December 11, 1895.]
As an
has his own fads. Shanghai thinks it wants a Governor, we in Hongkong pray the gods that we might be allowed to do without one. old resident I consider the light and
pass law a good one. As far as I can remember it was given effect to in a reasonable manner, and was not objected to by the Chinese, till Hennessy ordered that it should not be carried out. Can we hope under our bureaucratic system of government to ever have the laws enforced with
DISCRETION?
Hongkong, 4th December. 1895.
THE WATER SUPPLY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS." DEAR SIR,-I should feel obliged if you
would be good enough to allow me a small space in your valuable paper to make the following matter publicly known. After being left this morning without any supply of water whatever, I made enquiries and found that my neighbours had been put to the same great inconvenience. As far as I have been able to ascertain, the reason the P.W.D. decided to leave us without a drop of water to day was on account of a tap in one of the neighbouring houses having been broken and left unrepaired. It is decidedly hard to only have the opportunity obtaining water during one or two hours of the day, but when it comes to having the water supply cut off entirely without receiving any notice whatever, I think an occupier of a house has good reason to complain.-I am, dear sir, yours respectfully,
First Belilios Terrace, 8th December, 1895.
ANOTHER CITY OF DREADFUL NIGHT."
EL
K.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
21
DEAR SIR,-Now that the police administra- tion are exhibiting such unwonted activity in carrying out the Ordinances regarding passes and lamps, may I be privileged to draw the attention of the public to another evil and (in
the opinion of those who have to endure it) a more urgent one, which the Hongkong con. stabulary might be instructed to suppress as soon as possible. I refer, sir, to the absolute pandemonium which exists in this street (Queen's Road East) every night of the week
without intermission between the hours of ten p.m. and one a.m. These orgies are caused principally by the men of the mercantile marine, Our Jack" and other nations' "Jacks" figure as a good second in what is apparently a com- petition, and Monsieur Atkins is not altogether innocent. These gentlemen amuse themselves and distract others by forming ricksha cessions up and down this street and yelling and screaming and singing till they are per- fectly unable to continue owing to their gener- ally being thoroughly primed with fire-water supplied them by some of the aristocratic estab- lishments to the far westward of this same street.
pro-
One warrior in Her Majesty's land forces has adopted a rather unique method of -informing us that he comes of an imbecile stock; he generally when on the spree gratifies his excited disposition by imitating the calls of a rooster, but as this militant swain is undoubtedly affected with pulmonary pthisis his efforts are not appreciated, and I trust he will accept this
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE INTERNATIONAL COTTON MANUFACTUKING CO., LIMITED.
On the 28th November the first statutory meeting of the above Company was held at the offices of the American Trading Company, Shanghai. Mr. William Brand presided, and there were present, Messrs. E. A. Probst, J. Jones, J. L. Scott, Chew Shing ching, J. F. Seaman, Chok Sian-yiu, Chu Pao-sa (Directors), Ting Wai-kee, Chang Lin-chi, Ying Kwan-dah, Wilmer, Harris, J. M. Young, B. A. Clarke, W. S. Jackson, J. Ambrose, A. W. Danforth, H. J. Limby, Chen Foong- chang, E. P. Wickham, F. Gove, W. S. Emens (Secetary), and H. S. Wilkinson (Legal Adviser), representing in all 2,836 shares.
Mr. EMENS having read the notice convening the meeting,
there
449
I offer them house accommodation, and a favour- able opportunity presenting itself of acquiring some land immediately in the rear of lot 1,996, that is to the east of it, we have arranged for about 40 mow more or less. This we have acquired by purchase and will deal with it later on as the mill approaches completion. We have contracted for the machinery and plant for the mill, and have arranged-that it comes the first shipment commencing in January out from England in detachments as wanted, next. This will enable us to start work with 20,000 or 25,000 spindles without waiting for the erection of the full complement con- has been placed with Messrs. Asa Lees & Co., tracted for, viz., 40,000 spindles. This contract Limited, of Oldham, a firm of the highest standing, from whose hands we feel confident in getting the best that can be produced and they guarantee us a perfect outfit. Such, gentlemen, is a brief outline of what we have arranged. One great aim we have always had in view, viz., that everything should be it will materially conduce to make the product of the highest order, in the strong hope that
of a like nature, a consummation that must Prove beneficial to our customers as well as our shareholders. Some of you may ask when ordinary course of events we hope the mill In the we may see the produce of the mill.
cotton season comes round. Should we, however, will be erected and in working order before next have a severe winter we must be prepared for delays, as they are sure to follow.
But as the months pass you will be able to watch the pro- gress made in the erection of the buildings and to form for yourselves a very correct idea of when they may be completed. As regards the 4,854 shares allotted, and over one thousand capital of the Company there are at present further shares have been arranged for, represent- ing in the aggregate about Tls. 600,000. Several applicants for very considerable amounts deposit has been paid thereon we do not con- were and have been promised shares, but until a
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, being no report or statement of accounts to place before you I will gladly avail myself of the opportunity this formal meeting presents to give you a short sketch of what
your directors have been engaged in. At the outset the pro- visional directors invited Mr. Probst and Mr. Scott to join the Board of Direction, and we were much gratified when they cordially have invited Mr. Chu Pao-sa, a leading member responded to the invitation. Since then we of the Ningpo Guild, to join us on the Board. He willingly responded and has taken his seat accordingly. This makes up the full num- ber of directors as provided by our articles of association. As often happens at the starting of new undertakings unavoidable delays take place, and in our endeavours to obtain a site for our mill we have had to pass through a little of this experience. We finally settled, however, upon the plot of ground on the Pootung side of the Whangpoo immediately to the south of the Customs Signal Station, called lot 1,996, better known as Muirhead's property, comprising about 53 mow, more or less. This site we have acquired by lease and without going into all the minutiae and details, I can I think give you in a few words the leading points of the lease. Our lease is for 999 years. present a portion of the lot is leased to others, say until 31st December, 1903, unless termi- nated sooner, when the International Cotton Manufacturing Company become lessees of the whole lot. Our rent until the expiration of the lease just referred to is to be Tls. 5,000 per annum and after that until 1st November, 1920,
At
say twenty-five years hence, Ts. 6,000 per annum. Thereafter it is on a sliding scale ac- cording to arrangements stipulated between the lessors and ourselves. All buildings at present standing on said lot to be taken at valna tions to be agreed upon.
I may say that a number of the buildings have only lately been erected and will prove very useful for our requirements. All bunding and filling in to be done by the lessees. The rent to be paid quarterly. Power is taken for the lessees to terminate the lease at the end of the first and every successive period of twenty-five
years. The law of England is to apply to the
lease and the lease is to be registered at the British Consulate-General. This site wo con-
sider ourselves warranted in bringing them into our calculation, nor do we hold ourselves bound for an indefinite time to allot them, at the same time we have good grounds for believing that leased the site for the mills saves the whole all that is required will be subscribed. Having outlay for the ground, so that whilst we can readily utilise the full amount of Tis. 800,000, we can at present, if need be, work with a smaller amount of capital. Before concluding I might mention that according to our articles meetings in the month of March or in the month of association we must hold subsequent general
of April of each year unless we determine in general meeting to the contrary. The Board is of opinion that it would be somewhat superfluous to hold a meeting in March or April next in the mouth of October, 1896, and a resolution advise that our next general meeting be held
to this effect will be laid before you. doing so, however, I shall be glad so far as I am able to answer any questions that shareholders may wish to put.
There being no questions,
year, and
Before
general meeting of this Company be held during The CHAIRMAN proposed-That the next
the month of October, 1896.
Mr. J. F. SEAMAN seconded, and the resolu
the only intimation. No doubt a great share of sider a most advantageous one, being situated tion was carried nem. con.
blame is due to the shanty keepers before re- ferred to, but the authorities controlling these men might be persuaded to give them a little advice on the matter, as what with the univers ally famed cats here one has quite enough to do to induce sleep without these midnight revelries. I beg to remain, dear sir, yours faithfully,
"QUILLDRIVER." Queen's Road East, 9th December, 1895.
The N. C. Daily News says:-It is reported that the bigoted but clean-handed Governor of Shantung, Li Ping-hêng, has memorialised against railways in spite of the fact that they are now in favour with the Emperor and his Council of Ministers. Apparently, Li Ping- heng's arguments were rather strong according to Chinese lights, for it is said that there appears to be a sudden cooling of the enthusiasm of the Peking officials in the matter of the - Grand Trunk railway between the capital and
Chinkiang
in the centre of the harbour, having a river frontage, and, above all, having long been in occupation is suitable for immediate use as regards building purposes. Necessary bunding operations have been going on for some time and the foundations for the mill will be com- ing and superintending the erection of the mill menced upon almost immediately. The design-
has been entrusted to Mr, Ambrose, a name, I am sure, well known to all of you. Mr. Ambrose has had a wide experience in the erecting and supervising of buildings in Shanghai, and I am confident we could not place our interests in better hands. Some of the plans have been placed upon the wall of this room; that in the centre shows the front elevation which faces the Customs Signal Station, likewise the end elevation which faces the river. Recognising that when the mill will be in full working order, the operatives will not hate the same easy facilities of transit that are enjoyed by those living in our foreign Settlement, or near to our public roads, it has seemed in- cumbent that we should be prepared to
This concluded the proceedings.-N. C. Daily News.
WHY RAILWAYS HAVE NOT BEEN BUILT IN CHINA,
For thirty-five years the Chinese high officials have known of the value of railways and for twenty years, while several have advocated their construction, there has always been a strong current of opposition to railways. It is reported that the chief arguments used against railways were Secretary of Legation in London.
drawn up by the Chinese While Kwoh Sungtao, his chief, advocated the adop tion of railways by his Government his Secre- tary, owing to a private quarrel with his chief, wrote a private despatch against railways, and this is now the standby of almost all the Con- servatives. As the document has occupied such a prominent position, to the detriment of untold millions of Chinese and almost the rain
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