144
(uncorrected) and the mercury was falling fast. The vessel was steering on a N. course, bound for Hongkong, with the wind gradually backing towards W. and increasing steadily in force. When they discovered that the vessel was in the left-hand semicircle they decided to ran the vessel as nearly as possible to course, so as to lose no time; but considering that the baro- - méter continued to fall rapidly with the wind in- creasing in force, this manœuvre was a danger. ous one and they barely escaped running into the centre, for at 2 p.m. on the 28th, the vessel being in 20° 16′, 114° 14′, the barometer had fallen to its minimum 29.10 (uncorrected) and the wind was of storm force from W. by 2. The ship Alcedo was situated a few miles to the E. and S. of Hongkong when at 2 .. on the 28th the barométer, 29.71, began to fall rapidly and at the same time the wind, which had been light and variable, suddenly freshened from E.N.E. The weather was squally sad threatening and lightning was observed in the E. and S.W. The vessel was on the port tack heading 8.E. by E., in the right-hand semi- circle, but as they had no sea room this could not be avoided. Sail was taken in as required and at noon in 21° 48' 114° 38′ she lying-to under a storm trysail, heading 8. and making seven points leeway, the wind being a fierce gale from E.S.E. and the barometer standing at 29.22. Between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. the barometer was at its lowest point, 29 20, with the wind at S.E. by E., and the vessel was drifting dead before the wind at about 23 knots per hour, After 3 p.m. the wind commenced to decrease in force with rising barometer,
Was
At midnight on the 27th the centre may have beɔn in about 20°, 116° and at boon on the 28th it was situated midway between these two vessels and in 21° 00', 114 30'. At 3 p.m. it passed about 40 miles to the south of Gap Rook, the barometric minimum, 29.24, occurring there at this hour, with the wind a strong N.E. veering galo. At Hongkong the lowest barometer read- ing, 29.45, was recorded near 3 p.m. and the highest hourly wind velocity registered by the anemograph was 53 miles at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., the direction being N.E. by E.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
|August 21, 1895.
the barometer on board showing the minimum for appropriation is $328.113.39. We propose at 3 p.m. with the wind thereafter backing rather to pay a dividend of 7 per cent, which will quickly towards 8., so that although the trough absorb $109,375, to pay a bonus of $100 to con- phenomena often observed in the depressions of tributing shareholdere, to write off from the more northern latitudes are not always well Kowloon Docks $65,865.40; from the Cosmo- marked in typhoons, there is every reason to sup- politan Docks $61,058,88 and from the Fame pose that this phenomenon was connected with $6,453.71, and then carry forward to the new the passage of the trough in this case.
account a balance of $95,260.40. It may be said Between the 28th and 29th the disturbance by some shareholders that we ought to pay a moved towards W. by N.at the rate of about 94 larger dividend than is now proposed. I would re- miles per hour and it entered the coast in the mind you, gentlemen, as you have been reminded neighbourhood of Hui-ling-san (21* 35,′ 111° 50′) | from time to time by my predecessors, that as long on the morning of the latter day. At noon on the as our position compels us to borrow locally to any 29th it was probably situated in 214”, 110°1⁄2 and large extent your directors do not deem it to be a during the evening of this day it passed a little wise or a sound policy to increase the dividend. to the N. of Pakhoi, where a N.W. gale, in the I am happy to say that during the half year we morning, backing to S.W. in the evening, was have succeeded in reducing these local loans experienced. At the Custem House the lowest from $360,400 to $195,100, and we are hopeful barometer reading, 29.26, was made at 11 p.m., that before we again meet you we shall be able but on board the steamer Activ at anchor in the to advise that we have still further reduced this port the minimum, 29.41, was registered near item in our books. Then again I would mention 5 p.m. The weather continued bad between to those who may grumble at the present Hongkong and Swatow and to the southward dividend that our business is of a most fluctuat- on this day. Gradients remained rather steep ing character, that cannot overlook the and strong breezes to fresh gales, chiefly from heavy depreciation constantly taking place with S.S. E., accompanied by hard rain squalls, pre- such property and running machinary as we vailed over this area. At 11 a m. on the 29th | possess,
well and, however
kept
up it the Austrian frigate Aurora, on tue starboard may be, additions will be constantly required tack in 21, 113 45' heading N. W. with if we are to be in a position to nudertake the the wind S. by E. (force 6 or 7), experienced business offering from time to time. During a sudden squall, with the wind veering to the last six months the lengthening of the No. S.W、 (force 9), which took the vessel aback, 3 dook at Kowloon from 230 feet to 260 feet has but she was so skilfully handled that no been completed, and the No. 2 dook has been damage was caused. Vessels in the left-hand lengthened from 330 to 371 feet; though this semicircle are liable to encounter such veering latter work is not yet finished it is sufficiently squalls. In the right-hand semicircle the far advanced for us to use the dock for its entire squalls usually veer in the proper direction. The length, and at Cosmopolitan Dooks the new ma- ship Alcedo, just outside Hongkong, continaed chine shop which was badly needed is nearly com- to have a moderate S.E. gale with heavy rain pleted. squalls on the morning of the 29th, and at 9 am. as the weather seemed to look worse again and they were unable to get off the lee shore, they decided to turn back and go into the port again. On the 30th at noon the centre was perhaps in 23′ 107}* and apparently filled up slowly, as the weather at Pakhoi and Haiphong continued to be influenced by it until the 31st.
We
We find that to meet the increased demands and the heavier work now coming to the East many improvements and additions will be necessary, some of which we must face very shortly.
At Kowloon dooks a new blacksmiths' shop and forge must be built, and the machine and the coppersmiths' shops must be enlarged, and more modern appliances procured for them in order to facilitate and cheapen as much as possible the cost of work. Past experience has taught us that the more facilities we have for doing work
Of other vessels the steamships Taicheong, Devawonges, and the Austrian frigate Aurora HONGKONG AND WHAMPOA DOCK the more work comes to as, and that by having
At
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CO., LIMITED.
The Acting Secretary read the notice con-comfortable, owing to their close proximity to voning the meeting.
were all situated in the left-hand front quadrant
the latest improvements in machinery and tools on the morning of the 28th. The Taisheong
we have been able to do this work quickly and to was situated in 19* 59, 113° 50′ at noon.
The half yearly meeting of the shareholders | make good profits, notwithstanding the increased 7 am. they had the wind increasing from N.W. of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dook Company, cost to us (caused through the low level of ex- with falling barometer, and they suspected that Limited, was held at the offices, Praya Central, change) of imported materials. Owing to the a typhoon was situated to the N.E. of the vessel. yesterday afternoon. Mr. G. B. Dodwell pre-heavy pressure of work at times on our other At 9 a.m. they therefore rightly ran to the sided, and there were also present-Hon. J. J. establishments our docks at Aberdeen have been southward. At noon they had a strong W. Bell-Irving, Messrs. J. Kramer, S. C. Michaelsen, employed considerably more than usual, and it is backing gale, bat at 3 p.m. they stoored N. again N. A. Siebs, J. S. van Buren (Directors). R. a satisfaction to the directors to find that their as the barometer had commenced rising, with the Cooke (Acting General Manager), T. I. Rose polioy in keeping these dooks open and in work- wind steadily backing towards 8. The De- (Acting Secretary), C. A. Tomes, R. Mitchell, fng order has now resulted in a profit on the pawongse was situated in 19° 30, 112* C. Tomlin, Fullerton Henderson, E. Georg, J. working at Aberdeen of some $18,000 during 16′ at noon and steering N. 31 E. The McCallum, P. Loiris, C. Sharp, Hart Buck, the six months under review. The old quarters for the staff at Kowloon have been found an- barometer, 29.61, was falling and the wind a fresh and 8. 2. Darby. brense from N.W. At 2.50 p.m. the vessel was
the machine shops. It is hardly necessary for very properly turned round and steered 8. 22" E., the barometer having fallen to 29.54 with The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, the report and me to say that men who are working hard all the wind a moderate N.W. gale. They had accounts have been in your hands for some time day require a good rest at night; we find that so the wind backing to 8.W., a fresh breeze, during past, and with your permission I will take them much night work has inevitably to be done in the machine shops that our staff have suffered the afternoon with the barometer rising slowly as read. Just two years ago the chairman con- after 5 p.m. They steered N. 17a E. at 10 p m., gratulated you on the good results then placed much inconvenience, and we have consequently. but as the wind increased to a moderate gale before you. which had up to that time only once commenced building new quarters on the Com. accompanied by fierce squalls from S. and 8.W. been exceeded. This half year, however, gen-pany's vacant land to the west of the shops. I and the barometer had a falling tendency, they tlemen, is the record half year of the Dock should mention also that the contemplated ex- again tarned the ship's head to the southward Company since its formation, and it affords your tension of the blacksmiths' shop and forge and waited till the barometer rose decidedly, directors much pleasure in placing before you would have compelled us in any case to remove The Austrian frigate Aurora was situated in the very satisfactory result shown by the per- the present quarters of the staff. You will be 19* 8′, 113° 38' at 11 am. During the morning sent accounts. A very large amount of work glad to know, gentlemen, that we have at the hours moderate to strong N.W. and W. breezes has been done, and at times the resources credit of the Admiralty loan exobange adjust- were experienced accompanied by constant rain. of the Company have been tested to their ment account an amount of $8,401,14, the dif- The wind backed slowly towards 8.W. and the utmost, but owing to the extension and improve- ference between 2/- and 2/11 exchange; in the barometer fell to its minimam, 29.53, at 3 p.m., meats of our docks and plant, which have present uncertainty of exchange the direo- at which hour the wind was from W.S.W., of the been made from time to time, we have been able tors deem it best to follow the precedent force of a fresh breeze. At 3.15 p.m. a distinct band to attain the present position, whilst at the same established in a previous instance and to carry of peculiarly disturbed sea was observed to be time we have, we hope and believe, given good forward this sum. Material on hand still stands approaching the vessel from E.N.E. It stretched satisfaction to our customers. At the last meet at a very heavy amount; this matter has from N.N.W. to 8.8.E.. and was between 300 ing the chairman mentioned bis doubt as to had our serious attention with the object of re- and 400 yards in width. It passed the ship what effect the war then raging between China dusing the stock we carry, but it will always be in a few minutes, at the rate of about six miles and Japan would have upon our Company; well. necessary, if we are to work a large business per hour, moving towards W.S.W. The sea gentlemen, the dooks in Japan were so con- efficiently, to liave a good supply of all the most was pyramidal in this area, the tops frequently tinuously required for the war vessels and trans-needed materials. Before closing my remarks, a great deal of gentlemen, I would like to call your attention barsting and throwing up the spray to a height ports of that country that of about six feet with a sound as though the vessel general dooking business was thrown in our to the good work that has been done by our staff; was lying in violently boiling water. Before way, and some heavy jobs, notably the Irene, frequently it has been day and night work for the passing of this band of broken water a rough | the City of Rio de Janeiro, and the Riversdale them, but their services have been readily and We are undoubtedly ungrndgingly given. It is mainly owing to cross son prevailed, but after its passage the sea came into our hands. salmed down considerably,
indebted to the war between Chins and their hearty co-operation that the present good At this time the centre was passing at a dis- Japan in a considerable measure for our pre-results have been attained, and the directors de- tahoe of about 100 miles to the N. of the vessels, 'sent handsome earnings. The profit available'sire to record their appreciation of the excellent
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