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done if the Community do not remember that, in their executive capacity, the Trustees are, after all, only representative. Unless the community will heartily co-operate with them by at once reporting any irregularity that may be noticed, satisfactory results can neither be ensured nor expected. At present the support of the Trustees is merely financial, and for such an object, none too generous. The Trustees, and upon their representation the Consuls, are able and willing, not only to prevent abuses, but to maintain the Settlement on lines worthy of so large an European community, to every member of which we should like to appeal for a wider and more active interest in the Road Trust.-Foochow Daily Echo.
HONGKONG BOAT CLUB.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING,
The annual general meeting of the kong. Boat lub was held at the Club's Gymna- sium, Tsimshatsui, on the 8th instant.
The Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G., presided, and
there were a fair number of members present
REPORT. credit balance of
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
TRADE DIFFICULTIES IN THE INTERIOR,
[November 14, 1904.
mises and display his hong-board in the city of he was fully at liberty to open business pre-- Changsha, Mr. Jamieson said he was writing to the Taotai to this effect, and if he, or the Commissioner of Customs, or the police made any attempt to remove the signboard or to seal up the premises, Mr. Bennerts was requested. to let him know.
In spite of this strongly worded letter pro- clamations were subsequently issued by the five Taotais of Changsha, and sealed with three · official seals, to the effect that foreign merchants were not to be allowed to live within or do
business in the native city, and calling on the officials to report any foreigners they found so trading to the authorities. Handbills were also distributed to the same effect. Mr. Benner's
reported to Mr. Everard Fraser, who has now returned to his consulate at Hankow, and repre- sentations are being made on the subject to the
Chinese. The matter is one that affects all
foreigners in China, but it is perhaps worth noting that two Germans are residing and therefore to be some discrimination exercised trading in Changshia city, and there seems by the local magnates.
The case of Mr. H. Bennertz, who was in Shanghai on the 3rd inst, affords instructive examples of some of the difficulties which have to be encounter d by those who would carry on trading enterprises in the interior, availing themselves of the treaties and regulations made between China and the Powers. The N.-C Daily News says: Mr. Bennertz is a British- born subject, who has been fifteen years in China, and who is well-acquainted therefore with the methods under which trading has to be carried on there. It is in connection with the recent opening of Changsha that he has what appears to be a substantial grievance.
Chaugsha, it will be remembered, was opened as a Treaty Port- the first in Hunan-on the 1st of July last. At Yochou and one or two other Hong-places foreigners had previously been allowed to call for business, but not to establish themselves in residence. In March of this year, anticipat- ing development in the province, Mr. Bennertz, accompanied by his wife, went on a houseboat trip through a considerable portion of Hunan,
In connection with this question! Mr. Ben- spending some weeks on the expedition. He nertz is also testing another point of importance had been previously connected with the fibre
to foreigners. This is the right of foreign industry, and it appeared to him that there employees of Chinese firms to reside in non- were opportunities for trade in the hemp which treaty ports, or of fore gners to visit their grows wild in these districts; he applied ac-
Chinese agents at non-treaty ports. In August cordingly to the Governor for a concession to
he visited the non-treaty port of Changteh deal with this hitherto wasted material on
there to establish a foreign agency for a Chinese His interpreter, Mr. Wa, an excellent
firm. At first he was given an escort of four terms.
soldiers and well trested by the authorities, but scholar, had introduced him before this to one: of the richest men in the province, who was
in a little time the soldiers were withdrawn and willing to back the enterprise with capital. The
he himself was called upon to leave. This Governor was on the point of coming to reason-
matter is also the subject of correspondence and able terms, when it came to his ears that there
have far-reaching effects on foreign trade in was hinese wealth which might possibly benquiry, and it is one the outcome of which will
China, tapped, and Mr. Bennertz was informed that a payment of Tls. 200,000 would be required before the concession could be granted. This preposterous demand was at once refused, and the manner in which the refusal was interpreted by Mr. Wu to the Governor appears to have brought down on him the animosity of that official. A letter was now sent to Mr. Bennertz from the ecretary of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs calling on him to dismiss Mr. Wa from his employment, a requirement he has not seen fit to carry out. Mr. Wu is still with him and proving a useful ally. The concession fell through.
The report showed $2,428.90. The fleet of boats is in good condition, There are four 4-oar boats, two double sculls, one pair oar, seven scufling tubs, two randans and on dinghy A new pair oar and double sculling boats are under "construction. The Sub-Committee »ppointed to arrange the amal- gamation with the Yacht Club hope to lay the proposals before a General Meeting in a short time.
RACES,
- Crews were entered at the V.R.C. Regatta for the following events -International Ladies' Prize and Hon. F. H. May's Challenge Cup. In each of the foregoing races the Boat Club orew won. The Challenge Cup was won for the second year in succession.
At the Canton Regatta the Interport Race and the sculling race were won by Boit Inb
crews.
There are 216 members on the roll of the Club.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G. was re-elected President, Mr. E. W. Carpenter was re-elected Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. O. Koehler was re- elected Rowing Captain, and the following
members were elected on the Committee :- Messrs. Carpenter, Gale, Warre, Koehler, Rouse
and Blason.
SANGHAI GAS COMPANY,
An extraordinary general meeting of the Shanghai Gas Company was held at Shanghai on the 2nd instant, for the purpose of confirming the resolution passed at the extraordinary general meeting held on the 12th October, The resolution reads as follows: "That under the powers conferred by Article 47 of the Articles of Association, the Capital of the Company be increased to Tis 2,500,000 Shanghai Sycee, by the creation of 34,000 new shares of Tls. 50 each." Mr. J. M. Young, who presided in the absence of Mr. J. L. Scott through illness, moved the resolution, and Mr. J Cooper, another Direc- tor, seconded it. The business was purely formal and the resolution was carried unanimously. In addition to those already mentioned there were present Mr. P. F. Lavers (director), King Hiller (engineer), W. A. Platt (legal adviser) F. W. Potter, A. B. Trodd, J. Chatham, W. H. Poate. G. Stenhouse, A. Hunt, W, Armstrong; Dr. Reid, and W. H. Anderson, representing 3,920 shares and 956 votes.
SUICIDE AT HONGHAM,
Gunner L. G. Hamford, of the Chinese Revenue craiser Lekin, committed suicide on
the 4th instant in a matshed at Hongham whilst the vessel was in dock. When found by the Police he had a bullet wound in the left breast, but was still alive.
A revolver was lying beside him, one of the chambers of which was discharged.
The deceased owed a considerable sum of 'mouer and had been drinking hearily of late. and this is supposed to be the reason of his committing suicide.
On the 18th of July Mr. Bennertz notified theommissioner of Customs at Changha that he intended to establish himself in the city-port and would open on the 20th. A reply came back the same night to the effect that foreigners could not occupy premises in the city itself, but Mr. Bennertz might establish himself in the area set apart for the new foreign settlement. The land so set apart is at present remote from all centres of trade, undrained, unhealthy, and unoccupied.
THE STRANDING OF THE "SWANLEY. "
A Marine Court of Enquiry was held at the. Master Attendant's office on October 31st into the stranding of the coolie ship Swanley, which struck on an uncharted reef near the Natuns
Islands. Mr. E. C. Howard, the Senior Magis-
trate, presided, and the Court consisted of Lieut. Holmes, a naval officer, and Captains Tait and Symmers.
Mr. Farrer, the Deputy Public Prosecutorl conducted the enquiry for the Crown, and Mr. R. W. Braddell watched the case on behalf of the Captain.
Capt. Dawson was the first witness examined. They left Chin Wan Tho on September 24th
bound for South Africa: On 3rd October at 6.25 pm. they were two miles westward of an island, passing through the central channel. At 7 p.m. they took the bearings. They altered At 7 27 they struck on an the course to S.W. uncharted reef or coral patch The vessel's speed was about 11 knots. He expected to find All the boats were twenty-five fathoms there.
He fired signals lowered and the engines put full astern. The ship was then put slow ahead for assistance and ascertained the damage to the vessel. e sounded round the vessel, but could
When other cities have been opened merchants have invariably settled inside the city walls until the Settlement outside has been made ready for their residence. Mr. Bennertz had already taken premises in the city and had issued 400 invitations to the opening on the 20th. He tried to telegraph to the British Consul at Hankow, but the wires had, very conveniently for the officials at Changsha, broken down for three days. At length a message was got through and the Consul (Mr. Playfai) sent a despatch to the not get two soundings to a fathom. The ship was not making any water. Three tanks were Changsha Taotai, who retorted by calling on Mr. Bennertz to remove his hong signboard filled with salt water. They tried to educe the from the city within eight days. On referring water, but it was impossible. They took sound- ings round the vessel and got from 14 to 24 this demand to the Consul, Mr. Bennertz was advised to comply under protest, which he did, fathoms. The ship was drawing about 19 feet at the time. He had the ballast tanks pumped by leaving it to the Chinese officials to come themselves and take the signboard down. out, but it did no good. The sea was calm, but there was a slight swell. An anchor was put Instead of doing that, the Taotai issued a further order extending the time in which Mr-down. They jettisoved the coal. The ship was Bennertz was himself to take down his sign by humping all the while. The ship was made as tight as possible and the pumps kept the water down. On Wednesday the weight of the boiler and the bumping caused the plates to give. They repaired the damage as much as possible and
five days
*
On the 29th of August Mr. Playfair had communicated with the Brit sh Commercial Attache at Shanghai, Mr. J. W. Jamieson, who in turn referred the matter to the Minister at Peking. The reply received
was that the British Minister "had warned the Bureau of Foreign Affairs at Peking that these regula- tions and restrictions on trade at Changsha were in the absence of the assent of the Powers, not binding on British merchants The letter further assured Mr. Beanertz that
:
sent a boat away in charge of the second officer to look for an anchorage. They got the ship off the reef on Thursday and anchored her. All the coolies, except one hundred, landed. Friday. On Saturday were they landed fifteen days' provisions and also landed a few officers to look after the coolies. On Sunday morning they sailed for Singapor
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