JBM18880501

1888 May 1stDirectors’ Meeting
1st May 1888 4.30 P.M. at 7 Water Street Yokohama
Present: Mr.Dodds (Chair), Mr.Grosser, Mr.Glover, Mr.Abbott, Mr.Baehr, andMr.Talbot

Minutes of last meeting were read and signed.
The Chairman stated that since last meeting the Company’s accounts to
31st December last been audited and certified to by the Auditors.
¾

Supply of CoalHe also reported that arrangements had been made with Messrs. Jardine

Matheson & Co. for a supply of coal in quantities of about 50 Tons at a time at$5.50 per ton delivered at the Brewery, which was considered to be areasonable price. The Engineer had reported the quality to be very suitable for
the Company’s purposes.
¾Works at Brewery Completed and Fitter Left Yokohama for Home
It was also reported that all the work at Brewery had now been completed,but that the Contractor had not yet rendered his final bill. The Fitter had been
sent home by the steamer leaving Yokohama on 4th April, and as arranged atlast meeting had been presented with a small gratuity for which he expressed
his thanks through Mr. Baehr.
¾Agencies / Caldbeck & McGregor in Shanghai / H. Isono for Tokyo andother places in Japan except Yokohama and Nagasaki
The question of Agencies for the sale of beer was then discussed, and Mr.

Talbot having stated that an application would be received in a few days from1

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Messrs. Caldbeck & McGregor for the Agency in Shanghai, it was determinedon receipt of the same to accept their offer, and the secretary was instructed towrite to them to that effect as soon as their letter should come to hand.
Mr. Talbot reported that he had had an interview with Mr. Isono in regard to
the Agencies in Japan, and that that gentleman was prepared to take over thesole agency for Tokio and all other places in Japan including Kobe with theexception of Yokohama and Nagasaki. He would push the sale of the beer inthe various places, making arrangements for its delivery and being
responsible for all payments. It was the opinion of the meeting that Mr. Isono
was the best and most reliable man for this purpose, and that, with deposit byhim of proper security, it would be highly advantageous for the Company toenter into a contract with him on the above basis. Mr. Talbot promised toprepare Draft of a suitable Contract to be submitted to the next meeting.
It was understood that in the event of an arrangement being made, Mr. Isono
would distribute Circulars as well as bills and posters throughout the country.
¾

Selling of Waste Grains
The Chairman reported that arrangements had been made with Mr. J.

Winstanley to buy all waste grains at the rate of $4. Per ton until it would beseen whether better terms could be made elsewhere.
¾Selling Prices of Beer
The selling prices of beer as decided at last meeting were definitely fixed,

and it was reported that about a thousand Circulars had been distributed
amongst the public inviting orders.
¾Packaging
Further enquiries would be made in regard to obtaining a supply of2

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Capsules, and it was expected that all arrangements for bottling, including
labour, Capsules, wire &c. would be ready some time previous to theadvertised date for the delivery of the beer.
¾Dr. Van der Hayden’s Medical Attendance on the Staff
A bill from Dr. Van der Heyden for one quarter’s medical attendance on

the Company’s staff was submitted and gave rise to some discussion as to theCompany’s responsibility in that respect. It was ultimately decided that, inforwarding a Cheque for the amount of the bill, the secretary should inform Dr.
Van der Heyden that in view of the present financial position of the Company,
the Directors do not feel entitled at present to incur the expense of permanent
medical attendance.
¾Date of General Meeting and Weekly Directors Meeting
The question of holding the Third Ordinary General Meeting of theCompany was taken into consideration and it was decided to fix upon a dateclear by at least two days of all foreign mail days and such as to allow of sevendays’ notice being given in a Hong Kong Newspaper, and the secretary wasinstructed accordingly.
It was also suggested that as the Company is now on the point of sellingbeer, and the business therefore increasing, the Directors should for the future
have a regular weekly meeting. This was agreed to, and Monday was fixed
upon as the most suitable day: in the event of that being mail day, to bepostponed to the following day. The hour was fixed at 4.30 p.m.
Messrs. Dodds, Glover, and Baehr at this point retired from the meeting,having engagements elsewhere, and the remaining three Directors continued
the business.

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Rohde & Coy’s AccountMessrs. C. Rohde & Coy’s account was again taken up and it wassuggested by Mr. Talbot and agreed to that the secretary be instructed to reply
to their letter of 16th ultimo asking for a revised account showing all Returns,Rebates, Discounts &c., if any, and enclosing a cheque for $10,000 on accountof the balance which may be found due on revision of account.
It was also suggested that in the event of their refusing to reduce the Chargefor Commission the question should be referred in a friendly way, without
documents, to an arbitrator or be arranged by some other means to be decided
later. The Charge for Interest on further examination was considered fair andsatisfactory.
The meeting adjourned at 6.30 p.m.
J. Donaldson

James Dodds

SecretaryChairman4