Wo understand that the Li Taotai who came down from Nanking the other day was not sent by Viceroy Chou Fu as Special Commissioner to try the Bund tragedy case, but that his real mission was to pay Now Year calls on the Consular Body on behalf of that Viceroy. The gentleman who, we now learn, has received special instructions from' Viceroy Chou Fu in regard to the handling of the above case in conjunction with Yuan Taotai is Taotai Shen Tun-ho, who is the princi leaders of that community himself " native of Ningpo and one of
in Shanghai The Senior Consul's Reply.
With reference to the dispatch of Yuan Taotai to the consul suggesting that the case of the would-be assassin Wan Fu-hua be mai of the trial of the Russian sailors charged with the murder of Chou Séng-yn, before a special tribunal, the gist of which was translated in these "Notes" yesterday morning, we learn that Dr. Kaappo has replied that as this was a matter which concerned only China aad Russia, the Consular Body represented by him has nothing whatever to do with xt and thi fore could not enter into any discussion thereanent as suggested by Yuan Taotai, Shih Nien-tsu.
9th January.
As will be observed from the Imperial decree translated immediately above this Kanga provines, Shih Mice-teu, has paragraph, the cashiered ex-Governor of
been granted the rank of a Taotai and ordered to report for duty with Viceroy Chang Chih-tung, at Wuchang. This, we are informed by a Poking correspondent, has been the result of a judicious manipulation amongst the principal eunuchs of the Imperial Palaces of the gains for the obtaining of which the ex-Governor had been cashiered in October, 1897, accentuated, as it were, by the laying of costly "tribute" at the feet of the Empress Dowager in November last, when ber Imperial Majesty was celebrating, her seventieth birthday nniversiry and ina sufficiently genial state of mind to be at peace with all men. The following, in s fow words, is an outline of the official career of ox-
Govesnor Shih Nien-teu, who is a native of this province and holds the literary a of M. A, or Chiijén:—Appointed Taotai of Lanchou, capital of Kansu province, 1872; promoted Provincial Judge of same, 1877; retired into mourning, 1881; appointed Provincial Judge of Yun-
Mukden. The arms and ammunition nan, 1884; promoted Provincial Treasurer of Kueichou, 1887; transferred to similar {post in Yunnan, 1889; and promoted Governor of Kuangsi province 1895, from which post he was cashiered in October 1897 and dismissed the service for misappropriation of public funds and general incapacity of conduct, thereby causing discontent and insurrection amongst the inhabitants of that province which has The reproof of the corruption in the Capital and the power and influence of the eunuchs over the Empregs Dowager.
H. E. Tuan Fang, Governor-designate of Hunan province, did not arrive here from Soochow until about ten o'clock on Saturday night, being your eight hours behind time. His Excellency was met at the Soochow Creek official jetty by all the local civil and military mandarins and, late'as the hour was, also by a large gathering of the gentry and principal merchants of the port. Wo understand that a similarly large gathering of the gentry: and merchants of Soochow present when his at city for Shanghai ign of Governor Tuan Fang' popularity amongst people and the affection which the inbabitante of all classes of this province entertain towards him. Chinese know when they have a good official. The rowdy element of Kiangeu naturally are glad that Go nor Tuan Fang has been transferred to another province. No sooner, has His Excellency handed over his seals of office than brigandage has again become and the men who had fled into hidii fare now once more to be heard of an have Intely been scon in the vicinity of Soochow, 80 groat is their ce: tempt for the present officials in that city.
Arrival of Distinguished Officials, Their Excellencies Tang Shao-ji, Special High Commissioner to Lhassa, and Tsdog Kuan-ch'unn, Minister-de-ate to Corea, arrived here from Nanking, en route to their respective posts, on Saturday evening. Although official apartments wore provided for their Excellencies by the local mandarins at Ambassadors' Hall, at the foot of the North Honan Road Bridge, they are staying with personal trends, going to Ambassadors' Hall merely to hold audiences and receive visitors.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.