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148
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
with
(February 22, 1904.
however large the works and business may for any others in that country; and it is his that this piece of land is practically the bed of a ultimately develop into. All the plans of the intention, and our intention as well, to take watercourse. In the contract for the purchase works, including the working drawings, are care that we build engines equal in every respect from Sir C. P. Chater of this piece of land is a completed, and they are here for the share-to the very best production of any part of the covenant by him to raise and level this section holders to see. We have received very low world. To that end our workshops will be to a level with Section &, and to divert the tenders from highly responsible contractors for equipped with the best and most modern labour watercourse, and build a nullah. As soon as the complete erection of the buildings, the same saving and other machinery, the whole of which this is dous, the site will be ready for the to be completed within four months of signing will be driven by independent electrical motors, Brewery buildings, or for any kind of building, the contract. Over 50 per cent. of the capital excepting such as will be worked by hydraulic The raising and levelling of the site to a level of the company has been promised, and this will and pneumatic power. We shall have our own with Reotion A. has to be done at the expense be paid after the Chinese New Year. As soou steel converters, and our own copper-rolling of Sir P. Chater, and seeing that the price the as the capital is paid in, the Company will mills; in fact we intend our works to be Brewery Co. has paid for this site (which proceed with the construction and equipment thoroughly up to date in every detail, so that no includes the raising and levelling) is only of the works, which will take about seven months one will be able to turn out better work than $80,000, the company must be congratulated on to complete, and be ready to commence the ourselves, or at a lower cost price. Besides owning a very suitable building site at a very manufacture of locomotives and other machinery. having our own wharf, our works will have a moderate cost. I said just now that the Within the last few days very favourable double line of rails connecting it with practi-site is practically the bed of a watercourse, and offers have been made to the manager, which, cally the whole of the Japanese railway system, I should have explained that an abundance of if accepted, will in themselves keep a large and so that the bulk of our deliveries will take place pure, good water. suitable for beer-brewing important section of our works fully and on our own premises. We shall have little or purposes, flows through it. Samples of this constantly employed. The Company is very no packing to do, no shipments excepting for water have been submitted to analysis, and have fortunate in having secured as its managing work for abroad, no expensive freight and in- been pronounced to be suitable for the purpose of agents the well-known firm of Messrs. Samuel surance, and no import duty to be paid by our brewing good beer. Of this water, the com. & Co. of London, Yokohama, Formosa, and customers. The only import duty we shall have pany has an abundance for all its purposes, and elsewhere. Having regard to the influence and to pay will be 5 per cent, on whatever raw beyond the expense of laying down pipes to interests they have in Japan, Formosa, and the materials we have to import, which is a mere convey it into our brewing vats and tanks, it East generally, that firm is in an undoubted bagatelle on what has to be paid by imported will cost us nothing. At the side of and higher position to gauge what the prospects of the finished machinery. Gentlemen, these savings up than the level of our property is a dam or Company are, and as you know, they are alone will mean giving us an advantage of reservoir, from which the company is entitled backing their opinion by subscribing largely more than 20 per cent, over any of our compe to draw as much water (water of precisely the to the capital of the Company. The present titors. Then there will be the very great same suitable quality as that to which I have war between Japan and Russia, whatever its convenience to the railway companies themselves already referred), as will flow through a two- ultimate result may be, cannot adversely effect in being able to have their own inspectors on inch pipe, so that we are absolutely safe from a the prospects of the Company, for there are the spot so as to see for themselves that all the water point of view, even if our Brewery deve at present in Japan more than 4,000 miles of conditions of the specifications are honestly lops in time into a very large concorn, and, a railway opened to traffic and in full and very adhered to. The saving to them on that item I have said, the water will cost us nothing. profitable operation. Anyone who has travelled alone will be a very considerable one. The On the piece of land adjoining that upon which in that country cannot fail to have been works will be under experienced and most care we intend to build our Brewery, is the building impressed by the enormous traffic, and with ful management. Each department will be in known as the Metropole Hotel, and it was at the fact that these 4,000 odd miles of cha go of the very best and most experienced first intended to convert that building into railway
to totally inadequate are
the working foreman we can obtain from the best our Brewery. But upon going closely into traffic requirements. Every train is over- of the British workshops. The business man- the cost, it was found that we could erect a new crowded with passengers, and all the goods agement will be in the hands of our managing building, a building designed expressly for beer- stations and depots are always piled up and agents, and I think you will agree with me that brewing, for a very little more than it would almost bulging with merchandise waiting transit. the company's interests will at all times be as cost to convert the Metropole Hotel into The railway companies are busy doubling the thoroughly and as efficiently looked after as it premises suitable for our purpose. We pur- existing lines, and the construction of new rail-1 is possible for any interest to be. With all chased the Metropole Hotel site for $50,000, advantages We shall be ways is being pushed on in almost every part of these
placed and after we had decided to build the Brewery the Empire, and as soon as each section is com-in unique position,
an
practically on
considered the the adjoining site, we pleted it is opened for traffic. All the railways no competition (certainly none worth men advisability of applying for a licence to sell are very short of rolling stock, as the almost tioning) either for new work or for repairs. our beer in the Metropole Hotel. That how
would have involved the immediate congested state of traffic to which I have re- Under such circumstances we can, and we do, ever ferred proves: bat they are remedying that as look forward to unusually high dividends being outlay of a large amount of money to put the fast as they can. Locomotives and rolling stock paid, and I do not for one moment think that premises in a proper state of repair, as well as will always be needed by these railways, and will our expectations in that respect will not be the engagement of a suitable manager of the be needed in increasing numbers as the traffic amply and fully realised as soon as we get hotel-a by no means easy matter-and the goes on developing; in fact the traffic develop our works in operation."
annual payment of the cost of the licence, as ment depends almost entirely on the increase
well as the cost of keeping the premises in a of rolling stock. Locomotives and rolling
state of good repair it is doubtful whether stock wear out and require frequent repairs
should have succeeded in obtaining a Most and renewals.
of that work
Just as licence.
we were discussing this get. Now when we bear in expect to
matter we received an application from Mr. mind the very great advantages which the
James Christie, of the Bay View Hotel, for Company will be able to offer in the very
a lease of the Metropole Hotel, and after fully important matter of quicker and cheaper
considering the matter, we decided to grant delivery of engines and rolling stock than if
him a lease for 7 years, with the option of renewal for # further term of 7 these were ordered from Europe or elsewhere (for from whatever foreign country they may
years, on very satisfactory terms, and the be ordered, it takes from 14 months to 2 years,
lease has been completed. The terms are that and frequently even longer than that, to obtain
the lessee at his expense at once puts the pre- delivery, with its attendant inconveniences to The CHAIRMAN read the following report :- mises, inside and out, into a thorough state of the railways ordering them-the cost of inspect. Gentlemen,-This meeting is called for the repair to the satisfaction of the company, the ing in the country where the engines are built, purpose of complying with the Companies cost of which is not to exceed $5000-these the erection there for steam trial, the taking to Ordinances of Hongkong, one of which provides repairs are now being got on with, also that pieces again, the packing for shipment to Japan, that a meeting of the company must be held during his lease he keeps the interior of the the cost of delivering to ship, the high rate of within four months of the registration of premises in a proper state of repair, and that freight and insurance on heavy machinery the company. It is for this purpose there- during the term of his lease he binds himself
asked to such as locomotives, the cost of landing and fore that you have been
attend to sell only the company's draught malt liquors As we have met re-erecting in Japan, and the very high import here to-day.
together and a satisfactory arrangement has been done duty on machinery there adds enormously to I will take this opportunity of informing with him as to the sale of bottled malt liquors. the cost of the engines) you will at once you that in accordance
memor- The Let rental of the premises will give realise the
favourable position the andam of association of the Company, two the company a return of about 10 per cent, per Company will be in to successfully deal with at agreements therein referred to, and made annum on the price paid for this portion of the one lot. This is by no means a bad return in least a share of the work for the Japanese between Mr. E. A. Meurer of the railways. For even a share of the orders given part, and Mr. W. C. Jack, on behalf of the itself. We, however, expect to sell a large by the Japanese railways, and a small share at company, the other part, have been quantity of beer-draught and bottled to the carried into effect, and the lessee of the Metropole Hotel, upon the sale of that, will be sufficient to keep the rest of our ratified and
10 the works constantly and very profitably employed; necessary assignments made
com-which we expect to derive a fair profit, but before There has profitably employed even if we have to sell at pany.
been a surrender of the any profit can be realised from the sale of beer, very much lower prices than are paid for title-deeds to the Crown, and a new Crown we must get our Brewery built and at work. imported engines. But, gentlemen, I do not lease granted to the company in respect of We have been in communication with an ex- think we shall have to do so, for it is the the two sections purchased by them, which perienced master-brewer in Germany, with intention of the mangement to turn out work are now known as Inland Lo: No. 1705. On whom we have arranged satisfactory terms. He of the highest possible standard only. Our the Western Portion of this Lot No. 1705, the is ready to come out and attend to the building manager has long been olosely connected with Metropole Hotel stands, and the eastern portion and fitting up of the Brewery as soon as we are the design and sale of engines holding the very is a vacant piece of land. On this vacant | ready for him to come out. A few months highest reputation in Japan, engines for which piece of land it is intended to build the would be sufficient to get our Brewery up and higher prices have been invariably paid than Brewery. Doubtless, some of you have noticed at work turning out beer, and the brewer I
very
We
Mr. PAGETT HETT proposed that the report be passed. This was seconded by Mr. MEURER and carried unanimously by the meeting.
Mr. FINCH proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was carried unanimously.
The proceedings then terminated.
HONGKONG BREWERY CO., LD.
A meeting of the above company was held at 15, Queen's Road Central on the 15th inst., Mr. G. A. Meurer being in the chair.
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