May 28, 1903.]
Lewis, W. Parfitt, and E C. Wilcox. The ap pointment of Menary Parfitt and Wilcox requires your confirmation.
AUDITOR.
The Company's coounts at the head office have been anti ed by Francis Maitland, who offers himself for re-election. Mr W. Hutton Potts will be invited to assist Mr Maitland at the next audit.
JOHN D. HUMPHREYS & ON, General Managers. Hongkong, 14th M1903.
THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER
COMPANY, LD.
The report for presentation to the share holders of the above Company at the second ordinary general meeting, to be held on Saturday, 30th May, is as follows:-
Annexed we beg to lay before shareholders the annual statement of accounts made up to the 28th February, 1903. The working account at Canton shows a loss of $17,390.25 and after writing off $4,302.55 as depreciation and includ- ing interest and other charges, and the balance of $20,846 47 at debit of last year, there remains a balance of 857053.76 at debit (f pro- fit and loss account. The result is very dis-. appointing as regards Cauton but it has been absolutely unavoidable in the face of the con- tinued series of break-downs of the machinery there, which, it is now evident, is quite unequal to the work it has to do By the expenditure of much time and money, we have succeeded in getting the factory to run steadily latterly, but accidents to the machinery alone have cost us nearly $5,000 and our coal consumption has been more than double what that of a suitable modern engine would be Thero is no doubt that with such an engine we should now be working at a good profit and it is quite clear to us that matters will never be on a satisfactory footing until the old engine has been replaced by one of the latest and most economical type, such as the one we have installed at Hunghom. The demand we are glad to say causes us no anxiety; in spite of all the adverse circumstances of last year, it has increased and is increasing and the prospects of doing a large and remune- rative business at Cantor are very good.
The works at Hunghom, Kowloon, were only started in February last, so that as our accounts are made up to the 28th of that month, we are without a working account there. We have however at present a great numbers of enquiries and new orders are coming in, and we have no doubt that in a short time we shall not only be running at our full strength but that it will not he long before it will be necessary to consider the question of adding more machinery to keep pace with our requirements there.
CONSULTING COMMITTER.
Mr. H. P. White retired and Mr. J. H. Lewis was appointed in his place. The Hon. Sir Paul Chater, C.M.G. and Mr. J. H. Lewis now retire but offer themselves for re-clection.
AUDITORS.
The accounts have been budited by Messrs. W. H. Potts and A. O'D. Gourdin who are recom- mended for re-election.
SHEWAN, TUmɛ: & Co.,
General Managers.
Japau will probably have the most effluent submarine flotilla of the fature, writes Retired Commander F. M. Barber, U.S.A., in the Forum April June number. This little nation is in that curious transition stage where she can apply at once the newest ideas of our civilisation to the rugged and primitive condi- tions born of her feudal system.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
CORRESPONDENCE.
CHINESE THEATRES AND PLAGUE INFECTION.
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TO THE EDĪTOR OF THE' DAILY PRESS.”
Hongkong, 15th May, 2 SIE,—I was vastly amus d this morning, to find that I had drawn my friend “Common Sense
into making a tu quoque retort always a sign of weakness. Perhaps I am a Scallywag": if I am (and I don't feel sure that insinuations of “ Common Sense” are neces- sarily correct) I glory in my shame and don't sail under false colours like Common Sense." I am sorry if I mistook "Common Sense's" argument but I think, if he will read: his letter again he will see that it is open to the construc tion I put on it-vis, that, by his own contention the European being the only one likely to suffer, therefore if the Chinese theatres were closed it would be for the benefit of the European, and not the Chinese.
"Common Sense's •
377
TO 1HR EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 18th May, BIB-Will Common BeneD Konwer following questions :---
1. Is he fi sacially interested in the keeping open of these theatres ?
2. Do the better class of Chinese keep their children away from school during the plague season P
3. Did he require a B. &. §. after digesting “Scallywag's "- letters ?..
4. Would he inform us of the true reason why the Chinese make for Canton or elsewhere when they become sick?
Yours, elc.j. Za
JOEY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 20th May. Hongkong I find "Joey, with that brevity SIR-During my temporary absence from which always denotes true wit, has laid “Com- mon Sense" by the heels. I feel I ought to leave well alone, but the temptation to once more show "Common Sense" the error of his ways is too strong to resist
May I point out that I did not say the sug- gestions of the Sanitary Board were analter- able; what I did say and which is the only sune interpretation to be put on my words was that the Sanitary Board having by a majority approved the closing of the theatres, it w.s matter of absolutely no consequence what people, who shared "Common Sense's” views on the subject, thought.
other arguments are, I submit (with all friendly respect to his views and feelings), too puerile for more than passing comment. As to India's example I could, if space permitted, give Common Sense "-after seven years' experience of that country-a good deal of information of which, judging by his remarks, he appears to be in blissful ignorance. If we invert the names Hongkong and Canton I think Common Sense", will find himself hoist with his own petard. Is it not possible that owing to Canton being blessed with those advantages which "Common Eense" takes upon himself to condemn with a self-complacent "Common Sense” delivers hims. If "neck and assurance worthy of a better and a cleaner brisket" into my hands by asking me to say cause is it not just possibl that Canton and not why the Indian Government has not stamped Hongkong may be the plague-supporting spot ? out the plague in India? My only logical If the Chinese consider it a hardship to be answer can be and is and I give it to Com- made to live a clean life amid sanitary surround-mon Sense" in strict confidence and with the ings have their prehistoric practices modified by greatest humility), Principally because it modern civilisation, why do they flock in failed to ree thousands into this Colony ?
he necessity of closing the Their very native theatres !!!
Cours, etc, numbers being the initial causation" of he
VEN SCALLYWAG. trouble which our splendid British doggedness continues to fight-the ravages of the disease and the hysterical squealings of a few sickly sentimentalists notwithstanding.—Yours, etc..
44
SCALLYWAG.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,'
}
Hongkong; 16th Mar. SIR, Scallywag's "seven years experience in India does not evidently warrant him to dispute my assertion that even when plague was at it worst the Government ne er attempted to close the native theatres. He could
and he would give us a lot of information about that country if space permitted. Could he tell us why, with no " plague supporting spot" such as he leads us to believe we have in Canton, the Government of India with all their unlimited resources have failed to stamp out plague in Bombay and Calcutta?
Scallywag" is mistaken if he thinks that the Chinese "Rock here in thousands" out of love of the sanitary surroundings that meet their eye. I can assure him that a little enquiry will convince him that such is their respect for our efforts to improve the sanitation of the Colony that at the very first symptom of illness those of them who can manage it take the earliest boat, to Canton, to recover there or die there in peace.
A
their theatres? I contend we have no reason But the question after all is ought we to close to expect any benefit from that step. Wê adopted it in 1901 and plague continued to rage with unabated virulence. What is the good of trying it again?
J
“Scallywag” says that the measure having been approved and passed by a majority of the Sanitary Board, no one need worry more about it. Like the laws of the Medes and the Persings, a decision of the Sanitary Board is beyond recall beyond revision. But I venture to hope that wiser counsels will prevail, and that the Government will realise that it is worse than foolish to deprive an unfortunate and unoffend inglass of their only means of enjoyment without better reasons than any that has hitherto been furnished us.
Lient-Commander WR. Dalgety, when in command of the river steamer Teat on the Yangtane, reported to the Admiralty on the navigation of that river and Lient Comman- der. E. Chilcott, when commanding the Woodlark on the same river, sent in a report as to the navigability of tributaries of the Uppers Kangisse from Chung King to Ho Chau on the Kisling Kiang, and from Ho Chau to Ngun Shu Shien on the Fu Kiang, with additioanl notes. the possibilities of "British doggedness" is very fine, but let us navigating the upper waters of these tribu combine with it a little intelligence and con- taries. Copies of these reports have now been | sidération.—Yours, etc., sent to the Board of Tide.
COMMON SENSE.
་་
PLAGUE CONSIDERATIONS;
- us to info TO THE EDITOR OF THE” DAILY PRESS.
· Hongkong, 16th May.
SIE, I notice that Dr. Simpson in his report on plague is inclined to suspect as one of the causes of the continuance of the disease in the Colony the insufficient cooking of food by the lower-class Chinese.
It is desirable in my opinion, if it has not already been done, that a local expert should examine several articles that are consumed un- coked, with the view of ascertaining if they are infected. I refer more, particularly to sugar cane, to which the natives of the class that suffers most are very partial, age
increase of plague took place some years ago at It will be recollected that a very marked thetime the Jockey Club held their annual Race. meeting, and which was attributed to the influx of Chine e from Canton. That they were indirectly instrumental in spreading the plague there can be little doubt, but it is just possible the large quantities of sugar
ne supplied for their delectation might have been the primary cause, for it is a well-known fact that the consumption of the article is so great at that season that it takes several days
ours, etc., to remove the refuse from the Happy Valley.
vet en BIZ.
MR. JUSTICE WISE.
TO THE EDITOR OF. THE
DAILY PRESS. Hongkong. 16th May. SIR,-Apropos of your article under the heading of “ On the list which appears in your issue of this morning, I think that it is the general opinion of the Bar and of the junior branch of the profession" that the Colonial Government and the Colonial Once, including Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, the tr slal Secretary England has over overlooke and do overlook the meri
best not the very best on the Judicial Bench of this Colony, for me to dilate on his
too well known to the profession also well appreciated by the merchants
Colo
they