May 23, 1895.1
of the past. I could build over all the land on Humphreys Estate and could get tenants before the houses were finished.
Mr. FENWICK—Are these building sites ? The CHAIRMAN—Yes. They face the Robin son Road as nearly opposite as can be to that road leading from the Wharf and Godowns. To move goods into that would be a trifling expense down that short length of road.
Mr. MASTER-Would these three lots be ac. quired for building ? Would it be possible to put up buildings on them in the same way the buildings have been put on
Mr. CHAIRMAN-Oh,e adjoining lots P
they might be built on; but the shareholders object to building. I think one lot might be built npou.
Mr. MASTER These lots have remained without any building upon them since 1890. They have been unremunerative. They have brought in nothing to the Company. Perhaps It would be a good thing to put houses upon them. The CHAIRMAN-We are not builders exactly, but there might be some building that could be realised which might come within our articles and memorandum of association. I shall keep it before me; but I do not intend to run the slightest risk in making any movement in the direction of building. There is really no loss on any of the properties of the Company worth calling a loss. Even the property at the Peak is worth more than is mentioned in your books. That will turn out all right. That property will be saleable, and I shall certainly advise the sell- which I think will be before the end of the pre- ing of it as soon as things are got into form,
sent year.
Mr. WICKING-It brings in a fair return on the mpital already, does it not P
The CHAIRMAN—Yes; you can figures in the office.
get the
Mr. WICKING-For my part I certainly should not like to see the Company building houses at Kowloon for tenants. If somebody wants to build on building sites let them, but I do not think it should be the policy of this Com- pany to build houses for tenants. I do not think any one ever got 5 per cent. for money in Kowloon,
The CHAIRMAN We have now devoted almost enough time to the subject. I would now, if there are no further questions, propose the adoption of the report and statement of accounts.
Mr. MASTER-I. second that. Carried.
Mr. FENWICK proposed and Capt. CLARKE seconded the re-election as auditor of Mr. 8. G. Bird.
Carried.
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, I do not think it is necessary for me to say anything further. It is now getting late. I did intend to pass a few remarks of a more cheerful character, but I think I have said nearly all I intended to say. I will therefore thank you for your attendance and say the dividend warrants will be ready at 11 o'clook on Monday. I believe that two things will help us to get back to our old divi. dends; one is continued and steady increase of the business. till it is large enough to sover our largely reduced profits, and another would be when we get the question of exchange restified. That really is the only difficulty. We should have been able to give you by this time 25 per cent. dividends instead of 9 per cent. with a good exchange and the increase and ad- vance that the business has made. If we could have done the business that we do now at the eld rate of exchange it would have meant at the least a 25 per cent. dividend.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr. WICKING, brought the proceedings to a alone.
The Cast Iron Company, which was organised for the purpose of casting all the pipes required for the Tokyo Waterworks, and which was from its incipiency beset by financial difficulties, has again been reduced to unhappy straits, which have involved it in new debts amounting to 150,000 yen. In addition to this, the advance in the price of raw materials for pipes, and wages for workmen, as well as the increased cost of all other necessaries, has rendered it almost impos- sible for the company to execute its contract with the Tokyo City Municipal Council. It is said that the company has under consideration a proposal to petition the city authorities for assist- snow. --Japan Advertiser,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE PLAGUE AT MACAO.
The deaths from plague at Macao during the last few days have been as follows:-From noon on the 15th to noon on the 16th inst. 22, 16-17th 31, 17-18th 24, 18-19th 20.
By direction of the Bishop a prayer to the Virgin Mary has been printed in Chinese in pamphlet form and circulated throughout the Bettlement. On the last page there is a picture of the Virgin. From what we hear the Chinese not the Christians only but the population generally-seem to have great faith in the efficacy of the Virgin's power in the present crisis, so much so that they have raised a subscription and made application to the Portuguese authorities for permission to carry her image in a grand procession round the Bettlement. They call her the "Foreign Goddess."
CONSEGRATION OF THE RIGHT REV BISHOP PIAZZOLI.
Monsignior L. M. Piazzoli, the newly elected Bishop, was consecrated at the Roman Catho- lic Cathedral on Sunday morning. The new Bishop was born in 1845 at Alzaro, Bergano, Italy, and received his education in Bergano and afterwards at Milan. He was ordained in 1868, arrived in Hongkong the following year. and was appointed to mission work on the mainland, where he remained until 1892, when, on the lamented death of the late Very Rev. Father late Right Rev. Bishop Raimondi and was ap: Burghignoli, he was called to Hongkong by the
pointed Pro-Vioar Apostolio. On the death of Bishop Raimondi Father Piassoli was elected, at Consistory held on the 11th January, 1895, Bishop of Claxomene and appointed Vicar Apostolic of Hongkong.
The office of consecration yesterday morning commenced at half-past seven and lasted until ten o'clock. Monsignior Posaj, Bishop of Krishnagore, pontificated and was assisted by Monsignior Chausse, Bishop of Canton, and another Bishop from Tonkin. A second Bishop from Tonkin was present, also a representative of the Bishop of Macao, and there was a full attendance of the local clergy. There was a large congregation, which included the French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Mexican Consula, Colonel O'Gorman, Major the Hon. E. Noel, and the Captain and officers of the Spanish oruiser Maria Cristina.
After the consecration Monsignior Piazzoli held a reception, when Mr. A. G. Romano pre- sented an address on behalf of the Portuguese sommunity. The Society of St. Vincent and St. Paul was also received by his Lordship.
THE SHROPSHIRES AND THE PLAGUE.
The following letters have been forwarded to us for publication :---
389
munity and the Regiment during the Plague work, and also a souvenir of three pleasant years passed by the Shropshire L. I. in Hongkong, during which time we all made many friends that we hope to meet again either at home or in the East.
On behalf of the Regiment I also thank the community for the Challenge Football Cup, for which the competition is now going on, and the different games are being keenly contested by the different Companies, all of whom are anxious to win it. The whole Regiment turns out to watch each match.
I will write again when the Sergeants' shield arrives and the medals from England. - Believe me, yours sincerely,
F. W. ROBINSON, Lieut. Col.. Commanding 1st Shropshire L. I.
LOSS OF THE SPANISH STEAMER ‹
"GRAVINO."
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.
Manila papers received on Tuesday contain brief accounts of the loss of the Spanish steamer Gravino, employed in the coasting trade in the Philippines. Of those on board only three, so far as was known, survived the catastrophe.
The Gravino was a vessel of 618 tous, built by Messrs. Leslie and Co., of Newcastle, in 1879. She belonged to the Compania Maritima;
She left Manila on the 4th inst. for Subic, was commanded by Captain Juan Bautista Men- diola, and had a crew, all told, of forty-nipe..
Olongapo, Bolinao, San Fernando, Caoyan, Car- rimao, and Aparri, and was on her return voyage when the disaster occurred. She had large number of passengers on board, but up to the date of the latest papers the precise details had not been received from the various ports at which she called; but the names of, over fifty had been telegraphed. vessel was caught in a typhoon, at ten o'clock at It appears that on Sunday, the 12th inst., the night the engines became disabled, and for two hours she lay at the mercy of the waves, great quantities of water poured into her, and she went down soon after midnight off Point Silangain with all on board except three, who natives and two of them belonged to the crew. were washed ashore. The survivors were all
THE FALL OF THE ▲NHWEI FACTION.
time cashiered for ever.
-
}
It is instructive to note the difference in the fortunes of Li Hung-chang, his relations, and friends since the signing of the treaty of peace with Japan. It is stated by many well informed Chinese that Li has lost permanently his ap. pointment of Viceroy of Chihli. If this be really the case it will be the end of the Anhwei Calontta, 29th April.
viceroys and governors in China; for if we Fort William,
look back over the last few weeks what do Dear Mr. Sercombe Smith,-1 received your
we see ? Li Han-chang, Viceroy of the Liang latter and also the letter of thanks on the 22nd Kwang provinces, superseded and ordered to inst., and the plate arrived yesterday.
vacate his post immediately and return to his The letter of thanks to me was quite unex-native home in Auhwei. Four of his principal pected, but I can assure you I greatly appreciate officers and many minor ones are at the same it and value it most highly.¦
I now write to thank the Plague Recognition
Lord Li (Li Ching-fang), the adopted son Committee, and through them the community if Li Hang-cbang, has been degraded and of Hongkong, for their expression of good will cashiered from the public service of China for and kindly feeling both to the Regiment and ever. Kung Chao-yuan, the Chinese Minia myself. Both the letter of thanks and the ter to England and France, is also super- silver bowl will always be highly valued both by seded, deprived of his appointments, and or myself and family, and will often recall many dered to return to China. He is a cousin of pleasant days and a happy three years spent with Li Hung-chang. Lin Ping-chaug, the Viceroy my Regiment in Hongkong.
of Szechuen, distantly related to Li Hung- Trusting the future may bring prosperity to chang, has been superseded and ordered to retire the solony,Believe me, yours sincerely,
his home, having through bribes escaped trial on a capital charge. General Wei Ja Kwei. Li's favourite general, has been beheaded, General Yeh Chil-chao and Taotai Kung Chao-yu, two more Li's satellites, are both in prison condemned to death. Li Hung-chang's own property, it is reported, is to be confiscated to pay some of the expenses incurred during the war with Japan.
F. W. ROBINSON, Lieut-Col., Commanding 1st Shropshire L. I. T. Serembe Smith, Esq., Secretary, Plague
Recognition Committes.
Fort William, Calcutta. Dear Mr. Sercombe Smith,-L_write on behalf of the Officers of the Regiment to thank the Plague Recognition Committee, and through them the community of Hongkong, for the very handsome pieces of plate, presented to the Mess, which are admired by everyone for their shape fand beauty.
to
enormous
of
()
Li's wife's nephew, the infamous Chang, Taotai formerly in charge of the Ordnance Department in Tientsin, is again, for the second time, placed under arrest and is to be tried at Nanking. There has been a pretty good olearing · · The vase will always be a record of the good out of the Augean stables already, but with the feeling that existed between the Civil Com-ʼreturn of such men as Sheng to office, we fear