120
CORRESPONDENCE.
A SERIOUS CHARGE.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PRESS."]
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
EIB-It is an open secret among the Chinese here that on the night of the last typhoon the Chinese crew of a river steamer owned by a Chinese company were so greatly terrified, Bo much maddened by fear of the approaching danger, that they broke open first class saloon cabin doors to get at life belts. They terrorized the Chinese gentlemen in the cabins, and snatch- ed their life belts from their persons by force. Fortunately the steamer weathered the storm, and thus the matter ended. Subsequently these saloon passengers complained to their friends on shore, and when asked why they did not bring the matter to the notice of the authorities, they explained that they were too thankful to have escaped with their lives, and so great was their joy over deliverance from death that they could afford to forgive the wretches.
Now, Sir, this may be their view, and it is a characteristic Chinese way of putting it, but the crime is really too serious to go either unpunished or unnoticed, and I would like to bring this matter 10 the notice of the authorities in Hongkong with a view to inquiries being made and, if possible, punishment meted out to the cowardly wretches, who are still employed on that British steamer. In their present position they are dangerous inasmuch as they are able to repeat the crime in times of emergency. There is no doubt about the accuracy of this statement. The facts were given by passengers, who are by the way wealthy and influential men in Canton.
Yours &c.
Canton, 6th August, 1968,
TRUTH,
A VALUABLE SUGGESTION.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PEF88").
SIR-Might ! trespass on a little of your
Врасн
to put forward an idea which has suggested itself since our last typhoon.
Experience has shown us that there are always plenty of men able and willing to ren der assistance when these awful typhoons visit our shores; and we know that Britishers are ever ready to do their little bit" in rescue work of this or any sort.
Combined effort is always more effective than individu-l and an understanding between those who are willing to face the elements as to meet. ing places and where to lay their hands on the necessary tao-le would facilitate the rescue work. As soon as the detonators were fired deuoting the near approach of the typhoon, everything would be at hand to operations.
commence
An association could be formed on similar lines to those in some of the English coastal ports. Depots could be erected at intervals along the Praya in Victoria and Kowloon, fitted up with life buoys, life lines etc., ato, There would not be any difficulty in getting permission from the Government to put up these small sheds, I should think; and undoubtedly our generous Hongkong public would come forward in their usual way to defray the cost.
Should this idea meet with the approval of your readers a meeting might be convened and a committee selected to work out the necessary details,-- Yours.
"X. Y. Z."
NEW N. Y. K. STEAMER.
The Nippon Yusen Kaisha have every reason to feel proud of the latest addition to their fleet. The Kamo Maru," at present on her maiden trip, was on Aug. 11 inspected by a large number of Hongkong residents, most of whom spoke in terms of the highest praise of all that they saw on board. The saloon, handsomely furnished and beautifully finished, came in for especial admiration, and the drawing room and smoking room looked cosy and comfortable. The berths for the accommodation of the 83 Arst class
passengers appealed to prospective travellers, equipped as they are with electric fans and light, while the comfort and convenience of the other passengers are poportionate! Greater value for passage money paid is not likely to be obtained elsewhere.
Hospitality was lavishly dispensed on board during the afternoon.
The " Kamo Maru," is the first of a new series of six sister ships ordered specially for the Com pany's European service. Constructed at the Mitsu-Bishi Yard at Nagasaki, she has come up to expectations, and her owners will find her a valuable addition to their fleet. Her length is 482ft 6in., beam 56ft., and depth 34ft. 6in., while her gross tonnage is 8,600 tons, Built throughout of steel, and having a double bottom, she has been classed 160 A 1 at Lloyds. She is fitted with two sets of trifle expansion engines and is capable of steaming 16 knots, having done 166 at her trial trip. Her passenger accommodation represents a luxury of travel at remarkably low rates. laxe
There are "suites de and single berth cabins, which are very handsome, while the state rooms are large and equipped with modern requirements, the social ball and drawing rooms being particularly attractive. The "Kamo Maru can BOOOM. modate 83 first class passengers, 32 second, 12 intermediate and 140 steerage, and her cargo capacity is 10219 tons. The promenade decks are wide and afford ample space for all sorts of games. A feature of the steamer is that she is fitted with Marconi's system of wireless telegraphy, and there are a barberis saloon, dark
room and laundry on board.
THE OPIUM QUESTION.
ANOTHER
CANARD:
Pablicity having been given to a statement that the Government had proposed that the opium divans in Hongkong should be closed next March and that, as compensation, & reduction of $60 (00 per mensum should there- fore be made in the amount payable by the Opium Farmer to the Government during the remaining year of his lease, we made inquiries in the proper quarter and were officially inform ed that the Government had made no proposal in the matter at all and that the figures published were absolutely incorrect.
SHANGHAI OPIUM SHOPS.
The following extract is from the Shanghai Municipal Gazette:~
A Police report is read on the results of the closing of the first quarter of the opium shops, stating bow the proprietors and employees are now occupied, and how the smoking parapher.
nalia has been disposed of. Of the 358 houses which were closed 39 have become licensed shops for the retail sale of the drug, and, for the rest, the occupants are satisfactorily temploying themselves in other trades. Nothing in this document warrants the anticipation of any difficulty as regards similar treatment of the second quarter.
What is described as one of the longes judgements given in the Singapore Court was rendered by the Acting hief Justice. Mr. A. G. Law on the 5th inst. in which his lordship held that Chinese law and custom one in recognised polygamy. The case was which a dispute had arisen regarding the distribution of the estate of a deceased Chinese merchant. There were six wives in the case, and his lordship held that all should take shares in the estate, though he thought the first wife might have a larger share than the others. It was agreed, however, that all the wives should have equal shares.
Our Canton oorrespondent writes that Acting Captain Ng King Wing has been promoted by Viceroy Chung to the rank of Colonel and a few days ago was dispatched by his Excellency to be acting Brigadier General at Chik Kai Prefecture. It will be remembered that he was the official who arrested the "Tatsu Maru." This is his third promotion since the now famous seizure incident,
(August 17, 1908. FRENCH TROOPS AMBUSCADED.
FURTHER PARTICULAES,
.
Tonking papers to Hand contain some particn. lars of the ambuscading of French troops at Lang-Vao, reported in a recent telegram.
It appears that it occurred in the course of a reconnaisance towards Langver where the "Reformists" were entrenobed and hidden in the bush Captain Fleury led his force to the attack and fell into the trap prepared for him. He and Lieutenant Delattre were killed. It is
described as a particularly bloody affair. The fight took place in a cul-de-sac in the village of Lang-Vac, encircled by high hills which were occupied by 500 or 600 Cainese. The village was twice taken by the French troops, and each time retaken by the Chinese, shots being exchanged at fifty metres at most and finally at not more than thirty metres.
Delattre very bravely went to his assistance, When Captain Fleary fell Lieutenant and be too was killed by a shot. The Chinese threw themselves upon the bodies of the unfortunate French officers, not yet dead, and deospitated them, carrying away their heads amid savage hurraha.
The Reformists manœuvered and seemed a
veritable troop, well trained and well-armed. They had no Lebel rifles, but Indo-Chinese carbines taken probably at Banmang, which they knew perfectly how to handle.
Captain Fleury'a detachment consisted of one hundred men—tirrailleurs and légionnaires. Only one European soldier was wounded.
Two
Captain Bay with another detachment found himself in a cul-de-sac and fought for four boars, only giving up the combat when his ammunition was exhausted. Captain Bay was only slightly wounded in the head, tirailleurs were killed in the retreat, and as the Chinese were following only two metres behind they had to abandon the bodies with their armament and equipment. A half section of tirailleurs disappeared.
Between the 18th June and the 31st July the losses suffered by the Chinese bands operating in the province of Yen-Bay were 149 killed
and 117 prisoners,
KULANGSU (AMOY) MUNICIPAL COUNCIL..
Following are the Minutes of the Council held at the Board Boom, on the 14th July 1908 :---
Present:- Messrs. W. H. Wallace, (Chair- man), C. A. V. Bowrs, Huang Ts'an-obew, W. Kruse, 8. Okuyama, W. Wilson and the Secretary (C. Berkeley Mitchell).
I be minutes of the last meeting were read, and confirmed.
An application was considered from the Revd. P. W. Pitcher, of the R. C. A. Mission, to re- erect a wall round his school, and, on the under- standing that the public road opposi'e Mr. Hempel's house is widened, the Council agreed to contribute the sum of $8 ) towards the cost of the wall.
A letter was read from Mr. Khoo Ewe Chye requesting the Council to have a publio urinal close to his new house removed. It was resolved that be be informed that the Council regrets it cannot comply with the request, at the same time pointing out to him that the urinal was there before his building, and therefore in building a kitchen at that particular spot, he did so with his eyes open.
The Superintendent of Police reported that the following cases had been dealt with at the Mixed Court since the last meeting ------ Summonses: Breach of contract 4; Dabt 6; Wilfully damaging property 1; Perjary 1; A chair coolie, refusing hire ; Kidnapp- ing 1; Refusing to quit premises 1; Enorosobing on land 1; Allowing pigs and cattle to stray 1, Illegally selling land; Assault 1. Sa amary Arrests: Theft 3; Assault 3; Being a rogue and a vagabond &e, 2; Committing a nuisance 1; Being abroad after 12 midnight without a light 2; Being found on enclosed premises 2,
A contract has been arranged with the Hong- kong and Whampoa Dock Co. for the rebuild- ing of the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co's No 1 wharf which was destroyed in the 1906 typhoon.
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