October 221 1898.
after them to get
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
831-
back, but was not | mending the suggestion to its careful consider. | of placing the matter officially before the Gove
Other witnesses were called. It was 20 minutes to six when the jury re tired to consider their verdiot.
* After an absence of 25 minutes they returned, and in answer to the clerk of the Court (Mr. Beth),
The Foreman (M de Jesus) said the jury found defendant no guilty by four to three on the first count, not guilty unanimously on the second count, and not guilty by six to one on the third, fourth, sixth, and eleventh counts.
The Clerk-The substance of your verdiot is that defendant is not guilty on all the counts?
The Foreman-Yes
The Chief Justice said a majority verdict could only be taken after a reasonable interval, and the thought the jury had only been out about half-an-hour What did the Attorney General say?
The Acting Attorney General said he would abide by the verdict, and defendant was ac- cordingly discharged.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
At the monthly meeting of the General Com- mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the 11th October. Present: Messrs R. M. Gray (Chair- man), Herbert Smith (Vice Chairman), A Haupt, J. J. Bell-Irving, T. Jackson, A. McConachie, H. A. Ritchie, N. A. Siebs, and R. C. Wilcox (Secretary).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting (held on the 1st September) were read and confirmed.
NEW MEMBER.
The "Shell" Transport and Trading Com. pany, Limited, had been admitted to member ship during the past month.
THE IMPERIAL MARITIME CUSTOMS AND HUNGKONG.
In conformity with the decision come to at last meeting, the resolutions passed on the above mbject were, on the 2nd September, transmitted to Lord Salisbury and to the Hongkong Go- vernment with the request that they should be forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
A letter in acknowledgment was received on the 5th September, with the assurance that copies of the resolutions would be despatched to the Colonial Office and to H.B.M.'s Minister at Peking.
On the same date a letter was received from Sir Claude MacDonald acknowledging receipt of a copy of a despatch addressed to Lord Salisbury.
A letter was, on the 8th idem, addressed to the London Chamber of Commerce on the same subject, and the support and co-operation of the metropolitan body solicited.
This letter had been forwarded to the Press for publication..
THE INCREASED RENTAL OF WHARVES AND PIERS.
A reply to the Chamber's letter to the Go- vernment on this subject was received on the 17th September, is which it was stated that, after due reconsideration, H.E. the Acting Governor regretted his inability to reverse or modify the decision already arrived at in regard to the an- nual rents to be charged for piers and wharves under the new Regulations.
The Chairman said he understood the parties interested were moving in this matter, and he thought the Chamber should second them in any effort to obtain a reconsideration of the rentals charged under the new regulations.
The Vice-Chairman said he was about to ask, on behalf of the wharf owners, to be allowed to have the use of the Chamber's room for a meet- ing.
ation.
No reply had yet been received to this com- munication.
CROWN LEASES,
The Government being desirous of obtaining the views of the Chamber on the change lately introduced, reducing the term of Crown
leases from 999
999 to 75 of 99 years at the most a letter was, on 22nd September, addressed to the Colonial Secretary giving the opinions of the Chamber, which are strongly adverse to the alteration.
A reply, stating that a copy of the above had gone forward by French mail, was received on the 10th September.
The Chairman said he understood that a good many opinions had been taken on this point by the Hongkong Government, and as they must be universally against the short leases, it may be hoped that this concensus of opinion will have due effect, on the Colonial Office. THE OPENING OF THE PORT OF KIAOCHOW, A letter was received from the Government transmitting copy of a letter from the German Consul reporting the opening of Kinochow as free port on the 2nd September.
THE MISSION OF LORD CHARLES BERESFORD.
The Chairman said-You are aware that when the Vice-Chairman, the Secretary, and I called on Admiral Lord Charles Beresford to invite him to address a public meeting (which he declined), he accorded us a lengthy interview, in which he discussed the position of affairs in China and the object of his visit as representing the Associated Chambers of Commerce of ward were much on the lines of his speech at England. The principal points brought for Singapore, which speech was not then known of his inquiry would be to ascertain what could and he explained that the principal object be done to create security for the investment of British capital in China and for the pro- motion of trade by such security, and by the enforcement of the provisions of the Treaties in China, particularly with reference to the illegal taxation of foreign goods. He recom- mended the Chamber to make known its views on the situation and stated that both it and the Shanghai Chamber might be assured that their opinions would receive full attention at home.
to us,
THE WORKING OF THE POST OFFICE. Letters had been received from Messrs. Cow asjee Pallanjee & Co. and Gibb, Livingston & Co., making serious complaints of the loss of correspondence by the Post Office although duly posted, signed for, and enclosed in strong
covers.
Several other cases were also mentioned of recent loss of letters, and the matter was con- sidered urgent, as calling for a most searching investigation. It was decided to forward copies of both letters to the Government and to ask an immediate and thorough inquiry: be made into the complaints.
that
(Correspondence) THE GOVERNMENT RENT ON WHARVES,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 17th September, 1898. Sir, I am directed to acknowledge the re- ceipt of your letter dated the 18th ultimo, and to state for the information of the Chamber of Commerce that after due reconsideration His vernment regrets his ibility to reverse or Excellency the Officer Administering the Go
modify the decision already arrived at in regard to the annual rents to be charged for piers and wharves under the new regulations referred to,
The revised rates will, accordingly, come into force on the 1st January next, and will be re published in the Government Gazette with a notice to that effect. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
T. SERCOMBE SMITH.
Sretary.
Permission was accorded, and further action The Secretary to the Chamber of Commerce, deferred pending result of the meeting, PROPOSED WESTERN HARBOUR OF REFUGE,
WESTERN HARBOUR OF REFUGE.
Hongkong, 3rd September, 1898.
ernment.
The suggestion I have to offer is the construc- tion of a Western Harbour of Refuge for small craft
The want of such a refuge must I think, evident to all, but I would like to point out appears to me to be some of the chief reasons. The present refuge at Causeway Bay is too small to accommodate anything like the number of small craft using the harbour,
The greater portion of it has become so silted up that it is dry at low water and therefore available for only very shallow draft boats.
:
This refuge lies to windward in all bad wea ther experienced in the harbour and therefore can only be reached either by the boats leaving on the first signs of bad weather or by being towed by launches.
The refuge I propose would be formed by constructing a breakwater area from Slaughter House Point of say 400 yards long.
This would form a refuge of about 80 sores, or considerably larger than the one at Cause. way Bay.
The whole of this area is deep water and would be available at all states of the tide for oraft of considerable draft, the average depth being about 4 fathoms.
The refuge would be to leeward so that boats knowing they had this refuge to make for could continue work at ships to a much later time and often on false alarms would not require to stop work at all, whereby much loss of time in the loading and discharging of vessels would be saved.
They would not require any towing to reach this refuge. It would be situated much nearer the bulk of the shipping than Causeway Bay.
I am confident such a refuge would materially assist in the work of the harbour during the many boats and perhaps lives from being lost typhoon season, and also be the means of saving in bad weather.
I estimate the approximate cost at $100,000. I shall be pleased to attend, any meeting of the Chamber or to show any members interested the plans.-I have the honour to be, sir, yours faithfully,
R. K. LEIGH.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 15th September, 1898. Sir,-A suggestion has been made to the Committee of this Chamber for the formation of a Harbour of Refuge west of the Slaughter House for the accommodation of small craft during the summer gales.
The present refuge behind the Breakwater in Causeway Bay is gradually silting up, and even now barely affords necessary accommoda- tion for native craft. It is situated at the extreme east of the harbour, from which direo- tion the prevailing storms come, and must either be sought at the earliest stage of threatening weather or the boats using it must be towed by steam-launch, an 'agenoy both costly and uncertain.
A refuge situated west would, on the other hand, be accessible in almost any weather by vessels under sail, and they could defer seeking it to a later period than the existing refuge, thus saving loss of time and inconvenience to themselves and the shipping generally. Its closer proximity to the centre of the harbour, where the work of transhipment and landing is mainly carried on, would necessarily prove a great convenience.
Mr. R. K. Leigh, C.E., who has made the above suggestion, is of opinion that a refuge could be formed by constructing a breakwater arm from Slaughter House Point about 400, yards in length, which would, he estimates, give an aren of some eighty acres with deep water throughout, or considerably larger than that now in nse at Causeway Bay. ***The Committee are strongly of opinion that
this suggestion merits
more so since the Refuge at Causeway Bay, al. ready limited in area, will soon be entirely in- adequate for the p purpose, and they therefore
commend the scheme to the favourable attention: of the Government.—I have the honour to be,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary
R. Chatterton Wilcox, Esq., Secretary, Hong-sir, your most obedient servant,
kong Chamber of Commerce.
A letter having been received from Mr. R. K. Leigh, C.E., suggesting the advisability of constructing a harbour of refuge by forming a breakwater at the western end of the harbour, the idea was favourably entertained by the Com- mittee. on the 15th September, a despatching was addressed to Government strongly recom
Dear Sir,—I should be obliged by your bring- |...、-
the following suggestion to the notice of To Hon. T, Sercombe Smith, Acting Colonial the Chamber, with the view, that if it concurs, Secretary