THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
HUMPHREYS ESTATE AND FI- NANCE CO., LIMITED.
[March 28, 1895.
|some $20,000 taɔre, the increase being in the fol-
lowing items :-
Marine Insurance, owing to our having raised the insured valne in dollars of the boats in view of the fall in exchange, which has increased their laid-down cost here, say,
$2,000
On Saturday, at noon, the ninth aqona' general meeting of the Humphreys Estate and Finance Co., Limited, was held at the offices of Messrs. J. D. Humphreys and Son, Governing Coal, which as you all know became very mach dearer on the outbreak of hos- Directors. Mr. J. D. Humphreys presided, and there were also present Messrs. W. D. Sutton, tilities between China and Japan $3,500 A. P. Nobbs. Capt. W. F. Clement. J. A. Jupp, Quarantine and other expenses at Manila 85,000 G. C. Cox, A. H. Mancefl, G. T. Veitch, Henry Claims for damaged and deficient cargo was a
Humphreys, aud Hart Back (Secretary),
liberal supply of laurel strings, the whole being commanded, as it were, by a very bandsome green banner bidding a hundred thousand weloomes, the words reading “Cead mille failthe,” and there was also beautifully worked upon it in silk a harp surrounded by a wreath of shamrook. A very good feature of the ball-room was the pink globes on the central chandelier, which had the effect of diffusing a pleasing soft light, not to mention the blushes the pink light threw upon the cheeks of the ladies. Harps were placed all round the room, and of course "Erin go bragh conspicuous motto. Altogether there were about 450 guests present, and the dancing was kept up until about two o'clock on Tuesday morning. The guests were sumptuously entertained, and the highest praise is due to Major Moore and the other officials who so admirably carried out the arrangements.
39
The following were the Committees- Dance Committee Mr. T. Jackson, Chairman, Mr. A Coxon, Mr. S. L. Darby, Mr. J. J. Fran- eis, QC, Mr. R. B. Garde, R. N., Dr. Hartigan, Lieutenant May, R.N, Major G. K. Moore, A.P.D, Colonel Mulloy. R.E.. Mr. E. D. Le P. Power, R.B, Surgeon Colonel Preston, M.S., Mr, E. D. Sanders, Mr. L. T. Saunderson. B.B., and Mr. A. K. Travers.
Sub Committee-Major Moore, Mr. S. L. Darby Mr. E. D. Sanders, Lieut. L. T. Saunderson, and Lieutenant May.
at Manila
$6,000!
These were unusually heavy last year, but we are glad to say that steps have been taken which we think will prevent a recurrence of them in future at any rate to such an extent as this, and atra Stores and Provisions consumed during quarantine........... Wages, the fall in exchange having rendered it necessary to raise the wages of officers and engineers in dollars, say $5,000
A total of
$1,500
.$23.000
The CHAIRMAN-You have no doubt already perused the report and statement of accounts and with your sanction we will take them as read. I think I am quite justified in saying that the prospects of the Company have vastly improved during the past year. (Hear hear). The land that has been lying idle for a great number of years, and upon which you have been paying large sums for Crown rents, has now come into strong demand, and I have no hesitation in saying that I believe that within a period of perhaps two years you will not have an inch of land that is not occupied against which there was a saving of about $3,000 and remunerative. You have a large estate in on the other hand in various items. This makes Kowloon (bear, hear); in fact you own the heart a total of $45,000, which is, roughly speaking, the of the Kowloon Peninsula. I think I have difference of $46,000 odd between the profit on already stated the road frontage and the area of the working of the steamers this year and last. the land, and I need not repeat it. We are ac-|
Uncollected freights you will observe bave been tively at work over there at the present moment; reduced from $41,500 outstanding on 31st in point of fact we cannot build fast enough. December, 1893, to $16,700 at the same date last The other big estate-the Richmond Estate year. Of this amount the greater portion bas -will be fully built upon before the end of already been paid in and the remainder will be the present year. These two estates-the Rich-collected in due course by the end of this month. mood Estate and the Kowloon Estate-are quite The other items in the accounts speak for them- enough for any one land company to deal with, selves and require, I think, no explanation at my and I propose to get out of all the other land we hands. I shall be glad to answer any questions hold-the odd lots here and there-and to con- any shareholder may wish to put to me. centrate all our energies upon the two that are best worth dealing with, which of course is a great saving, as you will understand, in point of Bric à brác, time and supervision. I do not think I need say ...... El Dorado. any more, but I shall be very pleased to answer Tansjalalanten. any questions. No questions being asked, I beg Round the Town. to propose the adoption of the report and state-mittee.
ment of accounts as presented to this meeting.
Wine, Supper, etc.,—Major Moore and Mr. S. L. Darby.
Decorations-Mr. E. D. Sanders, Lieutenant L. T. Saunderson, and Lieutenant May.
The following was the programme, the music being supplied by the band of the Rifle Brigade :-
Lancers
Falae...
Value...
Pas de Quatre.......
Valse
Valse.
Lancers
Valse.......
Pas de Quatre
Utopia. ...... Santiago. Suspinal. Darkies' Dream.
Venetian. River of Years.
Toreador. Faust up to Date. My Sweetheart. Venetia. Vaise.
..... Bid me Good bye. Polka & Galop... Con Amore & Harum Scarum Galop,
Väise
SERIOUS FIRE IN BONHAM STRAND.
Mr. VEITCH+I have much pleasure in second-
ing.
Carried.
The CHAIRMAN proposed, and Captain CLEMENT seconded, the re-election of Mr. Fullar- ton Henderson as anditor for the ensuing year.
Carried.
The CHAIRMAN-There is nothing more, gentlemen, but to thank you for your atten dance. The dividend warrants will be ready on Monday,
COMPANY,
The twelfth ordinary general meeting of shareholders in the China and Manila Steamship Company was held on Saturday at noon, in the offices of the General Managers. Messrs. Shewan Mr. R Shewan presided, ant there and Co. were present-Messrs. D. Gillies, J. S. Moses, N. A. Siebs (Consulting Committed), W. H Potts, J. H. Cox, H. Crawford, C. A. Tomes, and
W. Shewan.
No questions having been put, the CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report and accounts,
Mr. W. H. POTTS seconded. Carried.
Mr. J. H. Cox moved and Mr. H. CRAWFORD seconded the re-election of the Consulting Com
Carried.
Mr TOMES moved and Mr. MOSES seconded the re-election of Messrs J. H. Cox and T. Arnold. as auditors.
Carried.
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, that is all the business of the meeting. Dividend warrants will be ready on Monday,
at
THE HONGKONG ROPE MANU- FACTURING CO., LIMITED.
Was
The eleventh ordinary general_meeting_of shareholders in the Hongkong Ropa Manus facturing Company
held on Saturday: the the offices of
General Managers (Messrs. Shewan & Co.) Mr. R. Shewan pre- sided, and there were also present - Messrs. D. Gillies. J. S. Moses (Consulting Committee). W. Shewan, D. T. Donald, Ross Thomson, and C. A. Tomes.
Mr. W. SHEWAN read the notice calling the meeting.
taken Mr. W. SHEWAN read the notice calling the meeting.
About eight o'clock on Monday night a fire, which proved a very serious one, broke cut at 95, Bonham Strand, a shop occupied by a rattan and bamboo dealer. The Fire Brigade, under the superintendence of Mr. H. E. Wode- house, attended as quickly as possible, and CHINA AND MANILA STEAMSHIP found that the upper storey, which was well stocked with bamboo and rattan, was on fire. The brigade had considerable difficulty in work. ing, inasmuch as there were no flames; the fire smouldered and consequently huge volumes of smoke belobed forth and hampered the firemen. All the available hose was brought into play, but the efforts of the men could not prevent the fire speading to the adjoining shops-98, a
The CHAIRMAN said—The report and accounts crockery shop. 94 and 92, a medicine shop,
having been in your hands for some time now, and 127, Morrison Street. All these shops
you are all doubtless familiar with their con- suffered considerably, particularly in the upper
tents and with your permission they will be storeys, where the fire was principally confined.
as read. The General Managers are: The promises at 90, Bonham Strand, a medicine
very gratified at being able to submit so fav shop, and Nos. 123, 125, and 127. Jervoise Street The CHAIRMAN said-If you have no objec ourable a report for the past year, but at the were damaged by water. The premises are tion the report and accounts which were issued
same time they wish to emphasize the fact that insured as follows-96, Bonbam Strand, $4,000 in to shareholders some time ago will now be taken it was an exceptional year and offered as excep Messrs. Schellbass & Co. (total loss; the re-as read. The dividend we propose to pay is ap tional chances. It is not likely that such newing premium was paid only on Saturday); improvement upon last year's, and considering all demand as we had from the North aud from 98. Bonham Strand, $7,000 in Messrs. Sander the circumstances and the difficulties we had to Japan at the outbreak of the war will soon ocene & Co., 92 and 94, 35000 in Messrs. Meyer & Co. contend with during the greater part of the year, again, and although our general business is in- bic owning to the fac. Siemssen & Co. (par- owing to the prevalence of the plague here andreasing it does so but slowly and it will pro able to put anything liand water); 90, $5,000 consequent quarantine at Manila, I trust you will bably be some time yet before we can rely upon the field, and as a conseqt Co.; 127, Jervoise consider the result fairly satisfactory. In an or the ordinary demand to keep us fally employed fairly well represented, lander & Co., and 129 dinary year with ordinary expenses and the le all the year round. The dividend paid plovod su innings and 23 tags. 5. Schellhass & Co. earnings we should have shown a better result, should therefore not be taken as forming a pre- great measure to the totm Strand is insured but when you consider that for some consider sedent, but the extra 6 per cent. which we are gimental team in their first origin of the fire able time the steamers had to waste fifteen days, paying over and above our usual 12 per cent. side being put out for the p
or just half a month, iu quarantine at Manila must be regarded in the light of a bonus from soore of 26. Lead Dar
every time they went there, earning nothing, an unusually good year. There is nothing I sponsible for this
with quarantine and the usual running expenses think in the accounts that requires special wiekets for 14 rans
just the same, you will see that our profit explanation. Interest is now on the right side, had of necessity to be greatly reduced Com- as we have a balance et credit instead of at pared with last year the steamers' gross earn. debit with our bankers, and repairs to machinery ings are about $25,000 less, owing chiefly to the have cost about the same as last year, while for Zafiro being off the line for two months on ac-depreciation we have written off $10,000, as beis count of her accident, while their expenses are fore. Before moving the adoption of the report
vang is in the In their second venture red that the much better show and were not ahinterdicted the telegraph board showed 197 to atbreak of Towards this total Lysley contribute breaks