400
[May 20, 1897.
not
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
SHANGHAI GENERAL CHAMBER of issuing transit passes, and by desire of the
UF COMMERCE DU
Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps a sub-committee has drawn up a report on the requisite revision of the Sh The annual meeting of
of the Yangtze Regulations. A River Con. Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce was held on the 6th May, servancy Board is a subject we have much at Mr. E. F. Alford (Chairman) presided and there heart, although so far our efforts have Chairman) J. C. Bois, W. D. Little, A. Korff, were present Messrs. C. J. Dudgeon (Vice-proved successful, but when the time comes for consideration of how riverine improvements E. B. Skottwe, MoMichael, A. Wasserfall, Hearn, Hewett, Douglas Jones, Iburg, R. Sutherland, E. Shellim, D. M. Moses, Matthews, P. Branat, A. Werth, and Drummond Hay (Secretary).
should refuse to lend money on the security of | mining shares, and they should jealously hesi tate to lend on personal cretit if there be reason to believe that the loan is to be used for the purchase of mining scrip. There is no harm- there may be much profit-in a gold-mining boom; but let it be a boom based on cash dea lings. The latter phrase would of course, per mit loans obtained by pledging any realisable securities, shirts included. But it would not per- mit loans based on personal security, for that, too often, means a mortgage on the industry of
the future.
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE CHINESE CELEBRATION OF THE DIAMOND JUBILEE:
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRES9" DEAR SIR,-With regard to the resolutions passed by the Chinese gentlemen at the Tang Wa Hospital for the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee, I hope the Chinese Committee appointed will reconsider and withdraw resolutions 6 and 7, as these resolutions, in my humble opinion, would create ill feeling. Thanking you for publishing the above. Yours truly,
Hongkong, 14th May, 1897;
A CHINESE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PRESS."-
DEAR SIR, By the Chinese Mail extra issued at 8 p.m. last night I learn that the Chinese community met again at the Tung Wa Hos. pital at noon yesterday and, withdrew resolu- tions Nos. 6, 7, and 9 and substituted three new ones in their stead. It seems to me that the Chinese Celebration Committee still do not grasp the meaning of Mr. Lockhart's letter, for one of the new resolutions they passed yesterday refers to overcrowding in dwelling houses. I think it is most likely Mr. Lockhart will ask them again to reconsider this resolu- tion, and in so doing I hope they will confine themselves to Jubilee celebration matters and not impose conditions.
and remedial measures for the Woosung Bar are to be financed, the principle that representa- tion must accompany taxation may be usefully report I shall be glad to reply, so far as is in applied Before moving the adoption of the
my
power, to any questions members désire to put.
There being no questions,
and accounts for the past year, as published, be The Chairman proposed “That the report
adopted."
tion was agreed to unanimously.
Mr. C. J. Dudgeon seconded, and the resolu
The Chairman said the next business was
the election of a Committee for the ensuing year. He was sorry to say that Mr. Moses and Mr. Brand were not serving again, but two other gentlemen had consented to serve.
Mr. H. R. Hearn proposed that Mesars, E. F Alford, J. C. Bois, C. J. Dudgeon, A: Korff, W. D. Little, J. H. McMichael, E. Shellim, E. B. Skottowe. A. Wasserfall, and A. Werth should be elected en bloc.
tion was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. Douglas Jones seconded, and the resolu
The Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and assured them that the interests of commerce had the earnest and constant at- tention of the Committee.
Mr. Hearn proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Committee generally, and to Mr. Alford, the Chairman, and Mr. Dudgeon, Vice-Chair- man, particularly. The voluminous report which had been presented, he remarked, showed the extensive work which everybody on the Committee had had to do. (Hear, hear.)
The Chairman in acknowledging the vote said he could assure those present that the Chamber of Commerce was a matter of great interest to himself and his friend Mr. Dudgeon. Many matters of importance had to be dealt with by the committee, and although they felt almost incompetent to deal with them as he had said they would do their best.
The proceedings then terminated.
ARRIVAL OF THE SPECIAL KUSSIAN EMBASSY AT SHANGHAI.
The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts, said-Gentlemen, the report of the Committee having already been printed and circulated amongst members, yon will perhaps allow us to take it as read. It deals with subjects of much importance, but paramount amongst them are the questions of the condition of the river approaches to this port, and of the possible Revision of Customs Tariff, and with your permission I will refer briefly thereto. The Committee have given constant consideration to the perplexing ques- tion of the river Huanpa, and from the cor respondence published with the report now before you, you will observe we have made arrangements with Mr. de Rijke for a further survey and preliminary report, which will be commenced this month. It would be premature to commit the Chamber to a definite scheme as to how means are to be provided for the carrying out of whatever steps may be recommended by Mr. de Rijke, but it would meanwhile be well for all interested, either directly or indirectly in the prosperity of Shanghai, to reconcile themselves to the fact that no interest alone, whether it be govern mental, commercial, landed, or shipping can expect to stand aside if a great work has to.be undertaken for the preservation of our water- way. If the report solves the difficulties of navigation, the financial difficulty must not be permitted to bar the way. The Special Com- mittee selected to enquire into and report upon taxation was divided into sections so that the various branches of trade might be more completely dealt with, and by these means reports have already been completed. with respect to tea trade; cotton mills, silk and In case the Chinese community or the Chi-filatures whilst those on piece-goods and nese Committee meet again to propose or pass general imports and exports are likely to be any more resolutions or to consult upon other finished very shortly. For their labours we matters with reference to the Jubilee. I hope are greatly indebted to the gentlemen who my friends will bear in mind that
undertook these arduous tasks-especially to Mr. Dudgeon, the Chairman of the Special Committee. Their work will most certainly bear fruit in due course, for they have compiled definite and correct information as to details on which we previously had. very incomplete knowledge, and, whether the time be near or more distant, when these questions become matters of official negotiation, not only will the knowledge now attained place us in a position to enter resolutely on any discussion that may ensue, but we shall also have provided our
The party returned to Shanghai in the respective representatives at Peking with practical statements which we know will have Fuyun, which had been specially chartered consideration, and which we hope cannot fail to for the purpose. On arriving at the Settle- have satisfactory results. But, gentlemen, the ment their Highnesses were met at Kin incidence of taxation is not the only thing to be leeyuen by the Shanghai Taotai, the colonel considered whenever the revision of tariff is de- commanding the native garrison and all manded. Ever since existing treaties were the local military and civil mandarins, made our predecessors in this Chamber, and and afterwards drove to the Taotai's, house-on those of other ports, have protested, and have the Bubbling Well Road, which has been gor- had good cause to protest, against many acts geously decorated and fitted throughout with which they believed at least to be inconsistent electric light, whilst a flagstaff has been with an equitable interpretation of the condi- specially erected to fly the Russian flag. The tions of those treaties, and not only must we Heinchi is being prepared to convey the Em- use every effort to have this state of things rec-bassy to Tientsin, where the Viceroy Wang is tified, but in the true interests of the country in which we sojourn, and in the interests of international commerce, we must strive to open further the waterways of this Em- pire, and to urge, and where possible assist in, the introduction of a railroad system; with. out means of rapid communication we but touch the fringe of China's commerce, and having ground to believe that European trade is now not 10 per cent, of the whole trade of this country, we can forecast for ourselves the possibilities of the future were the additions and facilities such as prevail amongst Western nations. I will not detain you long as to the other subjects which are referred to in the report and correspondence;
improvement has been attained in the method |
39
(1) We must not mention the word "plague' again, for this is not the time and occasion to do so..
++
(2) We must try to be as merry as possible, for the Diamond Jubilee in an important event. (8) We must not make other people believe that we Chinese cannot celebrate the Diamond Jubilee without breaking Her Majesty's laws.
My intention is to try to make everything go on as smoothly as possible and without a hitch and if I have offended any of my friends in this letter or in my letter of the 14th instant I shall always be ready to tender my apology,
Thanking you for publishing the above- Yours truly,
A CHINESE. Hongkong, 16th May, 1897.
THE SHANGHAI MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
The number of votes polled by each of the candidates for the Shanghai Municipal Council was as follows, the first nine being elected -
Burkill, A. R...
240 Fearon, J. S..
299. 205 201
Prentice, J.
Welch, J...
Hewett, E. A...
193
Anderson, F...........
Rohde, M.
Hykes, J. R....
Wilkinson, H, P.
187 182 180 175
Little, R. W.
170
164
··151·
Thorburn, J, D Shellim, E.. Middleton,
Total votes 280 0
4 irregular.
67
Shanghai, 11th May. Prince Uchtomsky and Prince Wolkonsky, special ambassadors from H.I.M. the Czar to the Chinese Court, arrived here by the Prinz Heinrich yesterday.
A large party, among whom were M, Dmi- trevsky, Russian Consul-General, Tsai Taotai, and a large number of other officials, went down to Woosung in the old Pluto to welcome the distinguished visitors.
making great preparations for their reception. No such complete preparations have ever been made before for any distinguished visitor, even for the Russian Grand Dukes who have visited Shanghai, the English Princes, the German Prince Heinrich, the Czarewitch himself, or even General Grant, Prince Uchtomsky adds to his other high functions the Editorship of a newspaper, and the Chairmanship of the Russo- Chinese Bank. He brings, as before mentioned, the Imperial presents to the Chinese Emperor.
Shanghai 1 th May The Consular Body, the commanders of the men-of-war in port, and a number of other guests, foreign and native, were invited yester-. day to meet Prince Uchtomsky at tifin at Tuotai
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