This firm was founded in 1901 by Messrs. Th. Culty and P. Douville, of Yokohama, but, the partnership having been dissolved in July, 1907, Mr. Culty is now the sole proprietor. The business carried on is that of wine, spirit, and provision merchants, and many of the leading French houses are represented by the firm, whose stores, situated in the Rue de France, are well stocked with commodities of uniform excellence.
HOTUNG BAUGESELLSCHAFT.
Although established as recently as 1906, there are already many evidences of the activity of this Company, which is registered in Austria. A number of the houses in the principal thoroughfare—Baron Czikann Street—were erected through its agency, and preparations have been made for rapid development in the future. The Company owns about 59 mow of land in the Austro-Hungarian Concession and the electric tramway runs through portions of the property on which it is proposed to build almost immediately. The directors have, apparently made their investments with shrewd judgment, and the prosperity of the Company seems assured. The fully paid-up capital of the enterprise is Tls. 200,000 in 2,000 shares of Tls. 100 each, and in 1907 a dividend of 8 per cent. was paid. Debentures to the value of Tls. 100,000 are now being issued.
The board of directors consists of Messrs. Hugo Accurti, Emil S. Fischer, Chen Chu Chi, and Yuen Tsu Chen; while Messrs. Gino Accurti and S. F. Wen act as general managers.
BIELFELD & SUN.
The firm of Messrs. Bielfeld & Sun, merchants and contractors to the Chinese Government for machinery, arms, ammunition and men-of-war, was established in 1901, the partners being Mr. L. Bielfeld and Mr. C. Y. Sun. At present Mr. Bielfeld has as his partner Mr. S. C. Cheng. The firm, whose offices are situated in Rue Dillon, are agents for Messrs. Schneider & Co.; le Creusot, Paris; the Chantiers et Ateliers de Gironde; the Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire; Messrs. Whitehead & Co., Fiume; the Ganz'sche Elektrizitäts Aktiengesellschaft, Budapest; and the Rekyl Riffel Syndicate, Copenhagen. The staff includes the following engineers: Messrs. E. Hunke, who signs per pro., F. Nègre, and K. Bielfeld, assistants; O. Silbernagel and K. Krieg; A. Lietzellman, representing Messrs. Schnieder & Co.. and Baron Hascthausen Techn, representative of the Rekyl Riffel Syndicate. Mr. L. Bielfeld, who was born at Chefoo, was educated at Eutin, North Germany, and returned to China in 1890 to take up employment with Messrs. H. Mandl & Co., at Tientsin. He remained with that firm for ten years, and then started business with Mr. Sun on his own account.
PERSONAL.
COL. J. W. N. MUNTHE.
Colonel Johan Wilhelm Normann Munthe, A.D.C. to the Viceroy of Chihli, was born at Bergen, Norway, on July 27, 1864, and was educated at the Aars' and Voss' High School, Christiania, and at the Royal Cavalry, Christiania. He came to China in 1887, and in September of that year joined the Imperial Maritime Customs service, being stationed successively at Shanghai, Chefoo, and Ningpo. He volunteered for service in the Chino-Japanese War, and in 1894 was detached from the Customs service for military work. During the next six years he re-organised the Cavalry of the North, under His Excellency Yuan-Shih-K'ai, as Colonel and Instructor-in-Chief. As His Excellency Yuan was appointed Governor of the province of Shantung, Colonel Munthe remained in Tientsin preparatory to going home on leave, and was in Tientsin attached to the Russian General Staff as special intelligence officer during the Boxer trouble. He took part in all the engagements in and around Tientsin, the march to Peking, and the storming of the Capital. He was decorated by the Tsar of Russia with the Russian Military Order (St. George) "for repeated acts of gallantry during the late disturbances in China"; and also received the Russian War Medal, 1900–1. During 1901–2, he was on leave, and, on his return, he was appointed Colonel by imperial decree, and Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency Yuan-Shih-K'ai, who had meanwhile been appointed Viceroy of Chihli. Colonel Munthe was decorated by the French Government, as a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, in 1905; by the Chinese Government with the Order of the Double Dragon, Third Division, First Class, Knight Commander, First Class, in 1907; and
