January 16, 1896.]
privileged to take away books. This is as it should be.
Thanking you for inserting this letter,-I remain, sir, yours faithfully,
Hongkong, 10th January, 1896.
F. A. C.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE APPRECIATION OF STOCKS.
The N. C. Daily News publishes a table show. ing the advance or decline on all the stocks during 1895 quoted in the daily list of Messrs. J. P. Bisset & Co., only excluding companies HOTEL ACCOMMODATION AT KOBE. that have come into existence since the 1st of January, 1895. We reproduce the column giving the difference per share, which is an increase in every case except these marked with
sign-
TO THE EDITOR OF THE **
DAILY PRESS.
HONGKONG
SIR, A little while ago a party of us arrived per steamer in Kobe and we asked to be con- veyed to a hotel. We were told there was only one, a European, in the place, and on applica tion for quarters we were politely informed that there was no accommodation for us. We had
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Company.
Chinn Mutual S. N. Co., preference China Mutual S. N. Co., ordinary..... Hongkong, Canton, and Macro Steamboat Ca. Do glas Steamship Co.
Docks,
Boyd & Co., founders' Boyd & Co,, ordinary S.C. Farnham & Co. Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co.
MARINE INSURANCE. China Traders' Insurance Co North China Insurance Co.
nion Insurance Society of Canton
Yangtsze Insurance Association Canton Insurance Office Straits Insurance Co.
BANKS. two ladies with us. In answer to our enquiriesongkong and Shanghai Bank we ascertained we could go to a Japanese hotel National Bank of China
SHIPPING. or else go to Osaka or Kyoto. We were much Indo-China 8. N. Co. disappointed, as well as surprised, for we had heard so much of the Liverpool of the East, which proved to be nothing but a sleepy town, lacking in energy and enterprise. The appear. ance of the harbour certainly indicates business activity and the streets are full of people going to and fro, but in spite of this we were told that for a long time only one hotel has been in operation, having the monopoly and charging what it pleases. One of the chief difficulties has bean, we were told, want of desirable land to build on, the foreigu settlement being entirely taken up by offices and godowns. Very recently an adventurous individual has put up a very fine building in about the best situation that can be found in Kobe. We saw it from the outside only, but were not allowed to enter. It is said that it is intended for a first class hotal, or for offices and chambers; no one Reems to know. The taciturn disposition of the owner and his indifference has been the sub- ject of comment, for all seem to be puzzled as to his object in erecting such a fine building and keeping it empty. As we are not the only travellers that are likely to visit Japan. I write in the interest of those that follow, and I would advise them either to stay on board or land and immediately proceed to Osaka, but as Kobe has no attractions I think Osaka and Kyoto offer the best inducement for a few days of rest. A trip down the rapids is worth a day's journey. I enclose my card and remain,- Yours faithfully.
A TRAVELLER.
Yokohama, 2nd January, 1896.
COLLISION AT WOOSUNG, The N. C. Daily News of the 8th January says:-A serious collision occurred yesterday afternoon at Woosung between the Tokio Maru, inward bound, and the Szechuen, outward. The Szechuen was struck on the starboard side about twelve feet from the stem and the plates were knocked in some six feet and the stem twisted round on the same side. The damage extends from the top of the forecastle deck down below the water line. One man was injured on board the Szechuen. The damage to the Tokio is not serions, so far as is at present known.
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FIRE INSURANCE, Hongkong Fire Insurance Co... China Fire Insurance Co...
WHARVES.
Shanghai and Hongkew Wharf Co. Birt's Wharf Co, 1ongkong and Kowloon Wharf & Godown Co
MINING. Sheridan Con. M. & M. Co. Punjom Mining Co., ordinary Panjom Mining Co., preference Jelebu M. & T. Co. Raub Australian G. M. Co.
TTGS AND CArgo Boats. Shanghai Tug Boat Co. Taku Tug and Lighter Co Shanghai Cargo Boat Co... Coperative Cargo Boat Co.
SUGAR. Perak Sugar C. Co. China Sugar R. Co. Luzon Sugar R. Co....
LANDS.
Shanghai Land Investment Co
FACTORIES.
Hongkong Land Investment Co. Major Bros. Shanghai Ice Co.
MISCELLANEOUS, - Shanghat Gas Co. Shanghai Waterworks Co. Shanghai-Sumatra T. Co..... Shanghai-Langkat T. Co... Shanghai Horse Bazaar Co. JLlewellyn & Co. Hall & Holtz
*
A; S. Watson & Co..
Difler- ente per share. Tis.
63 87 4.56
14.00
4.38
7.47 2.19
9.40 22.50 51.93 28.40 34.67 2.38
62.05
1.50 -0.91
-1115
-1.83 -0.31
49.00
57
that bugbear of gambling-mining stocks, have materially advanced and appreciated to the extent of Tls. 12,132,406 and that as regards values we are to-day having completely recovered from the awful the happy-position of blow inflicted upon us by the terrible shrinkage of 1892, when over Tls. 11,000,000 was lost. During that and the following year the financial world at large suffered by the sharp drop in prises, and public companies; and many a house silver, the smashing of banks, private enter.
had to go to the wall, unable to meet its liabili ties. From this state of things we have re- covered, and, judging by the above figures, our present prosperity is based on sounder founda- tions. Our principal stock, the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, one must be glad to see, has recovered in quotation, and that the prosperity has assumed the large figures of an appreciation of over Tis. 5,000,000, a fact which tells its own tale of careful management much more sub- stantially than empty words can convey. With the prosperity of the leviathan Bank the in- terests of all are mixed up; and that it should i continue to forge ahead must be the wish of all. 40.00 Fire Insurance shares have appreciated over 68.50 j $1,000,000, in consequence of a cessation of 5901 the cutthroat policy pursued last year by all the local and home companies, and a well- regulated schedule of rates, fair to every one, has been agreed upon and adopted, by which rates pay now, and losses by incendiarism have been materially lessened, if not stopped al- together. for it does not pay the fraudulent Celestial trader to burn after insuring goods for twice their value. The Marine Companies 10.22 have likewise shared in the good times and the working of the intricacies of underwriting 80.00 shows such careful handling that a gain of 18.00 | 82,000,000 has to be recorded. Wharves have 8.21 appreciated over a quarter of a million of taels, if we take the two companies together, but Birt's Wharf Company has been sold privately and will not figure in future in the table of stocks; but the result of the gain to the Shanghai and Hongkew Wharf shares is mostly due to the storage accommodation being fully engaged during the year and the profitable nature of the work of 15.00 unloading and warehousing machinery imported 54.50 for ironworks, cotton mills, etc.. a class of business hitherto unknown, but which promises, on account of the depreciated currency, to in- crease as years roll on and Shanghai becomes the important business centre of all China. Shipping shares show a gain all round of Tls. 1,500,000, which is caused by the paying freights 7.0 obtainable during the war, and a profitable out- turn should be shown in the final accounts of the various companies, when published. Docks have naturally increased in value, and many a paying contract has been booked by the keen business heads of both of our local companies from vessels injured during the late struggle between China and Japan or from other injuries caused by the vicissitudes of misfortune. Farn- hams in especial have jumped in value, owing to their seizing the opportunity offered of buying 8.03 the property formerly leased to them by the 1.S3 Shanghai Dock Co. Cargo Boats have justly earned favourable notice from investors, as the Woosung Bar remains in identically the same position as heretofore, without any chance of its being removed; so the continued prosperity of both these companies will continue until this obstacle is removed. As regards Mining stocks, that sink by which over 3 million of taels have been drained during the last four years from China, still keeps up its record of loss. Even the home markets are suffering from the same cause, as the slump in African gold ventures most painfully shows, when it is remembered that £80,000,000 has been lost over these concerns. It is to be hoped that the sharp experience we have gone through will prevent us from ever again burying money in a hole in the ground, and any stray sanguine pro- moter will henceforward be given a wide berth. Under the heading of Miscellaneous stocks, waterworks have improved, because being a | sterling stock it has received patronage from home investors. In Tobaccos the Sumatras haye done well and have bright prospects ahead; but as regards Lankats it is to be regretted that the concession has not been signed, although the directors and the manager at the estates have done all in their power to conform to the re- quirements and demands of the Dutch Govern-
62.50
27.91
0
10.77
330 8.00
10.00
17.50 52.00 140,00 17.50 9.17
The same paper of the 9th January says:-The Szechuen, which was in collision with the Tokio Maru on Tuesday afternoon, is now alongside Messra. Boyd & Co.'s wharf at Pootung. She has sustained serious damage, her starboard bow being completely smashed, and the plates on the port aide torn away from the stem. The full extent of the damage, how ever, cannot be ascertained until the ship is docked, though it is estimated that the necessary repairs will take at least a month to effect. The collision occurred just above Gough Is land. The Szechuen was hugging the Pootung bank of the river rather closely to avoid the Japanese steamer, and in doing so her stern Loss by shrinkage. took the ground, causing her to take a broad | 1892. Tls. 11,144,274 sheer. The Tokio Maru struck her about ten † 1893. feet abaft the stem on the starboard side, cutting 1894 into her to a distance of about six feet. The 1895 Japanese steamer's damage was comparatively slight, although several plates will have to be taken out.
The total increase amounts to Tls. 12,842,903, less a decrease of Tls. 726,290, giving a net gain of Tls. 12,116,613. Our contentporary says the total gain on the shares held in Shang- hai and by Shanghai people may probably be fairly set down at Tls. 6,000,000, or nearly £1,000,000 sterling. A part of this gain be longs, of course, to the Chinese residents. Even with these deductions, the result of the year's operations is a very satisfactory one.
The French flagship Bayard arrived at Saigon on the 2nd inst. from Hongkong. She will receive a new crew at Saigon and undergo ex- tensive repairs there, which will occupy about a month.
The Mercury publishes a similar list, compiled by Mr. J. L. Sullivan, to which is added the following result of comparative analysis for the past four years
2,836,628
Tls. 13,980,902
Gain in value.
Tls. 2,759,696 12,132,406
Tls. 14,892,102
The following remarks are appended : The above table giving the actual gain in values of our local securities is of such an interesting character that everyone dealing in shares, either as an investor or speculator, must feel a certain amount of gratulation in know ing that all securities, with the exception of
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