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October 30, 1895.]
myself and my family. I shall be indeed honoured by the souvenir you propose to give me, but the best souvenir of Hongkong that I can carry away with me is the proud memory of your approval, and the confidence that the Hongkong Regiment will, under my successor, continue to deserve your good-will and maintain its good reputations. With my most heartfelt wishes for the good fame and prosperity of Hongkong, I bid you all adien. (Loud applause.).
Mr. JACKSON called for three cheers for Lieut.-Colonel Barrow and the officers and men of the Hongkong Regiment, which were heartily given.
Mr. Coxon called for three cheers for Mrs. Barrow, which were given with a tiger," and the meeting then terminated.
DEPARTURE OF COOLIES FOR,
CANTON.
CURIOUS RUMOURS.
On Sunday night about six hundred coolies left Hongkong by the steamer Powan for Can. ton. At present there is a mysterious air about their departure and the object of it. They were gathered from Hongkong and Hongham by a leading Chinaman here and despatched to Can. ton each with a dollar in his pocket. They did not know themselves what they were going for; some thought they were intended as recruits for the Chinese army, while not a few were under the impression that their sole mission was to take an active part in a rebellion, the purpose of which was the destruction of Canton and the capture of the Viceroy. The first story is the more likely one, although there is a decidedly peculiar ring about it, as it is very strange that the Canton officials should send over here for a handful of recruits when a few thousands could be easily mobilized in Canton itself. However that may be, it is said that the coolies are going to Wuchow, in the Kwangsi province, where they will be put in training. The rumour about the rebellion gained considerable currency in the colony and all sorts of suggestions were made, but we do not think that any importance need be attached to them considering that the coolies were without arms, and beyond the dollar that each possessed, not one had a cash to keep him going, It was said that arms and ammunition had been surreptitiously stored on the boat and that they would be distributed to the coolies on the way. Before the Powan started Inspectors Stanton and Holt and other police officers searched the boat, but found no weapons at all and no ammunition, and when the boat arrived at Canton on Monday the coolies landed quietly. One Chinaman, who had taken a prominent part in collecting the coolies, said that a big price had been offered for the Viceroy's head and further declared that the coolies were going as rebels and that he in- tended to march at the head of them himself. It is a significant fact that he did not go to Canton, and his bragging was no doubt simply nonsense. The Powan was searched by a Chinese Customs cruiser about eight miles from Canton, but nothing of a suspicious nature was found.
The rumours in circulation have created some uneasiness as to the safety of Shameen and H.M.S. Pigmy is to be sent up for the protection of the Settlement.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Thursday afternoon. Hon. F. A. Cooper (Direc tor of Public Works) presided, and there were also present-Hon. W. C. H. Hastings (Acting Captain Superintendent of Police), Dr. J. M. Atkinson (Acting Colonial Surgeon), Mr. N. J. Ede, and Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
UNMARKED CATTLE.
The Attorney-General forwarded a draft of an amended Bill respecting the passing of un- marked cattle through slaughter-houses. The amendment of the Bill will make any person who passes or attempts to pass unmarked cattle liable to conviction," and "the animal may be
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
forfeited. It was resolved to agree with the terms of amendment.
THE COMPULSORY NOTIFICATION OF IN-
FECTIOUS DISEASES.
- The ACTING COLONIAL SURGEON moved the adoption of amended by-laws concerning the compulsory reporting of infections, contagious, or communicable diseases, and that they be forwarded to the Colonial Secretary.
Carried.
MORTALITY RETURNS.
For the week ending 12th inst. the death rate was 22.7 per 1,000 per annum, and at the corre- sponding period last year it was 27.3. For the week ending 19th inst. the rate was 24.2, as compared with 19.8 at the corresponding period last year. A minute in the last return stated that the death rate for the British and foreign community is high, but as the deaths are from a variety of causes it is not of much importance.
ADJOURNMENT,
The Board adjourned until Thursday week,
DEATH OF THE GOVERNOR OF CANTON.
His
Ma Pi-iu, the Governor of Canton, died in his yamen on the 25th inst. at 9 p.m. Excellency was seventy-six years of age and was appointed Governor of Canton last Novem- ber. His fourth son was with him at the time of his death. The remains were coffined on the 26th inst. The Viceroy and all the high officials went to the deceased's yamen to pay the usual tokens of respect to his memory.
A report has been set in circulation to the effect that Ma has been the victim of poisoning, the poison having been administered at an official feast, when he and the other five officers partaking of food at the same table were all on their return home attacked by symptoms of poisoning. At these feasts the guests sit in groups, usually six at a table, and it was only the guests at the Governor's table that showed any signs of illness. The other five recovered, but the Governor was not so fortunate. It is said that the poisoning was the work of gamblers and other bad characters in revenge for the suppression of the gambling houses which Ma had brought about.
On inquiry we find that this report is not generally credited by the Chinese. The late Governor's illness commenced some three weeks
ago and throughout its course there has been nothing to suggest foul play. The report is supposed to be based on the well-known hatred entertained for him by the gambling fraternity, who would probably not have hesitated to put him out of the way by foul means had the opportunity of safely doing so presented itself, but as a matter of fact, it is said, they have been relieved of his inconvenient presence by natural
causes.
H, G. BROWN AND COMPANY, LIMITED.
The sixth ordinary yearly meeting of the shareholders in the above Company was held Thursday at noon at the office of the General Managers, Messrs. Gibb, Livingston and Co. Mr. C. S. Sharp presided, and there were also present Messrs. J. B. Coughtrie, S. L. Darby, G. C. Cox, C. F. Harton, and J. Wheeley (Secretary).
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, the report and accounts having been circulated some time since, with your permission we may take them as read. I regret very much they are not of a more favourable character, but I think con- sidering what we have had to go through in regard to the management of the Company's affairs and business in the Philippines, it is a matter for congratulation that the result is not worse than it is. As intimated to you by the Chairman at the last meeting, there had been much trouble in connection with our late manager at Laguimanoo, whose services we found ourselves obliged to dispense with, and the changes entailed thereby have contributed not a little to the expenses of the year as shown, whilst the state in which the Company's affairs were left was such as to necessitate a great deal of re- organizing and the business suffered accordingly. Throughout all this we felt greatly the dis-
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advantage of being at such a distance from the scene of the Company's operations, and how little effective control could be exerciesd under cir cumstances such as those we had confronting us. Matters, However, have been progressing rather better and the business has been under the immediate control and direction of the Committee of Management in Manila since March last, and, thanks to the energetic. way they have taken matters up, we have good hopes for the future, though the pre- sent year, 1895, may not show the full re- sult of their labours. Much time has neces- sarily been taken up in reorganizing affairs and effecting various changes which we hope may conduce to bring about better results later on. I had hoped to lay before you some report from the Manila Committee giving their views generally, as well as a rough sketch of accounts to 30th June last, but these have not yet come to hand; but a copy of a private circular issued by the Manila shareholders, which I dare say you have already got, reached us on Tuesday and the same deals at some length with the views of the Committee there on the position of the Company. During the past year we have had a poor market for timber and our profits have been largely curtailed, whilst for the first time during the Company's existence the working of the saw- mill shows an actual loss. The mill is now shut down on the Manila Committee's recommenda- tion and more attention will be given to develop ing the local business in rough timber in the Philippines. I regret the increased duties and taxes on timber imposed by the Spanish Govern- ment continue to weigh very heavily upon our business. In regard to the items of account I would point out that we stand on a rather more liquid basis than at the end of 1893, having reduced our stock of timber, also the items of sundry debtors and creditors, whilst our cash radera shares still remain in our hands, the position also shows some improvement. The Chairman's statement at the last meeting that they had been disposed of having been founded on a misunderstanding as to the meaning of a telegram from the Manila agent. The Manila Committee are seeing to the disposal of these. The vessel Elena, part of whose cost appears as an asset, has since been completed and has begun work.
She is reported as being most suitable for the companys requirements and we have left it to the Manila Committee whether to sell her or to retain her for the Company's business. The logs incurred on the sale of the Santiago, the pre- vious vessel built, has not given any encourage- ment to continue this business of shipbuilding. The profit and loss account you will notice also bears the loss through the sale of the Wm. Le Lacheur, referred to by the Chairman at last meeting. We are well satisfied to have no fur ther vessels of the Company except those wanted for the Philippine coasting trade, as the others had been such a continuous source of heavy loss ever since the Company began business. So far we have been able to satisfy our tonnage requirements for this side pretty well by char tering and we hope to continue to do so. Items for charges and salaries both show an increase on those in previous accounts, but from the fore- going remarks the causes of these may be under- stood and it is expected that a good deal of economy will be noticeable in future accounts. The charge for exchange shows a very large. excess over previous years' accounts owing to the very great rise in rates on Manila, but this has been very materially altered during this. year and the item will be very much reduced. We had already proposed making some remarks about the position of the Company's assets as they stand in the books with the view of point- ing out that it would be necessary to provide for writing them down and we have some time since called for the detailed views of the Manila, Committee about these, but so far these have not come to hand. Until this depreciation has been thoroughly gone into and considered nothing can well be done, but it will be dealt with as soon as sufficient data are before us and these we hope to receive soon. With regard to the matter of providing for this we are unable to see how this can be accomplished, unless under some scheme of reconstruction of the Com- pany or a reduction of capital, and we had already been making preliminary enquiries as to the best way to set about this, as until we have some thing at credit of profit and loss account