A. S. WATSON & Co. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DRUGGISTS,
GENERAL CHEMISTS,
AND
Manufacturers of the following, ALRATED WATERS, vix: SODA, TONIC, SARSAPARILLA, AND POTASH, LEMONADE, GINGERADE, RASPBERRYADE, AND PHOSPHORIC CHAMPAGNE.
Deliveries in Town and Harbour from
7 A.M. to 7 P.M.
SHIPS MEMICIENE CHESTS REFITTED, PASSENGER SHIPS SUPPLIED.
Prompt Attention given to Coast Orders.
HONGKONG DISPENSARY.
HONGKONG. SHANGHAI PHARMACY,
SHANGHAL
CANTON DISPENSARY,
CANTON.
THE DISPENSARY,
Poocnow.
Notices to Correspondents. All communications shenkt bo addressed The
Street.
Editor Hongkong Telegraph," 15, Wellington
ww
All lebtars for publication tuust be written on one side of the paper only.
Correspondents are requested to forward their
annies and addresses with all communications in- tended for insertion, not necessarily for publication, bnt ne évalence of good faith.
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH-THURSDAY, AUGUST 18TH, 1881.
Share Register will testify by the small number of transfers made during the course of each year, as a safe, if not a particularly lucrative, investment for capitalists with money not otherwise employed. We are, of course, referring particularly to the past five years.
The sub-division of shares has changed the whole aspect of affairs, and Docks have fairly held their own against all rivals for months past, for the pre-eminence, such as it is, of being the most suitable medium for reckless "plunging," of any of our local enterprises. Considering the easy fashion in which share brokerage is managed in Hongkong, and the strong spirit of speculation which pervades all classes of the 11 and community, the "bulling
"which lately have so con- "bearing spicuously marked the operations in connection with Docks on the Ex- change, might have confidently been anticipated, although probably not to the groat extent which for some time past has been the subject of general comment, especially among those whose balances happen to be on the wrong side of the book.
On reference to our report of July 15th, we find that Docks were in high favour at 60 per cent. premium for cash, and at 62 for the end of August a large number of time tran- sactions were booked. For the end of the year numerous time bargains at greatly advanced rates on these. figures were negotiated. Slowly but surely, without any apparent cause, the stock gradually declined in public favor, until at last a panic set in, and the rush to sell at any price landed the quotation at 43 per cent. on August 11th, and at even a lower rate than this, shares could have been On August 16th at Pyrsoe Villa, Robinson-road obtained. The "bears" having had
Notices to Subscribers. Subscribers who do not receive their newspapers within thirty-five minutes after the time of publien- tion will oblige by communicating with the Editor
Domesvic Notices, if properly authenticated, will no inserted free of charge.
BIRTHS.
At Hongkong, on the 8th fustnut, the wife of Mr. W. Rameny, Chief Engineer of the Rajualtianehar, of a Яo. -
Hongkong, the wife of W. G. Humphreys, of a sou
DEATH.
At 139. Queen's-rond East, on the night of the Sih instant, Mrs. Elisabeth Loo, aged 80 years.
THE
Hongkong Telegraph.
HONGRONG, 18TH AUGUST, 1881.
a good innings, the "balls" thought it was time to have their turn, and so the stock at once took an upward jump, and in a couple of days, business having been done at intermediate rates, 56 per cent. became the price current. But not for long, as a "rot" again set in, and in spite of the sale of properties which have been an incubus on the Company's hands for months past at high prices, the shares are still on offered yesterday at 48 for the end the downward line, and were vainly
of the month.
most favourable character. The in- ference to be drawn from our re- marks is, therefore, that the Stock has been made the medium for share market speculations, about which we do not care at present to hazard any decided opinion. Our views re- garding the Dock Company's future prospects will be carefully dealt with in a separate article.
THE extraordinary fluctuations of the shares of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, Limited, past few weeks demand more than a on the Stock Exchange during the It is hardly too passing notice. much to say that a very large amount These facts speak for themselves of the exchange transactions in con- without further comment from us. nection with the stock of this old-We may, however, give our opinion established local concem since the that if good grounds existed for pur- adoption of the resolution sub-di-chasing the Dock Company's shares viding the 2,000 old shares of $500 a month ago at 60 per cent. premium, each into 8,000 new shares of $125, nothing has transpired since that and adding to that number a new time to reduce their market value. issue of 2,000 additional shares, have The Docks are, with the exception of been of a speculative character, and, Aberdeen, fully and profitably em- moreover, would never have been ployed; the reports about an imme- carried out had such sub-division diate opposition are entirely unfoun- not taken place.
That the sub-ded, and prospects generally are of a division of shares has proved a great boon to sharebrokers and to profes- sional share speculators generally cannot be doubted; that it has in any way improved the prospects or permanent stability of the Company we gravely doubt. With the shares standing at the old rate of $500, reckless gambling or speculating was, if not altogether prohibited, kept strictly within bounds. The stock, although for years harassed by a firm powerful opposition, held a position in the market, and if the returns were not particularly high, still 6 per cent. per annum, with im proving prospects, was not such in- different interest on a safe investment in these days, when money is to be had all the world over on exception ally easy terms. There were certain- ly a good many time transactions in Docks just before the fatal Christmas of 1879, and the experiences of the unfortunatos who on that occasion knew too much, or did not know enough, and consequently got hard hit, can scarcely have been totally effaced even by the return of better days. But, as a rule this particular stock was not made the medium for extensive gambling business, being regarded generally, as the Company's
LOCAL AND GENERAL.
Tho steamship Yollung was docked at Sam-shui-po last night.
We learn that an application has been made by the German Ambassador in London in reference to the appointmont of Dr. O. F. von Mollendorff as Vice- Consul for Germany at Hongkong.
We are informed by the agents of the Glon Line (Messrs. Jardino, Matheson & Co) that the steamship Glencoe left Singapore yesterday, tho 17th inst., for this port.
The extra apartment at the back of the erection in front of the Man-Mo
noon.
Temple was finished yesterday after. The apartment may be entered from Ladder Street or by a by-lane in Hollywood Road. Last night there were exhibited in this place some seven hundred or more Chinese pictures and a few choice dwarf trees.
The two blocks weigh about 150 lbs. Dr. Eastlacke describes the Island as woody and fertile; the scenery maguifi- cent. With the exception of three or four Europeans and a number of natives engaged in the sugar plantatious, the Island may be said to be almost uninhabited, considering its size. It is also said to abound in shells of different sorts and sizes, which may, with patience and trouble, be found. Amongst his collection, we are in- formed, he possesses two oyster sholls of about two and a half to three feet
in diameter.
and independence of Afghanistan was of vital importance to England, and that they would not allow any foreign interference there. The whole mattor was under the consideration of Govern- ment. The extension of Russian tor- ritory in Northern Persia had raised a question of Persian integrity and in-
dependence which his Lordship said could never be a mattor of indifference to England.
London, 3rd August.
The House of Lords last night resumed the debate upon the Land Bill. The Duke of Argyll made a speech in which he severely criticized NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL. it, but eventually the House read the
Bill a second time without division.
McGrath, the perpetrator of the The from the Straits Times Entra received attempt to blow up the Liverpool by the P. & O. S. N. Co.'s steam-Townhall, has been sentenced to pénal Rovire.ship Brindisi, which arrived here last servitude for life, and McKevett, his
accomplice, to fifteen years. night:
The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers will perform (weather permitting) in the Botanic Gardens to-morrow afternoon. following is the programme :--- Murch......... "Erin,...
Ovorture............ Gavotto Valeo... Selection......... Valco
"Mireia." "Imperiale.' "Soldatou Lioter," "Beatrice do Tenda,” “Claribet,"
„Gonuod.
Faust. ...Gang'I. Bollini. ..Coute.
The result of the race for the Good. wood Cup, run on Thursday, July 28th, was telegraphed to India the same day, and appears in the Straits Times Extra. We appond the names and pedigrees of the winner and placed horses, reserv- ing our usual descriptivo report until
to-morrow.
The Goodwood Cup. Mr C. Perkins' b.m. Madame Du Barry, by Favonious-Strategy, 6 years 8st. 11lbs..... Mr Craven's b.h. Nottingham, by)
Winslow-Belle of Kars, 6yrs. >2
Est.
Mr F. Gretton's b.c. Fernandez, by Sterling Isola Bella, 4yrs. 8st. 10lbs.
We take the following telegrams
Constantinople, 27th July.
The Council of the Ulomas having refused to confirm, and a majority of Turkish ministry orging the commuta tion of, the sentence of death passed on Midhat Pasha's accomplices, they, with Midhat, have been deported to Arabia.
London, 28th July. Official despatches have been pub. lished coucorning Tripoli, in which Lord Granville warns France of the dangers attending her interference in Tripoli, and further states that England cannot tolerate interforesee of any kind in that quarter.
Lord Dufferin has been instructed to urge upon the Porto the urgent neces. sity of moderation in respect to Tripoli. M. Bartholemy St. Hilaire has, in reply, explicitly disclaimed any design of the French Government on Tripoli, and admitted the sovereignty of the Sultan.
Advices from the Transvaal state that the Dutch jury have returned a verdict of "not guilty" in the trial of the alleged murderors of Mr. Malcolm.
London, 29th July.
We have to record a case of sudden death which took place on board the Niigata Maru, Captain Wynn, last evening. The deceased, Mr. James Ellis, was for some time chief engineer of one of the Mitsu Bishi Company's steamers in Japan, and was on his way home for the bencht of his health as he was suffering from a disease of the kidneys. During the voyage down from Japan he was in his usual health, but yesterday complained of pains in hia shoulder and side and retired oarly to his cabin, where he was found dead this morning by the purser of the ship. Dr. Stockwell shortly after saw the body, and pronounced death had oc- carred from natural causes, conso- quently it is not likely any inquiry into
deceased, who was 60 years of age, leaves a widow and three children at to a question in the House of Commons, the cause of death will be held. The
home.
An inquest was opened at the Go- vernment Civil Hospital yesterday afternoon, before the Coroner, Mr. Wodehouse, and Messrs. Kruss, Kerr, and Goosmann, on the body of a Chiua- man, which up to that time had not been identified. Dr. Marquos gave evidence that the body was brought to the hospital at five o'clock on Wednos- day morning, but no other witnesses
were in attendance, Inspector Cradock, in answer to the Coroner, saying that no notice had been given that the inquest would be held that day. The inquiry, was consequently adjourned until Monday next at three p.m. Another inquiry was opoued before the same jury relative to the circumstancos attending the death of a Chinawoman, named Choi Aloi, aged 42, whose body was found by a lakong floating in the water a fow feet from the beach at Shek Tong Sui. The woman's husband was examined, and another witness, who stated that the docoased left home to go to market at two o'clock in the afternoon, and was not seen again until found in the water by the con- stable. The inquest was adjourned until Monday next.
The hitch in negotiations at Pretoria has been removed, and a settlement is shortly expected, England retains the right of passage for her troops through the Transvaal, and will control the foreign relations. The duties of the British Resident in the Transvaal will be the same as those of a Consul- General.
Failing the Volksraad's ratification of the Convention in three months the Queen's sovereignty will be revived.
London, 30th July.
The Marquis of Hartington, replying
said that General Tume had been ordered to concentrate his forces at Quetta, but his lordship could not say whether the evacuation of Sibi and the Pishin Valley would thereby be in- volved.
The Right Hon. Grant Duff starts for India on the 5th October.
Latest advices from the Cape state that Mr. Hudson, Colonial Secretary, has been appointed British Resident in
the Transvaal.
Samemila, the claiment for the Umlandelasi Chieftainship in Zulaland, has collected 3,000 partizans. Mr. John Dann, who has been appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands and Public Works, is awaiting England's permission to attack them.
London, 1st August, A convention between the British Government and the Boers was signed at Pretoria on Saturday,
Mr, Swanton, landlord at Ballydehob, County Cork, has been shot at and mortally wounded..
Lord Hartington, replying to a ques- tion, said he had no reason to believe that the Indian Government intend to assist the Ameer, and they have not proposed to employ Anglo-Indian troops for the purpose.
London, 2nd August.
Allahabad, 28th July. The Press Commissioner telegraphs from Simla on the 23th that news had reached Chaman that an action was fought on the morning of the 27th between the Amir's and Ayub's forces. The engagement lastod till 12 noon, when one of the Amir's rogiments went over to Ayub's side, and the rost of the Amir's troops dispersed. The and
guns baggage were lost.
Allahabad, 29th July.
In the latest battle fought at Kari- ziatta the Ghilzai levios and Kandahar sowars went over to Ayub, who secured 18 guns, five lakhs of rupees, and all the baggage. General Ghulam fled towards Kabul,
Simla, 2nd August.
Ayub Khan entered Candahar on Saturday. The infantry and guns were in the citadel and cavalry in the tan- tonments before Ayub's arrivals
Nineteen Farsiwans and Hazaras were murdered. Quetta all quiet.
The Moorut battery is not ordered to hold itself in readiness specially for Afghanistan, but probably will be
sent to Quetta in case of disturbance on the frontier.
We take the subjoined itoms from the London and China Express of July 15th:-
Several petitions for the abolition of the Opium traffic have been present od this week to the House of Commons.
The steamer Gleneagles, from Foo- chow, for London (tea), put into Malta on the 9th inst. with a boiler tubo burst and patent stopper leaking.
Advices from New York, June 20th, slate that the Papa, which has arrived from Hongkong, reports:-April 15th, took a N.E. to S. W. gale, lasting thirty- six hours, with high seas, causing the vessel to loak slightly.
Chen Lan Pin, the Chinese Minister, visited the White House at Washing- ton on the 14th inst., presenting the sympathy of the Chinese Government for General Garfield in the attempt
that has been made on his life.
Admiral Ting of the Chinese navy, attended by Captain Clayson, was pre- sent at the Royal Review at Windsor
on the 9th instant. He has since re-
turned to Newcastle. The trials of the two cruisors were appointed to take. place yesterday, the 14th instant, at Newcastle.
Mr. Thomas Fitzgerald Callaghan, Governor of the Bahamas, on his way to England on sick leave, arrived at New York from Nassau on the 9th instant, and went to the Metropolitan Hotel, where he died four hours after his arrival. At the inquest it was shown that death had been caused by paralysis of the heart, induced by a long attack of intermittent fever. The body will be embalmed and brought to England by his wife, who accompanied him. The deceased gentleman was a member of the Irish Bar, and had been Attorney-General for Hongkong, Go- Lord. Salisbury recognised the ne- vornor of Labuan, tho Gambia Settle- cossity of the bill, but insisted upon mont, and the Falkland Islands, pro- radical amondments being introduced.vious to being appointed to the Go.
In the Commons a discussion took vernorship of the Bahama Islands. place relating to the Land Leaguers at prosent imprisoned in Ireland. Mr. Purnell was suspended from sitting owing to offensivo defiance of the Speaker.
animated debate took place upon Lord Carlingford moving the second reading of the Irish Land Bill.
We recently noticed the acquisition. by the City Hall Museum of a piece ofIn the Lords last night a long and sponge and two blocks of petrified wood, presented by Dr. F. Warrington Eastlake. Through the courtesy of Dr. Eastlacke, the father of the donor, Mr. Farrugia for many years Consul we glean the following particulars :- at Malta for the Bey of Tunis, has re- The sponge, which was obtained from cored instructions to hand over the Cebu, is of a peculiar formation; at first Consulate and its archives to the re-sight it looks very much like a piece presentatives of the French Republic. of coral, but on examination it is found to be very soft and extremely light. The two pieces of petrified wood, supposed to be Malave, wore bought from the natives of the Island of Negros (one of the most southern islands of the Philippines) in April last, while on a visit to the Island.
Wo observa from the Japan Gazette that the sons of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales are expected in Japan about the 20th of September. Preparations for their reception are al- roady being mado in the Enriokwan,
Young Lady: "Very changeable · weather, Mrs. Wiggins, isn't it ?" Mrs. Wiggins: "Ees, miss, it be. Fust 'ot, A discussion also took place res- yer see, then cold, then 'ot ng'in; but pocting Russian aggression in Central it's a blessin', 'cos if the weather wasn't Asia. Lord Hartington said the Go- a little wariable there wouldn't be no vornment admitted that the integrity wariety in some folk's conversations."