1881-10-15 — Page 3

p.m. 3.00 p.m.

nd the state of hat the danger

barometer at & Co.'s were

29.060 29.060 29.074 29.080 29.086

6.15 p.m.... 3.30 p.m... 03.45 p.m...

4.200 4.00 p.m...

29.218 4.15 p.m...

29.154 4.30 p.m.... 29.096 4.46 p.... 29.070 5.00 p.m...... 29.110

29.096

29.100

THE “CHINA MAIL" AND THE DOCKS.

In yesterday's Velegraph we publish ed particulars of a project which is now on foot to establish a New Dock Coin- pany in this Colony under Chinese aus- pices. We did so on the highest autho-, rity, that of the Chinose gontlenen interested in the undertaking. The names of the promoters, the ground purchased for the site of the dock, and other particulars were plainly stated, so that the public could judge for them- selves whether the statement was on the face of it bona fide, or otherwise. So far as we were concerned we simply published a statement of facts, forward- el to us by those who ought to know their own business, in auswer to our enquiries made in the interests of the public.

The China Mall in its last night's

issue of illiternto twaddle, weak inven. tions, and stale extracts, has the anda- city to impute improper motives to somebody, not very clearly defined, as a paltry excuse for, and palliation of its own feeble pretensions to be in any way considered a medium for placing the public in possession of news of general interest. This shallow dodge

of impating motives, which has for many months been our evening con- temporary's principal stock-in-trado, innst be nearly played out. It was too contemptible for His Excellency the Governor to notice, although for wocks of almost every day occurrence; it is beneath our contempt, and it is only our duty to the public which induces ús to even notice the puny snarls of baffled malignancy.

The China Mail believes the rumour about a Dock is based upon somewhat slender grounds. Why not state for the information of the public the grounds of such belief? We have heard," says the evening oracle, of a

" is

44

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, 1881.

THIS DAY, ONE P.M. ·

With regard to the new Dock to be | COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. built by the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, wo understand that its dimensions are---Length 150 feet; breadth at sill. 90 feet; and depth of water at low tide, 26 feet. Tho reason wo believe, why Aberdeen Dock was not enlarged to suit these dimensions was that the Tope Dock there is ontside the lines of the proposed fortifications of the Island.”

This is an unmistakeable canard, but whether published for the purpose of manipulating the share market, or for other motives we leave the China Mail

to explain. This however we do know, and that is, that what our contempo- rary "understands" and "believes" is nothing more nor less than a grossly inaccurate statement, founded on iguo- rance, and published for-Heaven knows what.

Aberdeen Dock was not

deepened (it was never proposed to enlarge it), simply because the terme offered by the Admiralty were not deemed sufficiently liberal by the Directors of the Dock. Company, for the trouble, expense, and loss of re- of great magnitude, which was for the venue involved in carrying out a work sole benefit of the Royal Navy. This is no secret. It luas boon public talk in the colony for the last two years, Whatever private information on those and other matters, our former associa tions with the Dock Company inay have placed us iu possession of, we consiler sacred; and under no circum stances could we betray confidence, But we can say without laying our- selves open to censure or blame that the assertions of the China Mail are untrné and misleading.

Even with the efficient staff of short-

hand reporters, our contemporary finds it such hard work to provide its readers with news, and fill its well-brickel columns with some kind of pabulum, that it has had to descend to inventions, and scurrilous insinua tions. It would be better to accept the inevitable, and retain oué or two

"ags" of respectability. The geniuses

who run the China Mail should never

forget that it is impossible to "wake a silk purse out of a sow's ear."

AN EXPENSIVE PARASOL.

One fine summer's morning, thir. teen years ago, when the German gam- ing season was at its height, the late

M. and Mdie. Blanc started from

Wiesbaden at an early hour to spend the day at Homburgh. Upon arriving at their destination, Mdme. Blanc dis- covered that she had left her parasol at home, and insisted that her husband

should buy her a new one. Somewhat reluctantly he invested eighty francs in a parasol of great fashion and beau- himself, for so unwouted an extravag- ty, but forthwith resolved to recoup

ance,

Dock which the H. K. & W. Dock Company purpose constructing, in ac cordance with plans submitted to the Admiralty in London; but the idea of a Dock being built in Belcher's Bay is one which requires confirmation, should say (the italics are ours). Of course, if we are wrong, we shall have the greatest pleasure in acknowledging the error so soon as such is satisfactori ly demonstrated." Our contemporary's cautiously meant, "we should say a confession of weakness; a palpable admission of gross ignorance; a tacit at the tables. Accordingly, he acknowledgement that nothing what walked straight into Conversations- over is known about the subject refer- Saal devoted to trente-et-quarante, and red to. The China Mail is so frequent took up a strategic position to the ly wrong, that we do not really sce

right of the chief croupier. His ap- what benefit the public would derive pearance created a lively sensation. from that confession which is so mag Half-a-dozeu chairs wore obsequiously nanimously promised in the sweet by proffered to him by the officials, but he and-bye. We would, however, parti-declined them upon the ground that, as cularly direct the attention of our

he only intended to reman at the table readers and the public generally to for a minute or two, it would not be the following imputation which the worth his while to sit down. Ho then thing" called by a wide stretch of addressed himself to the enterprise of courtesy, a public newspaper and re-recovering the price of his wife's new presentative, has the indecency to make -against itself:—

"We have heard it whispered that there are persons here who are not above making use of such canards for the purpose of manipulating the sliare market, and that there are many im pressionable people who unthinkingly part with their stock upon insinuations and indications of this nature. Such

instances, however, must be raro in a small community like this, where nearly every movement must be more or less known sooner or later (Okina Mail logic). The game, if it does exist, is dangerous, and wo shall not hesitato to expose any clear instance of the kind that comes to our knowledge."

We have marked, considered, and inwardly digested the above, and our conclusion is, that instancos of such barefaced rascality being so rare in this colony, our contemporary's damaging reflections are of a personal character, and can only apply to itself. We are led to this conclusion by the following paragraph which follows tho self- acousing sontences:**

parasol, by setting two louis on the black. Black won; whereupon, tak- ing up his gains, he left his original stake on the table and lost it by the These alternations went on for coup. some time never once leaving him eighty francos-the sam he had resolv. ed to wig-to the good. By-and-by a vein set in against him. He called for a chair, sate down, and produced bis. pocket-book. Presently, his funds be. ing exhausted, he began to borrow from the bank. Hour after hour, with brief and intermittent flashes of luck, do- lusively encouraging him to persist, he strove to pay for the parasol at the ex- pense of his own institution. When, however, the tables closed at eleven o'clock, M. Blanc found, to his extreme voxation and disgust, that his wife's forgetfulness had cost him exactly 3,6401.

Why is a man who spoils his children like another who build castles in the air?-Because he indulges in fancy (infancy) too much.

A general all round depression, and an utter disinclination to do business, are the principal features of the Share Market this morning. Bauks which have been stonding nominally at 111 per cont. premium for the past week or two have been unable to main. tain that quotation, and offers to sell for cash at 112 have been heard from various

quarters, without however loading to busi-

news. The stock, for some reason or other,

is unmistakeably wenk, and indications are not wanting that a retrograde movement is cannot say, but unfavorable symptoms are inevitable. Why this should be, we really certainly predominant just now. Docks are also much weaker, and although we retain the quotation 40 per cent. premium, sellers,

it must be understood that we do so mere- ly because there has been no business tran- acted since we last wrote, and because no

definite offers bave been made to sell at a lower rate. Purchasers, anxious to do

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVALS.

MacEWEN FRICKEL & Co, GENERAL STOREKEEPERS, &o.

Oct. 14, DIAMANTE, British, steamor, put HAVE FOR SALE,

back.

Oot. 15, SUNDA, British steamer, 1,029, G. C. Brooks, Yokohama 6th October, Nagasaki 10th, and Kobe 8th, Gene- ral.-P. & 0. S. N. Co. Oct. 15, Amox, British steamer, 814, Capt. Hermann, from Canton.-Siemsson & Co. Oct. 15, GLENEAGLES. British steamer, 1,839, Gasson, Foochow 13th Oct., General-Jardine, Matheson & Co. Oct. 15, ESMERALDA, British steamer, 395,

Talbot, Manila 11th Oct., General. Russell & Co.

DEPARTURES. Oct. 15, STENTOR, British steamer, for

Singapore, &c.

Oct. 14, FOKIEN, British steamer, for Coast

Ports.

Oct. 15, KANG-OR1, Chinese steamer, for

Hoihow..

Oct. 15, DIAMANTE, British steamer, for

Manila.

Oct. 15, NGATA MARU, Japanese steamer,

for Kobe, &c.

Oct. 15, Lipo, British stoamer, for Hai-

phong

PASSENGERS.

ARRIVED.

Per Esmeralda, British steamor, from Manila, Mogers. McGregor Smith, E. J. Longard, J. McLeod, and 102 Chinese.

business, would have not the slightest trouble in procuring Dock shares at a considerable. reduction on the above-named figures. Of course this depression is all owing to the Chinese Dock Company; but we really can. not see why an opposition, which cannot be in existence for at least three years, and which under the most favourable circum- stances, cannot hope for the next quarter of a century to materially injure the pres pects of the old established concern, should place the Dock Company's scrip at such a discount as compared with rates quoted a few months ago. To look the matter straight in the face, what does it all amount inevitable, merely a question of time, which to? An opposition was from the first ought to have been foreseen. No matter how influentially supported any new under- taking may be, it can have but few pros pects, for many years at least, of competing Buccessfully against the old established Com pany, backed up and supported as it is, by the whole of the great shipping interests of the colon y. The old rivals of the Dock Company had a gay time of it when in opposition, and although they came through Captain J. C. Bayly, R.L.F., and Mr. R. F triumphantly and with flying colors, it was solely owing to mismanagement on the part of business men who ought to have availed themselves of the golden opportunity when it presented itself. Holders of Dock shares may remain quite tranquil. The stock will go down doubtless, how low down we would not like to say, but Chinese oppo- sition cannot do much harm just now, and as the business is an exceedingly remune-

rative one, good dividends will be realised,

and confidence will he restored. Stock Ex-

change operations are not always the safest indications to go by, so we would simply re- commend those interested in Docks to use their good sense in dealing with the infor- mation laid before them. No business in other stocks has to be reported.

SUARES, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpo-

ration-112 per cent. premium, Sellera. Union Insurance Society of Canton-$1,675

per bare, ex dividend.

China Taders Insurance Company-$1,000

r*share. per

per share.

North-China Insurance Company-Tlș. 1,125 Yangtze Insurance Association—1ls.. 830

per share.

Chinese Insurance Company-$307 per

share, sales.

On Tai Insurance Company, Limited-Tia. Hongkong Fire Insurance Company-$065

150 per share.

per share, Sellere. China Fire Insurance Company-$285 per Hong kong and Whampoa Dock Company---

share, sellers.

Jongkong, Canton, and Macao Steamboat Company-$25 per share premium, sel- China Coast Steam Navigation Company-

The. 162 per share.

40 per cent. premium, sellers.

lera

Hongkong Gas Company-$85 per share. Hongkong Hotel Company-$112 per share,

Sellers.

China Sugar Refining Company, Limited-

$160 per share.

China Sugar Refining Company (Debentures)

3 per cent. premium. Hongkong Ice Company-$127; per share Hongkong and China Bakery Company,

Sales.

Limited-$50 per share. Chinese Imperial Government Loan of 1878

---13 per cent. premium, ex interest. Chinese Imperial Government Loan of 1881

3 per cent. premium.

EXCHANGE.

9/81

3/83

3/08

3/0

On LONDON-Bank Bills, T.T.. Bank Bills, at 30 days' sight Bank Bills, at 4 months' sight Credits, at 4 months' sight On PARIS-Bank Bills, on demand..

Documentary Bills, 4 months' sight. 3/10 4.69 Credits, at 4 months' sight On BOMBAY Bank, T,T. On CALCUTTA—Bank, T.T. On SHANGHAI-Bank, T.T. Private, 30 days sight

4.82 223 223) 731

73%

HONGKONG TEMPERATURE.

̈(TAKEN AT MESSES. FALCONER AND OO'S

.: BEGISTER, QUEEN'S-KOAD).

Hongkong, 14th and 15th October. BAROMETER--1 P.M.

Do.

4 P.M.

.29.080 THERMOMETER-1 P.M.

.75. 4 P.M.

,78. 1 PM. (Wet bulb)...75.

Do. Do.

Do.

4 P.M. Do.

A.M.

BAROMETER.

THERMOMETER-9 A.M.

.29.266

.::78.

..29,926 ...76.

..78.

Do.

Minimum(over night)...76.

Do.

AM. (Wet Bulb)...75, Do. Maximum......

Per Sunda. British stenmer, from Yoko- haina, &c., Mrs. Muir and 3 children, and 1 European servant, Mr. Guttinger, R.N., Captain Hare, Licut. Bennett, Messra. G. E. March. F. D. Palmer. G. Lobolska. Baron Stilfried, A. J. Leffingwell and Mr. Graff, and 8 distressed seamen, and 30 Chinese deck.

TO DEPART.

Per Rosetta, steamer, for Europe, &c.,

Clarke, O.S.D. for Sonthampton; Colonel Crossman, Lieut. Russell, Messrs. C. Stangan, Ph. Wolff and N. Halenta, for Singapore.

REPORTS.

The British steamer Sunda, from Yoko- hama, &c., reports light S.E. wind and fine weather from Yokohama to Kobe, same weather to Nagasaki; thence to fine weather; from Turnabout strong Turnabout light S.E. to S.W. 'winds and

gales, thick overenst weather, heavy squalls of wind and rain, and high S.E. sea.

MAILS.

The following mails will close :- TO-DAY, 15th October.-

For Japan, San Francisco, the United States, Canada. Honolulu, Peru, &c., per City of Peking, at 5 p.m. For Straits Settlements and Calcutta per Lennox, at 2.30 p.m. For Singapore, Penang, Colombo and Bombay, per Dido, at 5 p.m. For Singapore, per Keelung, at 3.30 p.m. For San Fran- cisco, per Cascapedia, at 4,30 p.m. TO-MORROW, 16th October,-

For Saigon, por Penedo, at 9 a.m, On MONDAY, 17th October,--

For the United Kingdom and Europe, via Brindisi; to the Straits Settle. ments, Batavia, Burmah, Ceylon, In- dia, Adon, Egypt, Malta, Gibraltar, and Mauritius, per Rosetta: printed matter at 2 p.m., letters at 3 p.m.. For Bangkok, por Dale, at 2.30 p.m. For Amoy, per Esmeralda, at 10.30

2.1.

On WEDNESDAY, 19th October,-

For Nagasaki and Yokohama, per

Sunda, at 3.30 p.m.

On MONDAY, 24th October,~~~

For the United Kingdom and Europe, via Naples; to Saigon, Straits Settle- ments, Batavia, Burmah, Ceylon, In- dia (via Madras), the Australasian Colonies, Aden, Egypt, Malta, and Gibraltar, per Iraouuddy, for printed matter at 10 a.m., and letters at 11 am.

A recent home paper says:-The news that a murderous outrage perpe. trated by a native of Tripoli on a Mal- tese in Tanis led the commander of H. M. S. Monarch to despatch eight boats, with three hundred men and four can- non to Sasa, is an unpleasant reminder which may arise at any moment in North Afrion. Arab fanaticism excited by French Chauvinism, may compel us to choose between seeing our subjects massacred and undertaking armed intervention for their protection. For- tunately at Susa, it was not necessary for our troops to land, but the next time satisfactory assurances may not be forthcoming-and thon? Lord North- brook will do well to keep his captains well in band, and he might do worse than quietly strengthen the force avail. able for emergencies on the Tanisan coast.

Groceries. Crosse & Blackwell's, Celebrated House- hold Stores:

John Moir & Sons), Colebrated House- hold Stores.

American Stores of all descriptions. Huntley & Palmer's BISCUITS & CAKES, BUTTER Danish & French, Philippe

& Canaud's PATES &o.,

CHUTNIES & CURRY POWDER, TEYSSONEAU'S

FRUITS in juico.

COFFEE, SUGAR, &c. &c.

Wines, Spirits, &c. - CUTLER PALMER" & Co.'s "CARTE BLANCHE." HEIDIO & Oo.'s MO- NOPOLE, pts. and qts.'ADOLPHE COLLIN'S BOUZY UABINET.

MUMM'S (JULES) CHAMPAGNE

pts. and qts.

NEYEN'S (BODEN) BOUZY,

pts, and qts.

EXTRA SEC, quarta.. Charles Heidsiecks's WHITE" SEAL, pta. and qts. VEUVE OLIQUOT PON- SARDIN, pts. and qts. Theophile Roo- derer & Co.'s VERZENAY MOUSSEUX, pts. and qts.

Krug's CHAMPAGNE, pts. and qts.

CUTLER PALMER & Co.'s CHAT- EAU MOUTON. LORMONT, pints,

and quarts. ARAUZAN (Chateau), pints and quarte, ERMITAGE LUDON, THIBŒUF (Chateau), pints and quarts, CHATEAU LAROSE (Curcier & Adet's),

pints and quarts.

CHATEAU LAFITE, pints and quarts. IRES GRAVES, pints and quarts. BREAKFAST CLARET, pints & quarts. OLD INVALID OLARET.

St. JULIEN, &c., &e. Breakfast Claret.

Burgundy, Hock, Sherries, &c. Chambertin, Chablis (White), Liebfrau

mailch, Hockheimer, Niersteiner, Stein-

bergor Cabinet, Rudesheimer Berg, Koninin Victoria Berg, Chateau Yquem, Grand Vin, Haut Sauterne Marsala, Saccone's Pale Dry White Seal Sherry, Yellow Seal Amontilado Sherry, Cutler Palmer- and Co.'s Shorry, Invalid Port (1848), Hunt's Port,

Brandy, Whisky, Liqueurs, &c. 1, 2 and 3-star Hennessy's Brandy, La Grande Marque Brandy,

Cutler Palmer & Gol- Brandy, Houyer Guillef & Co.'s Brandy, 1 to 4 stars; Finest Old Bourbon Whisky, highly recommended, Kinahan's LL Irish Whisky, Jamieson's Irish Whisky, Royal Glendee Whisky; AVH Gin, Swaine Boord & Co.'s Old Tom Gin: La Grande Chartreuse, Green and Yellow, Maraschino de Zara, Curaçoa pints and quarts; Angostura, Boker's and Orange Bitters, &c., &c., &c.

BASS'S ALE, bottled by Cameron and

Saunders, pints and quarts. GUINNESS'S STOUT, bottled by E &

J. Burke, pints and quarts." PILSENER BEER, in quarts. DRAUGHT ALE and PORTER, by

the Gallon.

>

Fine ALE, bottled by MacEwen, Frickel & Co. ALE and PORTER, in hosgheads

Erated Waters. SODA WATER,

LEMONADE,

TONIC WATER,

SARSAPARILLA,

&c., &c., &o.

The Finest Stocks of

CIGARS, CAVITE CHEROOTS, PRINCESA CHEROOTS, PRINCESA CIGARS, AROCEROS, VEGUEROS.

&e..

&3. "PERFECTION" All Specially Selected. EMPRESS OF INDIA, and Best NAVY.

STATIONERY, BOOKS &c. "Franklin Square" Library,

"Seaside "Library,

Harper's Half-hour Series.

French Novels,

Medical Works.

School Books.

Presentation Books.

Works of reference &c. Stationery for Ladies and Office use. Direct from the manufacturers the best

and Cheapest in Hongkong Special orders in this line exouted on

very moderate terms. Papers ruled to any pattern and stamped

Plain, cameo or relief. Dies engraved to order. Office requisitos

of every description. Milner's Fire Proof Safes, Cash and Deed

Boxes, Brushware.

Cutlery, Crockery, and GlasswWHTE. Builder's Hardware material, Sporting- Guns. Revolvers and Sporting ammunition. Sailmaking and Rigging promptly ex0*

ontoil.