372
NOTES FROM JAPAN..
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
TOKYO, October 5th. THE COMMERCIAL SITUATION.
The past month has witnessed vory steady progress in the commercial situation. In my last letter I reported the advance of the principal stocks during the mouth of August. The appreciation was continued throughout September, but the market has not been so steady and there are indications that
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
stand why a determined effort is not made to protect the railway from the elements. There has been some talk of the broadening of this line to standard gauge, which would involve an enormous expenditure, estimated at 300 million yen. The Railway Board cannot see its way to such an outlay at the present time, but without altering the gauge, a great deal could be done to increase the capacity of the line, and
only even if this improvement were temporary it would do more to benefit the trade of the country than the establishment of the projected electric railway, which will never be anything more than a local service of rapid
transit.
DEATH THE REAPER AND MENINGITIS,
the limit has been reached. In the case of all the gilt-edged stocks there has been much
In the space of one week death has removed fluctuation during the past ten days, and the
several of the members of the foreign com- present month is hardly likely to be so pros-munities of Tokyo and Yokohama, all of whom perous from the operator's point of view, as
are reported to have died from the same disease, the last month's developments in China com- bined the continued sluggish state of trade, and namely, meningitis. This complaint appears to have been almost epidemic in Yokohama, for according to the papers. several foreigners have been down with it, But a foreign doctor who was consulted by a young man "out of sorts gave it as his opinion that the belief that meningitis was epidemic was a fallacy. Nor
with certain domestic events all contribute to check the boom which brokers anticipated at the end of July.
THE BANK OF KOREA.
The subscription to the Bank of Korca shares was much greater than anticipated, and the consequence is that only those who subscribed for enormous amounts got a reasonable share. As an example of the rate of over-subscription, one merchant who desired to fuvest ten thousand yen, and who subscribed 80,000 yen, has been allotted the comfortable amount of two shares !
It is impossible to say exactly how many times the issue was over-subscribed, but it is safe to say that the small investor has very little interest in the Bank of Korea, although it was the Government's desire that the people should participate. The great corporations and other financial magnates have absorbed the bulk of the stock of the Bank of Korea, and so it will go on to the end of the chapter. At present these shares, which are only five yeu paid-up, are quoted at thirty yen,
GOVERNMENT RAILWAY POLICY.
did he believe that the deaths which had occur- red had been caused by meningitis in every case. The season has been particularly trying, and the recent change in the weather has found out the weak spots in ordinarily healthy con- stitutions. This combined with indiscretions such as drinking unboiled water, going without head covering in the sun, over-exertion at sport (I am still quoting the docter), has brought young fellows to bed, In all epidemics and so- called epidemics nervousness is a great factor, and people have been known to die during cholera epidemics who have not had the disease at all, but have lived in a nervous dread of it. Undoubtedly there has been a lot of nervousness in Yokohama in the past month over this alleged meningitis, and not a little illness in consequence from nervousness.
THE DOG AND THE CIGAR,
The papers are again paying attention to the
A good story has been going the rounds. The project first mooted in 1907 for connecting other day a very well dressed and diguitied Tokyo and Osaka with an electric railway, the Japanese took a seat in a first-class carriage at promoters of which enterprise undertake to run
Yokohama in one of the new non-smokers, and an express service between the two cities in six pulled out a cigar. The only other occupant hours. This line, would prove a formidable com- was a foreigner, who tells the tale. Before the petitor with the Tokaido Railway in passenger train started for Shimbashi, however, there en- traffic, for the latter, a narrow gaue line, cannot do tered a bustling, pompous, autocratic American the journey under about eleven hours. It is lady. The dowager was followed by an amah difficult to understand the policy of the Govern- and between them they had about twelve parcels ment in the matter of railways. On the one large and small. When the train started the hand the Government grants the charters right lady was still investigating whether those and left to electric railway companies, whose parcels were all right, during which operation lines run in competition with the steam the Japanese smoker only got the back view of railways, and on the other hand the the lady of generous expanse. At length sle lines are restricted in various ways in the sat down opposite, and seeing the unconcerned matter of speed and other powers, and ultimate- Japanese drawing dreamily at his weed an- ly become the property of the State. The nounced in tragic tones that this was not a capital for the new electric railway is estimated smoking car. The offender, who did not at a hundred million yen. The line would of understand English, went on smoking. course traverse a good deal of country miles Suddenly the lady pointed at the cigar away from the Tokaido Railway, but in many with outstretched arm, and again spoke in the places it would run practically parallel. While commanding tones she was doubtless accustomed it would open up some districts and encourage to use when addressing her husband. No notice the growth of small industries, this advantage was taken. A moment later the cigar of the puzzl- would not by any means compensate for the lossed and half-terrified Japanese was flying through the country now suffers by the limited capacity of the window. The passenger, who was consider- the railway communication between Tokyo and ably offended but did not know exactly how to Osaka. It is between such points as these that act in the circumstances, thinking probably this the trade of the country circulates, and better was the way men were treated in the West, for that a large sum should be spent on increas- sat nursing his wrath. His eyes became fixed ing the number of tracks and elevating the upon the ample proportions of the lady's bosom, permanent way of the Tokaido line, for this and gradually it dawned upon him that there was would enable the growing freight traffic to something else under her shawl besides what move more freely and would obviate the almost ought to be there, for the protuberance was constant interruption now experienced during much larger on one side than on the other. In periods of bad weather. How easily the fact it was a tiny Chin dog which the lady had Tokaido Railway is closed to traffic was illus-smuggled through the wicket and on board the trated a few days ago. In consequence of one train in defiance of the regulations. In Japan night's heavy rain, on Monday morning last to defy the regulations is a serious thing, and week, the line between Ofuna and Yokohama a scheme of revenge developed in the passenger's was completely under water. along the whole wily brain Watching his opportunity the Japan- three hundred miles of track between Tokyo ese gentleman suddenly made a dart forward, and Osaka washouts and landslides were seized the poor Chin and throw it out of the frequent, and for several days afterwards window after the cigar, to the consternation of traffic was confined to sections and there was all. Half a minute later the train drew up in. very little through traffic. All this occurred Kanagawa station. The outraged lady, terrible because in some places the railway is raised but in her wrath, rushed to the window to lodge a a very little above the level of the surrounding complaint, when she saw her little pet running country and in the mountain districts danger along the platform, wagging his tail joyously is always to be apprehended from landslides. with something in his mouth. Now what do Seeing that such interruptions to traffic occur you think it was? The moral of this story is not egularly every year, it is difficult to under-
to jump at conclusions. It has been done to
[October 25, 1909. death in the clubs, and several Japanese, ready with a too eager answer, have been victimised to the extent of drinks round.
THE MANILA OPIUM CASE.
EVIDENCE AS TO TRANSACTIONS TIONS IN HONGKONG.
We take the following report from the Manila Cablenews-American of the 10th inst.:~~- The Grant-Kennedy opium trial consumed the entire day in court yesterday and closed with the attempt of the prosecution to show that the correspondence that formed the basis of the testimony given both in the morning and the afternoon and on which the defence depends to show that Kennedy was not the importer of the drugs, had not passed between the parties as claimed.
After a prolonged examination and cross- examination of Detective Cooley, who heard the conversation between the two defendants, Ken- nedy was placed upon the stand by the defence.
Kennedy testified that he had known Grant for about ten months and had met him in Hongkong last November. He saw him again later and had an interview with him in his office on June 22. "He came to my office," said Kennedy, "and told me that he had just come from Hongkong. He asked me to buy from him four iron tubes that had been made in Hongkong, offering to sell them for 3,000 Hongkong dollars. He told me they were at Mr. Barker's warehouse there. He further told me that the tubes had been especially made for the purpose of opium smuggling. He offered to bring them to Manila and to charge me 2,500 dollars for so doing. The tubes were to contain opium.
"I then wrote to my business agent in Hong- kong about the matter. I also gave a letter of introduction from Grant to Mr. Barker for my agent, Hoy Man,"
Prior to this certain correspondence has been offered in evidence and received subject to the objection of the prosecution. These letters formed the basis of the argument for the defence, it being the purpose of Kennedy's attorneys to show that Grant had engineered the deal and that Kennedy was not responsible for the importation of the drug. The first letter introduced related to the opening of the transaction and the letter of introduction, and
was as follows:
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Manila, P. I., June 22nd, 1909. My dear Mr. Hoyman:
•
*I beg respectfully to inform you that an American by the name of Mr. Grant, who is at present engaged in mining business at Manila, called at my office yesterday morning and he had a conversation with me about opium business. According to what he said he had four tubes made for the use of smuggling which can contain 200 lbs. of opium and that the above tubes are now kept in the house of his agent, Mr. Barker, at Hongkong.
"He also informed me that he wants 3,000 dollars Mex. for the above mentioned tubes, and also 2,500 Mex to bring them in, thus making a total of 5,500 dollars Mex., which includes all general charges between Hong. kong and Manila. He also said that he can guarantee that the 5,500 dollars are to be paid under the condition after the goods are safely delivered by him here.
"I send herewith a letter of introduction from Mr. Grant. Please bring it and go to see Mr. Barker. You may do what you deem proper."
Hoy Man is supposed to have taken the letter of introduction to Barker and tells of his recep- tion as follows in his alleged reply:
45
"Hongkong, June 29, 1909. My dear Mr. Yueu Kai:
"I was in receipt of your favour under date. of the 22nd together with a letter of in- troduction from Mr. Grant, on the morning of the 26th instant. I have learned all its contents.
"I had interviewed Mr. Barker with the letter. I talked with Mr. Barker about the tubes. I asked him to let me see them, hut Mr. Barker demanded that I must give him 500 dollars Mex, before he could allow me to see the tubes,
I was greatly surprised by such occurrence. I failed to look at the tubes, because I would rather not succeed than be ignored by him.
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