October 6, 1900.] · ·
On top of all this comes a report from the island of Marinduque, as yet unverified, that fifty-seven men of the 29th Volunteer Infantry have been captured. It is known that a command of this size left Santa Cruz on the gunboat Villalobos, and proceeded some twenty- five miles down the coast to Torrijos, where the enemy was reported to be in force. The gun- boat landed them and soon steamed away. Since that time, September 14th, nothing has been heard of the soldiers. However, numerous reports of their fate have come in from many different sources, and these nearly all agree in the story that a large body of Filipinos sur- rounded the Americans, fought them for several hours, and after killing and wounding several, forced the others to surrender, as the ammuni- tion was exhausted. If it is true, it is the first case of the surrender of a force of any size to the insurgents. A gunboat has been sent with two companies of the 38th Infantry to the scene of the reported fight; but up to the pre- sent no word has been received from the expedition.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
CORRESPONDENCE.
$
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
SAILORS AND SOLDIERS' CHINA'
RELIEF FUND.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
"
271
THE DOUGLAS STEAMSHIP COM-
PANY, LIMITED.
MR. T. Howard puts ▲ FEW PERTINENT
QUESTIONS.
On Saturday, 29th ult., the seventeenth ordin- ary general meeting of ghareholders in the Douglas Steamship Company Limited was held in the offices, Praya Central Mr. J. H. Lewis presided, and there were also present the Hon. ccm-J.J. Keswick, Messrs. C. S. Sharp and R. Showan (Consulting Committee), W. Parfitt (Secretary,) A. G. Morris, H. P. White, D. Gillies, J. H. Cox, T. F. Hough, T. Howard, A. H. Babington, J. C, Peter, C. H. Thompson, W. H. Gaskell, W. S. Bailey, Captain Roach, W. H. Davis, S. A. Joseph. Chun Sue, Captain Clarke, and E. Georg.
SIR-I have just received a message from Col. Prendergast, Royal Engineers. manding at Weihaiwei, that the articles of clothing so kindly subscribed for through you by the residents of Hongkong, and made up by various ladies of Hongkong, have reached the Hospitals, and were of the greatest use. I think you will be glad to learn this.-Yours etc.,
W. J. GASCOIGNE,
Major-General.
Hongkong, 29th September, 1900.
THE KOWLOON WATER SUPPLY.
44
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.”
3, Kimberley Villas,
66
1
THE INSURGENT DIPLOMACY. During the last three weeks the residents of Manila have been treated to an experience some- thing like that endured during the first half of the year 1898. Small bands of insurgents elated by their successes have persistently attacked
Kowloon, 2nd October. many of the towns in Cavite province and
SIR, Mr. Ormsby is reported to have stated were even bold enough to annoy the whole line
at yesterday's meeting of the Finance Com- of villages that fringe the bay from Cavite to
mittee that the only complaint he had had re- Caloocan. The noise of the firing could be heard garding meters registering air was a case in Manila very plainly, and at night there was
in which $1.80 was paid by the occupants of a whole terrace considerable anxiety among the residents. In
for excess.
I beg respectfully to correct the honourable gentleman. Major many parts of the city special guards were posted about the houses in which army families Brown complained of the same thing the other were living. In all probability this activity on
day at the Sanitary Board meeting, and pre- the part of the insurgents will continue to thevious to that I myself wrote Mr. Ormsby-and I time of the elections. Every one feels that the
have his acknowledgment, dated 26th Sept. present surprising aggressiveness is a grand I complained not so much of having $2.85 to effort to influence public opinion at the critical pay for my own house alone (not for a whole moment when the people of the country are
terrace-as I have a meter for my own house) deeply interested in national affairs, caused by but because of having had to go through the the election of the President. And it is very
summer months with scarcely any water at all possible that their work is not in vain, for the
and then be charged with using water in excess determined stand made during these days will of the quantity allowed. no doubt influence many votes that would have been cast for Mr. McKinley.
THE CIVIL COMMISSION AT WORK. The public sessions held twice a week in the rooms of the Civil Commission are proving very popular. The Filipinos are beginning to realise that anyone who desires to express him- self on matters of government can be heard if he simply has the energy to notify the Pre- sident of the Commission one day in advance. The various bills are publicly read and debated and some of these discussions have produced valuable suggestions and modifications from among the audience. Last Wednesday the Bill of Commissioner Moses providing for a bureau of statistics was read and passed. On next Wednesday Commissioner Wright will present for final consideration his important Harbour Bill, which provides for the extensive and permanent improvement of the harbours.
The Civil Service Act is one of the most com- prehensive and important works of the com-
As I mentioned also that I was in the habit of
turning on taps at night in the hope of getting some water before morning and that I was in formed that my meter then registered air, I am afraid he had my case in his mind when he spoke yesterday. If so, I think he might with advan- tage be a little more exact when stating a case. If not, then he must have under-stated his number of complaints.
I can assure the honourable gentleman there will be no need for him to prosecute me for wasting outer on such occasions, as only for a very short period, usually about half an hour, did the water ever come on at night-some- times about 10 p.m.. when it was not required for that day-and other times about 2 or 3 a.m. that day--and I myself was always on the alert then there would not be any for the rest of
to prevent waste.
I must add. sir, that for about a week now our water supply has greatly improved, but after Major Brown's description at the Sanitary Board Meeting, of the Pumping Machinery at
The SECRETARY read the notice convening the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentleman: The re- port and accounts which have been in your hands for some days, we will, with your permission, take as read. The unfortunate result of the year's working is a matter of great regret to us all, and as indicated in the report has been brought about by the keen opposition of the Osaka Shosen Kaisha, which company, since April last, has run a steamer on the Tainanfoo line in addition to their Tarni steamers, all being subsidized and encouraged in every * possible way by the Government. As stated in the report, there was hope in the early part of the year of a satisfactory agreement with this tination we were informed that nothing could opposition company, but after much procras- be decided in this direction for the present. In the meantime they continued cutting rates to very unremunerative levels, and as further the
imposition of differential duties diverted a large percentage of the traffic direct from Japan to Formosan ports, we found it necessary to gradually withdraw tonnage previously enga- ged in the Formoss trade. So long as there with the opposition, and the continuance of was a prospect of an equitable arrangement
a fair trade. I think most of you will agree nection which has consistently and liberally that we could not abruptly sacrifice a con- supported us in the past, assisting us to pay steady dividends, and build up a substantial reserve: a reserve, gentlemen, out of which a bonus of $15 per share in 1895 and $2 per of 12 per cent.; in fact since 1895 shareholders share in 1896 was paid, in addition to dividends
have received $41 per share by way of bonus and dividend. As regards our present position, it is gratifying to reflect that we still retain the confidence of shippers, and should the for- mer condition of affairs on the Formosa` lines
return, even approximately, we have every as- surance of commanding the best support. The Osaka Shosen Kaisha now circulate a fort- nightly steamer on the Hongkong-Foochow line, but they will not on this line enjoy the semi-official favour and protection as in For-
Diosa.
I am glad to state that since the end and prospects encourage us to confidently an- of June our earnings are fairly satisfactory,
mission, and it has produced an immediate good Yaumati, we have scarcely sufficient confidenco cipate, with a fleet of the class and efficiency
effect, for it outlines the advantages that are to be enjoyed by the Filipinos in the service
of the government.
MABINI AT LIBERTY.
Last Sunday General McArthur liberated the poor old paralytic Sr. Mabini, who has been slowly failing in the Anda Street jail. Mabini is probably the staunchest and “brainiest” insurgent that the war has produced. In spite of his shattered and useless body he has been at all times the head and centre of the insurrection. He has been most considerately treated through all the months of confinement, and he has been more the guest of the government than a pri. soner of war. Once before he was liberated, but his rash utterances soon caused his roarrest. He still refuses to swear allegiance to the United States, but he agrees to assume a passive attitude, and net står up trouble.
A military society has been lately organized in Tokyo with the object of rendering necessary assistance to the needy families of those who either fell sick or lost their lives during the campaign in North China. In Tokyo and Yokohama alone over 1,000 persons have joined the society.
to be without a small reserve stock in the house. I must at same time thank the members of the Sanitary Board for having so eloquently voiced the wants of the Kowloon community on this subject.-Yours, etc.,
ALEX MACKENZIE.
When the troopships are once more running between Southampton and Bombay, writes a Lahore paper. the number of time-expired soldiers to be sent Home to the Reserve will be abnormally large. Soldiering for a period of years in India, the real training school of the British Army, has turned these men into steady, seasoned and well-disciplined soldiers, and they may truly be described as the flower of our short service arms. A correspondent of a lead. ing service paper, writing from India, makes the suggestion that some of these men, instead of being discharged to the Reserve, should be permitted to rejoin the colours at Home. Hun- dreds of them, he points out, simply claim their discharge to the Reserve through home-sickness. All they want is a sight of the old country again. After a spell of soldiering at Home they would gladly return to India for duty.
|
such as we possess, the return of prosperous with a shareholder on the subject of the form years. We have lately been in communication
The gentleman (Mr. Howard) is of opinion of presenting the company's yearly accounts.
that the published accounts should show details of income and expenditure, instead of merely the net results, as hitherto. The question has been raised before, and it was decided-in the interests of the company-to adhere to the old system. By publishing details-especially un- der existing circumstances-we should be giving our competitors valuable information, which they would promptly take advantage of, to our loss and prejudice, and we look to the sense of the general body of shareholders to support us in this view. Before moving the adoption of the report and accounts I shall be pleased to answer any questions.
Mr. HOWARD I should like to know how you propose to transfer an amount from the reserve fund to meet this loss of $65,000 when no provision is made in the Articles of Association for such transfer? How can you do it without a special resolution ?
The CHAIRMAN said the reserve fund was built up to meet contingencies such as that
יר
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.