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FIRE AND EARTHQUAKE.
No writer could hope to place before a reader so vivid a picture of disaster as has been recorded in cinematograph films of the great fire at Osaka and the earthquake a Gifu and Shiga prefectures. The terrible consequences of these events have been seen and realised by thousands of Tokyo people, who a year or two ago would have had no means beyond an ordinary newspaper record of realising the extent of the disasters and the sufferings of the people. In the record of the earthquake results the cine- matograph shows us the scenes as they were tak- ing place in primitive villages a day or two after the earthquake. Not a building standing: a confused mass of crushed dwellings, which have given way under the weight of a heavy roof, and the villagers like ants working to clear away the debris. In the midst of the ruin old folk and young are doing their part moving tiles and rafters preparatory to rebuilding. Human nature being full of resource, these people, the first shock and panic over, go about their work as light-heartedly as "ever, At regular hours food is distribut- The ed in the shape of rice balls, etc. cinematograph also shows us the operations of the Red Cross. The injured, temporarily bandaged, are placed Buddha fashion in small baskets, and the load, slung on a pole on the shoulders of two men, is hurried off to hospital. The wrecks of temples, fallen torii and other monuments are all shown. Yet if the afflicted districts are visited six months hence the restoration will be found almost complete. Such houses as the peasantry occupy are easily rebuilt, while the temple torii and statuary simply require replacing, as they have only been disjointed by the shock, the various parts lying scattered on the ground, but rarely broken.
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
THE CHANGE OF GOVERNOR. H. E. Senhor Rocadas is leaving here on the 24th inst., proceeding to Hongkong by the gun- boat Patria. His Excellency and family embark on the French mail steamer at Hongkong. Our new Governor, Senhor Eduardo Marques, is com- ing up on the Patria from Hongkong on Tues- day, the 21st inst.
DISCRIMINATING JUSTICE.
Some recent happenings in the local court have caused a deal of comment. Contempt of court was commited by four persons, who ignored summonses requiring their atten- dance. In one case the absentees were an Army Captain, a shroff of the Banco Nacional, and a priest. They were notified some days before the "hearing of the case. In the other case the absentee was the treasurer of tho Leal Senado, who received his summons only ten minutes before the case was appointed to come on. The priest and, the treasurer were ordered to pay a fine of $50 each; the Army Captain and the shroff got off scot free. Why? The offence in each case was precisely the same.
THE PUBLIC GAOL.
£6
The black-hole of Macao" would probably be a better description for the place in which the prisoners are at present confined. For some years past the unfitness of the building has been recognised, and there has been talk- merely talk—about building a new gaol. I hear that there is much sickness in the gaol at the present time, and I am not in the least surprised.
}
Within a few months three British missionary secretaries will be on tours of inspection of the missionary stations in China. Bishop Ingham is already on his way as the representative of the Church Missionary Society. In October the Rev. C. Stedeford, the newly-appointed secre- tary of the United Methodist Church Missions, will start on a nine months' tour, extending from Shanghai to Yunnan. The other mis- sionary tourist is the Rev. G. Currie Martin, the newly-appointed secretary of the London Missionary Society, who leaves London early in November. He will visit all the stations from Peking to Hongkong. One object of the visit is to form an advisory council of the Chinese missionaries, so as to co-ordinate as far as possible the work in the various provinces.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
COMPANY REPORTS.
THE DOUGLAS STEAMSHIP
COMPANY LIMITED. ·
The Report for presentation to the share- holders at the twenty-sixth ordinary general meeting, next Saturday, is as follows :~~~-
The general managers have now to submit to the shareholders their report on the twenty- sixth year's working of the company, ending June 30th, 1909.
After paying all running expense, premia of insurance, remuneration to the consulting com. mitteo and auditors' fees there remains a balance at credit of profit and loss account of $1,311.54, which with the approval of share- holders will be tranferred to the reserve fund; from which, in order to provide for depreciation of the company's properties it is proposed to take the sum of $35,950.33.
fund will then stand at
reserve
The $230,000.00
The depression in trade referred to in the last report has been accentuated during the period under review, and while cargo has been scarce, competition on our line has been keener than ever in face of the unfavourable condition of shipping in the East generally, and rates of freight have had to be reduced in consequence.
Accidents to the Hatching and Haimun during the year entailed their withdrawal from the line for a considerable period and have af- fected earnings appreciably, while the high price of fuel has also been a serious factor against profitable working: the amount expended on this account being considerably in excess of that of previous years. "
The steamers and other properties of the Company are in first class order.
66
57
The amounts appearing as freights due and "accounts receivable" have since been collected.
Consulting Committee. -The Committee now consists of Mr. J. W. C. Bonnar, Hon. Mr. W. J. Gresson and Mr. R. Shewan, who retire in terms of the Articles or Association, but offer themselves for re-election.
Auditors.-The Accounts for the first six months have been audited by Messrs. A. R. Lowe and W. H. Potts and for the final six months by Messrs. W. H. Potts and E. A. M. Williams, the latter acting for Mr. Lowe Messrs. Lowe and Potts now retire, but offer themselves for re-election.
DOUGLAS, LAPRAIK & Co.,
General Managers.
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT:
For the year ended 30th June, 1909. To dividend paid for year
ending 30th June, 1908. $50,000.00 To amount writen off for depreciation for year
ending 30th June, 1908 23,462.04 To exchange account
To general interest account To auditors' fees...
To remuneration
to consulting committee for 12 months... To remuneration to general man- agers for office expenses, for 12 months
To loss on running the company's
steamers during the year To balance
By balance of profit and loss account,
30th June, 1908. By interest on mortgages... By coal account
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Sundry a/es payable Profit and loss a/c..
[September 27, 1909.
ASSETS.
Value of the Co.'s steamers :-Haitan, Haiching, Haimun, and Haiyang $1,106,580.00
Additions since made 2.207.00
Less amount written off as resolved at the last general meeting
Value of buoys and moorings atSwatow, Amoy, Tamsui and Hongkong, as per last report Additions since mado
$1,108,787.00
21,000.00
$31,425.69 2,450.00
$33,287.69
92,076.32
1,311.54
$1,459,135,93
-$1,087,787,00
2,462.04
Less amount written off as resolved at the last general meeting
Loans on mortgage 1 Hongkong & Shanghai Bank
(current account) Freights due on 30th June, 1909... Sundry account receivable from
agencies, &c. . Cash in hand Unexpired tonnage dues Coal a/c stock in hand
31,425.65 215,000.00
26,878.56
44,084.56
49,018 83 577.77
1,443.56
2,920.00
$1,459,135.93
THE HONGKONG-COTTON SPINNING, WEAVING & DYEING CO., LTD.
The report for presentation to shareholders at the twelfth ordinary meeting on Saturday, is as follows:--
The general managers beg to submit a state- ment of accounts covering the period from 1st August, 1908, to 31st July, 1909.
The balance at credit of Profit and Loss account is $29,506.51, which it is proposed to appropriate as follows:-
To write off furniture account ... ...$ 3,209.49
3,209. To carry forward to credit of next
year's account
26,297.02
$29,506.51
Consulting committee:--Sir C. P. Chater, C.M.G., and Mr. J. W. C. Bonnar retire, but, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
Auditor:-The accounts have been audited by Mr. W. Hutton' Potts, who offers himself for re-election.
JARDINE MATHESON & Co., LTD., $73,462.04
General Managers. 4,341.47 Hongkong, 8th September, 1909. 2,430.44
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BALANCE SHEET 31ST JULY, 1909.
LIABILITIES.
Unclaimed dividends
600.00
2.000.00
Capital account
$1,250,000.00
10,000.00
Sundry creditors
495,865.62
4,054.30
5,032.68 Equalization of dividend fund 1,311.54 | Profit and loss account
20,000.00
29,506.51
$1,799,426.43
ASSETS.
Property-comprising land, build-
$1,303,507.93
$99,178.17
$73,462.04 ings and machinery
570.84 Furniture
BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE, 1909. LIABILITIES.
Capital account:
30,000 shares at $50 Reserve fund
Underwriting a/c of the Company Unpaid bonus... Unpaid dividends
3,209.49 43,696,14
1,145.29 Sundry debtors
Cash...
2,008.16
$99,178.17
Cotton, value of stock
166,073.93
Yarn, value of stock
210,853.50
Waste, value value of stock...
6,678.30
Mill stores, of stock
58,036.71
Coal, value of stock
3,475.30
$1,000,000.00 264.638.79 100,589.78
Fire insurance and taxes pertain- ing to period after 31st July, 1909
138.00
1,886.97
$11,799,426.43
381.50