118
Directors.-On Mr. Kinnear's return from England, Mr. McLeod resigned his seat on the Board and Mr. Kinnear was elected and he now retires by rotation but offers himself for re- election.
Auditor.-Mr. Wingrove retires but offers himself for re-election.
F. JENNER Hoac,
Chairman.
WORKING ACCOUNT,
To charges account
To salaries account
To compradore and staff
Dr.
To rental account
To legal expenses account
To agency management
To trustees' fees
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE EXPLOSION ON THE NERITE.
14
4:
The enquiry concerning the recent explosion on the oil steamer Nerite was concluded st the Magistracy on Feb. 15th before Mr. H. H J. Gompertz sitting as coroner, and a jury.
have
gone
into
Mr. Frank Browne. Government analyst deposed to making an inspection at the scene of the explosion. He found there was a print For the year ending 31st December, 1907.
Tls. Cts. looker on the 'tween decks, six feet below the
6,585.61 hatchway, and thought the explosion was pro- | 17.525.04bably brought about in the following way:
1,700.00
Lo Ti (ne of the men killer mig t 2,500.00 859.50
for the paint locker 80mA purpose, and caused fire 6,000,00
by 1,500.00 smoking, or throwing down a lighted match. 5,000.00
T'here was much inflammable material in the 300.00
room. Having started the fire he probably rushed to get out, and might have overturned 513.251.54
something. The heavy inflammable gases in Tuels 555,921.65 | the room would pass into the hold, and when they became mixed with the air an explosion Tls. Ct.
would follow.
To directors' fees
To anditor's fees.
To balance transferred to profit and loss
account
By gross rentals.
Cr.
Less fire insurance, water,
repairs, etc
Tls. 535,936.36
106.639.49
By commission account.
By tran-fer fees an ount
By interest acconut
120.294.87 $19.19 2{n{#༽ 125.81.78
Taels 551,221
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
Feb, 2-th, 1907.
Dr.
o dividen for 1906
11. C. 175 038,20
To bonus No
July 12th, 1907
fo interim dividend for 1907
Dec. 31st, 1907.
To bilance
Jan. 1st, 1907.
By balance
Cr.
By premium on new shares
82.806 45
211.198.50
.1,151,099,7)
Taels 1,623,142.52
By profit on sale of Kiangse Road estate. By profit on sale of Cad. Lot 1069 Wills
estate
By profit on sale of Cal. Lot Hooi Wills
estate
By profit an sale of part of Ferry Road
estate
By balance of working account
Th to 819,755,31 G73,582 94 91, 419.03
30.570.00
8
ឆន
Mr. Gompertz-Would the explosion not take place of itself, at onca ? —Ás soon sofficient air was mixed with the gases the explosion would follow, and would Caus poisonous suffocating gases.
Wou'd the fact that the two men in the hold diad from asphyxis confirm your theory? They were also burn!. Asphyxiation takes some time, You think the whole cause was this paint locker? The two men carrying the lighted candle had unthing to do with the matter ?— Ys. They could not have FA N to work without lights. They went down about seven. and the explosion did not take place till about quarer to a ́eleven.
Do you
think this paint locker is in a dangerous position ?—A paint locker should be shut off from all other rooms.
The fact that the ship had been carrying oil had nothing to do with the malt r?—No.
The jury returned a verdict of death from asphyxia caused by an explosion, the result of a Bre in the paint room.
COMMERCIAL.
OPIUM.
Hosakasa, February 14th.
Quotations are:—Allowance net la I eufty.
Benares Nor
per pioul.
per chos
da
8.176.00
6,011,50 513,358454
Taels 1,6:3.4 12.5 1
Dec. 31st, 1907.
Reserve Fund Account.
Dr.
To balance
Jan. 1st, 1997.
Cr.
By balance
Thx. Cts: S884, 193,51 Th 860, 193.51
{ '.
Malw Nowe Malwa Old
$950 STOM
Malwa Older
$104 1
ta
t
Reserve Fund Special Account.
Dec. 31st, 1907.
Dr.
Tis. Cla
To balance
Malwn Vory Old 170.000 00 | Persian Fine Quality ..§son
$1.70
t... ila.
t..
dl.
Jan. 1st 1907.
Cr.
By balance
Dr.
BALANCE SHEET.
(tx. 179,000.0 Cr.
Persian Extra Pine
Patna New
Patun Old
$870 .8982]
::༥
t
ASSETA.
$577
1..
tu
....
Estate No. 1
do.
2
do.
4
1
do.
5
04.218.06 1.223,851.79 269,793.28 17,834.17
Benares Old
ミー
to
...
YARN.
+1
do.
6
++
do.
8
do.
9
do.
10
do.
13
་་
14
do.
15
do.
16
do.
17
do.
18
+1
do.
19
1
20
21
3,64,31 $8.61.0
22
154.995.71
23
do.
21
་ཉ
do.
25
do.
$1
do.
27
Sundry mortgage I ans
Sundry Debtors
Debenture Purchase Account
Tuels
do.
do.
do.
da.
do.
11
119,508.95 590,217.84 59,899.98
February 17, 1908)
I market closes quiet, with an undertone of decided strength. The steady position of exchange, the | light statistical positio», both locally and in the consuming provinces, restricted prospective sup- |plies, the present Home prices which should be considered fairly low, having regard to the present { position of Patton -all these ensuraging factors natally incline us to be optimistic with regard to the immedate future of this market. Japanese Yarn, -The market is flat with scarcely anything Siles 1,000 bales, Local Yarn.- 'There doing. is not mech ding in this market which keeps slady About 1500 bales are reported to have changed hands at last prices, Chinese Cotton,-- Although the business pas-ing is extremely
|
limite 1. holders are disinclined to sell in antici- pation of a higher loved of prices later on. considering small visilde supplies Sales 1,500 pients. Stocks are estimated at Porn pieuls (25,000 gieuls Tushu; Bonu pieuls Hokushi, and 2011 pieul - Naizu),
PIECE GOODS,
Mossra, Nool, Murray & Co.'s Piece Goods Report, dated Shanghai, 6th February, 1908, states:-Busi- ness was festummel fo-lay, but with the exception of the Yen Fong Auction seareely anything has been done from first hands. The margin between the ideas of importers and buyers remains so great that even the complimentary sales are this your conspicuous by their absones, and many of the former express their opinion that practically nothing will be done for three weeks or a inɔnth, The day after our last was written a few pur- chases were made from first hands of small 1ts the dealers were short of, but these seem to have been quite exceptional and have not been followed up by sub equent enquiries. It is reported that this morning a lair business was done from second hands, comprising about 1000 bales of American Drill and Sheetings and some 3,000 packages of English Grey, White and Fancy Clouds, soute particulars of which we hope to obtain ledore we close. It is reported that out of 76 native Banks doing business last year 71 have alro oly started again, and some new ones are expected to commence business shortly, hut it is anticpated they will all act very cautiously and not give too much credit to their customers, 80 that tride will be somewhat restricted for some time teme. The better nows from Newchwang which we reported in our last has been confirmed, but the exchange question seems still to be the stumbling block. However it will probably taka another week or ten days before proper after Now Year advices, are received from any of the out-ports. Manchester is strong, with Cotton keeping study, within a few points. To-day's quotations arv 6 4k1, for Mid American and 9.56d, for Egyption. Yesterday's spot price for the former was 6,360, and “futures" 3.94 The New York quotation receivel today, on the other hand, i× 1090 cents March option or 20 points down from yesterday. The market for gouda is very strong, 3-yard Sheetings being quoted 119. 5}d. The Manchester Export of Plain Cottons for January to China an 1 Hongkong was 20,01 10,000 yards, the lowest for that month for some years. ! The bulk of the business reported in Indian Yarn
935.449.73 From Messrs. Tata, Sons & Co's Report, dated, was done before the holidays the few transactions 695,978.18 | Shanghai, Feb. 1st, 198- Bombay Yarn. -The ~ yesterday being of a more or less complimentary paid. 39,119.31 demand advised on the 20th ultim veontinuel with claricter, and for an ill luts an advance was
increased vigour in the beginning of the fortnight. The An-tion this morning, though certainly and the market open d firm with a pronounced firmer, did not show th• same level of strength The Szechuan and Yangtze, throughout. The lighter weights of Grey Shirt- 230,0 8.37 | upward tendency.
Port- 12219.82
merchants WOTE again the principal ing, for mstance, did not advano, tearly as 62,056.63 | operators and have, in most instances, ungrudge, unch as the heavier makes, and in Wints shirt- 50,078.52 | ingly paid the advan v in prices demanded by in2s it was very irregular,
23407190
Turkey Redle show n den vele lly weaker tendoney, and some of the lower holders. Encouraged by some cheering New
qualities of Fast Black Italins failed to improve from the interior, and -up urfed by the remark. ably sten ly couru of ex hänge, speculators has» ; much on former value*, though on the whole 84,596.14 | participated in this activity, in anticipation of, they were two to three per cent, higher. Woolena
41.245.45
54.571.21 91.213 08 17.758 2
7 4,297,14 90,266 07 4,500-50
8,706, 97.61
3,900 00 ̧01
more favourable prospects of selling after the Now Year thux Felping to swell the turn-over, which has again exceeded 10 0 buglera Ha-in during the latter part of the fortnight has been
Aumerican.
¦
wr firm c Referring to the half yearly returns 『 t."k、 9,195 veces American Drills and $1,000 pieces. American Shorings were returned twice and have t· be deduc es!. With the moderate
***LÄVITLERA
in a very narra e mpass in consequence of the 4 pru je tivo au plus, take by the end of the dealers being busy settling their ace unts for the | half year of many things will be greatly reduced your toelase; and the market will rem vin prvet- ienl'y dost for the next fire days coften has been marked by fluctuations. The rate touch & 605, in the fun Debentures bearing interest at 6 per cent.1,572,000 40 ] beginning of the fortnight, ind has siren grubually
rel to 6.324 ; and considering the talk running short time, which, we understand, sugger Manchester spinners contemplate, there
The welcoane news of likelil: «d of a reaction. large business doing in Shanghai has conod, r- trengthened the Bombay Yarn market. ably inducing spinners to put up ritem fie), and wa hear of sum hales having been sold by Mille for forward at fancy prices, showing in many instances an advance of R4, 4-5 per tale.
Capital Account
do. do.
do
do.
54 5
Profit and Loss Account
Unclaimed Dividends
Sundry Croditors
Reserve Fund Account .
Reserve Fund Special Acconut
Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Cash due Agents
Taela
350,000 60 1,151,099.71
471.14 Sca 809,193,51 170,000,000 $36,187 58 6,349.67
...8,706,097.61
The
1
Cette a Vorn --Indian The y un brokers were marlı afield yesterd y. the first day business entid prettily be resumed after the native holidava,
al conade abie
to buy. *me ·f the trinsictions in ‹y havɑ hoen A'tisough dľa true ce desses complim sta v u-ture there is However, on doubt a good consumptiva demand. the firma se of holders prevented much businem, and out of a total of 2004 balma the halk win bankosi before the holidays. Eluvert for Tientsin have been forced to pay up for a few of their far rite spinnings of No, 10%, bạt «therwise the hutk ft'e parchau hare bien for the River markets and szechuen. We consider the market to be a tael higher at the opening, and firm,