84
Letters about the threatened opium monopoly bave already appeared in our columos, and the Tientsin Post Office qua: tion has al-o had its details ventilated, but the following looks! fresh :-
Colonial Secretary's Office Hongkong, 28th November, 1907. Sir.-Referring to your letter of the 26th instant, I am directed to transmit the enclosed copy of a statement, which was forwarded to the Tientsin Chamber of Commerce on the 16th instant, showing how the estimated deficit on the working of Tientsin Post Office has heen -calculated.
The Military contributiou levied on the receipts from the office has not been included. I am, &c.,
F. H. May, Culo id Sentry. The Secretary, China Association.
STATEMENT.
Revenue.
Stamps, etc. based on return of 1st eight months of 1907
Estimated decrease due to action of Rome Convention in raising weight from 15 to 20 grs, and 2nd rate 6 cents instead of 10 cents taken at 30 per cent.
Estimated increase of business 10 per cent
Expenditure,
Personal Emoluments Other charges
$6,168
697 120
5,48
Share of stationery, cost of stamps, etc. Transit on mails tom Tientsin, based on actual returns A) Cost of transit for mails from Shang- bai to Tientsiu through Chinese Post Office, which would be saved if there was no British Post Office et lientsin 3, 64
$13,886
Reduction on Transit rates due to ac
tion of Rome Convention principally on (A) ...
Increase of business...
↑
!
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
+
of this
rea.
|
[February 3, 1908.
sometimes towards a fresh start in life. The Mr. STEWART then continued-This report incom of the Society is derived from subscrip. | will, I imagine, astisfy ord`nary members of the tions and donations. The co-dition of member- Sciety that it aims and objects have been ship is the subscription of $12 per anuum. | judiciously served by the outgoing Committee. This gives the privilege of recommending cases I take it that nothing need bị said by me to for investigation by the committee. Auy som recommend it to the favour of those present, bat paid to the secretary, other than by way of if, through the cɔlamas of the looil press, its subse iption, is deemed a donation. A donation contents should reach a larger audience, it will of not less than 850 entitles the donor to a life | remind them unpleasantly of distress hovering imhe ship of the Society. A general meeting | in our midst in gaises which reader it difficult is held once a year to receive reports, elect a and perplexing to deal with. Misfortune is not comitted for the envning twelve months. a cheerful topic, and in our present easy environ- and disense generally the Society's interests. maut of abounding creature comforts the mere The Cominitles meets on the first Ta-sday of thought of it is apt to be regarded as an unwel - every mouth, and also specially when required, come intrusion. Hare the saying 'that the poor ¦ for the di-charge of the fanctions of the Society ar always with as' loses force. We seldom
as there outlined.
witness signs of notnal want. We are not The CHAIRMAN real the report, «xtracts hauntol by hangry looks. Ind gease hides its from which are as follows:-During the year, head. Suffering shrinks away. I speak of fifteen applications for assis'ance were made to the our own poor, of cours3. They are seldom in Committen and twelve of those who applied re- evidence and, inasmuch as the argument ceived help either with money, board and concerning that which is not seen is apt to lodging, work found for them in the Colony, or be the sime as concerning that which does their passages paid to various places where they no' exist, we are all perhaps liable to grow bad friends or promise of employment. Thic 8 little heedless sad to
pursu, our avo- i teen other casos received relief through the calions and relaxations without indulging 1,985 |
Rev. J. II. Franca, M.A., Seamen's Chaplain, over much in reflexions such as are forced upon to whom the thanks of the Committee
oar notice by a report of this kind. A perusal for his $1,633 are again leudered
most invalu
of it serves, in any c189, to show that there is a 463 able help in investigating cases, and
regrettable need for the existence of the Society. dering immediate, topporary assistanc', to I hope that some of those who ought to belong, si, 90 ́sneli as he earsiders in neut
The and who do not, will ba reiched by the account Society las p il tor the support and education of bunficant activities and induced to join. $4,60% of fivechi deen during the past year and mothly Most of them are, I imagine, in rely uamindful allowances bare been made for n use rent to old of the o-al. In the d-licate matter of dealing
Two girls having with the and deserving people.
cases which come bafore the fiuished their education write expressing their Committe rare qualities are requisits. Most | gratin ls for all the Society bas done for them of as, I fancy, would not care to take over
The ancisty has d-alt with ov r 1750 cases since
our share of the
common responsibility and its est blishment in 13-6, The essential object personally attend to it. Few things are more is to relieve those who have the strongest claims, hateful than to refuse help; few things more the really deserving cases of waul and sickness. annoying than to be imposed upon. ConsequenUly to reliere old age. care for. and educate, it is a great relief to be able to refer impor. young children dependent ou the Society,tunity to som castitated authority qualified and also when possible in help the erring and by patience, tact and kindness to offioiate, and thog who have fallen into bid ways to make a those members who, like myself, are merely 1850 | feesh start and do batter things. To do all passi assisters, owe a debt of gratitu le to the this wisely and conscientiously, ach case must Committee and to their activebelpars for taking be personally investigated by members of the
our charity off our band. Satisfed that the Committe, or the Reference Committee, before ordinary members realise this indebtedness and help is given so as to avoid the danger of mu! fully appreciate the value, in osre, trouble, and
Should sub- tiplying application for relief.
anxious thought, of the work done, I con- scribers wish for more particulars the Hon. fidently recommend, and now formally move Secretary will be pleased to give further the adoption of the report, details. The thanks of the Committee are due to the St. George's A.D. the proceeds of a performance giren for ths benefit of the S ciety. Also the Com mittee bare again most cordially to thank the managers of the various steamship companies who have so kindly responded to their appea's for reduced passages for many of their appli ants. The Committes desire to express their grateful appreciation of the very generous douation of $10.00 to the funds of the Seci tv which has been made by Mr. H. N. Mody. This 8:00 has been invested in Hongkong Club Debentures, and is called "The Mody Trast Fund, and accordingly brings an annual income f $79 to the Society. There is ample scope forte employment of this additional revenue in the furtherance of the work, and while grate fully ackaowledging this guerous gift the
sincerely bo thit Committe
precat subscribers will continue their support
дел and that is past years;
members may be added to the list, for although by the a low gift the funds may not be at such ebb as in the previous year 19 «i, whe : the wick Was seriously crippled by lack of funds; the European population is increasing and the Society needs all the help and support that can be afforded to it to meet the demands for ant assistance to carry ou the work satisfactorily. In conclusion the Committee wish to sincerely thank al who have helped them during the past year, and hope that all the residents in Hongkong will take an interest in the Society; not only by subscribing money but by mention. ing to the Hon. Secretary or any other members of the Committee names and addresses of per sons who need help and by sympattising with, and supporting the attempt which has been made to introduce method and organisation | by adopted. into our charitable efforts The Committee also desire to thank Mrs. Saunders and Mrs. Thompson for the work they did during the year.
$12:36 SOME
$12,536
Loss if Military contribution is not taken into account $12,536 ~$5,086 — 7,440.
If Military contribution is taken into accouut loss is given by (x +85,096) (1—20-1000=812,536. | Los8=110,574.
LADIES' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
I
The annual meeting of the adieg' Borevalent Pociety was held in the City Hall on Jan. 30 h Mr. Murray Stewart resided, others present; being Lady Berkeley and Mesdams May, Hickling, Turner, Atà..son, Peter, ~u'herland, Jordan, Vorelzsch, Pollock (secretary), Chatham, Burbury and Miss Fletcher, Is Lordship Bishop Lander, Hon. Dr. Atkinson, Hon. Mr. H. E. Pellock, Consul-General Wilder, Revs. F. T. Johnson, J. H. Frauen, C. H. Hickling and Dr. F. Clark,
Mr. STEWART-Notice of this meeting was duly given, and the committee now subunit to members the annual report, which, as it has not been circulated must now be read, but b fore reading it I will tell you of the objects of the Society:-The Hongkong Benevolent Society was founded in September, 1889, "for the purpose of rendering assistance in cases of sickness, want, poverty or distress arising from time to time amongst persons other than members of the tho Portuguese or Chine community in Colony". It is an attempt to introduce method and organisation into our charitable efforts; and to secure by careful investigation of all cases that Lelp shall chiefly be given to the most needy and the most deserving. The relief given varies with the individual cases. Some are granted passage money to enable them to get back to home lands; some are helped to pay their rents; certain children, left orphans and destitute, are being maintain. ed at school; employment is found for not a fow who have been stranded in the Colony; and a little temporary assistance is given to many, helping them through a crisis and
for $291,
88
Mr. POLLOCK s con led, and the motin was carried.
07
were
were at
The CHAIRMAN then read the report of the guarantee scheme for 1907 as follows: Daring the pist fear the oills made прод the guarantors were comparatively few in number and in nearly one half of the cases the mea were not long out of employment, and were able out of their advances to pay their own expenses, thus relieving the guarantors of all responsi bility. In all, seven cases were, after careful investigation, admitted to the ben fits of the sheme. Of this number four, being sailors were sen' to the Sailors Home at West Point Ia three of these cases work was quickly found and the men obtaining advances paid their owa expenses. The forth had to wait a long time and the guarantor was called upon to make a deficiency of more than forty dollars. Ihres mea who
not ssilors takeg iato the Seamen's Institute Wanchai. One man very quickly got work and has since refunded the amount 86.90 psid The other two, daspite every sXort, were for nearly seven weeks dependent upon their guarantors and a heavy oill had perforce to be made upɔn those gentlemen. Looking bick apin the year there is good reason for thinking that the scheme has been on the whole a good thing for the Culoay. It has helped men to help themselves and pat them in the way of getting employment. Concluding he said: I have been naked to appeal to gentlemen to come forward as guarantors as those provided under the scheme or those who formally stood
ran have about
through. To | guarantor
persuade others to come forward I will be very glad to lead the way myself (applause). I now | more that this report on the guarantee schɔme
for him.
Mr. POLLOCK seconded, and the motion was carried.
The CHAIRMAN proposed the slection of the following ladies to the committee-MesdameG
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