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CANTON.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
2nd July, 1909. STOPPING THE ISSUE OF BANK NOTES.
His Excellency the Viceroy has received a dispatch from the Board of Revenue in Peking stating that under section 2 Regulation 1 of the Laws Governing Banks it is stated that before the publication of new laws regarding the oirculation of paper money all banks established by officials and merchants are granted tem- porary permission to issue banknotes for the convenience of trade, etc., This was a method temporarily adopted to suit the convenience of the general public. Having now compiled suitable laws to govern the circulation of paper money, the dispatch says it has devolved upon the Board to fix a date pro- hibiting the further issue of paper money by the banks, as it is apprehended that the markets will be inundated with paper money of different values to the great hinderance to trade and commerce. The issue of bank notes must be discontinued fifteen days after the receipt of this dispatch, and all bank notes that are now in circulation must be gradually with- drawn from the markets by the issuing banks. In future a limit will be placed on paper money isaued by the banks, "and there should also be a Axed standard of currency."
The Board add that full particulars of the methods to be adopted will be forwarded in due course. The Viceroy is instructed to inform all the official banks in the province to strictly con- form to these instructions and also to instruct the local authorities to notify all the commer- cial associations and the merchants to out and obey the above orders.
OFFICIAL MATTERS.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
further investigation and to arrest all the people who were implicated in the matter and have them punished. Procrastination on the part of any of the military officials will render them liable to be severely reprimanded. I have instructed the provincial judge to communicate my full instructions to you in this matter.'
FAREWELL CALL..
(July 10, 1909.
THE MURDER OF DR. LALCACA.
Foreign residents of Shanghai and very many Chinese, says the N.-C. Daily News, will read this telegram with deep regret, for the death of Dr. Cawas Lalcaos removes one of the best known and most prominent members of the This morning Mr. Fox, H B.M.'s Consul. community. Brief as are the telegrams convey- General here, paid a farewell call on Hising the sad news of his death, it is yet quite Excellency Viceroy Chang and also to offer Him plain that the assassin intended to murder Sir hearty congratulations upon the important
William Curzon Wyllie only, and that Dr. Lalcaca being in the immediate vicinity was struck promotion which His Excellency has received.
accidentally by the last shot in the revolve. Probably Dr. Lalcaca rushed forward to render assistance, as he would have been quite ready to do eveu in such dangerous circumstances. Dr. Lalcaca had only been a few weeks in London and those who knew him best would be the last to believe that he had given cause for such deadly animosity, even to a fiery tempered Indian student. Dr. Lalcaca was the son of a Servant of India, the late Mr. Cusetji Laloaca, well known and highly respected Civil
CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT.
The
The elections for the Provincial Parliaments take place in most of the provinces in
hina on the 1st day of the 6th moon. roting is by ballot. His Excellency Viceroy Chang has given instructions to the local authorities to forward him a list of all the candidates representing the various Prefectures and Districts in the Kwangtung Province and also to have the balloting rules printed for distribution, balloting paper, and all the neces sary stationery and member's licences ready for
use.
7th July, 1909.
SALE OF THE CHINA LIGHT AND
POWER CONCERN.
It is reported that a formal contract was signed at the British Consulate and a sum of $100,000 bargain money was paid over to the China Light and Power Company, Ltd, by the Chinese Government on the 5th inst. fcr the purchase of that concern, and that the balance of the purchase money will be paid before the end of this month. carry
Messrs. Thorne and Gerard, electrical engineers, will be retained by the new Company until the expiration of their agreements in 1913.
It is reported that shortly after Vicoroy Chang received by cable the Imperial Edict announcing his promotion to the position of Viceroy of Liang Kiang, His Excellency re- ceived another telegram from the Grand Council at Peking urging him to proceed to Liang Kiang to take up his new appointment as soon as possible. It is said that Viceroy Chang decided to hand over his official functions to Provincial Treasurer Woo оп the 11th inst. and leave Canton before the end of this month. The Salt Com- missioner will be appointed acting Provincial Treasurer. Treasurer Woo has been acting Viceroy of the two Kwang on several occasions. It is rumoured that on the arrival of the new Viceroy, H.E. Woo will be promoted Governor of Honan, as Governor Wu of the latter Province has already sent in his resignation.
His Excellency Yuan Shu Hsun the new Viceroy of the two Kwang, is expected to arrive hare in August. He is a native of Hunan Province and is known to be one of the most anti-foreign officials in China. Viceroy Yuan is an exceedingly ambitious man and was Taotai of Shanghai only a few years ago. His rapid promotion of late years was due to the numerous memorials which were sent to the Throne by him dealing on the subjects of establishment of parliament, the evil effects of the copper cent currency and many other important national matters.
THE MURDER OF A JAPANESE.
The Viceroy has been informed that several arrests have been made in connection with the murder of the Japanese named Saichiro Noguchi and his coolie at the Ma Chay village in the District of Tsang Sheng, and that the passport belonging to the deceased Japanese was found in the possession of one of the prisoners. The Viceroy in acknowledging the information wrote: "It is astounding to hear that the people of the Ma Chay village had the audacity to murder Japanese subject named Saichiro Noguchi and his servant and to throw their bodies into the river. Such an outrageous act means treating the laws with extreme contempt. I desire to know how the affair orginated and what was the real cause of this quarrel. I instruct the sub-prefect to find out without delay the real facts of the case, and at the same time Magistrate Woo is instructed to ascertain who were the actual mur- derers. Only genuine evidence of eye-witnesses should be sent to me. I command you to instruct the military officials of the Tsang Sheng District to dispatch soldiers to make
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The Board of Posts and Communications has notified all the Viceroys and Governors in China that all electric light and telephone concerns and all matters and business concerning electric power are under the control of that Board, as officially recorded in a memorial presented to the Throne in the 6th moon of the 33rd year of Kwong Hsui.
THE FATSHAN AFFAIR.
The Chinese papers publish a letter stated to have been addressed by Messrs. Butterfield and Swire to the Chinese merchants engaged in the Manila trade, expressing their regret that the Fatshan affair has not been settled, and intimating that the firm is prepared to pay the sum of $3,200 89 compensation and to change the Captain of the steamer; to press the authorities for a reinvestigation of the case, and to post notices on the steamer warn- ing the crew against harsh treatment of the passengers. The letter suggests that if this undertaking is made known to the public they will recognise that no blame attaches to the firm, and confidence is expressed that the Chinese merchants will continue those friendly relations with the firm which have existed for so many years.
THREATENING THE DESTRUCTION
OF THE SHAMEEN.
Recently several firms on the Shameen have received letters, purporting to be signed by the notorious pirate chiefs Lak Lan Ching and Lo Wing, demanding from each of the firms very large sums of money, the total of which amount to something like $500,000, and threatening that unless the money is paid on a certain date they would reduce all the buildings on the Shameen to ashes. It will be remembered that Lo Wing was one of the con- victs who recently escaped from the Shun Tak Prison. It is said that the British Consul has reported the matter to the Viceroy.
A sad drowning fatality occurred at Wanchai on July 3rd. Two Chinese schoolboys went into the harbour to bathe near the Wanchai Sanitary Office, and while sporting in the water both got beyond their depth. One was drowned before the arrival of assistance. The other was rescued just in time by a native beatman, and was landed on the Prays when Inspector Kerr was passing. The Inspector, after rendering first aid, caused the youth to be removed to No. 2 Station where he was kept until he had recovered.
Superintendent in the Posal Service. He was born in Ahmedabad, Gujrot Division, India, in 1863, and took preliminary medical degrees in Bombay. In 1884 he went to London, where he qualified as L.M., L.R.C.P. Later on he won his M.D., Brussels, and in 1886 he arrived in Shanghai and established a practice.
ence in Shanghai Dr. Lalcaca had always During the twenty-three years of his resid-
taken B movements.
prominent part in philanthropio
was one of the keenest members of the Shanghai He was very popular socially, and Volunteer Corps, in which he held the position of Surgeon-Major, and Principal Medical Officer of the Corps. He took unusual interest in military sports and rifle shooting and con- tributed freely in promoting these branches of service, both with trophies and personal effort. At the annual encampments he was always a familiar figure and he delighted no less in the rough field work of the Volunteer than in the scientific details of military work with which the ordinary Volunteer is not so familiar. He was a Mason of high degree and a member of the Grand Lodge of northern China.
As one of the recognized leaders of the local Parsee community, however, Dr. Lalcaca was known best, and when the Aga Khan visited Shanghai some two years ago came particularly into prominence and occupied a chief part in arranging receptions and entertainments for the distinguished visitor. All matters affecting the welfare of the Parsees possessed warm interest for Dr. Lalcacs, and it was always felt that although he came most freqently into association with people of other foreign communities his own people were never forgotten, and always retained first place in his affection.
In 1902 Dr. Lalcaca took long leave and renewed old friendships at the Southern ports and India before continuing his journey to Europe. After a short holiday he returned, and during the past seven years he worked diligently at his profession in Shanghai until February 11 last, when he went for
away another holiday. After visiting his people in India he left Bombay on April 17 and went to London, intending to return to Shanghai in October next. He was a member of the Imperial Institute and would naturally have been there frequently, though yesterday apparently an important function was being held at the Institute.
Dr. Lalcaca was not married, and his only relative in Shanghai is his uncle, Mr. B. P. Lalcaca, exchange and general broker, but his brother, Mr. r.. C. Lalcaca, is now on a visit to China after making a tour of Japan and was expected at Shanghai on the 12th instant.
Not only residents of Shanghai but people of the Far East generally, from Japan to India, will be seriously concerned at the death of Dr. the sombre interest that attaches to such a tragio Lalcaca, and further news will be awaited with and unexpected termination to a virile life.
We understand that arrangements are being made for the two lakhs of dollars promised by the Canton Provincial Government for the Hongkong University to be handed over to the treasurer of the scheme before Viceroy Chang leaves to take up his new appointment.
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