JBM18870705

1887 July 5thDirectors’ Meeting
Tuesday, July 5th 1887 5 p.m. at No. 70
Present: Messrs Dodds (Chair), Glover, Baehr, Abbot and Talbot¾Heckert Introduced to the Board, to Take Part with Diack and Baehr upon
the Changes and Additional Necessary to the Buildings and Works
Minutes of last preceding meeting were read, confirmed and signed.

Mr. Baehr then introduced to the board Mr. Heckert, engaged by Mr. Carl
Rohde in the capacity of brewer to the Company.
A general conversation followed in which Mr. Heckert took part, on thesubject of water supply, sheds for storage of barrels, malt, hops and material
for brewing &c.
Resolved:- That Mr. Heckert should confer with Mr. Diack and Mr. Baehr
upon the changes and additions necessary to the buildings and works,
especially for water tunnels, tanks, storage accommodation, &c, and that Mr.
Baehr should give the necessary instructions; with regard to malt, &c., Mr.
Heckert is to consult Mr. Baehr who will send the necessary orders on to Mr.
Rohde.
¾

Application for Licence to Carry On the Trade of Brewers
Mr. Glover then introduced the subject of application through theGovernor of Yokohama for licence to enable the company to carry on the tradeof brewers within the Japanese dominions.
The letter forwarded to the Governor on this subject should, Mr. Gloversuggested, be superseded in favour of a draft which he read to the meeting. Mr.

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Glover then read the regulations affecting brewers and distillers subject to thelaws of Japan, from which it appeared that brewers are subjected to a license
tax of 30 Yen yearly payable on 1 October of each year; and are exempt frommanufacturing taxes. The regulations affecting brewers seeming to bereasonable, Mr. Glover having been privately assured that the company’sbooks would not be searched, it was resolved that as the company’s liability
was for a year only unless further renewed, and the maximum liability was
the sum of a bond to observe the regulations in a penalty of 300 Yen, it wasresolved that the letter as amended should be written to the Governor and thebond be duly executed under the seal of the Co.
¾

Purchase of the Land Adjoining the Brewery
Mr. Baehr’s suggestion that the land adjoining the Brewery site, for which$600 had been offered by the Company and refused, $1000 being the seller’s
price, should be purchased was discussed. (Mr. Glover here retired, butexpressed himself in favour of the purchase of the land) $1000 was manifestly
exorbitant, but as the strip of land would be most useful to the Co. and there
were reasons to believe the price might be raised to a still higher figure, it wasresolved that Mr. Abbott should make another attempt to purchase up to $800,
if that offer failed to report to the next meeting.
¾Office Manager
A suggestion was made by Mr. Talbot, on the strength of an expression of

opinion by Messrs. Glover and Kirkwood, that it was desirable to take into
consideration the appointment of a business manager of the Company’s affairs.
It is perhaps early to enter into engagements involving an addition to current
expenses before business actually commences; but there is much work to do at2

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present and immediately the machinery arrives and wages become payable
there must be some responsible person to take charge of affairs. Mr. Glover
had suggested the name of Mr. Beart, formerly secretary of the Hongkong
Club as eminently fitted for the position, being a man of considerable
experience, energy and business capacity; and likely to form friendly andagreeable relations with Japanese members or customers of the Company. Mr.
Beart was not dependent upon the salary he would accept, having, it wasunderstood, retired from active life with sufficient means of his own; but hewould probably accept a position for the sake of occupation. The Co. could notafford any very high salary until its real position could be ascertained; but asMr. Baehr added, the manager would share in the prosperity of the Co.
Resolved:- That Mr. Talbot endeavour to ascertain Mr. Beart’s views. Should
he be disposed to entertain the proposition at a salary of about $150 per
month to commence with, to report to the next meeting.
Mr. Boart’s official duties would be quite separate and distinct from thebrewer’s.
¾

Payment for Ground Rent
Offices for the Company to be looked for and decided upon at nextmeeting.
Cheques for $174, and $100 for ground rent and purchase of safe weresigned.
Meeting adjourned at 6.20 p.m.
W.H. Talbot

James Dodds

Secretary pro tem.

Chairman3