THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1900.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11925, 25 December 1900, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1900.

Tlie representatives of the foreign Powers have modified the demands upon the Chinese Government which they delivered last month. They have withdrawn the stipulation that the Chinese noblemen and high officials who instigated the antiClii'istiiiii and anti-foreign outrages should be punished with death. Instead, they will insist that the reactionary leaders shall be: visited with the severest penalty that China has p:>wer to indict. What this may be the Chinese Government will probably itself determine. If it may not commit an ofl'endcr of lofty rank to the hand of the executioner, it may piooiirc his death by other means. There is in China a refined system of capital punishment known as compulsory suicide. Some- little time ago it was iillic.ially announced that Yu Hsien, 1.110 notorious founder of the society of

" Uoxcrs," had been required to com--111 it/ wiieide. Whether ho did so or not c:innot be told for certain. His head wi\» ikjL exhibited to the Allies as confirmation of Li Hung Chang's annunmuMiKMit oi' his suicide. It is doubtful, indeed, whether, if a head Intel been produced, the Allies could Imve been sure of its identity as that of Yu flvion. Among the 400 millions which constitute the population of China many a head could be produced that would pass as that of that individual. Besides, heads are cheap in China. Under all the circumstances it is quite probable that ~*i ru Hsien is alive and well at the present day. But, in any case, compulsory suicide is not regarded as a. very degrading end in China-. Under many conditions it is believed to be an honourable and not

a shameful death. And the punishment to which the Powei's proposed to condemn the instigators of the outrages was one that the guilty would themselves dread. The punishment now to be exacted will, it is to be feared, prove most inadequate. . The objection raised by the Chinese Government that the execution of the principal offenders was impossible inasmuch as the Court was in the hands of these men will also avail as a reason why the Government should discover that the severest penalty it has the power to inflict will be something incommensurate, according to European notions, to the offences for which the punishment is to be awarded. Moreover, the Government is itself compromised. The joint note from the Powers impeaches it for treachery and duplicity in ordering the Imperial troops and Boxers to besiege the Legations under pretence of affording protection. This allegation rests upon irrefragable evidence. The siege of the Legations commenced on the afternoon of the 20th June. On the morning of that day Baron yon Ketteler was killed in the streets of Peking. The fatal bullet was fired, according to the statement of the Chinese Secretary of the German Legation, who was an eye-witness of the occurrence, by " a banner soldier, apparently a Manchu, in full uniform with a mandarin's hat with a button and blue feather." That the German Minister was trapped is about as clear as it is that his murderer was an officer of the Imperial troops. The foreign Ministers had requested an audience of the Tsung-li-Yamen to arrange for their safe conduct and transport, as had been promised, from jPeking. No reply had been received to this request, and under the circumstances a proposal at a meeting of the Diplomatic Body that all the Ministers should go to the Yamen found no seconder. Had that proposition been carried an appalling massacre would have occurred. Baron yon Ketteler set out alone. But there was no Prince or Minister at the Yamen, alt'liough it was the invariable custom that when no Minister could be present to receive a foreign envoy a messenger should be sent with a request to him not to come. No such messenger was sent on this occasion. I Baron yon Ketteler was justified, therefore, in believing that there would be a Minister to receive him nt the Tsung-li-Yamen. There is too much reason to conclude that the murder of the German Minister was deliberately planned, and that it was hoped- the other Ministers would fall into the trap in which he was caught. On the same day the Diplomatic Body were informed that it would not be snfe for them to leave Peking— they must remain there. A few hours later, by preconcerted signal, Chinese soldiers who had been secretly stationed under cover at every vantage point commanding, the outposts opened fire on the Legations. This was the beginning of the siege. It j was not until the 18th July that any official reference was made in the Peking Gazette to the German Minister's death. On the day of the murder the Yamen sent an insulting despatch to the Legation falsely stating that as two Germans were proceeding in chairs through the streets one of them had fired on the crowd, and that, as the Chinese had retaliated, he had been killed. The Yamen, they mockingly added, wished to know his name. On the 18th July the Peking Gazette contained this reference: " Last month the Chancellor of the Japanese Legation was killed. This was indeed most unexpected. Before this matter had been settled the German Minister was killed. Suddenly meeting this affair caused us deep grief. We ought vigorously to seek

the murderer and punish him." This edict, in which this atrocious affair was so lightly passed over, also directed an inquiry as to what foreigners had been " causelessly killed " and what property destroyed " that all may be settled together," and it also reprobated the acts of the " vagabonds" who had been " burning houses and robbing and killing the people these many days." But it is important to know that four days before the issue of this edict the foreign troops had occupied Tientsin. The edicts of the preceding few weeks had been couched in very different terms. In a decree issued on the 21st June, the day after the attack on the Legatious was opened, the Chinese apologia for having entered on war against the civilised world was published, and the " Boxers " were commended as patriotic soldiers. A few days previously bands of these " patriots " had swept through Peking City, massacring the native Christians and burning them in their houses. Thousands of Imperial soldiers witnessed the bloocty work without, raising a hand to save the victims, and Duke Lan, the brother of Prince Tuan, and Cliao Slm-chiao, of the Tsung-li-Yamen, drove about in their carts to gloat over the spectacle. A few days later Prince Chuang and the AssistantGrand Secretary, Kang-Yi, were appointed by the Throne to be leaders of the " Boxers," who were, furthermore, specially rewarded for services rendered by them in the city —presumably for attacking the foreigners and murdering the Christians. And throughout the whole period of the siege the evidence is equally strong that the Government was at the back of and actively supporting the besiegers. Yet all the while it was professing to be protecting the Legations, and. through Li Hung Chang and its ambassadors at the foreign courts, it was assuring the world that the Ministers were in no danger. The proof of the duplicity and treachery of the Chinese Government is conclusive. The original proposals of the Powers as to the terms upon which China's petition for peace could be acceded to were not more stringent than the occasion warranted. The "irrevocable conditions" which have now been communicated to the Government represent a marked weakening of the Powers' demands. It will be unfortunate if they should be whittled down any more.

Tn accordance with our usual custom, there will be no publication of the Daily Times tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.

Considering that the weather was wet yesterday, the railway traffic was remarkably heavy. Tlio 10.20 a.m. special and the northern express carried 600 passengers between thorn, whi.lo the 8 a.m., 8.15, and 9.5 trains south had altogether 550 passengers on hoard. The inward train's were also well patronised, while about. 350 persons travelled by the

special train which left Dunedin at 10.35 last night; a train to Invereargill, leaving the city at 11.30, taking nearly as many.

The congested traffic on the railway station yesterday morning was the cause of the In-

vereargill portion of tho 'Frisco mail, comprising 26 bags and two hampers, and a. few bags of the Wellington portion of the Dunedin mail, missing the north express. The mail van, contrary to the usual arrangements, was situated beyond Stuart street, and those having late letters to post, as well as tho officials in charge of the southern mail arriv-

ing by the Clinton train, were greatly inconvenienced. Some misunderstanding arose be-

tween the railway and the postal officials. The former thought the mail was on board, and tho latter seemed to have formed' the

idea that the express would not go away without the mail. At any rate, the express, which was a quarter of an hour behind time, did leave before it was got on board, and the mistake was made too late to rectify it. A special train was despatched an hour afterwards to catch the express, but, not managing to do this, had to go right through. Christmas Eve in Dunedin had little of the joyful connected with it, as far as atmospheric conditions were concerned. The weather cleared promisingly in the morning, but shortly before noon lisrht r-in <■•■'„.. ■ >,- n -

fell persistently throughout the afternoon and evening, rendering matters anything but pleasant under foot for pedestrians. An

exceptionally large crowd of people, however, flocked into town in the evening, and between 7 o'clock and 10 o'clock the main thorough-

fares were exceedingly busy. The footpaths were all too narrow, mid soon became nvf crowded, and despite mud and pools of water on the road hundreds of sightseers elected to take the broad way in preference to being jostled in the crush on the pave-

ment. But notwithstanding the crowding, good order was preserved everywhere. Citizens and visitors are apparently mindful of the

rule "Keep to the right." The shopkeepers were all doing a roaring trade, and the wet weather appeared to affect business very slightly, if at all. Decorations were noticeably scant, but. innumerable windows worn prettily and tastefully dressed and ablazo with light. The places of ■ itmn'omenl—iho Princess Theatre, the Alhambra Theatre, and Wirth's Circus—were liberally patronised in the evening. Plenty of provision has been made for pleasure-seekers during the Christmas holiday?. To-day the s.f. Invercargill will make an excursion to the Kaik and outside the heads, and the Onslow and fioldfinch will also run trips down the harbour as far as Portobello, calling at Mncandrew Bay and Broad Bay going and coming. The interprovincial cricket match between Canterbury and Olago will be continued at Carisbrook at 10 o'clock this morning, and there are sports at Waihola- and Kaitangivta. In the evening tlie public will have an opportunity of hearing the Dunodin Choral Society sing " The Messiah" at the Agricultural Hall, or of listening to the sacred concert by the .Tnbileo Singers at the Princess Theatre. On Boxing Day there will be a wide choice of amusement?. Holiday-makers may either take a trip down the harbour by the Invercargill or Rimu, attend the Druids' picnic and sports at Evansdalo. visit the BliiesHn show at Wai-

t:iti, go to the sports at Waikonaiti, Outram, Balcluthn, or Owaka, or may remain in Dun-

edin and attend the military sports at the Caledonian ground. A matinee and evening performance will be given at AVirlh's Circus on the Reclaimed ground. In the evening Mr Stanford's Dramatic Company open their season at the Princess Theatre, while Dix'u Gaiety Company appear in a special holiday programme at the Alliambra Theatre.'

Sir James Prendergast ha« been appointed Deputy-Governor of the colony during the absence of Lard Ranfurly from the seat of

Government.

Messrs H. Gourley and C. Fisher, J.P.s, presided over the sitting of the City Police Court yesterday morning, when several cases of drunkenness were dealt with. Two first offenders and William Henry Hamilton and Henry Hart were convicted and discharged. Robert Sparrow, who had been liberated on bail, was arrested at an early hour on a second charge of drunkenness, and, therefore, the charges were adjourned to Wednesday. The result of this second bout is that the man will have to spend his Christmas in the lockup unless some good Samaritan comes to his rescue with bail.

To-day being Christmas Day, there will be no sitting of the City Police Court. This is quite contrary to the established custom of bygone years.

The Port Chalmers Band, in the uniform of the handy man, presented a smart appearance as they mustered for drill in the Custom House square yesterday. That over, the band played a smart quickstep, and marched under Conductor M'Connell to the Upper Port Chalmers station, and embarked for the City of the Plains, to take part in the approaching band contest. Including Mr M'Connell, the instructor, there were 26 members'of the band on parade. Wo are informed that the secretaries to the movement for the recognition of the arduouswork during ' the year of the telephone operators yesterday handed over the sum of £34- 11s to" be divided equally, without reference to position or salary, amongst the operator?, with the best wishes of a very large number of subscribers for " A Merry Christmas." Other subscribers to the telephone exchange are in the habit annually of sending Christmas boxes direct to the operators.

Tho friends of Mr James Adam, of Bon Accord, Tokomairiro. will regret to learn that lie met with an accident yesterday afternoon. The horse he was driving turned round quickly, upsetting the trap, and Mr Adam had his shoulder dislocated. He was attended to by Dr Menzies.

The Hon. W. Rolleston lias declined to bocome a candidate for the Patoa scat, giving as reasons that he lives too far away from the district, and that the state of his health would not permit his undertaking such a campaign as Mr Seddon would be sure to promote. Major Koddcll lias declared void the recent election of five members of the Waimate Borough Council, on the srouncls that tho notice as to .the place of delivery of the nomination was defective, and that the statutory linw for closing the nominations is 12 noon. The five members unseated, with the returning oflicer for the occasion, were ordered to pay the cost of advertising tmd solicitor's fee.

The Hon. T. Fergus, with Mrs 'Fergus, returned to Dunedin yesterday, after a most enjoyable visit to the Home country, a vififc to tho Paris .Exhibition, and a brief tour of places of interest in Europe.

In the North Canterbury district (says the Press), hay, of which there is a good area and in splendid order, will this season be hardly got into stack before the oats—a very prolific crop—are ready to harvest, and if the dry, fine weather of .Tubilee week continues another fortnight the wheat harvest will be going forward. On all sides the hitter is a magnificent crop, and the heads of tho gram are filling well. Peas and beans give much promise. Of course, something lias to suffer, mid rain is wanted on some of the rape and turnip crops.

Most people who are not acquainted with the healing qualities of the soil in many parts of 'Europe would not accept with alacrity an invitation to take a "mud htti\ even if it were offered free; but this cure is becoming very popular. Healing mud, Hiss Mary Fermor point? out in " Pearson's Magazine!" is found in Sweden and on the shores of 'the' Black Sea; in the department of Lamles, in the south of France, and at St. Amand-les-Knux, in the north; in Piedmont, Ven'otia, and other parts of Italy; in Hungary, Poland,'and, best known of all, in the famous German ' and Austrian spas. " Speaking generally, a mud or 'moor' bath, to use a less objectionable and quite as accurate title, if composed of peaty, boggy turf, which contains stimulating chemical properties, and which, after being carefully prepared, is mixed with the mineral waters of the locality whore it is used. For the. comfort of intending bathers it may be mentioned that the mixture is not adhesive, but leaves the skin easily under the warm douche which precedes the cleansing bath." The period of immersion ranges from half an hour to five hours, and the same mud serves throughout the course.

■ An excellent method of celebrating tlio exit of the nineteenth and the advent of the twentieth century is suggested by Dr Kraon, Mayor of Onehunga. He is endeavouring to obtain a combination of nil religious denominations, together with their choirs, to celebrate the event on the linos of a Methodist watch-night service, when all would join in singing the Doxology as the clock strikes 12 o'clock. The idea may be developed in Dimedin, where in perhaps two or three of the largest halls the people could assemble and inaugurate the ne-v century and join hands with United Australia in proclaiming the Commonwealth.

A beggar woman named Marie Leret, who lias died at Verfailles, left about £5000 in gold and bonds in an old cupboard in the hovel where she had lived for over half a century. Marie Loret was 83, and was one of the most successful mendicants of the day. .She begged persistently at church doors, in the streets, at the. railway stations, and received, moreover, substantial gifts from charitably-disposed persons, who had no idea that they we.ro assisting a miser. Of the sum found, nearly £3000 in gold fell out of a long stocking, the remainder being in various securities, of which the dividend warrants Jiad not been utilised for 18 years. Leret's next of kin, who are really poor people and few in number, have claimed her property.

In a torrent of rain the largest, battleship now afloat, the Mikasn, was launched on November 8, from Viekers, Sons, and Maxim's shipbuilding yard, Barrow. The Mikasa belongs to the Japanese Government, and the ceremony of christening and launching was performed by Baroness Hayashi, who pulled the lever, freeing the huge ship, and then threw a bottle of wine at her bows, at the same time pronouncing the word " Mikasa.'' Amid loud cheers the battleship glided gracefully into the water, and as she was passing down a huge Japanese paper case hanging from her bows was opened, and liberated a number of pigeons. The. Mikasa is 400 ft long between t!ie perpendiculars, her beam is 76ft, and her displacement is about 15.150 tons. The engines will develop 15.000 horse-power, calculated to obtain her a speed of 18 knots.

Wo have received 3s for the Mrs Edwards fund from "J. G."

There was a very anal! :■(tendance at (he Princess Tiiealre hut evening, when the JU'Adoo Jubilee Singers* gave one of their entertainments. A change of programme was presented, and • the various items were contributed in excellent stylo. The choruses, as usual, were rendered in a manner that calls for the highest praise; in fact, the part singing was well nigh as perfect as could ho, the voices, balanced well, producing a full, rich volume of sound. One of the best solo items of the evening; was the pianoforte solo "Liszt's Rhaosodio, No. 12," by Professor C. A. While. The vocal solos of Miss Underwood, Mr JR. H. Allan, ;>.nd Mr R. 11. Collins were all highly enjoyable: and tho Passion Play of Oberarnmergau was al«o again gone through. To-night the company appears for tho last time, and a specially arranged sarrr.d programme will be presented. Mr Collins will sing " Nazareth," Miss TTr.derwood ' " Calvary," the Indies' trio " The lost chord, ' while the "Liszt Rhapsodic ' will be repeated.

Tho Allip.mbrn Theatre w.\s well pntronisod last evening, considering the wet weather. Tho performance met with as much favour as ever; and refills wera frequent. The management announce that die Faust trio and Mr' Hahn—(he latter a bass singer—will appear for the first time on Boxing Night.

Tho production of " The Messiah " in the Agricultural Hall by tho Dnnedin Choral Society to-night promises to be a great success. Last night the orchestra and soloists held their final rehearsal, when everything passed off in a most creditable style. Miss Rose Blaney (soprano), Mrs Fanny Howie (contralto), Mr P. Carolin (tenor), and Mr ■W. Thomson (bass) were all in good voice, nud judging; by the demand for tickets a very good house is anticipated.

Excellent entries have been received so far for the Blueskin show, to bo held on Boxing Day. There'will lie a, fine turn-out in cattle. Mr Ireland alone has made 20 entries in this section. Jso doubt large numbers from the city will visit the show, which is pure to attract most of the'settlers and their wives and families from the surrounding .districts.

Ranginia, a Maori chief, who is a talented pianist and tenor, will "giva a musical recital in Dunedin, probably on Friday evening, on his way to Melbourne, en route for London, where he has a three years' engagement. He will bo assisted by some of our best local talent. Further particulars will be published on Thursday morning.

TO-DAY'S CHURCH SEEVICES. St. Paul's Cathedral.—Holy Communion, G, 7, and S a.m., matins and choral Eucharist; 11 a.m., Comnrunion service. Preacher, the Bishop. Evensong, 6.30 p.m. Preacher, Yen. Archdeacon Robinson.

St. Matthew's Church.—Holy Communion, 7, 8, and 11 a.m.; evensong, 8 p.m., with carols and cantata, " The Holy Child."

Tenders will be received at the Public "Works Office for the siipply and delivery at Auckland and Lyttelton of ironbark piles and timber.

Applications are invited for the attorneyship for Otago for a British fire insurance comoany. New pupils for the Otago Boys' and Girls' Higji Schools will be enrolled on Monday, February 4. The schools will re-opon on February 5.

By advertisement in nnothei column the Otago Education Board, tinder the provisions of " The Education Act, 1877," notify the establishment of the Tokornhi school district, with its limits and boundaries. The board have also resolved to alter tile boundaries of the. following school districts: Livingstone, Maerewbenua, Island Cliff, Arthur street, High street, and-Union street.

We have received from Messrs A. S. Paterson and. Co., the local agents, the Lav; Union and Crown Insurance Co.'s Calendar for 1901; also a handy pocket diary.

The Gaelic Society will hold a New Year ceilidh and concert on January 2 to celebrate the commencement" of the new century. The casket of New Zealand woods for presentation to Major-general Mac Donald will be on view •at the gathering.

Xmns Bargains.—Carter and Co.. Duneclin and Invercargill, announce special bargains for the holiday season. Rend their advertisement. Try Carter and Co.—Advt.

For the Christmas and New Year Trade.— Prank Hynms, .jeweller and watchmaker, U Princes street, is now showing a choice nnd varied assortment of new poods suitable for presents. Novelties in all departments. Call and inspect.—Advt.

G-. and T. Young, jewellers, Princes street, having enlarged their premises are this year TOS-king a specially laige display of goods suitable for Christmas and New Year presents. They guarantee excellent quality and good value.—Advt.

Who is Peteb Dick"—The most relmlile ■Watchmaker nnd Jeweller, ennosite Coffee Palace, Moray place, Dunedin. Charges strictly moderate.—Advt.

MoernM.—Superior seaside accommorlnlion for summer and winter vioitn-s "\[r=! \Y <"' Stronach, Moeraki House, HilWove-Advi Massage. Electricity, and TMlcrmnn's hot dry air. For rheumatism, paralysis, nerve and joint troubles, etc—Mr and Mra Emvnr Booth Stuart street, T)unedin. Telephone 600.—Advt.'