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ther unreasonable terms, thus greatly enhancing | their earnings. The position of many foreign owned lighters is entirely different; after the catastrophe of September 1906 several European firme, owing to the scarcity of native oraft, were forced to purchase at excessive prices, lighters from other ports. It is perhaps un- necessary to add that the benefits resulting from the prompt soquisition of such oraft were by no means confined to the respective owners of same, inasmuch as the lighters provided at the time of scarcity a means of carrying on business of vital importance to the Colony generally, i.e. the delivery and shipment of cargo. Now that matters in connection with the handling of goods have assumed a normal state, the lighters which during the orisis were indispensable both to shipowners and mer- chants alike, hrve now become a source of heavy expenses to their owners, and any increase to such is viewed with concern. Having now laid the position clearly before you, we trust that the Government will see the reason- ableness of our confention, that, the increase of licence fees, if necessary, should be confined to such craft as ply the barbour for hire, and we would ask that the ordinance be amend ed accordingly.-We are, &c, Your obedient servante,
JARDINE, MAtheson & Co. LTD., BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE,
F. J. ABBOTT, Super. P. & O. 8.N. Co. SHEWAN, TOMES & Co.,
To the Colonial Secretary
Hongkong.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong 20th May, 1908. Gentlemen:-I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of the letter dated the 30th ultimo, signed by yourselves and certain other shipping firms asking that the decision of the Govern: ment to increase the Licence Fees for Lighters that do not ply for hire, may be reconsidered.
2 In reply, I am to point out that in the past no distinction has been made in the matter of licence fees between cargo boats that ply for hire and lighters thatdo not; that the fees now imposed are not considered excessive and that the Government regrets that it cannot see its way to reduce them.-I am, &o.,
F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary. Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd..
Hongkong, 21st May, 1908. DEAR SIRS, -With reference to our letter to the Colonial Secretary of the 1st May, we have now to enclose for your information copy of his reply to same, dated 20th instant, which cannot be regarded as satisfactory, We think that copies of correspondence might, with advantage, be laid before the local Chamber of Commerce, but before taking these steps we await an expression of your views. We are, &c.,
JARDINE, MATHESON & Co., Ld. Messrs. the Peninsular and Oriental Steam
Navigation Co.
Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, Messrs. Showan Tomes & Co., Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd.,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
|
Hongkong, 22nd May, 1908. DEAR SIRS,Replying to your letter of yesterday with reference to the question of Fees on Foreign Lighters, we quite agree with you that the reply of the Colonial Secretary is not satisfactory, and we also think with you that the correspondence might with advantage be laid before the local Chamber of Commerce.
The Colonial Secretary purposely evades the point in our letter: we are quite aware that no distinction has been made in the past between cargo boats that ply for hire ad lighters that do not, but our main point is that we consider the new fees altogether excessive for the private craft in question, with their limited usefulness, and we are unable to recognise any reason for the increased obarge suddenly brought into force. We are, dear Birs,
Yours faithfully, BUTTERFIELD & SWISE,
Messrs. Jardine Matheson & Co. Ltd. . •
Hongkong, 22nd May, 1908. DEAR SIRS,-In reply to your favour of yesterday's date handing copy of letter addressed to your goodselves, we approve of placing
co ies of the correspondence on this subject before the local Chamber of Commerce We are, dear Sirs,
Yours faithfully, SHEWAN, TOMES & Co.,
[July-25, 1908;*:
2nd October, 19. 5, in which a suggestion, which has been acted upon, was made that the Time Ball at Kowloon should be painted black instead of red, I am directed to enquire whether the so lour that has been adopted" is satisfactory to masters of vessels using the port and others. Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. If it is not, I am to suggest that white might render the ball more distinguishable.—I am &o.,
F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary,
Hongkong, 28th May, 1908.
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. Ltd.,
DEAR SIRS-I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant enclos. ing copy of the Government's reply to our letter of the 31st ultimo.
It appears to me that the answer given by the Government is practically no reply to our petition,
Because no distinction has been made in the past between Cargo Boats that play for hire and those that do not, it would appear that a time has arrived when some distinction might be considered necessary on taxes being increased one hundred fold.
A difference in taxation is made between velioles that ply for hire and those that do not and this seems to apply in our case. -I am, &c.,
F. J. ABBOTT, Acting Superintendent.
After some discussion it was decided that the Secretary should draft a reply to the Govern- ment supporting the views of the Shipping Companies interested in the matter with a view of obtaining, if possible, the concession asked for by such Companies in regard to private lighters not plying for hire.
RE TINNED LARD AND TANNING INDUSTRY.
Reply to Government was read :-
No. 9454/1907 that
*
Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong, 3rd June, 1908. SIE,-I am directed to inform you in reply to your letter of 1st May, several merchants, of this Colony have been approached by my Committee with reference to His Excellency's enquiry whether or not any merchant would be prepared to undertake the export, under Government guarantee, of tinned lard.
justify my Committee in asking His Excellency The result is sufficiently encouraging to to pursue the matter further by approaching the Government of the Philippines, as outlined in the 3rd paragraph of the memoranda accom- panying the letter under reply with the object of obtaining such information as will enable them to place definite knowledge of the Regula- tions governing the importation of lard into the Philippines at the disposal of the Mercantile Community.
My Committee desire you to convey to His Excellency their thanks and appreciation of his efforts to foster the trade of the Colony.—I am, &o..
E. A. M. WILLIAMS,
Secretary,
Hon. Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G,
Colonial Secretary.
The Secretary,
Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, 8th July, 1906. SIB,-Referring to the Colonial Secretary's letter of 25th ultimo, to your goodself, we have made enquiries of masters of the China Navigation Company's steamers using this port and find that they consider the present colour-black-satisfactory, whereas white would be practically indistinguishable at a "distance. We would mention, however, that the masters unanimously suggest that the height to which the ball is hoisted should be increased by say 12 feet, for at present the ball is sometimes obscured at the critical moment to distant steamers by the sail of a passing junk or by masts of other steamers.-We are, &c.,
BUTTERFIELD AND SWIRE, E. A. M. Williams, Esq.,
Secretary Chamber of Commerce. The Secretary forwarded a copy of this letter to the Colonial Secretary.
TREATY BETWEEN UNITED KINGDOM AND
GOVERNMENT OF SERVIA.
The following correspondence was read :---
Colonial Secretary's Office,
26th June, 1908. SIR, I am directed to transmit for the con- sideration of the Chamber of Commerce the enclosed copy of a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated the 27th May, 1908, in which Lord Crewe proposes to cause the adherence of this Colony to the Treaty of Commerce between the United Kingdom and Servia which was ratified on the 31st of last
furnished in the meantime with a statement of Maroh, to be notified to the Servian Government, on or about the lat January next, unless he is objections to such a course.
2. His Excellency the Governor will be glad to know whether, in the opinion of the Chamber, any such objections exist.—I
am,
&0*, F. H. MAY. Colonial Secretary.
The Secretary,
Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber of Commerce,
2nd July, 1908.
SIE-I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo inquiring whe- ther any objections exist against the proposed adherence of this Colony to the Treaty
Regulations accompanying letter ander reply between the United Kingdom and the Servian are returned herewith as requested.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, June, 2nd 1968. SIE-With reference to my letter No. 94541 1908 of the 1st ultimo, I am directed to transmit for the consideration of your Committee the enclosed copy of a minute by His Excellency the Governor dated the 31st ultimo, and to inquire whether in the opinion of your Committee, there is a possibility of developing the Singa- pore Market for Lard as well as that of the Philippines, and whether it would be possible to establish in Hongkong a tanding industry for hogskins-I am, &c.,
F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary.
The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce. Enclosures were laid on the table.
It was decided to await the farther particulars from the Government in this matter, and to then circulate the whole correspondence amongst the members of the Chamber.
Government ratified on 31st March, 1908.
In reply I am directed to state that my Committee are unaware of any direct trade existing between Servis and this Colony, and as the Treaty can be terminated, so far as this Colony is concerned, on giving 12 months notice to that effect, they consider that no clauses are contained therein to which this
Colony can take exception and refuse adher-
ence thereto.
I return herewith the copy of the Treaty and Circular accompanying it.—I have &c.
E. A. M. WILLIAMS,
Secretary.
Hon. Mr. F, H. May, C.M,G.,
Colonial Secretary.
The Chetties and Chetty community of Singapore are suing the "Straits Times" Press, Limited, as the proprietors of the "Straits Times" newspaper, to recover $50,000 damages for an alleg d libel printed in the "Straits Times' of January 21 last. The case was opened before the Acting Chief Justice, Mr. A. G. Law, at the COLOUR OF TIME BALL AT KOWLOON,
Supreme Court, on the 14th inst., but on the The following correspondence was read:— Colonial Secretary's Office,
following day the farther hearing had to be adjourned owing (to the illness of one of the 25th June, 1908. SIB,-With reference to four letter of the Counsel for the plaintiffs.
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