A LESSON FROM THE CHINESE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1814, 22 July 1891, Page 4

A LESSON FROM THE CHINESE.

• In many respects the Chinese are a i more rational and practical race. Here is a case in point. During a recent anti-foreign-devil riot at some place between Tong-tu and Kaiping, the mob, by the way of emphasising it patriotic sentiments, destroyed a good length of the railway that had recently beeu carried through the district. The local Marjdarin — a Chinese Kuskinite apparently — instead of using tbe forces under him to quell the riot, sent his soldiers to assist in the pious work. The embankment was levelled forsome distance, and the rails thrown into tha river, and an attempt was made to dea f stroy the bridges. Mr Kinder, the bead engineer of the line laid the stale of the case before the Toatoi of Tiensin, 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 track. To please me you will put it back just 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 taels (about L 2500), 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 labour ; and all salaries are stopped till the repairs are complete. I shall appoint n board of punishment to return with you, with power to toiture and imprison anyone who makes the least disturbance or trouble.' The Mardarin begged for mercy on the plea that, as the country was all under water, he could n.ot 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 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 rather under three weeks the trains were running again, and they are now building the forts. How long would it have taken to bring about the same results in England ?— •* Truth." i