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The PRESIDENT said they had had a great deal of trouble with the pumping engines. They were not originally very satisfactory, and Junfortunately this year both engines broke dawn. The breaking down of engines was a thing which occurred in the best ships at sea and elsewhere. The difficulty in the case of these pumping engines was that instead of stopping the supply of water to Kowloon while they re- paired them, they were obliged to keep them going somehow-patching them up for an hour or so. The complaints had been almost entirely confined to houses on the higher level. He did not think the Chinese had suffered from want of water. There was more water supplied in Kowloon in July than ever before. They were doing everything they possibly could to get the engines in good order. One had been repaired, and within the last few days they had succeeded for the first time during the last month in fill. ing the Hung Hom service reservoir. All he could do was to assure the Board that the Public Works Department were sparing nei- ther time, trouble, nor expense in getting the Kowloon water supply in a satisfactory condi- tion.
This was all the business.
'HONGKONG GENERAL CHAM-
BER OF COMMERCE.
At the Monthly Meeting of the General Com- mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, held on Tuesday, the 7th August, at 11 a.m. Present. Hon. R. M. Gray (Chairman) Hon. J. J. Keswick, (vice (hair man), Messrs. A. Haupt. A. M. Marshall, R. L. Richardson, C. 8. Sharp, N. A. Siebs, Hon. J. Thurburn ex officio, and R. C. Wilcox (Secre- tary),-
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous monthly meeting (held on the 16th July) were read and confirmed.
THE VACANCY ON THE GENERAL COMMITTEE.
The Chairman proposed that Mr. D. R. Law (the senior representative of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire) be elected to fill the vacancy on the Committee caused by the resignation of Mr. Herbert Smith.
This was seconded by the Vice-Chairman and carried unanimously.
THE CANADIAN MAIL CONTRACT.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Read letter from the London Chamber of Commerce acknowledging receipt of the Cham. ber's letter of the 14th May, enclosing copy of resolution in support of the renewal by the Im- perial Government of the Canadian Pacific Railway Co's contract for carrying the mails from Hongkong via the Pacific and Vancouver. and announcing that it would be laid before the members of the East India and China, the Canadian, and the Postal Committees of that Chamber at their next meeting.
A
PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE BANKRUPTCY ORDINANCE.
The Chairman said this was an important matter, and he thought it fully deserved their consideration and support. The letters received from Mr. C. D. Wilkinson calling attention to the need of an amendment in the Ordinance had been circulated, and been carefully considered. He understood that the Chief Justice was strongly in favour of an amendment to the Ordinance, and he quite believed the Govern. ment would support any reasonable and practi- cable amendment they might suggest. The amendments to Secs. 5 and 6 of the Ordinance of 1891 drafted by Mr. Wilkinson, together with the sections themselves, had been drawn up for comparison. He personally did not quite grasp the legal technicalities, but they seemed to cover the ground.
**
Eventually it was decided to adjourn the mat- ter to allow the Secretary time to confer with the legal authorities on certain points.
HONGKONG AND THE CANADIAN
PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.
Read letter from the Government, dated 31st July, enclosing copy of despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies in reference to previous correspondence on the above subject, and calling special attention to Section 10 of the Memorandum on the Preferential Tariff Regulations,
The Chairman said he thought this cleared up the question as far as imports from say India pass through Hongkong, but he could not see that it was an answer to
were allowed to
their letter.
After some discussion,
It was decided to again address the Govern- ment on the subject, and formally ask, through its medium, that Hongkong should be included in the list of those colonies entitled to partici. pate in the benefits of the Canadian Preferential Tariff.
PROPOSED CHANGE OF LIGHTS ON GREEN ISLAND AND CAPE COLLINSON-LIGHTHOUSES.
A letter had been received from the Govern- ment, under date 2nd August, announcing that it had under consideration the advisability of transferring the Cape D'Aguilar light (disused since the erection of the lighthouse on Waglan) to Green Island, and to remove the light at with a view to improving those lights and ren- present on Green Island to Cape Collinson, dering the approaches to the harbour safer for shipping, and asking the Chamber's opinion upon the proposed transfers, which would, on a rough estimate, cost about $12,600.
The Secretary had secured the opinions of several experts, and a letter from Mr. F. D. Goddard was read, in which he expressed the opinion that the proposed change of the Cape D'Aguilar light to Green Island would be a decided advantage, the former being a 1st and the transfer of the Green Island to Cape Collin- the latter a 4th order light. With regard to
son the same would apply, the latter being only a 6th order light; but a strong light was not necessary on Cape Collinson, because when it is too thick to see a light outside of Tamtoo Island, it is too thick to come in. Still, if the cost of shifting would not be too great, it is advisable to condemn the poorest light. This opinion was endorsed by other experts.
A lengthy discussion ensued, in the course of which the opinion was expressed by several members that as the revenue from the light dues left some balance the Government might go further and provide revolving or flash lights at both lighthouses, as the small stationary light at ape Collinson was often not distinguishable from a junk's light, while that at Green Island was only visible in clear weather at a distance of some four miles.
It was eventually decided to write in reply, suggesting that the proposed new lights at Green Island and Cape Collinson should be im- proved by making them revolving or moving lights if the exp nse be not prohibitive.
This was all the business before the meeting.
August 18, 1900.
THE CRISIS IN CHINA.
LOCAL MOVEMENTS. H. M. gunboat Insard left for Foochow on the 11th.
On the 12th the transport Nisam arrived in the harbour, having left Calcutta on the 29th- ult., with a British officer, and 3 followers of the 1st Madras Pioneers, 38 followers of the Native General Hospital, 147 followers and 325 transport mules, and details. The British officers on board were Captains Goodwin, Bruce, and Tweedell. The Nizam left again on the 12th inst.
The transport Nawab miled for India on the same day. The Warora returned from Taku on the 12th.
The Italian armoured cruiser Vettor Pisani, which arrived on the 11th inst., is of 8,500 tons, 13,000 i. h. p. Her armour is 6 in. H.S., belt and gun position, 13 in deck; guns, twelve 6 in.Q.F., six 6.6 in., two 2.9 in., ten 2.2 in., ten 1.4 in., two maxins; torpedo-tabes 5; speed 20
knots.
The Portuguese transport Cazengo `arrived on the 11th and left for Macao on the 12th.
H. M. S. Argonaut arrived here on the 13th inst. after a phenomenally fast passage from Singapore, which she left late on the 9th instant. ̈` We have already given her figures.
The transports Nudded and Wardha returned to Hongkong from the north on the 13th, and left again with the Warora for the south.
The same day the Russian armoured cruiser Admiral Nahimoff arrived in the harbour on her. way north. Her principal figures are:-displace ment 8,524 tons; i. h. p. 8,000; armour, belt 10 in., gun-position 7-8, fleck 3; guns, eight 8 in., ten 6 in., ten Q.F., four 3-prs., six Maxims; torpedo-tubes 4; speed 16.7 knots: complement, 567.
on the 13th, having left Saigon on the 7th.
The French gunboat Alouette also arrived
The Italian cruiser Vettor Pisani left Hong- kong on the 14th for Shanghai.
the 15th inst. from Calcutta, bringing the B The transport Nurani arrived on the night of
Squadron, 16th Bombay Lancers (2 British and 5 native officers, 132 N.C.O.'s and men, and 95 followers), a portion of Native Field Hospital (1 British officer, 5 'N.C.O.'s and men, and 57 followers), with horses and mules.
On the 15th the British transport Itaura re- turned to Hongkong from Taku̟ and Weihai-
wei.
The French 2nd-class oruiser Friant and the
transport Cathar also arrived on the 15th from the south.
B
The British tranport Rewa reached. Hong- kong on the 16th from alcutta, having on board a squadron of the 16th Bengal Lancers (3 British and 4 native officers, 120 N. C. O's and men, 103 followers, 182 horses and 73 mules), a Survey Party of one British and 4 native officers, with 33 followers, four men and four followers of the Native General Hospital, and 3 native officers, 5 men, and 23 followers of the Supply Column.
The Nurani and Jelunga departed on the 16th for Shanghai, and the Itaura for the sonth.
ON THE WAY.
The next arrivals of transports which may be On the 9th inst. a Requiem Mass for the late expected from the south are those of the Muttra, King of Italy was held at S. Joseph's Church, with the 2nd Coolie Corps and 54th Native in the French Settlement, Shanghai. All the Hospital, Fultala with a squadron of the 16th Veterinary Field Consuls were present, as were the Taotai and Bengal Lancers and Volunteer Corps, and the men-of-war in the representatives of the Councils, Mixed Courts, Hospital, and Sunda, other squadron of neighbourhood. A detachment of the Fieramosca blue-jackets lined the central aisle.
Recently a cargo of Pocohontas coal from A lengthy discussion followed, in the course Norfolk, Virginis, was shipped to Nagasaki, and of which the Hon. J. Thorburn pointed out that it was there found that a paying demand existed the amendments did not touch section 4, which, for it. The singularity of this shipment lies in according to the judgment given by the Chief the fact that the celebrated Takashima mines lie Justice in the case Kung Hing Shingkee debat the entrance of the harbour of Nagasaki, and fors v. Albert Ahwee a creditor, seemed to re- the coal from these mines has hitherto been able quire amendment equally with the two follow- to retain most of the coal trade in that part of ing sections.
the world. This cargo of American coal, the first which has ever entered the harbour of Nagasa ki, was carried by the British ship Needles, and comprised six thousand tons, consigned to the China and Japan Trading Company. It will be largely sold to American naval vessels and in some cases to the ships of the British navy on that station.
The advisability of recommending that the amendment of the Bankruptcy Ordinance should be accompanied by legislation to secure the re- gistration of partners in Chinese firms or hongs was discussed at length, and a strong opinion expressed that this was necessary to secure the proper working of the Bankruptcy laws.
the Bengal Lancers, the staff of the Cavalry Brigade, and 57th Native Hospital, all due about now; Upada, with a squadron of the 3rd Bombay Cavalry and a section of the Native Field Hospital, due to-day: Clive, "with the 34th Pioneers and Native Field Hospital; Ula, with a 'squadron of the 3rd Bombay Cavalry and a section of 57th Native Hospital; Antillian, from the Cape, with a siege train; City of Cambridge, with 4th Coolie Corps, and 54th Native Field Hospital.
THE RELIEF COLUMN.
[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]
PREPARING FOR THE ADVANCE.
Tientsin, 27th July. We
We are preparing for the advance on Peking The 12th Field Battery arrived yesterday and
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.