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ever retain a feeling of gratitude toward the people of those places, which, like the com- mercial community of Hongkong, have manifested their sympathy in our loss and their hope of restoration to our former state.- I have, &c.,
(Sgd.) Gɛo. C. PARDEE, Governor of California. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS OF THE U.8.A.
New York, May 29th, 1906. Dear Sir,-This Association, as you doubtless know, is an organization of leading manu- facturers of the United States in all lines of industry. Its membership is now about three thousand (3,000). Frequently the heads of firms or companies embraced in our membership, or their special representatives, make trips abroad, and in the interests of international trade we have thought you might like to meet some of these gentlemen. Therefore, if it should be agreable to you we should take pleasure in placing your Chamber on the list of organizations to whose secretary or other officer we may take the liberty of introlucing those of our members or their representatives who visit your city. Naturally at these interviews
little information might be given and received that would be of mutual interest. We assure you that shall at all times be pleased to see anyone from your city whom you may
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introduce to us.
We
We have commodious offices in the business centre of New York City with a staff of over 50 people, comprising gentlemen who read, write and speak all the leading commercial, languages; and the various facilities of the offices are always at the service of visiting basiness men from other countries free of charge. Very truly yours,
(3gd.) WM. M. BENNEY, Assistant Secretary. Secretary, Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, China. The CHAIRMAN said the Chamber Was already associated with the Philadelphia Museum, a somewhat similar institution to that of the present correspondent's, and it was agreed to reply that the Hongkong Chamber would be pleased to reciprocate the facilities offered by the Manufacturers' Association as far as possible.
8IXTH CONGRESS OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF THE EMPIRE, 1906.
The preliminary list of the resolutions before the Congress was discussed and in view of the Chamber's letter to the delegates of the 2nd ultimo it was decided not to cable any further instructions.
ALLEGED SALTING UP OF THE HARBOUR, The following letter was read :---
Colonial Secretary's Office. 2nd July, 1906. Sir, I am directed to bring to the notice of your Chamber certain investigations that have recently been carried out with regard to the depth of water in the harbour of Hongkong which it is thought may be of interest to them. In the first part of the year 1901 Mr. J. F. Boulton, then Acting Assistant Director of Public Works, prepared an exhaustive com- parison of the depth of water all over the harbour as indicated by the charts that had been issued from time to time by the Hydrographer to the Navy. This report showed that the shaling that bad taken place between the years 1841 and 1890 involved the les of a considerable area of five fathom water, particularly in the western part of the barbour, a loss which if verified and likely to continue pointed to the necessity of extensive dredging operations being undertaken without delay. Mr. Boulton pointed out, however, that the correctness of the results he had arrived at depended on the correctness of his assumptions with regard to the zero that had been taken for the surveys and that it was doubtful what zero the earlier charts were referred to and how that zero was preserved. He recommended that the Admiralty should be requested to make a complete new survey of the harbour bottom.
Mr. Boulton's report was forwarded to the Secretary of State on the 26th October, 1901, with the request that the observations of the Consulting Engineers, Messrs, Goode, Son an Matthews, should be obtained with regard to it and that the Admiralty should be approached
|
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
the
[August 6, 1906.
to
with a view to reconsidering the decision they by Manufacturers. - At the present time the bad arrived at at the end of 1902 not to law here does not admit of any compensation contribute towards a re-survey of the harbour. for goods late against contract, but we nader- 3. On the 28th July, 1905, the Secretary of stand that some merchants in Manchester are State transmitted a report by the Consalting taking this matter up, as under present_cord- Engineers, who had satisfied themselves by tions the temptation is open to nuscrapulous conferences at the Amiralty that it was im. mauufacturers and others to delay goods in practicable to utilize as a reliable basis of dóm. order to sell to advantage to others on a rising
market. parison the soundings takon before 1886 as
We are informed that it is proposed shown on the earlier charts, and were of opinico that one month's gracǝ s'ould be allowed, but that the soundings of 1841 should be eliminated if over one month a penalty of 5 per cent. ad should be exacted. We think in all future comparisons as to the former valorem depths which existed within the harbour. In if Hongkong. Manchester, Liverpool
Bradford Chambers would Come view of the survey of the most important por- and tion of the harbour having ben made 18 years some decision on this point it might be the claus we have ago they recommended that it should b reser. pssible to istitu‘e
We have further considered veyed, that the resuls of the new survey should mentioned. be compared with the charts published since the replies of local piece goods merchants to the 1886 and the extent of the changes which had Chambers of Commerce's circuler letter of 8th occurred in the interval thus determined. They ultimo embodying the above prop sed clause for estimated the cost of the proposed survey atinsertion in piece goods contracts, and un- £10,000 and that it would take eighteen months animously com, to the conclusion that the to two years to complete and they recommended following clause would be best suitable to local that the whole question of dredging should conditions:-M suufacturers to be allowed 14 | remain in abeyance until the information wh c'ı days' grace after which period the buyer to have would be furnished by the new survey was the option of cancelling the goods or of 'aking available.
them, with a psualty of 5 per cent. ad valorem for the first 4. At the same time as he forwarded Messrs. Goode, Sou and Matthews' Report, Mr Lyttel- ton stated that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were not prepared to e atribute towards the cost of a new survey.
5. The Consulting Engine-r's report was referred to Mr. Boulou, who on further evidence having become available as to the datum used in the preparation of the 1841 chart entirely concurred in eliminating the soundings shown on it from future consideration of tue subject. He reverted to the opinion he had held before an examination of the 1841 chart that the extent of shoaling in the harbour since the establishment of the Colony had been very small. The comparison of soundings of Hung- hom Bay that, since the submission of his original report, had been taken for the Colonial Government in January, 1905, by Commander J. D'Arcy, R.N., with the sounding of 1887 had indeed shown a deepening in this small part of the harbour. Mr. Boultou thought a complete survey unnecessary at the present tim but recommended that careful test sections should, when opportunity off red, be taku on certain lines suggested by him.
6. By the courtesy of the Commander-in- Chief, China Station. Commander R. W. | Glennie, R. N., of H.M.S. Waterwitch was permitted to do this work in Februay and March of the current year.
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7. I am directed to transmit for your infor. mation copies of Admiralty Charts Nos 1459 and 3280, on which are indicated the lides ou which the test sections were taken, and a sheet of these sections on which the differedce in level of the sea-bed according to that of March 1916 are shown exaggerated 25 times compared with the horizontal scale. These sections show very little change in the sea-bed to have taken place in the interval between the two surveys. There has been a slight scouring on the Hongkong side in the narrowest part of the harbour and a slight deepening generally in the western part and over Kellet's Bank
8. It is clear therefore that any further consideration of the question of extensive dredging in the harbour. will be on account of the increased number and draught of ships that use it and not on account of diminished area of deep water in it. I have &c.,
(Sgd.) T. SERCOMBE SMITH,
Colonial Se retary. S'cretary, Chamber of Commerce. The CHAIRMAN said the report was much more satisfactory than had been anticipated and the question of dredging to provide an was one which extension of nooring space could be left over for the present.
PIECE GOODS TRADE. LATA DELIVEKÝ OF GOODS BY MANUFACTURERS.
The following report from the sub-committee appointed at the last meeting to deal with this question was read :-
Hongkong, 10th July, 1906. Sir-We, the sub-committee appointed by the Chamber of Commerce, have considered the latter from the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce dated 9th April, 1906, asking the opinion of the Hongkong Chamber with regard to the follow. ing proposal: China: Late Delivery of Goods
month or part of a month per cent. additional for each and 2 succeeding month or part of a month of the extension agreed upon between the manufactur›r and bayer. Should a farther extension by required by the manufacturer beyond the perio l already agreed upon, the buyer to again have the option of cancelling the goods or of t .king thɔn with a penalty of 23 per cent. for each math or part of a math of the farther pario l."
Tais substituted clins) wis notied to boil piece goo ls merchants in a circular lettar o` 45h July, and we have now pleasure in reporting that from the replies received it is appaat that the great majority of mɔrohants ara ag :36- able to the clanse suggested by us and that few have any other opinions to offer. Unler the circumstances the committee of the Chamber of Comm rce can be satisfied that in forwarding the new clause agreed upon they are voicing the opinion of the loc piece gools market. We have, &c..
(3gd.) A. Brooke Smith (Jardine, M ɩthesɔn&C ».).
G. Engl (Wm. Meyerink & Coy.). D. K. Moss (Alex. Ross & Coy.) S. H Dutton (S. J. David & Cɔy.). It was decided to accept the report and forward sams to the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.
SUPREME COURT.
Friday, July 27th.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE MR. A. G. Wiss (PUISSE JUDGE).
A SMALL BALANCE.
The Tai Fung Luog sued the Man Lung firm to recover $5.60, balance due on account.
the Yoe Wung, managing partner of defendant firm, said be sent his foki to the plaintiffs to buy rice. He supplied cash, and if the fosi did not pay it over, the plaintiffs were bound to look to him for payment. The foki was a good fellow, and so had no difficulty iu getting credit, but when a firm gave credit it was their own lookout,
His Lordship-Where is your foki? Defendant-He died of plagus two-moutha
His Lordship-Ta-n you'd better pay up. It's no use looking for him.
ago.
Monday, July 30th.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE Mr. A. G. Wise (PJisna Judas).
AN UNSTAMPED AGREEMENT,
Leung Wa-hing, trading as Shun Yiok, of 39, Gough Street, sued the Kwong Tak Tai firm, of 3 Wing Lok street, for the recovery of $75, being one month's reat for the first and second floors of the premises mentioned and one mon h's rent in lieu of notice.
Mr. C. F. Dixon (from the office of Mr. John Hastings) conducted the case for plaintiff, while the defendant apppared in person.
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