April 25, 1895.1
OFFICIAL TELEGRAM CODE VOCABULARY. The attention of the Chamber was called to a circolar issued last year, without date, bearing | the names of the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Co, Ld., and Great Northern Telegraph Co. intimating that an arrangement had been made at the Paris Con ference of 1890 for the International Burean at Berne to prepare an official code vocabulary, consisting of 200,000 words. the use of which was to become compulsory for all code messages exchanged between stations in the European aystem, after the expiration of three years from the date of its publication,
The prof osed enforced use of a code, which would necessitate the abandonment of all those now in use, many of which have been compiled at a great expenditure of both time and mouey, was strongly opposed both at home and abroad, and it was hoped, as indicated in the annexed letter from the General Post Office London, 85 regards extra-European messages, at least, it had been finally settled that the use of the vocabulary would not be made compulsory. A subsequent communication from Mr. W. Grigor Taylor, General Manager, Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company, to the Secretary of the Singapore Chamber. particulars of which are only just to band, makes it now donbtful if these messages will be allowed the privilege of exemption from the proposed arbitrary rule. Ho is reported to have said No time has been fized for the compulsory introduction of this code for extra-European telegrams. The mat- ter will be fully discussed at the next meeting of the International Telegraph Convention to be held at Bada Pest in 1896. No reliable in- formation can be given before then. The code is not compulsory for European telegrams until 1st January, 1898. It is suggested that, mean- while, any protest the Chambers of Commerce may like to make on the subject should be for- warded to the International Telegraph Bureau at Berne in order that they may be laid before the Convention."'*
NEW TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN
AND JAPAN.
The announcement made in July last that a now treaty between Great Britain and Japan, involving the surrender of extraterritorial pri- vileges, and other equally important changes, had been entered into without reference to those most interested, was naturally received with surprise. ln carrying out these negotiations the same indifference seems to have been manifested with regard to Colonial interests, as in dealing with the sugar duties. the change in which will have a very material effect on sugar-refining, the largest industry in hongkong, the local Gov. ernment were, apparently, not advised of the Impending changes in the Japanese tariff, and were not communicated with as to the probable effect these alterations would bave on the trade of the colony. The Chamber's correspondence on the subject, so far as it has gone, has been forwarded 10 Her Majesty's Secretary of State for transmission to the Foreign Office.
INSANITARY CONDITION OF HONGKONG,
The past and present condition of tongkong from a sanitary standpoint is reviewed at cou- siderable length in the accompanying letter.
SUGGESTED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE GAP
ROCK LIGHThouse.
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The Government were good enough to place before the Committee Messrs onde Sons & Matthews' report on the above lighthouse, asking for an expression of opinion as to the advisability of adopting the recommendations contained therein. As the report suggests such drastic measures as the removal and rebuilding of the lighthouse on another part of the island, at au expenditure of $139,000, the Committee, with the limited information in their possession, were not prepared to suggest so serious an un. dertaking as above referred to, as it appears to them that in the apparent absence of any struc tural defect other remedies less costly might be tried. The question is really of a very important character, and in the opinion of the Committee the Government will do well to secure the ex- pert assistance of officers attached to the Im perial Chinese Customs, whose long and varied experience in the construction of lighthouses along the coast of China would render their opinious of the utmost value.
POSTAGE BATES TO NEIGHBOURING PORTS, A wide discrepancy exists between the rates charged to neighbouring ports, such as Manila,
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
and more distant places, but on pointing this out to the Government the Chauber was in- formed that for such apomalous charges there is no redress, Hongkong being subject to Postal Union rates. The inconsistency is the more striking when it is remembered that letters are carried locally at a mere nominal charge, while the conveyance of mails to Great Britain neces- sitates the paying of heavy subsidies, as well as making very considerable returns to the Italian and French Governments.
STORM WARNINGS FROM GAP LOCK.
309
the official rumber of the ship is 97,819, Liverpool.
Mr. A. B. Johnson appeared to watch the case on behalf of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire.
Commander R. M. Rumsey read a letter from Messrs. Butterfield and Swire asking for the in- quiry to be held, and also the warrant by his Excellency the Governor for the holding of the Court.
The first witness was Mr. William Thomas Clubb, who said-1 hold a master's certificate No. 010,481 issued at Liverpool in 1884. I have not Mr. John Plummer, Acting Director of the certificate here; it is on board the ship. I Hongkong Observatory, when reporting on the was appointed acting master of the Polyphemus typhoon of 23 September, 1891, and referring at Singapore on 1st April. I had previously to the inadequate telegraph connection between been chief officer. I left Singapore on the 2nd the Gap Rock and Hongkong, pointed out that at 4 p.m. with general cargo for Hongkong and communication was discoutinned at 4 p.m. and Japan. We had very fine weather, smooth not resumed again until 7 o'clock on the follow-water, and light winds, and there was no cur ing morning an arrangement which he very reut with or against us till 6th April when past justly considered most seriously detracted from Macclesfield Bank, when the current set N. the usefulness of the station as a point for the 25 degrees E. 1 miles, and on the next day despatch of storm warnings. To be effective we had the same weather with no current. We the communication should be made as far as kept our usual watches on the way ont. At4 possible continuous, and on this being brought a.m. in the morning of the Sth I was called. The to the notice of the Government His Excellency ship was then 21 miles south of Gap Rock, the the Governor was good enough to issue iustrac-weather slightly hazy. I saw a steamer coming tions for the continuous transmission of mes down a good distance off on the starboard bow. sages in regard to storms, whenever the an- The weather being hazy, the second officer asked thorities at the Observatory may consider it me if he should remain on the bridge, and I told uccessary.
him. I wished he would, and I took castings. The soundings proved 26 fathoms, shells. At 4.30 it became feggy, and I slowed down to half sped. We then sounded 23 fathoms.
At 4.45 I reduced the engines to slow, and at 5 o'clock I told the second officer to take another cast. I did not receive a report of this sounding nutil after the ship struck. At 5.10 we reduced to dead slow. The Gap Rock fog signal was heard then for the first time on the port bow. As soon as 1 beard the fog gun 1 reversed the engines fall speed At a special general meeting of the members astern, because I knew from the nearness of the of the Chamber the Honourable A. McConachie sound that we were close np to land. The ship was elected to take the place of the Honourable touched bottom about two or three minutes T. H. Whitehead in the L gislative Council dur-after, and came off immediately. I do not ing bis absence from the colony.
TRANSIT PASSES.
The attention of the Committee bas again been directed to this imporfast question, and a Sub-Committee was appointed to fully investi- gate it. A considerable amonut of correspond. ence has taken place, but it does not at present sem advisable in the interest of those engaged in the trade in foreign goods to make the
letter public.
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ELECTION OF THE CHAMBER'S REPRESENTA
TIVE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
COMMITTEE.
Mr. H. H. Joseph retired on his departure from the colony, and Mr. A. G. Wood is at pre. sent absent on leave. The Honourable A. Me Conachie, the Chamber's representative in the Legislative Council, was asked to join the Com.
mitter.
ๆ
The Committee deeply regret to have to record the loss of Mr. II. Hoppius, a much valued colleague, who was for many years associated with the Chamber. Mr. N. A. Siebs has been invited to join the Committee.
MEMBERS
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think she bad any head way at all. Not know- ing exactly where she was, because I could not see the land-only a dark line close, to the water -I anchored as soon as we got a reasonable distance off. At 11 am, the fog lifted, and we got the ship under way and proceeded for Hong- kong. On the 7th I got sights with the second and third officers. At noon on that day the position was 1842 N..113.40 E. No sights were taken in the afternoon. The position at non made the ship 189 miles from Gap Rock. Each officer when he finishes his watch has to mark on the course line the position of the boat, and the position, 21 miles south of Gap Rock, at 4 o'clock in the morning, was that marked ou the chart by the second officer. At that time she was going 10 knots; this speed was taken by hand mark. She was going 574 révolutions, and when we slowed dowu I rang up half speed I sent down to the chief engineer stat- ing that I should probably want to slow down further. I was not shaping the course for Gap Rock, but two miles west. I did not form any The acconuts for the year ending 31st Decom-idea how soon she lost way after putting her ber were andited by Mr. J. Tburburn and Mr.astern. When the fog cleared we were half J. Y. V. Vernon. The balance at the debita mile south of Jubilee Islands. After I of the Chamber was $1,876 96 with a fixed de posit of $5.253. and a special fixed deposit, account Pinnacle Rock" Fund, of $2,878 80, both amonuts being in the hands of the Hong kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation.
Doing the past year Messrs. Cohen & George, and Mr. G. von Wille resigned, and the follow ing names have been added to the list of members:-Messrs. A, H. Ronnie, The Hong- kong Land Investment and Agency Co., Ld, Bradley & Co., G. H. Wheeler, Attorney New York Standard Oil Company, Shewan & Co., and
The Mitsui Bussun Kaisha.
FINANCE.
THE GROUNDING OF THE
POLYPHEMUS.”
OFFICIAL INQUIRY. On Friday a Marine Court of Inquiry was held at the Harbour Master's office, respecting the circumstances connected with the grounding of the British steamer Polyphemus, at Jubilee Island, on the Sch inst.
The Court consisted of Commander R. Murray Rumsey, H.N., Stipendiary Magistrate; Lieute- pant F. W. Loane, R.N.. 11.M.S. Undaunted; Mr. G. Payne, master of the British steamship Kutsong; M. John Edward Farrell. master of the British steamship Mongkut; and dr. J. H Clark, muster of the British steamship Benmchr.|
Mr. William Thomas Chubb, the number of whose certificate of competency is 010,481, is the master and commander of the Polyphemus, and
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anchored I found the water in No. 1 hold level with the water outside. The collision bulk head did not appear to be damaged, but I found that the sluice valve had been knocked off, and I thought the water had got into No. 1 bold through the sluice. The water in the fore peak was up to the level of the water outside. No! 2 hold was full of bals right up to the bulkhead, but no water got into this hold." The Polyphemus is five years old. I did not think it was neces→ sary
to put anything over the bows, b cause. owing to the touch being slight, I did not think much damage had been done to her. I did not see the light at the Gap Rock at all. I did not hear the fog signal until five o'clock. After that I heard it at intervals of thirteen minutes. The interval should have been teu minutes. I timed the fog signals.
Commander Rumsey-Experts have various opinions about the sound of signals in a fog. At any rate you did not hear the gun until 10 minutes past 5?
Witness-No. Tho ship did not make any more water after I got her under way.
The Court then had a private consultation, after which the witness was recalled. He said -I calculated the course I was steering to take