Minutes of a Special General Meeting of Landrenters in the British Concession, Chinkiang, held at H. B. M.
Consulate, July 3rd, 1874.
Present:—C. F. R. Allen, Interpreter in charge, in the chair; A. Novion, Commissioner of Customs, (representing 1 vote), W. Duff (1), D: A. Emery (2), W. Bean (5), A. E. Salter (1), J. G. Gearing (2), G. Williamson (1), M. S. Jerdein (1), A. 'W. Spencer (1), E. Starkey (7).
The minutes of last meeting were confirmed.
Mr, Saurer was elected without opposition to fill the vacancy occasioned by Mr. Starkey's resignation.
The question of the bridge connecting the the shore, was then considered.
Mr. Bean, on behalf of the Municipal Council, read the agreement between the China Navigation Company and the Municipal Council, and the correspondence between the ©, N. Co,'s agent (Mr, Starkey) and the Council, in reference to submitting plans of the proposed bridge as stated in the agreement.
Mr. Starkey explained that his failure to send in plans arose from the fact that the C. N. Ca. werd not sure whether the original plan could be carried out or not, and stated that if the Council felt them? selves aggrieved by this oversight, he was quite willing to apologize for his neglect he C. N. Go. are, however, not prepared to remove the bridge, even though this meeting passes a resolution that they do so. The plans were afterwar nu to Mr, Bean unofficially.
The opinion of the Chinese Authorities was then asked, and a correspondence between Mr. Starkey and the British Consu-ate was read. Mr. Allen's letter contained a translation of a letter from the Taotai of Chinkiang, explaining what steps he wished taken for the safe passage of boats past the Cadiz, Mr. Srexcer then brought forward a metier "That this meeting do request and authorize the Municipal Council to take any such Legal Proceedings as they may be advised to take, to restrain the China Navigation Company from continuing to use the Bridge in its present shape."
This motion was put to the meeting, and negatived by 12 votes to 9.
Mr. Exteny proposed, seconded by Mr. Srexcer— action of the Municipal Council in reference "That this meeting do approve of the past
to this matter of the bridge."
Carried with one dissentient vote.
Mr, Saurer then asked Mr. Starkey to explain to the meeting the reason of hi resignation in the middle of the financial year.
Mr. Starkey explained that his wishes and interest in regard to the bridge being in opposition to those of the rest of the Council, he being agent for the C. N. Ca., he felt himself bound to resign; at the same time, he was willing as Councillor to be responsible for the expenses incurred by the Council up to the time of his resignation.
Some discussion followed.
Mr. Noviow, seconded by Mr, Durr, brought forward the following resolution foreign residents and the natives would pre-"Considering that the majority of the for that sufficient room be left for the traffic between the Cadiz and the Bund, and that the Taotai has not yet given his consent to the actual construction, as he requests that some arrangement may be made on both sides of the hulk Cadiz, to facilitate the traffic, as agreed previously between the Customs and Agents of the China Navigation Company, and to avoid any further complications, it is reposed that an application shall be made Sieware, Bottertald and. Swire on the subject."
Carried unanimously.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting.
Cremext F. 2, Antex, Chairman,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.