Steamers, complaining of the inadequacy of the storm warnings issued in Hongkong, bas been received by this Chamber. "
The Committeo are unable, of course, to vouch for the accuracy of the statements made ́in this letter, but, as the letter bears on the subject of the representations made in this Chamber's letter to you of 4th ultime, and comes from practical men, my Committee deem. It of sufficient importance to forward same on to you at once. MAY
1, accordingly, have the honour to band you a copy herewith, and my Committee. wish to express the hope that you will cause the mat ter of the complaint made by the signatories to be carefully investigated. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant,
(Sd.) A. R. Lowe, Secretary.
Hon. Colonial Secretary...
Sir,-We, the undersigned, who have passed through the recent typhoon between Hongkong and Swatow, wish to bring to your notice in the strongest possible manner the Inadequate and misleading system of storm warnings in the port of ong ong. Relying on the weather forecast, and the absence of storm warnings, we left Hongkong for Swatow, at 7 p.in. on Friday, 1st August, and met the typhoon soon after midnight.
We, and I believe the great majority of shipmasters think the shipping should have adequate notice of weather changes.
The present system of forecast is little better iban a spare and a delusion.
We are, Sir,
Yours faithfully,
(Sd.) Hans-Schlaikier,
(Sd)
Supported by
(90.)
(Sd.)
Master Ger. str. Decima,
A. E. Kodgings, Masterss. Hatching, British.
da.
G. Parkinson, Masters 5. Laertes, Spencer Wilde, Master s.5. Frau Sang, do. (Sd) W. Palmer-Baker,
(Sd.)
(Sd.)
(Sd)
Master s.s. Taking, do.
J. Dewar, Master 5.9. Tungchow, do.
F. Hopkins, Master is, Chunking, do.
C. Gesewitch, Master'ss. Dagmar,
The Secretary; Chamber of Commerce
Hoogkong.
do..
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce;
Hongkong, 23rd August, 1902.. Sir,~1 beg in acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo replying to this Chamber's letter of the 4th idem, and 'trans- milting copy of memorandum and enclosures from Mr. Figg, the Acting Director of the Hongkong Observatory,
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1902,
mittee further venture to think that the Govers. ment will, on examination of the accompanying copy of this code, together with the forms of bulletins issued by the Sicawei Observatory, admit that the system adopted at that part of making general, the various weather reports is in advance of that in force bere, and which the Chamber is justifiably anxious to see improved. The adoption of a flig signal service, which would be principally for the use of the foreign shipping in harbour, need not necessitate the abolition of the present Drum, Cona and Ball Signals shewn by H.MS. Tamar for the bene- fit of native shipping and craft.
**Certain improvements in the Sicawei Code are now being effected and are expected to be published by the middle of September and to come into force on 1st December next, The effect of these will be that without making any | material change in the present indications more precise particulars can be given about storms. It may be worth mentioning that the Code has been generally adopted by the Ger man, Russian and Chinese Goverments along | the coast of China.
7. With regard to paragraphs 4 and 3 of your letter, the Committee respectfully submit that they never suggested that the Hongkong Observatory sliould be made responsible for the storm warnings of other institutions, but they cannot help feeling that the observations made at Sicawei must surely furnish more accurate data than can be supplied by a pos- sibly untrained though doubtless intelligent observer at any of the coast stations such as Gutzlaff Moreover, it seems to the Committee lamentable that there should be a want of reciprocity between the Hongkang and oilier observatories, and they find it difficult to resist the conclusion that the absence of sympathetic and friendly relations with such an institution as the Sicawei Observatory is calculated to limit the usefulness of both institutions.
8. In conclusion, my Committee wish to dis- claim any wish to either suggest impracticable schemes or any desire to bamper the Director of the Observatory in making his forecasts; they are simply animated by the wish to secure the earliest and widest possible dissemination of warnings of the approach of storms, to the end that the disas'ers afloat may be averted when possible. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant,
(Sd.) A. R. Lowe,
Secretary.
Hon. Colonial Secretary
Colonial Secretary's Offices,
Hongkong, 26th August, 1902. Sir,-1 am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant in swatow the 4th instant, from the masters of which you enclose copy of a letter, dated
the 5.5. Haiching and 5.5. Decline and support. ed by the signatures of the masters of six of the storm warnings in Honekong, stating other steamers complaining of the inadequacy
that the writers (apparently the masters of the 5.9. Hatching and Dicima, "relying on the weather forecast and the absence of storm warnings left Hongkong for Swatow at 7 p.m. on Friday, the 1st of August and, met the typhoon soon after midnight.”
3. If the Chamber has in any way been misled with reference to the facts in the cases of the steamers Laisang and De Witte, the Committee desire to express their regret but while accepting the statement of Mr. Figg in this regard, I am to point out that the letter in
2. In reply 1 am to transmit to you the "the Daily Press, referred to was accepted by this Chamber as the expression, of what had accompanying copy of a report from the Acting Director of the Observatory with its frequently been brought to its notice from enclosures comprising copies of the remarks various quarters of the dissatisfaction, rightly attached to the usual China Coast Meteorolo. or wrongly entertained by mariners frequent-gical Register issued by Mr. Figg on the 31st ing this port, with the system of storm, warnings issued by the Hongkong Observatory. ultimo and ist instant; of two Expresses con 3. Mr. Figg points to the fact that in 1897 taining special typhoon warnings issued on the this Chamber suggested and secured a return
same dates before noon, and of a letter from one of the writers of the letter enclosed in your to the system of meteorological signals in use
jetter under acknowledgment. from January, 1884 as a proof that they were satisfied with that sistem, whereas, as a matter
of fact, they simply advocated a return to that system us being simpler and more readily understood by the boating population than that in use at the tiine. While thankfully acknowledging that this system has been of much service, the Chamber never meant, as Mr.Figg seems to imply, that it was not sus- ceptible of improvement, and it was with the object of compassing some measures of further improvement that the more recent representations of the Committee were mainly directed This Chamber bas now for many years, commencing in 1889, endeavoured to secure improvement in the system of storm warnings, the meteorological communications with other ports, and the rapid dissemination of weather forecasts.
4 The Committee hail with much satisfact ion the statement paragraph. 6 of your despatch to the effect that His Excellency finds that the system of issuing wea he
3. These documents prove conclusively that the captains of the s.s. Haiching and Decima left this port on the evening of the 1st instant in spite of weather forecasts published not only in the ordinary way but in the form of typhoon warnings, which were more than ample to warn them of the risk they ran,
|
4. I am to request that in justice to the Govenment you will give to this letter and its Acing Director of the Observatory and to this
enclosures the same publicity that you have already given to the letter of the masters of the steam-ships Halching and Decima-1 have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant,
(Sd) F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary.
The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.
COPY OF THE "RIFORT BY THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE OBSERVATORY. Hon. Colonial Secretary,
|
With reference to the letter of the Chamber of Commerce dated the 16th instant and its
I give these facts in contravention of the TELEGRAMS. statement in the letter that the typhoon was met by thein at midnight on August 1st.
(Reuters.)
The fact is simply that both ships left this
War Expenditure. port in spits of the forecasts issued and in the
LONDON, August 31st, face of typhoon, warnings separately published
Mr. Chamberlain, speaking at Birmingham and widely distributed hours before their departure, and the risk they ran must have on the occasion of the presentation of war been well known to their respective captains-medals, said that the country would never (Sd.) F. G: Figg, aaf8/02.
submit to the expenditure necessary to be always prepared for war, and that an appeal to voluntary patriotism, to which our success in the late war in South Africa was mainly due, would always be necessary.
Extracts from China Coast Meteorological
Register.
"On the 31st at FT. a.m. The barometer is still falling over the Philippines owing to the depression to the Eastward of Luzon. The barometer has risen over the S. coast of China, fallen in NE Japan, the Northern depression having approached the Northern islands, Mo derate SE. and E, winds on the China Coast. Forecast:-E. or variable winds, light; fair."
(Sd.) F. G. FIGG, Acting Director.
Hongkong Observatory,
Thursday, 31st July, 1902.
"On the 1st at 11.50a.m. The typhoon is probably situated to the East of the Balingtang Channel. It appears to be moving towards North-West. Wind probably freshening from North-East in the Formosa Channel Bar meter falling in S. China, rising over the Southern Philippines. Pressure still low over the N. part of the Sea of Japan. Reports from N. China and Formosa not yet received
winds, moderate; fair"
Hongkong Observatory,
Fe day, 1st August, 1902.
Forecast N
(Sd.) F. G Fico, Acting Pared for
EXPRESS.
TVPHOON WARNING.
Hongkong Observatory,
31st July, 11.5 a.tn. The barometer is still falling over the Philip pines owing in the depressien to the Eastward of Luzon
gru July, rang.
(84) 1
EXPRESS.
CYPHOON WARNING.
Rongkang Observatory.
1st August, 11 5 a.m. The typhoon is probably situated to the East of Balingtang Channel. It appears to be moving towards North-West. Wind probably freshening from Nurth East in the Formosa Channel.
(F} F G Flen
1st August, 1992.
From Captain A. C Hodgins, ss Haiching, To the Director Hongkong Meteorological
Station.
Swatow, 5th August, 1902. Dear Sir. In sending my log of the recent typhoon I would fert obliged if you would let me know if the conditions were not abnormal. The extraordinary display of blinding lighten- ing over a bank of heavy clouds to the ES.E. all night. The absence of swell from the centre. The N.W. wind in the advancing semi-circle.
Was the Captain of the Decima wrong in heasing to off Chelung Paint? How could be get the centre aver him? Did this typhoon recurve to the W.S.W?
I must own I would think myself safe with
the wind from N.W. and that to heave to or run back was the proper thing to do, but although I ran to the W.N.W. 50g and then anchored in Fun-lo-kong, I had the full force of the typhoon. I would feel very much obliged if you would enlighten me and a number of my confreres. Thanking you in anticipation, Yours &c
(Sd.) A. C. HODGINS.
MURDEROUS ASSAULT AT
SHAUKIWAN.
COOLIE TERRIBLY HATTERED.
Last Sunday evening the police authorities at Shaukiwan were informed that a brutal assault
· LITERARY NOTES.
REVIEWS.
OPIUM QUOTATIONS.
BENARES
BENARES:
Hongkong, 2nd September.
Par chest ..$910 .. 8871
920
M@ 915,
@.975/tara @ 120/400 600
To-day's quotations are as follows Russia, The third number of this interest
the excellent standard of the two previous OLD PATNA ... ing publication-is to hand, and fully maintains NEW PATNA
issues. A lengthy article on Russian trade at Tientsin is worthy of attention and earnest NEW HALWA consideration especially in view of the fact OLD that the opinion has frequently been expressed PERSIAN-Best quality.. that the achievement of constructing the great | Trans-Siberian Railway would probably modify considerably the importance of the port, and the role played by Russian trade in China Other articles of equal inter- include the "International Trust Con- ference,
**Russia's Woollen Industry," the "Fur Trade," and the "Textile Industries of Russia."
The Abolition of Likin. An Imperial Ediet has been issued, abol- Į est ishing Likin stations in China. It declares that during the period of negotiation for new commercial treaties with foreign states, an understanding has been arrived at for an in- crease in the import and export duties.
LATER.
The Literary Digest coines from New York with clockwork regularity, and although it has now reached its twenty-fifth volume the pablication receives well merited support from almost every section of the community. Its ¦ varied contenis deal with topics of the day, the Anglo-letters and art, science and invention, the re- ligious wurlit, foreign topics and miscellaneous subjects.
America and China. Mr. Conger, United States Minister at Peking, has been instructed to conclude a treaty with China similar to Chinese Commercial Treaty.
The Anglo-Chinese Commercial
Treaty-A Hitch. Contrary to expectation, the Anglo-Chinese Commercial Treaty was not signed on Satur- Jay. Sir James Mackay, Great Britain's re- presentative, refused to sign owing to the in- definite wording of the Imperial Edict on the question of the surtax. He has can- celled his passage to England which he had already booked by the next Empress steamer,
It is understood that the terms of the Treaty are not questioned, the matter being simply one of interpretation of the Imperial | decree.
THE ARMY.
The transport Pentakota left Calcutta on the 29th ult. with Indian details for the North China Station. She is due at Hongkong on the 12th inst
THE NAVY.
The He trated Children's Educator
19 a native paper, recently. started at Peking and, as its title denotes, is for the object of educating the native children. The language is very simple being after the: model of Mr. Hwang's Peking Mandariu Paper. I I a daily publication and each month the numbers are neatly bound and issued in a volume of some zoo printed pages. There are many · illustrations, and as the subscription is only 60 cents per month the publication should receive a very wide support.
ALLEGED BRITISH SPY IN JAVA.
Some stir has been brought about by the Batavia Nieuwsblad starting the story that a British officer had lately busied himself in closely examining the new forts just completed at Sourabaya. That Journal says that, while the officer was hard at work with this, he was H.M.S. Amphitrite arrived from Weih iwei | reported to the authorities at Buitenzorg, the ¦ this morning.
residence of the Governor-General, and he was asked for his papers. Before a decision could be reached, the officer found it expendient to leave for Singapore. The Sourabaya Courant
H.M.S. Rinaldo has sailed for Shanghai. H.M.S. Espiegle will probably touch a1 Han. kow, before calling at Hongkong.
FOUR FIRES.
IN HONGKONG.
Between subset yesterday and sunrise this morning three incipient fires occurred in be Colony at the following districts:-
Kowloon :-The matshed of an Indian watch. man situated at Mong Kok was burnt down at about 7 pm He estimated his loss to the police at about $250, as he was unable to save anything except what he was wearing at the time, when he was on duty.
Aberdeen -The second fire occurred at Aberdeen where a temporary matshed, erected as a sort of theatre, was completely razed to the ground.
SHIPPING AND MAIL NEWS,
MAILS DUE
German (König Albert) to-morrow. American (Coptic) 4th inst. German (Prinz Regent Lulipold) 5th inst. French (Oceanien) 7th lust. Canadian (Empress of Japan) gih inst. American (America Maru). 13th last. American (Korea) 28th inst.) - Canadian (Empress of China) 30th inst.
The N. P. S. Co.'s steamer Pleiades arrived at Auroran on the rat inst..
The N. P. S. Co.'s steamer Glenogle sailes from Yokohama for Hongkong to-day. the 2nd
inst.
The P. & O. steamer Maragon will leave for Singapore and Bombay at 10a.m. to-morrow, instead of as previously advertised.
The PM 5. S. Co's new steamer: Korza sailed from San Francisco on the 30th ult., for Hongkong and will make the usual ports of call on the way.
The Canadian Pacific Railway Co.'s R.M.5) Empress of Japan arrived at Yokobama at 8.30 am. on Monday, the tat inst, and left again at 3 p.m., same day for Kobe where she is due to arrive at 2 p.m. on Cuesday, the 2nd inst.
Co-day's Advertisements.
BROWN, JONES, & CO.,
· UNDERTAKERs and MonumeNTAL MASONS.
DURING my ABSENCE from the Colony
and until further Notice, Mr. H. W. S. Business of EDMUNDS will Manage the BROWN, JONES & Co. and SIGN the Firm į name.
WM. EVAN EPS, Proprietor. Hongkong, 1st September, 1902. [918d
NOTICE. HONGKONG PLANTATION COMPANY,
BROWN, JONES & CO., JONES & CO., as above, I am, at same HILE managing the business of BROWN, time, continuing to act as GENERAL MANA- GER at the HONGKONG PLANTATION Co.
H. W. S. EDMUNDS.: Hongkong, ist September, 1992.
says that the true story is this: A few months W
ago a certain Captain Wuntess of the Madras army came to Batavia, and asked for leave to travel about in Java for
. SIGHT-SEEING PURPOSES.
Leave was granted. He began by visiting at Batavia the spot where new coast batteries were being constructed, and by examining them. Then he went to other military statioas to lake notes, so it is alleged. At Sourabaya, he is said to have also visited several coast batteries. The officer is then reported to have been seen at strategic points in the island of Madura, off the Java coast. Finally, he visited the navy-yard at Sourabaya Afterwards he went to Malang, where a Dutch officer was West Point-The third outbreak was at Des
detailed to show him whatever was worth see- Vieux Road West and occurred about 5 a.m. It
ing. Upon this a resident of Sourabaya tele- appears that a godown belonging to the North graphed a warning to Buitenzorg. The autho- German Lloyd was ablaze in consequence of a rities of Sourabaya then laid their heads to- bale of cotton waste getting ignited. Fortunate-gether, and began to move in the matter. The ly the damage was very trifling as the Brigade | departure of the officer for Singapore soon turned out promptly and checked the outbreak. followed. We understand the only loss sustained was about fifty bales being more or less damaged by water. About $200 would suffice to cover the damage
Quarry Bay-We have just been informed that another incipient fire took place in a mashed on the Taikoo Extension Works. Quarry Bay. Damage to the extent of $500 accrued.
CARPENTERS AND WORK AT
THE DOCKS.
We understand that so far as the Hoogkang and Whampoa Docks are concerned the car- penters, who have recently been an strike, are expected to resume work in a few days at the old rate of wages. Notwithstanding their absence from duty the Company have aut suffered any great inconvenience as most of the work in band did not necessitate the presence of carpenters. In fact, it is said tha through the strike instead of losing the Company have saved something like $15,000! Five of the American lighters ordered for Manila are still there and the frame wok of
info mition is capable of improvemen and enclosure, attach the siorin-warnings issued authorities discovering the poor fellow in this the new steamer for the flangkong, Canton &
"has given directions by which it is hoped that the China Coast Metcore ogical Register issued by the Hongkong Observatory may be more quickly and widely distributed, and cognise the value of the change proposed, a step in the right direction which cannot fail to prove of material benefit to shipping.
They would, however, at the same time again respectfully urge upon the Government
that even by the prompt issue of Expresses there are occasions when such intelligence is too tardily distributed, too late to be of service to the maritime population; whereas, by a code of flag signals, depaiting vessels might be warned in time instead of being allowed to sail into dangers. Not only are the Expresses not sufficiently widely distributed, but the mere: delay in, printing and circulation is often sufficient to admit of ships leaving when they should continue in.abelter.
prior to the departure of the steamships Decima and Hatching.
Commercial.
TO-DAY'S INTELLIGENCE.
AND
[919d
A SPECIAL BAND PERFORMANCE AND A SPECIAL DINNER at the QUEEN'S HOTEL, Kowloon, TO-MORROW (WEDNESDAY),
at 7.30 P.M. A
+
HE Band of the 23rd Burma Jofantry will play a selection of music during dinner on the 3rd inst, at the above Hotel Tables booked in advance.
H. RUTTONJEE, Proprietor. Hongkong, and September, 1903. (9201
"DEN" LINE OF STEAMERS.
FOR GENOA, LONDON & ANTWERP THE Steamship
THE
"BENALDER,"
Captain McIntosh, will be despatched as above on or about FRIDAY, the 12th instant.
For Freight, apply to
GIBB, LIVINGSTON & Co, Agents. Hongkong, and September, 19oz... [9163
FOR NAGASAKI AND VLADIVOSTOCK.
The Share Market is very dull, and there is THE Steamship
very little to report, except that there is a small enquiry for DOCKS, BANKS and LANDS, the prices being pretty much the same as last reported. CHINA BORNEOS are wanted at $19. There are sellers of GREEN ISLANDS at $20, and CHINA PROVIDENTS at $9.00, INDO-CHINA STEAM NAVIGATE -N at $79 to $79.50 at which rate business has been done.
DISTILLERS
BY APPOINTMENT TO
THE
upon a Chinese coulie had been committed in the Shaukiwan Road. and that the victim was wounded and helpless. From reports it appears that the coolie in question quarrelled with three of his friends previous to Sun- day evening and, it is stated that these three friends assaulted hitn. The injuries sustained were several knife wounds about the chest, arms and head. On the police
meet Civil Hospital, where he now lies in a cutup condition he was removed to the Govern Macao Steamboat Company is well advanced. The Rainbow came out of the No. 1 Dock precarious condition. Regarding the perpetra- been made and the case, though brought for- tors of this cowardly crime, three arrests have ward to-day, is to be heard at the Police Court, before Mr. J. H. Kemp, on the 8th inst Yesterday afternoon Mr. Kemp, the Hon. F. J. Badeley (Captain Superintendent of Police) and Inspector Roberson, accompanied by the three prisoners, visited the hospital to take the injured man's depositions, but the invalid was The accompanying letter from the Captain in such a bad condition that their journey was of the ffaicking throws some light on his own action and on that of the Captain of the Decima. It would appear that the atter vessel was hove to off Chelung Paint about midnight of the 1st and there quietly awaited the arrival of the centre of the typhoon, which must have passed over her about 15 hours later, say, at 3 pm. on the zod.
yesterday after a thorough overhauling and proceeds to Manila, while the Rubi has gone SCOTCH in for repairs. In addition to work on other
As the masters of these vessels admit re- ceiving this information—it is incorporated as usual in the weather forecasts of July 31st and August 1st (see C.C.M.R. attached), it would appear that they left this port on tat August for Swatow with full knowledge that a typhoon existed to the Eastward and that it was likely to approach the Southern entrance of the Formosa Channel about 18 hours after their departure.
fruitless,
COLLAPSE AT YAUMATI
common occurrence in this Colnay happened At about five o'clock this morning a very
at Yaumati. The roofs of Nos. 26 and 18 Battery Street fell through the houses which collapsed 6. The remarks of Mr. Figg on a flag sina!
in the orthodox style. Panic ensued in the code to the effect that unles a very extensive,
The log of the Haiching, whose Captain- pear vicinity, the poor neighbours having good and therefore impracticable code were adopted appears to me in have acted in a more seaman- it could not give the information in a definite like manner, shows that he put back to Beastion were Chinese habitations and the inmates
cause to the frightened. The houses in ques form are noted, but it is within the knowledge Bay for shelter, that he experienced no more of both were lucky enough to be clear of the of the committee that such a code has for a than a fresh breeze until to m. on the and filling rubbish. No personal injuries being number of years been in daily use in Shanghai, and that the centre did not reach the neigh- sustained, and the only cause for regret is that where it has given the greatest satisfaction te bourhood of his ship until 7.30 p.m. the same much of the personal belongings of the in- shipmasters frequenting the port. The com evening.
habitants was destroyed."
ASK
SK for ASAHI JAPANESE BEER-
Ginulty
A
SK for ASAHI JAPANESE BEER.
G. Girau
ASK for ASAHI JAPANESE BEER-
G. Girault,
steamers, the Company are building a powerful tug for their own use and the work is far fiued up, and when completed should be a advanced. A fine engine shed is being rapidly credit to any firm in the Far East. The electric plant is also in a very advanced stage and will undoubtedly be a boon to the Company. The 10-ton steam hammer is still in a uscicas state
owing to the damage done by the recent land- slip, and although gangs of coolie's are at work removing the debris it will take a considerable time. to overcome the difficulties occasioned both at the forge and the near end of the black- smith's shop.
THE WEATHER.
The Hongkong Observatory, Mr, F. G. Figg, Acting Director, reports the following:-
On the end at 12.20 pm The typhoon,
weather between the E. coast of China and moving Northwards, probably passed East of Gutzlaff lighthouse during the night.
W. Japan.
Bad
Barometer has fallen in W. Japan, risen over E. Japan, and S. China. Light variable N part of the Chine Sea winds in S. China; moderate N.E. winds in the
Forecast-Moderate N. winds; fint.
SK for ASAHI JAPANESE BEER.
Girault
"SAVOIA,"
above Ports on FRIDAY, the 5th instant, Captain Rebbelmund, will be despatched for the at 5 PM, instead of,as previously advertised.
This Steamer bas Superior Accommodation for First Class Passengers.
For Freight or Passage, apply to
HAMBURG-AMERIKA LINIE, Hongkong Office. Hongkong, and September, rooz.
HIS MAJESTY THE KING.
TWO POPULAR
WHISKIES
ARE THE CELEBRATED
HOUSE OF COMMONS "
Better known as
"Black and White
(White Seal)
AND
BUCHANAN BLEND
BUCHANAN BI
·SCOTCH WHISKY
TEC HOUSE OF co
(Red Seal)
BÖR
Sole Agents:
LANE, CRAWFORD & CO.
HONGKONG.
LEHOUSE OF COS
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