September 27, 1909.]
obtain their supplies at Shanghai, where there is only a five per cent, duty. The same with cargo steamers. The officers and men bought freely here for their own con- sumption because of the lower rates prevailing, but now they would buy at any of the other ports where they became conscious of their needs. As some of these ships remain in port almost a fortnight there is no possibility of their getting the liquor they consume during that time free of duty, When it is estimated that the trade on the water amounts to half a million dollars a year it would be seen how ex- tensive was the loss which would be sustained. Then to make the prospect less rosy for the Government, it was contemplated giving a rebate in whole or in part of the duty on the liquor consumed in the naval and military canteans. As the service men consumed by far the larger proportion of liquor on land it followed that the profits to the Government were likely to be considerably diminished.
On Sept. 20 a representative of the Daily Press had an interview with Lieut. Beckwith,cting Harbour Master, and Superintendent of Imports and Exports, with reference to the operation of the liquor law. He stated that there would be no seizures unless they found people attempting to smuggle, say, if it was found that liquor came in labelled as "provisions" or something of the sort. At present all that would be done would be to inform consignees that duty would be collected on the liquor consigned to them. Naturally it would take some time before the law became generally known, and therefore they did not intend to harass the trade in the slightest degree. The Chinese, he added,
·were somewhat apprehensive about the operation of the new law, but he intended holding a meeting with the leading members of the native community at the Tung Wah Hospital and explaining to them what was to be done. Asked if there was anything in bond yet, he replied that there were 500 cases. Some discussion had taken place as to the consign- ment of liquor on board the steamer Peshar, which arrived in port from Singapore on Friday evening, but as the vessel entered the Colony before the law was passed, the liquor could not be held liable to duty.
Incoming steamers are experiencing the novelty of being boarded by a revenue officer who inquires as to what liquors are on board. Nothing more than inquiry is made, and not even the most captious seem to find cause to complain at the visits. It is stated that the staff of European revenue officers will be in- creased shortly.
The fears expressed by some of those interested that the trade of supplying the shipping in the harbour would be crippled by the application of the duties are now proved to be groundless. We are officially informed that the harbour trade will not be materially affected. Ships will receive their supplies in cases from bond, which will be sent out duty free, but a receipt must be given signed either by the captain or the chief
officer.
SIR EDWARD GREY AND THE OPIUM TRAFFIC.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
HONGKONG CRICKET CLUB OPEN-
AIR CONCERT.
the
We should think the attendance on Cricket Ground on Saturday night must have been a record one for a concert in Hongkong. The theatre would probably not have accom- modated more than half the number. Owing to the proximity of a typhoon the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive and only relieved by very fitful breezes, but the night was fairly clear and the concert proved a great success in every way. The Club pavilion, which the large audience faced, had been gaily adorned with bunting, greenery, festoons of Chinese lanterns and coloured electric lights, and formed a very pretty platform for the performers.
The following paragraph from a recent Lon- don paper amplifies the information cabled by Reuter about three weeks ago: →
The concert was opened by the Band of The buffs, with an excellent rendering of Rossini's "William Tell," the second item of the pro- gramme being a bass solo by Mr. W. S. Hone, who sang "Thy Sentined am I." Mr. Hone is a recent arrival in the Colony, and this, we believe, was his first appearance on a local concert platform. He has a very fine voice and the song was given in excellent style. An encore was demanded and Mr. Hone obliged with an "A Warrior equally excellent rendering of Bold.' Miss Gaelic Potts followed with a violin solo (Professor Gonzales accompanying), the piece chosen being a Serenade." he violin is an instrument not heard to the best advantage at an open-air concert, but the exe- cution was good, and the audience insisted on on encore.
Sir Edward Grey, replying to a memorial from Scotland urging the speedier ending of the opium traffic and a relaxation of the treaty obligations in favour of China, says that the Government fully sypathise with the memo- rialists, but the reports of British representa tives in China tend to confirm the opinion that the period proposed by the Chinese Govern- ment for the complete suppression of the traffic is by no means excessive in order to enable a change of such magnitude in the habits of the population to be successfully effected. The British Government, he adds, are bound to uphold British treaty rights; but while op- posing the establishment of monopolies in open courts they have made it clear to the Chinese Government that they have every desire to support bond fide steps for the suppression of the evils arising from the consumption of opium.
Mrs. Belilios, an old favourite, who was next on the programme, sang "Ave Maria," with Band accompaniment. It was a much appreciated item in the programme. Mrs. Belilios was in capital voice, and the accompani- ment of the Band was beautifully impressive. In response to the demands of the audience, part of the solo was repeated. Then came Mr. W. G. Worcester, always welcome, with a couple of humorous songs which the audience part of the programme to a close with a selection much enjoyed, and the Band brought the first from German's "Merrie England.”
song
"
Humorous
Worcester
con-
One of
After an interval of ten minutes the Band gave as the overture to the second part of the pro- gramme Tschaikowski's “1812," which relates to the seige of Moscow. Bandmaster Hewett is to be highly complimented on the Band's per formance of this pieco, with its illustrative musketry firing and finally the joyous pealing of the church Bells in celebration of victory. The audience followed the music attentively and evidently greatly enjoyed it. duetts by Messrs. Carroll and followed, the topical allusions they tained being especially amusing. the best appreciated items in the pro- gramme was Mr. George P. Lammert's tenor "Nirvana (Adams), which was very finely sung, and the other short song he gave as an encore was equally enjoyed. Mrs. Badeley followed with (a) Rose in the Bud" (Forster) and (b) Happy Song" (Del Riego), both exquisitely sung, but the singer's voice could not, we fear, have been heard by the majority of the audience.. Next came a comic song by Mr. Hannibal, whose re-appearance was demanded, and he gave some highly entertaining recitations, in which his powers of imitation were well displayed. The programme concluded with an extract from the third act of "Lohengrin" by the band, and the National Anthem brought an enjoyable evening to a close at half-past eleven. Mr. G. Grimble played most of the accompani- ments.
NOTES FROM JAPAN.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
273
Tokyo, September 6.
THE STOCK MARKET.
During the past fortnight we have had every indication of a steady revival on the Stock Exchange, and Kabuto-cho is now the centre of greater activity than has been witnessed since the collapse early in 1907. The upward move- ment began last month, the principal factors to start the market being the improved situation vis-à-vis China and various reports concerning the Tokyo Tetsudo Kaisha, rumours that the tramways would either be municipalised or the fares raised. All principal stocks rose by from one to ten points in a few days, and with the close of August the inarket tionally strong.
excep.. There is now little question but that an optimistic feeling is gaining ground, in view of the better prospects in China and the coming trade revival. The following quotations of some of the principal stocks show the advance that has taken place in the course of the month:
Tokyo Stock Ex.... Tokyo Trams N. Y. K..
Tokyo Elec. Light Kanegafuchi Tokyo Gas
Dai. Nippon Brewery
was
July 31 August 31
154
177
9
63
72
77
84
90
94
99
113.
97
103
73
79.
Considerable further advance in these prices was recorded on the 1st and 2nd instant, but since then there has been a slight falling off due to profit taking. On Saturday the signing of the new Chino-Japanese agreement was announced, to-day the subscription lists of the newly established Bank of Korea will be opened, and these favourable factors, in conjunction with the highly favourable reports concerning the. rice crop, are likely to send quotations higher than ever during the coming week.
TOKYO TRAMS.
changed hands at 72. yen during the past week, and especially in a country where a a high price to pay for a 5 per cent. investment 7 per cent, stock is usually only quoted at par. But the potentialities of this company make it an attractive investment. The rate of fare is
The stock of the Tokyo Tetsudo Kaisha has
recognised as being too low to ensure an efficient service and a fair return to shareholders, but public opinion seems to be divided as to whether there will be an increase of fare or whether the municipality will take over the concern. Ori- ginally the latter estimated that they would receive 300,000 yen a year from the profits of the company, which was to turn over a per- centage of its profits after a dividend of 7 per cent. had been paid to shareholders, but as shareholders have never received 7 per cent, the city gets nothing. If the fare were increased to the extent of one sen and the service managed in a business-like way, the result would be beneficial to all, the city because of its revenue, the citizens because of ar im- proved service, and the shareholders, who would then receive 7 or 8 per cent.; with the present fare there is no prospect of an improvement in the service. The company cannot afford to run sufficient cars to eliminate the strap-hanger, and in the city proper overcrowded cars are the rule. In such matters of accommodation, punctuality, and cleanliness of cars, the service is woefully lacking. For these things the low fare is responsible, and until the company gets an increased revenue it cannot be expected to provide cars that are clean or prevent over- Mr. E. A. M. Williams, Secretary of the crowding, which robs the passenger of the com- Hongkong Cricket Club, writes: My Comfort he ought to be entitled to. mittee desire me to ask you to be good enough to allow them to express through you their most sincere thanks to all those who assisted in any way towards the production of what they believe to have been a successful concert on the night of Saturday, the 18th instant. Not the least of the assistance to which I refer was that of the local Press."
The N.-C. Daily News understands that a large firm in Japan has made a contract with the Chinese Engineering and Mining Co., Ltd., to buy 150,000 tons of the · Kaiping coal. The shipments will be made from Chinwangtao, the C. E. & M. Co.'s port.
The
THE BANK OF KOREA.
subscription lists are to be opened to-day all over the country for the shares of the Bark of Korea, the new monetary organ that is to take the place of Baron Shibusawa's First Bank in the peninsula. A dividend of 6 per cent. will be guaranteed by the Korean Government for five years, and this fact, together with the prospects of the new bank as the sole monetary organ in Korea, is sufficient to ensure the issue being a great success. Although shares can only be legally held by Japanese and Koreans, foreigners are subscribing largely to this venture, which will share what good fortune awaits the Japanese exploitation of Korea,
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