January 27, 1902.1
18. Soldiers with odd-shaped hats. 19. Women of the Court in red chairs. 20% Vast numbers of Court officials on horse-
back.
At the Chien Men, many foreigners had come to see the show, and notwithstanding assurance to the contrary by the Chinese officials, they found no difficulty whatever in getting access to places from which they could easily see the procession. Nor did the officials show any resentment when many cameras were levelled at the Imperial chairs. The Emperor and Empras both, at least while passing our locus slandi, seemed to be keenly alive to the whole proceedings, and showed great interest in everything, especi- ally was this the case at Chien Men. The Dowager actually leaned forward in her chair, and bowed in the most marked manner to the foreigners. The latter courteously raised their hats, and some of them actually raised a small cheer. The Royalties left their chairs to perform some act of worship at small shrines, and then went on straight into the Palace,
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinious expressed by our correspondents.]
PLAGUE AND SANITATION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
"DAILY PRESS,
"
Hongkong, 17th January. SIB,-Having heard that a case of plague was discovered yesterday in a district which has quite recently undergone disinfection by the officers of the Sanitary Board, I should like to ascertain what induced the authorities bere to sanction such a large disinfecting scheme, in view of the very imperfect knowledge they possess with regard to the origin and recurrence of the disease. I remember when the scheme was under consideration some one had the temerity to ask if this large undertaking was in the nature of an experiment or whether it had been ascertained that disinfection proved efficacious in other places visited by plague.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
practically supreme control over the running of the Cathedral services, and the spending of their money-for this, after all, is the main point at issue.
63
HONGKONG LAND INVESTMENT & AGENCY CO., LD.
The fourteenth ordinary meeting of share. The Church Body, which by its recent action holders in the above Company was held on -or rather, want of it has brought us to the the 23rd inst. in the offices, Victoria Buildings. present lamentable pass, duly retires at the Hon. J. J. Bell Irving (Chairman) presided meeting, and it behoves the Seatholders and and there were also present Hon. U. P. "Chater, C.M.G., Messrs. A. J. Raymond, A. Haupt, H. Subscribers to see that they elect a really re presentative Church Body to serve them during P. White, N.A. Siebs, D. M. Moses, (Directors),
It should consist of the ensuing year.
Mowbray 8. Northcote (Aeting Secretary), body of men really representative of all classes J. Goosmann, R. K. Leigh, R. C. Wilcox, C. 8. of the Church-going community; of men who Sharp, Ho Tang, Ho Fook, E. E. Ray, E. take an active interest in Church matters; of Georg, A. Denison, G. L. Tomlin, §. H. Dann, men who will, to the best of their ability, faith-8. 8. Benjamin, eto. fully carry out their duties to those who have elected them.
The outlook is of such 8 serious and gloomy nature that we cannot afford to let questions of sentiment, or the hurting of the feelings of a few, interfere with the welfare aud rights of the many. Unless the Seat- holders and Subscribers are prepared to take up a really strong position now, there can be little doubt that even our present troubles are slight compared with those which will come in the near future. I repeat, the remedy is in the hands of the Seatbolders and Subscri- bers; let them see to it that their rights are maintained.-Yours, etc.,
CHURCH-GOER.
SPORT IN HONGKONG.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
+
DAILY PRESS.
23rd January. SIR-An advertisement in your issue of this morning is calculated to raise a smile when perused by those who take an intelligent inter- est in racing matters in this Colony. It informs the public at large that part of the programme will consist of races for for the "off day horses and ponies not entered for any of the official evente, to wit, the "Kowloon Stakes for all hoises, and the "Open Stakes" for all ponies 14 hands 2 inches and under. For each Event five entrants in separate interests are com- pulsory. Do the Stewards of the Hongkong Jockey Club imagine that there is a large con- On reading the excellent article in your issue tingent of race-horse owners on the Kowloon of 14th inst. taken from the Times of India side anxious to enter their animals, or that there I was not surprised that the authorities failed
is a plethora of Australian, English, Indian tó give a satisfactory reply to that pertinent in country bred, Arab, and China ponies in train quiry. In the article Professor Fraser, Presiding on the off-chance of being allowed to com- ent of the Indian Plague Committee, admits the pete for a $250 race? This joke on the part of gravely important share in propagating plague the Jockey Club was got off last year when a contributed by rats, but insists that the prepon- similar advertisement appeared, and resulted in derating factor in the extension of the disease, the horse-race being withdrawn-there being no and even its fatality, is the vitiation of air in horses. The other, I believe, produced four dwellings, and urges that some of the money starters and was won by Kangaroo, a polo pony who did the half mile in 54 seconds, which en- now spent upon such palliatives as disinfection and the removal of filth might be profitably titled him to a place at the regular meeting. devoted to improve the permaneut ventilation The Jockey Club must know, or should know, of dwelling-houses. This is a startling piece of that there is no more likelihood of both of these advice in view of what is taking place proposed races filling this year than they did here and may well cause the authorities last. Apart from animals entered for the official to pause in pursuing their disinfecting opera- events, there are at the present moment only tions which are being conducted, at such Lady Mary, Kangaroo, Esau, and a few polo expense and with grave inconvenience to ponies, and few owners will care to risk spoiling the native inhabitants of the Colony. Pro- a good polo pony for a $250 race. If the fessor Fraser confines himself almost exclusively Stewards were really anxious to provide sport to recommending measures for the prevention for the above animals they could easily have of plague, and is unfortunately silent as to the done so by allowing them entry to the Handicap cause of the disease recurring after lying on the third day, now confined to Hongkong dormant for several months.
and Shanghai walers. Out of the thirty races at the meeting it is not too much for residents to expect one race open to all horses in the Colony, especially in view of the fact that any member who can afford it is allowed to purchase the pick of the Hongkong and Shanghai horses that have run at previous meetings.-Yours, etc.,
I gather from the article referred to that plagde does not arise from dirt in the sense of refuse, that it is independent of climate, and that primarily it is not a soil disease. Where then do the bacilli find a resting place while lying dormant ?—Yours, etc.,
OLD RESIDENT.
THE CATHEDRAL CHAPLAINCY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
"DAILY PRESS,'
22nd January. SIE, The annual meeting of Seatholders and Subscribers will be held to-morrow (Thursday) afternoon, and it is earnestly to be hoped that all who possibly can will make a point of being present. There can be littlo doubt to those who have given the matter a thought that we have arrived at a crisis in Church matters, and it rests entirely with the congregation of S. John's Cathedral to determine whether they will insist upon their just rights or be content to waive them, and allow the Bishop to usurp
می
OLD CAR
The Cologne Gazette states that the German Navy Budget for 1902 provides for the supply of a third river gunboat for China. The two Vorwarts and boats at present there, the Schamien, were formerly river passenger and were bought from the cargo-boats which English during the recent troubles in China and converted into gunboats The first was built at Shanghai in 1899 and the second at Hongkong in 1900. The new boat will be built in Germany and will be the first of the kind ever constructed there. It is destined for the Peiho river, where Germany is at present unrepresented.
|
The notice calling the meeting having been read,
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, with your permission I shall treat the report and accounts At the last annual meeting your as read. Directors had a very favourable report to put before you and the present one, which covers the first clear 12 months since the Company has been working on the fully paid up capital of $3,000,000, it is hoped may also be considered as satisfactory. The profits for 1901 including the amount brought forward from the previous account amounted to $680,877.04, equal to a little over 13 per cent. on this capital, the falling off as compared with the previous year being ac- counted for by the fewer sales of property. Directing your attention in the first instance to
our
revenue derived from interest you still observe a gross increase of $93,60), due to the fact that interest on monies allowed to remain on mortgages of properties sold during 1900 has been received over the fall period; this is reduced to a net increase of some $87,030 by the amount paid upon borrowed money of which you will see we have av iled ourselves to a greater extent than in the previous year. Our rent account shows a falling off $3,000, consequent on the sale of properties during 1930, amount- ing to nearly $800,000, from which we received revenue for a portion at least of that year; the loss from this cause is to some extent minimised by the income from new properties which have become yielding during 191, and the account will be still farther improved by the revenue to be derived from properties as yet not fully developed, but which we hope will be out of the architects' hands during the next few months. The Chairman at the last annual meeting informed you that we had property undeveloped standing in the Company's book at $1,600,000, a portion of which would shortly become yield- ing. Such has been the case, and I am pleased to be able to state that these newly developed properties are giving us a good return on the capital invested; you will understand, however, that while some properties appearing as unpro- ductive in our statement for that year have since given as some return, it has only been for a portion of the year and that further capital has been required for the develop- ment of other properties not yet completed so that the amount remains at practically the same figure, $1,600,000, of which some $470,000 will shortly be yielding. This will not, however, necessarily reduce the amount remaining in undeveloped property by that sum, since payments will fall to be made on other properties as the work of developing them progresses. A projected and most desir- able scheme for the improvement of the Eastern district of the Colony will when carried out necessitable a considerable outlay. interest you to know that large blocks of our property not yet ready for occupation have already been leased as from the time of their occupation at figures which will give us a hand- some return on their cost to the Company, During the past twelve months the amount on mortgages has decreased by a small amount whilst the money invested in property has increased however 5 lakhs of dollars, and it is the aim of your Directors to further real add to the Company's holding of
88 favourable opportunities occur. estate There is ample margin on all mortgagės, and the buildings on the Company's properties are in good repair. I am glad to state that we have commenced the present year with two sales giving very satisfactory margins of profit, and I may also mention that taking the present values of property in this Colony these held by the Company in every instance stand in the books on a lower basis and in many cases would
It may
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