1909-02-05 — Page 12

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- માર

China Association.

ANNUAL MEETING.

-YEAR'S WORK.

The annual general meeting of the Hong. kong Branch of the China Association was told in the City Hall, last Tuesday afternoon," Mr. Murray Stewart, chairman of the committee, presided, and there were also present:-Mr. H. E Tomkins, Mr. O, H. Ross, Mr. J. W. C Bonnar, Me. W. G. Humphreys, Mr. E, G. Barrett, Mr. H. R. B. Hancock, (Commities), Mr. AS: D. Cousland (hon, secretary), Hon, Mr. W. J. Grasson, Hon. Mr. H. E. Fellack K.C., Messrs. E, Shellim, J. R, M. Smith, J. O.. Peter, G. S. Gubbay, J. Armstrong, W. S Balley, D. K. Moss, D. Macdonald, G. Morton Smith, J. D. Auld, E. F. Mackay, A. Forbes, J. Cochrane, and E., G. May.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5 1909.

ed in its construction: When the Hongkong Government lent the money for its redemption the understanding was that the lipa was, to bo built; the project was not to be hung up pr marely played with. For some time it looked as if the Chinese were merely playing with it, That was the impression which I received some- two years ago when I paid a visit to railhead.. 1 was still under that impression when at last year's annual meeting, after a year's absence in England and speaking with the greater free. dom of an ordinary member, I made a remark which was held unduly to disparage the pro- gress made.

CHINA PROVIDENT LOAN AND MORTGAGE CO, LTD.

ANNUAL REPORT,

The report for presentation to the share holders at the twelfth ordinary general meeting to be held on Saturday next is as follows:

Annexed wa.have the pleasure to lay before shareholders a statement of accounts made up to 31st December 1968

The gross earnings for the past year amount to S190,223.18 and after deducting all expenses, remuneration to General Managers, Consulting Committee's and Auditors' fees, there remains a balance of $113,407.68 which it is recom. mended be appropriated as follows, viz;—

To place to reserve fund... $10.000.00 To pay a dividend of 80 cents per ..

hate

$100,000.00 To carry forward to the credit of ..... next year's account

$3,407.68

CAMPBELL MOORE, & CO., LD.

AMNUAL MEETING.

The twenty-second ordinary meeting of shareholders in the above Company was held at the office of the General Managers last Friday afternoon. Mr. A. F. Arquill presided, and there were also present Messrs. F. Ellis (director), L. Borello, A. R. Ellis, A. S. Eilis and A. O'D. Gourdin.

the

The Chairman, after having read the notice convening the meeting, said:-Gentlemen,- The report and accounts have been in your hands for some days, and, with your permission, they may be considered as read. We are very sorry that the account is so unfavourable. The re- sult is attributed to competition, depression in trade, and mismanagement by the last maunger. Since the middle of 1907 and whole of fast-year every effort has been made to reduce the stock. The cccounts for the year 1908 will be ready very shortly. By the time of the meeting to pass those accounts I think the general manager will be able to give you better idea of our prospects. The mis maungement of our former secretary and ninonger bás, been explained to you before, gentlemen, so it is hardly necessary that I should recapitulate. If there is any other The accounts have been audited by Marsmaller that you require explained, I shall do

my best to enlighten you. A. O'D. Gourdin and W. H. Potts, who are recommended for re-election.

·CONSULTING COMMITTER. In accordance with the Articles of Associa tion, Messrs. J. 5. Van Buren, Chow Hing Kee, Dr. J. W. Noble, H. P. White and U Pai On retire, but offer themselves for re-election,

AUDITORI.

To cover depreciation on investments (amouating to. $32,150 000) and other contin gescies, 330,000,00 bas bson withdrawn from the reserve fund which will now stand et St00,000.00

SHEWAN TOMES & CO. General Managers: Hongkong, 29th January, 1909..

:

I desirs now to make what amends I can by giving equal publicity to an opinion recently expressed by an expert witness, a highly quali Red railway engineer, that, judged pa the lines which have been adopted by the management, progress may he regarded as not unsatisfactory. Applause). This does not disprove the con tention that the Chinese, by themselves, can not yet successfully undertake serious tallway The Chairman said The police calling enterprise, because of course they are employ" this meating and the annual report having foreign engineers of various nationalities. leg been together" la your hands for The Toppeling difficulties which lie in wait,. some days I presume that the formality of somewhere, shout the seventieth mils, and the reading them may be dispensed with, and heavy bridge work entailed by the crossing of accordingly I propose to proceed at once with the North River, will test the efficiency of their our first business, be consideration of the stall methods in dus time, but in the meantime report. In moving its adoption, I should pet the point I want to make is that, in expert haps explain its form. Its form differs from that opinion, the work done, as far as it goes-for of most of those which have proceded it. the 45 miles of track at present laid-some Most of these have contained no appendix it ballasted, some not—some bridgea permanent, which has appeared much of the year's corres others temporary-nad for 35 miles of embank pondence. This time no letters have been ment reported as being nearly complete beyond printed in full. The reason for that is twofold.the work done does receive guarded com. For one thing the proportion of correspondence mendation. But that is no reason why we should requiring to be treated as confidential was last rifrain from criticising, on general lines, the year inrger than usual. This is not in by directors' policy, if we consider it susceptible of degres dua to a desire on the part of your improvement. Hence the comment in the te committed to shroud their doings in mystery.port. Confidential treatment of correspondence has in all cases, been imposed upon us; we metaly, keap faith in thus dealing with it.. I mention this because I have seen it suggested that your Committee is absurdly enamoured of secre- tive methods. The notion is a mistaken one. Our correspondence is at all times open to the inspection of members, but all of it Dot necessarily

is

therefote suitable for publication. As regards corres- pondence not requiring to be treated cost. dentially, the reason why it does not appear is simply that it seemed on re-perusal to being popularity of the idea of issuing unsecured insufficiently interesting for, reproduction in

notes in unlimited quantities all the forces of detail. As I am mainly responsible for confusion seem now to be at work. Scores of dif-Interest received, storages, rents, this feel free to state the fact, By way

ferent soris of taels, dozens of doubtful kinds of

etc.......................178,592:18 of doing penasce, I volunteered to wade through these two formidable bundles of

Less interest paid.com

stale stuff which you see on the table, pick ing our the least uninteresting passages, and stringing them together in a brief relation of the year's work, thus enabling you rapidly 10 scan it, and to see at a glance what we have been doing. My object was to save your patience. Some of the patience thus saved will i hope he available for supplementary reference to the topics touched upon.

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Concerning the remaining subjects with which it deals 1, have little to add; not because there is little to say, but because there is 30. much.

"The subsidiary cola problem we bave always with us and shall have as long as the solution indicated in the report is delayed. That selu tion involves the greater problem presented by the state of China's currency. If things, at their worst, are bound to mead, the state of Chian's currency may be optimistically regarded. It is in a state of indescribable chinos. With the increas.

dollars, an inficite variety of subsidiary coins, brass cash, copper cash, cash on strings or by the cartload; doilar notes, notes representing sub coia, myriads of notes representing cash pieces, natives' orders, chops, and beaven knows what else—all mixed up with the exchange pro. blems that arise between every town and village throughout the Empire, combine to create s gigantic conundrum. Native press telegrams state that the new Tael coin which was to have made all there crookednesses straight has The first is for the mument threadbare. We already reached melting point. If is melting sympathise with the desire of the British com

into thin air-vanishing in the glistening vision munity of Tientsin to maintain a British Post of a gold standard. This resuscitated dream Office. We rest in hope. There is nothing

represents a great iden, to be worked towards else to be done in the meantime. The same gradually, the first step an undoubted Imperial remark applies to the lottery ticker question,dollar. But even that would leave untouched while the adage least said soonest mended" muchofile general welter. Somus! we, precisely meets the present case of the boycott., I do not propose to launch out on Concerning the problem of the protection of Trade Marks its vital importance to the pros pects of British commerce in the Far East need not be enlarged upon. Diplomatic conventions cad do something towards solving it; but 115 complete solution depends more dpon the advent of a worldwide spirit of fair play, For that we have/still, to pray......

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the subject of opium. To deal adequately with that would perhaps require a his

torical survey reaching back through misty centuries to the time when Chinese juaks traded as far west as the Persian Gulf,, I con- fine myself to raising a point which seeins some-

PROFIT AND LOSI.

Consulting committed's fees. Auditors' feer....................................... Charges merry)-geway Depreciation on gedown furniture

for the year 1903

baske Written off to doubtful debts and contingencies account ................................. Balance .....

Balance carried forward, from 'last

yenriksmi

mission, & 68,370.42 Transfer fees

The Chairmas, lu reply to a question by Mr. Gourdin, said-I don't think going into details would benefit anybody.

The Chairman proposed the adoption of the report and accoubis,

Mr. Berrello seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Mr. F. Ellis proposed the re-appointment of Mr. A. O'D. Gourdin as auditor.

The Chairman-1 have much pleasure is seconding the motion, and 'take this oppor tunity of expressing my appreciation of bis 4,000,00

services, and of thanking him for the great 2000 assistance he has given to the Board of 7,545.42 Directors.

393.15

30,000.00 $13,407,68

$I$5,446.05

.$ 3,593.29

investment income account Amount transferred from reserve fund to meet contingencies and depreciation on shares......

BALANCE SHKET. Authorised capital-100,000 shares nt from $2,000,000 issued as per last report 125,000 shares at $10 each... Reserve fupd Sundry creditors

Balance of profit and loss account

Loans on providenteys

tem... ...$519,517,09. Loans on mortgages,

abares, &c. 674,955.31

Investment of reserve

fund 8,800 shares Green Baland Cai ment Co., Ltd, at $10........$ 88,000.00 250 China Light and Power Co Ltd. Debentures $100.......... 25,000.00

how to have received scant attention. It is this. How can the apologists of China reconcile her Rallway matters calt for more detailed

cinim to be protected from the Indian export commess. The day when it will be pus with the fact that China herself exports the sible. to take a ticket from Kowluan to

drug? One would have thought that the first Calais seems still provokingly remate. Of thing for China to have done would have giant strides towards the realisation of this dream I wish we could hear more. As a beech to desist from the practice she so loudly complains of in others. It may be said that the amount is smail, but in a matter of conscience there can be no 'dimensions. If, as is said, it is iniquitous.that the Indiâo Government should debauch the Chinese in China, is it not equally wrong of the Chinese Government to debauch ite subjects in the Straits and in Indo-Chinn, by conniving at the export thither of the home grown article? May we not reasonably, ask as a preliminary that Chips should practice what she preaches? But Since expended in all matters relating to opium the Conference holds the field. The Ching Association may

ginning I wish we could even see good reason, to believe that it will soon be possibile to take a ticket from Kowloon to Canton. I wish there were good. grounds for hoping that the Chinese section of the line thither will be completed as soon as the British section I wish we could ascertain that the acquisition of the requisite land was being pushed forward vigorously. Unfortunately we know that it is not. For some reason there is delay.. Money for the purpose has been handed over, in various instalments to the official respon sible, but still the business hangs fre. The difficulties of acquiring land for the Yuch-hold the broath N words will be

Han Railway have been overcome with com- parative casă. What is it that makes the diffi culties on the Chinese section of the Kowland line so much more formidable? No wonder if In this Colony ws ask the question with some impatience.

listened to until the results of the Shanghat symposium are made koowa,

ON

exciting

At

at

Property at West Point

(Po. On Godowns and ather pro. perty) *********

Less on mortgage

4,509 shares Chion

The motion was carried unanimously.

The Chairman-Thank you very much for your attendance, gentlemen. I think wo can all hops for bright prospects in 1909 19

"OPIUM-IN MANILA.

HEAVY SENTENCE ON A HONGKONG ENGINEER.

A fine of P500 has been assessed against Alexander McCormick, the second engineer of the Aubi, charged and found guilty of the illegal possession of 70 tius of opium. In 110,221.76 banding down his decision in the case, says the

· 11.00 || Cablenerus, Judge Smith found that the charges 17,630.00 || måde had been proved; that the opium had been found as charged and as admitted by the defendant himself testifying on his own behalf. The extent of the guilt of the accused was the point the judge took most under consideration and from that, consideration came to the con. clusion that the accused hed not made a satis factory, explanation of the possession of the prescribed, drug, The accused tried

10,000.00 $155,446.05

to induce the court to belleve that he was take ing it to turn it over to the.officer of the law when he was found with it in his possession in $1,250,000.00 order to secure a reward for its discovery. But in 9,000.00 view of the fact that McCormick had not made 352,301.06 any attempt to justify his possession at the time agents of the customs authorities the Judge 113.497.68 he was found with it by the secret service $1,805,708.74 concluded that "Under these circumstances it

is manifest that the aforesaid explanation of the defendant could not and cannot convince a man of average intelligence and integrity of the good faith of defendant's claim here.

-51,194,482,40

113,000,00

.5854,250,00 1,785.86

$855,035.86

450,000.00 405,035:86

Light and Power

$5.00 Co., Ld. at on "Godown furniture... 2,373.15 Less depreciation... .33.15. Proportion of premium on ur.

expired policies........ Sundry debtors................. Cash in-hand.............$5,055.15 Cash at godown..

200.00

The trial of Chief Officer Lawson for inter- fering with an officer in the discharge of his duties resulted in a conviction and a fine of P100.

HUMPHREYS ESTAIB AND

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་:

OPIUM IN INDIA,

BINANCE COMPANY.

Writing of poppy culture and oplum manusi facture in India, the American Consul General The report of the Directors for the year end of Calcutta saya that deep ploughing · is prac-- tised for the poppy, which is not the case with. ing 31st December, 1908, is as follows:-

sub- Gentlemen,The Director now beg to

of plough is used now as was in vogue con mit to you: their report and statement of ac any other crop grown in India; the same kind Counts for the year ending 31st December, turies ago, it is a rudely-constructed imple ment with ons handle, a shaft, and the share 1908.

The net profit for that period

beam. The inat is usually made of the babal amount to me $90,865.04 tree, because it is tough. A long pointed pieco To which has to be added the

of the iron is attached to the share beam to balance brought forward from

protect the wood, and to enable the plough to last account nágranitsematt $ 4,611.11 | sink more desply into the ground. This plough is drawn by two bollocks. The land. Making a total, available for ap

is then harrowed, and it is ready for irrigation, propriation of............................ 595,480.15 which is accomplished by drawing running it water from. with two bullocks, * well; The Directors recommend that a dividcod of through a sluice to theland. The paichof land, six per cent on the capital be paid to share from one-third to two-thirds of an acre, is sure. holders, absorbing $90,000,00, and that the rounded by an embankment, which defines the balance of $5,485.15 be carried to a new profit boundary, helps the water for inundation, and serves as pathways. One well can be made ACCOUNTS. and loss account.

to serve twenty to thirty farms of one beegah," Hy ar

resolution of shareholders passed on that is, one-third of an acro in extent. There the 8th October last the amount of $50,000.00 are thousands of these wells throughout India einnding at the credit. of equalization of used for irrigation in growing every kind of dividend fand was transferred to typhoon and crop. They are comparatively, cheap and con floods insurance fund. The amount at credit of vesicat, as the farmers dig and equip the wells, this fand has since been reduced by $6,738.06 and breed the bullocks themselves, so that well which represents the amount already paid on irrigation is the cheapest. Moreover, the Go Account of damage caused by the typhoon andvernment can imposeno tax for the water, as in floods of July last. Only part of the damage dons when it is supplied from Government basy so far, been made good, and it will be -tanks or reservoirs, or from canals There are necessary to further entrench on this fund to.

15,500,000 acres of land in India Irrigated by the extent of about $10,000.00,

well and private irrigation. The poppy seed is mixed with sand, so that it will not be sown ton Mr. A. G. Wood having resigned on leaving hickly, and one-third of the mixture is scat the Colony, Mr. J. W. G. Bonner was invitedtored over the prepared ground and the other to join the Board in his place. The Directors now aro-Hon. Mr. H.A. W. Slade, Dr. J. W. Noble, Messrs, J. Scott Harston, J. S. Van Burco, J. W. C. Bonear and Ho Tung, who retire, but being eligible, offer themasives for ra-election.

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-DIRECTORS,

AUDITORS.

The accounts have been audited by Messrs, W. H. Potis and H. Percy Smith, F.C.A., who offar themselves for re-election."

HENRY HUMPHREYS, Chairman.

Hongkong, 26th January, 1909.

Balance Sheet 31st December, 1908, Liabilitica. Capital Account;

150,000 shares@Srojoo cach...$1,500,000.00 Insurance reserve tund... 132,172.12 Typhoon and flood insurance fund Mortgage Sundry creditors Unclaimed dividends Profit and loss account:- Brought forward from.

1907 .............$4,021.11 For the year 190890,865.04

Assets.

two-thirds held for future sowing on the same soil The farmer then gives the ground a watering. When the soil is dried out to woma extent, be again ploughs the land, but not so deeply as a first, barrows, and than sows an other third of the mixture of sand and poppy sead which is treated as the first third. Then follows the sowing of the last third, and similar treatment. Three pounds of poppy seed will sow a "beegah." faja few days the seeds sprout and send up rich green shoots. Then comes the particular work of thinning out the Sprouts. To accomplish this, the women and children crawl along much in the same way as is done in weeding and thinning sugar beets. lo about thirteen" weeks the fieldägare in a beautiful white bloom, for the white poppy is the one richest in opium; and women and children are set to work gathering the heads. They are carefully packed in baskets; and later made into "rotis," which look like bread cakes, eight or 43,261.94 30,000.00 ten poppy beads being baked in one cake. The 118,043.75 cakes are reduced to powder and afterwards mixed with the liquid "opium in the factory, 4,351.39

When the crop of poppy bands is gathered, worke begins in the opium" "kothi," which is a shed made of bamboos and thatched with grass. The heads are punctured with four needles 95.486.16 tied in a bundle, and laid aside, for juice to ooze out during the night. The juice thus ab- $2,023,315.35 tained in carefully scooped up and preserved in an earthen Jar. A poppy head will stand Amount invested in property......$1,701,082.5 from five to six puncturings, which are made every other day, by which time the head has Amount invested on mortgage

303,213.57 Accounts receivable ........................ing

yielded all the juice that will ooze out. The $7,609.55 Fire Insurance premia unexpired 584.76 heads are then broken off and the stalks minde 128,00 into bundles, for both the heads and stalks are Office furaiture, J........................

sold to Government. After the crop has been Cash in Hongkong and Shangbai.

1,397.62 thus gathered and put into marketable shops the Government-officer-comes-into the neigh Bank and ba

52,023,315,35 bourhood, and sends word that he is ready to Test, weigh, and pay for the opium produced. The old factory at Patna, is one of the largest factories in Bengal, as well as one of the oldest.. Here the cruda opium is again tested and then For the Your ending 310 December, 1908. Dr.

pat lato large vats which are slightly heated. To fire insurance premia...$ 5,687.05. Rakes are then used in stirring and in equalizing To crown rent .......

3,168.06 the fluid preparatory to its being boiled, and the 2,886.70 powdered pods put in to thicken it. When the To general charges ...

mass is of the proper thickness it is taken out "aad put into earthen moulds, where it remains 8,000.00 until it becomes quite hard. Then it is 5.352.08 squeezed into the shape of bills the size of 340.00 small, apples. These balls are dried in the

·-95,486.15 | sun, and afterwards stored away in a room, on shelves one above the other. When it is ready $122,880.04 to pack in cheste; a native climbs from tler to tier forty feet, above the cement floor, and drops, ball after ball in quick succession, 4,611.11 these being caught by a native-below, 94,070,05 until all be shelves are empty. Near the 23.911.90 opium factory is a saw mill, where the wood is 186.co cut in proper lengths and made into boxes, In

90.98 these boxes the opium is packed for shipment.

and home consumption. The odour of oplum $122,880.04urising from the factory can be detected a long- way of, and a visitor to the factory will soon WOMAN'S' PROgress in chINA, alise a sense of drowsiness, as if be bad taken

a dose of laudanum, q

:

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT.

To allowance to general managers to cover office rant and salaries of secretary and clerks........... To repairs... To auditors' fees To balance..................................

zusammene.

By balance brought forward from

1907WETTI

By rented.dk. Hy interest.... By transfer fees... By commission.

.

THE OSARA SHOSEN RÄISHA,,

MR. NAKADASHI ON SHIPPING DEPRESSIÓN. The half-yearly general meeting of the Osaka

TRADE PROSPECTS IN JAPAN.

The following editorial appears in a recent issua of the Hambay' Gazelle :—The sudden depression in trade which affected the whole. world' came especially heavily oo Japan, be cause it found the country sucked into a whiri- pool of mad speculation: Bank failures were Bumerous and the lessons taught so stern that both merchants and the públic have become, if anything, over-cautious. Little by little con- fidence is returning, but the movement is ex ceedingly slow, and it is forecasted that years must alapse before a return can be made to the state existing before speculation worked bavpc. There are sigas that the leading financial and commercial firms' are taking 22,505.00 the very sound view that it is better to re

cover slowly, and thoroughly than to make too 2,000.00 great baste leat a false step should cause an.

A NEWSPAPER FOR THE FAIR SEX, other period of depression. One significant feature is that the American entenia had Of the many signs of progress in China, says 1,141.59 practically no effect on the markets, though the Straits Echo, one of the most interesting. 60.393-74 France has since become a more active buyer and unique is the editing and publishing of a of Japanese Bonds and other countries are daily newspaper by a woman named Mrs. following the example. The explanation of Chang, a native of Paking. After marriage-to-Shosen Kaisho held on Saturday approved the report and accounts recommending a dividend 6,255.15 the French purchases is probably to be found a Chinese official, says the Sunday at Home,

in a growing disinclination in France to invest she spent several years in Central Chios, at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum, reports $1,805,708.74 in Germany and Japan offers a good substitute, where she learned much about the condition the Japan Chronicle of 16th uit, it would If this attitude of French capitalista should of the people; and subsequently, upon the seem that the result of the company's work- continue, the introduction of French funds in death of her husband, returned once more fe og for the period under review was not very satisfactory, due in large part to the gen to Japan will be vastly facilitated, the enormous her native city in North Chias. wealth of the Republic being well known. A Meanwhile, Mrs. Chang's mind had become eral depressing of trade and the Chinese" might be expected, the increased demand intent on the progress of her country, and like boycott of Japanese goods, which serious for Japanese Bonds abroad has favourably-wise convinced that development was largely ly affected trade with China. The Vladi

vostok and Korean lines also suffered afected the market in Japan and prices show possible by the removal of prejudice sad an opward tendeucy. During November, the superstition, and also through the uplifting of from the trade depression. The number export of Japanese Bonds to England alone ber sex, she courageously decided to start a of vessels employed by the company during reached about £200,000, and a number of daily newspaper for women called the Peking the period was 114, with an aggregate tonnago large orders have been received from Eraoce Woman News, which, on its own lines, is of 118,264. They carried 935,037 passengers and America. Commerce, however, is little without a rival in the whole world. Upon the and 14,253,930 packages of cargo, receipts from of the larger companies are writing down their educated Peking looked on with mild surprise, which with aundry receipts made preceding affected by the larger call for Bonds and several appearance of the paper it is said that even these two sources amounting to Y4,678, 19, capital. The cad of the year saw at least one Mre. Chang forcibly argues that, if China in Ys,861,221. Compared with the

the Imperial Petroleum Com-to challenge successfully foreign ggression, period the number of passengers carried showi

she must become strong; and in order to have respondingly strong, healthy mothers; hence, vigorous, healthy men, China must have cor foot binding must go, and physical culture and hygiene bave place in the schools. Further, that China's men may be the equal of other nations, women's training ought to begio io the home, supplemented by schools for girls and the establishment lecture halls for

-748-COLONIAL-CEMETERY..

REPLIES TO MR, SHELTON HOOPER'S QUESTIONS.

These are all the subjects upon which the report touches. A final word of explanation i seedful concerning the many lateresting sub. jects upon which it does not touch. The num ber of these is perhaps the most remarkable As regards the reference in the report thing about it. There bre to the work of construction on the Kwang- excursions into high Chinese politica. tung section of the Canton-Hankow railway this distance from the capital we labour a word of explanation is necessary. The

under great disadvantages in making them. rapid progress recently made was noted with

Even in Peking there is appareatly some. satisfaction. The particulars are public pro difficulty in obtaining safe news. And there is party. Forty-four miles of track are open manifestly far greater difficulty in forming. to, traffic. Two trains run daily over the views which are not liable to be upset. Again whole distaoce. Each way the journey takes occurs the commonplace doubt, prevalent thize hours. This does not exactly indicate iter the Blazer rising, as to whether any the top speed of the train. - In the 44 miles are foreigner has ever yet succeeded in under- 12 stoppages. Additional traius run regularly standing the workings of the Chinese mind, to a hallway station some 20 odd miles out from

To this doubt is mainly doe the circumstance Canton. Already the stimolating effect is ap

that the events which three months ago startled It is not only that villagers throng pareat,

the world led to no pronouncements from here. the train. That fact it"patent to any casual

The death of the late Emperor and of the Em-

At the meeting of the Sanitary Board last observer. A inct not so readily realised is that

press Dowager-ibe peaceful transference of there is also the beginning of a local freight. the reins of power-the subsequent fall of Tuesday afternoon, Mr. A. Shelton Booper, traffic-cattle and vegetables coming into Can Yune and his exit from the Peking stage-of paradent to notice, asked!- tos from the coupley-fish going out to inland all these dramatic incidents no word was said.

(r.) In it a fact that permission of any officer villages. As a local line the success of the if anything required to be said it was clearly ment has been granted for the exhumation of

of the Sanitary Department or other. Govers undertaking is already assured. Precisely the more difficult business of our colleagues in

any corpse in any Chinese Cemetery and for its because of that there is danger. There is dan-

the Nonh to say it. We have kept strictly to ger lest the management should see no further

re-interment in the Colonial Cemetery, Happy large failure our own business down South. Our task has than that. The directers are drawn chiefly been light because with very few exceptions Valley, commonly known as the Protestant pany which in 1907 decreased its capital by from the local gentry and merchants. It is such incidents as have arisen to threaten alth and Buildings Amendment Ordinance one million Vas. The place where one might Cemetery, since the passing of the Poblic nearly half after a short life with a capital of probable that few of them have travelled wide.

expect a brighter outlook offers no cacourage ly. It is possible that some of them have good relations with the Canton authorities,

have been successfully dealt with through 19087 never travelled at all. It is therefore open the ordinary official channels, and comment (2) If so, what is the number of such cases, ment. The Goancial writer of a Kobe journal says that it is very long since the country's to doubt whether they realise to the full from us was ibus rendered needless. How and daten of each? the possibilhies opening out of the little fight our task has been is made manifest by (3) Who was the officer who grauled the trade with China entered such a dull stage, station yard at Wangsha, Failure to realise the modest proportions of the report, the permits and by what authority did he de so?

(4) Bas any, portion of the Colonial Cems.owing in the first place to the boycott set up in South China and the fall of silver. Finding it those possibilities now will result in curtailing adoption of which, together with the secounts,

tery been reserved for such re-interments disadvantageous to carry on transactions with them hereafter.. If the railway is ever to be

I now formally move. (Loud applause).

Chinese merchants in Japan alone, the Japan- operated as part of a great trunk lice and a Hon. Mr. Pollock addressed a few remarks referred to in question No. 1}

The following were the replies

ess marine products merchants have made large local traffic is to run simultaneously, a pertinent to the chairman's address and con

efforts to start a direct export business, They double track in the immediate vicinity of cluded by seconding the motion which was Oat. The permit was issued on Decem-asked the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha for quaistence, Canton will become a necessity, and there unanimously carried.

and the Kaisha agreed to let its branch at The import of flour into Japan has shown a will be pressing need for more room at Do the motion of Mr, Forbes seconded by ber 19th, 1908.

3.The form of permit was issued by the Hongkong deal with their goods. Besides, Mr. gradual decrease since 1993. The decrease is Registrar General, the M.O.Hi having no sani Adachi and Mr. Ito, marine products exporters due to the development of the four-mill tary objections. The issuing of thir permit at Yokohama, and Mr. Kobayashi, a drug exlndustry in Japan, which, furthermore, is suffer. was a continuation of the practice that obtained porter there, have tried direct export, entering ing from over-production with the result that noder the old bye-laws. "Printed copies of the

into a contract with the Onishi Shoten at Hong new bye-law were not circulated till Decen kong. The results so far, are said to have been ber goth.

very good. As is always the case, the ship 4, No.

building industry is suffering, but, as we have polated out on several occasions, the bounty system has had a very bad effect on japantie shipbuilding by securing a large fleet of expen, sive boals chiefly designed for speed instead of building with a view to the profitable carriage of cargo. The effects of the system were pat. eat to anyone who cared to examine the condi lions and little sympathy, therefore, need be felt for those who are now suffering from reaction from foolish and greedy policy. Generally speaking, the prospects of the com ing year if not brilliant are, still, not black and the opening of the Diet and publication of ibe. Government policy of retrenchment which is promised may have a greatly závivifying #Each

Mr. Shellim a number of gentlemen were ap pointed the Committee for the current year.

SANITARY BOARD.

A NEW MEMBER.

The first meeting of the Sanitary Board

Yes.

THE JAPAN BOYCOTT.

COUNT KOMURA'S STATEMENT,

the terminus, It will be 'well for the future of the enterprise if these things are realis ad and acted upon promptly. The price of both land and labour will rise as the in- fuence of increased, facilities of communica tlon makes itself falt. The directors should look ahead. They have the bistory of the

· shortsightedness of any number of other ploncar directors, similarly situated in other 'countries, to guide them. The criticism thus

elaborated is made in no carping spirit. It is since the Election took place at the Board's made je a friendly spirit. It is not made ba. { offices last Tuesday afternoon, when Dr. G. H. causa this Association has in farmer, years L. Fitzwilliams, the newly appointed member, committed itself to the opinion that the Chi-made his first appearance, Mr. R.. O. Hutchi- nere would be wise to entrust the building of son, Acting Head of the Sanitary Department, Count Komara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the whole line from Hankow to Canton to a delivered a short, valedictory address, in which said, at a meeting of the Committes of the contractor. We may hold to that he said that the last Election was more im House of Representatives, that the boycott of opinion and yet realising the usclesupss of portant, the crual and for the opportunity of Japanese poesia Githa was practically putting it forward at the present time, accept the congratulating Mis Shelton, Hooper and Dr. ended. position that the people of Kwangtung prefer to Fitzwilliams-or their successful return, Haf. He added that he did not expect that any build their own railways and wish them suc- trasted that the former would continue his anti-Japanese Isgislation by California alone cess. But our faterest in the progress of the good work and that it would be a pleasure to would affect the relations of America and Japan. | fine fuxides celilclem of the methods employ." | the latter to bapplit the Oolopy, d

Tokio, January 26,

women.

THE IMPORT OF FLOUR,

ed a falling-off of 133.042 and the cargo a being less by Y145,965, but a saving in ex decrease of 937,512 packages, the total revenue penses of Y367,298 was effected, and the profit amounted to Y1,506,367,17

In his address to the shareholders, Mr. Nakabashi, president of the company, aald the depression in the carrying trade had been so bad during the last period that steamers to a total tonnage of 50,000 (owned by private individuals) were laid up idle towards the end of last year. Adding the tonnage of steamer which were laid up ostensibly, for repair other reasons, the total-tonnage of steamers unemployed reached 100,000. Buch being the condition of the shipping business, daring the period, the company's revenue fall off to below" the figures for the preceding period, but an economy of over Y300,000 having been effected the import of wheat also shown a decrease. In in working expanses the result for the last ball-` 1903 the import amongled to over 500,000 your was somewhat better than for the foreced koku, but last year it declined to about 222,000 ing period. Mr. Nakabashi thought that the koku. This is attributed partly to an increased depression in the shipping trade had now cultivation of wheat in Japan. The import of reached a turcing point and a revival of aç- ficur each year during the past eleven years tivity might be expected in the second half of.

the present your.. was as follows :--

Year, 1898... 1899

1900...

1981..... 1992

1903 3904

1905.

Quantity

155,814 koku 136,034 .337,895. ** ..242,478

189,169:

Referring to the opening of the company's American service, Mr. Nakabashi said that the completion of the American railway with which it was arranged the company's staamers should run in connection would, it was thought, bai delayed by about two months, in consequence, the time for completing the stormors ordered: by the company from the Milsu. Bitki žand. Kawasaki yards, had been extended, exception being made in the case of the Tacoma, hich was expected to be launched on 154YJIN DI LEN month at the Mitsg Bishi yard at Nagasakk