Juñe® 1897)
Sundries
Total cost of Crushing........ Haulage from mines to mill;:, Cost of raising orė............
8.05
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORTU
I think the colony would do well to take this matter into serious consideration while there is $1.23 30 still a chance of averting such a public loss
15.00 Yours,
COLONIST. 5.23-00 ||
$6.61.30
The whole of this has been charged to work- ing expenses:
All improvements, development work and ad- dition to machinery, have been paid for out of the earnings of the mine.
In addition to this, 135,000 tons of ore have been added to the reserve. This could have been made much larger if there had been any neces- sity to do so.
The whole of the machinery is in first-class working order, detailed statements of which, to- gether with stock sheets, you will find attached.
ELECTRIC INSTALLATION,
All the necessary surveys, levels, and gaug- ings for this work have been completed, together with plans and specifications, which have been sent to the Directors, I find from offers made by manufacturers, that the installa. tion can be put in for fully 20 per cent. less than the estimate given in my last annual report.--- I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obe. dient servant,
Wm. BIBBY,
Manager.
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE SALE OF THE MOUNT AUSTIN HOTEL.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS. Sir, Your correspondent who signs himself "Cost" has put an aspect upon the purchase of the Mount Austin Hotel which is the reverse of comforting to the civil community of this colony. If he is right in his contention that it does not pay to construct houses at the Peak unless for very high rentals it means that the less fortunate members of the community must remain below. Those poorer men and women whose chance is very remote of ever seeing their native land again except on a fleeting visit will have not only to spend weary years in a tropical' climate, but will have to do so on the lower level. What a difference in the case of the soldier! He comes here a young man for a limited period and if by misfortune his health is impaired his country sends him home again:"
Your correspondent suggests a remedy, that the public should buy back the Hotel from the military authorities. There are two difficulties
to be overcome.
1.—To get enough money together to do
.it.
2-To get the military authorities to
part with their bargain. -
As regards the first, it is confidently as serted by those in a position to know that if the public had been aware that they were likely to lose the Mount Austin Hotel the money would have been found to buy it. They public originally subscribed and lost about $500,000 over this building and it will fairly be claimed that some consideration is due to them on that score alone.
As regards the second, would it be impossible to induce the military authorities to forego the bargain they have made, which will deprive the community of such a great public convenience and the colony of such an attraction to visitors as the Mount Austin Hotel; which is looked upon as a sanatorium by residents in Singapore, Saigon, Manila, Canton, and all surrounding ports.
A recent suggestion for the Jubilee anent the "Queen's Link" inclines one to think that Mount Cameron is an equally good if not better site for a military cantonment on the high levels, and such a site would be conveniently near the Happy Valley, which is now largely the military recreation and parade ground.“
:)
We would not be dealing with a commercial body who desire of make a profit, but with a great state department who, while acting from their own point of view, are not unmindful of interests other than their own.
Hongkong, 3rd June, 1897.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE " DAILY PRESS,” Sir, One is getting rather tired of all this talk and correspondence on the above mentioned subject. I have a suggestion to make, which may settle the matter most satisfactorily for all parties, and be much cheaper than trying to bay back this, now much sought after, establish. ment (which I understand has been in the market for years.) Let those, and there seem to be a good few, who think the soldier demor alising and unfit for Hongkong (Peak) Society get up a round robin-call it the "Diamond Jubilee Round Robin "-and petition the Gov- ernment to move the military altogether from the island. We didn't ask to come here, and I am sure we don't want to stay. I enclose my card and remain,—Yours,
A SOLDIER.
Hongkong, 7th June, 1897.
THE BALLOON ACCIDENT.
"5
391
TO THE EDITOR of the "DAILY PRESS,” DEAR SIR,-It would be well if "Discord ' and many others (who are ever ready to attack in a most offensive manner members of the military forces in Hongkong) would trouble themselves to ascertain facts before writing such unjustifiable letters, a specimen of which appeared in your paper of to-day's date. Even supposing there were military officers present and that they knew there was a hole in the balloon, it was not the duty or business of these officers to dictate to Mr. Spencer as to whether he should ascend or not, any more than it was the many hundreds of civilians who were as near and perhaps nearer the balloon than the officers. But it so happened that Mr. Spencer himself told many who were standing around him that there was a small hole in his balloon and expressed a hope that it would not become larger during his ascent. In conclusion 1 sincerely hope that the military officers will ignore the imputation suggested in "Discord's ' letter and place it to the credit of his utter want of
COMMON SENSE.
Hongkong, 2nd June, 1897.
THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY AND THE BELGIAN LUAN. Reuter tells us that an Imperial Edict has been issued at Peking sanctioning the arrange- ment made between H.E. Sheng and the Bel- gian Syndicate for the building of the Han- kow railway. This may be so, for we know that H.E. Shông réceived instructions by wire from the Tsungli Yamen to sign at Wuchang the preliminary contract. Even better terms were offered to H.E, Sheng by an English Syndicate including Mr. Ernest Hooley, Major J. E. Jameson, M.P., and Mr. E. H. Bayley, M.P., and H.E. Shêng was anxious to close with them; but H.E. Chang Chih-tung insisted on the Belgian terms being accepted, partly influenced by some outstanding matters in con- nection with the Hanyang Ironworks, and partly by his belief-for though very clever with his pen, he is not very well instructed in foreign affairs and he is very obstinate-that it was safer to put the railway in the she is a small hands of Belgium,
cannot and
send ships and | Power
China if anything untoward soldiers to should happen. He cannot understand that the people with whom he has ordered Shêng to close are really French and Russians, Belgium being only the stalking-horse. Meanwhile we understand that the English and German Min- isters at Peking have protested against the arrangement with the Belgium Syndicate being ratified, on the ground that every Power ought to be allowed to compete on the same level for the business, and this protest has been renewed since the news was received of the preliminary contract being signed. Whether their protest will prevent the contract being ratified at Peking, and we understand that members of the Belgian Syndicate are leaving
as
455
Shanghai immediately for the capital, remains to be seen; but we do not doubt that Sir Claude Macdonald will do everything in his power to get fair play for the English Trustee. --- Syndicate, of which Mr. Hooley N. C. Daily News.
is
THE SHANGHAI-WOOSUNG RAILWAY.
From inquiries made to-day regarding the progress of the work in connection with the railway between Shanghai and Woosung, we are glad to be able to state that the work is not at a standstill as was generally supposed. The and the earthwork for the station there is also engine shed is now being erected at Woosung, being laid. There were twenty-nine tenders sent in for three engines that are to be used on the line, and the American Trading Co. have secured the contract for £5,263; the work of constructing the six iron bridges has been given: to Harkort Duisburg, Germany, for £1,430, three firms having tendered for it; eight ten- ders were received for supplying sleepers and rails, the highest being £35,650 by the Stalwark:: Obeerhansen, Germany, and the lowest £28,750- by Mr. John Cockerill, of Belgium, but Sheng Tantai considers that they can be made much cheaper in Hanyang Iron Works and conse- quently the contract has not been given out. The cars will probably be made at Tientsin by the Chinese themselves.-China Gazette. -
FOOCHOW.
29th May.
The week has been a busy one in tea. The coast steamer Haitan took away a small assort- ment of the new crop for transhipment to the mail steamer in Hongkong, and the following vessels are circulated to load for London; the Kaisow due 4th prox., the Glengyle due on the 6th, the Sunda about the 8th, and the Benledi on the 10th besides the Oceana on the 6th for Havre and Hamburg.
We learn that the Foochow Tea Improve«' ment Company will shortly be registered as á Limited Liability Company with an increase of capital, but it is not yet known whether any of the shares will be offered to the public,"
On Saturday last the body of the late Mr. Werner Krohn was found. A reward having been offered the river had been closely watched since the 4th February but all in vain, until, The body was as mentioned, Saturday last. discovered near the building on the river-side known as the Sugar factory about three miles from the Upper Bridge where the fatal accident occurred. This recovery, if nothing more, was some satisfaction to the family and friends of the deceased. The funeral took place the same even- from the overcrowded chapel and its portico, ing at the Foochow cemetery, at which, judging every member of the community must have been present to pay this last tribute of respect” to the memory of a dear old friend. The Rev. F. E. Bland officiated. The coffin was covered tasteful arrangement of the numerous wreaths by the German Consular flag, and this, with and crosses of beautiful flowers which had been
striking. The unique characterisation of th. sent, produced an effect that was peculiarly ceremony by one present, as a "pretty funerale was fully justified. The German Consul, Mr' Gustav Šiemssen, was chief mourner.-Echo.
An alarming robbery was committed in the barbour at midnight on Wednesday. : A rice- junk was anchored off Stonecutters' Island when ten men who were in two boats suddenly sprang upon the deck and threatened the occu- pants, twenty-two altogether, with death if they raised an alarm. The robbers, who were armed with revolvers and knives, pillaged the boat and carried away clothing, jewellery, and money of the total value of $180. A man who is supposed to have taken part in the a junk in the harbour was attack on arrested by the Chinese authorities at Sam- shuipo on Saturday. On Sunday he was handed over to the Hongkong police and on Mon- day he was taken before Mr. Wodehouse and remanded. When arrested a loaded revolver and some of the stolen property was found on the prisoner.
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