July 19, 1909.]
FAR EASTER V TELEGRAMS.
AN ANGLO-JAPANE-E ENTERPRISE
POSTPONED.
Tokyo, July 9th.
At an influential meeting it was decided to postpone the Anglo-Japanese Hydro-Electric enterprise.
The flotation of the capital had already been decided upon and it had been intimated that the English promoters were desiring to dispatch engineers.
*
THE JAPAN SUGAR COMPANY SCANDAL,
SUICIDE OF THE PRESIDENT.
Tokyo. July 11th. Dr. Sakawa, President of the Dai Nippon Sugar Company, committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver to-day on the eve of his public trial.
Tokyo, July 13th. The Directors of the Dai Nippon Sugar Company have been committed for trial.
A PARCEL POST TREATY.
Tokyo, July 13th. A parcel post treaty has been concluded between Japan and the Straits Settlements.
JAPAN AND KOREA.
A NEW DEVELOPMENT.
Tokyo, July 14th. The rumours which have been emanating
from Seoul, hare culminated in a memorandum being signed by Viscount Sone and Mr. Yi, the Premier, placing the Army and the Courts of Justice under the Japanese.
The agreement was the outcome of a con- ference between Prince Ito, Viscount Soue, Mr. Yi and Mr. Pak, the Home Minister, on Saturday.
The coup was unexpected, and has provoked unrest in Seoul,
The houses of prominent officials are being guarded by the police.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE ANGLO-SIAMESE TREATY.
Career.
REVIEW:
65
By his niece, JULIET BRrdon. London: Hutchinson & Co.
The Courrier d' Haiphong in the course of Sir Robert Hart: The Romance of a Great an article on the Anglo-Siamese Treaty says:-. "We shall never know how much the great conceptions, the mysterious designs, the delays politicians have cost us, and will cost us in the and the audncities of our short-sighted future. Here is a Treaty which has just been signed between Siam and England, which is a 1907, and which constitutes for our empire in pendant to the one we obtained from Siam in
the Far East a grave economic defeat.
"For its relations with the West. Saigon is henceforth bound to remain tributary to Singa- pore. The passage which would have freed it -the cutting of the isthmus of Kra, which has so long been asked for-will now never be accomplished cr, if it is, it will be British.
"The railway which England is to have built to Bangkok means for that country a double economic vietory. It will be a victory both against us, since the line is pointed to the Mekong valley, and against the Germans, since the port of Bangkok will be doomed to medioc- rity, if not to ruin. This investment of British capital is calculated to sceure for Singapore and Rangoon the trade of Siam and the Mekong valloy.
perhaps some risk of being neglected under The life story of Sir Robert Hart published at the present time in book form runs the impression that it cannot conceivably add much that is new to the information lavishly provided for ther reading during the which the newspapers and magazines have so
the great career of the Inspector-General of past twelve months or so. But the romance of Imperial Maritime Customs in Chins, as it is told by his niece, is truly a fascinating book; few biographies of men of to-day are so well worth reading, and Miss Bredon has clothed the of anecdotal illustration that makes the reading bare bones of historical incidents with a wealth light, easy and delightfully attractive.
"By the side of that what are the trifling advantages gained by us in our Treaty with Siam? Shall we be able to conjure away this situation is clear. If our railway does not reach new peril so manifestly directed against us? The Laos before that of Siam, we shall doubtless remain the political masters of the Mekong but we shall never draw any economic profit from it. The moment has come boldly to lay down our railway in Siam itself, and to carry out the Barthélemy proposal, the necessity for which has long been evident. We must construct this railway on the right bank of the Mekong, and we must do so at once. We hope there will be no need to insist futher on its pressing importance in order to obtain immediately from our politicians the indispensable millions."
ELECTRIC TRAM PROFITS IN MANILA.
The Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company, during the past fiscal year, carried 10,701,859 passengers at an average rate of 9. 9 centavos and an average cost of 5.3 centavos
per passenger. Tokyo, July 16th. The Press approves of the new arrangement in Korea, remarking that it is a step further in a protectorate regime, and also towards the abolition of ex-territoriality.
JAPANESE STRIKE IN HAWAII.
Tokyo, July 16th. The strike situation in Hawaii is unchanged.
[FROM THE “CHUNG NGOI SAN PO.”]
THE DELIMITATION OF MACAO.
Peking, July 15th. The Prince Regent has given instructions to the Grand Secretaries to order His Excellency Kao Erh Chen, the Commissioner appointed to the Macao Delimitation Conference, to report by telegraph all questions in connection with the delimitation of boundaries.
THE CHINESE MILITARY AND NAVAL FORCES.
Peking, July 18th.
amounted to P991,668.31 and the revenue from The total revenue from transportation
operation other than transportation to P68,946.96, or a total of operating revenue amounting to P1.060,615.27.
The total operating expenses including taxes amounted to P569,398.78, giving a percentage of operating expenses to gross operating revenue of 53.7. These figures do not include the operation of the Manila surburban line to Me. Kinley and Pasig.
The Manila
Surburban line statistics are as follows: revenue from operation P158,432.55: total operating expenses aud taxes P.71,254.30 showing & percentage of operating expenses to KTOSS operat ing revenue amounting to 45.5 A total of 2,087,786 passengers was carried, the receipts per passenger being 7.5 centavos and the average expense per passenger being 3.4 centavos. Lablenews.
THE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT IN
JAPAN.
An Imperial Edict has been issued emphasising statistics, taken from. ing the importance of the development of the Imperial Army and Navy.
The regulations sanctioned by the late Em- peror, the Edict mentions, provided that H.M. the Emperor of China should be in-Chief of the naval and military forces of the ommander. Empire, but H. M. Hsuen Tsung being too young to fill that position, appoints his father the Prince Regent to undertake the duties of the post.
Prince Yak Lang, Prince Tsoi Fu, Prince Tsoi To and Admiral sah are appointed to assist the Regent.
In connection with the recent celebration of Yokohama's Jubilee, and the review of Japan's progress during the fifty years, a correspondent calls the Japan Gazette's attention to the follow- Movement in Japan" for 1908. The figures "The Christian refer to Protestant missions only: Native Churches, wholly self-supporting Native Churches, partly self-supporting.. Preaching Places other than Churches (where the Gospel is proclaimed not less than 6 times per annum) Native ordained ministers Native unordained ministers and helpers Native Bible women... Native full Church members Native baptized persons, not yet full
members
79 350
911 469 626 208
57,830
10,554
the simple circumstances in which Sir Robert The story begins with a description of began life seventy-four years ago. The household grew up under the bracing influence of uncom promising doctrines; it was no unusual thing, table, "What have you been doing for God to- we are told, for one member to ask another at
Robert Hart was greatly impressed by his day?" Though it does not appear that young surroundings at home, he scattered-brained imp of mischief" long after Was "a clever
character he inherited from sturdy old Puri- his school career began, the strength of tan stock denly turned into
soon developed. He Was sud- slightest of excuses-nothing more
a serious student by the resolve conceived in a spirit of pure mis- chief to defeat a schoolfellow who was confid. ently reckoning on gaining the Scripture prize. Hart, to the surprise of the school, gained the victory.
Now you see what you can do when you try, Hart," said the Governor of the school. idea as a challenge; it was the turning point in
Why don't
you try?"
He accepted this new
31
than &
his life, and he studied with an enthusiasm as thorough as it was sudden, Miss Bredon remarks that "Surely, if ever a boy was 'led' as the Wesleyans say, to do a certain work, Robert Hart was that boy." There is more than one reference in the book to Sir Robert's own belief in Providential guidance.
For the story of his long and eventful career in China we must refer the reader to the book itself. No summary of its contents can suggest obviously have here the reminiscences of Bir the engaging interest of the narrative. We
Robert Hart himself as he has described them in the family circle, with many good stories and little sidelights on history which find no place in the bluebooks, and the result is a charming volume.
Only one quotation we will permit ourselves. It is from one of the early pages in the book, and we chose it not only because it indicates the lasting influence of an early impression, but as serving the purpose of showing the attractive style in which the book is written :-
"At the impressionable age of six or there- abouts an aunt fired the boy's imagination with stories of the departed glories of the Hart family. She used to tell him how their ancestor, Captain van Hardt, came over from Holland with King William, fought at the Battle of the Boyne and greatly distinguished himself; how afterwards, in recognition of his gallant services, the King gave him the township of Kilmoriarty as a reward; how the gallant captain settled himself down there, kept his horses, ate well, drank deep, and left the place so burdened with debt that one of his descendents was obliged to sell it.
***When I'm a man, the little follow would say solemnly after hearing these things, I'll Of course she laughed at him quietly, thinking buy back Kilmoriarty and I'll get a title too.'
to herself how time and circumstances would separate the lad from the goodly company of his ambitions. Yet, after all, he saw clearer than she; he never wavered in the serious purpose formed before he reached his teens, and he actually did buy back Kilmoriarty when it came on the market years afterwards. As for a title, he gained a knighthood, a grand cross and a baronetey-thus fulfilling the second part of his promise grandly."
Our copy of the book comes from Messrs Kelly and Walsh.
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