January 30, 1896.]
lous speculators. Added to the generally strained position of the Paris market there is the crisis through which the Company itself is passing. Our treasury is almost empty and at this moment, in consequence of mistakes made
here, we cannot sell our coal in sufficiently large quantities to cover the working expenses of the Company. In August last Kebao delivered three thousand tons of briquettes to the Mes sageries Maritimes. Manufactured under da. plorable conditions, these briquettes proved .almost incombustible. That unfortunate de- livery has done as the greatest harm, given our coal a bad name, and driven away our customers. That is deplorable, for just at the moment when it is necessary to realise inmediate profits we have to wait six months, perhaps a year even, to allow our coal to be rehabilitated in
our
public favour. This rehabilitation has already commenced. Our coal, and especially briquettes, which are better manufactured than formerly, are less despised in Hongkong. Messrs. Shewan and Co. of Hougkong. pro- prietors of the Cement Works at Macao, have made alterations in the furnaces at their works in order to use Kehao coal exclusively. the trials made by them having proved satisfactory and economical. The consumption at these works alone is some 50 tons a month. Messrs. Butterfield and Swire have made serious trials of the Kebao coal at their sugar refinery, and they also are going to alter their furnaces immediately. The consumption there will be something like 4,000 tons per month. At Singapore the tin smelting works TISA Kebao coal and are well satisfied with it. Finally, the French Naval authorities are now satisfied with our briquettes. Captain
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
CRICKET.
?
THE CRICKet Club v. THE PEAK CLUB.
This was the second meeting of the Cricket Club with the Peak Club, and upon this occa- sion the latter succeeded in reversing the
97
The wind, which was fairly strong at 11 o'clock, had gone down considerably by the time the starting gun was fired and the three boats crossed the line within 10 seconds of the gun, with a light west wind, which carried them down, with the help of the tide, to Channel Rocks, decision that was arrived at in the first en-
which were rounded by Meteor at 12.30.30, counter. This result was chiefly due to the some fifty yards ahead of Princess, the same batting of Eccles and Anton, who made 9 and distance ahead of Erica, but the boats were mov- 59 respectively. During their partnershiping so slowly that five minutes separated the rung came at a great pace, as may be judged; first and third boats. In the beat up to Dock from the fact that 180 runs were made in an
Point Meteor was passed by the other two, they hour and a half before tiffin.
getting the wind off the Kowloon shore first. From this point to the Police Pier there was a fairly good breeze, rather erratic in direction, and off Kowloon Point Erica went into first place, but was passed again by Princess on the reach to the Cosmopolitan Dock buoy. times here were-
The innings of the Club was chiefly remark. able for an excellent innings of 80 by Johnston, in the compilation of which there was only one flaw a chance at the wicket. Percival and much assistance and the innings closed for 167, Powell were the only other batsmen to render
or 59 runs to the bad.
Going in a second time in a failing light the Peak Club had lost 5 wickets for 2 runs when time was called. Hancock and Lowson-the latter in something more like his old form
bowled successfully for the Peak Club, whilst Sercombe Smith and Shelford divided the bowling honours for the Club.
By the kindness of Major the Hon. E. Noel and the Officers of the Rifle Brigade the band of the regiment played a very pleasing selec tion of music upon the ground during the
afternoon.
The following is the score and analysis :-
PEAK CLUB. C. W. Knox, c Powell, b Shelford I Shelford A. S. Anton, e sub., b Shelford
R. Hancock, e Pend, b Campbell Capt. Eccles, b Shelford
Ross Thomson, c and b Shelford J. R. Gillingham, 6 S. Smith Dr. J. A. Lowson, ↳ S. Smith
Captain Ferguson, b S. Smith B. P. Sheldon, not aut
P. G. Davies, b S. Smith Major 6. K. Moore, run out
Extras,
Total.
.
Princess Erica
Meteor
Я. M. 8.
2 31 50 2 32 40 2 33.15
The
The wind freshened in the western part of the harbour and Princess by going across to the Hougkong shore had a south-west wind which put her some distance ahead of Erica and Meteor, which had been cross tacking up the south side of Stonecutters. The mark boat off Green Island was rounded by Princess some 4 minutes ahead of the other two, Meteor leading Erica by about 30 seconds. This order was kept to the finish and the line was crossed after a very quick run by
CORRESPONDENCE.
+
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE CHINESE CHAMBER OF
I
·
50
c Johnston,
Princess at
H. M. 8. 3 55 20
Vallings
6
Meteor
0
Erica
3.58 0 3.58 30
First Third Second
93
not but
8
10 points 1 point. 4 points.
11
29
e and Shei.
ford
R
S
e Shelfoond, b
Valling-
6
1. Shefford
1 {
Extras.
220
Tutul.
27
BOWLING ANALYSIS, Cvens Mhard Ross, Modes,
First Innings.
NB Wid's.
4
95
19.2 1
3
19
7
21
1
Second Innings.
4.2
2
9
4
}
H
THE CLUB,
Shelford, R.N. S
TS. Smith Powell Campbell
Vallings Shelford.....
Cavalié, Commandant of the Nuval Division of Cochin-China, having told me when I was in Saigon that those which had lately been sup- plied were of excellent quality and as good as those manufactured in France; he has made a very favourable report to the Government in which he proposes to use the briquettes for the arsenal and the ships. At Haiphong the naval workshops and the gunboats greatly appreciate our boulets. The present production of Kebao is about 12,000 tons per month, and would be sufficient to cover our working expenses if we can find openings for its sale; it can be casily the increased in large proportions when present bad name attaching to the coal dis. appears and our customers come back. What we want at Kebao is a good commerical agert, speaking English and au courant with this class of business; he should travel about the Far East to rehabilitate our coal in popular estimation and he would soon find openings for it. To-day, I repeat, our briquettes are excel- lent, our screened coal sells readily, and as to the dust, there are plenty of industries in the Far East to afford a ready market for it.
lt is not coal that is lacking at Kebao; in the Cay- day mine alone, in the portion being worked at present, there is workable coal for more than twenty years to come. The capital of Kebao has been unfortunately frittered away; extra- vagant and unremunerative expenditure has been incurred. Great economies may still be effected. For example, besides M. Por- tal, now on leave, there are six engineers at Kebao when three would be amply suffi- cient. To sum up-our treasury is empty, our production does not for the moment sell, our working expenses are not covered; there you | Gillingham have the situation. Add to this the crisis on the Paris Bourse, the sudden fall in values, and you will understand the folly of our shareholders. I greatly fear that advantage will be taken of it to deal uz a severe blow. However, the enter prise is a good one and I have the greatest confidence in its future.'
The IndoiChine mentions in a separate paragraph that in consequence of the changes in the Kebao Mining Co. all the employes with- out contracts are to be discharged on the 2nd February. This will affect twenty-eight Euro-
peans,
The charges against the eight coolies who were fined for carrying arms without a licence were not re-heard at the Magistracy yesterday. The steamer which brought the defendants down had left, and so the question whether they were exempted from the law on the ground that they were foreign soldiers could not be fought out,
+
T. Sercombe Smith, 1.b.w.. b Lowson G. D. Campbell, c and b Hancock Rev. G. R. Vallings, b Hancock Surgeon Pead, R.N., e Eccles, l Lowson Surgeon-Major Johnston, A.M.S.. b Hancock C. Percival, R.B., b Hancock Captain Baker-Carr, ↳ Hancock Lieut. F. A. Powlett, R.X., h. Lowson Captain Grafton, R.N., e Sheldon, b Lowson S. Powell, b Davies
T. Shelford, R.N., not out
Extras
Total.
4
3
167
COMMERCE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.” DEAR SIR.- With reference to the article in your paper of the 25th instant anent the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. I shall feel obliged by your granting me space in your valuable columns to make a few remarks with a view to the re- moval of the impression which appears to exist in the minds of the European community that the !feremonies observed at the opening of that in- stitution were intended as an insult to Her Ma- jesty's Government. First of all. I must express iny regret, which. I am sure, is shared by all my fellow members, at not having had the honour of the presence of His Excellency the Governor and the leading members of the European com- Dr. munity at the opening of the Chamber. Ho Kai's excuse for not inviting His Excel- lency and other European guests to be present on that occasion was that Mr. Ho Amei and others (who the others are I don't know) were. determined upon observing purely Chinese ceremonies and having the god of war installed in the building on that particular day, but I wonder if he pointed out to Mr. Ho Amei the B. Wickets. desirability of having the place formally opened by His Excellency first and that if the members wished to perform any Chinese ceremonies they could do so afterwards. If he did not do so, I should like to know why, but if he did and failed to convince Mr. Ho Amei that he was right, he should have called a meeting of the members. Mr. Ho Amei is also to blame for not consulting the members when he found that Dr. Ho Kai did not fall in with his views about issuing invitations to the Governor and other European guests. I am sure that if a meeting had been called by either of these gentlemen more satisfactory arrangements would have been come to and all unpleas- antness avoided. In the Chinese invitation The course was from the Police Pier, Kow- cards, which were approved of by Dr. Ho loon, round Channel Rocks, Cosmopolitan Dock Kai and which bore his name, the members were buoy, mark hoat off Green Island (leaving all specially requested to attend the opening of to port), and back to the Pier between the the Chamber with their official robes on for the Central Fairway buoys: 14 miles. The follow-purpose of worshipping the god of war. I ing boats crossed the starting line at 10.20-
Meteor Mr. T. Lammert, allowed Erica Mr. Denison Princess Mr. McKio
BOWLING ANALYSIS. Overs Maid
Ruus, Winds
Lowson Hancock
21
8
41
23
4
37
5 1
24
1.3
23 4
Eccles Davies
+
ROYAL HONGKONG YACHT CLUB.
SIXTH CLUB RACE,
The weather on Sunday morning was any- thing but inviting, but three of the boats braved the elements and had one of the best races of the season, the order being changed many times during the day.
1 minute
received one of these invitation cards, and I presume Colonel Chan, who subscribed $200 towards the funds of the Chamber, also received I did not attend the opening of the Cham-
one.