Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/835

Rh shed, smithy, and carpenters' shed, equipped with modern machines; and a 20-ton crane on the sea-wall for the handling; of heavy substances. Among the machines in constant use are a plate-rolling machine, capable of rolling plates up to 18½ feet; a punching and shearing machine, which can take 1¾ inch plates; and some up-to-date lathes, upon one of which the largest tail-shaft can easily be manipulated. In the foundry it is possible to make castings up to five tons, so that, with its present permanent staff of two hundred competent artisans, the Company can undertake practically any repairs which shipping may demand. In case of emergency extra hands are easily procurable.

The present board of directors comprises Messrs. Tait &amp; Co., the general managers, Messrs. Fred B. Marshall, Wm. Wilson, A. F. Gardiner, and Wm. Kruse, members of the consulting committee. The Company has been fairly successful, from a financial point of view, from the start, and its future prosperity seems to be assured. There is no doubt that the establishment is a credit to the small port of Amoy, and a boon to the shipping. All the work undertaken is superintended by the able and energetic manager, Mr. Robert W. Black, an engineer possessing a wide and varied experience.





capital controlled and worked by a thoroughly well-trained and experienced Britisher is the combination that has placed the Amoy Engineering Company, Ltd., of Kulangsu, Amoy, in such a prominent position. The undertaking was registered in Hongkong, in 1893, as a limited liability company, with a capital of $30,000. The Company build and repair launches, repair steamers in harbour, and do general engineering work in all its branches, with the exception of making castings over 10 cwts. in weight. Their slip for building launches, tugs, &amp;c., is upwards of 110 feet in length, and their patent slipway extends from the works to a distance of 290 feet, most of which is under water. They have, also, a double-power capstan, and sheers capable of raising anything up to ten tons. The turning and punching machines are of the best, and in first-class condition. The firm's boast that it is capable of fulfilling almost any obligation it may be called upon to undertake is, therefore, not without justification.

The managing director and superintendent of the works is Mr. J. D. Edwards, an Irishman, who was born and educated at Greenock. He was apprenticed to marine engineering with the firm of Steele &amp; Co., in that town, and on the completion of his articles went to sea. In 1882 he joined the well-known Eastern firm of Douglas Lapraik &amp; Co., but resigned his position in 1902, in order to establish the Amoy Engineering Company. Mr. Edwards is a well-known figure on the China coast; he took an active part in quelling the Boxer disturbances and gained a medal for his services.





and important business, under the direction of Mr. L. I. Thomas, the manager, and Mr. Morley, the assistant manager, is carried on at the local branch established by this Company. Their tanks are capable of holding 1,750,000 gallons. The chief trade is done in American kerosene oil, paraffin wax, mineral oils, and naphtha from America.







firm of Messrs. Tait &amp; Co., which carries on a general import and export business in many parts of the East, was established in Amoy in 1845 by Mr. James Tait. The founder of the house died some time back, but others have been taken into partnership and the business has developed gradually year by year until now its ramifications extend from China and Formosa to Japan, branches having been established in North and South Formosa, Yokohama, and Kobe. The firm acts as agent for the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, the Peninsular and Oriental Company, and the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company. The special feature about this firm is that all its members speak the local dialect, and thus are able to conduct their business direct with the natives, without the aid of compradores. The present proprietors are Messrs. F. B. Marshall, W. Wilson, and R. N. Ohly. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Kulangsu Municipal Council and is on the committees of several governing bodies.





business has extended rapidly in numerous directions during recent years, but few companies have so wide a sphere of activity as the Shanghai Life Insurance Company, Ltd., who, in their desire to offer every possible advantage to their policy-holders, appear sometimes to encroach almost upon the domain of philanthropy. As their name implies, their head office is at Shanghai, but they have, of course, a branch at Amoy, which has sub-agencies in the inland towns of Chwan Chew and Cheang Chew, where every effort is made to give policy-holders any assistance they may require. The Company are making arrangements now to provide accommodation for their Chinese clients who may be travelling through the port, and they will shortly start a policy-holders' school in Amoy, to which all who are insured in the Company may send their children to learn English. The general agent is Mr. Fred Heyte, who was born in Antwerp in 1869 and came to China in 1904, joining the Company two years later. The collecting agents in Amoy are Messrs. Douglas Lapraik &amp; Co.





Fokien Drug Company, Ltd.. of Kulangsu, Amoy, is an amalgamation of several wholesale druggists. The combine was formed in March, 1906, and was registered at the Chamber of Commerce, Peking, with a capital of $56,000. The Company are wholesale import and export druggists, general store-keepers, dealers in piece goods, wines and spirits, photographic chemicals, stationery, fancy and toilet goods, &amp;c. They are also commission agents, and export a considerable quantity of articles manufactured locally. The directorate is an influential one, and the committee includes Messrs. Yap Cheng Ho, S. P. Yin, Lim Leong Eng, Tan Thian Un, Lim Chong Siu, Ng Sit Teng, and Wong Teng Sing. The managing director is Mr. Lim Ui Sian: the secretary, Mr. Cheong Eng Soon, M.D., Chinese diploma; the treasurer, Mr. Liau Yat Hoat; the dispensers are Messrs. Ng Gi Hu and Sih Kun Eng; and the chief clerk is Mr. Liau Chiau Hi.

