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of bricks Way With bee very careful. question and sent two rking. Mr. Uldall nd also Mr. Hewitt, the chief and last year we sent Mr. Hoyes, who has been at work three months at this very place. The only dificulty or risk we can think | of is that there is something peculiar about the climate and the atmosphere and also about the coal. It is as you have said, a somewhat ex- pensive thing. It will cost between $15,000 and 820,000. I have put $20,000 in the accounts, but our men in Macao say it will not cost more than $15,000. When it is erected it will-be able to do the work so much cheaper and better. I would not like to go into figures much be- cause the promise might not be fulfilled, but we expect to save 50 to 75 cents on each barrel of coment, so that a considerable saving will be effected. I think we have done all we could be expected to do, and we think the kiln will be ready by August or September. I may say that the Hoffmann kiln is to some extent still useful, but it cannot be worked for the purpose it was originally designed because it was faultily built and it does not work economically and therefore we do not keep it going regularly.
There were no other questions and the CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report and accounts.
MT. GILLIES--I think that the information given to us by the Chairman is very satisfactory indeed and I hope that the new kila will be as satisfactory in every respect as the directors appear to think. I think no effort should be spared in introducing improvements at the works that tend to increase the output and reduce the expenditure. I think this step has been taken in the right direction and the Board is to be commended for entering into this *matter and carrying it through. The expendi- ture is of course a little large, but as the Chair- man has assured us that it may not exceed $15,000 I think that will be all wiped off after a couple of years' working. I have much pleasure in seconding the adoption of the report.
Carried
Mr. Wilcox proposed the re-election of Hon. C. P. Chater and Messrs. Orange and Li Sing on the Consulting Committee.
Mr. POTTS seconded. Carried
Mr. FUNG WA CHUEN proposed the re-elec- tion of Messrs. Henderson and Cox as auditors.
Mr. LEUNG PU CHEE seconded. Carried,
The CHAIRMAN-That concludes the busi- ness, gentlemen. Dividend warrants will be ready to-morrow.
PERAK SUGAR CULTIVATION CO., LIMITED.
CHOJA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
ated the
ith
report received con
The weathe durin
has been all that could be desired, the latest news from the estate canes are all looking very well. Manufacturing work has been somewhat impeded by the repairs going on in the factory, but the manager expresses every confidence in being able to catch up arrears, and it is hoped that the results of the present season's working will wipe out the results of last year. There is really nothing I can add to what I have said and what you have in the report, but I shall be glad to answer any questions that may be asked.
Mr. Buchanan-How much is it expected the debit balance will be when all these repairs and expenses are paid for
The Chairman-The last statement I made practically covered that, and that was to the effect that we hoped the results of the present | sesson would wipe out the misfortunes of last year. That was intended to convey to you that by the end of the present season the current receipts will have covered the debit balance just now against the Company. That is our hope at the present time, and we have every reason to believe that it will be effectually realised.
Mr. Buchanan.-You are not prepared to give any definite figure!
Mr. Dudgeon. The boilers were paid for in last year's accounts, and the further repairs will come to about $20,000.
There being no further questions, the report and accounts were passed. Mr. W. D. Little was reappointed a director. Mr. G. R. Wingrove was reappointed auditor, and it was decided that the next annual meeting should be held in the month of November of the current year,
THE EMPEROR'S AUDIENCE OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS.
жа
Peking, 1st March. The annual audience given by His Majesty Kuang Hau, Emperor of China, to the repre- sentatives of other Courts, occurred last Friday morning. If a fine bright warm day could be an auspicious omen, then certainly His Ma- jesty's foreign relations will be prosperous the coming year. At 10 a.m. all the various lega- tions were in a state of bustle and activity. Sedan chairs were in such demand that the sup- ply was insufficient, notwithstanding several had been improvised from the usual wedding chairs, and the characters shunang hai on the windows oreated no end of amusement among the bystanders, who remarked that the occupant evidently expected to obtain a wife from the palace.
The U.S. legation arrived first at the palace grounds, and dismounting passed through a row of two thousand silk and fur-robed man- darins to the shabby waiting room where tea in dirty cheap China cups and third-rate Japanese cigarettes were served them as they awaited their diplomatic colleagues. This legation wore evening dress although only ten a.m., for the U.S. having no diplomatic uniform, custom has sanctioned evening dress for all occasions of feasting, fasting, or parade. Doubt less the gentlemen, six in number, who com- posed that body were comforted a little when shortly afterwards Sir Claude MacDonald and his suite appeared, three of whom were also without uniform and in full evening dress. Behind the English came the French, Russian, Holland, Austrian, German, and Spanish con- tingents, and last, but greatest in numbers, came little Japan with a business-like looking legation of thirteen men...
The adjourned eleventh annual general meet- ing of shareholders in the above was held at Shanghai on the 15th March. Mr. W. V. Drummond presided; and there were also pre- sent Messrs. W. D. Little, J. H. MoMichael (Directors), Jas. Buchanan, J. R. Michael, E. Hey A. E. Jones, Captain Croad, and C. J. Dudgeon (Secretary), representing 927 shares. The Chairman, in proposing the adoption of the report and accounts, said-Gentlemen, the report has been in your hands for some little time, and with your permission I will take it as read. There have been two rather full reports issued to you regarding the last season's work, and the later one carries the in- formation up to such a late date and is to full here is practically nothing, or next to
of any importance that I can add Gold lace, gold embroideries, medals, rib- Since the Secretary's visit to the es- bone, insignias, plumes, chapeaus, spears, swords, ber, the work of overhauling and helmets soon crowded the little waiting the machinery generally has room to overflowing, and half the number of
manager now reports visitors were obliged to remain in the hall-
order and works of the
aiting
Everyone seemed statement is cellent
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and crossing this on a raised sto covered with inch thick cocoanut ma
suddenly in the presence of His
** The Emperor was seated behind with yellow silk, upon a platfor higher than the floor of the Hall. stood ten feet to his right, Prince Su te to his left. They were e all thre parently in the ordinary mand no distinguishing features of roy them.
mandarin:
Colonel Denby, as doyen of the diplomatio corps, stood in the centre of the eight minis. tera, with Sir Claude MacDonald on his left and Mons. Gerard on his right, The minis- ters bowed simultaneously upon reaching their station some fifteen feet in front of Hi MA jesty, but the rabble behind made the most irregular and ridiculous bobbing of heads im- aginable. Some simply ducked their heads, as space would not permit a more elabora mony; others with more room in gracefully down to near the ground petrified victims were stage struck and simp gazed open mouthed at the scene in fro surroundings were free from any appeara grandeur, and the hall looked like a second rate- disused temple.
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Although His Majesty is supposed to be twenty-seven, he does not look a day older than eighteen, and bis puerile countenance shows at a glance that it is useless to attribute to him any hand or influence in the affairs of stat He is simply a figure-head, more so by far than Her Majesty Queen Victoria.To Prince Kung and the Empress-Dowager belong all the credit and likewise the blame of the administra tion—or perhaps we might with truth say administration of affairs. Of this more
2
After the bow, Col. Denby read speech of congratulation," of less_th minutes' duration, which was promptly inter. preted from the English in which it delivered, into excellent mandarin, by Mr. Popoff, of the Russian Legation, wh senior of the interpreters present Kung then advanced to the platfor Emperor's left, and kneeling rende the Manchu language. The
clined his head at its close and tu Kung replied in Manchu sentences, at the conclusion of Prince Kang, still kneeling, i che. When His Majesty finishe
side of M Prince returned to t repeated in mandarin the Em
rishes expressed the good
This Mr. Por ch and the Ministers
wards
side. followed des