November 9, 1908.]
CANTON.
FEOM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
October 29th.
THA TORTURING OF WITNESS18, The Local Authorities here have received communication from Peking in which it is
JHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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by the Wai-Wa-pu to the Viceroy of Kwang | the 29th ultimo at about 11 p.m. a band tung is interesting:-
one hundred robbers, many of whom with Mauser rifles, made a raid on a family houses and shops in Ho Nam. They soon engaged with the police and many were exchanged with no results. Nobody
with their booty. oven wounded. The robbers made off ultimately This plainly shows - the the rate payers have been complaining of their uselessness of the Canton · Police and no wonder.
cowardice.
"It was distinctly mentioned in the Treaties made with foreigners that they have the right to run steamships from any Creaty Port to inland places and that it is the duty of the tion to all foreign vessels trading in loland Chinese Government to give adequate proteo
pirates. The plundering of foreign vessels in waters so as to guard them against attacks by inland waters generally gives foreigners the pretext for creating serions international difficulties. For instanos the British Govern- meat undertook themselves to patrol the West River last year. The Board asks the Viceroy to give them a full report of how the West River is now patrolled."
THE KIDNAPPING OF BIN TING PING. I have already reported that Sin Ting Ping was killed by the Pirate Chief, Luk Lan Ching, who is now demanding $10,000 for the delivery of the corpse.
stated that the Court of Appeal in Peking has recently memorialised to the Throne pointing out that, although Imperial ediots have been issued commanding all the officials to abolish the infliction of torture in their yamens, and that His Majesty's stored orders have been com- municated to the officials of all the Provinces in China with instructions to strictly observe and carry them out, it has transpired that in many instances since the ediots "ware issued, prisoners who ought to be condemned to death for committing serious crimes, such as murder and pirsoy, have stubbornly refused to confess their orimes. The Court of Appeal suggests that in cases like these the officials might be permitted to inflict torture so as to avoid the unnecessary loss of time in retrying such cases. The Court also suggests that this prevents prisoners charged with outrageous crimes from dying a painful death in the prisons through long imprisonment, thus escaping the lawful death punishment and naturally creating public suspicion that the prison admini. stration is unsatisfactory. A to oriminals who have committed offences which are not punishablet by death and who obstinately refuse to make confessions and repeatedly plead innocence and make false statements to deceive the Courts in such cases where it is impossible to extract the truth from the prisoners the Court of Appeal suggests that permission may be granted to the officials to follow the proposal formerly made by His Excellency Kot, Minister-of the Bos rd of Punishment, ie, to sanotion the infliction of only five strokes of the bamboo," The memorial further states that excessive torture is strictly prohibited and any official who fails to comply with the regulations must be im- mediately cashiered and severely punished.
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THE KIDNAPPING OF SIN TING PING.
This matter is having the attention both of the Local Authorities and the high officials in. Peking. A few days ago the Viceroy received 8 telegram from His Excellency, Yuan Shih Ksi sta ing that Sin Ting Ping must be found and released at all cost The Namboi Magistrate, and the Military
officers are baving a busy time now. This mor-
It appears that the untimely death of Sin Ting Ping was accelerated through the action of Captain Le in imprisoning and punisbi ga messenger who was deputed by the Pirate Chief some three weeks ago to negotiate for the settle- ment of the amount of ransom. The Military officers here are blaming Captain Lo for the rash step taken by him in punishing tle messenger which, they say, roused the temper of Lak Lan Coing and he immediately caused the captive to be put to death. It is reported that Nam Hoi and the Military officers (all of whom seemed to be powerless) are now endes- themselves to redeem Sin Ting Ping's body. vouring to raise the required sum amongst
AN OFFICIAL PRIS N VISITOR.
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It was not usual formerly for officials to visit the gaols. Since reforms have been introduced Provincial Judge Cheong has visited the Nam Hoi gaol several times. His Excellency was so satisfied with what he saw that he intends taking steps to see that the other gaols are kept in the
same manner.
THE CURRENCY
A Bureau is to be opened in the city to re- purchase all the new dollar coins which were put into circulation by the Provincial Govern- ment a few months ago.
THE TAXATI 'N OF NATIVE OPIUM.
His Excellency Viceroy Chang has received telegraphic instructions from the Board of Revenue in Peking to increase the tax on ass to send them a full report regarding the native orade opium to 100 taels per pical and
THE IMPERIAL CHINESE GOVERNMENT BANK.
The Imperial Chinese Government Bank has recently established a branch office in Canton and instructions were given to Viceroy Chang by the Board of Revenue in Peking to remit all revenues of the Province to Peking through the Government Bank. The Shanzi Bankers, the bulk of whose business here consisted in re- witting Government monies have petitioned the Viceroy, pointing out the great loss they would incur should the Imperial Bank take all their business away. His Excellency has decided to give 60 per cent, of the remittances to the šhausi Banks and the balance to the Impérial | Bank,
NEW WOODEN OPIUM LICENSES, The 60,000 wooden opium Hoenses which were ordered by the Government from a firm in in Loong Tsong Street will all be ready for distribution in a few days. As the license will have to be renewed on the first day of the 6th moon next year it is reported that the same firm has contracted to make the licenses for ne ct year which I am told will be double the size and thickness of the present ones, i.c. 8 feet long by 1 feet wide aud "three-fifths of an inch thick.
If the Government were to go on doubling the size of the license progressively in each successive year what would be the size and weight of the license in the tenth year? Tam told that this is positively the intention of the Government.
November, Brd.
THE SHAMEAN SWIMMING BATH.
At the last meeting a resolation was passed approving of the lease of Lot. No. 78 to the Municipal Council for the purpose of sou trust- ing a public swimming bath. The original estimate given at the meeting for the lastruc- tion of the bath and club house wat $26.000.
The scheme is not to be so elaborate and has will be subscribed, the shares being 3100 each. since been reduced to $16,000. The capital Another meeting is to be held shortly when
ning I was informed that the Kwong Chau | production, consumption, and the amount of definite arrangements will be made.
the tax collected annually on native opium.
November 2nd.
THE LATE SIN TING PING.
General, who was also deputed by the Viceroy a fortnight ago to proceed to Shun Tak to make investigations in this matter, returned to Canton yesterday and reported to the Viceroy that the pirate chief, Lak Lau Ching, has already killed the man
It is reported that the officials here have and now demands $:0,000 to deliver the corpse.
redeemed the body of the late Sin Ting Ping If that is the case many officials will be $6,00. Luk's prosperous times may be marred from the Pirate Chief Luk Lau Ching for cashiered or punished for neglect of duty.
THE EXAMINATION FOR CUSTOMS
TIDEWAITERS.
In the competitive examination held at the I. M. Customs for Chinese tidewaiters' positions the other day out of nineteen osadida es nine of them passed and out of these nine only two (Hongkong students) managed to равя the Dootor. All the others were declared physically unfit for outdoor work. The canditates who passed third and fourth in the examination are students of the Ellis Kadoorie Canton Colleges, the first and second and the rest are from
Hongkong school*. The physical develop ment of Chinese boys in the public' schools evidently needs attention.
October 30th.
CANTON-HANKÓW RAILWAY,
I wired you that His Excellency Chang Chi Tung has been given fall control of the Canton Hankow Railway. This is apparently the first step towards the redemption of the line by the
Government.
WEST RIVER PATROL.
Peking off 'ials seem to have been paying more attention to safeguarding foreign-owned vessels trading up the West River from attacks by pirates si on the demonstration of the British flotilla on the West River last
year. In connection with this subject, the following translation of a dispaoth recently sent
by bis triumph over the officials in this matter. He has lowered the dignity of the Military offi- cials and they have put their backs up. It is said that the Military officers are determined to capture Luk Lan Ching dead or alive at any for a Military expedition on a rather large scale Meanwhile preparations are being made to pursue and capture the Pirate Chief and his comrades.
cost.
OFFICE A BOLISHED.
and Mines of the Kwingtang Province is The office of Minister of Agriculture, Labour, abolished with the removal of His Excellency Chang Pei Es from that post. In future all matters in connection with agriculture, labour
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YUNNAN REBELLION. OFFICIALS BEHZADED AND CASHIERED,
As a sequel to the Yannan rising and the consequent disturbances on the frontier of Anuaro, three officials were ordered by Im- perial Edict to be beheaded, six others cashiered and several were also banished.
MACAO-CANTON RAILWAY.
It will be remembered that the Maoso-Canton Railway concession was cancelled and given to a Chinese syndicats, Tong Show Yip, Leong Wao Lak and others. Chang Pei Sze, former- ly Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Mines in the Southern Provinosa, has been negotiating on his own socount with the Masso Govern- mout. This has come to the ears of the Central Government who have called upon Chang Pei Sse to explain himself. Viceroy Chang has also received instructions from the Wai-Wu-Pu to investigate the matter and report if Chang Pei 8ze has signed any contracts with the Maoao Government which migħt involve the Chinese Government in international dim.
and mines in the Province will be under the culties. control of the Taotai of Industries.
GOVE (NMENT AND BRICK FACTORIES.
The Director of the Government Cement Factory has applied to the Viceroy for a further loan of 300,000 taels for the purpose of com- pleting the factory and also to build a brick factory on the premises of the cement factory. He suggests to His Excellency that the amount required could be borrowed from the local merchants and that the loan would be repaid to the merchants with interest out of the pr` made by both factories.
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D. BING Gang of rOBBERS,
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Canton is said to be well policed, yet robbery and burglary have been frequent of late on both the Ho Pats and Ho Nam sides of the City. On
OFFICIAL MATTERS.
It is reported that Cheon Fang Ka1, Nam- Hoi Magistrate, and Chow Yü Tan, Pлon Yü Magistrate, will both shortly be removed from
their offices.
Owing to the cashiering of Ching Chúng Chow, Admiral of the Yangtae feet, Admiral Shat Chaq P.ag of Canton has been prañsoted to fill that position. Acting Admiral "Li Tran will be promoted full Admiral of the Southern 'Squadron.
CANTON-HANKOW RAILWAY.
The Directors of the Canton-Hankor way Company here have r portad following Charitable Institutions har on behall of the Company during
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