Muxores of the Special General Meeting of the Land Renters in the British Cone sion of Chinkeang, held at H. B. M.
Consulate, Saturday, the 24th day of April, 1875.
Present:—E. Colborne Baber, chairman, W. Bean, votes; E. Starkey, 8; T. W. Duff, 1; A. Hardoon, 1; D. M.' David, 1; A, Novion, 1; J. 'G.' Gearing, 3;°M. Wolff, 1; D. A. Emery, 1; G. William: son, 1 The Cuamwan requested attention to the fact that the present was a special meeting, convened for the purpose of considering' two. qnestions—Jst, The Chinkeang Taotai's proposal that the Land Renters should contribute to the expense of the preventive works rendered necessary by the aangero ction of the river; and, 2nd, the provisional repairing of the Coubeaaion! Bun, cine Mr Stansey laid before the meeting a report of provisos action regarding these points, which was read, as follows General re ig of Lande Renters inthe Municipal Council's Report for Special
British Consessiod, "Chi to beheld at XH. M. Consulate, on 24th April, 1975, 'The Municipal Council' have of late had some correspondence through H. M, Consul with H. E. the Chinkeang Taotai, on the subject of repairing the Concession Bund frontage.
The Council have been anxious to repairy'in an efficient manner, the damages to the Bund, but find; after having employed professional advice, that in order to give the work a secure foundation, it will be necessary to fill up a deep hole which has formed in front of its Eastern position, This hole in the river bed: extends the whole length of the Custor cipal Council's power does not extend to any works in the the Taotai was informed that the Land Renters could not share any portion of the bed. As, however, a great advantage would hare attendant upon filing up the river be gained to the Goncession frontage by the filling up of this hole, Mr. Medhurst suggested to the Council that the Land Renters should bear a small proportion of the cost of the river works; by which means the Chinese Authorities might be induced to carry out the work in front of the Concession; otherwise he feared of Zand Renters has been convened therefor they would do nothing. The present meeting to determine what sum, if any, shall be contributed towards the expense of the works in the River bed.
The Council further solicit the consent of the Land Renters to a moderate sum being expended in temporary repairs to the ed portions of the Bund, Thorough and substantial repairs to the whole facing could hardly be attempted at the present river level, Mr. Srankzy also laid on the table a letter from Mr. Kingswnill, O.E., written at the request of the Council after. aura vey of the River and Bund, as follow To the Honorary Secretary, Chinkiang Municipal Councit, Str,—In obedience to your instructions, I have examined the Bunding at your Port which has given way.
ving previously in 1605 made a survey of the frontage, I have been able to noric the changes which have taken place during that time and which have caused the present state of matters, At that time the river fell with a tolerably regular slope from tue foot of the bunding to a depth at 240 feet of about 6} fathom Recent changes in the current of the River seem to have made it impinge on the right bank, below the entrance of the Canal leading to and Changchow.
in consequence of these changes, an eddy has been established opposite the lower end of the Concession andthe Custom "House, with the result that the bottom of the river has been worn into a deep hole, in parte upwards of 60 feet in depth, and lying within 100 feet of the foot of the Bund.
'The water outside this deep hole again' shoals to its former depth of about 40 to 60 feet.
This deep hole extends from opposite th Western extremity of No. 1 Lot, at least down as the entrance of the Canal referred to above. A mole which formerly formed the Western side of a small dock outside the entrance of the Canal has been completely carried away, while the corresponding mole forming its Eastern side has been partially undermined.
The wearing action of the River has taken place at so great a depth, and the slope from the bottom is now so steep, that I'can see no possibility of preventing farther encroachments by avy merely superficial works, Trwould advise as the most practical wicthid of preventing further encroachments, the sinking of vessels loaded with stone or ballast for a distance of about 800 feet along the front of the foreshore.
Some fifty to sixty junks would be required for the purpose, could they be obtained: or in the event of old vessels not being procure able, a number of rough wooden cages could made and filled with stone ballast. space between the vessels would likewise quire to be filled up with stone ballast.
An artificial foundation would thus be formed on which the works necessary for the bunding would be proceeded with.
The cost of these works would. leniably be great; but with s river like the Yangtze mon sures Would be uncles,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.