May 21, 1896.]
the attention of the Chamber, but without much progress having been achieved.
NAVY LEAGUE.
This institution being somewhat outside the sphere of action of a cosmopolitan body like the Chamber, the correspondence relating thereto, with which the Chamber had been favoured, was
handed over to the Hengkong Branch of the China Association.
COINAGE OF A BRITISH POLLAR AND ACTION TAKEN AGAINST " CHOPPING “ OF SAME.
With reference to this matter. China aud¦ Straits exchange has ruled during the year under the laying down cost of silver. therefore it has not been profitable for the banks to buy bars in the London market and have them con- verted into British dollais at the mint in Bom- bay. Under these circumstances only about fifty lakhs have been coined during the year.
and most of these are circulation.
There is no doubt that when the Hongkong and the Straits exchanges permit of the import of coiu, British dollars will be freely minted.
MEMBERS.
427
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. Joint Telegraph Companies, more particularly ing the colony, Mr. Herbert Smith has been in connection with the rates charged between invited to fill the vacancy. this port and Japan and the Straits Settlements, to which a reply has been received intimating that considerable reductions will be made on certain local traffic south of Hongkong, and that later the same principle may be extended in other directions.
THE COOLIE STRIKE IN HONGKONG.
In conuection with the coolie strike, which caused so much loss and inconvenience early last year, two public meetings were held under the auspices of the Chamber, on the 28th March and 1st April respectively, at which the question was fully discussed, and it was resolved to sup- port the Government in repressing the strike. Correspondence between the Government and H.B.M.'s Cousul at Amoy elicited the statement
that an ample supply ofliabour can at any time be obtained from that port on condition that the coolies can be guaranteed permanent employ ment and protection against maltreatment hy
the Cantonese coolies.
ADMIRAL MAKAROFF'S DEVICE FOR MINIMIS-
ING THE EFFECTS OF COLLISIONS AT SEA.
༔
During the past year Messrs. Ed. Schellhass & Co. resigned membership, and the Chamber has to regret the loss of one member by death, Mr. L. Mendel. The following names have been added to the list of members-Messrs. Renter. Bröckelmann & Co., the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co., Limited, the Sperry Flour Co. of San Francisco, the Canton Insur- ance Office, Limited, the China Traders' In- surance Co., Limited, the Hongkong Fire In- surance Co., Limited, the China Fire Insurance Co., Limited, the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co. Limited, and Mr. H. Wicking.
SECRETARY.
Mr. F. Henderson having resigned, Mr. R. Chatterton Wilcox was appointed Secretary to the Chamber in January, 1896.
FINANCE.
The accounts for the year ending 31st INADEQUATE WHARF ACCOMMODATION.
December were audited by Messrs. Gershom The congested state of steam-launch and sam-
Stewart and J. Y. V. Vernou. The balance at pan traffic in the vicinity of Pedder's Wharf.
Those interested in shipping were on the 23rd the credit of the Chamber amounted to owing to the reclamation works now being January afforded an opportunity by the Com- | 52.509.13, and a special fixed deposit, represent- carried ou, led to representations to the Governmittee of hearing an iteresting dress by ing the Pinnacle Rock Fund." of 83,037.22, ment on the subject early last year, and this has Admiral Makaroff, of H.L.I.M.S Navy, expla|both announts being in the hands of the been relieved in consequence by the provision natory of his proposed method of minimising | Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation of temporary landing places opposite Wardley the effects of collisions sra. Some instructive Street and near the new markets.
discussion followed the address.
THE CHAMBER'S REPREFENTÁTIVES AT THE THIRD CONGRESS OF CHAMBERS OF COM- MERCF. 1896.
In July last Mr. W. Ke-wick was invited and accepted the nomination to represent this Chamber at the forthcoming third Congress of the Chambers of Commerce of the Empire to be held in London. Subsequent suggestions being made from the Congress Commitice for the appointment of additional delegates. Messrs. E. Mackintosh and A. G. Wood were asked tõ accept nomination, and agred to da so.
POSTAL ARRANGEMENTA IN VIEW OF
NEW CONTRATA,
TLe General L'ost Office. London, in view of the existing contract for the mail service expiring in January, 1893, saght the opinion of the Chainber as to the passibility of shorten- ing the stoppages here on the Entward and homeward voyages and the expediency of substituting Hongkong for Shenghai as the terminal point. The important questions having been referred to the tamubers by circular. the very general opinion elicited was that the stoppage homewards might be shortened to twenty-four hours, let that no change should be made in the terminu, which decision was duly communicated to the cloverument.
ALTERATION IN FORR OF DEPARTURE HOMEWARD OF FRENCH MAIL.
.
the
Early this year. on short notice. Messageries Maritimes Company altered the hour of departure of the homeward mail steamers from noon on Wednesday to 10 a.u. The Chamber, in response to a request for their opinion from Government. represented the great inconvenience this would cause the com- munity. The Company's Agent having repre- sented the matter. the directors have, upon re- consideration, reverted to the former hour of departure, and have thus conferred a great hoon on the colony.
CHINKLANG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. A Chamber of Commerce Laving been formed this year at Chinkiang, this Chamber forwarded its congratulations and expressed its readiness to co-operate in matters afecting their mutnal interests.
TELEGRAPH RATES.
The question of the cast of telegrams between this colony, India, and Europe has been the subject of some correspondence, and your Com- mittee intimated to the London Chamber their readiness to co-operate in any action it could suggest to secure a reduction in the rates. They were unable, however, to adopt the proposal of the London Chamber to approach the Govern- ment with a view to their giving a guarantee to the Telegraph Companies to make good any loss of reveure that might result from a reduc tion of the present tariff. Notwithstanding the reduction of 30 cents a word made by the Telegraph Companies in December last in the cost of telegraphing to Europe and America, direct representation has been made to the
|
THE NEW BRUISH JINISTER TO CHINA, * His Excellency Sir KLAUDE MacDONALD. K.C.M.G.. the new Brifish Mid-ter to Chim..
while passing through the colony on his way to Peking, having courteously consented to meet the Committee, an iub rview took place in the Chamber of Caniberec room ca the 4th
April, when His Excellency, in reply to in address from the Chairman dealing with the questions of the opening of The West River, t official obstruction in south Chita to trade under transit pass, and the proposed extension of the boundaries of this colony, and, in rest puse to certain mebers of the Committee,
some welcome a rares in race to
the progress of negutŝalions on ties suiqjects.
THE PROPOSED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE
SANITALY BEARD,
The Government Fist month inquired whether the opinion of the chander on the set of the Sanitary Board rudes the same as ex- Pressed in the letters of de Chairman dated 19th October and 12th November, 1891, and by the member then repr jenting the Chamber in the Council; also whether Mr. Whitehead had received any maulate from the British members
of the Chamber to oppose the views expressed by the Retrenchment Chumittee and by Messrs. Keswick and McConachie.
The Committee replify that they understood that His Excellency he laternor desires an expression of opinion the question of the reconstitution of the Shuitary board only and not on all the various points raised by Mr. Keswick's letter of the 19th October, 1594, and that as no expression of pinion by the Comm- mittee on that question could be final it would be necessary. if His Excellency wishes it, to obtain the opinions of all the members of the Chamber. The Commitee added that there was no record of any quecedent in respect of the Chamber or any Region of its members ever having issued a mandate to any one of the gentlemen who have previously represented the Chamber in the Legislative Council.
Mr. Whitehead addressed a letter to the Com- mittee on the subject which, wit.. e other correspondence, will be found Appendix Y.
LIGHT DUES.
The increased light dues continue to be levied. This matter s lately had the consideration of the present Committee; and it is hoped the new Committee will press this question on the atten- tion of the Gover“went.
THE CHAMBER'S REPRESENTATIVE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCI
The Hon. T. H. Whitehead, on his return to. the colony in August, fesumed I ́s seat in the Legislative Council as represcutative of the Chamber.
COMMITTEE.
Mr. Douglas Jones retired in July on his departure for Shanghai, and Mr. N. J. Ede was, asked to join the Committee. Mr. R. M. Gray having tendered his resignation on leav-
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THE LATE CAPTAIN VESHY.
The mural tablet to be erected in St. John's Cathedral to the memory of the late Captain
Vesey, who tied during the plague of 1894,
arrived by the French mail yesterday. The tablet is of brass and rests on black marble about two inches thick and is a beautiful piece of workmanship. The body of the tablet con- To the glory tains the following inreription:- of God and in emory of Captain Colthurst Vesey, 1st Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry, who, during the plague of 1994. lost his life in the service of the public. this memorial is erected by the people of Hongkong. Aucto splendore resurga. Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends." The lettering is cut into the brass and worked in Black and rol enamel, and sur- showing the late and red roses, the badge of rounding it is an execelingly neat border
the regiment, aud delicately worked leaves, while at each corner is the emblem of the
St. Four Evangelists, Matthew, St. The cut of Mark, St. Lul, and St. John. the tablet was £25 and it will come out of tho
plague funds, and the balance now left will be
handed over to the Italian Convent. Messrs. Bonham and Froud, of Chandos Street, Strand, London, is the firm responsible for the work, which is a beautiful specimen of art and will
lant and much beloved captain.
always serve to recall the memory of the gal-
THE *
ONWO"S NEWCHWANG"
COLLISION.
THE INQUIRY. The inquiry into the loss of the Onico was continued at Shanghai on the 8th May.
Mr. A. L. Cooper was recalled and further examined by Captain Whittle as to the steering of the Onuro after passing the light boat.
were
Mr. S. Wray, first officer of the Newchwang, was next examined. He said-I was on the bridge at the time of the collision with the Onwo. We passed the buoy going slow and just past it we stopped. Whilst we stopped I saw a masthead and green light of After a another steamer crossing the bar. time the green white lights got right ahead, then crossed over to our starboard bow. At this time we were somewhere off the Woo- sung Creek.
I received the order, "Engines half-speed." I blew two blasts with the steam whistle. It was not replied to and the captain told me to blow again. It appeared to me then that we were going to pass each other clear on the starboard side, when the other ship, all of a sudden, showed her three lights. The captain then rang the teraph "Stop," ordered the a-starboard and blow two helm to be put h...
The other blasts with the steam whistle. steamer then shut in her green light, and we went full speed astern. Shortly after the two