A general meeting of shareholders in the Alma Estates, Ld., was held yesterday afternoon at the offices, No. 4 Canton Road. There were present, Mecers. E. E. Porter, who presided, M. Speelman, F. T, Ho, Chun Yet-chi Girectors), Hogo Reiss (Acting retary), G. W. Appleby, F. Seitz, R. E. Hommel, J. T. Ho, G. T. Ching, G. 3. Lindsay, K. Tweed, C. L. Steward, A. O. Wilson and C. Ure, 'The chairman said—This meeting has merely been called in order to comply with the Companies' Ordinances of Hongkong. I very much regret to have to record the absence of our worthy chairman, Mr. James McKie, owing to pleased to be able to aay that his indisposition is only slight. Tt is onnsoal at such meetings as this one, to make any statements concerning the affairs of the Company, but as there have come to the ears of the directors certain ramours with regard to the title deeds of the property of the Company, I think it is only my daty that I should try to frustrate any doubt that may troable your minds. I may confidently tell you that we have th opinion of Messrs. Presgrave & Mat-thows of Penang, who, as the Company's solicitor, Mr. McNeill, may tell you himeelf, are firm of solicit tors of very high aod many years' standing, end you may take their views as well as that of Mr, McNeill, namely, "That the titles are io order as far as possible" as a voucher. Of course, you must bear in mind that our title deeds are different to those of most other Companies, joasmuch as the greatest part of the property, namely, 2.400isores is freehold; it belongs to the shareholders and is not on yearly rectal as the remaining 300 acres, The whole estate is now being properly surveyed, will be approved of by the Stiaite Goveroment and registered in the Land Office, so that within a very short time any doubt that may nevertheless still linger, will be removed from your minds altogeth ly to Mr. F. Seite, the chairman ssid—I am very sorry not to be in a position to-day to give you more authentic information thoo Mr. Turoer report tells you, bat the news we have '80 far received is satisfactory, and if we have anything definite to ley before you, we shall do so without delay.
That closed the business of the ordinary meeting. A special mesting was then held.
This chairman proposed, " That the following article shall be substituted for Article 79 (a) of the Company's Articles of Association, namely: If he accepts or holds any other office under the Company except that of Managing Director. Membership alone or in partnership with others of a firm which holds under the Company the office of Secretaries to the Company shall not canee the office of a Director to be vacated.'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.