May 19, 1897).
recovered by Police and restored to owners was only $3,468.
LOST PROPERTY.
The following is a return of the property reported as lost and recovered by the Police during the year-Articles lost, 135; value lost, $8,414.30; articles found, 116; valne fonnd, $456.57; articles claimed, 24,
MENDICANTS.
In addition to the 37 beggars sent up to the Police Court, 168 have been summarily deported to Kowloon City and Canton.
POLICE FORCE,
Five recruits were obtained from the London Metropolitan Police, three from the Aberdeen Police Force, and one from the Royal Irish Constabulary. Two reoruits were obtained from England and three from Ireland who had no previous Police service. These men were all enlisted by myself and have given great satisfaction.
CONDUCT OF FORCE.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
378
FIRE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF | pro rata condition of average only and now all
HONGKONG.
The second annual meeting of the members of the Fire Insurance Association of Hongkong was held on the 7th May at the office of the China Fire Insurance Company, Limited. Mr. W. Macbean presided and representatives of the following Companies were present-Commercial Union, China Fire, South British, Union of London, Hanseatic. Imperial Fire, Scottish Union and National, North British and Mer- cantile, Batavia Sea and Fire, Manchester, Empress, Fire Insurance Company of 1877, Hamburg, Aachen and Munich, Sun, Transat lantic, North German, Chun On, Prussian National, Hamburg and Magdeburg, Hongkong Fire, Alliance, Eastern, Palatine, London and Lancashire, Royal Exchange, Atlas, London Insurance, Lancashire, Royal, and the Asiatic. The SECRETARY read the notice convening the meeting, and the minutes of the last meeting
were read and confirmed.
The conduct of the European Force has been
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, the annual good, The number of reports against Euro- peans was 53 against 48 in 1895; of these 13 report and accounts for the year ended 31st were for drunkenness against 8 in 1895. 7 for March, 1897, having been in your hands for disorderly conduct, assaults, and fighting, 4 for some days, I propose, with your permission, to sitting down on duty as against 4 and 3 re-take them as read. There are one or two items spectively; 2 for asleep on duty, and for of expenditure which, perhaps, you may think neglect of duty against 5 and 5 respectively. require explanation. One is the cost of a silver
The conduct of the Indian contingent has cup presented to the Hongkong Police Force; been less satisfactory. There were 303 reports viz., $150. As you are aware, in March, 1895, a reward of $500 was offered by this Associa- against men of the Indian contingent, while only 162 were recorded in 1895, but the Indian tion to anyone giving evidence that would lead Force stood 40 per cent, greater in strength to the apprehension and conviction of any This reward was not last year than in the previous year. Of the person guilty of arson. reports 16 were for drunkenness against 12 in intended for the police, but in view of the 1895, 22 for disorderly conduct and fighting very prompt and active steps taken by them to secure the evidence which led to the convic- against 11, neglect of duty 33 against 15, 46 for absence from duty, drill, &c., against 22, 49
tion and sentence of the two Chinamen charged for idling, &c., on duty against 33, while 16 with setting fire to their rice shop at No. 48, were asleep on duty against 9 in 1895. Two Praya West, in April of last year, your Com- members of the contingent were convicted mittee decided to offer the reward to the Police. H.E. the Governor, however, would not allow before the Magistrate-one for larceny and one
them to accept it, whereupon your Committee for wilfully damaging property.
came to the conclusion that the next best way of recognising the important service rendered by the Police was to present them with a silver cup to be shot for by the members of the Force. This was done and the cup, which was exhibited for some days in Messrs, Robinson & Co.'s window, was handed over to the Captain Superintendent and grate- fully received by the Force. At the general meeting the sum of $250 was unanimously voted to the Secretary in recognition of his services to the Association during the year 1895-96, but during the past year it was thought advisable by the Committee, in consequence the increased work attaching to the post of Secretary, to pay a fixed monthly salary of $50, the same as is done in Shanghai and other places where similar Associations to ours have been formed. The other items in the accounts
Members of the Chinese Force were reported 452 times against 512 in 1895, The contin- gent has much improved in matters of discipline.
No case of drunkenness occurred and i was recorded in 1895-there was, however, an in- erease of sleeping on duty, there being 61 cases against 44 in 1895-for disorderly conduct and assault the reports decreased from 13 to 8; absence from duty was much less, being 141 against 203. Sitting down, &c., on duty showed 76 against 95, while for leaving beats, &c., before relief they fell from 41 to 6. Six members of the contingent were convicted by the Magistrate, viz.:-1 for making a false charge, 1 for giving wilful false evidence, 3 for misconduct as Police Constables in extorting money, and 1 for de- manding money with menaces. The cases of extortion and demanding money with menaces occurred among the Water Police and I have reported specially on the subject.
HEALTH OF THE FORCE.
Has not been so satisfactory as during 1895. The admissions to Hospital in each year were as follows:-
Europeans Indians Chinese
1895. 1896. 81 90 233 366* 113 120
Aberdeen geems to have become less unhealthy. This is probably due to the fact that a good water supply has now been provided for the village. The admissions to Hospital from that Station for the last four years were 1893, 17; 1894, 45; 1895, 12; 1896, 19.
EDUCATION,
of
do not call for special comment. On behalf of the Committee I have the pleasure of con- gratulating the members on the continued pro- sperity and success of the Association. The tariff of minimum rates as fixed at the special general meeting held on 26th March, 1896, has, so far as the Committee are aware, been faithfully and honourably maintained. Only one important alteration has been made in the rates, viz., in item No. 3 of the Euro- pean tariff.
You will doubtless remember that at the meeting just referred to it was decided to leave the question of the in- creased rates for buildings and contents of European godowns to be settled by the Fire Offices.Committee, London. After careful and mature consideration that Committee decided that the views of the majority of the Companies represented in Hongkong as shown by their vote at the special general meeting should be upheld and that the rate for building and contents of European godowns (specific one godown only) be raised to per cent, and that the rate on contents of a range of godowns (floating) be raised to per cent. Several other questions of importance have been settled by your Committee during the past year. Until quite recently the local offices and one or two other companies used the three conditions The Government have received a telegram of average on their policies. As this was likely from H.B.M.'s Minister at Tokyo to the fol- to lead to confusion in the settlement of lowing effect" Medical inspection enforced claims, and in order to secure uniformity, these against vessels from Formosan ports to Japan." | Companies were induced to adopt the first as
During the year one. European and twenty four Indian Constables obtained certificates for knowledge of Chinese, and six Indian Con- stables for knowledge of English.
BARRACKS.
It has not yet been found possible to improve the conditions of the Barracks in the Eastern and Western Districts, to the unsatisfactory condition of which I referred in my report for the year 1894, para 18. I trust that the matter may receive attention soon. -
|
The number
policies issued in Hongkong are identical in that respect. As a considerable amount of Hongkong insurances might possibly find its way to London your Committee persuaded the Fire Offices Committee, London, to pass a rule whereby an additional 15 per cent. to the local tariff rates is to be charged on all insurances not effected through local agents. The number of fires in 1896, according to the report of the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, which however, is still in the printer's hands, was 30 and the value of property destroyed is estimated by him at $105,595; but from the returns supplied to our Secretary by the members of the Association interested, the actual value of property destroyed appeanrs to be $126,063.25. It is very desirable that all such returns be sent in to the Secretary as accurately and as promptly as possible. of fires and the value of the property des- troyed compares favourably with those of previous years. During the first five months of last year, however, the number of fires was exceptionally large, but thanks doubtless to the conviction of and the exemplary punishment passed on the two Chinamen to whom I have al- ready referred, there was at once a very marked diminution, while during July, August, and September there were actually no fires whatever. I much regret to say, however, that there has again been an important increase in the number of fires this year, many of which, doubtless, are incendiary. There is a case now pending be- fore the Magistrate's Court in connection with the fire which occurred at No. 99, Jervois Street, on 21st April. I shall be pleased to answer to the best of my ability any questions that may be asked.
There were no question and the CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report and statement
of account.
Mr. VEITCH seconded. Carried.
A discusion then took place with regard to certain tariff rates and the matter was left to the Committee to deal with.
Mr. SHARP moved the re-election of the old
Committee, with Mr. R. L. Richardson to fill the vacancy occasioned by the Chairman leaving the colony, and the election of Mr. J. B. Coughtrie as Chairman and Mr. A. Ross as Vice-Chairman.
Carried.
Mr. COUGHTRIE-I am very much obliged to
shall do my best in the interests of this Society you for this expression of your confidence. I and I hope we shall pull together amicably and harmoniously. (Applause.)
Mr. Ross-Ditto as Vice.
A vote of thanks was then passed to Mr.
Coughtrie for the use of his room for the pur- poses of the meeting.
80.
Mr. Ross-I have very much pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to the retiring Chair- man and I am sure I carry with me the feelings of all the members of the Association in doing Mr. Macbean, in conducting the business of the chair, has shown clear-headedness, tact, a more private and discretion, and in
consulted by those less capacity, when
he has been experienced than himself, uniformly courteous and obliging, As he has that the best wishes of everyone connected with said, he is leaving the colony and I am sure the company go with him. (Applause.)
Mr. COUGHTBIE-That is a vote of thanks I am sure you will all agree with. Everyone here must have felt that Mr. Macbean was the right man in the right place and now he is leaving the colony we can only express our deep regret at losing him and our hope that we shall find in his successor an equally valuable coadjutor. (Applause.)
The resolution was carried and the Chairman briefly returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN-That concludes the busi- ness of the meeting. I am sorry I cannot say, what many Chairmen say, that dividend war- rants will be issued to-morrow. (Laughter.)
Misfortune seems to persistently pursue the operations for raising the sunken steamer Birkhall, says the N. C. Daily News On Saturday, 1st May, when arrangements had almost been completed for lifting her, two of the chains broke, with the consequence that the work has been thrown back very considerably.