56
fining Company, in Hongkong, has been shipped to Japan during many years past, and is not in any way a new article of import. It is not unlikely, however, that the article, in dispute, not being a rum which was intended to be pre- served for a number of years, may have been deficient, to a certain extent, in flavour to fully satisfy the Customs Authorities. Still, there is no doubt that it was pure rum manufactured out of sugar molasses, according to the im- proved process adopted by the Company above referred to. Moreover, as the quantity of alcohol contained in the rum recent imported does not exceed the limits which wore notified by the Yokohama Custom House, in the begin- ning of this year, to be below 68 per cent, it must be recognised as pure rum, and not as any distilled liquor. Such being the case, it is to be desired that the decision given by the Superintendent of Customs should be with- drawn, and 40 per cent. ad valorem duty be hereafter imposed as heretofore upon the article above mentioned, in conformity with Import Table No. 392.
The defence of the Customs Superintendent is, in the main, as follows :—
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE MURDER OF YEUNG KU WAN.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 14th January.
SIB, Will the British Government refuse to recognise the gravity of the horrible cold-blooded murder just perpetrated in the Colony? The unfortunate victim, Yeung Ku Wan, alius Yeung Hop Kat, was a British subject, having been born and educated in the Colony. His father was also a British subject and was born in Singapore.
This horrible cold-blooded murder has sent a shiver of grief and sympathy through the Colony, so well was Mr. Yeung known and rospected for his sterling qualities. A gross and daring violation of British territory has been committed by the Chinese Govern- ment through its representative at Canton. It was only quite recently that the Acting Viceroy, Tak Sow, issued a proclamation offering a handsome reward for Mr. Young, dead or alive. Ever since this proclamation parties of men have been despatched from Can. ton bent on capturing or shooting Mr. Young. Consequently, Tak Sow and his officials should be held responsible for Mr. Yeung's murder.
Although the petitioner insists that the ar- ticle in dispute is rum, as the liquid contained in five of the casks is found to consist of 50.4 per cent. of alcohol, 0.1114 per cent. of extracts, 0.001417 per cent. of ashes, a trace of grape sugar, with a specific gravity of 0.0419 and a reaction of acid, while the constituents of the liquid in the other five casks are 6.06 per cent. alcohol, 0.1180 per cent. extracts, 0.00148 per
His Excellency the Governor should demand cent. ashes, a trace of grape sugar, with a the immediate production of the murderers, and specific gravity of 0.9248 and a reaction of the British Government should take active acid, both are wanting in the flavour that measures for redress. At present the Colony is is peculiar to rum, and it must be regard. full of the Viceroy's secret spies and informers, ed as a distilled liquor different from rum. and assassins are ready for more diabolical Again, although the petitioner asserted that he work. I am sure the Hon. F. H. May and Chief has undertaken the import of the present com.
Detective Inspector Hanson will leave no stone modity as he was required to pay only 40 perunturned in their investigations of this horrible cent, ad valorem duty at the time of the impor- tation in April last of the article similar to that now under complaint, the article in question had the quality as well as conditions appertain ing to ram, and was not therefore to be regarded as one similar to the liquid now the subject of appeal. That being the case, it was quite pro- per that 100 per cent. ad valorem duty should have been levied by the Customs Superinten. dent on the article referred to, in accordance with Import Tariff Table No. 398.
Having collected for purpose of examination all the documents and samples bearing upon the question at issue, together with the reports from the investigation Committee appointed in connection with appeals against the Customs Authorities, it is now decided that, although the appellant insists upon the similarity of the article in dispute to the rum for which he was required to pay 40 per cent. ad valorem duty as specified in Import Tariff Table No. 392, at each time when he previously imported it, yet as the sample presented by him is a brownish, yellow transparent liquid, destitute of the flavour peculiar to rum, and containing as is shown by analysis, a greater quantity of isolated acid and a lesser amount of esuteru, than the pure rum, while it is deficient in the quantities of alcohol, extracts, sugar, and ashes, and moreover the liquid distilled from it is not only liable to be coloured in sulphuric arid, but presents a dark brown hue when mixed with the latter, showing no remarkable signs of the reaction of tannic acid, the same is regarded as a beverage prepared by the addition of water and alcohol to the rum. For these reasons decision is given as follows: The claims of the petitioner are without justifiable grounds.
-December 13th, 33rd year of Meiji.
Viscount WATANABE KUNITAKE,
Minister of State for Finance.
crime.
[January 19, 1901.
THE STAR FERRY CO., LD.
meeting of the shareholders of the Star Ferry Co, Ld, was held at the offices of the Com pany shortly after noon on the 15th inst. Hon. C. P. Chater presided and there were also present Messrs. J. A. Mackay, R. C. Wilcox, A. J. Raymond, W. Hutton Potts, P. Sachse, G. O Moxon, D. M. Moses, and T. H. Reid.
The CHAIRMAN said they had met there that afternoon to confirm the special resolution which was passed on 28th February last, and which road as follows:-
41
That the new regulations already approved by this meeting, and for the purpose of identi fication subscribed by the Chairman thereof, be and the same are hereby approved, and that such regulations be and the same are hereby adopted as the regulations of the Company, to the exclusion of all existing regulations there of."
Mr. WILCOX seconded.
The resolution was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously.
The CHALEMAN: That is all the business, gentlemen. I thank you for your attendanos.
ÎN AND CHINA PROVIDENT LOAN AND MORTGAGE CO., LD.
On the 16th inst., at noon, the 14th ordinary annual meeting of shareholders in the above company was held at the company's office, No. 2, Des Voeux Road. Mr. R. Shewan presided and there were also present Messrs. J. 8. Van Buren, J. H. Lewis, Chan Hing Kee (Consult ing Committee), A. Babington, F. J. W. Jorge, G. H. Dann, E. G. Barrett, T. H. Reid, E. C. Emmett, C. 8. Sharp, A. Dennison, E. W. Terrey, F. M. Gutierrez, R. M. Mehta, Fung Wah Chuen, and Sui Un.
The notice convening the meeting having
Mr. Yeung has sacrificed his life for Chris-been read, tianity and Reform, but his name will live for ever as a hero and a patriot. His wife and children should be protected and supported by the British Government.—Yours, etc.,
The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, the print- ed report and accounts for the year 1909 have been in your hands for some days, and unless you wish it I will not read them now. X.
The result of the year's working, I think you· P.S.-As the leader of the reformers of South will agree with me, is very satisfactory. The China, Mr. Yeung has been most active and gross earnings again shew an increase over energetic, having travelled to Indo-China, the last year's figures, even after allowing for the Straits Settlements, Siam, India, Ceylon, South increased capital, which, as yon know, was not Africa, and back again to Japan, on his unselfish all placed at our disposal till 31st March. We mission of reform. This policy was the re- could still employ profitably more funds than formation of China under the guidance and
we have available at present for our business, support of the Governments of Great Britain, and are therefore putting a larger amount this America, and Japan. He was waiting for devel-year to the reserve fund, with a view to build- opments, when unfortunately his promising career was cut short by the assassin's bullet. The reformers confess that they despise such cowardly measures for dealing with their enemies, and that they can well afford to wait for their " turn and the day of reckoning.
RESERVED SEATS AT THE THEATRE
"
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS."
Hongkong, 14th January. SIB,-Your correspondent "Reserved Seat" is not I am sorry to say, the only one who has had to complain of seats being jumped; but with the crowds which have filled the building each night it is impossible for me to be everywhere. The only way to serve those who have taken others' seats is to tell the usher to call me or one of my managers, and I will do the rest.
I am very sorry that these things occur, but I should advise those who book $2 seats to come before 8.30.-Yours, etc.,
A. H. POLLARD,
Manager.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
The act anthorising the organisation of the THE PRICE OF GAS IN HONGKONG. Municipal Police Force at Manila was passed by the Civil Commission on the 9th inst. after one or two amendments had been made to it as originally formed. Commissioner Wright pro- posed an amendment to section 2, making it real The officers and men of the Met- ropolitan Police Force shall be paid, per month, in money of the United States, as follows:- First lieutenants, $125; second lieutenants, $115; sergeants, $90; corporals, $75; privates, $65
Hongkong, 16th January.“ SIB, I should like to know whether any of your readers can tell me how it is that we have to pay $3.00 per 1,000 cubic feet of gas in Hongkong, whilst our friends in Shanghai, vide your issue of to-day, pay only $1.70. Yours, etc.,
INQUIRER.
ing it up to a substantial figure in the course. of time. Of the $500,000 new capital authoris ed last year only $200,000 was taken up, but as you are aware the money market was very tight at the time, and it did not surprise as that more applications were not receive Under these circumstances it became quite impossible for us to raise the money required · to go on with our original intention to build godowns, and the land which we required for that purpose was accordingly resold as soon- as possible at a fair profit, the proceeds being utilised at once for loans in the usual way. There still remains $300,000 capital unallotted, which we hope we may soon see all taken, as we conld make good use of it just now. When this has all been got in our capital will be $1,000,000 paid up and $1,000,000 uncalled, and I may add in case shareholders have any anxiety on the subject that there is still no intentior whatever of calling up the unpaid portion of the capital which forms a second reserve felis of its own and serves as additional security to our creditors and debentureholders. The accounts themselves call for little comment explanation, but I may say that we are quite satisfied with the securities we hold against all | our loans and mortgages. If, however, the
are any other points on which you would information. I shall be glad if you will mention them now before I proceed to move the adop tion of this report and accounts.
There being no questions the report s adopted, on the motion of the CHAIRM seconded by Mr. BARRETT
On the motion of Mr. TERREY, seconded Mr. Rain, the following were re-elected Ce sulting Committee:—M Chan Hing and Chau Tung Shang.
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