June 10, 1907.1
HONGKONG POST OFFICE.
The report on the Post Office department for the year 1906, published in the Gazette reads as follows:-
STAFF.
1. Of the higher Officers Mr. E. C. Lewis, the assistant postmaster general, was on leave from 11th July and Mr. A. J. Reed, the accountant, from 30th May, till the end of the y ar.
2. Among the olerka, sorters. and shroffs, one was pensioned, two resigned, two were dismissed and two died and one was transferred to another Department. In Shanghai two olerks resigned and one was dismissed.
3. Three new appointments were made to the Western Branch Post Office which was re- opened on 1st July.
MAILS.
4. The number of mail bags and packets dealt with in the General Post Office, Hongkong, amounted to 160,921 as against 138,897 in 1905, Further details are given in Table Í.
REGISTRATION AND PARCEL BRANCH.
5. Registered articles and parcels handled in Hongkong show a very considerable increase namely 770,20 against 638 977. The total for the Administration, including Shanghai and British Agencies in China, is 926,387, an increase of 183,597 as shown in Table II.
6. During the year ending 31st December, 1905, 3-5 artioles and 5 parcels evidently intended to be despatched by registered or parcel post were found in the drop box of the General Office. They were sent to the registration branch and
forwarded.
7. An arrangement for the transmission of insured letters direct between the Straits Settlements and Hongkong came into force on the 1st December, 1906.
8. On the 19th September, 1906, a messenger of the Kwong Man Fung firm was found guilty at the Criminal Sessions of obtaining by means of a forged signature and seal four registered letters from America, he was sentenced to five years hard labour,
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE. 9. A statement of revenue and expenditure is given in Table III. Revenae amounted to $420,454. 4 shewing an increase of $5,615.85 over that of 1905 and an excess of $10,454.54 over the estimate. Expenditure came to $359,484.08 and the profit on the Department to $60,969.96 or 11 per cent. The very con. siderable saving on the estimated expenditure is principally due to the higher rate of exchange which affected sterling payments for transit charges and mail subsidies. Increase in working expenses is divided as follows:- ralaries, Hongkong
Cost of stamps ...
**
Rent of extension Site, Shanghai... Fittings, Tientsin
Other heads of expenditure
POSTAGE STAMPS.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. laundrymen in the United Kingdom, principally in London, Liverpool, Cardiff, Birkenhead, Manchester, Belfast, Hall, Newport, North Shields and South Shields.
14. Notwithstanding the reduction of the British Fleet in China waters the sale of British Postal Orders is £1,000 more than in 1905.
15. Since December last the amount of orders from Londou bas been greatly augmented by Chinese transit orders from Mexico, each week's list varying from £450 to £950.
16. A direct exchange of money orders with Cape Colony came into force on the 1st January and a proposal for the extension of direct exchange to the Colony of Kiantschon is now
under consideration.
EXTENSION OF POSTAL FACILITIES.
17. Pillar Boxes were erooted and daily deliveries started at Pokfulam on 21st March and at Kowloon City on 3rd October. In Victoria three new pillar boxes were placed at certain points on the higher levels.
18. The total number of articles collected during the year from all pillar boxse was 122.899 as against 48,110, 66,746 and 92,170 for the three previous years.
19. The Western Branch Post Office was re- opened near the Canton and Macao Wharf with a view to meeting the requirements of Chinese correspondence, principally to Canton, in co-operation with the Imperial Chinese Post Office which now is in a position to displace the private letter carrier-system. 584,484 letters were received and despatched as well as 3,400, registered articles, and the revenue from the sale ot stamps amounted to $14,724.2) against an expenditure of $1,8: 9.95.
20. In Shanghai extensive alterations and additions were made to the Iritish Post Office and there is now sufficient space for dealing with the very large amount of mail matter passing through that office. The accommodation for the public has been much improved.
21. An agency was opened at Tientsin on 1st October. The monthly expenditure averaged $687 and the revenue $800, The amount of mail matter handled shews that it proved of convenience to the public.
22. The New Branch Office at Kowloon was completed on 1st September and occupied a few days later. The temporary office on the Star Ferry pier was completely destroyed in the Typhoon a fortnight later.
DEAD LETTER OFFICE,
23. The total number of all articles returned to and despatched from Hongkong amounted to 71,668, viz., 34,924 of the former and 36.644 of the latter showing an increase or those reported in the previous year of 8.183.
24. The following correspondence failed to ba $ 3,023,87 delivered at this office, viz, Foreign letters 11,010.05 8,980, post cards 1,534, other articles 6,240, 2,103.42 local letters 946, post cards and other articles 1,106.81 | 1,301,
212.23 25. The practice referred to in last year's report (posting of coin in unregistered letters) $ 17,456.38 still continued, 58 such letters were detected, and where the sender's name and address could be discovered returned.
10. A comparative statement of the issues of stamps for sale shows a falling off in the values from $1 to $10 which are used largely for revenue as distinguished from postal purposes,
MONEY ORDERS.
4
11. With the exception of inward orders from Japan and silver dollar countries the trans- actions of the Money rder Offio show a substantial inorease over that of the previous year. The orders from the Straits, Borneo and Federated Malay States shew a remarkable falling off since the Straits dollar was fixed at 28. 44. The issues by Japan in 1905 were abnormal, one Chinese firm alone in Daitotei, Formosa, remitting $13,000. There is a drop in 1906 of 200 orders in the number issued by the Japanese Post Offices in North China to the British Indian Troops who sent their remit- tances to India through the intermediary of Hongkong.
12. The apparent falling off in the issue of sterling orders is due to the fact that prior to 1906 all orders on Germany were advised through Londom The issues and receipts from Germany equal marks 73,000 which more than counterbalance the deficiency of £1,500.
13. The increase of £3,000 from the United Kingdom and also increase in the number of British Postal Orders paid is accounted for by the greater number of Chinese seamen and
26. Among the unregistered letters returned to this office Bome were found to contain cheques, bank notes, drafts and local and im. perial money orders.
383
HONGKONG GYMKHANA CLUB.
BECOND GYMKHANA.
Gymkhana Club was held at Happy Valley on The second meeting of the Hongkong June 1st, when notwithstanding the unfavour- able weather, there was a large attendance. The continuous rain, however, marred the pleasure of the proceedings, the flat being deserted. Most of the spectators spent the day in the grandstand, or in the Pari Mutuel stall which, as usual, was the centre of attraction. A novelty was introduced for those who wished to obance their luck, in the way of a cash sweep, and drawers of first, second or third ponies in this had no reason to complaio. It was a much better speculation than the Pari Mutuel as in one instance the winner received $337, while another first paid $252. Owing to the rain the ladies' nomination event was cancelled, while the heavy course did not permit of any fast times being registered. In the hurdle race there were two jockeys unseated, Messrs. A. T. Walker and G. K. Hall Brutton, but neither gentleman was seriously injured, H.E. the Officer Adminis- tering the Government was in attendance before the starting of the first event, and remained until the finish, taking an active part in the proceedings. The band of the Middlesex Regiment Wa8 in attendance, and played selections of music during the afternoon. The patrons and committee of the Club are :- i Patrons : His Excellency Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G.; His Excellency Vice Admiral Sir Arthur W. Moore, K.C.B, K.C.V.O., C M.G.; His Excellency Major-General R. G. Broad wood, c.B.; Commodore R. H. 8. Stokes, B.
27. There were 65 post cards posted bearing neither name nor address of party for whom they were intended and many of them lacked the sender's name, 52 cards bearing imitatious of postage stamps were also posted addressed to the United Kingdom and being prohibited there were returned to the senders where possible.
GENERAL
Committee: The Stewards of the Hongkong Jockey Club (Ex-Officio); H. E. Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G.; Major Parker; Mr. C. H Ross; Mr. H. P. White; Mr. G. K, Hall Brutton; Mr. D. MacDonald and Captain Thompson,
!
r. C. H. Ross, Julge; Mr. H. P. White and Major Parker, Handicappers; Mr. D. MacDonald, Clerk of the Ecales; Major Parker, Starter; Mr J. Paterson, 2nd Starter; Mr. T. S. Forest, Time Keeper; Mr. R. F. C. Master, Hon. Sec. and Treasurer,
The following are the results:- THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE FLAT RACE. For Subscription Griffins of this season, 1906-07. Weight for inches 医您 per scale. Winner of an official race to carry 7 lb, extra. Winners at the last Gymkhana 5 lb penalty. Penalties accum- mulative. Ponies which have run and not been placed allowed 3 lb. Jockeys who have not won more than two official races in Hongkong, Shanghai or Tientsin allowed 5 lb. Entrance fee $5. 1st Prize: A Cup presented by E. W. Ratter Fsq. 2od Prize: $25. (Entrance fees to go to winner.) Mr C. P. Chater's Rust, 1 1st 2lbs...
(Mr W. 8. Dupree) Mr E. A. Hankey's Off Chance, 1st 12ībs... (Mr Hickman)
Dr J. W. Noble's No Savvy 11st 5lbs.,
5lb allowance (Mr R. F. C. Master) 3 Mr Godfrey Master's Drayos, 11st 8lbs
(Mr Gegg) 0
H:E. Mr F. H. May's Highland Heather
10st 91b (Mr May)
Mr Medico's Nigel, 10st 11lbs (Mr Clarke)... 0 A field of six faced the starter in the first event, and the flag dropped on a good start for Rust who made the most of his opportunity, and passed the winning post some four lengths ahead of the field. Going up the incline he was challenged by Off Chance but notwithstand- 28. In the mails from other contries 1,216ing the fact that the latter pony was ridden articles were found without address, of which hard, his pace was not equal to that of 393 were delivered to claimants. For the
the winner and his skilful jockey, Mr. Dupree, rest no enquiries were made.
No Savvy made a bold bid for second place, but was beaten on the post. Time-1 min. 39 secs. The Pari Mutual paid $11.10 on the winner. In the cash sweeps the drawer of rust recoi ved $94.50, while Off Chance paid $27 and No Barry $13.50. GYMKHANA CLUB CHALLENGE CUP.-- Distance one mile. For al China Ponies. Catch weights at 10 st. 6 lb. Winners of an open race or open Grifin race 5 lb. extra. Non-winning Subscription Griffins allowed 5 lb. Jockeys who have not won more than two official races in Hongkong, Shanghai or Tiantain allowed 5 lb. To be
29. During the Typhoon already mentioned two bags of mails containing ten registered articles were lost in the 8 8. Apenrade.
30, On the 2nd October a mail recovered from the wreck of 8.8. Akashi Maru was brought to the General Post Office with a largə proportion of the Chinese correspondence so damaged as to render the addresses undecipher- able,
31. On the 14th October 6 bags, 10 boxes and one loose letter box were destroyed in the fire on 8.8. Hunkow,
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