Ca., Mr. Arthur Davenport, Her Majesty's Consul, in the chair, and Mr. Spence, registrar of Shipping, Honorary Secretary of the Home; and the Superintendent.
Owing to the absence of the Eyeria, at Woosung, Captain Douglas, H.M.'s Senior Naval Officer, was unable to be present.
The Cuarruan explained that the meeting had been called to pass the Accounts of the Home, and to consider any suggestions which members of the Committee might have to make regarding the present working of the Institution.
The Accounts of the Home for 1878, in two half-yearly balance-sheets, were then laid before the Committee by Mr. Spence. It was explained that although they showed a profit to the Home, the profit was only gained by no rent having been paid to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Ca. throughout the year.
Mr. Invixc—Of the inmates of the Home during the year how many are British sailors and how many foreign The Surenmsrexpestexplainedthatabout one-third of the seamen frequenting the Home were foreigners, but of these the greater proportion were frum British ships The Home was used to a very limited extent by Consulates other than the British.
Aiter some conversation and explanation of different items, the Accounts were, on the motion of Dr. Johnston, seconded by Mr. Thorburn, passed.
Dr. Jounsron begged to bring to the notice of the Committee the excessive drinking which has recently been prevalent in the Home, and to point out that it was owing in great measure to the bad example set to the seamen, and especially the young ones, by the drunken conduct of the present constable of the Home. He was never absolutely sober, and as his duties brought him into contact with the men at all hours of the day, his influence amongst them was thoroughly bad. The constable had a friend who kept a grog shop in Hongkew, and there he, his friend, and the seamen of the Home were boozing all the day. The constable gave the Homo a bad name, and at the present time it was hardly a fit place for young seamen, He therefore proposed the following motion That a better constable than the present engaged at an increased salary, a total abstainer, if possible, but in any case a man of strictly temperate habits, and that the Present constable be discharged, Mr. Taorsuny asked what was to become of the present man?
Dean Burcuen said it was hardly fair to expect the Committee to provide for a man who was to be discharged on account of his incompetency. the Home had mainly been caused by ship-Mr, Srence said the recent drinking in
balances of wages. He had paid off the wrecked crews from Chefoo with very men of the Benelutha with over $600 and nearly every one in the ship was drunk until the money was spent, Tend eect two or three days. Under the present regulations for the relief of shipwrecked crews drunken sprees of this kind were inevitable in Shanghai 'HM. Consul said that he was well aware that the present constable was not exactly a temperate man, but as he was an old Indian soldier he had understood from Mr. Bowen, the superintendent, when he was leaving for home, that he would take the constable with him.
Mr. Invixc seconded Dr. Johnston's motion, and it was carried unanimously, The Committee then proceeded to inspect the Home, which was found to be in a satisfactory condition.
Chairman, THE HONGKONG FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, LIMITED,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.