One of the Things They Manage Better in China.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 32, 7 February 1891, Page 4 (Supplement)

One of the Things They Manage Better in China.

IN many respects the Chinese ( Truth Jays) are a most rational and practical race Here is a case in point. During a recent anti-ioreign-devil riob at some place between Tong-tu and Kaipmg, the mob, by way of emphasizing its sentiments, destroyed a good length of the rai Iway bhat has recently been carried through the district. The local mandarin - a Chinese Ruskinite apparently—instead of using the forces under him to quell the nob, senb his soldiers to assisb in the p.ous work The embankments were levelled for some distance, and the rails thrown into th 6 river, and an attempt was made to destroy the bridges. Mr Kinder, the head engineer of the line, laid the state of the case before the Toatoi of Tientsin, who is the head director of the undertaking. The Toatoi sent for tho mandarin, and addressed him thus : ' To please yourself and friends you havo destroyed the railway track. To please me you will pub it back just as ib was before. If, one monbh from to-day, the trains are nob running the same as before, you lose your head, and your family and ancestors are disgraced. Mr Kinder estimates the damage and loss by non-running of trains at 50,000 taels (about £12,500), which sum you will have to pay out of your own funds to the company. For labour, all your officials, soldiers, and the townsfolk will work as you direct, receiving no_ money for their labour; and all salaries are stopped till the repairs are complete. I shall appoint a board of punishment to return with you, with power to torture and imprison anyone who makes the leasb disturbance or trouble.' The mandarin begged for mercy on the plea thab, as the country was all under water, he could nob possibly get mud and stones wherewith to build the embankments. Tho Toatoi saw tbe force of this plea, and said he would give him a chance. He could pull down any of his forts he liked in order to provide material for the repair of the railway, and he would give him three months after the railway was completed to rebuild his forts at his (the mandarin's) own expense. In rother under three weeks the trains were running again, and they are now rebuilding the forts. How long would ib have taken to bring aboub bhe same results in England ?