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that the bulk of them prefer to live in their own houses notwithstanding that in many cases they are at a considerable distance from the mill. Our houses were seldom all let, and the tenants were not our workpeople in the majority of cases. Last spring we found that a considerable expen- diture on repairs was necessary and rather than continue to have capital, which could be better employed in our business, locked up in property, we sold the houses for Tls. 20,000, a low price perhaps, but better was not forthcoming. As the property stood in our books at Tls, 30,000 there is a balanco of Tls, 10,000 to be written off out of Working Account.
With the appropriations recommended to be written off in the Report, both building and machinery are fully depreciated out of earnings, leaving us sufficient to pay a dividend of Tls. 4.00 per share. The total amount written off for depreciation out of earnings with this year's appropriation amounts to Tls. 380,000 or very , nearly 60 per cent of our capital.
If any shareholders have any questions to ask I shall be glad to answer them to the best of my ability.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESŞLAND
“EYRE” DIOCESAN REFUGE.
took its name last year at the suggestion of The annual meeting of this institution, which Lady Lugard from the foundress, was held on the 15th inst. by the kind invitation of the Bishop of Victoria and Mrs. Lander at St. Paul's College. There was a good attendance of ladies, and after teu had been served they proceeded to the business of the meeting. His Lordship Bishop Lander presided.
The Rev. F. T. JOHNSON, in presenting the annual report, said that several of the inmates had come to them sickly and uncared for, some even being weak minded. These, however, had now shown a marked improvement. It was with joy and thankfulness that they thought of several girls, some still inmates of the refuge and some in homes of their own who had entirely changed and had been made steady, industrious young women. This was due, first to Christian influence and Christian teaching and also to healthy manual labour, physical exercise, occupation for the mind, fresh air, good food, lessons and house work. The number of inmates had increased from 35 to 38. It was to be re-
factory in the highest sense its mainten ance was being seriously crippled by lack of funds. Another European worker was needed and more convenient premises were also essential for the efficient working of the laundry and indeed for the girls. Thanks were due to lady visitors, Dr. Harston, the doctors and nurses of the Government Civil Hospital, Dr. Sibree, the Rev. W. H. Hewett, Miss ruddas, and their customers for their kind forbearance.
The statement of accounts showed that the expenditure, after reserving $703.87 for salary, amounted to $6,084,46. This exceeded the revenue by $139.94.
There were no questions and the following resolutions were carried.
Proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Mr.gretted that while the work was so satis. Young: That the report and accounts &S presented be passed.
Proposed by Mr. Young, seconded by Mr. Michelau: That a dividend of Tls. 4 per share be declared for the year ending December 31,
1908.
Proposed by Mr. Moore seconded by Mr. Murphine That Mr. J. M. Young and Mr. Chung Liang-yu be re-appointed Directors of the Company.
Proposed by Mr. Fooks, seconded by Mr. Moore: That Mr. G. R. Wingrove be re-elected as the Company's auditor for the current year.
Proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Michelau That the next General Meeting be held either in the month of February or March 1910.
The Chairman announced that dividend war- rants would be posted the next day.
FILIPINO STUDENTS FOR AMERICAN COLLEGES.
Another large expenditure of the public funds, the Manila Cablenews says, has been proposed by Members Fenoy and Asprer of the Assembly for the purpose of enabling certain Fillipinos to complete their education as professional men in the United States. In a bill presented yester- day the sum of P600,000 has been asked to cover the cost of pensioning 200 students in the United States or in any other foreign country.
The bill provides that every four years from the date of the passage of the bill there shall be appointed 200 such students, 100 by the Assem- bly and 100 by the Commission.
The qualifications set are: the applicant must be engaged in the pursuit of some profession; he must be a native of the Philippine islands; over 21 and under 40 years of age; of good moral conduct and of healthy physical condition. He must take the oath of allegiance to the United States and sign a contract agreeing to settle in such part as may be expressly provided in the contract, there to complete his studies for a period of four years.
On his return to the Philippines the student must make a report to his appointer of his studies together with such recommendations as he may desire to make for the betterment and welfare of the profession to which he belongs. The cost of maintenance of each student is
not to exceed P.1,920 per annum. This and the cost of travelling to and from the United States or such other country he may go to to study shall be paid on the completion of his studies.
THE SHOEBLACK'S SUCCESS.
Mrs. Barnardo, at the twelfth annual meeting of the Gordon Habitation of the Young Helpers League in London last month, mentioned that a boy, formerly a Stepney shoeblack, who had been an inmate of Dr. Barnardo's homes, was now a Government official in China earning £1,200 a year.
His LORDSHIP, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, said the refuge was an institution which demanded the support of all ladies and gentlemen in the colony. It was an institution which was working among the most needy class, the necessity for such work having been admitted again and again, as the Ordinances for the Protection of Women and Girls indi- cated. The girls who had been admitted to the refuge were from the lowest class, some being blind, deaf, dumb and paralysed and altogether in the most deplorable condition imaginable. He did not think it would be possible to find any lower class to work upon than those brought into the refuge. Proceeding, his Lordship mentioned the interest taken in the institution by His Excellency the Governor and Lady Lugard, and went on to speak of the splendid re- sults which had been achieved. In concluding he urged the necessity of putting the refuge on a sound financial basis so that they might secure an establishment large enough to take in all the girls who wanted to come and to have not one but two European workers.
Miss EYRE supplemented the report by inter- esting details of the inner working of the institution.
A committee of ladies was appointed and other business details completed.
THE TENNIS DOUBLES AT MANILA.
Only after six of the swiftest and stiffest tennis sets ever played in Manila, says the Cablenews, did Paymaster W. B. Izard and Mr. E. Gee win the championship doubles in ten- nis for the Carnival Far Eastern cup. The first four sets were played to a standstill on Friday. and the two sets on Saturday afternoon last de- cided the contest and closed the tournament.
In Friday's playing Izard and Gee won the first two sets from their traditional opponents Johnson and Boothby by 6-3; 6-4. The next two sets went to the latter 6-2; 6-1. Thus when playing stopped on that day the result was still up in the air.
On Saturday, however, Messrs. Izard and Geo smashed their way to victory in successive sets by the score of 6-1, 6-3, in which there was some hard and clever playing. Mr. Izard has just won the championship in singles, and Mr. Gee is one of the best players in doubles on the courts.
Mr. Gee has since left for Honolulu, where he will be in the office of Major Beecher who is now en route to be chief paymaster for Hawaii.
[February 20, 1909.
FAR EASTERN TELEGRAMS.
DEATH OF A JAPANESE NOBLEMAN.
London, February 18th. The death is announced of Viscount Has- himoto, who is chief of the Red Cross Hospital organisation is this country. The deceased no bleman was formerly Surgeon-General in he Army.
落露
[FROM THE CHUNG NGOI SAN PO”] THE CASE OF CHAN PIK.
Peking, February 7th. An Imperial Edict has been issued respecting the charges of corruption brought against Chan Pik, the President of the Posts and Com-
munications.
The report of the Grand Councillors appoint- ed to investigate the charges brought against the Minister refers to certain secret nagotiations for foreign loans conducted by the Minister, but states that there is no direct evidence of his having accepted bribes. The Grand Councillors, however, found that the expenses allowed to sub- ordinates in this connection were excesive, and the report recommends that the case of the Min- ister should be dealt with by the Board of Punishments, and that! two Secretaries of the Board of Posts and Communications should be immediately dismissed.
The Edict approves these recommendations.
On the issue of this Edict the President of the Ministry of the Interior ordered that a posse of police should watch the residence of the dis- graced Minister, but before the order was issued Chan Pik had sent his family by railway to his native place.
·
THE IMPERIAL GRAVES.
{
Peking, February 7th. Owing to the enormous cost of preparing the graves for the late Emperor and Empress | Dowager the Viceroy of Chihli has recom- mended to the Throne that a special tax should be levied.
THE CANTON VICEROY.
Peking, February 7th. It is reported in official circles that H.E. Chang will shortly be relieved of the post of Viceroy of the two Kwang.
CHINESE NAVAL AFFAIRS.
Peking, February 7th. The Board of Military Affairs has decided to establish at Shanghai a Naval College.
A CANTON-HANKOW RAILWAY LOAN.
Peking, February 7th.
A foreign loan of £2,000,000 will be raised for the construction of the Honan-Kupeḥ section of the Canton-Hankow railway.
The loan will be isued at 94 and the rate of interest has been fixed at 5 per cent. per annum.
3LANDERING OFFICIALS.
Shanghai, February 7th. The Editor and a caricaturist of the Hupeh Yat Po, established three months ago in Hankow, have been arrested on a charge of slandering officials.
A POLICE STATION WRECKED AT WOOSUNG.
Shanghai, February 8th. A number of gunners from the Woosung fort quarrelled with a policeman at a theatre, and subsequently wrecked the station and set the prisoners free.
The shopkeepers of the district are so incensed at the conduct of the gunners that they have closed their shops as a protest.
CHINA'S SLAVES.
Peking, February 8th. A censor has memorialised the Throne to stop the practice of purchasing girl slaves.
L