January 8, 1906.]
either boarding houses, hotels, schools or military barracks; still I find that they are crowded with men, sometimes dressed in Chinese and another time in semi-European style. I would draw the attention of the Government to the sanitary conditions of these houses, for it. is a well known fact that wherever a large num- of Chinese congregate, cleanliness is not re- garded. It is best that these places should be looked after now when plague and other diseases are not rife, lest they prove to be hot-beds of plague when the spring comesround.
MONEY ORDERŠ,
From yesterday the Post Office here began to issue money orders on Hongkong; and vice. veren. The largest sum that can be remitted at one time is $400, and the commission is one *per cent.
THE WEATHER.
The weather is now beautifully fine, cold and dry, and there are many shooting parties round about the neighbouring villages.
MR. OLIVER BAINBRIDGE IN
HONGKONG.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
COMPANIES.
11
Mr. Philip Arnhold resigned his directorship on the 3rd October, owing to his proceeding on a prolonged visit to the Far East, and the Board have appointed Mr. Harry Edward
UNION INSURANCE SOCIETY OF Arnhold to fill the vacancy.
CANTON,LIMITED.
An extraordinary general meeting of this society was held at its registered office, No. 1 Queen's Buildings, on the 4th January, when the resolution previously published, which was passed at the extraordinary general meeting of the Company held on 20th December, 1905, was submitted for confirmation as a special resolution. The shareholders present were:-Messrs. H. W. Slade (chairman), A. G. Wood, N. A. Siebs, G. H. Medhurst and A. Forbes (direotors), W. J. Saunders (secretary), F. P. Hett, A. B. Rouse, C. M. G. Burnie, H. M H. Nemazee- H. J. M. Carvalho, A. V, Apcar, J. A. Carvalho and F. D. Goddard.
i
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the confirms, tion of the resolution, said :-
Gentlemen, the object of this meeting is to submit for confirmation as a special resolution the resolution which you have just heard read, and which was passed at the Extraordinary General Meeting held here on 20th December, 1905, I propose that this resolution be con- firmed.
Mr. F. P. HETT seconded the proposition, which was carried unanimously.
confirmed. I thank you for your attendance, The CHAIRMAN-The resolution is duly
deal with the shares of the China Traders' gentlemen. The society is now in a position to Insurance Company in accordance with the terms of the society's offer.
THE "SHELL" TRANSPORT AND TRADING COMPANY, LIMITED.
Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg & Co., the general agents for Hongkong and China, kindly supply as with the full profit, and statement of accounts to 31st December, 1904.
It says:-The Asiatic Petroleum Co.'s accounts for the same period have just been received. The differences be-
tween the actual results and the estimated ones for 1903 are now adjusted in the company's books. Including the amount brought forward from 1903, there stands to the credit of profit and loss £524,075 78, 1d.
After deduction of Management Expenses (including Office Rent, Salaries and Expenses), and Directors' and Auditors' Fees, £22,150, Income Tax, £8,064 08. 11.; the sum of £103,021 198. 11d. as a provision for Depreciation on Steamers, installations, &c., writing £10,000 from the Cost and Expenses of Preference Share Issue, and writing £3,713 3s. 5d. from American expenses, the balance of profit and loss to be carried forward to the balance sheet is £257,815 178.
Tracing the lost tribes of Israel has been a favourite study of many for a long time, bat while not actually engaged in that work, Mr. Oliver Bainbridge, who has attained a reputa- tion as an author and traveller, has thrown a flood of light on that interesting subject not only by his discovery of Jews in Papua, but by the investigations he has made in the interior of China relative to the Chinese Jews and also with regard to traits of Hebraic presence in Japan. To a Daily Press. representative yesterday, the explorer was at home and outlined his discoveries. At Kai- fenfu, the ancient capital of the Middle King- dom-where it is interesting to
note the Dowager Empress spent the two months during the occupation of Peking by the foreign Powers he found about eight families who admitted they were Jews and several others who belonged to the same race but who for various reasons did not proclaim their origin, The latter merged with the surrounding sects, Mahommedan or Confucian, but though the others, were queues and adopted Chinese custom they worshipped in secret the God of Israel. The photographs of these people were particularly interesting.. especially as several faces showed distinct, Jewish characteristics, but equally interest- ing was the rubbings which the explorer showed of several wonderful stones. The inscription on one of these told the history of the coming of the Jews. The first contingent reached the country 700 B.C., and a long interval elapsed before the next Jewish immigration, In 900 A.D. a missionary named Li, abcompanied by 70 families arrived, and presented the Emperor with a lot of Western clothing. Then they became subject to Chinese control. In 1368 the Cenabites, as they were called, were given a piece of land on which to build their synagogue in recogni tion of their teaching the people to do good, but this building was overwhelmed afterwards by the rising of the Yellow River, Another interest ing feature is that Mr. Bainbridge bas been made the medium of carrying a petition from the Chinese Jewish community to Dr. Adler, the Chi-f Rabbi, for assistance to rebuild their synagogue, In Japan be found many things which could only be explained by some Jewish origin, such as the representation in a palace at Kiote of Solomon receiving the Queen of Sheba, and Solomon returning- gifts; the fact that the Mikado traces his descent from a dragon which is called Osse or Oshi, a name which is given in the old version of the Bible to the last king of Israel. Numerous other traits common to the Jews were also
but most remarkable of all is
After providing for the preference dividend and for the dividend on the ordinary shares of 5 per cent. per annum paid on the 1st January of this year (which together absorbed £150,000), there remains to be carried forward the sum of £107,815 178.
The Chairman and Directors regret the cost of establishing their foothold on the European markets owing to the ruthless competition they have had to meet, but have thereby secured a position which should have substantial results in the future.
The retiring direofors, Mr. S. Samuel, Mr. W. F. Mitchell nud Mr. R. J. Black (all of whom being eligiole) offer themselves for re- election. The appointment of Mr. H. E. Arnhold also requires confirmation.
The accounts of the Nederlandsch-Indische Industrie en Handel Maatschappij are now in order, and the Balance-Sheet as rendered to the shareholders is certified by Messrs. Turquand, Youngs & Co.
The Auditors, Messrs. Turquand, Youngs & Co., retire under Art. 100 of the articles of association, and are eligible for re-election. PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER, 1904, Dr.
The production of the Borneo Fields con- tinues most satisfactory.
hipments to date this year, as compared with the similar periods of 1904 and 1903, are approximately as follows:-
Kerosene Liquid Fuel
cover assertion that he can trace an Benzine, Crude Oil
Irish element among the Japanese. He has collected a vast amount of information which will be embodied in two books-ona on the black Jews and the other on the yellow Jews. Leaving here on Wednesday, the well-known xplorer will proceed to India in order to study the Jews there.
1905. 1904. 1903. 106,501 59,243 12,583 *125,811 118,72), 91,831
34,599
16,629
To management (covering office rent, salaries and expenses), directors' and auditors' fees... £22,150 0 0 To balance of income tax (years
1903 and 1904) .
*
8,064 0 11
To provision for depreciation.of steamers, with £20,000 in respect of installations, &o., and £950 15s. 6d. of special extensions... 103,021 19 11. To amount written off, costs and expenses of the issue of prefer. ence shares
To amount written off, American
expenses
To costs of working European oil business, including provision for results of the trading to 30th April, 19 5
To London Oil Development Co..
10,000 0 0
3,713 3 5
112,685 5 10
(cost of investment written off) 6,625 0 0 To balance carried to balance sheet 257,815 17 0
|
Cr.
£524,075 7 1
By balance from year 1903 (£158,852 188. 9d., less dividend paid 1st Jan,, 1904, £100,000) £ 58,852 18 9 By net profits for the year 1904, including chartered and other freights, rents of installations, interest and dividends receiv- able from the Nederlandsch- Indische Company, the P. P. A. G., and the Asiatic Petro- leum Company, also further profits from the last named on account of the year 1903 pre- viously estimated
465,222 8 4
£524,075 7 1
BALANCE SHEET AT 31ST DECEMBER, 1904.
LIABILITIES.
To Capital Authorised and Paid up- 100,000 Prefe-
rence Shares
of £10 each...1,000,000 0 0 2,000,000 Ordi-
nary Shares
ず
of £1 each .2,000,000
To Creditors :- Bills payable On Current Ac-
counts
Unmatured Lia- bilities and Charges upon Steamers and Installations,
&o.
To drafts our- rent against shipments To Dividend ac- crued to date on Preference Shares (pay. able 1st April, 1905).
34,656 10 10
183,906 3 4
-3,000,0000 0 0.
607,583 14 10
817
То Insurance
fund
To reserve fund: Amount
85:
and Sundries The weekly production of kerosene for the last 5 weeks has averaged 3,989 tons per week.
The Chairman and directors record with deep regret the deaths, in November, of their valued colleagues Mr. Isaac Henderson and Mr. A. Runge.
shown in balance sheet st31st Decem- ber 1903
826,146
27,241 11 10
12,500
4,144 14 5
400,000 00