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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[March 24, 1906,
Hongkong. Her after hold was smashed | merchants having taken over the control THE HONGKONG WATER SUPPLI! | io, and is full of water. The extent of the | and the construction of the railway, hare
damage is not yet ascertainable.-Daily Press decided to raise a capital of $23,000,000
← The urgent need for additional water storage is plainly apparent just now. The Water Return issued by the Water Authority showed that on the 1st inst. the total quantity of water in the reservoirs was 114,770,000 gallons, which was roughly 50,000 000 gallons less than on the corresponding date last year. The consumption for the month of February was given as 92,631,100 gallons. If the same rate of consumption was maintained during the first half of the present month, it means that the total supply had been further reduced by 46,000,0 0 gallons, before the Water Authority decided to put the city generally including the higher levels, on an intermittent supply. Whenever this happens there is always a great ontory against the Water Authority, for despite the warnings always given by advertisement in the newspapers of the i. teation to put the city on a short supply on a given dafe, there are always plenty of "unwise virgins" who find themselves without water when it is too late to procure any more from the tap. But during the last few days there has been much complaint becsuss in many parts of the city the water has ceased to flow an hour before the advertised time,
In the neighbourhood of Wellington Street where according to the advertisement one hour's supply is allowed daily, not a drop of water has come through the pipes since the 15th inat., and people have been compelled to procure what water they can elsewhere, and pay dearly for it.
In Glenealy every morning troops of coolies are to be seen proceeding to the top of the nullah in Conduit Road with buckets and kerosine tins to procure water. It is certain that the public analyst could not say of this as he does of the water from the reservoirs that it is "of excellent quality."
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That the Water Authority has not enforced economy before there was need to do so will be apparent to anyone who has seen the reservoirs lately. Seeing these, one wonders where we get even our present allowance for an estimated population of 232,000 people on the island. Pokfulam reservoir is very low, the reservoir above Wongneichong is absolutely dry; the byewash at Tytam is ia pretty much the same condition, and the Tytam reservoir itself is quite 50 feet, we should think, below the
overflow mark,
The following particulars of the rainfall a ill afford an explanation of the present shortage of water:-
September October
1904 9.770 inches 2.005
1905 3.195 inches
1.830 0.280 2.370
November
0 215
December
0.230
•
1905
1906
January
1.800
11
February 1.100
March
1.985 2.250
11
11:485
THE FOG.
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The dense fog which has prevailed outside the harbour during the last few days has delayed the arrival of many vessels from the North.
་་
on
arrive
The American Mail steamer China which left Manila at noon on Friday and was expected to reach here on Sunday had not arrived when this was written last evening. The Loong sang which was also due here from Manila
Monday
not morning did until nearly five o'clock yesterday afternoon. but the Zafiro found her way into port yester day. The French mail steamer Oceanien, from Shanghai, was sighted at Waglan on Monday evening, but did not enter the harbour until half past three o'clock yesterday, while the mail from the South was also late in arriving. The number of vessels waiting outside, already large; in constantly increasing, and old inariners declare that not for long has there been experienced such a calm in that vicinity as prevails at present Daily Press, March 21st,
* Vessels which arrived in port on March 21st report delay owing to the dense fog which prevails outside. The 8.8 Daini Kotohira Mart collided with the 8.5. Brand early on Tuesday morning near the Pedro Banoo rook, which is some
March 22nd.
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Following our brief report on Wednesday' of the collision which occurred between the Japanese steamer "Daini Kotohira Maru and the Norwegian 6.6. Brand," we have since been supplied with further particulars
It appears that the collision occurred about five o'clock on Tuesday morning off Pedro Blanco, an island some 60 miles from Hongkong. Both vessels were bound for this port, the “ Kotohirs Mara" from Karatan and the "Brand" from Shanghai. A thick fog prevailed when the vessels collided. The Japanese steamer was struck on the starboard side of No. 5 hold, which soon filled with water, while the bow of the "Brand" is said to be considerably damaged In a cabin above the No. 5 hold of the "Kotobira Maru" three men were asleep when the vessels atrack. As a result of the collision one was killed and the other two injured. Apparently the two vessels were only a little distance apart exchanging signals in the fog, and the Japanese ship desiring to get near the shore changed her course with the result that the collision occurred. The "Kotobira Maru ' arrived safely in the harbour at about two o'clock yesterday afternoon, but had to be beached at Wanchai. Discharging will probably be commecoed this morning, and when com. pleted the vessel will be docked for repairs.— Daily Press March 23rd.
The fog has now lifted,
CANTON.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
March 17th. ANTI-FOREIGN NONSENSE FORBIDDEN.
Viceroy Shum received the following Imperial Edict by cable from the Central Gov- ernment, Peking: —
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f"
"This Imperial Edict comman is all Tartar- Generals, Viceroys and Governors of every Province to strictly prohibit the people from speading anti-foreign gossip likely to dessiv e the people; to give protection to foreign persons and their property, and also all the Churches and Missionary buildings." Viceroy Shum has issued a proclamation to the people embodying the Imperial order.
PROPOSED STEAMER LINE TO KINGCHOW.
Last year Viceroy Shum ordered Tsotai Heang Min-wing to raise the necessary capital to form a steamship company to run a line of steamers between Canton and Kingchow, the company to be run on similar lines to the China | Merchants' S. N. Co. Heung Man-wing sent delegates to Hongkong and Kingchow, he him. self working here. They have now been at work for the last three months but have achieved nothing. Heung Man-wing has now laid the matter before the Sin Han-kuk and has requested them to devise means to assist him in raising the necessary capital. It is said in reliable quarters that the seheme will fall to the ground, as the gentry and merchants are not prepared to offer their support in the matter.
March 19th.
THE VICEROY'S REVENGE, It is reported that Wong Ping-yau (Taotsi) has been compelled by Viceroy Shum to resign from the following positions: chief director of the likin board, president of the Sin Han- Kak, director of the General Chamber of Com merce, and director of the Ynet Han Railway. It is said that the Viceroy blames him for having failed to settle the railway trouble, as HE. knew Wong's popularity among the gentry and merchants. The fruth of the matter is that the Tantai wrote a letter to Chau Chi-tung expressing freely his opinion regard. ing the Viceroy's policy. Viceroy Shum has received a copy of the letter through one of his spies and is now taking revenge. Wong Tao tai is an Imperial man and will soon be given another important position should he elect to leave the Province.
The following telegram was sent to the Board of Commerce in Peking yesterday by the Can- ton-Hankow Railway Company-
"To the Board of Commerce, Princes, Minis- ters and assistant ministers. You are respect- miles distant from 'fully requested to see this telegram. The
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shares of five dollara enoh. The amount has already been promised. We have been colleets ing the first instalment of twenty per cent, from the 1st day of the 2nd moon, and up to the 20th day of this moon we have already collected $1,300,000 and these monies have been deposited with different local Chinese b nks. Besides the local subscription we have received appli- cations from Cantonese abroad to the extent of over 86,000,000. As soon as the oficisi decess
is issued that the railway is to be contro led and constructed by the merchants only, then they will forward the first instalment im- mediately to Canton But although many people are paying their first instalment yet there are some who are not yet confident that the railway will be controlled and constructed by the merchants. We beg you to cónárm your promise and afford us protection We now request you first to memorialise the Throne to that effct and to have it on record and also to memoria'z› for the removal of the new taxation.
March 20th.
DISTINGUISHED GERMAN VISITORS. IZÁ On the 17th inst. the German · Admiral, accompanied by his staff and Consul_and:: Vice- Consul, called on Viceroy Shum. They were entertained to tiffa by His Excellency.
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OFFICIALS ABANDON POSITION, OG KEN A few days ago Viceroy Shum invited the leading officials to his Yamen to discuss railway matters. It was decided to abandon the railway offices occupied by the officials and to hand over the honour to the mertbants if they under- take to repay the loan contracted with the British Government.
RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
On the 16th inst. the train running from Faishan to Samsbu¡ ran over a middle-aged peasant. The driver saw him at a bend and blow his whistle to warn him. It appears that the man was deaf and did not hear the signal. Ha was turning his back towards the coming train and was killed outright.
FOG CLUBES WRECK.
Owing to the foggy weather the Pil-On- steamer running between Macso and Kwong Hoi has stuck on a rook in the neighbourhood of Ti Pai chik. While she was sinking several Chinese gunboats came near You Chi Fan. The commander of these gunboats, responding to the signal for assistancs, brought to the wreck to rescue, the his vessels passengers. He also engaged several fishing boats to give help. About 150 men were picked up from the wreck besides a large quantity of oargo and clothing worth about $18,0 10.
SUBSCRIBBES IN ANNAM.
The Cantonese leading merchants in Aonam have sent a telegram to the local Chamber of Commerce stating that they have taken úp about 150,000 r ilway shares.
CHINA SUGAR REFINING CO., LTD.
The twenty-eighth annual general mesting of shareholders in this Company was held at the offices of the Company, King's Buildings, on March 21st. Hon. Mr. C. W. Dickson presided, and there were also present-8'r Paul Chater and Mr. A. G. Wood (consulting dom mittes), Mr. G. T. Veitch (secretary), "M site: J. R. Michael, T. Arnold. A. Rodger. G Stokes, B. Layton, T. 8. Forrest, E. W. Rutter, Broke Smith. A. Denison, W. H. Gaskell, J. Dickie, J. H. Underwood, J. Y. T. Vernon, A. Rumjahu, Ho Fook, Ho Kom-tong, Lo Cheang. shiu, Fok Kam-yin, Ho Wing, Chau Hing:ki, Wong Leung-him and others.
The CHAIRMAN
The notice convening the meeting haring been read,
said : - Gentlemen, I propose if you have no objection take the report and accounts as The result of working disclosed these accounts is to be attributed to our havin large stocks of cheap raw sugar to during the greater part of the year, been attained in face of a steady declír market, which in December had reached exceeding the most pessimistic January, 1905, the price of best than double what was current à the rise being due to extensive
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