504
THE HONGKONĠ WEEKLY PRESS AND
that of the preceding year, being 1,600 piculs || HONGKONG: RIFLE ASSOCIATION. deficient, a drop annually uniform in measure since 1892. This, if a sign of the decrease of the opium habit, should be a welcome even- tuality, but it cannot be fully so ascribed. That morphia as a cure of the habit is largely being availed of amongst smokers is a certainty, and that must of course affect consumption to some extent; still, the void caused by the de- creasing shipments of foreign opium is more than filled by the growing supply of native opium.
Native. Of this drug the shops in the city have four kinds for sale, the Yunnan, Szechuen, Kweichow, and Kwangtung opium, all of which are necessarily inferior in point of quality and value to the foreign article. With regard to the opium produced in this province, the poppy plant is a novel feature and rarely met with, and the average annual output is estimated at something near 50 piculs only; its extensive cultivation at some future period is not likely, seeing that the conditions of climate and soil are unfavourable to a productive plantation.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The year 1895 witnessed the succession of Li Han-chang by Tan Chung-lin in the occupancy of the Viceregal functions, and the demise, one after the other, of Governor Ma Pei-yao and of the Treasurer and Governor Designate Hsiao-lo-ch'en-yun, the last two being losses justly mourned by the people of the province and the Empire. There have also been changes affecting the domestic policy of Kwangtung and indicating a retrogressive course, rendered necessary through the altered conditions brought about by the fortunes of war.
Import and export values in 1895 were as follows:-
Hk.Tis.
The Long Range Cup and Spoons were com. peted for over the 700 and 800 yards distances on Saturday afternoon under fairly favourable conditions as to light and heat, but with an unsteady wind blowing, which proved very troublesome to some of the competitors. Eight members competed, the result being a win out- right of the Cup by Mr. John Andrew, with a creditable total of 93; the Spoons falling to Mr John Andrew and Mr. A. Brown. Appended are the best scores :—
Mr. J. Andrew Mr. A. Brown
Allow-
700 800 ance for Han- To- yards. yards. M.H. dicap. tal.
93. 91
Rifle.
39
36
18
36
34
11
10
P.O. Goodger, R.N. Mr. W. Deas -
33
35 23
11
30 11 10 84 15 84
RIFLE BRIGADE REGATTA.
On Saturday afternoon a very successful regatta was held at Bay View in connection with the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade. There was a large attendance of spectators, composed principally of the men of the Garrison and Navy, and some interesting racing was witnessed, the finishes for the most part being close and exciting. The programme comprised six events, including one open and one consolation race. Following are the results: Race for boats belonging to H.M. ships in Distance 1 miles. Prizes, $20,
Harbour.
$10, $5.
Undaunted
Do
1
3
Victor Emanuel OPEN RACE-Distance 1 miles. Open to one crew from each of H.M. ships in Harbour and Companies of R.A., R.E., and R.B. Prizes $15, 810.
D Company R.B.
C Company R.B, 35th Company R.A.
Net foreign import, market value Net native imports, market value
16,363,711
13,296,397
Net imports
29,660,108
Deduct duties and likin paid at Can-
ton
1,092,556
Net imports, minus duty
28,567,552
Deduct 7 per cent. for importers'
D Company R.B.
profit, etc.
1,999,729
A Company R.B.
RACE for SCRATCH CREWS. Distance 1 mile.
Prizes, $15, $10, $5. -
C Company R.B.
3
[June 18, 1896,
CORRES UND NCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE DOCK COMPANY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.' SIE,-It is fortuuate that the Directors of the Dook Company have issued a fresh notice convening a meeting of shareholders for the 22nd instant, because the first notice of the 7th March last was so hopelessly insufficient that it would have been impossible to proceed safely under it. Now that the meeting has apparently been duly convened it is for the shareholders to consider what shall be done at the meeting. The objects of the meeting seem to be (1) to enable the Directors to appoint a Chief Manager and (2) to increase the limit of the Lirectors' fees from $1,000 to $2,000 each per annum. As to (1), the reasons for appointing a Chief Manager are at present locked in the breasts of the Directors and it would be premature to discuss the proposed alterations of the Articles in this respect before those reasons are disclosed. As to (2), we have heard and read, since the question was first mooted, a good deal with respect to the proposed increase of the Directors' fees, and, with your permission, I will state, as briefly as I can, what seems to me to be the present position of
the matter..
The proposal now is that "in Article 69 the words one thousand dollars shall be eliminated and there shall be sub. stituted therefor the words two thousand dollars." Article 69 is as follows:-" The Directors may, with the sanction of the Share- holders, in each year, set aside a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars each as re- muneration for the Directors, to be divided. amongst them in such manner as the Board shall determine." The proposed alteration is, no doubt, in consequence of the so-called resolution alleged to have been passed by the shareholders at the meeting of the 25th February last. The so-called resolution was as follows:-"That the fees of the Directors be increased from $1,000 to $2,000 each per annum, and that the sum of $3,500 be hereby voted to the Board as an addi. tion to their fees for the past half year, and
Imports, value at moment of landing 26,567,823 DINGHY RACE. Distance half mile. Prizes that the Directors be hereby requested to take
$10, $5, 83.
Dreadnought Spikey Chelsea
steps for the altering of the Articles of Asso- ciation to put into effect the first part of the resolution.
That the sum
I am officially informed BATTALION SHIELD RACE. Distance one mile. of $3,500 was paid to the Directors and
Hk.Tls.
Original exporis, market value
20,614,886
Add duty paid at Canton...
630,081
Exports plus, duty..
21,244,967
Prizes $21, 814, 87.
Add 8 per cent. on market value for
exporters' profit. etc.
D Company
1,649,191
C Company
G Company
Exports, value at moment of shipment 22,894,158
HONGKONG GOLF CLUB.
CAPTAIN'S CUP.
This competition was concluded on the 15th June. The scores were high owing to the thick grass. The late rains have done a lot to improve the greens, but the lies have become very heavy.
Mr. C. E. Hume
90 6 84 8 88
Mr. V. A. C. Hawkins 96 Commodore Boyes...... 103 Captain Rumsey
14
89
98
Mr. W. M. Thompson 103
8 90 10 93
Dr. J. M. Atkinson
108 15 93
Mr. C. A. Tomes
Mr. G. Stewart.......
Mr. W. A. Duff
Mr. C. H. Grace
Mr. J. Hastings
108 15 93 98 4 94 108 12 96 111 12 99 111 12 99 The Pool was won by Mr. C. E. Hume.
The Bangkok Times of the 1st June say Mr. E. H. French, the British Consul at Bangkok, and Mrs. French left this afternoon by the Ban Seng Guan en route for England. There was quite a gathering of Europeans on the vessel to bid them good-bye for the present, and the heartiest wishes were expressed for the complete restoration of Mrs. French's health and their speedy return to their many friends in Siam.
CONSOLATION RACE. Prizes $10, $5, $3.
Constance I. Co....
Distance
(No third.)
1
3 one. mile.
2
On the conclusion of the last event the prizes were distributed to the successful competitors by Major The Hon. E. Noel. The arrangements fect, were carried out by the following Com for the regatta, which were in every detail per- mittee:Major The Hon. E. Noel (president and referee), Captain A. D. Stewart, Lient. F. G. Talbot, Lieut. J. H. Thresher, Lieut. L. Hoey.
We learn from a vernacular paper that Mr. Matsumoto, the President of the Toka Cotton Spinning Company, which contemplates the erection of a cotton spinning factory at Shang- hai, has had an interview with the Premier as to the present state of the Treaty negotiations with China. Marquis Ito is alleged to have stated that it was unreasonable to expect the Treaty to be negotiated in less than twelve months. They were proceeding steadily and the Government (of Japan) had no intention of renouncing any of the commercial privileges obtained under the Shimonoseki Treaty. If the Japanese merchants and manu- facturers wished to compete with the Europeans in China they should commence, regardless of the state of the Treaty negotiations. The Com- pany, it is added, have been greatly encouraged by the views expressed by the Premier and will commence to build without unnecessary delay. Kobe Chronicle.
|
an additional sum of the same amount in con- sideration of fees for the half year ended the 31st December, 1895." That is to say, in addi- tion to the sum of $3,500 for the first half year of 1895 and the sum of $3,500 for the second half year of 1895, the maximum prescribed by Article 69, the Directors have paid to them. selves out of the funds of the Company the sum of $3,500 as an addition to their fees for the second half year of 1895, being apparently under the impression that the additional sum of $3,500 for the second half so-called resolution of the 25th February last. year of 1895 was validly voted to them by the That impression is erroneous. The supposed vote was not a valid vote, because the whole of the so-called resolution was and is, as a resolu- tion, invalid and nugatory for the following (amongst other) reasons:-
1. The meeting of the 25th February was not duly convened in respect of time.
2. The meeting of the 25th February was not duly convened in respect of purpose.
3. The so-called resolution was ultra vires the Company.
1.-The Articles of Association of the Com pany provide that ten days notice at least of every meeting shall be given. The notice con- vening the meeting of the 25th February was dated the 17th February and was first advertised on that day. The notice was only a seven days' notice instead of a ten days' notice as required by the Articles and therefore the meeting was not duly convened in respect of time.
2.-The Articles of Association provide that the notice of every meeting shall specify the objects and business of the meeting and that no business other than such as is specified in such notice shall be transacted thereat. The notice