THE HONGKONG. WEEKLY PRESS, AND
EON. J. I. THOMSON’S EVIDENON. The Hon. J. M. Thomson's evidence as to the cause of the abnormal number of floggings in 1895 is as follows :—
-Can you assign any cause for the increase from 295 in 1891 to 535 in 1895 P
A-Yes. About September last year, in the course of my usual inspections, I came to the conclusion that the head turnkey was not doing his duty and that the cranks were not up to the proper strength. I ordered the warder to make a surprise test of all the cranks immediately on receipt of the head turnkey's certificate. One morning, in doing so, he found that most of the cranks were very much under weight—– under test-and a large proportion of them had no weight at all.
Dr. Atkinson-No pressure? Witness-No pressure. Then the result of that was that all the cranks being up to the proper test, the prisoners, as I believed, entered into a conspiracy to refuse to do the labour, and the result was a large increase in the number of floggings.
Q-Comparing your terms of office, was there any marked increase or decrease in any special class of gaol offences?
A-The increase was almost entirely owing
to refusal to labour.
Q-And that refusal to labour was due to the fact that the pressure was increased?
A-It was due to the fact that the cranks were kept up to the test.
£
THE $3,500 REFUNDED TO THE COMPANY. An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders in the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, Limited, was held at the Com- pany's office, No. 14, Praya Central, on the 13th July for the purpose of confirming the following special resolution passed at the extra ordinary general meeting of the Company held on the 22nd June 'last :-
That the Articles of Association be altered in manner following :-
(a) Paragraph 10 of Article 2 which now reads as follows:-"Auditors Secretary "and Manager mean those respective "Officers from time to time of the Company and the marginal note of the same paragraph shall be cancelled, and in lieu thereof the following marginal note and paragraph shall be
inserted that is to say
"Chief Manager Secretary and
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Auditors"
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The CHAIRMAN-Before separating I wish to mention that the directors had a meeting im mediately after the last meeting of shareholders, and as some doubt had been expressed here by one of the shareholders as to the legality of the gracious vote of the shareholders of $3,500, the directors came to the conclusion to refund this money to the Company. Still, the directors remain thankful to the shareholders for their gracious vote. Gentlemen, that is all the business before the meeting. (Applause.) ·
THE WANCHAI WAREHOUSE AND STORAGE CO., LIMITED.
An extraordinary general meeting of the Wan-. chai Warehouse and Storage Company, Limited, was held at the office of the General Managers (Messrs. Meyer and Co.), No. 5, Queen's Road Central, on 11th July, 1896, for the purpose of considering the terms of a proposed lease of the Company's Godowns to the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, Limited. present-Messrs. H. Stolterfoht and P. Sachse Mr. J. H. Garrels presided, and there were also (Conenlting Committee), C. Heermann, O. von der Heyde, F. Henderson, H. Ehmer. C. Schroeter, C. Rogge, W. Rudeloff (Secre- tary), and Kwok Ah Lum.
The SECRETARY read the notice convening the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, you have had an opportunity during the past week of ascertaining the terms of the proposed lease. HONGKONG AND WHAMPOA DOCK state in what manner it will affect the future Still, before we are going to vote on it, I shall CO., LIMITED.
position of this Company. In the first place, for the next ten years to come we withdraw from active business entirely, the whole of our storage business and all the buildings passing over for the time being to the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, who no doubt can make a good thing out of it by working our business in conjunction with their own. On the other hand, they have to pay all the expenses in connection with the godowns, that is to say, Crown rent and taxes, all insurance premia and repairs, they being bound to redeliver the buildings to us in ten years' time in the same good condition which they are now in. Further, they have not only to pay the interest due on the mortgages, but have also, in case the mortgages should be called in, to find the money for fresh mortgages. Everything has thus been provided for to make sure that no money whatever need be spent by this Company during the term of the lease, and consequently that no further call "Chief Manager will be made on shareholders, and still we Secretary and have the guarantee of the Hongkong and *Auditors respec- | Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co. that on "tively mean the the expiry of the ten years' lease we get our persons for the property back in just as good a condition as it is time being per-
now. And now as to the income of this Com- forming the duties pany during these ten years, The lease of these respec- stipulates for an annual rent of $8,300 payable to us half-yearly. Out of this have to be paid only remunerations to General Managers, Consulting Committee, auditors, and architects. Referring first to the Consulting Committee, I do not think that after the actual active business of the Company should have come to an end, we should, during the continuance of the present lease, require the assistance of a Consulting Committee, and it is my intention, therefore, at the next annual meeting, to pro- pose not to re-elect a Consulting Committee. In making these remarks I wish to express my full appreciation of the services of the present committee, which on many occasions, and more particularly during the recent negotia- tions with the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, have been of the greatest value to the General Managers and the Company generally. The General Mana- gers' remuneration as per Articles is fixed at $1,200 for office expenses and conducting generally the business of the Company and 5 per cent. commission on all income. Their work, however, when this lease is entered upon will be greatly reduced and on behalf of the General Managers I agree that during the term of the lease our remuneration should be reduced to $500 in full, out of which amount my firm would pay whatever may become due to au- ditors and architects. This would leave net $7,800, to the shareholders, payable on the
tive officers."
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(b) In Article 69 the words One thousand dollars" shall be eliminated and there shall be substituted therefor the words ** two thousand dollars."-
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(c) In Article 70 the words "Chief Manager
shall be substituted for the word
Manager." (d) In Article 72 and in the marginal note thereof the word "Manager" where it occurs shall be eliminated and the words "Chief Manager" shall be sub- stituted therefor.
(e) At the end of Articles 83 and 87 there shall be added the words "or Chief Manager."
Mr. J. Kramer presided, and there were also present-Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving, Messrs. G. B. Dodwell, J. H. Lewis, N. A. Siebs, St. C. Michaelsen (Directors), D. Gillies (Chief Manager), T. I. Rose (Secretary), Hon. C. P. Chater, Messrs, C. Sharp, Fullerton Hender- son, W. Parfitt, and R. Mitohell.
The SECRETARY read the notice convening the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, I beg to pro- pose that the resolution which was passed here at the meeting held on the 22nd June be confirmed. Will anyone please second that
Mr. STARFI beg to second the resolution. Carried.
July 16, 1890.
30th June and 31st December to pay for the next ten years dend of $1.50 per share, being per cent, per annum. You migh that this rate, although better dividend paid during the existence pany, still is no better than we p and had, as we thought, every reas in future. However, it is one thing something and another to have it by such a substantial concern as the Hong, kong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company. We are now no more subject to the fluctuations of trade, but enjoy a fixed and regular income, which will be paid to us half-yearly in the same manner as though it was interest due on debentures. In fact, our shares will for the next ten years resemble kind of debenture, the only difference being that after expiry of the ten years shareholders will not get back, hard cash, but will be re- instated into the possession of two big pro- perties covering nearly two acres, the one of as much on Queen's Road, and the other a front- which has about 210 feet marine frontage and age of about 500 feet altogether on two smaller roads. What the value of these properties will be in ten years time it would be futile to guess. I maintain, however, that this question is in- dissolubly bound up with the future prosperity. of this colony, and he must take a gloomy view. of the latter, indeed, who does not think that the value of our properties will be considerably. more ten years hence than it is now. I may
square foot would be equal to $30 for each share add, that an increase in value of say $1 per of this Company. That is all that occurs to me, but before putting the resolution to the meeting I shall be glad to answer any questions.
The CHAIRMAN-There being no questions, I beg to propose that Marine Lot No. 29 and the Company's interest in the Wanchai Piar and Inland Lots Nos. 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 613, 614, and 615 be leased to the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, Limited, for ten years from the 1st July instant, subject to existing mortgages, at the yearly rental of $8,300, to be paid half-yearly upon the terms described to this meeting by the General Managers, or upon such other terms as the General Managers may approve of, and that the General Managers do cause the necessary lease to be executed accordingly.
Mr. ROGGE-I have much pleasure in second- ing.
Carried unanimously.
business of this meeting. I need only add that
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, that is all the
as soon as possible we will make out the accounts for the past half year and declare an interim di- vidend. This, however, may take some time, as we have some repairs to effect, and it may be six or eight weeks before that dividend can be paid. I thank
you your attendance.
for
THE JAPAN TIRAL WAVE BELIEF FUND.
The Right Rev. Bishop Burdon writes as under date of 7th July :-
I enclose an earnest appeal from Bis- hop Awdry, of Kobe, for help in the - attempt to relieve the terrible distress caused by the recent tidal wave in Northern Japan. I shall be glad to be the medium of forwarding any sums sent to me. Would it be possible to form a plan for raising a general subscrip- tion from Hongkong on behalf of the sufferers ? The need is pressing and sore,
(Enclosure.)
The Firs, Kobe
**** 27th June, 1896, Dear Bishop Burdon,-You will have heard of the terrible distress as well as loss of life caused in Northern Japan by a tidal wave: 26,000 or more killed, and many thousands i houses, crops, tools, boats, and nets in man places almost all gone.*******
I need hardly say that here the community is deeply interested this distress, coming forward money, and sending experi worthy men to the spot to adm not in staving off notual Japanese Government will do.” to set the survivors on their ing them the means to get to work