April 9, 1904.]
Mr. J. F. Boulton has been appointed to act as Assistant Director of Public Works from the 30th ult. during the tenure of the office of the D.P.W. by Mr. P. N. H. Jones.
A general map of the New Territory, on a scale of two inches to the mile, is now being prepared by the Public Works Department. It will show all streams, roads, paths, cultivated areas and villages.
Exchange continues to fall. On Wednesday it dropped another eighth, and since then there has been a decline of id. The man-in-the- street who prophesied that one result of the war would be the blessing of a two-shilling dollar is without honour in the land. We fear that actual war must he sat down as the cause of the decline in silver just as the threat of war produced the rise. Trade is now practically at a standstill in the North, and the Banks are consequently overloaded with silver.
The Acting Secretary of the Punjom Mining Co.. Ld.. informs us that a telegram has been received from the mines estimating the value of the March clean of a miscellaneous collection
up of 700 tons at $6,000. The mines have been shut down for want of working capital. and the Manager. Mr. W. Kerfoot Hughes. returns to Hongkong to consult the directors and shareholders us to the best means of carry- ing on the Company in view of Mr. Lock's special report on the concession. which is in some respects favourable. The annual meeting will be held early next month.
The Hongkong & Whampoa Dock Co. Ltd. have just completed a 58-foot launch for Manila. the order having been received through Mr. M. Marti, of Morrison Hill Road. The little craft is built of mild steel. She is fitted with
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
O Patriota, our weekly Portuguese contem- porary, states that the Portuguese cruiser Vasco da Gama is expected to arrive at Macao shortly. One of the cruisers, either the Adamastor, now in Hongkong harbour, or the Vasco da Gama, will probably proceed to the north. The same paper also states that according to letters re- ceived from Lisbon by the last mail, it is the intention of the Portuguese Government to des- patch to Macao two more cruisers. D. Carlos and D. Amelia if necessary,
The Warrant Officers, Staff Sergeants, and Sergeauts of the 1st Battalion of Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbyshire Regiment) gave a dance at the City Hall on the 6th inst. the occasion being the anniversary of the storming of Badajos in 1812. The decoratious consisted of palms, pretty ferns surrounding vari- coloured electric bulbs, bunting, old-fashion- ed sword bayonets, spears, guns, and the following inscriptions relative to the honours of the Regiment: -" Badajos," Louisburg," "Roleia," Vimiera. Calavera," "Busaco," "Fuentes d'Onor,' "Ciudad Rodrigo,' "Salamanca," “Vittoria," Py reuees. Peninsula," Ava," "South Africa," Nivelle," "Orthes," "Toulons »,“ Alma,' Inkerman." "Sevastopol," Cutal India," Aoyssiuia," "Egypt, 1882," "Tirah," "South Africa, 1899-1902.* The band of the Sher- wood Foresters was in attendance. Dancing was kept up from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m, all arrange ments being excellent. The rain, of course, kept many away.
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MISCELLANEOUS,
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Four American sailors have been arrested at twin-screws to propel her at about ten knots. Shanghai ou a charge of causing the death
Her name is the Conant, and she is intended as a sort of ferry-boat to run between the various villages on Philippine lakes, the Pasig River. Laguna Bay, etc.
Mr. R. Sorino is the owner. A large party of Mr. Marti's friends accompanied him to the Cosmopolitan Dock on the 31st ult. The launch was built there, and is now undergoing the final touch-up. The party went over in a Dock launch from Blake Pier. Included in those present were Captains Ledesma and Roberts, | Basa Hermanos. Messrs.
M. Ponce, McBain, McCartney. W. A. Martin, and Dr. J. Lukhan. The Conant is a trim little craft. fitted with a wood-work awning extending over her whole length. The holds will be utilised for cargo.
deck while the when she arrives at her destination, be partly closed-in. Captain Roberts is to take her through the choppy seaway to Manila. The last of this gentleman's many Hongkong-to-Manila com- mands was the Kaakong, built at Hongkong for Insular Service. The Conant could not be in better hands. Mr. Marti is to be congratulated.
may.
New Kowloon Marine Lot No. 2. situated at Laichikok, was let by public auction on the 5th inst. at the offices of the Public Works Department for a term of 75 years, with the option of re- newal at a Crown Rent to be fixed by His Ma- jesty's surveyor for the rest of the form of lease from China, or for a further term of 75 years if competent for the Government so to make it. The lot in question has an area of 345,928 square feet: north houndary, 214 ft.; south. 700 ft.: east. 687 ft. west, 816 ft. The annual A special condition of the pur- rent is $2.978. chase is that the purchaser must reclaim the entire area of the lot. Commencing at $10,378 as an upset price the bidding had to advance at not less than $50 a time. Messrs. J. D. Humphreys and T. F. Hough bid against each other, Mr. T. F. Hough finally knocking the lot dowu for $16.550. Mr. Hough made the purchase 'on behalf of the Standard Oil Company of New York. Inland Lot No. 1714.situated at Bonham Road, was let for 75 years, with the option of renewal at a Crown rent for a further term of 75 years. The northern boundary measures 36ft. 6 in. south. 118 ft.; east. 86 ft. west. 53 ft. 6 in. The area in square feet is 5,000. Annual rent. $35. A special condition was that the purchaser must construct substantial retaining walls where necessary to prevent landslips in the event of his cutting away any portion of the hill in order to level the site. The upset price was $1,500, bidding going up by $20 a time. Mr. A. P. Samy purchased the lot for $1,520, there being no bidding against him. Mr. Samy, we understand, intends to build a house for himself.
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of a negro.
A dividend of 18 per cent. has been declared by the Yangtze Wharf and Godown Company. Limited, for the year 1903.
The Shanghai Tug and Lighter Company show in their profit and loss account for the past year a profit of Tls, 184,950.
The Chinese ledger-keeper of the Chartered Bank at Bangkok has been arrested for the forgery of a cheque for 12,0K) ticals, and has More been remanded on bail of 15,000 ticals. arrests are expected.
The Japan papers announce the death of Mr. W. H. Morse, one of the original partners of the well-known firm of Smith, Baker & Co., of Kobe and Yokohama. His death occurred in New York. Mr. Frank H. Hunter, formerly of the firm of E. H. Hunter & Co., of Kobe and Osaka, died at home on the 19th ult.
In the course of a discussion of the Navy Estimates in the House of Commons last month Mr. Gibson Bowles said he was informed that the new dockyard at. Hongkong was a stupon- dous mistake, the wrong site having been selected. Mr. Lee. replying for the Govern- ment, said the professional advisers of the Government, including the Commander-in-Chief on the station. had unanimously approved of the site, and it was selected on their distinct recom- mendation.
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Mr. Samuel S. Lyon, U.S. Consul at Kobe, had an apoplectic stroke when in his bath on the morning of the 29th ult. His condition was reported to be hopeful.
Consternation was caused at Cardiff when it was officially announced by Russia that "neu- tral ships captured while engaged in flagrant act of contraband can, according to circumstan- ces, he seized and even confiscated."
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We are informed by Messra. Melchers & Co. that the agent of the Norddeutscher Lloyd at Oldenburg Aden wired on the 30th March :-" cannot sail on account of shaft broken, probable departure 18th April."
We are therefore asked to notify that the departure for Europe of the Imperial German Mail s.s. Oldenburg will be delayed for about three weeks.
The following letter was received last month by the Bible Society from Peking, from Sir Robert Hart. Inspector-General of Customs and of Posts in China:- Enclosed please find a cheque for 100 guineas, which it gives me much pleasure to be able to send as a subscription to your Centenary Fund. It is an honour and a privilege to have even the smallest share in your magnificent work, and I wish your appeal the fullest success, Sincerely yours, ROBERT ᎻᎪᎡᎢ.
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During the mouth of February 41 vessels with cargoes amounting to 120.200 tons of steam coal cleared at Cardiff for Far Easterm poris, a large proportion being for Japan. The Sado Maru left Cardiff with 3,500 tons, and the larger Japanese steamers, the Bingo Muru and Kawachi Maru, were at Cardiff early in March In order taking on board over 2,000 tons. to lessen the risk of interference by Russian warships, cargoes consigned for the Japanese navy have been diverted to the Cape route.
We have received a copy of the Act of En- dowment of the Teikoku Gunjin Yengokwai (Association for the Relief of Those serving in the Army and Navy), just founded in Japan for the object of giving assistance to:-(a). Dis- tressed families of men serving in the Japanese Army and Navy who are killed or die while on service; (b). Men serving in the Army and Navy who become cripples while on service, as well as the families of such men, in case of dis- tress; (c). Distressed families of men serving in the Army and Navy whether at the seat of war or in fortresses, garrisons, etc.. at home. The President of this Association is H. I. H. Admiral Prince Arisugawa, and subscriptions to this worthy cause may be received in Hong.. kong at the offices of the Yokohama Specie Bank. the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, or the Mitsui Bussan Co.
The British Government has recently called for reports from its representatives abroad on bounties other than those on shipping and navigation paid by the State in the countries in which they reside. Only two reports from the Far East have been published. One from His Majesty's representative at Bangkok states that no bounties apart from shipping and navigation are paid by the Siamese Government. Sir Claude MacDonald, H. M.'s representative at Tokyo, reported that the only bounty, pro- Admiral. Moresby (retired) writes the|perly so-called, existing in Japan is that on manufactured tobacco. His Excellency writes; following interesting letter to a London con- temporary At tho present juncture the -Tobacco is a Government monopoly in this following incident of the practical intelligence country, but on the export of manufactured of the Japanese may be interesting :-In tobacco tlle exporter receives a bounty of 20 per cent. The export of Japanese tobacco has re- January. 185, just two months after the action at Simionosoki had been fought, where thecently received a considerable impetus; it is Japanese wore partly armed with hows and
conveyed mainly to China, and the value of the trade for this year is expected to be about arrows and lad in chain armour. I happened to be senior naval officer at Nagasaki, and became 2,000,000 yen. Šaké and soy, which are subject on very friendly terms with the Governor to a somewhat heavy excise, receive a rebate of of the city. On my departure for England. this excise on exportation. A subsidy of 70,000 on promotion. he gave me a farewell banquet yen per annum was granted in 1893 for a period
its close
of ten years, to the associated tea merchants of in the old Japannse style. At he caused a Winchester breechloading rifle Japan, to advertise and promote the, commerce Lo
hands. be placed in my
I guessed in Japanese tea. It expires this year, and it is he had an ulterior object in view, and, doubtful whether it will be renewed, but the Winchester on the Ministry of Finance are satisfied with the observing that the name
results obtained. Finally, sugar of or below lock had evidently been engraved by a hand unaccustomed to Latin characters. I romarked': Dutch standard No. 14, which is taxed at 20:4 sen per 100 catties on its import into Japan, is liable to a drawback of this duty if refined within a year. The object of this measure, of course, is to encourage the native sugar refiners.
Your Excellency has done well in manufac- turing so perfect a lock for this rifle." With huge delight, he informed me that lock, stock, and barrel had all been made by Japanese work- men, and begged me, on my return to England, I had to tell to tell my Queen what I had seen. him I could not do that, but I would tell the Admiralty and I did.
The U. S. cruiser San Francisco has arrived at Cavite. It is stated that she is coming to Hongkong to be docked before Admiral Stirling transfers his flag to her.
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