1905-01-21 — Page 5

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THE CHINA ProvidenT: LOANŢ

AND MORTGAGE CO., LID.

пап..

SHAREHOLDERS'. MEETING,

18th inst.

¦

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1905.

THE "1UNOCHOW" CASH.

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS.

17th Just"

GENERAL STOESSEL

· PASSING ` THEOVOX `HONGKONG,

syth inst We learn, on excellent authority, that General Stoessel, and the majority of the officers maining in Port Arthur at the time of the sur render will pass through here on the lex French mail fallen on soul for St Fetersburg. The vessel is due early at week.

SOLICITOR'S CLERK'S FATAL-

·FALE:

18th last.

*MUTHORISED ARCHITECTS, A

SATURDAY'S SPORT.

CRICKET.

16th inst.

The following list of all authorized architects under section 7 of the Public Health and Buil dings Ordinance, 1903, in published in the Gaselle: Messrs. H. W. Bird, G. Blood, J. F. The eighth ordinary general meeting of One of the direct results of the fall of Port

Boukon, A. Bryer, W. Chatham, W. Danby, A shareholders in the above Company, was held Arthur was made apparent when the steamship

Denison, H. G. C. Fisher, C. H. Gale, L. Gibbs, at the offices of the General Managers, Messra: Tungchow, of London, who boarded by the

A. Grin, B. B. Hacker, E. M. Hareland Shawan; Toes and Company St. George's harbour authorities under the Military Stores

H. Hewitt, A. H. Rollingsworth, As Shelton Buildings, this morning. Hon. Mr. R. Shewan Ordinance, and ago tons of shells, ammunition

Hooper, P. N. H. Jones, W. P. Lambert, presided, and there were also present Meaara and gunpowder seized. In the latter part of

E. Lee, J. Lemm, D. Macdonald, J, Orange, A) 1. 9, van Buren, H. P. White, W. Allen, C. A¦ last month nows was received that the 2wwg!

The Mercury of the 13th Inst, says: General H. Ough, T., L. Perkins, 9. J. Powell, A. Tomes, W. Braidwood, A. Babington, Captain showwhich formerly belonged to Mesars Stoessel and other bussian officers are expectRam, C. H. Few, C. B. Thomas, H. F. Tooker, Goddard, Fung Wa Chun, and W. R. Robert Butterfield & wire was at Saigon loadinged at Nagasaki from Dalor, and Arakawa A, Turner, G. Warren, Wong Fat Son, Wong

gunpowder stores for the Russians. It was Governor of Nagasaki prefecture, has ordered A Cheong, and A. Wright, The notice convening the meeting having then stated that the vessel had been sold by the Police Station of Umegasaki to prepare been read,

Messrs. Butterfield & Swine to a Saigon firm, their lodgings, General Stoessel and his staff The Chairman said: -Gentlemen,-Unless but that was evidently a mistake, for later will stay at the Nagasaki Hotel and other you have an objection we will follow the usual information showed that the vessel had been officers will stay at the Japan Hotel and French course and take the report and accounts before disposed of to a firm in Shangbal. In any Hotel and their servants will stay at the Marine you as read. The accounts show an improve event, the vessel which was registered in Association, ment of about $16,000 over the net receipts for Londos bad apparently determined to run the last year but we do not propose to alter the gauntlet of the Japanese blockades and land regular annual dividend of eight per cent, pre stores at Fort Arthur. It is also reported that ferring to strengthen the reserve fund which, with an attempt was made to get the port of registry the proposed addition of $25,000, will amount changed to Shanghai, which seems to confirm to $80,000. As a reserve fund is no real reserve the report that she is or was owned in that port, fund if it is invested in the business of its own

The Tungchow left Saigon, it is alleged, Company and as it has always been our endea about Christmas with 250 tons of shells, etc., vour to specially invest such funds when passi for the North, destination unknown. At the ble, we have invested ours in two other Com-island of Getzlaff, which is in the vicinity of panies with the business of which your general Shanghai, the master, Mr. Frederick A. Parken, managers are intimately acquainted. The called with the object of learning how matters China Light & Power Company has been a were going with the Russians. His surprise; good client of this Company; it is now doing a and dismay may be imagined when he heard good business with excellent prospects of still that Port Arthur had capitulated, and realised better business, so shareholders may rest quite that his valuable cargo of ammunition was easy about this investment which is in any now useless, at least so far as Port Arthur case not a large one, and as the dividend is

was concerned. The Tangchow remained guaranteed at 6% for 1904 and 1905 it is equal, at Gutslaff until it became definitely clear to a return of over 61%. Since we invested in that there was no hope of Port Arthur being Green Island Cement shares the market has a purchaser or at least so the allegations go--and, declining to take the risk of a flying trip through the blackade to Viadivostok, the vessel retraced her track to Saigon. The coal and water supplies gave out, however, and she was obliged to enter the harbour of Hongkong. That was, indeed, a misfortune for the vessel, because she had no manifest to produce for the inspection of the boarding officers, and on search being made it was found that the ship was carrying the large quantity of ammuoftion | mentioned. The master was prosecuted under acction 17 of the Arms Ordinance of 1900 which says:

dropped owing to the present scarcity of money for the China New Year, for the prospects of this Company are also excellent, and its buni ness is so good that we think nothing more need be said on that score. We had thus invested more than our Reserve Fund amounted to at that time, but we did this with a view to the new issue of Green Island Cement shares, and when our proportion is taken up, viz. :-675 shares at $20, bringing down the average cost of those shares to under $27, we shall then be well within the amount of our Reserve Fund ́for this, viz., $80,000. Our mortgages require no comment as under the Provident System every year sees them on a firmer footing, and as our Loans (though, of course, we have to take rather more risk than we should If we did the usual humdrum business at low rates of interest) there is none that gives us the least uneasiness. The China Light & Powar Co. is a case in point. We have been very use ful to this Company, and it in return has paid us for our assistance what would be considered in an ordinary case almost exorbitant rates of interest. It is the kind of business that a' finance company such on this is intended to take up. We are much-better-able-la-judge whether it is safe than if we were not intimate-" ly connected with both concerns as we are in this case, and instead of this being a danger to the Provident Company we consider that it is

quite the reverse. We could never show diet profits of nearly 11% if we only did ordinary money lending at low rates; but i think that we have had no bad debts to write off, so far, is a good indication that we have not been careless in our choice of the risks we have There being no question, the Chairman moved the adoption of the report and accounts. Mr. J. S. van Buren seconded and the mo- tion was unanimously agreed to

takon.

Mr. Braidwood proposed that Messrs. I. S. van Buren, Chow Hing Kee, Chau Tung Shang, Dr. J. W. Noble and H. P. White con- stitute the Consulting Committee for the en- auing year.

Mr. Fung Wa Chun seconded, and the pro- position was adopted.

On the motion of Captain Goddard, seconded by Mr. W. Allan, Messrs. A. O'D. Gourdin and

W. H. Pouls were re-elected auditors for the

current year.

This concluded the business, the Chairman announcing that dividend warrants were now ready.

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IN DIFFICULTIES.

"No arms or ammunition shall be imported. into the Colony except at the Port of Victoria, and the master of every vessel (not being a ship of war or hired armed vessel in the ser vice of Her Majesty or of any foreign nation) having on board as cargo arms or ammunition whether in transitu or for transhipment of otherwise shall on arrival forthwith furnish to the Harbour Master a manifest of all such arms and ammunition."

_THE_MASTER_PROSECUTED.

|

Following are the scores in some of the matches played on Saturday -

H.K.C.C-Sab-Lt. Benbow, R. N., b Lums. den 15, T. E. Pearce, b Lumsden 9, C. Hi Macky, not out 71, Com, Bootinck, R.N., B This aftoencos Mr. Gomperts, sitting as Herton 16, Capt. P. G. Davies, A.O.D., I.D.w Coroner, held an inquest touching the death of Walter Dixon 5, H. Hancock (capt.), b Her James Douglas, late clerk to a local solicitor, ton 18 Major Chichester, C.S.D., b Herton o The following Jury was empanelled Mesars, F. R. E. O. Bird, not out 17, Extras 11, Total 182 Lieb (Foreman), G. B. Ditch, and LF. Toguer. Daniel did not bat (innings declared 183).

Com. T. Shelford, R.N., E. H. Morrell and The master of the Kuen Kai De, coffed house said, that at half-past five on the gth Kowloon Lt. P. N. Heath, c H. Hancock,

Pearce 471.G. Lightfoot, ibst,, the deceased bad his dinner and went out.

Bird 11 Lieut: About 7.30 pm, some people in the strest Airy, 114 h M., a Bird, b Morrell of Lt. Lums called him, and he sent his fokis to see what des, R.N. (cap.), csub, b Chichester 23; Cap was the matter. Witness went down, and the Smith, A.D.C., not out 29; Walter Dixon, saw deceased lying across the pavement, face Chichester, b Davies ; Li Duncan, RA, not downwards, with his hands spread out beyond out 1: Extras 10 Total 160, his head. Two fakis took him upstairs, and

Parkes, Butcher, Lt. Doran, A.B.C., and Her witness placed him on the floor in the sittington did not bat. room, and put a pillow under his head and covered him with bed-clothes. He remained there until four o'clock in the morning. Then seeing him getting worse, two Europeans took him to hospital. Witness did not know how deceased came to be lying as he was found. Deceased was always drunk, but was not quarrelsome in liquor.

He was a little drunk when he went out that evening. Deceased drank rum, but witness did not know how much he consumed in a day.

H.K.C.C. "A"--H. R. Wells, b Crump o, E. A. Fowler, b Crump o, A. Mackenzie, e Rivers, Traysor o, G Olliffe, b Crumpa, J. Hooper, Thomas, o Crump'o, F. H. Kew, b Traynor 3, Dr. Harley, c Traynor, b Crump 6, F. C. Gmy, c. Marriott, b Crump 2, F. J. Gipson, c and 6 Traynor o, Spencer, not out 5, Extras 7. Total 23.

831d Co. R.GA-Br. Rivers, Wells, b Gipson 5, Br. Oliver, b Gipson 3, Br. Johnson,

Garl (sailed bÝMI, Mc[ver), /Vind (Mr: EM: Hazeland),"' Atthors (Mr. J. Hard),

POLO,

3.

With respect to the proposal to confine games to Chiun ponies, it was decided that after the closing of the ground in June next all tournament matches be played on those poniess that the present, other mounts (walers and country breds) now in use be allowed' in or dinary games and friendly matches This decision is to be wired to regidients coming to Hongkong in the immediate future.

were before the arrangement" of 1892 as he complained. What a fascinating, personality bis must have been. It was a mere nothing for him to call on the Mikado, the King of Siam, At a special meeting of the Hongkong Polo or the ambassador of States, and in ons letter Clab, held at the Club Pavillon, Causeway be actually wrote to Elswick: In spits of all Bay, on Saturday Capt. Nugent, (Hop. Se difficulties I shall also try and show the model

·OF A NEW; WARSHIP ĐỘN Cretary) announced that Government had re- Ma fused the Club's 'application for an extension to the Emperor of China” He was a bowom of ground to the east, on account of the great comrade of Sir Ergest Satow, our minister in (about 34.000) expenditure which would be China, and as for the Japanese he wrote 1 4 necessary to clear the ground-The question Cautioned the Japanese not to make am cur of allowing ladies to play golf on the Polo plates for their own ships. I am all right in ground on off days was then discussed. It was Japan. Happy man. In ons letter, he said unanimously decided that such permission be he was really alarmed at the reckless pro refused.

parations of the Argentines,” so he hurried off to Paris to interview: the Chilian Minister and informed that gentleman there was no time to be lost if Chili was to preserve her integrity. Mr. Thomson was first to get the news (in 1893) that France might attack diam. He was in China at the time, hurried off to Sism to get orders for Armarongs, and became the bosom friend of the Prince of Siam in about five minutes. Very soon his name "rang throughout Slam”. He was received by the ROBBERS And krebbOOTERS King, and his Majesty was delighted with him, "because I did not ask for honours or decora- IN THE NEW TERRITORY.

tions or accept presente." There was a gentle- man in this part of the world-not-many. 17th inst.

months ago, Commissioner Barrett ofthe United attempted armed robberies in the New Ter- with this potentate and that, but the quiet, As the Chinese New Year approaches, States of America, who spoke of bis audiences ritory are becoming somewhat frequent, but pushing Mr. Thomson of London, who had no under present conditions, and with the thorough use for press interviewers or Chambers knowledge of the police of the districts and the of Commerce could have given points even latent was brought to light by a Chluaman, seemed peaceful for the nonce this stormy. inhabitants, they are seldom successful. The to the energetic American. When things pamed Cheung Hang, who rushed into the petrel remarks quaintly have taken: larga police station as Sheung Shui, on the 14th inst, offices in Bouverie Street where I shall receive and stated that he, with five others, was on his ambassadors, ministers and attachés. He way to that place from Taipo, when they were accosted by a band of five men who, producing farence in something lore than half an hour} could apparently convene an international.com. revolvers, stopped them and proceeded to go there was not a country in the world, diploma. through their goods and chattels. The inform-tically speaking, which was not an open book ant managed to get away, and bolted to Sheung to this versatile genius. The opening of this Shui, escaping unhurt, though he heard two remarkable case occupied one day, and it was reports from revolvers as he fled. He was unable confidently hoped that new and startling to say what became of the other members of his secrets would be disclosed when Mr. Thomson pasty, but described the bandits, and a search entered the witness box. Alas, for human party was immediately sent out to scour the hopes. When the case was called next day district. Up to this morning no further reports counsel explained that a settlement had bean had been made by the other men, so it is sur arrived at and the case was withdrawn,

THE BARREN HILLS ON KWANGTUNG.

Dr. Bell testified to the bringing in of anc Sub, b Fowler 13, Br. Crofts, b Gipson 9, Gr.mised that they also escaped unscathed.

Cramp, b Gipson 4. C. S. M. Thomas, b Hor- unconscious man to the Government Civil ley 8, Sgt. Marriott, b Gipson 7, Sgt. Miller, b Hospital on the date in question, and his dying Horley S, Cpl. Bush, c Hooper, 5 Gipson 0, there a few hours later. He was identified as Sgt. I ongbottom, not out 17, Sgt. Traynor, c. James Douglas, and was about 54 years of age. Ollife, b Gipson 4, Extras 16. Total gi The cause of death was a fractured skull. It would not be caused by a fall forward, but might have been caused, though improbably, by blow, but more probably by a fall backwards.

William Patterson, mate of the us. Taf: On said that on the days in question he had his dinner with deceased beleten Ave and six o'clock, and then witness went to bed. De ceased sat on a box and sipped at a bottle of rum for a while. He went out at about 6.30 Civil Service and XI -Andrews, b Cooper pm. He could not have been, awful, sober, 15, Hoggarth, leg before, b Mackay 11, Robins, as he drank a bottle and a half rum, which heb Mackey 25, Craig, b McHardy 26, 1. E. brought in at dinner time. He was the only Brett, b Cooper o, Smith, c l'arr, b Mackay 3. man who drank any of it. The cook came Brown, b Cooper 19, Gaidsmith, not out 13, in late and told witness that Douglas was down Gast, b MacHardy 9, Allen, run out 17, Extras. below. He was excited, so witness ran down 13, Total 144. at ones, and saw deceased curled up on the

Police:-Pitt, c Tilburg, b Whites a, Winter, pavement. A crowd began to collect and wit- ness, thinking deceased was drunk, picked Smith, b Meldrum, Edward, c' Ogle, up and with assistance Carried Chesney 63, Kent, c Tilburn, b Meldrum

He was not groaning, Lander, b Chesney 48 Langley, C and b Ogle him upstairs. but was breathing heavily, and blood was. Shepard, b Chesney o, Waterer, not out 13, oozing out of his mouth. Witness put him in Clyde, not out 2, Extras 15, Total 150.

After hearing the case against the master, the Court imposed the full penalty of 8250 and the ammuniting was landed at Stonecutters Island. The vessel, however, still remained under the care of the harbour authorities under the section which says: "In case any such arma, ammunition, gunpowder, stores, goods, or articles which have been so prohibited are or is exported from the Colony or are or is him carried coastwise, or are or is waterborne to be so exportes, ete, they or it shall vest in his Majesty and forthwith thereupon it shall be the duty of the Harbour Master of the Colony to cause all such goods and articles so hereinbefore declared forfeited to be seized, and to detain the same to the use of his Majesty,

THE "TUNGCHOW'S " OWNERS.

The question was whether any further action

should be taken against the vessel, but it has now been decided that she may proceed to Saigon and there await the Baltic Fleet Whether or not that is meant for hum our it is difficult to say, but if the Tung chow does really wait for the Russian Baltic squadron she will have a long spell at the delightful French city of Saigon, However, the officers of the Diana and those of the Tungchow can fraternise and if necessary commiserate each other on Fate's curious ways. THE HONGKONG LAND RECLAM-|The point of the whole thing rests in this that apparently nobody owns the Tangchow. ATION COMPANY, LIMITED.

It might have been expected that somebody | would come forward and say that they were sither the owners or the agents for the ownert, but not so. It reminds one of the old song which had for ise refrgin-"whether they wouldn't, or whether they couldn't, or whether it was because their mothers said they shouldn't-the world will never know."

1

IMPROVED POSITION OF AFFAIRS

18th inst. The third ordinary meeting of shareholders in this Company was held at the offices of the Company, Victoria Buildings, this morning The Hon. Mr. W. J. Gresson presided, and there were present Hon, Sir Paul Chater, C. M.G., Mestra. E. Shollim, R. C. Wilcox and Ho Tung (Directors), Ho Fook, He Kom Tong, A. S Hooper, A. J. Raymond, R. C, Wilcox, Lo Cheung Shui, H, N. Mody, J, Orange, and Mowbray 5. Northcote (Secretary).

The Secretary having read the notice calling the meeting,

The Chairman said :—Gentlemen,~The re-

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Fowler and Kerr did not bat. R.E.Smith, c Pitt, b Kerr to, Meldrum, b Kent 23. Chesney, c Clyde, b Shepard 14 Tillman, c Fowler, & Kerr s, Ogle, e Pitt, Shepard 4. Whiles, pot out 16, Glassbrook, b Rento, Calderbank, leg before, b Shepard Woodroffe, not but fa, Extras 1, Total 89.

Shirley did not bat,

corner of the room and propped him g, with pillows. He then gave him some soda water,. which he was able to swallow, Deceased spoke once, indistinctly, saying "Oh11 a bad"-that was all he said. Later on he called: another boarder, and together they took him to hospital where he handed him over to Dr. Bell. When he first saw him lying on the paye: ment he did not think he was injured; he thought he was merely intoxicated. A China man said he had fallen out of his ricksha; but he seldom took a ricksha. Witness did not know of his baying any enemies all the Eue ropeans who knew him spoke highly of him: Witness never heard of his having soy quarrel with any Chinese in the streets. He had no relations in this part of the world.

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7,

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THE PRICE OF SUGAR:

("THE TIMES," DECEMBER 9-} We have lately devoted a large portion of our space to a discussion upon the price of sugar. The confectioners are indignant - because the- price of their raw material has risen, and they choose to ascribe the rise entirely to the opera tion of the Sugar Convention. The mineral water manufacturers have now come into the field and are taking the same view. The complaining traders say that they always predicted, melancholy conséquences from the Brussels Convention. So they did. Some of them expressed their apprehensions at length in our columns when negotiations were going on. But that only leads force to the pertinent observations of our correspondent "H. S. 1 If the confectioners knew that sugar would rise under the Convention, why did they not cover

contracts when sugar was cheap? It was quits themselves by prudent buying and forward cheap until March of this year-that is to say, it could be obtained in large quantities rather under the average European cost of production If they did not buy, what are wå to idler? Surely that they did not, upon better considera. tion, believe in their own predictions, and thought it wiser to buy from hand to mouth

If that was their conclusion—and any other

would reflect gravely upon their business capacity they would have been justified by

That the Chinese themselves have caused the H. K. P. R. C. and XI-McHardy, b present sterile condition of most of the bare Brett 3, Cooper, c Craig, b Brett o, Mackay brain-washed, sun-scorched hill districts in Brett 7, Wilkins, b Brett o, Hutchison, bKwangtung, seems to me a fact which may be Andrews, Baker, rua out e Andrews a, dally proved. Hordes of women and children Routledge, & Brett 2, Grant, run out. b Bretto, and numbers of men set forth avery day in the Parr, Brett, b Andrews, t, Les, not out year from every village and hamlet, armed with Walker, c Brett, b-Goldsmith 6. Extrus 5. bamboo rakes and roughly-made choppers; Total 32,

with these implements they rake, hack and tear | away such scanty grass as may be found, care fully scrape toge her the leaves, pine needles and twigs, and even comb down the branches of the firs. Not seldom they hack off the bark thereof with one of their clumsy hoes, besides breaking, twisting off and chopping away bran ches and undergrowth, Examine one of the bundles of brush alung on the bamboos and incurved teeth of the rakes, forms a consider you will find grass, torn up by the roots by the able proportion of the load. You will find the trail of their rakes over almost every yard of uncultivated ground, even where the herbage morely grows in miserable tuits amidst a wildemess of sand and rock debris. Then beavy rain falls, and in the space of a few minutes washes tous of sterile soil into the bravines and gullies and so down to the plains. The fierce sun, instead of producing a luxuriant caused by the rain by burning up the little events, had events followed their normal course, vegetation, helps to complete the destruction herbage remaining. How can the steep, naked Unhappily, they did not, Unusual draught sides of the hills resist the action of violent affected the host crop so seriously that, though RA.M.C.-L. Harvey, c Kinnaird, b Pas tropical showers, with no protective cover about the same acreage was sown, the produce And is estimated to fall short by close upon a mil- tonlee 70, Wilson. c Essa, b Brawn 19, Lt, ing of grass and other vegetation?

tion tons. That wipes out the carry-over Radkin,c Brawo, & Pestonjeeo, Major Sparkes, what vegetation can grow, when leaves and

Lamment, b Ford t, Seacle, b Pestonjes 2, twigs and grass, even the very straws deserve; there is a shortage in the supply; and Lt. Graig, b Pestonjee, 9 Major Hepenstall, and fr-needles, are carefully raked up price has risen accordingly. Mr. Martineau Pestonji, b Lammert, Johnson, b. Basa, band carried off for fuel, so that a fertile soil is gives detalled figures in the letter wo print to Lammert, o, Edwards, not opt 1. Gilchrist, never formed. Even in the few scraps of wood day, and they expand and corroborate wash was so ably urged in the letter from Tarx sud Detective Sergt. Murison said that a few Festonjee 1, Snitters, st Basa, b Lammert 4; remaining in those districts, fins and well.

Extras 15, Total 117.

grown trees are rare (banyans used as Joss SONs which appeared in our columns on feet from the south side of the door-way were

trees being almost the only exceptions), for Saturday. The rise in sugze would have two stops to the side walk, and he thought

Craigengower, C. C.-J. D. Kinnaird, beverything which would produce a rich mould occurred had the Convention never been heard deceased might have fallen there and fractured Rankin 75. A. O. Brown, Sparkes, 6 Harvey is used as fuel. No amount of tropical sun of, and in the opinion of Mr. Martineau and his skull, Inquiries had been made by the, L. E. Lammert, c Craig, b Harvey 1, R. and rain will grow tropical vegetation when the of Tate and Sons, who know quite as much police among the neighbours, but they one and Pestonji, c Hepenstall, b Rankin o, R. Bass, c very means for forming a fertile soil is destroy about the matter as the confectioners, the price all said they saw nothing of the accident, Gilchrist, B. Rankin 8, L. A. Rose, not out 16 ed. In fact, when the bare surface of the would have been higher than it is had the Deceased had about $5 on him when found

Extras 5, Total for 5 wickets 131.

ground is exposed, sun and rain not only bas-bounty system remained in force, because the Mr. Patterson, re-called, sald that the rum

M. E. Aager, E. S. Ford, J. L. Stuart, Leo ten the destruction of the little remaining Cartels would have had us at their mercy, bottles deceased brought home were "reputed" d'Almada Castro and E Roza, did not bat. vegetation on the bills but tend to prevent new They would have been all the more eager to pint-bottles."

herbage from gaining a foothold, Anyone use their power, because, as Mr. Martineau's who has been caught in a heavy shower on figures show, they were not long ago obliged one of these hills can understand the immense to sell sugar at two thirds of its cost price, and even then had to carry over a stock of two quantity of worthless soil washed down to the valleys in the course of an hour or two. The million tons. As it is, the shortage in the beet ravines and gullies suddenly become roaring supply is partially met by an increase of 400,000 torrents and this wale is all carried off the tone in the time of posters. It to not any hills to the plains almost as soon as the shower to the abolition of bounties. It is not by any ceases. This, of course, would not be the case means certain that the present price can be if the hills were protected by grass, trees and maintained; but, even if it be proved legitim other vegetation. In consequence, acres and ately dye to short supply and not in part to acres of the plains are composed of this sterile speculation, the copfectioners must average soil washed from the hills, and will produce dear with 'cheap years, just as they had to nothing till sodden with the abominable average equally great fluctuations onder the manure used by the Chinese

bounty system. Their outcry only shows the wisdom of the Government in setting ita face against Industrial protection, as opposed to the beating down of artificial legislative obriscles to our trade. It is always protested trades that make the greatest autory. The confectioners have been enjoying protection, which" gayn them sugar under cost of production, and s see what a ngisp they make when patúrai con ditions regain free scope. Other trades even more important than theirs are suffering because natural conditions are perverted to their injury, but we do not find that My, Lough and other daughty champions of the confectioners are willing to give these tradej any consideration.

FOOTBALL.

At any rate the Tungchow is at liberty to leave longkong and no doubt she will turn hospitable at the earliest possible moment. her stera on shores which have proved so in- There is some (alk of the master of owners whoever they may be, disputing the right of the harbour authorities to interfere with the cargo of ammunition, on the ground that the goods were not intended for Hongkong, but it i The verdict was that the deceased met hising, Lieut. Duncan, Lieut. Holden, N. P.

remains to be seen whether say action will

arise out of the matter.

Mears. Butterfield & Swire state that they Tungchow are, but they believed that the are unaware who the present owners of the vessel was bought by a firm in the Norb, presumably in Shangbai.

A HARBOUR MYSTERY.

port and accounts having been in your hands for some days, we may, I presume, take them as read. The accounts are of so simple a na- ture as to call for no special comment, but you will note with satisfaction, I am sure, that we have wiped off the dabit balance of $6,119.10 with which we began the year under review, and close with a balance to the good of $7.157.32, carrying forward, after paying Di rectors' and Auditors' fees, the sum of $4,557,32. As mentioned by your Chairman at the last annual mesting, we are still necessarily passing through the period of expenditure with pyr reclamation works at Kowloon Point, which, I am pleased to be able to inform you, conti- sues to make steady progress and should reach

On the arrival of the Yaumati ferry launch completion a few months hence. Our houses at the Pak Kong wharf, on the Hongkong side, at Yaumati and the storage ground there are 49 pm. yesterday the engineer of the launch well let and are giving us a good return on the reported that he had taken a European from capital invested thereon, Before moving the the water, and landed him on the wharf. He adoption of the report and accounts, I shall be then told Inspector Collett, who found the ma pleased to answer any questions regarding them you may wish to put.

There being no question, the Chairman pro. posed the adoption of the report and arrounts Mr. 1. Orange seconded, and the resolution was carried unanimously.

Mr. R. Wilcox proposed the re-election of Mr. Ho Tung as a Director of the Company,

Mr, La Cheung Shiu secpaded and this was also unanimously agreed to.

EUROPEAN TAKEN FROM THE WATER.

17th inst.

His Worship, addressing the jury, said it was extremely unfortunate that the police had been unable to secure any eye-witness of the occur rence, but it was well known the strong reluct ance the Chinese had to giving any assistance to the police even when their own people were concerned, and it was greater where a Eurg pean was concerned, and thus the police were muck handicapped in these cases. death through a fractured skull, caused by an accidental fall,4

SUMATRA AND BORNEO TOBACCO,

Members of the tobacco trads are to be brought in closer touch with each other by the publication of a quarterly review which is to provide the Colonies not only with the trade news of the home country, but of their sister Colonies and dependencies, and of foreign Countries. The first number of the Journal, the Tobacco Golanial Quarterly, reaches us from the editorial and publishing offices at Moun ment Station Buildings, London, and from a sheaf of valuable interesting, we clip, the fol lowing items, which should be of interest to many of our readers --

The statistics for the 1903 crop of tobacco from Sumatra and Bornes are now to band. Perhaps the most noticeable feature of the

The following have been chosen to play for the Club in the Rugby match against H.M.S Ocean at Happy Valley on Tuesday, 17th inst., 4.45 p.m.-Back-J. A. F. Bourchier: Three quarters-A. S. Kampthorne, G. D. Bateman, Lieut. Hanney and S. O Else: Halves-J. Clark and H. Seper; Forwards Lieut. Rank Dudley, J. Hannon, D. Be Murray, H. G. C. Bailey and A. F. Chard.

The following are the brief results of matches played of Saturday :-- -

H.K.F.C. I goal-Taikoo F.C. r goal. Nayal Yard 4-V.R.G. 1. West Kents :—R.E.!s nji. 1.0.0. | |—Y.M.C,A, nil.

YACHTING.

THE GOVERNOR'S CUP. The second race in connection with the Governor's Cup, for English rigged Royal Hongkong Yacht Club craisers, was sailed on Saturday over a 12-mile course with the follow:

ng result --

Yacht. Haldee

Rita... Thistle

***

++

#41

Hi M. 5. 5 34 45 3 56 0 $ 59 45 THE COMMODORE'Ą CUF, Chinese rigged cruisers started over the same

course as the English rigged cruisers fifteen minutes jater, raping for the Royal Hongkong May, C.M.G.) Cup. The result was as follows:-

Yacht, Australian...

FIR He **

400 ***

102

H. M. 8, 64 33

6 48 15 The Snipe Tany

TOP 7:00 THE VICE-COMMODORE'S CUP, This Royal Hongkong Yacht Club) race was sailed on Sunday the result being as

follows -

H. M. 8.

the wharf with a crowd of Chinese around him. As the man was unconscious, he endea. roured to tosuscitate bim by means of artificial general situation is that although the crop sacht Club Commodore's (Hon. Mr. F. H. respiration, but after working thus for an hour the largest on record, exceeding last year's by and a Ball without any result, be sent for blan-between 6 and 7 per cent, not one bale of leaf kets and an ambulance, and taking off the wet remains uphold. This fact, coupled with the clothes wrapped the man in the blankets and firmness shown at all the autumn sales, and per cent. in the sant bim to the Government Civil Hospital with an advance of about

d of about if per The body when found was still quite warm, price of the Sumidirs crop,

crop, points to à though there were marks of violence about the cent. in that of the Bor face, and in the pocket of the cost was found very large increase in cont ́ption, and augur Mr. Ho Fook proposed that Mr. A, J. Rayhandkerchief that bore evident signs of blood well for next season. mand be elected a Director of the Company in on it. Quarrival at the hospital Dr. E. A. R. The British Dell and Langkat Tobacco place of Mr. R. C. Wilcox, who was leaving ring examined the body, and certifying that Company, Ltd., sold 5.069 hales at an avengo life was extinct, it was removed to the morts of Bo cents, or is. 4d, against 5,049 bales or 76 ary. Upon examining the clothes a card was cents or 11. 3d. for last year; and the Serdang found in one of the bockets bearing the name Tabak Mastschappij realised 68. cents, or in of "Thomas Crowther Augland Greasland id, for 4,783 balt, against 66 cents, or 18, 18, This card Inspector Collalt sent by one of bis for 4,930 bales. The Sumatra Topacco Planis detectives to the ships along the wharf, and tlons Company, Ltd, sold 823 bales at ¿y cents, then it was discovered that it was the card of or tijd., against 648 balss, with an average of the mate of the s. Pak Kong, running to the 69 cents, of je ad. This company, it will be West River, and the body was subsequently remembered, sold its estate this year. to H. M/ CONSUL-GENERAL at Shanghai has identified as such. Nothing has so far been Dutch company, issued the following copy of a telegram receiv ed on Monday from H. M. Minister at Tokio: discovered to show how depsand got into the

the Colony to-day,

Mr. Ho Kom fong seconded, and the mo tion was adopted.

Mers, W. H. Bolts and A. O'D. Gourlin were re-plected auditors for the ensuing year; on the proposition of Mr. A. J. Raymond, se. conded by Mr. J. S. Höaper,

This concluded the business.

water:

~" Official Garetto yesterday contains a noti fication by the Minister of Marine: warning all |- shipping of the danger of navigation between The Rev. Father Jose Algue, director of the N... Poin, Shantung. Prontontory, and the Manila Observatory, is in receipt of two grand Bay of Liaolong, and adds that the Japanese prizes, five gold medals, a silver medal and Navy is engaged in removing obstructions to bronze medal for various exhibits funds as the Navigation."

exposition of St. Louis,

Yacht. Min Elspeth ... Diona

***

Kathian.......

***

Corrected.

5

4 29 5 4. 18

4 30 45.

4 31 10-

4.35 25

4.39

4. 28 45 teratch.

4 24-25 4. 34

5

4. 28

5

Allern Gollum Chanticleer 4 39 154 23.35 ¡Bonito :

*** 444 40 24 '33′ 40 Vernon

* 4.44 30 scratch. Tris

446-13 4 32 13 Gloria

47. 10 - Alannah ...

106.47 a ¿Payna waa 3 S

D

*

i

4 33 29

5

When we come to Borneo, England shops * great a pre-eminence as does Holland is Bumaits Three English companies account

› CORINTHIÊN YACHT CLUB for about fiveitigths of the entire Borneo crop, First in point of quantity comes the New Los This promising club has come rapidly to don Rornes Tobacco Company, Limited, with the front, and on Saturday, the opiping cruise 6,905 balsi, sold at an average of 57 cants, or took place, and the first race was decided over ride against a crop of $485 baits and an a course of 8" miles. The result was an Average of 35 cento, or sold., sóg last phar *follow y

These sordid, poverty-stricken fuel-gatherers carry away material worth, as fuel, a few brass cash. Left to produce good rich mould it would gradually transform the face of the coun- try from districts composed of barren hills and sandy slopes scantily sprinkled with coarse wire gras, into well-turfed slopes and wooded hills of real value. But this will probably never come to pass for beggars, lepers and the like all add their quota to a population already twice too great for the country to properly sup port; and these people, to keep body and soul together, destroy and waste the natural surface: wealth of many parts of Kwangiops.

DIOGENES.

WHO SAVED SIAMI

A FRIEND OF KINGS.

|

In any case, is it not rather absurd to declaim against the Convention as if it were a thing that the Government of this country were solely responsible for? It is an international arrange- ment which could never have come about, had An amazing story of Court intrigue of how not the Governments of sugar-producing cops, warships were bought and sold wholesale by tries been anxious to get rid of the bounties. powers in Europe, Asia and America, was told Given that desire on their part, we may bo'sthé in the course of an action for damages which that they would have found means to gain their was tried in London the other day. A plain object. Mr. George Mathieson parilally' re old gentleman, described as äri ex-correspond. cokaisen this, for he says that, if only the boun ent of the Timer, Mr. R. A Thomson, sued ties had been extinguished one by ons he would the firm of Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth hot have complained, Surely he must be & Co., of Elswick; for commission on the sale aware that they could never have been shollin, of armoured cruisers and implements of war to ed one by one, any more than nations could various States throughout the word. There disarm one by ons. The thing had to be done was hardly a country to which Mr. Thomson by common consent, or not at all. For this bad not fourneyed as private agent for Elswick, country and for this Empire the Bugar Con According to his own story he was hand-in-vention is an excellent thing, withough it can, glove with Lord Salisbury, he could wheedle not counteract the effects of wind and weather Lord Rossbary, and he was adviser-in-chief upon the sager crop. The country will to the Governments of Argentina, Chili, Japan, shōrily have sugar prices upon a much more China, Siam, and half a dozen other States. stable basis than wes ppssible under bounties When a war was impending, first news was and Carials. There is not the least region le received by Mr. Thomson, this fine old doubt the prediction of experip Tint for, Lan English gentleman. His expenses alone years following the Convention" the price of ran to the respectable sum of $2,000 a sugar will, on the average; be at least as low a year. Although he obtained orders worth for the ten years preceding it Our Colonisa millions of pounds. for armaments and vessals reap an immediate benefit, and confer one upan for Chill, China, and Japan, he had only reus But for increased cane production present ceived 45,ood in 180s and 1,cod on account prices would be higher than they are, and of expenses in 1892. He had received 3,695 the area of production widens we becoms mote In 1893, and £8,711 in 1895 on aids, of war and more independent, alike of weather and of ships to Argentina and Chilis' but thèse enter the action of gigantis Continental truste

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