Angust 6, 1898,]
the execution of Wan Hung. Death was in- ! stantaneous. I examined the body at 6-30 and found the cause of death to be dislocation of the neck, between the first and second bones of the neck.
The jury's verdiot was, "Death by hanging in accordance with the sentence of the law."
THE “COSM OP OLIT”. ASHORE.
POSITION HOPELESS.
Messrs. Lauts, Wegener & Co. inform us that they have received the following telegram from Wladivostock, dated 28th July:- -“ Cosmo- polit went ashore at Cape Aniwa during a fog. Assistance has been sent. Position hopeful.“
The same firm has since received the follow- ing telegram-“ Cosmopolit, position hopeless, bottom broken."
THE ASSESSMENT.
The following report on the assessment for 1898-99 by Mr. A. Chapman, assessor, is pub-
lished in the Government Gazette :-
The City of Victoria. The result of the new valuation is that the rateable value of the city of Victoria is, in the list which came into force
on the 1st instant, $3,828,577 as compared with fast year's (1897-98) assessment $3,444,514—an increase in rateable value of $384,063, equira lent to 11.14 per cent.
The Hill District. The rateable value of the
Hill District is now $138,765 against 8117.435 last year-an increase of $21,330, or 18.16 per cent.
Hongkong Villages.-There is an increase of $20,446 or 13.44 per cent. in the rateable value of the Hongkong villages, which is now $172,543 against $172,097 last year.
Kowloon Point.--The rateable value of this portion of the Kowloon peninsula is now $137,335 as compared with $118,970 last year— an increase of $18,365, or 15.43 per cent.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE U. S. VICE-CONSULAR
*APPOINTMENT A‹
CANTON.
The signatories of the protest lodged with the American Consul at Canton against the recent appointment of an American Vice- Consul at that port write us as follows:---
Canton, 2nd August 1998.
As a considerable variety of opinion seems to exist as to the signatories of the protest lodged by us with the American Consul against the recent appointment of an American Vice-Consul at this port, we the signatories thereto think it advisable to furnish you with a copy of that protest and to request the favour of your making it public in columns."
your
THE PROTEST.
Canton, 18th July, 1898. Sir-Referring to "Notice to the Public
your of Canton dated the 14th inst, and reading as follows:-
Ci
Henry R. Williams, Esq., of California, has been appointed Vice-Consul of the United States at Canton."
at Canton, would beg respectfully to point out We the undersigned, merchants and traders
to you that it is highly undesirable that any- one engaged in mercantile pursuits should act as Vice-Consul of the United States.
unmistakeably nuderstood that we have not the We would wish it to be most clearly and
personally and could not wish for a better offi- slightest objection to Mr. Henry R. Williams
cial were he not at the same time the active representative of Messrs. Flood, Kirch & Co. at this port, in which capacity he is brought into direct mercantile competition with all these firms engaged in business with the United States.
The peculiar conditions of American Trade, involving as they do the most intimate relation between Consuls and shippers, are well known to you, and it is therefore quite unnecessary to enter more particularly into the very obvious reasons why the appointment of a member of the mercantile community to the post of United Kowloon Villages.-The rateable value of the States Vice-Consul is opposed to all commercial Kowloon villages (which include Yaumati and etiquette, and distasteful to merchants generally. Hunghom) is now $244,727-an increase of $37,241, or 17.94 per cent. over last year's figurement was made by the late Consul Hon. Chas. We might mention that a similar appoint- of $207,486.
Seymour, who selected Mr. G. D. Fearon, of Messrs. Deacon & Co., for the post. On dis- covering the general antipathy to the appoint- ment. Mr. Fearon at once resigned, and thus any official correspondence with the authorities at Washington was happily avoided.
The Whole Colony.-The rateable value of the whole colony is now $4,521,947 as compared with last year's assessment of $4,040,502–
-an increase of $181,445, or 11.91 per cent.
Interim Valuations.-During the period from 1st July, 1897, to 1st June, 1898, interim valua- tions have been as followя:-
In the City of Victoria. 222 new tenements, rateable value...
Replacing assessments amount-
ing to
$162,310
We would be glad, in the present instance, to avoid any reference to the Home Authorities and therefore place our interests in your hands, feeling sure you will give them every considera. tion. We are, sir, your obedient servants,
(Here follow the signatures of the following firms)
KEUTER, BROCKELMANN & Co. ARNHOLD, KARBERG & Co.
MELCHERS & Co.
HARLING, BUSCHMANN & MENZELL LAUTS, WEGENER & CO.
CARLOWITZ & Co.
53 improved tenements, rate-
able value...
..$43,480
29,575
13,905
$176,215
69 assessments cancelled, tene- ments pulled down, or be- ing in other respects not rateable...
21,980
JARDINE, MATHESON & Co.,
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE
Increase in city of Victoria ...$154,235
In the rest of the Colony.
237 new tenements, rateable value
value... Replacing assessments amounting
to
HERBERT DENT & CO.
ROWE & Co.
DEACON & Co.
SHEWAN, TOMES & CO.
SIEMSSEN & Co.
121
for bad and doubtful accounts, amount to $2,685,395.02.
The Directors recommend the transfer of $1,000,000 from the Profit and Loss Account to credit of Reserve Fund. which fund will then stand at $9,000,000.
They also recommend writing off Bank Pre- mises Account the sum of $250,000.
After making these transfers and deducting remuneration to Directors there remains for appropriation $1,420,395.02, out of which the Directors recommend a dividend of one pound and five shillings sterling per share, which will absorb 8444,444.44.
<
The difference in exchange between 4s. 6d., the rate at which the dividend is declared, and ls. Ild., the rate of the day, amounts to $599,033.82. The balance $376,916.76 to be carried to new profit and loss account.
DIRECTORS.
Mr. G. B. Dodwell and Mr. G. D. Böning having resigned their seats on leaving the colony, Mr. A. McConachie and Mr. P. Sachse have been invited to fill the vacancies. These appointments require confirmation at this meet- ing.
AUDITORS,
The accounts have been audited by Mr. C. S. Sharp and Mr. S. G. Bird.
J. J. BELL-IRVING, Chairman. Hongkong, 30th July, 1898.
LIABILITIES.
ABSTRACT OF ASSETS AND LIAbilities, 30th JUNE, 1898.
$ Paid-up capital Reserve fund
Marine insurance account Notas in circulation
Current accounts
Silver
10,000,000.00
8,000,000.00
250,000.00
9,342,568.18
$48,051,168.45
Gold, £6,6 6,984 88 8‹‚— 68,581,866.48
Fixed deposits-
Silver
Gold, £2,6'6,88178.5d.
116,633,034.93
$30,552,284.95 27,174,388.81
57,726,673.79
Bills payable (including drafts on Londou bankers and short sight drawings on London office against bills receivable and bullion shipments) Profit and loss account
Cash
17,293,785.85 2,885,895.02
$221,931,457.77
ARBETS.
$ 38,149,199.45 6,926,873.93
0.
5,178,873.82
Bullion in hand and in transit Indian and Colonial securities Investments, viz.:-
£250,000.0,0 23 per
cent.
consols lodged with the
Bank of England as a
special London reserve $1,000,000,00 £481,000.0.0 consols and
other sterling securities
4,992,000.00
6,892,000.00
Bills discounted, loans and credits Bills receivable..
87,550,970.03
76,290,818.89
948,222.15
$221,931,467.77
Pank premises
GENERAL PROFIT AND Loss Account, 30th June, 1898.
Dr.
To amounts written off:-
Remuneration to directors
To dividend account:-
$0
15,000.00
444,444.44
$63,674
8 improved tenements, rateable
常用
...$15,845
7,745
8,100
871,774
147 assessments cancelled, tene- ments pulled down, or being in other respects net rateable
18,546
Increase in rest of the colony...$53,228
The total number of tenements affected by interim valuations being 696 and the increase in rateable value $207,463.
The number of reported vacant tenements in the city of Victoria inspected under section 35 of the Rating Ordinance averaged about 125 monthly against 170 last year.
£1 58. per share on 80,000 shares===
£100,000 at 4s 6d.
To dividend adjustment account :----
Difference in exchange between 4a. Od., the rate at which the dividend is de- clared, and Is. ild, the rate of the day To transfer to reserve fund
To transfer to bank premises account.
To the Hon. E. Bedloe, Uni'.1 States Consul, To balance carried forward to next half-year
Canton.
HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION.
The following is the sixty-sixth report of the Court of Directors to the ordinary half-yearly general meeting of shareholders to be held at the city hall, on Saturday, 13th August-
To the Proprietors of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
Or.
By balance of undivided pro-
fits, 31st December, 1897... $ 298,863.22 By amount of net profits for the six months ending Buth June, 1898, after making provision for bad and doubt- ful debts, deducting all ex- penses and interest paid and due
Gentlemen, The Directors have now to sub- mit to you a general statement of the affairs of the Bank, and balance sheet for the half-year To balance ending 3th June, 1898.
599,033.82 1,000,000,00 250,000.00 378,916,76
$2,685,895.02
2,386,531.80
Reserva FuND.
2,685,895.03 ́
$2,685,895.02
9,000,000.00
8,000,000.00
The net profits for that period, including | By balance, 31st December, 1897 $298,863.22, balance brought forward from last By transfer from profit and loss account... 1,000,000.00 account, after paying all charges, deducting in- terest paid and due, and making provision
69,000,000.00