May 23, 1895.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Up to the issue of these instructions they have been in the habit of going on the wharf ?-Not that I am aware of, your Worship.
I mean it is a matter of notoriety-They may do it, your Worship, but they should not. It they were allowed to go on the passengers could not land or go on to the launch.
the constable, “Theohair will not move until the lady has got in." I put my wife in and told the chair coolies to go up to the tram. The constable then commenced to bluster, and said “If this sort of thing happens again I shall have to summon your coolies.” I turned round and said “Don't be foolish,” or
Don't make a fool of yourself. If you want His Worship, after ordering the constable into to summon anyone, you had better summon me. the box again, said I think it may be accepted Please give me your number, as I am going to in this case that chirs have been in the habit of report you to-morrow morning for imperti- going on to Pedder's Wharf in the same kind of nence.” He said I'll give you my number if way as was done by the defendant in this case. you will give me your card.” I said “ All right, | That is to say, if rain is falling or if the sun is you may have my card." I suddenly remem: very hot chairs have been in the habit of taking bered that I had not a card, and I said "I'll shelter under this shed. I also find as a fact give
you my name-Turner." He said " What is that the instructions, which the constable the address?” I said Palmer and Turner.”
said were issued, were issue, that in doing He said that was not sufficient, and took out his what he did in ordering this chair off the pocket book, and asked for the address again, wharf the constable was only carrying out his and also for my Christian name. I gave him my instructions and doing his duty. I find also that Christian name and said ". Palmer and Turner, there has been no notification to the public of geen's Road Central." I said " I do not know the instructions, and that therefore what the the number. Now give me your number." He defendant did in taking his chair while it was mid "It is very extraordinary that you do not raining to meet Mrs. Turner was pardonable ...know the number of your house." I shan't under the circumstances. I am also of opinion give you my number until you give me your that none of this trouble need have taken place number." His cape was turned up a little, but I had the constable on the wharf not assumed a saw the number on his collar. I said "all right, dictatorial manner, which the circumstances did that is good enough for me. Your number is 6.” not require; and if he had been civil in his de- | I then got into a 'ricksha and went to the tram. meanour, and had spoken to the defendant as a The next morning I wrote a report of the mat gentleman like the defendant was entitled to be ter to Captain Hastings. I saw Captain Hast-spoken to, none of the trouble would have arisen. ings on Saturday and asked him if he had re- The summons is dismissed, though I find the ceived my letter. He said, "It is unfortunate constable did not exceed his duty in ordering the that your letter arrived after the constable chair off the wharf. | applied for the summons against you." I told him the facts of the case, and told him I was very angry. He said "I suppose you were, It is very awkward; I do not kaow what to do. The man has got the' summons.' I said "It is bet- ter for the summons to go before the Magis- trate, and let him ‘slate’ˇthe constable for his impertinence."
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His Worship--Did you use stronger language than that you have reported to-day ?—No.
Was the constable's manner insolent from the first. The fact of his going up, and shouting “Now, then, you can't stop Here," when the lady was getting in, was sufficiently irritating.
Were you aware of the rule about the chairsg --No. I have seen my wife down to the wharf betors when she went to Kowloon and the chair has been deposited under the mat shed, and it has remained there until the launch came alongside. | That is a general thing for ladies to do. They sit in chairs under the shed, instead of rubbing shoulders with thege coolies. The constable mid I put my hand on his shoulder. That is distinctly untrue.
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When did the altercation bagin ?—When the lady was getting into the chair.
Was that the first thing you heard ?—That was the very first thing.
Mr. Dennys-Unless your Worship wishes it I do not propose to call the coolie. I do not think it is necessary.
His Worship then read part of the constable's evidence over, and asked how far it was correct? The defendant-The whole thing is the most deliberate lie I have heard in my life.
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Several coolies were summoned for rushing at passengers with chairs on Pedder's Wharf and Anes were inflicted.
A. 8. WATSON AND CO., LIMITED.
ff TEN CENT SHAREHOLDERS
CHAIRMAN.
AND THE
LIVELY PROCEEDINGS. The tenth annual ordinary general meeting of the shareholders of A. S. Watson and Co., Limited, was held at the Hongkong Dispensary. on Saturday. Mr. J. D. Humphreys, General Manager, presided, and there were also present Capt. Clarke, Messrs. C. Tomlin, R. Ċ Wilcox, W. Parlane, H. Wicking, G. C. Coz,'J A. Jupp, J. 8. Hagen. Hart Buck, E. K. Chandler, W. H Potts, Geo Fenwick. G. C. C, Master, E. S. Kelly, and A. II. Mancell (Secretary),
The SECRETARY read the notice calling the meeting.
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of exchange that we have been obliged to give up a good deal of wholesa le business except at full prices. I am sorry I do not see Mr. Henry Crawford and Mr. Powell here, both of whom are shareholders. They could have confirmed me in this statement, that the results are pheno menal when compared with the business during past years in China. Most businesses of a similar character to ours have scarcely or hardly more than paid their way, while I am quite sure--I hear it from other storekeepers that their profits have enormously fallen off during 1891. If you should be at all inclined to feel disappointed with the result of the year and wonder why it should be so, just put our present retail prices into sterling and you will see that many articles are sold at half home rates, yield- ing only a small percentage of the profit we used to obtain. In this connection you must also re- member that most of our goods have to be par- chased in gold and that our capital is in silver. This means that our purchasing power is reduced to about one half; and you can hardly estimate the additional work that that throws upon the staff-to ensure that nothing comes which will not be quickly sold. Last year was the most trying year to the staff we have ever ex- perienced, as many as six of its members at one time being incapacitated by illness of a serious character, throwing, as you may well imagine, great pressure of work on the remainder, who, however, were fully equal to the strain through this crisis. I much regret to say that we have lost two of them by death. The death record of the firm in Hongkong previously numbered one only, which occurred in 1846, an interval of 49 years. And now with reference to the asset set down in the balance sheet as good will and trade marks $100,000.” I understand that a great many shareholders do not wish this to be. shown as an asset, notwithstanding that this was the exact sum paid for it and that it is still worth the money and more; but I have no objection to write off this amount from the pers manent reserve fund if that step accords with the wishes of the shareholders present. Gentle- men, I shall be pleased to answer any questions that you may wish to ask.
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Mr. WICKING-There is one question that I should like to ask you, and you have not alluded to the matter in your speech. Do you think the present value of these Kowloon lots could be realised?
The CHAIRMAN—Yes; I think the time for realising it is rapidly approaching, if it is thought advisable to realise it, which I strongly donbt. Kowloon is developing at a very rapid rate. I scarcely think that any of you can realise the rate at which it is developing. The Hum- phreys Estate and Finance Company is building. about one hundred and twenty houses over there.
Mr. WICKING-That is the reason why I am alluding to this. It occurred to me that as we have had this property for five years there has been a loss of interest and taxes to the amonat of $13,000, and $7.000 must be added for de preciation, so that we are $20,000 worse off by holding it. If it can be sold at the present price I think it would be desirable.
The CHAIRMAN-You must take the whole thing together. That Kowloon property once belonged to me and also this property you
are
The CHAIEMAN said-Gentlemen, the report When Mre, Turner's chair was on the wharf and statement of account having been in your like that before was there a constable in charge | hands since the 10th instant we will, with your at the time ?—There was a Sikh policeman.permission, take them as read. You will have He did not say a word. I stopped talking to observed that the net profit shown for 1894, as her for a few minutes before she got on board. made in Hongkong, China, London, and Manila, I should like to call the coolie, as the constable is much less than that shown for 1893, and of states that this altercation took place three course you expect some explanation of this cir- minutes before the launch came up.
cumstance. After careful examination I have come to the conclusion that although the 1893 net profits were fairly and accurately stated, the dollar results were to a large extent augmented by the improved value in silver of the stocks of wines, spirits, and other sterling items which we then held and which had been imported at a now in and Victoria Exchange. Now, much higher rate of exchange. It would have none of these properties were really bought perhaps been better if I had stated that at the by me for my personal nse and benefit. At last meeting, but very frequently our balance the time I bought the whole of them it was sheet is only brought out just in time to present with a view to the extension of the business to shareholders. You see we have to get the of Messrs. A. S. Watson and Co., which then His Worship-Are you prepared to swear stock from all parts of China and Manila, and belonged to me. That place at Kowloon has that P-I'll swear to it, your Worship.
before we can close up we have to get the whole of been held by the Company for a few years and it Inspector Manu then got into the box in re- that in and there is just time to audit and give the was held by me, I suppose, for 15 or 20 years sponse to the request of the Magistrate. He proper notice of the meeting. On the other before that. It was a place which I intended, mid-A letter was published in the Daily Press | hand, as regards 1894, as may naturally be should there ever be a town at Kowloon, as the on the 10th inst. about chairs rushing at pas-expected, the China and Japan war has made a spot where a branch of Messrs. A. S. Watson sengers on Pedder's Wharf, and the Captaiu considerable difference to the net profits of and Co. should be, and, at the same time, should Superintendent called me into his office. He branches on the mainland, where a strong anti- the business outgrow the possible limits of these told me to instruct the constables going on duty foreign feeling prevailed. Tientsin. Hankow, business premises on this side of the Harlo. to put a stop to the nuisance. I instructed the and Foochow, however, show marked improvement that it should extend over there in its mar the constables, and also sent a European constable on previous years. Manila has, however, shown turing and bottling department.
No. We out in plain clothes,
less profit than the year before, owing to keen- bottling department is rapidly increasiry year. His Worship-Had the public been notified ness of competition in trade and the excessive have to take up more space for its on the of these instructions in any way P-Not that I customs duties: the gross returns there have, We cannot take up more prownsive. The am aware of. It was owing to the letter in the however, increased. Profits have had to be cat Queen's Road; they would be too e per month. Daily Press.
finer. In Hongkong, owing to a further in-shop under this is worth $8g. You might Private chairs have been in the habit of going crease in the gross returns, our profits have We have had to use it for par but after very on Pedder's Wharf P-Not unless it has been come out very well, except in about four stock say" Why not pack outsides to the conclusion raining.
accounts, representing goods which are sold careful consideration we cave robbed of much Haven't they been constantly on the wharf ?-by retail at wholesale prices. To such an that we should probably rent between a place Not to my knowledge,
extent is this the oase now at the present rates 'more than the difference
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