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March 1, 1902.]
ship also contracted the malady and was left behind, the ship proceeding short-handed to Rajang. While the work of loading his vessel proceeded, Captain Kasten found that his few remaining men had contracted the disease. Nevertheless he commenced the return voyage, handicapped as he was, for it was impossible to --procure sailors in the Borneo port. A few days out to sea and the sailors became utterly helpless until only the skipper and his two officers were fit for duty. The trio had to work the ship as best they could and during constant heavy weather many times expected to lose the craft. They knocked around the China Sea for several weeks hoping to be picked up by some s'eaner but it was not until about a week ago that they sighted the steamer Mexican Prince, bound from Singapore to Hongkong. The steamer promptly took her in tow, and towed her as far as Subig Bay, where Captain Kasten got the U. S. Naval supply ship Nanshan to tow her to Mariveles. Captain
Kasten will try to ship a crew of white men to complete his voyage to Hongkong, but at last accounts he has not been very successful in his
endeavours in this direction.
NORTHERN NOTES.
The following items are from the P. & T.
Times of the 15th ult:-
It is rumoured in Peking that the Empress Dowager intends asking the foreign ladies to a picnic on the 27th ult.
New branches of the Imperial Chinese Post Office have been established at Kaiping, Lanchow; and Changli, all stations on the Shanhaikwan | railway.
The spring of 1902 will witness the usual exodus of old residents bound for home. We understand that passages have already been booked by Mr. and Mrs. Bidwell and family, Mr. and Mrs. Knox aut family, Mrs. Macfar lane and Miss Cromarty.
We understand that Mr. Walter Fisher has been elected Chairman of the Council of the Senior Settlement. This is an altogether admir- able selection, and one on which the Council and the Landrenters are to be warmly congratu lated, though we fear from the onerous and exacting nature of the duties, it is one ou which we cannot extend our felicitations to Mr. Fisher
himself.
We learn on good authority that all the foreign professors, including the President of the Imperial University, in Peking, have been discharged, their back salaries being paid up to the close of the Chinese Year with a bonus of three months' pay from that date. Economy in administration is alleged as the motive of this revolutionary but retrogressive measure.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
CORRESPONDENCE.
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE DOCK CO. AND MR. GILLIES.
TO THE EDITOR F THE DAILY PRESS
88
J
Hongkong. 24th February. SIR,-At the meeting of the shareholders of the Dock Company held to-day, after a dividend of $9 per share for the last half-year had, upon the recommendation of the Directors, been declared, the opinion of those present was asked by the Chairman
to whether another meeting shou'd be held to reconsider the proposal rejected at the last general meet. ing to make a gift to Mr. Gilies ont of the funds of the Company of $50, 0), and the shareholders present having by a majority of one (according to the counting of the Secretary) decided in favour of such a meeting being held
it was thereupon stated that the meeting would shortly take place. Now it is not unreasonable, in fact it would appear to be almost necessary to assumo from this that a smaller dividend
than would otherwise be declared, and than the position and prospects of the Company justified the Directors in recommending, was declared to- day in view of the possibility of the share- holders passing a resolution at the forthcoming meeting to present a large sum of money to Mr. Gillies out of the Company's earnings. This being so it is difficult to understand why notice was not given to the shareholders that the question as to whether the proposed munif- cent present should be given to Mr. Gillies would be discussed at the meeting held to-day. Had such notice been given a resolution to make the gift would either have been carried or rejected before the declaration of dividend, and if rejected the shareholders would have had a right to expect a proportionately higher
If that
dividend than has been declared. dividend of $9 is the most that the Directors were justified in recommending should be paid, where is the money to come from with which to make the proposed present to Mr. Gillies?
It is said that it is proposed to make the gift in question to Mr. Gillies in recognition of the services he has rendered to the Company in bringing it up to its present flourishing condi- tion, and it is probably considered by those who support the proposal that the shareholders would be acting ungratefully in rejecting it. No doubt all the original shareholders, and those who purchased their shares a considerable time ago, if they believe that the present prosperity of the Company is largely due to the exertions of Mr. Gillies, would be acting ungratefully in refusing to give full recogni. tion to Mr. Gillies's services. But it must be
remembered that a very large number of the present shareholders have only become such since the Company reached the state of prosperity it is now in, and for the sake of investment. Some indeed purchased their shares at a higher price than the present market rate, and their property has consequently diminished in value. Is it fair to ask those men who cannot be said to have reaped any benefit whatever from Mr. Gillies's exertions to contribute equally with those others who so enormously benefited by becoming shareholders several years ago when the Company was working its way upwards to the position to which it eventually attained, but which has not recently been improved upon? Let those from whom gratitude is due, or who have reason to believe it is due, show it, and show it substantially, but do not let them force others who have no cause for gratitude to assist them pecuniarily.-Yours, etc.,
A SHAREHOLDER.
161
the Church, in most instances selecting a door furthest from where they are sitting, and
in the tiled pavement not covered with matting. exhibiting a marked preference for those places The majority of people who remain behind, I imagine, are those who are foud of hearing good music, and therefore anyone who behaves as I have stated can have no real wish to listen to the organ, and should either leave the church at the conclusion of the service, or else keep stated till the voluntary is concluded. To do as I have described is excessively annoying to those who are desirous of hearing the music, extremely bad form, and a direct insult to the organist.—Yours, etc.,
"N. O."
NEXT YEAR'S RACE3.
門
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.'
Hongkong, 25th February, SIR, I would call the attention of Hongkong
racing men to the important question of the
time, seeing the incompetence of the Stewards supply of racing ponies for next year. It is in this matter, that the su scribers themselves should take more interest in the means by which they can procure a decent lot of ponies let the Stewards supply us with another lot of rubbish-the culls cf the sale-yards-when we know that there is an abundant supply of good sound young horses from 14:2 to 15:00 hands, practically thoroughbreds, costing less than £ per heal? and allowing, say, £15 per head for freight, insurance, &c., &c., that these horses would only cost about $250 landed in Hong- hy cannot the matter be gone into kong? with a little commonsense? Horses cannot be bought to sample like piece goods; it is neces- sary that the selection be left to some competent and trustworthy person. This being so, why cannot the Club import its own horses through one of the great Pastoral Agency Firms of Australia: I refer to houses like Messrs.
in the future. What is to be done? Are we to
11
Dalgety & Co., Goldsbrough Mort & Co., John Bridge and Sons, Pitt Son and Badgery, Union Mortgage and Agency Co. Ltd., B.D. Morehead & Co., &c, &c. Any of these firms would supply us with a good even lot of young and sound blood horses, which would give us in- terosting racing, and not a lot of weary proces sions, such as took place with one or two exceptions at the meeting just concluded. Trusting that intending subscribers will take this matter up at the forthcoming general meeting of the Club and enclosing my card, yours, &c.,
CROCK-OWNER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
" could not
Hongkong, 26th February, 1902. SIR, I have read the letter signed Crock. Owner" which appeared in your issue of to-day. It seems a pity that "Crock-Owner have written above his real name, as in that case intending subscribers might gain valuable information from him as to importing a good class of animal at a moderate price, as I conclude that was the aim and object of every one who s bccribed last year. I cannot, however, allow the Stewards to be found fault with when they were in no way to blame for the class of animal which arrived here last October. It was the sub- scribers who placed their order in the hands of Mr. Abrams of Singapore, principally, I think, upon the recommendation of Mr. Bell-Irving and myself. We were actuated by the best of motives, but unfortunately the result was dis- appointing. Had the subscribers then known such extensive knowledge as that apparently of the existence of anyone in Hongkong with "Crock-Owner" as to the means possessed by
The China Inland Mission has published as much as it can collate of the testimony of its martyrs during the tyrrany of 1900. The death roll of this one mission was 10 associates, 48 members, and (the pity of it!) 21 children, 79 in all. The book states that the total Pro- testant loss was 135 adults and 53 children. When one aids to these the Roman Catholic losses and the large number of native Christians, one can see that the "persecution " will rank as one of the greatest in history. Gibbon in his rigid analysis of the famous or infamous Diocletian persecution reduces it to far less dimensions than those of the Boxer "terror."
It has been widely noticed that General Mei has been sourvily treated by the powers that be, notwithstanding his great services. Ma, who brought the strongest forces against us here in Tientsin, has got the "yellow jacket" and other marks of Imperil favour, while Mei has at several audiences been upbraided. Curiously enough, many of the rewards bestowed on Ma have been by inadvertence in the Press put down to the other man, whose great work was keeping A SUNDAY EVENING ANNOYANCE. young horses from 14.2 to 15 hands which the Boxers and malcontents under in S. and S.W, Chihli.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS." Hongkong, 24th February. SIR, Will you permit me to express my dis. A Peking despatch, dated the 20th February, to the N.-C. Daily News says:-Over thirty gust (which I do not doubt is shared by many telegrams from Chinese merchants abroad, others) at a form of annoyance which takes designating themselves "Members of the Pro-place every Sunday evening in S. John's Cathe- tectors of the Emperor' Society," have been dral:-1 refer to the practice of a certain section received by the Foreign Ministry, addressed to of the congregation, who remain after the ser- vice, until the organist is in the middle of one the Emperor, congratulating his Majesty on his safe return to Peking and begging his of the voluntaries, and who then deliberately, Majesty to resume the reins of Government at and with much dropping of walking sticks, and shuffling of feet, noisily make their way out of
once.
of procuring an abundant supply of good, sound,
could be landed in Hongkong at about $250 -- per head, I feel sure he would have been asked to assist with advice. It is a pity he has kept his knowledge to himself for so long and now writes under a nom-de-plume.—Yours, etc.,
GODFREY C. C. MASTER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 27th February. SIR,-1 am very glad to see Mr. Master's letter exonerating the Stewards of the Jockey Club and to find that he alone is responsible for the last lot of griffins. Mr. Master is to be