r
830
November 7th.
BOARCITY OF RECEIPT STAMPS.
The people of Macao are without any receipt stamps of the value of two cents for the past three months, and they have perforce to use the receipt stamps of higher value, viz: four cents. Now even these are exhausted and stɩmps of six cents have to be used. Why not surobarge a few stamps for the public use ?
PROPOS - D NEW TAXES.
At the last mesting of the Leal Senado, Senhor Joao Mariano Gracias proposed to increase and to impose some taxes. The new taxes proposed were for private chairs and ricshas, bicycles and dogs. The proposal was seconded by the chairman, but strongly and ably opposed by Senhor Nolasco,
NEW DIRECTOR P. W. D.
Senhor Miranda Guedes, our new director of Public Works, arrived by the last English Mail. It is to be hoped that Senhor Guedes will do something to Macao.
GUNBOAT RIO LIMA.
Our only gunboat and guardship, the old "Bio Lima," left for your port at 1 p.m. to-day to represent the Macao government on the anniversary of the birthday of His Majesty King Edward VII.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Mr. Saunders... Mr. Moir
11
10 19 21
29
26
31
Total
339
COMPANIES.
HONGKONG STEAM WATER-BOAT CO., LD.
The sixth annual general meeting of share. bolders in this Company was held at the Com. pany's office, Hotel Mansions, on November 3rd. There were present Messrs. G. C. Moxon (chairman), D. Clrk (Consalting committee), J. W. Kew (manage-) F. 11. Fox, T. Wright, E. W. Terry J. N. Murray and Dr. F. H Kew. The MANAGER read the notice convening the meeting, after which
The CHAIRMAN said: Gentlemen, the re- port and accounts for the year ending August 31 having been in your hands for some days 1 will, with your permission, adopt the usual custom and take them as read. The accounts show a considerable diminution in profits for which the following canses are chiefly responsible: Firstly: Severe competition in the water business and consequent low prices. Secondly: General depression- depression NEW RIFLE RANGE AT THE PEAK. that has been common to this Colony in nearly
OPENED BY THE GOVERNOR.
of
On November 3rd the new rifle range at the Peak was formally opened by H.E. the Governor in presence of a large attendance, which included several ladies. The new range is well situated, the firing point being from Harlock Road towards High West. A greater distance might have been desirable, but it was deemed inexpedient to fire over the roadway, and the range has been limited to 500 yards. The target machinery is the latest Bisley pattern, and in other respects the range is well equipped. Sir Henry Berkeley, the President of the Volunteer Reserve Assosiation, introduced His Excellency whom he thanked on behalf of the Association for the range, and the facilities it afforded to members resident in the Peak district. His Excellency, after making some complimentary remarks about Sir Henry Berkeley, expressed the hope that the range would be useful to the Association and improve the shooting of the members.
The Governor then formally opened the range by firing the first shot from the 200 yards in the military (kneeling) position. He scored a ball's eye, the signal from the butts being "greeted with applause. Thereafter a triangular match between teams-consisting of eight men each-representative of the Peak, Hongkong and Kowloon took place, resulting in a win for the Hongkong men. The scoring was not very hizh, due perhaps to the fact that the marksmen were unaccustomed to the local conditions. The figures are appeaded.
Mr. Pidgeon
Mr. Jenkins
HONGKONG.
200 500 yards. yards, Total, 33 32 65 58
31
26 32
Mr. Watt
26
h
Mr. Peter
24
4
Dr. Evan Jones
22
Mr. Phillpots.....
24
Mr. Bond
Mr. Stubbings
Mr. Woodhouse
KOWLOON.
1
24
24 23 13 31
56
Total
415
28
31
"1
59
Mr. Gow...
30 28
"1
Mr. Mackenzie
30 28
58
Mr. Stackwood
28
29
Mr. Ritchie
26
48
Mr. Bird...
19
25
Mr. Dobbs
20
21
"
Mr. Lyons
20 21
12
M
Total ...
41
407
PEAK.
27 25
11
25
26
52 51
22
28
50
**
48
5
20 =
27 14
Mr. Wakeman
Mr. A. Mackenzie...
Mr. Davis
Mr. L. Bird
Mr. Denison
Sir F. Piggott
29335
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|
|
|
[November 12, 1906. 1908.
bút 801p,
luxury perhaps by way of paint and I don't think it will particularly help the boats, aid it will mean the paying out of a little more money. At present we have a strenuous opposition to compete against.
Mr. TERRY-The boats certainly do look dilapidated, and I believe if they were made more presentable it would help us to earn a little more.
Mr. WIGHT—That is also my opinion. Mr. KEW-It is only the upper structure that looks dilapidated. The other parts are in very good order.
The CHAIRMAN-I might say the remarks will be taken note of, and as soon as we can possibly do it we'll have the boats made prettier. We'll give the matter every attention, and if we can smarten the boats up we'll do it.
Mr. KEW-The typhoon is the cause of their present appearance.
Mr. WRIGHT-This point occurred to me before the typhoon.
The CHAIRMAN -We'll note your remarks and have the boats male to look cleaner.
Mr. TERRу-There was a sailing boat lost in the typhoon. What was she doing; carrying water by sail ?
The CHAIRMAN-It was a water lighter on which a hand pump is used. We have two of them, and they mostly supply launches.
No further questions were asked and the CHAIRMAN proposed that the report and accounts as presented be passed.
Mr. CLAR seconded, and the motion was carried.
Mr. WEIGHT moved that Messrs. G. C. Moxon, D. Clark, Francisco Teze Yat and Chau Sia-ki be re-elected to the Consulting Committee.
Mr. TERRY secorded the motion, which was agreed to.
Dr. Kew proposed the re-election of Mr W. Hatton Potts as auditor.
Mr CLARK seconded the motion, which was carried.
The CHAIRMAN-Thank you for your st- tendance, gentlemen. I'm sorry there is no dividend.
SHANGHAI DOCK AND ENGINEER- ING CO., LIMITED.
Ang
EXTRAORDINARY, GENERAL ЯEETING. An extraordinary general meeting of this company was held on Nov. 1st for the purpose of considering a proposal which had heen made by thirty-eight shareholders for the formation of a Wharf and Godown Company to acquire the Old Dock property and part of the property between the Cosmopolitan and International Docks,
Mr. E. Jenner Hogg proposed that the Directors be authorized to dispose of the property to a new company to be styled
all trades and businesses during the period under review. Thirdly: The high price of coal which existed until quite recently and an increase in the prime cost of our water, Finally: Disaster in the form of the terrible typhoou which visited the Colony on Septem- ber 18, which caused as considerable loss I regret to say. Earlier in the year a serious accident was incurred by one of our steam water boats when alongside a steamer in the harbour. One of our sailing craft was sunk in the typhoon referred to and I fear must be considered a total loss-although we have not entirely abandoned hope of effecting a salvage. Our aggregate loss from these last causes amounts to some $7 000. We have had a remarkably unfortunate year and in consequence are unable to declare any dividend, but. I hope that bad times will not always be our portion, that we may shortly return to prosperity and that next year may enable us to lay before you a better report. As you will see from the accounts we have made a net profit of $5,976 and I trust that the manner in which this sum has been dealt with may meet with your approval. Your fleet is now written down to a figure that may be considered a safe estimate of its present value and with the support we continue to receive from our many constituents I can see no reason to be pessimistic as to the future. It must be borne in mind that this water trade is of a somewhat specula- tive character in so much that current prices have never afforded a sufficient margin to allow of the insurance of our craft and, as the past year has amply testified, this is at times likely to engender smart loss. The volume of our business has not been very materially decreased by the appearance of an opposition company and I repeat that, given normal luck, there is no reason to suppose that this company Mr. F. E. Taylor-The promoters of the may not return to a much more satisfactory scheme to be submitted to you to-day have position that is evidenced by the figures before been informed that the wording of the resolu you. During this time of strenuous competition, as read to you, does not sufficiently tion every effort is being made to keep down safeguard the interests of the shareholders in expenses of running the Consulting Com the Dock Company; and as it has been taken mittee have foregone their fees and I think in hand for your benefit, they have had it amend- it extremely improbable that any similared by a lawyer, and have deputed me to move it, company can work as cheaply as we do or oblaia better prices for the water they supply, and this emboldens me to hold the optimistio view I do of our future. If any shareholder has any questions to ask I shall be
very pleased to answer them to the best of my ability, Mr. WRIGHT There were one or two questions I had intended to ask, but they are already answered for the most part by your address this morning. There is one question, however, I might ask: the report says our boats are in good condition. Do the directors con. sider they are as good as they might be with the addition of a little paint and soap? They don't at all compare" favourably in appearance with other boats.
ty
The CHAIRMAN-When we say good con. dition, we mean good serviceable condition for working. We might go in for a little more
"The
for the consideration that each share- holder in the Shanghai Dock and Engineering Company, Ld., receive one fully paid-up share of the value of Tls. 25 in such new company for each share beld by him in the Shanghai Dock and Engineering Company, Ld. ̧
The resolution was seconded.
as redrafted, in the form of an amendment to the original resolution. I therefore, beg leave to propose the following amendment:
That resolution No. 1 shall read: "That the Directors be and they are hereby authorized to dispose of the property known as the Old Dock situated in Hongkow and of part of the property situated between the Cosmopolitan and Inter- national Docks as lately advertised in the publio Press to a limited company to be incorporated under the Hongkong Ordinances with a capital of Tls. 1,780,00) in shares of Tls. 25 each and having for its principal object the construction of wharves and of godowns on the property to be sold, and the carrying on of the business of wharfingers, and that the consideration for,such sale shall be the sum of Tis. 1,380,000 to be satisfied by the allotment issue to this Company or their nominees of 55,200 fully paid-up shares
i