}
July 30, 1896.]
and certainly more readily adaptable to a greater variety of purposes. In the event of such an installation being erected at Raub the electro-motors could be made use of for working the battery and for hauling, pumping, and lighting, and in fact for every purpose where power was wanted. Eventually, doubtless, they would work the railway by this means.
QUARANTINE AT MANILA,
At
The Manila Comercio has an article, in reply to comments that have been made in the Hongkong press, on the imposition of quaran- tine on arrivals from Hongkong. After some introductory remarks our contemporary says:- According to the information we have re- ceived it appears that some months ago reports were received in Manila of the existence of bubonic plague in Hongkong, but these reports being of a private character did not give occasion for taking any active measures. the beginning of June, however, alarming re- ports having been received, according to which not only was the mortality in the neighbouring colony great, but the epidemic had extended to Amoy, Canton, and other ports, the Consul at Hongkong was requested to furnish official in- formation of the extent of the epidemic. The Consul replied that the epidemio was of a grave character, there having been that month. up to the 10th, 74 cases and 74 deaths, 13 being Ear- opeans. With this official information, sup- plemented later by further details, Senor Javier Bores, who gives such attention to matters concerning the Centro Directive, summoned the Sanitary Board, which, including amongst its members merchants and ship owners, una- nimously decided that the sanitary laws should be applied in their full rigour, all ports in which the epidemic bad broken out being declared infected. This rigour has been maintained, notwithstanding that representations have been made alleging a decrease of the epidemic.
:
Before taking these measures, and while waiting for official information, three days' ob- servation were imposed on arrivals from the infected port, which were later on converted into the quarantine prescribed by the sanitary laws.
The last despatch from the Consul at Hongkong, bearing date the 10th July, states that in the month of May last there were 345 cases, 114 in June, and in the first few days
of July 20 only, and he urged, in view of the decrease, of the epidemic, a relaxation of the quarantine to which vessels are subjected, this request being made in the interests of commerce. The Director Civil, being responsible for the rigorous enforcement of the sanitary regula tions, was unable to accede to the petition of the Consul at Hongkong, because a focus of epidemic exists in the said colony and while it is unextinguished, and until fifteen or twenty days (as the law determines) have passed without any case being reported, the sanitary measures established by the antherised Board will be maintained.
Measures such as those adopted on the pre- sent occasion have prevented the invasion of other epidemics which have declared themselves in the Far East, as for instance two of cholera st Singapore and the plague at Hongkong last year and this year, epidemics which, oc- curring during the period of General Blanco's command, have been warded off by the rigorous measures adopted, the Government accepting the responsibility conformable with the fulfil ment of the sanitary laws.
These are the reasons which have obliged, and still oblige, our anthorities to adopt the measures which have been so ill-judged by the press of Hongkong, and to this history of the matter in question we will add some farther official information kindly supplied to us by Senor Bores referring to the development of the epidemio at Hongkong from December, 1895, to May, 1896, ob- tained, on application, from the Consul at Hongkong December, 8 cases and 6 deaths; Jannary, 47 cases, 34 deaths; February, 122 cases, 96 deaths; March, 170 cases, 151 deaths;
1,317 cases, 277 deaths; May, 345 cases, 324 deaths, and June 114 cases, the number of deaths being unknown. This is the tatistica position of the epidemic at
**
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Hongkong. It will be seen, then, that the measures taken by the Government concerning the quarantining of vessels from the infected ports not only rest on a legal basis, being in accordance with the law in force, but that they are wise and prudent.
:
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT.
·Dr.
23rd July, 1895.
Tls. 12 per share ........
To dividends paid on 7,800 ordinary shares, To maintenance and depreciation account 1895 To reserve fund 1895
To directors' and auditor's fees 1895............ To balance carried down...
With reference to the above article, we understand that the Spanish Consul wired to Manila officially the outbreak of the plague 30th April, 1896.
soon as he had official news from the Co- lonial authorities of Hongkong and of course before the Spanish officials asked him for the
as
same.
He has since wired on several occasions and written officially, giving the Hongkong of- ficial returns, by each steamer cleared for Manila. That is the real version. Since the 13th June
the Consul has officially notified Manila that the plague was decreasing and he never said that the epidemic was of grave character.
We have received another letter from Manila on the subject of the quarantine established in the Philippines against Hongkong. The writer suggests that the Hongkong Government should make representations to the Philippines Government through the British Consul at Manila, and goes on to say:-Before closing I must mention a recent occurrence in connec- tion with the quarantine established. Captain Harrison, the well known commander of the sailing vessel Esmeralda, sailed from this port for the Marianne Islands. On arrival at the port of San Luis de Apra Guajan, notwithstanding that the voyage had occupied no less than thirty- five days, the Sanitary Authority of that port imposed fifteen days' rigorous quarantine for the mere fact that the vessel had come from Hongkong, and further ordered that the quar- antine should be effected at the Lazaretto of Mariveles, although there had been no sickness on board. Did any one ever hear of such ignor- ance! Does this official know the distance separating the Mariannes from Mariveles and the time the voyage occupies even in favourable weather? I very much doubt if he knows where Mariveles is, or he would never have displayed such crass ignorance.
BOYD & CO., LIMITED.
The following is the report of the Board of
To balance
30th April, 1895.
By balance of last account
23rd July, 1895.
By balance brought down 30th April, 1896.
93,600.00 15,000.00. 25,000.00 2,800.00 9,758.07
Tls. 145,658.07
TA. 259,867.24
TIs. 259,867:24
CT.
TIL
· 145,658.07
Tls. 145,658.07.
T. 9,758.07
7,348.98
By interest on sundry investments By net earnings for the year.......................................... 242,780.19
Tls. 259,867.24
Property account-
Balance Sheet,
ASSETY,
Land and buildings in Pootung, and the
*"New Dock"
Plant account
TIE.
423,337.68
Machinery and gear at engine works and Stock account-
new dock, and pumping gear............................... 151,104.18
Value of materials. at engine works and
new dook
Furniture secount-
305,956.21
In offices and dwelling-houses ................................... 2,218.42 Cash account
Į
Cash in hand Hongkong and Shanghai Bank 24,307.19 Interest account-
Interest accrued with Hongkong and Shang.
hai Bank
Reserve fund Investment account
25 Canton Insurance shares..... 45 North-China Insurance shares 35 Yangtze Insurance shares 30 Union Insurance shares 105 China Mutual S. N. Co. Pref.
shares
100 Taku Tug and Lighter Co.
shares
54 Shanghai Tug Boat Co. shares
8 Co-op. Cargo Boat Co. shares... 50 Shanghai Cargo Boat Co. shares
Tls. 2,087.50 6,390.00 1,715.00 1,860.00
3,675.00
6,000.00 5,124.58
800.00 6,250.00-
9 bonds Chinese Gov. loan E...... 2,250.00 Fixed deposits with Hongkong
and Shanghai Bank
Directors for presentation at the fifth annual Sundry debtors general meeting which was to be held at Shang- hai on the 28th August :--
In submitting their report with statement of accounts for the year ending 20th April, 1896, the directors congratulate the shareholders on the ex- ceptionally favourable results shown, which far exceed any previous year on record.
These results have been attained partly by the exceptional demand for dockage and repairs caused by the late war, and partly by the expansion of local industries.
The net earnings fofthe year, including amount brought forward from last account (Tls. 9,758.67) and interest on investment (Tls. 7,348.96) and allow ing for all known liabilities, stand at Tls. 259,867.24 Lees directors' and auditor's fees ...Tls. 2,800.00
Tls. 257, 7.24
fully invested, and the directors have decided to add The reserve fund, standing at Tls. 100,000, is
it the sun of Tis. 60,000, and they propose to make the following appropriations:—
Tls.
1st-Amount to be added to reserve fund 60,000.00 2nd-Amount to be placed to mainten-
ance and depreciation account 3rd-A dividend of 12 and 3 per cent. Tls. 15.00 on ordinary shares.....*. 4th-A dividend of 8 per cent. Tls.
117,00 on founders' shaies ...
5th-Amount to be carried to new account
Tls. 257,567.24
962.96
63,847.92
100,000.00
Accounts in course of collection......................................... 247,065.75
Tls. 1,254,852.31
LIABILITIES.
Capital account
7,800 ordinary shares at Tls. 100 780,000.00
200 founders' shares at Tls. 100 20,000,00
Improvements account---
Balance from last account Less expended 1895-1896
Tis.
Tls.
800,000.00
22,282.53 3,762.74
18,519.79
10,439.73
Maintenance and depreciation account-
Balance from last account Appropriation, 30th April, 1895 15,000.00
Less expended 1895-1896
Reserve fund---
25,439.73 14,970.00
10,469,73
Amount at credit of this account Sundry creditors
100,000.00
66,095.55
259,867.24
Tle. 1,254,952.31:
Profit and loss account-
Balance at credit of this nccount
20,000.00
The Shanghai Mercury says:-We have very 117,000.00 seldom had occasion, to record highway rob-3-
beries in the upper reaches of the Yangtze, but ⠀⠀ 23,400.00 a case of this sort has just come under our 37;167.21 notice. Mr. Archibald Little, of Ichang, was sending some bales of cotton yarn to Chung- | king in a cargo-boat, when about halfway between the two forts she was boarded by t band of armed robbers, who had the boat ats. their mercy and removed some of the bales - But we are glad to say that before- time to make away therewith they by the Magistrate: in whose jurisdiction piracy was perpetrated.
In accordance with clause 98 of the articles of association, one of the directors, Mr. C W. Ilay, will retire, but being eligible offers himself for re election. The accounts have been audited by Mr. J. D. Thorburn, who offers himself for re-election.
ere ca