At the annual distribution of prizes to the Hongkong Volunteer Corps held on.the evening of the 7th inst General Black who presided made a very witty speech, and complimented the Corps on their shooting, but deplored the sparsity of their numbers. He went on to suggest a reserve, and said they should get those who were ready to join in case of emergency (old volunteers and others) to put hrelr amen down as members of the reserve, There is, however, a feeling among the Machine Gun Corps that they have not received sufficient encouragement, nor has the coi been, made attractive, otherwise it would not have dwindled as it has done, THE HONGKONG AND' SHANGHAT BANK, The half-yearly meeting of shareholders in the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation was held this morning at the City Hall. The report and accounts were passed by acclamation, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Gillies, who paid a high compliment to the successful management. The Chairman, in his opening speech, pointed out that the days of exceptional profits had gone, and the abundance of cheap money meant diminished profits; but he thought they were in a position to always secure a good share of the business whatever the competition. The meeting was brought to a close by a vote of thanks to the directors and onager moved by Mr. von Bose, and passed amidst applause.
THE HONGKONG AND WHAMPOA DOCK C0, The report of the directors to the shareholders in the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Ca, La., for the first half of the current year has been issued. Magnificent as was the last report, when the sum of $488,974 was shown available for division, the present report surpasses it, for the Board now have '$616,047 at their' disposal. This it is proposed to appropriate as follows:—To pay a absorbing $125,000, to pay a bonus of 4 per dividend of 8 per cent for, the half-year, cent., or $62,500, a bonus of $20,000 to contributing shareholders, to write off $24,002.31 from value of Kowloon Docks, $25,489.98 from Cosmopolitan Docks, and. $1,486.00 from steam-launches and lighters, to pass 200,000 to Reserve. Fund, and carry $156,969.12 to credit of new account. will be seen that, if the Company made nothing in the current half-year, they would still have enough carried forward from last half-year to pay their usual 8 per. cent dividend. The report goes on to say that "with a view to relieve the pressure of work and to meet the increasing wants of our constituents the Directors have under consideration certain schemes for adding largely to the' facilities of the Kowloon establishment." Will this phenomenal prosperity last? I doubt it, and'am glad to see the Company building up a Reserve NAVAL INTELLIGENCE, very bare during the_week. On: the 13th The man-of-war anchorage has remained
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.