The Assistant Secretary.
The following Reports for the month of October 1873 were read, approved. and passed for publication, Rerort Frost Frvaxce Rare ax Avvean Stud.—A contract has been concluded for the keep of the Stud at Tls. 9 per head per month, the contractor finding all in-jeer Inbour, and making an allowance for animals whilst sick and unfit for work. the price paid heretofore has been 10 per head per month.
ebentures.—'The Committee defer for the present issuing Debentures 1o meet the cost of the Martini-Henry Rifles as autho-Hed of meeting of Ratepayers in May ast, Dues on Merchandise.—H. E. the Taotai has paid commutation (Ts, 3,500) for div on goods passed through the Custom Hou: by Chinese during quarter ending Slst December 1873.
Dues Accounts for Aug. amount- Tis. ed to 10,005.40 September 9,362.84 These amounts, the Committee regret to state, show a falling off when compared with the amounts estimated to be received.
Cash State.—Balance on evening of 31st October 1873, was Cash in Comprador 1,578.76 hands.
Cash at Bankers.. 11,758.79 Deposit at Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, (Trust Funds)........0013,000.00
28,337.55, Reront or raz Warcu Commarrze.
Native Wine Shops.—A petition by the proprietors against the tax recently imposed, has been received through the Senior Consul. The grounds on which the petition is based and the Committee's action, will be gathered from the attached correspondence on the subject.
Usrrep Srares Cosvrare-Grserat,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.