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March 11, 1908.]
two European residences. Travelling eastward, the next thing to be noticed was Tal-ping-sban where here and there were Chinese houses. The great plague scourge of 1894 decimated the inhabitants in this district. The Chinese in the beginning were allowed to build as they fiked. Next came Jervois Street, now so celebrated for its Chinese New Year sales. Houses were on the northern side only, and the Ben washed in between the building sites. The property between Jervois Street and the ses nowadays was worth a good deal! The streets leading up from what is now Queen's Road were few and almost deserted. There was no indication of the crowded tenements, narrow staircases and high rentals of to-day. On the west side of Pottinger Street were a few European houses; and there was a small com- mercial inn where merchants congregated. This inn was the forerunner of the Hongkong Club. Dr. Legge was jocular about a small house called the "Bird Cage," out of which has been hatched the Hongkong Dispensary. The space between Wellington Street and Wyndham Street was garden ground on
which stood one house. Above the Parade
B
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
COMPANIES.
HONGKONG FIRE INSURANCE CO., ID,
$8,506.75 has been expended on the in addition to $1,530,531 on ordinar repairs, and our architects 1956 repo condition of the building is satisfactory. fire service, under the supervision of brigade, has been brought up to date. accounts must, I think, be considered antisfac;
ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING, The 36th ordinary general meeting of share-tory, showing as they do, a credit balance of holders in the Hongkong Fire Insuranos
$2,229,82 after payment of the expenditure on Company, Limited, was held at the offices of the the roofs and theatre. About 18,000 persons General Managers (Mesars. Jardine, Matheson
visited the library during the twelve months, ne and Company) on Mar. 6. The Hon. Mr. W. J. against 23,000 for the sighteen months covered Gresson (Chairman) presided, and there were by the last report, which proves that the public also present Sir C. P. Chater, C.M.G., Messrs, continue to appreciate this part of the institu H. P. White, F. Maitland and A. J. Raymond tion. On behalf of the members of the com- (Consulting Committee), Mr. G. T. Veitch mittee, I desire to express their appreciation of (Secretary), and Messrs. T. Arnold, W. A.
the active interest taken in the institution by Cruickshank, J. R. Michael, S. J. Michael,
our Secretary, Mr. Bowley, 8. H. Michael, W: H. Michael, G. H. Potts, B. A. Joseph, W. H. Wickham, P. Tester, F. Hall, Ho Fook, Wong and Lo Sui Chee The SECRETARY read the notice convening the meeting.
I
The CHAIRMAN said:-Gentlemen, with your permission, we will adopt the usual custom and take the report and accounts as read. Ground, below the spot where Government think I may safely congratulate you on the House now stands, was a bungalow, the outturn of the 1903 account. Our risks ran off dwelling place of the first two Governors of without any serious losses, and with your Hongkong. The military quarters were in approval we propose dealing with the balance of course of construction, there being many blanks. 8302,222.22 by the addition of $30,222.22 to Europeans had began to occupy what is the reserve fund, which will then stand at the'| DOW Spring Gardens. Farther east was substantial sum of $1,200,510.70, and the pay- hospital, a very poor building. Happy Valley ment of a dividend of 834. per share. The was covered with rice and sweet potato fields. balance at credit of the 1904 working account is Perhaps the only place which in all these years somewhat less than last year. This is owing to had remained the same was Wong-nei-chong the numerous fires during the past twelve Village Hongkong consisted of one long months, none of any great extent, but the street, an imperfect line, with houses and claims aggregating a considerable sum. buildings scattered on the hill-side. Now, by dition to the amount appearing in the account, European capital and Chinese labour, it had 887,566.98 losses actually paid, we know of fur: been transformed into a monument of commercial ther claims, at present in course of adjustment activity. Dr. Legge pictured Britannia stand-estimated at $44,839.11 This is disappointing. ing on the Peak and looking down with pride and I can only hope our outstanding risks wil. on the city which her sons had built.
run off in a favourable manner. Our surveyors report that in every instance the properties mortgaged show ample margins on the sums advanced. There is nothing further in the accounts calling for any special comment from me, but before proposing the adoption of the report and accounts as presented I shall be pleased to answer any question pertaining thereto which shareholders may have to ask.
In conclusion, Mr. Pearce spoke of some individuals. Captain Elliot, the free-trade champion, was mentioned first. Sir Henry Pottinger was not popular. In his day, it might be mentioned, Europeans went about armed with revolvers, and slept with pistols under their pillows. Merchants' offices were guarded by armed constablés, and private houses by watchmen. It was said that in those days Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Company paid £80 a month for twelve armed men to guard their premises at East Point. Sir John Davies was made noteworthy by his having sent an expedition from Hongkong to Canton. The expedition returned in 36 hours after capturing 879 guns. European resi- dents at Canton described this enterprise as a wanton, bootless, buccaneering expedi. In this regime poll tax was imposed on Europeans and Chinese alike, all residents having to present themselves once a year to the Registrar General. Chinese secret societies were put down, those being found guilty of this offence, a political offence, being branded on the face, and, consequently, they were beheaded by the authorities in China. Sir S. G. Bowen was a successful and popular governor. The Taiping Rebellion broke out during his regime, and Chinese flooked to Hongkong in thousands and tens of thousands. Chinese capital flowed in and various industries were started. Sir John Bowring had been described as very learned, a good speaker, but not a man of great deeds.
tion.
CORRESPONDENCE.
THE PRICE OF FOOD.
In ad-
If there are no questions, I beg to propose that the report and accounts as presented be adopted and passed.
Mr. G. H. POTTS-I have very much pleasure in seconding. I am sure that I express the feeling of the shareholders in congratulating the directors on the very good results of the year's work, and I only hope that his remarks about the present year will turn out better than he anticipates
•
The report and accounts were adopted.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Mr. W. A. CRUICKSHANK proposed and Mr. T. ARNOLD seconded that the appointment of Mr. H. P. White on the Consulting Committee be confirmed, and that Sir C. P. Chater, C.M.G., Messrs. F. Maitland, A. J. Raymond and H. P. White be re-elected on the Consult- ing Committee.
This was carried.
Mr. J. R. MICHAEL proposed, Mr. Ho Foox seconded, and it was carried, that Messrs. W, H. Potis and T. Arnold be re-elected auditors.
The CHAIRMAN-That conclades the business of the meeting, gentlemen. Thank you for your attendance.
Dividend warrants can be
had at the offices of the General Managers at 10 a.m. to-morrow.
CITY HALL COMPANY.
Mr. F. B L. Bowley (Secretary) and Messrs. H. E. Pollock, K.C., N. A. Siebs, W. B. Lay- ton and H. K. Mody.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS." The annual meeting of shareholders in, and Six-Some of the correspondents in the subscribers to, the City Hall was held in the press in discussing this subject tell us that if only | ball on the 9th March, when there were European ladies would do their own marketing present-Hon. W. J. Grosson (Chairman), they would get their provisions much cheaper. I do not know how this conclusion is arrived at The great majority of European ladies: live a considerable distance from the market, and assuming that they could beat the butcher down in kis prices a little-a doubtful assump tion......it would resolve itself into expending 30 cents on chairs, or rishas to save 5 cents on the cost of the meat. —Yours.
OBSERVER,
ANNUAL REPORT.
The CHAIRMAN in moving the adoption of the annual report and statement of accounts, sirsady published, said Gentlemen-As you have no doubt carefully studied the report and accounts, I propose with your permission to take them as read, During the year a sum of'
Mr. MODY seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried.
This concluded the public business.
The report for the 12 months ending Decem- ber 31, as submitted, was as follows:-
COMMITTEE AND STAFF. Hon. Mr. C. W. Dickson resigned the position of Chairman in May hast on leaving the Colony, and Hon. Mr. W. J. Gresson succeeded him ex officio.
Mr. C. S. Sharp resigned his seat on the Committee on leaving the Colony. The Com. mittee now consists of the Chairman, Mesurs. B. Layton (Hon. Treasurer); H. N. Mody, N. A. Siebs and H. E. Pollock, K.C. There have been no changes of any importanee in the Staff.
THE STATE OF THE BUILDING.
The whole of the roofs have been retiled and all defective timbers renewed and new ceiling to the Ball- Room suite (composed of cement plaster on ex panded metal lathing) constructed :-, at a total cost of about $8,000.
Ordinary general repairs cost $1,590.53. The neus annual inspection was made in September by the Architects, Messrs. Palmer & Turner, who report that the general vondi- tion of the building is satisfactory.
THEATRE, &a
The Pit has been reseated with benches
without arms, increasing the accomodation and facilitating the means of access. Movable electric lamps have been fired in the orchestra. The Amateur Dramatic Club gave some very successful performances, and the Theatre was
also let to the Dallas Opera Company, Pollard's
Lilliputian Company and many minor travelling companies, as well as for local concerts and
entertainments.
The total rent received in 1904 was $12,161.96,
large increase on previous years, but the expenses of lighting, &c., increased propor- tionately.
THE LIBRARY.
The number of books published in Hongkong deposited in the Library during 1904 was 52, of which the majority were religious publics- tions from the Nazareth Printing Press.
140 books were added to the Free Lending Collection and 148 borrowers' tickets issued. The total number of borrowers on 31st Dec. was 267, drawn from all sections of the popula- tion, whose demand for literature deserves an increased supply.
The proprietors of the "Gazette" and local newspapers, the members of the Committee and others kindly continued the supply of newspapers and periodicals, which are much appreciated by visitors to the Library.
About 11,500 non-Chinese and 4,500 Chinese made use of the Library during the year.
MUSEUM.
A few specimens of birds and anakos, and numerous butterflies and other insects have been added to the Museum, which was visited by nearly 100,000 Chinese and about 4,600. zm Chinese during the year.
ACCOUNTS.
The balance in the hands of the Treasure closing the secounts for 1904 was $2,229,82.
The reserve futid on: fixed deposit Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, increased by adding the acorned at:$15,774.4km
The ·érdinary revenue
brought forward andƐin beront ameïnted to $18878.06 and the ori diture to $12,079,88.
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