, were esptured, and Elgin want on to Tientsin. His orders were to settle affairs at Poking its if for which he had sufficient force, but the Court being now thoroughly affrighted, sent down in hot hasta its Commissioners to stop him. With his usual shillyshallying Lord Elgin permitted himself to b, talked over. Tue treaty was not of E gin's construction, although he characteris- tically remarked "any fool ould have made it," bat had been written out in the Foreign Ofos so that he had not the opportunity of tampering with it, or the result would probably have besa bisrre, Impatient to get away to Japan, where he would have merchan's to trouble him, he had nɔt the address to hide his indiffereno), but let it be seen by the Chinese officers, who took advantage of it to osjole the minister who felt proud when on the 26th Jane, 1958, the lastament was at last signed, a id as he fancied done with almost indecent haste he whereupon with betook himself to Japin without going to Peking; the chief point detailed in his instrue- tions. The treaty, it is trae, contained the 'ipulation that in future there shoud be à Mizier in residence at the Capital, but elgin, thaogh he dared not leave it out, showed plainly that so far as he was concerned he cared not a jot for this. Besides stipulating for tha residence of the minister in Peking, the treaty also provided for the op ning of three por a about the Gulf of Peobili; it mig at have contained, al: most anything for all the Chasse sigantaries
до intentioa oared, they had
of keeping it, sad so were equally indifferent with
Plenipotentiary.
(To be continued).
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