*
February 27, 1896.]
Mr. Andrew sent his card to the Prefect on the evening of the 17th February and asked him for a copy of the proclamation, but the Prefect, with his usual politeness, kept the card and sent or said nothing.
More than ten days ago news was received from Peking that the Tsung-li Yamen had promised the desired proclamation. The fol- lowing is the result:-
PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY THE PREFECT OF WUCHOWFU.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
to the latter should also be paid by the former, the boats, and before leaving the ship we saw but nothing differential.
that any attempt to save her would be futile. We got into the boats and decided to proceed to Hongkong. Happily we were more forth- nately provided for than shipwrecked sailors usually are, as we not only had a stock of pro- visions with us but also compasses, chronome- ters, and sextants. But we had a very trying time and endured great hardships. We were wet through to the skin and sleep was out of the question. The sea was rather rough, too, and on the second day out we deemed it prudent to abandon the long boat and take "The British merchant On To (Andrew) its occupants into the lifeboat. We kept a having brought goods here, I, the Prefect of very anxious look-out for passing vessels, but Wnchow, examined the certificate and allowed it was not until we had been three days and the goods to pass, and the British merchant three nights in the open that we sighted the was then at liberty to transact business and sell Russian ironclad Vladmir Monomach, sixty his goods to Chinese subjects. A steamer after-miles south of Hongkong. The vessel was wards arrived from the Eastern Province on a voyage to Singapore, but the captain very (Kwangtung) which the British merchant kindly took us on board and brought us to Gap thought had come to stop his trade. He Rock lighthouse, where we again entered the therefore asked me to issue a notice on the lifeboat and waited off the Rock until seven subject. The object of the steamer's visit was o'clock in the morning, when we were picked up not to stop the foreigner selling goods and she by the German steamer Cassius and brought has long ago returned to Kwangtang. I have to Hongkong. I cannot find sufficient words now received instructions from the Viceroy by to express my gratitude to the Russian officers wire to arrange this business properly. I for their great kindness. They treated us therefore issue this notice in order that Chinese exceptionally well, and I shall never forget merchants may understand that if they wish to their kindness. My thanks are also due to buy foreign goods-they are at liberty to do the captain of the Cassius, who was very con- business with the foreigner. The regulations siderate to us. for preventing the evasion of payment of duty by Chinese do not apply to foreigners who have taken out transit passes under the treaty. You merchants, therefore, must not suppose that the foreign goods are prohibited. After the foreign goods have been taken delivery of by the Chinese merchants lekin and daty will be collected. Obey this. Dated the 4th day of the 1st moon of the 22nd year of Kwang Sa."
WRECK OF THE BARQUE "LYNN- WOOD" ON THE PRATAS.
THE CREW PICKED UP AT GAP ROCK.
On the morning of the 19th Feb. the German steamer Cassius picked up a crow of fourteen men belonging to the barque Lynnwood, of Nova Scotia, which was wrecked on the Pratas reef on Sunday morning last. The weather was very thick at the time the vessel struck, but happily the crew of fourteen, including the captain, Mr. Ross, succeeded in provisioning the lifeboat and long boat. The second day out the long boat was abandoned, her occupants being taken into the lifeboat. Early yesterday morning the lifeboat was sighted by the Vladimir Mono- mach, which brought it ou to Gap Rock. The boat and crew were dropped at the lighthouse, where they were picked up yesterday morning by the Cassius and brought to Hong kong, apparently not much worse for their eventful experience.
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One of the craw is a very intelligent West Indian named Richard Tankard, and he was at the wheel when the Lynnwood struck. He joined the ship at Nowcastle and his experience during the past three years has not been a particularly pleasant one. as he has been ship- wrecked twice. The seamen are now quartered at the Sailors' Home.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
19th February.
.175
of the owner of the 'ricksha, which had to be taken to the Police Station, as there was no one in charge of it, and as he had received a threaten- ing letter from the defendant.
read as follows:-"The Bungalow. To the The Magist ate called for the letter, and
Inspector in charge of Yaumati Station. Sir- My coolie tells me that one of your men had the unwarrantable cheek to take my 'ricksha from his care to the Police Station. Please note that unless it is at once returned, together with an ample apology, I shall report the mat- ter to the proper authorities. Yours faithfully, R. E. Humphreys.-P.S.-Being mail day I have no time to come round, and I imagine it is best for all concerned that I cannot."
the defendant could not take a better course After reading the letter his Worship said
than to admit the charge.
Defendant said he would admit it. The Magistrate said he could not freat defen- dant differently from other people, and the usual fine of $3 would be imposed.
OIL TANKS ON THE SHAUKIWAN ROAD.
On the afternoon of the 24th Feb. Mr. J. L. Prosser sold by auction on behalf of the Govern- ment three lots of land at North Point, which were offered together at an upset price of $14,220. The contents of the three lots aggregate 134,000 square feet and the annual Crown rent is $740. The property was knocked down for $14,270 to Messrs. Meyer and Co., who, we hear, intend to construct tanks for the storage of Langkat oil. One of the lots is a marine lot and the other two are inland lots. The conditions of sale provide that the purchasers shall before the expiration of one calendar month commence the reclamation of the foreshore included in marine lot 277 and shall before the expiration of six months expend on rateable improvements not less than $50,000 and before the expiration of a further six months a further sum of $100,000. The following special condition is also in- cluded: The lots are sold subject to the right of obtaining a water supply from the valley in which inland lot 1,3 is situated as now existing and the purchaser shall not be at liberty to interfere with such water supply without first, at his own expense and to the satis- faction of the Director of Public Works, con- structing the necessary works for the con- tinuance of the same.' It is the intention, we understand, to construct a wharf. alongside which the vessels will lie while discharging, and the oil will be conveyed by pipes under the road to the tanks on the inland lots.
Residents in the colony may now dismiss any fear they entertained of a water famine, as at the present time there is a sufficient quantity of water stored in the reservoirs to meet the ordinary demands for the next twelve weeks. The calculation is made on the assumption that not a drop of rain falls in the meantime, but the rainy season should set in before that period elapses; indeed, judging by the recent rains, it looks as if the weather had already made up its mind to atone for last year's dilatoriness, and, if it will only keep fine for the races, we shall heartily welcome as many showers as will make the reservoirs bubble over as if with joy. On Monday morning the Tytam reservoir contained 118,000,000 gallons of water and the Pokfulam reservoir 36,000,000, giving a total of 154,000,000. The quantity lost from the reservoirs during last week was 6,000,000, and the quantity sup- plied to the town (the city and hill district) was 13,000,000, so really we gained 7,000,000 gallons
The twenty-seventh ordinary meeting of of water by last week's rainfall. Therefore. shareholders in the China Fire Insurance Com- assuming that the consumption averages pany. Limited, was held at the Company's office, 13,000,000 gallons a week, there is still a sufficient 3, Queen's Road Central, on the 19th Feb., at noon. store to last for twelve weeks, even supposing no Hon. A. McConachie presided, and there were rain falls in the meantime. We are really not present-Messrs. H. L. Dalrymple, D. R. Sas- much worse off for water this year than we were
soon, N. A. Siebs, St. C. Michaelsen, J. Kramer last, as on the 1st February, 1895, the quantity (Directors). Geo. L. Tomlin (Secretary), Paul in Tytam was 183,000,000 gallons and in Pok- Jordan, R. H. R. Burder, J. A. Carvalho, J. fulam 35,000,000; while on the 1st of February R. Michael, J. H. Cox. G. C. Cox, A. M. Roza, this year Tytam contained 130,000,000 gallons, A. M. R. Pereira, B. Byramjee, G. H. Michael, and Pokfulam 37,000,000-altogether a decrease. S. Sharp. H. M. Mehta, F. D. Guedes, E. this year of just about four weeks supply. The Jones Hughes, F. Gowe, and Chan Fat. new catchment area at Tytam has proved a very great advantage, as the flow during the last four mouths has averaged: 50,000 gallons a day.
Captain Ross gave the Daily Press reporter the following account of the shipwreck We left Shanghai on the 10th of February bound for Manila with ballast. We were to have started on the previous day, but a severe north- east snowstorm and gale detained us, and we anchored during that night at the lightship. After putting to sea we had no sight of the sun, and could not take observations, and we came down the Former Channel without see- ing any lights or meeting any vessel. We were very careful in shaping the course in order to keep clear of the Pratas coral reef, which is about 200 miles from Hongkong, and in a direct line from Shanghai to Manila. We thought we were quite safe, but at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning last we made breakers straight ahead. We tried to wear the ship, but she went right on to the reef. The weather at the time was very thick and a very strong gale was blowing. The head yards were backed. and we endeavoured to set the ship off the reef, but she was driven further on by the wind, and at daylight we saw that the ship was breaking up; the decks and stern post had started, and she was making water. Cnder those, circum- stances we could do nothing but abandon the ship to her fate and save our lives. As quickly as possible we filled the lifeboat and the long boat with two weeks' provisions and a few effects belonging to the crow, of whom there Inspector Butlin replied that he was quite were thirteen besides myself. It was with con. justified in taking the action he did, as he had siderable difficulty that we managed to lower I considerable trouble in ascertaining the name
"THE UNWARRANTABLE CHEEK"
OF THE POLICE.
At the Magistracy on the 21st Feb. before Mr. T. Sercombe Smith, Mr. R. E. Humphreys, of Messrs. W. G. Humphreys and Co., was sum- moned for leaving his ricksha unattended in Elgin Road, Kowloon.
The defendant said he considered the action of Inspector Butlin in summoning him without giving warning was a very high handed pro. ceeding, as he did not know that his coolie left the 'ricksha there.
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CHINA FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, LIMITED.,
The ACTING SECRETARY read the notice
calling the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, the Report and Statement of Accounts have been in your possession for about three weeks, and I presume it will be the pleasure, as is usual, of this Meet- ing to take them as read, and that
may at once proceed to make such remarks as they seem to call for. I must in the first place express regret that the results of 1894 compare so unfavourably with previous years, admitting only of a final dividend of $1.00 per share, or 20 per cent. for the year, instead of the usual 301
per cent. You were no doubt prepared inja measure by my predecessor in the chair for a somewhat smaller dividend on the winding up of the 18 acconut, but unfortunately the balance then carried forward has been still fur- ther reduced by losses, one fire alone making a difference in your dividend of a fraction
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