1
October 25, 1909.1
AN INCAPABLE OFFICER.
The Magistrate of Ting Tak District is noted for his inability to perform the duties of his office. He is said to be very idle and to care nothing for the welfare of the district. A little while ago the residence of a wealthy man named Wun was looted and no less than seven persons fatally shot. The Magistrate did not take the trouble to investigate this serious case, and great indignation was accordingly felt. The Viceroy ordered three black marks to be placed on the Magistrate's record, and this, it is stated, will be sufficient to have him removed at an early date. It is the presence of such worth- less men
in positions of authority that is the cause of the lawlessness and wholesale pillage that goes on in some public places, and there is not much hope for China as long as such persons are allowed to hold office.
SUPPRESSION OF GAMBLING.
Serious steps are to be taken to suppress this vice. It is said that in the City alone there are 259 gaming houses, so it is evident that strong measures ought to be taken to abolish this public disgrace. The amount of gambling that goes on in the homes, too, is alarming, the women often being great offenders in this respect. For these, however, there is some modicum of excuse,
CHINA CVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
that the accounts are to be sent in again, and anyone who makes a false statement will be severely punished.
COMPANY MEETINGS.
THE DAIRY FARM CO., LTD.
The thirteenth ordinary yearly meeting of shareholders in the Dairy Farm Co., Ltd. was held at the Company's Depot, No. 2, Lower Albert Road, on the 20th instant. Hon. Mr. E. Osborne presided, and there were also present: Messrs. E. H. Hinds and F. Maitland (directors), J. Walker (Manager), M. Manuk (Acting Secretary), J. M. E. Machado, H. L. Fletcher, J. McCubbin and Chan Tong.
The SECRETARY read the notice calling the meeting.
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experienced in the previous year. The re duction in premiums received is directly attributable to restrictions we placed upon London underwriting, and the casting, off of sources of business found to be unremunerative at the rates to which reckless undercutting had brought them. The losses have been heavy but they have fallen more upon the earlier part of the year than was the case in 1907, and, therefore, subject to the warning have uttered before on a previous occasion as to what may occur between now and 31st December, there should be ample provision at the credit of Underwriting Suspense Account, after the proposed transfer of $194,300.59, to close the year. I much regret that the results of the year render it advisable that the dividend be reduced to 20 per cent., or $10 per share, but though perhaps it is a poor consolation, it is at all events pertinent to notice that many of our competitors have found it equally difficult to transact business at a profit. I do not think that there are any special features in the Accounts which call for particular mention, but if any shareholder desires further information with respect to them I shall be pleased to answer such questions as he may wish to ask before
as presented be adopted and passed.
There being no questions, the report was adopted, on the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Mr. GAZDAR.
Mr. Lo SHEUNG SHIU proposed that Sir Paul Chater, Messrs. Maitland, Shellim, White and Craddock be re-elected to the consulting committee.
The CHAIRMAN said:--Gentlemen, with your permission I will adopt the usual custom and take the report and accounts as read. It is gratifying, in these days of commercial depres- sion, to be able to lay before you a by no means unsatisfactory statement, and to report that we have been fortunate during the past twelve months in the general health of our herd. We head of cattle to replace those lost by death, etc. The accounts, you will observe, show that the value of buildings and property have increased by some $42,000, which is partly accounted for by our having acquired the land on which this building stands, also some farm acreage at Pokfulum which we thought advisable to buy. We have opened a branch at Quarry Bay and judging by initial results this has evidently supplied a needed want. Your Directors have considered it advisable to continue the policy of writing down the cost of stocks and property and have now, subject to your approval, written off $17,072.33. Our expenses, as might be expected with a growing business, are increas ing, and there is unfortunately a continual advance in cost of foodstuffs, added to which the improvements that Some weeks ago there was a serious explosion in the Wing Chai Arsenal. An investigation being carried out on the farms, call for a was made, the results of which have just been further outlay. This matter, however, receives published. The explosion is said to be due to careful attention from your Board, who, with the careless handling of some dynamite that was will continue to keep expenditure within rea- the help of your able manager and his staff, seized at Wong Sha Station." To obviate fur- ther disasters of this nature, all explosives dis-sonable bounds. Before proposing the adop. covered by the police are to be removed to the tion of the report and accounts I shall be pleased Torpedo Bureau at Whampoa, where it is to be to answer any questions you desire to put. presumed are person capable of handling such
No questions were asked, and the CHAIRMAN deadly materials.
proposed the adoption of the report and accounts as presented.
as it often happens that the husbands spend found it necessary, however, to purchase a few putting the motion that the Report and Accounts their leisure time away from their families in more or less questionable amusements, and the women are left to their own devices, usually some form of gambling. There is no small anxiety among the proprietors of the gaming houses as to what their fate is to be, and many persons say that the Government will do a bad stroke of business by closing these places, as the revenue is already deficient. Knowing this, an army officer has lately memorialized the Throne, praying that the minerals in which the country so abounds be worked in order that the deficit be made up by royalties on the mines. This is sound advice, and all who have any regard for the welfare of China will hope that it will be followed.
AN EXPLOSION.
NATIVE INDUSTRIES.
People in the City are waxing partriotic over native-made goods, and although these cannot for a moment compare either in excellence of material or style with similar articles from the West, yet the natives prefer to buy the home- made goods. This is especially the case with matches, and the Chinese article is in great demand just now, as Japanese goods do not command a ready sale owing to the bitter feeling that exists between the two nations. News comes from the Straits that certain mer- chants there have entered into contracts with several match manufacturers of this district to supply very large quantities, and it is expected that the match trade will boom in consequence.
are continually
Mr. FLETCHER seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.
On the motion of Mr. McCUBBIN, seconded by Mr. MACHADO, Messrs. F. Maitland and E. H. Hinds were re-elected to the directorate.
Mr. W. Hutton Potts was reappointed auditor, on the motion of Mr. CHAN TONG, seconded by Mr. McCUBBIN.
The CHAIRMAN-Thank you, gentlemen, for coming on such a very unpropitious day. Dividend warrants will be ready to-morrow,
CANTON INSURANCE COMPANY.
The twenty-eighth annual meeting of share holders in the above company was held on Oct. 92 WHEN THIEVES FALL OUT.”
at the offices of the General Managers, Messrs. Two scoundrels named Li and Lai have for Jardine, Matheson & Co. The Hon. W. J. many years been in partnership, and their Gresson presided; and there were also present business was the kidnapping of village boys and Sir Paul Chater, Messrs. D. W. Craddock, F. girls from the Kwongsai Province. The form- Maitland, E. Shellim (consulting committee), er confined his attention to selling the girls, and L. N. Leefe (secretary), Lo Sheung Shui, K. D. he was aided in this by a Yamen runner. Lai Gazdar, F. J. Ribeiro, Wong Leung Him, and
Ho U Sang.
was accustomed to dispose of the boys to an old woman who had ways and means of selling them at a profit, A few days ago these two men fell out over some trifle and Li accused Lai to the authorities of kidnapping. Lai was arrested, and he in turn gave evidence as to Li's share in the business. An investigation was made and the whole of the nefarious proceedings brought to light. They are now awaiting the tender mercies of the authorities.
The SECRETARY having read the notice convening the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen,-The Re- ports and Accounts have been in your hands for some days, and I will therefore, with your permission, take them as read. Since our last meeting Mr. G. C. Moxon has resigned his seat on the Board, and your Consulting Committee filled the vacancy thus caused by electing Mr. D. W. Craddock, of the Canadian Pacific Rail- As already reported, steps have been taken to way Co., an appointment which, in a few reduce the expenditure of the various Govern- minutes, you will have an opportunity of giving ment departments, and officers were ordered to your assent to. The year's operations that come send an account of income and expenditure. under our review have been attended, I The Viceroy has found that some of these regret to say, with the same adverse condi- statements are false and he has issued a notice tions, chiefly in London, as those which we
REVENUE.
This was seconded by Mr. WONG LEUNG HIM and carried.
Messrs. W. Hutton Potts and H. Percy Smith were re-elected auditors, on the motion of Mr. Ho U SANG, seconded by Mr. RIBIERO.
The CHAIRMAN That is all the business, gentlemen. Dividend warrants will be ready to morrow, Thank you for your attendance.
STEAMER ASHORE ON THE PARACELS.
On Oct. 20 Mr. Eitzen, the Norwegian Consul at Hongkong, received a telegram from the captain of the Norwegian steamer Ragnar in- forming him that the vessel was ashore on the Paracels and that the officers and crew were starving. The telegram, which was despatched from Tamky in Tonkin stated that Captain Augensen and his wife, accompanied by one officer and two of the crew, had made their way in a small boat from Pattle Island to the Bay of Anhoa. They had experienced great privations, and, as the telegram indicated, the officer and
crew left on the steamer were also in dire straits.
A request was made for immediate assistance.
The captain also mentioned in his cable that one of the officers had died from typhoid. Wiel and Amundsen, of Friedrikshald, Nor- The Ragnar, which is owned by Messrs.
way, has a tonnage of 2,070 tons. She is manned by three officers and a crew of about 25..
On the circumstances being reported to Com-
in wireless modore Lyon succeeded
getting into communication with and directed the cruiser to proceed to the the Flora
assistance of the unfortunate people. The Flora found that the Ragnar had been driven high on to the beach, that the European officers had left the steamer, and that only Chinese remained on board. These, however, 23 of the crew to Hongkong, and these were were not without food. The Flora brought
taken charge of by Mr. Eitzen, the Norwegian Consul.
OXFORD LOCALS AND FEMALE EDUCATION
To Miss Wan Shuk Ching, of St. Stephen's Girls' College, belongs the honour of being the first Chinese girl student to pass the Oxford Senior Examination, and, not satisfied with that, Miss Wan has succeeded further in passing with distinction. The Examination was held in Hongkong in July last, the answers forward- ed to Oxford, and the results have just been cabled.
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