A LESSON FROM THE CHINESE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 2609, 1 April 1891, Page 4

A LESSON FROM THE CHINESE.

psrln many respects the Chinese are a most rational and practical race. Here is a case in point During a recent anti-foreign-devu riot at some place between Tong-tu. and Kaiping, the mob, by the way of emphasising its patriotic sentiments, destroyed a good length of the railway that has recently been carried through the district The local Man-darinr-a Chinese Ruskinite apparently— instead of using the forces under him to quell the riot, sent his soldiers to assist in the* pious work. The embankmeni was levelled for some distance, and the rails thrown into the river, and an attempt was made to destroy the bridges. Mr Kinder, the head engineer of the line, laid the *tate of the case before the Toatoi o* Tie Vu, who is the head director of the undertaking. Toatoi sent for the Mandarin and addressed him thus: "To please yourself and friends you have destroyed the railway tract. To please me you" will put it back j ust as it was before. If one month from to day the trains are not 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 fifty thousand teals (about £2,5000), which sum you will have to pay out of your own funds to the Company. For labor, all your officials, soldiers, and the townsfolk will work as you direct, receiving no money for their labor; 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 least disturbance or trouble;" The Mandarin begged for mercy on the plea that, as the country was all under water, he could not possibly get mud and stones wherewith to build the embankments. The Toatoi saw the force of this plea, and said he would give him a eltance. He could pull down any of his forts he I;ked in order to provide material for the repair of the rail-^ way, and he would give him three montfiK aiter the railway was completed to *e£ build his forts at his (the Mandarin's) own expense. In rather under three weeks the trains were running again, and they are now rebuilding the forts. How long vrotd'l i* have taken to bring about the same result ia England^ r-Truik ;;