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August 17, 1908.]
MACAO.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
12th August.
FLOOD FUND BAZAAR,
The Chinese community here are displaying great activity in the promotion of a Flood Fand Bazaar which promises to be a great STccess, A large matshed is being constructed on the Tap Size ground, and in this will be contained the numerous stalls from which it is hoped to realise a substantial sum for the relief of the sufferers by the flood. The Bazaar was to have been opened on Saturday, but the mat. shed will not be completed by that day. The Chinese in the surrounding villages have responded liberally to the appeal for articles for sale, and it is expected that there will be a great display on the opening day of the Bazaar.
OUE NEW GOVERNOR.
Our new Governor, Senhor Alves Rocado, the hero of Guomato (Africa) is expected to arrive here in a few days. According to Lisbon papers, His Excellency has been holding long conferences with some of the Ministers, and has been trying to persuade them that the Colony's revenue should be expended on local improvements with the exception of the Timor vole, which was fixed at $30,000 annually. Notwithstanding that fixture, I believe that that Colony now receives $60,000 a year. His Excellency asked for special permission to carry out much-needed improvements, especially in sanitary matters.
THE POST OFFICE LOOTED.
The success achieved by a a local band of thieves is making them
very daring, and frequent robberies have been reported of late. Their operations are not only confined to tenanted houses, but from empty dwellings they remove windows, doors and other fixtures. On Saturday last when the Post Office employees arrived at the office in the morning for the day's work, they were surprised to find the Post Office door open. An inspection showed that the thieves had broken a window and thus gained admission. Desks were
broken open and upwards of $300 and a great quantity of stamps and stamped papers were stolen. And while such nefarious tasks can be accomplished with success, and with apparently little risk, the public have a right to ask-What are the police doing? The audacity of this robbery will be readily understood when say that day and night two sentries are stationed within a stone's throw of this building. One patrols at the Fazenda and the other at the Gael. And yet the thieves were successful in carrying off their booty. The dilatoriness of officialdom in these circumstances is a shame and a disgrace.
SERIOUS COLLISION REPORTED.
News was brought to the Colonyon August 11th of a serious collision which is said to have occurred in the Sailam Channel, the West River steamer "Tai-on" running down theatre junk on which were 120 passengers. The junk is said to have foundered, and 20 of the passengers were drowned.
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The Canton authorities have received cable news from Peking that Ex-Viceroy Shum Chun Heun is about to take up active service again. Most of the officials and gentry in Canton, remarks our Canton oorrespondent, do not like the news at all.
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce have already issued invitations to American merchants of San Francisco and other places in the Eastern States to visit Japan this autumn, reports the Japan Advertiser, The represents. tives of the Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, saka, and Kobe Chambers of Commerce met in the Taikaro in Kyoto on July 28th with the object of making preparations to welcome the visitors. It is expected that the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs will give a soirée in their honour. They will also be invited to an Imperial chrysanthemum party and likewise visit the Imperial Horticultural Garden at Shinjuku and the Shibs Detached Palace. The programme of en'ertainments to be given by the Japanese Chambers of Commerce is not yet arranged.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
TRADE OF SIAM.
LARGE AND STRADY EXPANSION.
The Customs statistics of the foreign trade of Bangkok for 1907-8 show a large and steady expansion of trade. exporte, the total trade for the year 1905-6 Excluding treasure, opium, gold leaf and re- amounted to Ticals 164,974,255, for 1906-7 to 163,265,652. The average total trade for the Ticals 169,732,572, for and 1907-8 to Ticals
past five years is Ticals 151,471,908, so that last year's figures are largely in excess of that. "Bangkok Times," has appreciated slightly since The exchange value of the tibal, says the
last year and at the present rate (Tos. 13 33 to be £) the total trade of Ticals 178,423, 133 works out at £13,385, (81. There is a decrease in the exports of Tes. 6,124 992, as compared with last year, a decrease entirely due to the falling off in the export of rice and an increase in the imports over the same period of Ticals 1,626,863, caused principally by the large increase of treasure imported. down to rice. The average value of rice ex- The main decrease in the exports is to be put ported for the last five years is Ticals 74,797,973, so that, although there is a decrease as compared with the amount exported in the year 1905-7. there is an increase over the average for five years of Ticals 783,483 or 330,275 pioals. This year (1908-9) for the four months April to date, the amount of duty paid on rice is Ticals 979,209 as compard with Ticala 793,652 for the first four months of last year. The value of last year's teak expert Ticals 13,350,737 shows a slight increase of Ticals 11,957, when compared with the year 1906-7 and a rise of lioals 2,425,619 over the average for the five years.
again showed a decline, which is all the more The value of valuable woods grown in Siam
noticeable on account of the steady increase in the import of Singapore wood.
(sb) trade show a d cline, and decreases are The cattle trade, the hide trade, the plata
well over the million tical mark, and which now to be found under pepper, which in 1906-7 was has fallen to Ticals 774 855, birds' nests (ficals 123,230), cotton (Ticala 1,3 8), and raw silk
(Ticals 47,170).
SHIPPING NEWS.
(2 FIRE ON THE CRANLEY.' Fire broke out on the 8.8. Cranley" on Sunday as she was lying in Hunghom Dook. Smoke was noticed coming from the peak where oil and paints were stored, but the dock staff with the aid of powerful pumps extinguished the flames before they got a hold. The fire float was summoned but neither it nor the servioss of the Fire Brigade were needed.
THE SHIER LINE;
There seems to be considerable prospect that the British Shire line intends to compete against both North German Lloyd and the Hamburg American Lines in the Far East, says the Hamburg correspondent of The Times. The British Line, which formerly started from Middlesbrough and London nw proposes to make ambarg its starting point for East Asia. Foth passengers and goods are to be carried.
BANGKOK DOCKS BUSY. Tenders by the Bangkok Dook Company, for several important contracts have been accepted recently, and work now in hand totals up to A fine Dew upwards of half a million ticals. ship and launch building shed has just been completed, this being part of the improvement of premises and plant scheme. The first work to occupy this shed will be the East Asiatic o's., Ltd. new s'eel towing lighter, the largest lighter yet erected in Bangkok, and she will be followed immediately by a steel towing lighter for The Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, Ltd. The material for the new steel steam tug for The East Asiatic Co. Ltd. has also arrived by the Samui, and erection will be started! immediately in shed No. 2. The hall of a new
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steel shallow draft launch for the Siam Packet Co. Ltd. is expected within the next few days, and work on the bulls of the lage passenger launches for the Patriew run of the mme Co. is
well advanced.
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HONGKONG CANTON AND MACAO STEAMBOAT CO.
The ordinary half-yearly meeting of share- holders in the above company was held on Aug.11 at the Company's offices, Hotel Mansions. Mr. R. Shewan presided and there were also present Messrs. G. Friesland, C. Brodersen, W. Helms, C. Thiel, H. E. Tomkins, F. D. A. Gomes (directors), A. H. M. da Silva, L. Hutchesop, J. M. E. Machado, Dr. Noble, T. F. Hough, Chau Shui Ki, P. D. Gotla, Erich Georg, A. V. Hogg, P. Tester, F. C. Wilford, and Captain W. E. Clarke (seɔretary).
The SECRETARY having read the notion convening the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, The report and statement of accounts having been in your Lands for some days, we will, with your permission, take them as read. The result of the half-year's working will, I hope, be considered by shareholders very satisfactory considering the general trade depression existing through-
out the Far East. Your Board trust that the
Wo were
recommended appropriations of funds will meet with your approval. For the service of an addi- tional steamer on the Hongkong-Macao line and in order to further facilitate the business of that trade your Directors have acquired the wharf and lease of the site known as the Wing Lok Wharf, situated at the junction of Wing Lok Street and Des Voeux "Road, The lease of the site is for 50 years granted in 1904. We have found this wharf to be a very valuable acquisition to our business. In May last your Board were able to dispose of the Company's small steamer "Lungshan," and, in the follow-
"Hoi ing month, to purchase the steamer Sang," a vessel well suited for the Canton- Macao line. She has been working very satisfactorily since starting. By the pur-
this steamer chase of
alle to conclude negotiations for a cessation of the opposition then existing on our Hongkong- Macao line. The regrettable loss of the Company's jointly owned steamer "Powan" on the night of the 8th June, while on a voyage hence to Canton, caused your Directors much anxiety. Captain Black was one of our most trusted and careful officers, but, in view of the finding of the Marine Court of Inquiry, your Directors had no choice left but to call upon him to resign the service. Immediate steps were taken to obtain a report from experts as to the possibility of salvage, but nothing could be done and the vessel became a total loss. The claims on Underwriters are now in course of settlement. Your Directors freely acknowledged all ser- vices rendered after the accident, and granted gratuities where such services warranted it. The West River services have been devoid of any profitable result during the period under
review.
The loss by subsidiary doinage during the six months' working amounted to $22,320.35. The loans on mortgage have been increased by $25,000 and shares in public companies by 86,487′ during the half year under review. These loans and investments are, in the opinion of your Board, all good and safe investments. I do not think that there is anything else that calls for particular comment, bat, should any shareholder require any further information, I shall have pleasure in answering any question.
Dr. NOBLE seconded the motion, and in doing so, said I would like to say a few words with reference to the very large item in the accounts with regard to the loss on subsidiary coinage. It seems to me high time that some thing should be done by those in authority with reference to this question of coinage so that in the future we will have such items eliminated from the reports of local companies. It seems to me that this is a matter for serious con- sideration and in the present instanos the loss represents no inconsiderable sum.
The resolution was carried.
'The confirmation of the appointment of Messrs. G. Friesland, C. Broderson and W. Helms sa directors, was carried on the motion of Mr. HOUGH seconded by Mr. HOGG.
Mr." MACHADO proposed, and Mr. DA SILVA seconded, that Mesars. C. Thiel and C. H. Boss
be re-elect d Directors. Carried.
It was proposed by Mr. Taster and second- ad by Mr. HuTCHESON that Mosers. A. Oʻ.D. Gourdin and W. H. Potts be re-elected anditors for the ensuing half-year.,
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