September 7, 1907.];
A DIVER'S DEATH.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
manner? The is on the candle makers cannot realise more then from $50 to $70 a year, and for the sake of getting this small snm the Fazenda is ready to stir the smouldering ashes
the recent agitation.
A THREATENED L088 OF INCOME.
are only a few candle makers in the Colony. The Junts refused to approve the tax, and the At the Magistracy on September 2nd before matter has been referred by the Fazenda to the Mr. F. A. Hazeland and a jury composed of Conselho da Provincia. What confidence can Messrs. II. 8. Wynne, J. T. d'Almada a Castro the Chinese place in the Government, if within and W. R. Clarke, an inquiry was held into the
a month of declaring that no new taxes were to circumstances attending the death of Lambe levied, they go back on their word in this Shek-kong, who was killed at. Enugbom Bay on the 28th instant, while down in a diver's dress.
Dr. Heanley, medical officer in charge of the mortuary, found, after examination, that the cause of the diver's death was asphyxia. Thereof were no marks of injury on the body.
Lam Shek, a diver, said the deceased removing coal from a sunken jank. Witness was holding the air pipe. Deceased went. down in a ding dress at 1 p.m. and was still below at 1.30 when the air pipe parted. Wong Yee-fat was holding the life line and witness told him to pull up. They found the line was ou', and were consequently unable to rescue the diver. Witness, accompanied by others, then pulled to Yanmati in a small boat. to get another diving dress, and when this was brought Lam Hing, another diver, went down and recovered deceased's body.
WAR
Lam Hing testified to going down after the accident and finding deceased in the hold of the junk. He had made himself past to the side of the vessel. Both the life line and the air pipe were out. Witness released the body and brought it to the surface,
E. F. Gibson, submarine engineer, said the coal junk was sunk on the cable area off Kowloon Point in thirteen fathoms of water. Deceased and his brother contracted to remove it. Witness was authorised by the Government to remove all obstructions from the cable area. Deceased had been working for him for about seven years, but during the last twelve months had done very little diving, as he had taken to the opium habit. Deceased took the place of the proper diver on the day of the accident, the latter being unwell. When the occurrence was reported to him witness went at once to the wreck. He saw the body brought up, took off the dress and reported the matter to the police. He thought the accident was caused through the jamming of the air pipe between the side of the junk and a wire that was used to keep one junk over the other. When the diver found that his air was out off he probably got flurried and cut the wrong rope.
The jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure.
MACAO.
PROM OUR CORRESPONDENT. |
August 1st.
THE TAXATION QUESTION. An instructive comment on the recent official declarations regarding the Taxation question at Macao is the fact that the Chief of the Fazenda is still persistently endeavouring to exercise his own sweet will in the matter, and is thus keeping alive the agitation which other officials have been doing their utmost to allay. It is common knowledge that since the report on the Taxation Question by your special commissioner appeared in the Daily Press there have been one or two interesting meetings of the Junts Fiscal de Matrizes. The Junta consists of the Escrivão da Fazends and a subordinate official of the Department, the Attorney-General, Captain Maher, Messrs. F. Remedios, Choi-hong, and Siu-tang. Notwithstanding that the tax on incomes is leviable, according to the law, only on the incomes of the professional men, the Escrivão da Fazenda submitted to the Junta a list of people to be taxed which included the head Chinese "boy at the Bos Vista Hotel, the wharfinger of the H. C. & M. Steamboat Co.. and the man employed by the agent of the Company to deliver consignees letters and papers at a wage of 812 a month. The Junta declined to sanction the imposition of the tax on these persons and many others, including the doctor at the Lapps Customs who, the Chief of the Fazenda considered, drew his pay from the Colony of MacBO,
M
It has been repeatedly declared that no new taxes have been levied and that no intention to impose
existed. taxation
Yat the new Fsorivão da Fazenda has this very week
proposed a tax on makers of wax candles, the candles used largely in the Churches. There
H. PRICE & CO., LTD.
147
The first meeting of the shareholders in this newly registered company was held yester lay afternoon in the offloes in Queen's Road Cen- tral. Mr. C. Moxo1 (chairman) presided, and there were present Messrs. J. Scott Harston, A. Ramjahn (directors), A. E. Robin-on (manager), E. G. Moses A. R. Lowe, Chan Kai Ming, and Lo Tsz Chun.
The Manager having read the notice conven The contracts under which the Sun-pin anding the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, this meet- Pacapui lottery monopolies are held have now run out and no syndicates have come forwarding is purely formal and is called to comply prepared to carry them on. It is commonly with the Companies Act. I have only to reported that an offer has been made for the inform you that the Company has done fair Santa Casa da Misericordia Lottery, but I business since its formation and the prospects are encouraging. I thank you for your st. understand that the nature of it is really s
tendance. proposition for the modification of the terms.
This concluded the meeting. If these lotteries are stopped, because syndicates can no longer be found willing to take the risk of running them, a serious reduction in government revenue will be the result. And what will happen then?
THE WEATHER.
The summer this year has been an unusually trying one, the thermometer registering at consolation in the fact that we have not long ta times 95 degrees in the shade. There is
wait for more tolerable weather.
"ONCE FOR ALL."
AN EMPHATIC EDI T.
HONGKONG COTTON SPINNING, WEAVING & DYEING COMPANY,
LIMITED.
The report for presentation to shareholdera at the tenth ordinary meeting to be held at the offices of the general managers on Saturday 14th September at 12.30 p.m., reads :-
The General Managers beg to submit a statement of accounts covaring the period from 1st August, 1906, to 31st July, 1907.
The balance at credit of profit and loss account. (including $21,630.48 brought forward from last year) is $26,769.68, to which it is proposed to add the sum of $50,000 from equalization of dividend fund, making a total of $76,769.68, to be appropriated as follows :- To pay a dividend ofà per cent for
the year
To carry forward to credit of next
year's account...
CONSULTING COMMITTEE:
$62,500.00
14,269,98
$76,769.68
Sir C. P. Chater, C.M.G., and Mr. A. G. Wood retire, but being eligible offer themselves for re-election.
AUDITOR:
Following is a condensed translation of a Peking deeree stating that a memorial has been received from Hsi Liang, Viceroy of the Yun-Kuei provinces, complaining of the back- wardness and confusion in reforms previously ordered by Imperial decree, such as army re- organization and schools of modern learning, in the instruction of officials and in the financial department in his viceroyalty, caused by the in- capacity of his predecessor, Ting Cheo-to, Now this is most reprehensible on the part of the last named Viceroy, who has lamentably failed in te confidence placed upon him by the Throne. Although the said Ting Chên-to is now on. the retired list this does not absolve him from blame, and he is, therefore, hereby handed to the Ministry concerned for the determination of the severest penalties. Hai Liang is further commanded to use his best efforts to save the situation and restore prosperity to the region under him. Under the difficult crisis through which the country is now passing it should be the clear duty of the Viceroys and Gover.
of provinces
to exert
themselves io the best of their several abilities assist the Throne in restoring the country to a better condition, and let it be understood once for all that the Emperor will not tolerate for a moment any laziness or lack of zeal amongst the high officials of the Empire, Property-comprising land, hail·lings who will be vigorously dealt with without mercy. Those who have shown energy and ability in their high and important duties will
nors
to
be rewarded and commended. Under this last list are Yuan Shih-kai, Viceroy of Chibli, Tuan Fang, Viceroy of Liangkiang, and the Grand Secretary Chang Chih-tung. Viceroy of Hukuang. They have used the men and the materials at their hands well and successfully, and they have shown that they bave put forth their whole hearts in accom- plishing the Governmental reforms expected of them. The three Viceroys, therefore, deserve the warmest appreciation and recognition from the Throse for their services. Let them con- tinne untiringly in their efforts, and let all they do be for the advantage of thos, above them and the benefit of all under them. Let them lay the foundation for a wealthy and a strong Empire; for that is what their Majestica look forward to at their hands,
The "Sinweapso" states that it is reported from Peking that the Waiwapu in the negotia. tions with the British Minister, concerning the question of indemnifying British subjects for losses sustafhed during the riots in Shanghai ab at two years ago, is willing to waive its rights and pay the indemnity sa a preliminary stop.
The accounts have been audited by Mr. Frank Maitland in the absence of Mr. W. Hutton Potts, who offers himself for re-election.
BALANCE SHEET, 31st July, 1907.
LIABILITIES.
Capital account Sundry creditors...... Unclaimed dividends Equalization of dividend fund..
Profit and loss secount...
and machinery.. Furniture Sundry debtors Cash
Value of stock, Cotton
Value of stock, Yarn
Value of stock, Waste
ABSETS.
Valne of stock, Mill Stores Value of stock, Coal
Fire insurance and taxes pertaining to Advances against Yarn
period after 31st July, 1907
$ c. 1,250,000,00 613,497.27 3,546.80 110,000,00 26.769.68
$2,003, 819.75
$ e.
1,303,507,91
2,988.53
67,597.30
9,274.98
67.615.25
308,824.00
2,398.57
31,359.51 3,814.50
1,910,18 191,590,00
$2,000,813.75
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT. Dr.
To remuneration to General Managers, 1 per cent, on balance of working account .......... To remuneration to Consulting Committee To auditor's fee
To balance
$ c.
925.24 3,000,00
250.00
$4,175,24 26,760,68
$90,941.92
('r.
91,689,48
By balance from last year By gain on working By transfer fees
9,252.44 32.00
$30,944.92