liabilities is most marked, for their respective capitals have been added to and the shares cor- respondingly appreciated to Tls. 2,356,800, without any additional assets being shown since they were first started, except that of prospec- tive oil and the glamour of imagination which such a possibility excites. The Sumatra alore has paid dividends from its legitimate source- tobacco growing. The progressive figures of the American Cigarette Co., show that this Company has doubled its capital in public estimation, since its inception, without paying a dividend.
The steady depreciation of debentures during the past two years clearly marks a want of con- fidence by the public of the, stability of ex- change and a general desire to withdraw money - from the East:
was
Altogether the result for 1897 of Tls. 3,38,431 shows a sufficiently favourable state of affairs in the East, although a further sum would have been added bad not the late dearth of sycee occurred, by which misfortune it is calculated that a depreciation of 13 million has taken place. This absence of silver brought about by the various ramifications of the different Banks, which left the market high and dry. To Japan, according to official returns received from the Bank of Japan, Tls. 91 millions of silver yen were tendered for con- version into gold; to Newchwang and Korea, for extraordinary disbursements on Russian account and the northern trade, it is stated that over 40 lacs were despatched, and by our Tientsin and Riverine dependencies unusually large amounts were required-all of which sums were withdrawn from actual stook of current silver without immediate or prospective provision being made for the vacnum caused. In con. sequence, native interest during the past six weeks rose repeatedly to over Tls. I per diem and the financial strain was so enormous that
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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they committed their crimes. for decapitation. The heads of the latter four were stuck on bamboos and exposed to the observation of the public.
The Black Flag General has sent an officer to Kwangsi to enlist twenty-five thousand It is said that the soldiers nadert he soldiers. command of the Black Flag General have much bigher wages than other soldiers.
On the 4th instant, at 11 a.m., a junk towed by a steam launch, from Canton for Chat-Hum, was robbed when the voyage was half completed. The usual plan of robbing junks was used. Some robbers hoarded the junk, as passengers, When she was midway between Canton and Chat-Hum & long boat containing about one hundred robbers came up to her aud the robbers in the junk then drew out their revolvers and jumped over to the steam launch and forced the coxswain to stop the engines, which the coxswain dared not refuse to do.
The robbers coming from the long boat all boarded the junk and began their plundering operations. They then carried all the valuables from the junk to the launch and, having cut the tow rope, forced the coxswain to steam to a shallow place where the launch was beached, They all then landed with their spoils. An- other junk of the same line was robbed in the same way a month ago.
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[January 13, 1898. H.M.S. Edgar arrived on 4th January with reliefs. H.M.S. Grafton left for the North on 4th January.
The Secretary of the Punjom Mining Co., Limited, advises us that the following telegram giving the result of the December clean-up has been received "The mill ran 30 days crushing 2,400 tons of headings yielding 235 ozs. of gold, Twenty-five tons of concentrates were ground in the Berdan pans yielding 45 ozs. The cyanide works ran 26 days treating 760 tons of tailings yielding - 75 ozs. of bullion valued at、 19/- per ounce.
A Chinese lukong was on Tuesday committed for trial on a charge of misconduct. The evid ence against him was that he accused the master of a bumboat with having a bottle of brandy on board and then demanded $60 hush money. The master and another man paid him $25 between them. The prisoner's defence was that the charge was a false one and was brought because prisoner had failed to pay 323. principal and interest of money borrowed from the master.
Prospects of a cold voyage north and lack of suitable clothing induced the Lascar crew of the Japanese ship Tamba Maru to leave off work on Monday morning. Four of the ring- leaders were given into the custody of the police and on Tuesday they aired their grievances to the Magistrate. The Captain said he was A big fire broke out in a druggist's shop on the morning of the 24th December in Taumun, quite willing to give all the men money to buy in Heungshan district. Over one hundred houses clothing and the accused were thereupon released were burnt to the ground, but no loss of life for an amicable settlement to be arrived at. It was understood that an obliging Taipingshan was reported. The fire originated from burn- ing joss paper, which ignited the wooden parti-second-band clothes dealer would be willing to
supply the necessary outfits for the men. tions of the shop.
HONGKONG.
We are glad to note that the Public Works Department are turning their attention to a necessary if not showy work. They are now making the dangerous places in the Hill dis- tricts safe by the erection of iron railings.
the various import markets suffered heavy the report of a settlement having been arrived One stretch of path, just above Plunket's Gap,
losses to clear their winter stocks. To such low ebb was our silver stock reduced that at one time not more than 6`lacs of sycee were
The situation in the East has caused con- siderable discussion in Hongkong lately and at has given great satisfaction and a new life to the local share market: We hope to see the Fleet in Hongkong for the Races. On
available for the current business of the port Monday a boy on the Edgar was court-martialled Several accidents have occurred in the past and
and a period of anxiety ensued which threat- ened disaster all round. That the share market should have suffered under such abnormal con- ditions is positive. The smashing of one of onr principal native operators, just before the 31st Dec. settlement, caused. havoc and desolation amongst those interested, and literally blocked the clearance which would otherwise have passed off without fault. The casual war with which Chinese dealers can stop payment with. out anything being done towards, enforcing investigation or the fulfilment of obligations is unique, and is only possible in China. This is the second big failure on native account which has been recorded within the past two years, and greater caution should be exercised by foreigners when accepting their names for contracts which are not enforceable by law or custom.
For 1898 the prospects look bright, and one may safely predict a better out-furn than that -recorded for 1897, notwithstanding the present imbroglio by the Powers in the Far East.
CANTON NOTES.
[FROM THE "CHUNG NGOI SAN PO."| It is said that the Black Flag General, Liu Yung-fu, has been promoted to be Admiral of Kwangtung Province, replacing Admiral Ho Chang-ching. He is to take charge of all the land defences as well as the squadrons of Kwangtung Province.
It is officially notified in Canton that the Chinese New Year holidays are to commence on the 12th January and continue to the 9th February. During the holidays the seals of all the yamens are to be closed and no trifling cases are to be dealt with,
On the 4th inst. a fire broke out in a fire- cracker shop in Honam. Only the shop where the fire originated was destroyed, but a young woman was burnt to death and six persons were injured. The cause of the fire was that a spark was carelessly allowed to fall on the powder.
Twenty-eight robbers were taken cut on the 5th instant from the prisons of Nam-boi and Pan-u for execution. Twenty-four were carried in baskets to Tin-tez-ma-tau to be behended and four were sent back to Sun-tak District, where
has been so protected, and two or three stretches of precipitous drops from the path along Magazine Gap Road are being rendered secure. more would be probable in thick and misty for assaulting his captain and he was severely punished for this most serious offence. The weather, but with these dangerous places railed, as is now being done, the chances of their oc licencing justices have determined to take action in regard to the sale of certain liquors incurring will be minimised. the colony, which are an abomination and cause the ruin of many a sailor and soldier. The Spatish officers who came here with the Philip pine rebel leaders have returned to Manila.
On Tuesday afternoon the Hongkong Football Club beat b Company of the Royal Lancaster Regiment by seven goals to one in a pleasant
and interesting game.
On Tuesday Sergeant Pickford, of the Naval Yard Police, died of dropsy at the Naval Hos- pital. He was an energetic officer and as a piper was a prominent figure at Scotch gather- ings. The funeral takes place this afterno n.
The Hon. Treasurer of the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals begs to acknowledge with thanks the following donation to the funds of the Hospitals-
Collected by Lee Shui Ying Pawnbrokers' Guild
$252 100
A young constable named J. Sutton died at the Government Civil Hospital on Wednesday, 5th January, from an internal complaint. He had been in the Hongkong Police Force but little over a year and was much liked by his comrades. His funeral, which took place on 7th inst., was largely attended.
On 5th Jan. Hon. H. E. Wodehouse inquired into the circumstances attending the death of a child, who was fatally scalded in a house in Praya West. A pot of boiling water had been placed on the floor of the kitchen and the child fell over the pot in the dark and received such severe scalds that she died. His Worship ex- pressed his sympathy with the mother of the child and returned a verdict of accidental death. Two privates in the King's Own Regiment. named George Allison and James Wilkinson, were charged at the Police Court on Tuesday with behaving in a disorderly manner in an eating house in Queen's Road. The prisoners had a meal in the house and Allison paid for his, When asked but Wilkinson refused to pay. for the money Wilkinson tore the shopkeeper's Each of jacket, while Allison assaulted bim. the prisoners was fined $1 and Wilkinson was ordered to pay an additional $1 amends.
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The Harbour Master held three enquiries on 4th Jan. at the Harbour Office. The first
the tug Tow and a fishing boat on the 29th related to the collision in the harbour between December. The master of the launch was exonerated from blame. In the second case,
which related to the collision between the Rising Star and a fishing boat, also on the 29th De- cember, the master of the Rising Star was held to be in the wrong and his certificate was sus- pended for a month. The result of this collision was that a child, eighteen months old, was drowned. The third enquiry had reference to a collison between the launch Ying Lee and a passage boat in the harbour. The master of the launch was cautioned to be more careful in the future.
The smoking concert at the Volunteer In- stitute on Saturday night,.8th Jan., was most enjoyable and judging by the large attendance the band funds will benefit considerably. Major Sir John Carrington, Commaidant, was unable to be present and Captain Chapman occupied the chair. The programme was a capital one and sufficiently long to fill up time until nearly mid- night. The vocalist who scored the greatest success was Corporal Williams, of the King's Own Regiment. His business is purely comic and in that sphere he is undoubtedly first.class. His songs, recitations, and mimicry were all so cleverly and naturally done that the audience laughed beartily all the time he was on the stage and it was with difficulty they could refrain from calling for him even after two encores. Corporal Williams is just the sort of man who can supply good wholesome fun and we hope the Hongkong public will have the opportunity of bearing him often. Bandsman Upton, of the King's Own, and Sergeant McPhail and Gunner Bridger, of the Volunteers, also sang, their songs being much appreciated. Mr. W. Muskett recited and was warmly applauded, and Bombardier Baker and Gunner Crawford played a very pretty flute duet. Several members of the band of the Regiment played some excellent selections during the evening.