168
THE RECENT ARMED RÓBBERIES.
It is satisfactory to be able to record that the perpetrators of the numerous armed robberies which have been-reported of late are falling into the hands of the vigilant police.
Two arrests have been made in connection with the armed robbery which occurred at No. 2, Reclamation Street, Yaumati, in which a number of women were bound and gagged. The men arrested have admitted stealing from the premises, but stated that they did not there to commit armed robbery.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
In connection with the armed robbery on the border at Santin. Sergeant Cooper has been successful in making an arrest. The man was charged at the Magistracy on Feb. 3rd, and the hearing of the case was adjourned.
In the burglary at Yaumati which brought| about the death of Lance-Sergeant Mills three more men have been captured. They were placed before Mr. J. R. Wood at the Magistracy yesterday and remanded till Friday, when they will appear in Court with the other men arrested in connection with this affair, to answer to the charge of murder.
Two men arrested in connection with the Mautakok "hold up," and a man and a woman who were detained on a charge of receiving the stolen property, will appear before the Court a week hence.
The facetious robbers who called on a party of New Year Celebrants in a shop in Kwai Wa Lane, Central District, and after tendering the compliments of the season covered the inmates with revolvers or threatened them with knives, have also been apprehended, and will appear before the Court shortly.
GREAT BRITAIN AND TIBET.
TEXT OF THE TREATY: The text of the Treaty concluded between the United Kingdom, China, and Tibet relative to the trade of Tibet has just been published. The new regulations ensure for British subjects in Tibet liberty to deal in kind or in money, to sell their goods to whomsoever they. please, to purchase native commodities from whomsoever they please, to hire transport of any kind, and to conduct in general their business transaction in conformity with local. usage and without any veratious restrictions or oppressive measures whatever. China engages to arrange
effetive police measures at the mart and along the route to the marts. Great Britain undertakes to withdraw the trade agents' guards at the marts, and to station no troops in Tibet, so as to remove all cause for suspicion and disturbance among the inhabitants,
It is further provided that in the event of disputes arising at the marts between British subjects and persons of Chinese and Tibetan nationalities, they shall be inquired into and settled in personal conference between the British trade agent at the nearest mart and Tibetan authorities of
the hinese and
the Judicial Court at the mart, the object of personal conference being to ascertain facts and to do justice. Where there is a divergence of view the law of the country to which the defendant belongs shall guide. In any of such mixed cases the officer, or officers, of the defendant's nationality shall preside at the trial, the officer, or officers, of the plaintiff's country merely attending to watch the course of the trial. All questions in regard to rights, whether of property or person, arising between British subjects shall be subject to the juris-
diction of the British authorities.
The Tibetan authorities, in obedience to the
instractions of the Peking Governments, having a strong desire to reform the judicial system of Tibet, and to bring it into accord with that of Western nations, Great Britain agrees to relinquish her rights of extra-territoriality in Tibet whenever such rights are relinquished in China, and when she is satisfied that the state of the Tibetan laws and the arrangements for their administration and other considerations warrant her in so doing.
A Japanese paper reports that Messrs. Samuel amuel & Co. are preparing to establish a large bank with a capital of one million pounds sterling. The object of the proposed bank is said to principally undertake foreign loans for Japanese.
:
CANTON.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
January 30th.
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTION.
There was an election here to-day of a foreign member of the French Municipal Council. Mr. H. S. Kavarana was re-elected He has been a member of the Council for the last eight years.
HOUSE TAX.
The Chief Superint ndent of the Canton Police has reported that the total amount of house tax collected last year was $260,000, show- ing an increase of $40,000 on the previous year's collections. This money is devoted to the
maintenance of the Police.
INTENDED CHANGE OF PROVINCIAL CUSTOMS
ADMINISTRATION.
The Local Authorities have received news from Peking that there has been hardly any increase of Customs' revenue in all the Provinces in China since the abolition of the post of Hoppo and the placing of the ad- ministration in the hands of the Viceroys. The Board of Revenue intends to appoint its own men to superintend Customs affairs in all the Provinces.
EXPENSIVE CHAIRS.
News has reached here from Peking that three chairs were recently ordered by the Prince Regent for the Royal Family. The Imperial Household Department sent in a bill for 36,000 taels. The Regent asked whether the chairs were lined with gold! and severely reprimanded the responsible parties for this abnormal
BQUEEZE
OFFICIAL DECORATED. ¿
The Throne has recently conferred on Mr. Paul H. King, Commissioner of ustoms here, a medal of honour of the second degree.
AGITATING FOR THE ABOLITION OF FAN-TAN.
The Central Government intends to enforce the Yau Fa duty in the Two Kwang Provinces in the 3rd moon of the current year and abolish Likin duty. This new tax is imposed on all kinds of merchandise, including both foreign and Chinese products. It was enforced in the Province of Chili last year. This duty will bring an enormous revenue to the Government be taxed. The Local Press here demand the. in all the Provinces as every kind of article will
abolition of Fan-tan gambling in both Provinces if the Yuu Fa duty is imposed.
THE HOLOCAUST AT CANTON.
Our Canton correspondent sends the following account of the disastrous fire reported by tele- gram in our Monday's issue:-
A big fire illuminated Canton City on Satur. day night. The flower boats at Tai-sha-tan, mostly new boats that had replaced those des- troyed by the typhoon last year, were ablaze, and between 9.30 p.m..and 1 a.m. the scene was escaped from the flames perished in the water. indescribable. Panic reigned and those who
By noon to-day (1st inst.) 300 bodies have been recovered by the River Police and the Canton burnt alive or drowned and a number of guests, Rescue Society. Many sing-song girls were
the Shansi banks, several deputies of the Sin amongst whom were prominent members of Hau Kuts, and two Tactais. Two cases full from the dead bodies of the sing-song girls. of gold bangles and jewellry were recovered
the lighting of one of the kerosine lamps The fire originated, it is said, through
on board the Tsoi Kee flower boat; the flare
caught some of the upper woodwork and all being very dry the fire spread rapidly owing to the strong north wind which fanned the flames.
rebuild the flower boats was obtained with great After the typhoon last year, authority to trouble, and it is likely that flower boats will lost is considerably more than I reported to now be a thing of the past. The number of lives
you by cable yesterday. Although over 300 dead bodies have been recovered the number of persons still missing is reported to be close on 250. Altogether about 75 boats were totally destroyed and the value of them is estimated to be over $250,000.
L
number of deaths as about 500.]
[An official report issued since, gives the
[February 6, 1909.
COMPANY REPORTS.
HUMPHREYS ESTATE AND FINANCE COMPANY.
The report of the Directors for the year ending 31st December, 1908, is as follows :---
Gentlemen, The Directors now beg to sub- mit to you their report and statement of accounts for the year ending 31st December, 1908.
The net profit for that period
amounts to...
To which has to be added the balance brought forward from
last account
Making a total available for
appropriation of
$90,865.04
$4,621.11
$95,486.15
The Directors recommend that a dividend of six per cent on the capital be paid to share- holders, absorbing 90,000.00, and that the balance of $5,486.15 be carried to a new profit and loss account.
ACCOUNTS.
By a resolution of shareholders passed on the 8th October last the amount of $50,000.00 standing at the credit of equalization of dividend fund was transferred to typhoon and The amount at credit floods insurance fund. of this fund has since been reduced by 86,738.06 which represents the amount already paid on account of damage caused by the typhoon and floods of July last. Only part of the damage has, so far, been made good, and it will be necessary to further entrench on this fund to the extent of about $10,000.00.
DIRECTORS.
Mr. A. G. Wood having resigned on leaving the Colony, Mr. J. W. C. Bonnar was invited to join the Board in his place. The Directors now are :---Hon. Mr. H. A. W. Slade, Dr. J.W. Noble, Messrs. J. Scott Harston, J. S. Van Buren, J. W. C. Bonnar and Ho Tung who retire, but being eligible offer themselves for re-election.
AUDITORS.
The accounts have been audited by Messrs W. H. Potts and H. Percy Smith, F.C.A., who offer themselves for re-election.
HENRY HUMPHREYS,
Chairman.
Hongkong, 26th January, 1909.
Balance Sheet 31st December, 1908. LIABILITIES.
Capital Account:-
222,172.12
43,261.94
30,000.00
128,043.75
4,351.39
130,000 shares @ $ 10.00 each... $1,500,000.00 Insurance reserve fund... Typhoon and flood insurance fund Mortgage Sundry creditors Unclaimed dividends Profit and loss account:
Brought forward from
1907
For the year 1908
$ 4,621.11 90,865.04
ASSETS,
Amount invested in property Amount invested on mortgage Accounts receivable Fire Insurance premia unexpired Cash in Hongkong and Shanghai Office furniture
Bank and on hand
95,486.16
$2,023,315.35
. $1,701,082.85 302,212.57 17,609,55 584.76 528.00
1,297.62
82,023,315,35
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT.
For the Year ending 31st December, 1908.
Dr. To fire insurance premia To crown rent
*** $5,687.05
5.168.06 2,886.70
8,000.00
5,352.08
•
་་ ་་་
300.00
95 486.16
To general charges To allowance to general managers to cover office rent and salaries of secretary and clerks To repairs To auditors fees... To balance ...
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