January 4, 1902.]
The ball held at the Club on Monday last, under the suspices of the Folkien Race Club, was undoubtedly the most successful there has been for some years. Nearly a hundred were present, including several officers in uniform from H.I.G.M.'s Geier, then in port. The band from that ship, whose services were most | graciously placed it the disposal of the hosts for the evening, did much indeed towards enhan- cing the attractions of the entertainment and the dancing was kept up with a grand swing in consequence.
•
The visits of professional vocalists to Foo- chow are so few and far between that when they are made there is a general feeling of satisfaction running through the community. Substantial proof of this was given on Thursday by the large attendance at the Club.in response to Madame Freed's announcement that she was giving a concert on that evening; the chance of hearing good singing and instrumental music had occurred, and was eagerly availed of. Madame Freed was ably assisted by ladies and gentlemen of the community, and her concert in every way was a grand success.
PEKING.
Peking, 13th December.
VICEROY YUAN SHI-KAI
has returned to Paotingfu. He failed to per: suade the Ministers to abandon the Provisional Government. It is a disappointment to him. He now intends to meet the Court on its way.
EDUCATION.
In the educational line, it should be mentioned that Professor Gieter, of the Imperial Univer- sity has opened up a French class in the un. iverstiy buildings, following the example of Professor Allardyce in English.
IS IT AN OVERSIGHT?
In the list of officials honoured for their services in international relations there is no
mention of Hu Yu-fen, although he has done more work, and more unpleasant too, than several who are remembered.
A STREET NUISANCE.
Thera is considerable annoyance to both Chinese and foreigners, other than the Legation folks, in passing with carts, and especially loaded carts along the streets. No one knows what street to take, for one is as objectionable as another. The main trouble is at the west end, where the American gaar is stationed. Even Sir Robert Hart is patered.
SHANGHAI STATEMENTS CORRECTED.
There are two or three things of general statement in Shanghai which need correction. One is that a former President of a Board in 1898, who was banished for helping reform, Li Tuan-fen. is on his way back to Peking. So far as we know here he is dead. Another state- ment is that Hsu Ching-ch'eng and Yuan Ch'ang changed the wording of an edict in June 1900 from kill foreigners
protect foreigners." There is no proof of this report here. Neither of them was in the Cabinet, and so could not change the wording without it being known to others. They argued for peace and ridiculed the Boxers, and were punished in consequence. It is also often said that Yang Lu is a nephew of the Empress Dowager. We
to
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Court and is acceptable to the Empress Dowager. He has a younger brother, Pa Tung, who has also been mentioned, is nearly of the same age as the Emperor, and is more in sympathy with reform. The grandson of late Prince Kung, who is the present Prince | Kung, has also been mentioned. He is a little over twenty, and of fairly good manners and good intentions, but of no marked ability. In case the present Prince Chun, should have a son, there would be a possibility of choosing the infant, and having a Regency.-N.-C. Daily News,
CORRESPONDENCE.
(We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE FUTILITY OF FUMIGATION IN HONGKONG.
13.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS."
Hongkong, 24th December. Sir,-Will Dr. Clark, the Medical Officer of Health, be good enough to answer the following questions, which it was my intention to ask
some weeks ago;
1. Is there a water famine in the Colony? 2. Is it a fact that many of the inhabitants have not been able to collect sufficient water for potable purposes, and is it true that certain citizens have been voicing their grievances in the local papers?
3. Such being the case, are the inhabitants of this Colony in a position to wash and cleanse, and keep their houses in a sanitary condition ?
4. Under the circumstances, what is the present condition of the sewers and drains of the City?
5. Will not the foul and putrid animal and vegetable refuse, etc., in the sewers and drains produce poisonous gases and disease germs?
6. Are not gases a danger to the public
health?
7. Are not such filthy and unkempt sewers and drains the breeding places of plague germs and other disease germs?
8. Are not those very sewers and drains the homes and feeding-places of the plague-inoon. lated rats ?
not ?
9. Are these sewers flushed? If not, why 10. Are the beneficial results of fumigation assured, under existing conditions?
11. Is it practical to destroy the germs inside the houses and leave the sewers and drains- the breeding-places-untouched?
12. Is it not a fact that these houses get re-charged with poisonous gases and disease germs immediately they are reopened?
13. Is it not a fact, if such is the case, that fumigation without a plentiful water supply and a thorough flashing of the sewers and drains is utterly useless and a waste of the taxpayers money ?—Yours, etc.,
CAUSE AND EFFECT.
CHINA AND MANILA STEAM- SHIP CO., LD.
capital. We are not asking for the whole $500,000 at once; in fact, with one or two more years such as we have had lately we may never want the whole amount, and we have endeavour. ed to make the instalments due at such time aad at such intervals as will be most convenient to you. As long as the issue is assured we can no doubt get temporary loans from our bankers, which would enable us if advisable to anticipate any further sudden drop in exchange by remitting the whole loan at once, and must
you remember that every fall in exchange increases te dollar cost of the boats. We cannot build new steamers without money and if our earnings are all absorbed as capital we cannot go on paying dividends as well. The first of the new steamers, the Zafiro, arrived on 25th Noromber, and I am glad to say that the necessity for such boats has been fully demonstrated and our action in building them She entirely justified by her performances.
at once became the favourite boat on the line, leaving here full of passengers with every berth engaged and at all hands, from shippers, passengers, and agents, she has received the highest praise. Her sister ship the Rubi left Singapore on the 24th inst. They are exact duplicates of each other and I have no doubt the Rubi will prove equally successful. All the arrangements both for cargo and passengers are - in the
opinion of experts exceedingly well adapted for the special requirements of the Manila ruu, and the result reflects the greatest credit on the builders, Messrs. D. J. Dunlop & Co.. and on our Marine Superintendent, Mr. A. G. Gordon, who designed the boats in the first instance and has since given his whole time to superintending
their construction at home. I am quite sure that with such vessels we cau more than hold our own on the line against anything that can be brought against us, and I feel that wẹ can heartily congratulate ourselves on having! acquired them. The past year on the whole has been a good one and business particularly of late has been very brisk with us; the passenger trade with the Philippines is increasing, and raffic doubtless wiil continue to increase with the gradual pacification of the islands and the attraction of capital thither, and although we are threatened with fresh opposition on the line we do not anticipate that it will gain much foot- ing or seriously interfere with the earnings of our steamers. Before I proceed to put the re- solutions stated in the notice of the meeting I take pleasure in informing you that Mr. J. S. van Buren of the Pacific Mail and O. & Ö. Com- panies has consented to join your Consulting Committee, a connection that you will doubtless agree with me should
prove very valuable to this company.
Proceeding then to put the resolutions to th meeting,
The CHAIRMAN moved first-"That the capital of the company be increased from one million of dollars (its present capital) to one million five hundred thousand dollars by the creation of ten thousand new shares of filty dollars each."
Captain FARROW seconded, and the motion was agreed to unanimously,
can find no support for this statement. The above company was held on the 28th ult. in the be offered in the first instance to the persons
is no relationship beyond the fact that both are Manchus.
THE NEXT HER APPARENT.
There is a little quiet speculation as to the next Heir-apparent. There is some talk of Prince Chun, the younger brother of the present Emperor. This is hardly likely, as he is of the generation of the Emperor Kwang Hsü, and the Emperor Tung Chih. Neither of these would be any nearer having a descendant to offer worship and sacrifice. As P'u Chun was chosen because he was of the next generation, so the new choice will continue in the same generation. Still it is hardly likely that any son of the brothers of Prince Yuan will be choses. The family of the once Fifth Prince, or Prince Tuan, is notoriously rasotionary. Who, then is the man? Already in October, it was telegraphed, that a Lua Pei-tze was chosen. This may be possible. Lua Peitsze or Lau Pei-lè, i.e., Prince P'a Lun, is a graud- son of an older brother of Emperor Hsien Feng, Prince Tun, Prince Kung and Prince Chun-4th, 5th, 6th and 7th sons of Emperor Tao Kuang. Prince Lun has been with the
ཝཱ
The CHAIRMAN moved the second resolu An extraordinary general meeting of the tion as follows:-"That the new shares shall office, 14, Des Voeux Road. Mr. R. Shewan who, on the 15th January, 1902, shall be presided and there were also present Messrs.registered as Thareholders, in the proportion of one new share for every two of the present A. G. J. Somerville, A. G. Gordon, J. S. van Buren, N. A. Siebs, D. E. Brown, W. H. shares and that such offer shall be made by Potts, A. V. Apcar, S. Benjamin, A. Babing- notice specifying the number of new shares to which the shareholder is entitled and limiting ton, H. P. White, D. Gillies, J. H. T. Mc-
a time within which the offer if not accepted Murtrie, Captain Farrow and Mr. Fung Wa
will be deemed to be declined. After the ex- piration of such time or on the receipt of an intimation from the shareholder to whom such notice is given that he declines to accept the shares offered, the General Managers may allot or otherwise dispose of all unaccepted shares to such persons on such terms and conditions and at such times as the General Managers shall think fit.”
Chun."
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, the ob- ject of this meeting is fully explained in the printed notice of it, which you have all received. The reason for our sending out notices in pre- ference to advertising was that hitherto when we have advertised many shareholders in Manila and on the coast have complained that they never saw the advertisement; so to obviate this we have in this instance sent a notice to each shareholder. The reason for our raising this
The CHAIRMAN then moved the third resoln- new capital is the necessity of paying off the balance of the cost of our two new boats Z firoandtion:-"That each of the said new shares shall be paid for as follows:-The sum of five dollars Rubi. A great part of the money required has
on account thereof shall be paid on the 28th already been temporarily borrowed in London.but the repayments will commence at the end of Jan-February, 1902, at such place as the General Managers shall appoint, the sum of ten dollars uary, and it is to meet these that we want more
Mr. D. E. BR WN seconded, and the motion was agreed to unanimously.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.