August 11, 1906.]
VICEBOY TOOK NO NOTICE.
Yesterday being the anniversary of the death of the boycott martyr Fung Ha-wai, the students of the various Canton colleges made a grand demonstration. They paraded through the principal streets with their trumpet and drum bands and each student carried a
wreath of flowers. They embarked in sampans
near the Shameen and went over to Ho-nam. It would be perhaps well if the Viceroy prohibited such demonstrations in the future as they are always anti-foreign in character and may cause trouble.
RAILWAY CAPITAL.
A Railway Bank has at last been established and the following directors have been appointed Lo Po-shan, Hui Wan-to and Wong Pik-shan. The $4,000,000 collected will be deposited there and the 72 guilds will appoint auditors to audit
the account from time to time.
TO ENCOURAGE MARKSMEN.
The Viceroy has offered numerous prizes for target shooting, as well as a threat that all marksmen failing to score at least one “bull's eye" will be dismissed from the army. It takes five bulls out of five shots to win a $12 robe. I am afraid if the competitions are held often there will not be many men left to win jackets and robes.
August 6th.
Fung Ha-was, the "Boycott Hero", is still continuing to occupy the minds of the Canton students. Yesterday a ceremony was held at the Hoi-Tong Monastery in his memory and a large crowd assembl d there. One of the students created quite a sensation by marching up to the altar where the hero's portrait was exhibited, cutting his queue off and hanging it in front of the portrait as an offering.
FIRE.
At about 3 p.m. yesterday a fire broke out on the Shakee in one of the shops bordering the Shameen Canal
The fames spread very rapidly owing to the inflammability of the materials contained in the shop and two houses were destroyed within twenty minutes.
SUBSIDIARY COINAGE.
The exchange question with regard to the subsidiary coinage minted here is becoming an intolerable nuisauce even here, where the money is legal tender. Such institutions as the Chinese Post Office, the Telephone and Telegraph exchanges, should accept them at par. But they don't, and the rate at which they are discounted now reaches seven per
cont.
PIRATES.
Three notorious pirates who have been terrorising the Shuo-Tak, Henngshan and Canton districts respectively have been arrested in Macao and extradited. Their days are numbered.
A BRIDGE WANTED.
The water police have made new regulation to control the ferry-boat traffic. The boat people are dissatisfied with the new arrange ment, however, and a strike is imminent.
August 8th.
THE "SAINAM PIRACY.
It is reported that one of the leaders of the attack on the Sainam was arrested on the 4th inst., in Loong-kong in the Shun-tak district, by the ex-captain Cheung Chiu-yuen.
CANTON HANKOW RAILWAY.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
HORRIBLE LAWLESSNESS.—A CRUEL EPITAPH. On the night of the 24th Jane a medicine shop named Po Yan Tong in Chung Chan Street in Long Kong of the Shun Tak District was looted by robbers. One of the fokis named Kwan Yni was taken away for ransom. On the same night in the same street the robbers attacked another shop named Sin Kee, dealing in bamboo rattan and wood wares, and carried away a foki of the shop named Tang Yun. The matter was reported to the authorities, but the robbers have not yet been arrested. On the 4th instant the robbers, seeing that no ransom was forthcoming, strangled Tang Yan to death and left his body in a place called Ti Tau Ki in the neighbourhood of Loong Kong. A thin piece of wood was put up near the body with the following inscription : “This is & foki of the Sin Kee shop in Chung Chan Street in Loong Kong. As nobody has come forward to offer money for his ransom this will act as a warning to future people. Any men seeing this body will make money and be lucky."
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The construction of the first section of the truck line of the Canten-Hankow Railway is expected to be commenced very soon. A few miles from Canton are the Si-chuen Shu Yuen- kong hills, and a trench three thousand feet long will have to be cat. The highest point is forty feet above the level of the track. It is estimated that 100,000 cubic yards of earth will have to be taken away. Tenders for the work were invited, and these ranged from $50,000 to $13,000 for the job. The contract has been given to Ng Kwok-oking, whose price is $15,000. I hear now that share capital is to be deposited with Hongkong banks.
VITAL STATISTICS OF HONGKONG
Following is extracted from the Governor's report for 1905, to the Secretary of State
The population of the Colony according to the census taken in 1897 was 248,880 and according to the census of 1901 it was 283,975 exclusive of New Kowloon and the Army and Nary Esta lishments. The estimated popula
tion at the middle of the year under review was 37,850, as follows:
EMPEROR'S BIRTHDAY. On 17th August a banquet will be given at the Manobu Hall in honour of the Emperor of China's birthday. All the Foreign Consuls and foreigners in the employment of the Chinese Government will be invited. It is reported that Messrs. Shewan, Tomes & Co, have offered to temporarily install two hundred electric lamps free of charge.
Non-Chinese Ciril Community Chinese Population
Hongkong
Population.
10.45
210,246.
Old Kowloon
73473
New Kowloon (approximate) Floating population
21,000
54,154
359,873
Army (average strength) Navy (average strength)
4,274 3,251
Total
7,525
$77,851
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New Kowloon was brought under the juris. diction of the Sanitary Board in 1904, and its estimated population bas accordingly been included. The population of the remainder of the New Territories, according to the census of 1901, was 85,011, making, when added to the present estimate, a grand total of 462,861.
At the census taken in 1901 the actual number of members of the Navy present in the Colony was 5,597, and the estimated average number resident in Hongkong during 1905 is put at 3,251
MISSIONS TO SEAMEN,
The Hon. Treasurer of the Missions to Seaman begs to acknowledge with thanks the following donations : —
His Excellency Sir Matthew Nathan,
K.C.M.G...
Sir G. H. U. Noel, K.C.B. Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co.... Messrs. Butterfield & Swire... The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank The Union Insurance Society of Canton The P. & O. Steam Navigation Co. Sir J. P. Chater, C.M:G. Messrs. Siemssen & Co.... Messrs. Dodwell & Co. Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg & Co.. The Hamburg Amerika Linie Messrs. Gilman & Co. Messrs. Alexander Ross & Co. Messrs. Lane, Crawford & Co. Messrs. D. Sassoon, Sons & Co. Messrs. Gibb, Livingston & Co. Messrs. Bradley & Co. D. R., Law, Esq. Messrs. Meyer & Co.
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UNITED ASBESTOS ORIENTAL AGENCY.
97
The tenth annual meeting of shareholders in the United Asbestos Oriental Agency, Ltd., sided, and there were also present-Mesers A. was held on Aug. 9. Mr. Q. H. Medhurst pre- Denison, T. Skinner, 4. Ritchie, E. G. Barett, and G. R. Edwards, secretary.
The SECRETARY having read the notice con- vening the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen,—With your permission I propose taking the report and accounts as read. The profit we have been able to show this year, although slightly less than that of the previous twelve months, we consider satisfactory in view of the keen competition and general depression in trade. I do not think the fits on the sales are some $17,500 more than last sccounts call for mach explanation. The pro- year, but the expenses hire increase by approximately this amount, The increased expenditure is partially due to the initial cost of opening in Singapore, but we consider the money well spent, as we have good hopes of this branch proving a valuable sourc⚫ of income to the Company in the future. Your general managers have not considered it necessary to write down the value of the launches, as they already stand in the books at a very low figure, They have, however, written off 8652:16 for depreciation of furniture and fittings. stock as usual has been very carefully taken and
¡$150,00 100.00 100.00 100. 100.00 100.00 30 ho
50.0) 50,
50,00 50,00 5900
The
checked and due allowance made for deprecia- tion. Before proposing the adoption of r port and accounts I shall be pleased to answer any questions to the best of my ability.
There being no questions,
The CHAIRMAN proposed the adoption of the report.
Mr. DENISON seconded. He added-While we are here I might suggest that the general managers might take into consideration the advisability of in some way doing away with the founder's shares. It is better in a company like this to have only one kind of shares.
The CHAIRMAN —That matter will have the consideration of the general managers. →
The report was adopted.
On the motion of Mr. RITCHIE, seconded by Mr. SKINNER, Mr. W. H. Potts was re-elected auditor.
The CHAIRMAN—That concludes the business, gentlemen. Thank you for your attendance.
HONGKONG & WHAMPOA DOCK
CO.,
LTD.
The report of the direc'ors of the Hongkong & Whampoa Dook Company, Limited, to the ordinary half-yearly meeting of shareholders, to be held on Monday, 20th August, at noon, reads-Gentlemn,-The directors have now to submit to you their report, with a statement of accounts for the half-year ended 30th June,
1906.
The net profit for six months, after paying interest due and all charges, amounts to
...X173,956.44
to which has to be added th· balance brought forward from last Account
362,232.10
$765,488,54
+
++
$10,000.00 750,00
10,750,00
and from this have to be de lusted-
Directors' Fees Auditors' Feas
2500 leaving availa le for appropriation .. $754,738.54 25.0 25.00
The Directors recommend that a dividend for 2500
the half-year of 12%, or $303,000.00, bs paid to 2500 the shareholders, that 831,578.71 b. written 2500 from the value of Kow.oon Docks. $1,712.45 2500 from the Cosmopolitan Dei, 824,360,00 from 200
the floating plant, and the balance, 8.312,087.38, be carried to the new account.
ANOTHER CHINESE CUSTOMSÓKISIS
A Tientsin telegram to the Daily Press, dated August 7th, said
A fresh crisis has occurred in the Imperial Maritime Customs.
Sir Robert Hart passed plans for Customs buildings at Amoy, and the Commissioners | rejected them.
+
During the pist six months a steamer for the Yangtze River, 9 wooden lighters-an.l 4 large steam-launches have ben compt.ted and delivered. The electric drive at the saw mill is not yet completed, owing to the delay in delivering the large twin cable. It has now arrived and is in place; we expect to make a start with this plant about the middle of August.
7T