The record-union., 1897-10-21
ADYICES FROM
The ORIENT.
An English Syndicate to Build Rail-
ways in China.
A Staff Of Engineers to Begin Early to Garry
Out the Scheme.
An Ominous View Taken of the
State OF Affairs in Corea, No
Doubt Existing There That
Japan and Russia Are Prepar-
ing for War in the Near Future.

VANCOUVER (B. C), Oct 20.-The
steamer Empress of Japan brings the
following Chinese advices:
The Jameson -Hooley syndicate for
f16,000,000 has now been absolutely
settled. On September 18th the agent
for the syndicate settled the matter
with Sheng, Director of Railways. OF
this, 100000 is already in London,
to be handed over to the representatives
of the Chinese Government, and the
balance viii be paid before December
Doth. The syndicate has secured the
construction and financing of the rail-
road from 500 Chow to Hang Chow,
and there are prospects that this will
include conformity with the Chinese
Government the exploration and devel-
opment of coal deposits which are
known to exist in Honan. 1t is expect
ed that a staff of English engineers will
arrive in China early next year to sur
vey the country and carry out the whole
scheme. The loan is for fifty years, af-
ter ten years of which the Chinese will
commence to repay the principal.
1t is rumored that the next budget of
the Hongkong Government will increase
the taxation % per cent per annum.
The death is announced DIT Hongkong
from smallpox of Lieutenant Dawson,
r. A.
China has a gold excitemnet, too, the
precious metal being reported to have
been discovered in the Chang Mount
aims, near Tsaitein- A rush of Chinese
to the spot is expected.
A correspondent in Corea, writing to
a Shanghai paper, takes rather an
ominous view of the state of affairs in
that country, stating that Japan and
Russia are both preparing for war in
the near future. The japanese are sur
veying the southern coasts of Corea,
whilst the Russians have obtained a
small island off Fusan as a naval coal
ing station. They also have naval
coaling station on Roze Island, oppo-
site Chemulpo The Japanese also are
building barracks in Gensan that VIII
hold 5000 men, although they claim
that they are only for 200 men, which
the Russian convention allows them TO
have in Gensan, as well as each of the
treaty ports. The Japanese in Seoul
are using money quite freely in order
to foster an anti-Russian spirit.
The European police at Halphong
have gone on a strike for higher wages.
Japanese Consul Nosz here received
word by the Empress to proceed to
Chicago and establish a japanese Con-
sulate there He will be succeeded by
Mr. Schmidzu, formerly Chancellor of
the Consulates, and latterly connected
with the Consulate at Hongkong.
The Japanese Government will be
forced to go abroad to float a public in
dustrial loan. Out of 100000 yen,
only 100000 was subscribed in ia
pan.
The negotiations in the revised treaty
between Japan and Austria have been
resumed The chief difficulty has been
regarding the customs tariff.
1t is rumored in Hongkong that 5000
rifles have been shipped to the Philip
pine rebels from there to Shanghai.
Viscountess Akita, whose husband is
member of the Japanese House of
Peers, has committed suicide. Her hus-
band has for some time past been dis
sipating money with other women, and
openly deserving his wife. On her pro-
testing at his conduct, she was confined
in a. villa, where she cut her throat.
Lieutenant General Yamagi, COM
nander of the western army headquar-
ters. is dead of congestion of the brain
Deceased was one of the heroes of the
Japanese Chinese war, having COM
manded the first army division in the
attack on Port Arthur
1t is stated that Japan intends short
ly to order 5000 catties of Australian
coal for experimental purposes.