146
*_____V.R.C. AQUATIC SPORTS.
"
+
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
are
refer to another public danger which exists also in Caine Road. It is the stupid practice of some undisciplined urchins, whose parents reside in a terrace just above Caine Load, of throwing stones into houses in Caine Road
Windows Castle Road. and Lower
roofs holed, thus smashed and
and the safety of passers-by is euda gered. I know of a case in which a lady passing through Caine Road on her way home miraculously escaped being struck on the head with a huge stone. Coming as the stone did from a height of 50 feet more or less, the result of such a blow had it taken effect cau better be imagined than described!-Yours, etc..
DISGUSTED NEIGHBOUR.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS,'
Hongkong, 19th August. BIB,It is indeed very creditable on the part of the Committee of the V.R.C. to have such useful and very interesting sports regularly every year. But it is rather a pity that they don't seem to have made any useful a teration in the old events, ie, they follow something like "olo custom.' If the energetic recretary, Mr. White, decides to have the Championship of the Colony a two-mile or at least a one- mile race, I am sure many good and long swimmers will encourage this suggestion. This event is open to all comers Besides this, they should have s me events like breast swimming and swimming on back, life-saving, etc., etc. Thanking you for the insertion.-Yours, etc.. | THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI
AN OLD SWIMMER.
THE CASE OF INSPECTOR MCEWEN.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 18th August.
SIB, There can be law in the Colony who do not agree with you in your remarks in this day's issue of your piper in relation to the case of Inspector McEwen It is in the hope that
will see your way to raise a subscription to you help Mr. McEwen to pay the unavoidable expenses of his trial that I enclose a small cheque. Yours, etc.,
MILES.
PUBLIC DANGERS IN CAINE ROAD.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS."
Hongkong, 19th August. SIE,-The publicity which I ask of you for this letter will surely cause a mauvais quart d'heure, spent in its perusal and consideration, to the persons for whom it is intended and who are my neighbours in Caine Road. I very much regret the necessity of having to give them any offence at all, as 1 am one of those who believe that it is a good policy to try to be on the best terms possible with one's neigh bours, but, in the present instance, I consider that I should be failing in my duties towards humankind were I to keep silence. I shall, therefore, be much indebted to you, Mr. Editor, if you will kindly insert this letter in your earliest issue, so that some measures may at once be taken to suppress the evil in question. Caine Roal has hitherto been considered as quite a peaceful and agreeable residential quar- ter, and I was quite happy in being able to share that opinion (which by-the-bye was matter on which Inwardly congratulated myself) until some neighbours arrived with an unmistakable liking for dogs and their vicious habits. I may here mention that I do not detest dogs; they are inoffensive and useful when properly domesticated and looked after. but I believe most people will agree with me that the line must be drawn where they begin to show a pronounced inclination for the study of human anatomy.
a
Two weeks ago a Chinese woman, who happened to be peacefully passing along Caine Road, at about 7 o clock in the morning, was set upon by a couple of my neighbour's dogs for fully quarter of an hour before anyone came to drive them away. The poor woman was bitten in several parts of the tody and nearly denuded of her clothing. She could scarcely stand on her legs and would undoubtedly have fainted from fear and exhaustion had the struggle lasted just another five minutes. Since then a few other Chinese have also been set upon by the same dogs, the last case taking place yesterday at 6. p.m. when another Chinese woman was bitten in two places before anyone came to her help.
- 4
1
This is certainly a very great public danger, especially, to children alone or in charge of their amans, and I would advise parents not to allow their children to pass through Caine Road, particularly at the point where it branches off into Lower. C. stle Road. It is to be re- that the owners of such ferocious should have taken no effective measures to put a stop to this public danger, thus com- pelling people to come reluctantly to the Press in order to have the matter made public and brongat to the notice of the proper authorities. While on this subject I would also like to
BANKING CORPORATION.
HALF-YEARLY MEETING.
|
|
[August 24, 1903,
brought to a deadlock by financial difficulties which the native dealers had to contend with : those difficulties, I am pleased to say, are gradually being surmounted. During the half- year we experienced more than the usual fluctn- ations in the price of silver, the tondency of which has been upward, and the consequent rise in exchange caused, at times, an exceptional demand for gold remittances, but we are glad to think that, whilst daly protecting the Bank's own interest, we have been able to meet all the demands made upon us for exchange. At our last meeting, reference was made by my pre- decessor in the chair to the question of establishing a national and unifo m coinage for China, and though no decisive steps have as yet been taken with regard to this matter, it has the support, and is receiving the serious attention of all who are interested in trade in this part of the world. He also referred to the currency question in other countries around us; since then the Philippines and Straits Settle-
The seventy-sixth ordinary half-yearly generalments have declared for gold, but in both those meeting of shareholders in the above Corpora- countries, and also in Siam, the currency is in tion was held on the 15th inst. in the City the transition stage, which tends to dislocate Hall. Mr. A. J. Raymond (chairman of the exchange and interport trade for the time Court of Directors) presided, and the others being. China continues to prove an attractive present were Hon. C. W. Dickson and Messrs. field for new banks, but we are in a good posi- H. b. Temkins. F. Goetz, C. Michelau, H. Schn- tion to hold our own and meet competition as it bart, F. Shellim, H. W. Slade, E. S. Whealler comes along We are happy to say that our (directors). J. R. M. Smith (chief Manager), friends all round loyally support us, and, so Hon. G. Stew rt. Messrs. S. Hancock. C. W. long as thers is the open door," we can look May, G. Murray Baiu, R. T. Wright, D. Forbes, forward with confidence to the future, and feel H. W. Fraser, H. E. R. Hunter, R. A. assured of obtaining our full share in the Lowe, D. D. Gragdor, 1'. Humphreys, P. A. expansion of trade, which is bound to come Barlow, C. A. Tomes, C. J. Gonsalves, W. J. as the natural sequel to the opening up of a Gres on. W. B. Dixon, J. . Van Buron, C. H. country by railways, and we hope to see increasing Thompson, J. R. Michael, A. G. Morris, W. activity in these enterprises throughout the H. Potts, E. A. Hewett, W. E. Clarke Ho Chinese Empire Gentlemen, the hixbly satis- Fook, G. L. Tomlin, H. M. U. Nemazee, J. J. factory figures now before you have been pro- Leiria, J. Alves, A. G. Wood, E. Kelly, duced in what I may fairly describe as more than ordinary difficult times for exchange bank. ing, and I am sure you will all agree that our thanks are due to our managers and agents, and the staff generally, for their successful efforts. (Applause.) It was with great regret that we recently heard of the death of Mr. Day'd Jackson, our Yokohama manager. Mr. David Jackson had spent 25 years in the service of the Bank in varions parts of the East. He was everywhere popular sed was one of our most able and successful managers. In con- clusion, I am glad to be able to state that the business for the current half-year has opened well. If any shareholder desires any farther information I will be pleased to answer any questions.
Lam Sai, W. Lysanght, etc.
The notice calling the meeting having been read, as well as the annual report, which has already been published,
مي
|
There were no questions, and the CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report and accounts as presented.
Mr. W. J. GRESSON-Gentlemen, I have much pleasure in secouding the adoption of the report and accounts as presented. The Chairman has so fully informed us of the prosperous condition of the Bank that I do not think there is any-
thing that I can usefully add, but in congratu- lating the managers and staff on the results of their efforts as shown by the last six months' working I an sure I express the voice of all shareholders. (Applause)
The motion was put to the meeting and carried nem. diss.
The CHAIRMAN said--Gentlemen,-I think you will consider the report, which I have just read a very satisfactory result of our working for the half year. The division of profits recommended by your directors will, I hope, also meet with your approval. It is a continuation of the policy which has enabled the Bank to attain its present strong position. Looking at the figures, you will observe a con- siderable falling off in the current account deposits. Six months ago our London Office held a portion of the instalments on the recent issue of Imperial Japanese Government Bonds; that money has since been paid ove,
and more thau accounts for the reduction in the gold amount. The decrease in silver accounts is also chiefly due to the withdrawal of various Government funds, temporarily deposited at somas of our Eastern branches. The correspond- ing reduction on the other side falls under the headings of Bullion in Transit, and Bills Receivable. Bills Discounted, Loans and Credits, show a reduction of $2,000,000, but compared with the corresponding date last year they are $8,000.000 higher. The only other item calling for special me tion is Bank Premises account; this is now $1,311,142.54 against g829,123 on 31st December last, and the increase is largely due to the purchase of a property in seconded by Mr. C. H. THOPSON, the appoint Shanghai adjoining our premises there, which me. t of Messrs. E. Shellim, H. W. Slade, and it was thought desirable in every way to acquire E. S. Whealler to the Court of Directors in for the Bank. We have also had occasion to place of Messrs. D. M. Moses, G. Balloch, and enlarge the office accommodation at some of. H. Medhurst, resigned, was confirmed. our other branches, which, as my predecessors
what have pointed out, is
we must be prepared for as the natural outcome of our increasing business. With the $200,000 written off, as proposed in the present report, the account will then stan { at $1,111,142,5. There has been almost an entire immunity from losses, indicating that the large business in which we are engaged is in a sound and healthy condition. At some points trade has suffered by threatened disturbance in the political atmosphere of the Far East, but we hope that the war clouds which are hanging around will soon pass away. The import of cotton goods and yarn also received a check, due to the sudden and sustained advance in the price of the raw material but, as it happened, this unexpect ed rise in cotton served to relieve the situation for many of our friends, especially in the North of China, where heavy stocks had accumulated and where trade was for a time
On the motion of Mr. J. S. VAN Buren,
The CHAIMAN-hat is all the business, gentlemen. Dividend warrants will be ready on Monday. Thank you for your attendance.
Mr. MURRAY BAIN-We should pass a most hearty vote of thanks to the Board of Directors, the Chief Manager, and the staff for the excel- lent services they have rendered during the last half-year. Some of us, I dare say, remember, since the establishment of this institution, a large number of directors and chief managers, but don't hesitate to say that at the present time our interests are in charge of a body of men who could not be équalled during the history of our bank. It appears to me, gentlemen, that the mantle of the late Sir Thomas Jackson of happy memory has fallen very gracefully upon the shoulders of Mr. Smith, and I think you will agree with me when I express the hope that he will long be spared amongst us to wear that mantle with comfort and satisfac tion to himself and to the mutual advantage of
}
f
ISTPage 11