"
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE NAVY LEAGUE AND THE NAVY ESTIMATES.
annum, against 24.7 for the cor- week last year. For the week inst. the rate was 17.4, against 27.8
IMPURE WATER.
The
The Government Analyst reported on three samples of water, including one taken from a well at the Tin Mu Soy Works, Yaumati. He had found the water to be impure. Medical Officer attached a minute stating that the well at the soy works was badly constructed. He recommended that the well be ordered to to be cleansed, reconstructed, covered in, and fitted with pumps, or, failing this, closed altogether.
It was decided to adopt the Medical Officer's recommendation and to order the reconstruc- tion of the well or its closure by 15th March. The other two wells were ordered to be closed. ADJOURNMENT.
The Board then adjourned till Thursday week.
ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL.
On the 29th January the annual meeting of seatholders in St. John's Cathedral was held at the City Hall. The Rev. R. F. Cobbold pre- sided and there was a fair attendance.
The CHAIRMAN said it was a matter of regret, which he was sure everyone present would share, that they had not Bishop Burdon to the chair. With regard to the appoint- occupy ment of Bishop Burdon's successor there was no news from home, and as far as he (the Chair man) understood no definite steps had been taken to make an appointment. The delay was probably due to two causes, one of which was that the formalities of Bishop Burdon's resignation had only recently been concluded. Secondly, no doubt the death of the Archbishop of Canter: bury and the appointment of his successor had delayed matters. Probably as Boon as the formalities of the translation of Dr. Temple to the Archbishopric of Canterbury were com- pleted steps would be taken to send a ft man He out here as Bishop Burdon's successor. (the Chairman) knew the authorities at home were not unmindful of the needs of Hongkong in this respect.
The accounts were then adopted. Mr. W. G. HUMPHREYS said he would like to say one or two words about the ritualistic innovations introduced by the Chairman into St. John's Cathedral.
Hon. Commander RUMSEY rose to order. It was not competent for the meeting to discuss that question.
The CHAIRMAN said the business now was the election of the Church Body, and Mr. Humphreys would have an opportunity of making his remarks after the meeting was over. The following gentlemen were then appointed members of the Church Body-Sir John Carrington, Hon. F. A. Cooper, Hon. R. M. Rumsey, Messrs. T. Jackson, H. B. H. Leth- bridge, and E. Osborne. Mr. McBean was elected auditor.
The regulations under which the Church Body carry on business matters were then con- firmed. The CHAIRMAN remarked that they were not quite clear in the wording. As an example he mentioned one regulation which spoke of the annual meeting as a meeting of seatholders, and the people who were entitled to vote at the meeting were described as seatholders and subscribers. He did not think it was the intention of the Ordinance or of the regulations that a distinction should be drawn between seatholders and subscribers and be hoped that one of the first duties of the Church Body would be to revise the regulations with the assistance of a skilled man who was in the habit of drawing of such documents.
Mr JACKSON proposed and Hon. Commander RUMSEY seconded a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Wright for his kindness and labour in carrying on the duties of hon: treasurer.
Mr. H. E. Pollock, Hon. Secretary of the Navy League, Hongkong Branch, informs us that the resolution against any reduction being made in the Navy Estimates has been signed by 462 British subjects here, excluding members of the Civil, Naval, and Military services, who have not signed.
In addition to the above, thirty-one signatures have been obtained from Canton and thirty from Amoy.
INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS AND SHIPBUILDERS OF HONGKONG.
1.
The annual meeting of the members of the above Institution was held on Saturday night at 13, Praya Central. Mr. W. Ramsay pre- sided and there was a good attendance.
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, I have great pleasure in congratulating your managing committee on the splendid balance sheet which they have presented you with on the occasion of this the sixth annual meeting. Later on the hon. treasurer will give you a fuller state- ment in connection with our finances, which you will find full of interest. We all very much regret the unavoidable absence of our worthy President. Our members, as you will see by the report, continue to increase, the number being 327 against 289 last year. This is a healthy sign, and we all trust it may always be so. You will notice that death has been very rife amongst us during the past year and the names have been inserted in the report; this, I think, is a good thing to do and esta blishes an official record of departed members. The three competitive papers will be out of the printers hands in three weeks' time and read as soon as possible thereafter. You will notice the paragraph on the lease of premises. In the first place there is a slight typographical error, 1895 being in- serted instead of 1897. Rents are rising all along the Praya front, and we had to accept the terms of the new lease last November, or be pre- pared to quit in June next. After considerable consideration your committee decided that the best interests of the Institute would be served by their acceptance of the new lease, Our dances and smoking concerts continue to maintain their popularity, the last dance given on the 18th December being attended by about 400 guests: the thanks of this Institute are due to those gentlemen who have laboured hard to make these entertainments so successful. Now I come to a very important item, our finances. When
The resolution was carried. An informal discussion then took place be- een Mr. Humphreys and the Rev. R. F. Cobbold, after the latter had left the chair, in ence to ornaments which had been used in Church since Christmas Day No definite decision was
ved at in regard to the point. |
Say
- or four
financia year that this incre the end of the that it is neceseg your valuable ti statement of ac00
February
agree with me that possible to make them, gentleman presentw regarding the year's work pleasure in answering same ability.
There were no questions and the CHATEMAN proposed the adoption of the report, and the statement of accounts.
Mr. J. D. CHRISTIE seconded
which was carried.
On the motion of the CHAIRY Mr. BAIN, a hearty vote of to the retiring hon. secretary an
The CHAIRMAN then announ the ballot for the
amittee members were elect
resolution,
W: Ramsay, WK Wylie, W G Newman Mumford, A. Bain, H. B. Brid R. Mitchell, A. Sinclair, and J. R. M
The following officers for
the ensuing
were elected Mr. D. Gilli Mesars. A. Bain and J. B. Cousi sidents; Mr. E. J. Main, J. R. Mudie, hon. Treas Prosser and A. Ewing, an After the meeting a ver concert was given.
ent
ful smoking
MILITARY CONCERT AT THE THEATRE ROYAL
finan
On Saturday evening a grand military cert was given at the Theatre Royal full band and the drums and fifes of the Yorkshire Regiment. The concert under the management of Mr. Sam was undoubtedly one of the richest mus treats we have had the pleasure: in Hongkong and it was also ano cially, notwithstanding the hea necessarily entailed in the perform pit was crowded and the dress circle well patronized. When the West Regiment came to Hongkong the public not long in recognising the talent po by the regimental band and the exceph abilities of the bandmaster, Mr. W Bentley, AR.C.M., and wherever and w the band plays the members may rely finances I do not mean to encroach on the cordial appreciation of the general coming remarks from the hon. treasurer. I Saturday night's performance consist approach this item simply to draw your united of items performed by the band
The overture attention to a small cloud that shades the one was warmly encored. financial horizon of this Institute, which, if "Maritana "was rendered in fine Bry encouraged, might assume such dimensions as the next contribution, a piccolo solo
"Bad debts member of the band, was an ex to threaten us with disaster. and tardy payments." You must bear in mind performance, every note being. that rent, wages, supplies, dance expenses, and sweet. The Morris, Shephe &c., have all to be paid and that, too, at dances were also very ably played.
Some these items were the choicest w the commencement of each month,
mith members seem to forget this, but I can tive fantasia, “The assure them and you all that ready pay- In this performance ments afford your committee, treasurer, and village life in a series of secretary much more pleasure in the working could imagine oneself of this Institute. In connection with our last lime solitude of an English rura dance $613 has been collected, but there stilling from the crest of a hill a remains a sum of $28, outstanding. All the and then hearing the awakenin bills have been paid, and so far the Institute the villagers, and following o has been a sufferer financially; but when all solemn sacred music subscriptions are paid we hope to have a credit balance. There is one pleasant aspect respecting the item "bad debts. Your committee do not care to carry doubtful debts over too long; therefore, to be safe, they write them off. You will see that the amount written off in 1895 was $220 and that during 1896 no less a sum than $107 of this was recovered. That is a good sign, but the very best sign would be the utter Cour extinction of the “bad debt" item. retiring committee deserve the best thanks of
manner in whi the Institute for the able they have carried on their duties; the result
mittee I will an the ballot for your new co nounce after the hon. treasurer has given ug his report. Pet
ayer, and finally the to
Mr. J. B. DUNCAN, hồn. Treasurer Mr. marched Chairman and Gentleman, I need scarcely say "Britiah Gr.
fired