452
peared on the 15th inst. before Mr. Gompertz to answer the charge of murdering the Chinese boat- woman Chan Yee, the girl Kwok Tit, and with attempting to murder the boy Kwok Sui, in the waters of the Colony on 27th November last. Mr. F. J. Badeley, Captain Superintendent of Police, prosecuted.
The first witness called was Chong Kun, coxswain of Police Pinnace No. 5 Questioned
as to whether he was out with R.C. 88 when the body of a naked Chinese woman was picked up, about two we ks ago, off Kellett Island, be replied in the affirmative. Asked what was then done with the body, he replied that it was put into a dead-box at the Wharf by some Sanitary Board coolies, and conveyed to the Police Station. The age of the deceased was between 30 and 40. He did not remember the exact date when the body was found, but believed it to be the 4th instant. see the body identified.
He did not
Mr. Gompertz then said that on the evidence that had been adduced, he should commit the three defendants to the Criminal Sessions; but that he would hear any statements they might wish to make.
Charles Smith, after being cautioned in the customary manner, stated: -I arrived in Hong- kong from Manila by the Zafiro about two months ago. After being here about two weeks I met William Nason. He and I stayed together from that time until the 27th. I made a suggestion then to him that we should get a sampan, tie up the Chinese on board, and set them off on some island, and sail south. The suggestion met with immediate approval. We walked down the street, and got a third man- -Hogmann. He was willing to That
go. evening, at 8 o'clock, Nason and. myself met Hogmann at the Sailors' Home. We had some difficulty in getting a boat. Finally, after getting one, we started Boross to the American ship. When we arrived halfway to the mainland on the other side, Nason started for the boy ahead, and Hogmann for the woman. I myself went for the children. I had some difficulty in keeping them quiet. I took the first one and put her down in the hold -the thirteen-year-old one. I then started back for the other one, the small one. She took fright and jumped overboard. I tried to grab her, but it was too late. The sampan was about to run into a large ship. I had to grab the tiller and head her inland. That is all I wish
to say.
Erik Hogmann, through Mr. Lindblom (interpreter) said:-I tried to beave the woman overboard, but she either jumped or fell over- board herself. That is all I wish to say. [Hogmann expressed a wish to hear the state- ments made by Nason read over, as he had not understood them, and Mr. Gompertz saying he thought him entitled to hear them, they were accordingly translated to him.]
William Nason, after being cautioned, stated; After the boy I had been fighting with had jumped overboard I put out the light then before going aft. When I got aft I saw Smith chasing the small "kid." It had got up on the stern-right at the back, as far as it could get, Smith had just made a grab for it when it jumped overboard. Then I saw Hogmann holding the old woman, Smith taking the tiller. I put my handkerchief in the old woman's mouth then, and then went and sat in the well. The woman had begun to fight. She pushed Hogmann away from her, and jumped over- board. That is all I have to say.
The defendants were then asked whether they wished to call any witnesses, and, replying in the negative, were formally committed to take their trial at the next Criminal Sessions.
Mr. Thomas Charles Downing, accountant of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China (eldest son of Mr. Thomas J. Downing, on the of Ickleton, Cambridgeshire), was 15th inst. in St. John's Cathedral, married to Miss Gertrude Maud Milton, the only daugh. ter of the late Mr. Francis Milton, of London. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. F. T. Johnson chaplain of the Cathedral. Mr. H. G. C. Fisher, engineer of the Public Works Department, acted as best man. The wedding was 8 very quiet one. newly-wedded couple left for Macao on their honeymoon in the afternoon.
The
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE HONGKONG HIGH-LEVEL TRAMWAYS COMPANY,
LIMITED.
The report for presentation to the share- holders at the Twentieth Ordinary General Meeting, to be held at the Company's Register- ed Offices, Alexandra Buildings, Des Voeux Road, on Friday, 23rd December, is as fol- lows:-
Gentlemen, We beg to lay before you the report and statement of accounts for the year ending 30th November, 1904. The net profits for the twelve months, after paying charges and all running expenses and making provision for auditors' fees,, amount to
To which has to be added the balance brought forward from last account
And from this has to be deducted
remuneration to general managers
$46 239,91
4,283.58
$50,523,49
(5 per cent. on gross earnings) $ 4,640.07
Leaving available for appropriation $ 45,883.42 Your general managers and consulting com- mittee recommend that a dividend of $15 per share be paid to shareholders, absorbing $18,750; that $4.337.14 be written off stations and shelters; that $20,000 be transferred to reserve fund, and the balance, viz. $2,796.28 be carried to new profit and loss account.
CONSULTING COMMITEE,
Messrs. R. K. Leigh and C. Ewens and the Hon. C. W. Dickson having resigned, Messrs. J. Orange and J. Scott Harston and the Hon. W. J. Gresson were invited to fill the vacancies and accepted seats on the Board. In accordance with Rule 15 of the Company's Articles of Association, the present members, the Hon. W. J. Gresson, Mr. J. Orange and Mr. J. Scott Harston retire, but, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
AUDITORS.
In the absence of Mr. W. H. Potts from the Colony, the accounts have been audited by Mr. F. Maitland and Mr. W. H. Gaskell. Mr. Potts and Mr. Gaskell offer themselves for re-election.
JOHN D. HUMPHREYS AND Son,
General Managers.
LIABILITIES.
Cr.
L
[December 17, 1904.
By amount brought forward from last year By transfer fees
By traffic receipts for the year to date. By interest.......
4,243.58
2.00
91,740.81
1,059.07
$97,084.96
GREEN ISLAND CEMENT COM- PANY, LIMITED.
An extraordinary general meeting of share- holders of this Company was held at the Company's offices St. George's Building, on the 14th instant) There were present Hon. R. Shewan (chairman), Sir C. P. Chater and Hon. W. J. Gresson (consulting committee), and Messrs N. H. Rutherford (Secretary), A. Babington, J. Orange, G. Murray Bain, E. A. Hewett, C. A. Tombs, and Fung Wa Chun.
RESOLUTION CONFIRMED.
The Secretary read the resolution with regard to increasing the capital of the Company etc., passed at the extraordinary general meet- ing held on the 26th November last, a report of which appeared in a previous issue.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the resolution be now confirmed as a special resolution.
Mr. E. A. HEWETT seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.
THE NIPPON YUSEN KAISHA.
We published on Dec. 12th an excellent article on this report, from the Japan Mail. The report to the shareholders, as follows, has just reached us:-
The directors submit the annered statement of the liabilities and assets of the company, and profit and loss account for the half-year, elded September 30th, 1904.
The gross profits of the company for the past half-year amount to yen 2,981,144.778, out of which there has been paid Depreciation of the company's fleet Yen
and property... Insurance fund Ships' structural repair fund..... 450,640.810
751,037,950 348,661,390
Yen 1,550,340.150
leaving a balance of yen 2,437,162.209, including yen 1,008,357.581 brought forward from the
last account.
The directors now propose that yon 71,540.230 be added to the reserve fund, raising it to yen 2,059.055.886; and that yen 71,358.110 be allowed as directors' and auditors' fees. From the $ 0.
remainder the directors recommend a dividend
125,000.00
at the rate of ten per cent., together with two 30,000.00 per cent, as special dividend, thus making twelve 840.00 per cent. per annum, which will absorb yen 9,045.68 1,820,000.000. 29,000.00
The accounts are as follows :-
BALANCE-SHEET. For the year ending 30th November, 1904.
Capital account: 1,250 shares of $100 each,
fully paid up........ Reserve fund.. Unclaimed dividends Local and general liabilities. Mortgage R. B. L. No. 80.... Profit and loss: Brought forward $4,283 58. Profit and loss: For current year 46,239,91
ASSETS.
60,523.49
$243,909.17
C.
Permanent way, concession and deed of
grant as per last account Stations, Crown leaseholds and buildings
(Inland Lots 1317, 1333, 1334, 1335, 1353, and B. B. lots 80 and 86).
Rolling stock
Furniture account Coals and stores in hand Accounts receivable
Cash in Hongkong and Shanghai
Bank Cash and compradores' orders
in hand
$47,102.06
2,251,54
125,000.00
43,371.43
The balance, yen 974,263.869, will be carried forward to the next account.
COLLISION IN THE HARBOUR.
GERMAN MAN-O-WAR SINKS YAUMATI FERRY BOAT.
A collision with serious consequences oconrred in the Harbour on the 14th instant, when the
German gun-boat Luchs, bound to Shanghai, 24,378.56 rammed the Hongkong-Yaumati ferry launch 125.0 Cheong Ching, owned by Mr. Lo Cheuk. 1,063.99 Shortly afterwards the Cheong Ching sank alongside her wharf at Hongkong. No lives were lost.
616.65
49,359.54
$243,909.17
The incident happened at about 10.20 s.m., the Cheong Ching at the time being bound from Yaumati to Hongkong. She was on the southern side of the central fairway' nearing her destination. The German gun, boat rammed her
on her port the boiler. Ás the launch speed ahead towards the shore 3,833.53 the Germans did not lower
any boats. 3,245.80 11,678.86
Dr.
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT.
To salaries and wages
4 22,815.91 full
C.
near
To maintenance and repairs To charges.
To coals and stores.
To rates, Crown rent and fire insurance
To godown and station rent
Less sundry rents received
To office rent and clerks' salaries To balance...
$2,076.64 830.00
910.73
-side-
went
Water gained rapidly on the little craft, and she sank alongside her wharf about three The pas minutes after her arrival there. sengers, 45 in number, all managed to soramble 1,246.64 on shore before the launch went down. 3,000.00
The Cheong Ching is a 35-ton launch. 50,523.49
$97,084.96
During day-time a red flag will be displayed over the place where she is submerged, and a red light at night.