November 27, 1895.]
His Lordship questioned the debtor at some length as to his interest in other junks. He at- tributed his failure to losses sustained in the salt trade, and said that for the last two or three years every one of his transactions had resulted in a loss, and he continued trading with the hope of being able to recoup himself. He borrowed money from friends when he was in a hopeless state of insolvency.
The examination was adjourned until Mon- day, and the debtor was told to prepare a de- tailed account of his transactions in salt.
25th November.
The public examination of Chun Yat Shun was resumed.
In answer to his Lordship Mr. Sath, the Official -Receiver, said that since the case was last before the Court the debtor had produced detailed ac- counts of his transactions in salt. The debtor, examined by his Lordship, first of all said he made up these accounts from a book in Court, but the Official Receiver said that this was im- possible as the book had been locked up in a safe. When debtor was told this he said that he made up the accounts from extracts he took from the book some time ago at Yaumati. He had bor rowed several sums on promissory notes.
His Lordship-I have a great doubt about the genuineness of these notes. Are any of those people in court your creditors ?
Debtor-No.
Mr. Reece--I am instructed that his son has been down here and brought creditors to file proofs.
His Lordship-That is very likely.
The Official Receiver-The debtor himself brought several of his creditors to file their proofs, and I stopped him and said he was not to come to the office until I sent for him.
His Lordship said he would take the debtor's account of his transactions for the past two or three years for what it was worth.
The debtor then said he started business in 1890 with a loan of $1,000, which he borrowed from friends and relations. He gave a list of the voyages he made since that date and an account of the profit or loss made on sach.
The examination was adjourned until Thurs. day.
COLONIAL COURT OF ADMIRALTY.
20th November.
BEFORE SIE FIELDING CLARKE (CHIEF JUSTICE) AND HON. COMMANDER W. C. H. HASTINGS (Assessor.)
LAI PO ON V. THE STEAMSHIP AGAMEMNON." The hearing was resumed of the action in which Lai Po On, owner and master of the junk On Lee, sued the steamship Agamemnon for $1,400 damages for the loss of his junk, which was run down by the Agamemnon.
Mr. E. Robinson (instructed by Mr. Holmes) appeared for the plaintiff and Mr. H. E. Pollock (instructed by Mr. Gedge, of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes, and Master's office) represented the defendants.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPÓRT.
was not until within a few seconds of of the collision, and the alteration was made under terror.
His Lordship said he was satisfied that there was no light on the junk, and the assessor was of opinion that had the junk held on to her course there would have been no collision. His Lordship was satisfied that the junk did alter her course, and that this alone was the cause of the collision. He was of opinion that the plaintiff's witnesses were telling untruths on the question of the light and also on the ques tion of the look out. He was therefore of opinion that the junk was alone to blame, and judgment would be for the defendants with costs.
COLLISION AT SHANGHAI.
On Friday night a collision took place at Woosung between the P & O. steamer Rohilla and the Blue-funnel steamer Hector. The first named vessel, we hear, was at anchor at the time. No particulars have been received as to the cir- cumstances under which the accident occurred, but both vessels are damaged. The Hector went into dock at once and it is probable the Rohilla will also have to dook.
THE JAPANESE IN SOUTH FORMOSA.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT WITH THE JAPANESE ARMY.]
Tainanfoo, 18th November. Since writing last H.E. the Governor-General Kabayama has left for Taipeh, taking with him all his staff, including Drs. Okuba and Kaba- yama and the Chief Commissioner of Customs Nimura, &c., &c.
His Excellency went away quietly on the 8th inst. He was unable to visit Takow person- ally, but sent Dr. Okuba and others to report. They came back charmed with the place and its capacities, and it is said that their report will do much to stimulate the already strong leaning towards restoring that port to its former prece- dence in South Formosa. Even now, finding it, as they say, more convenient for embarking troops and landing stores. the somewhat small dimen sions of the present settlement are taxed to their utmost to provide room for the provisions which are pouring in and the troops en route to Japan. These last comprise the whole Guards Division, which have been marched down, in large detachments, from Tainanfu for embarks- tion on the transports arriving at about the rate of five vessels per diem.
The most unpleasant, but we suppose neces- sary, consequence of this adaptation of Takow as port of entry and shipment is the enormous number of sick being brought from Tainanfu and all the surrounding districts for transport to Japan. The house used just now as a hospital would readily accommodate 50 or 60 beds, but as the present concentration often causes three or four hundred to be brought in at one time, the overcrowding and its disagreeable conse- quences, no less to outsiders than the patients themselves, may be readily imagined.
As a fact, it is found best, as things now are, for the regular Takow residents to temporarily vacate the port until the extreme pressure has The point of difference in the case was whe- modified sufficiently to allow of the most ordin- ther the junk altered her course, and on Tues-ary sanitary requirements connected with the day the plaintiff and his witnesses said the boat sick and dead being better carried out than just did not change her course when the vessel was now seems possible. Want of fuel appears to made out. Yesterday the defendant's witnesses rather seriously interfere with a speedy disposal said the junk widened her distance from the star- of the dead, and this alone causes much incon- board bow, and the helm of the steamer was there- venience, to say the least. There is no doubt a upon put hard astarboard. The captain was very great deal to be said on the Japanese side, watching the junk through glasses, and he said as they are having to contend with a state of ho did not think there was any risk of collision medical affairs which the want of proper house until the junk put away off the wind. There accommodation for the soldiers massed round was no light, he said, on the stern of the junk, about Tainanfu engenders. Exposed as these Mr. Pollock submitted that the people men are to weather and the ever present risks on the junk lost their heads and by unfor- of malarial infection, it is not to be wondered tunately adopting the manoeuvre of screwing the at that the notorious local fever is rampant and junk round got under the bows of the steamer. producing unprecedented calls both on the me- Counsel submitted that the plaintiff had dical staff and the crematories. established no fault which had been committed by the Agamemnon.
Mr. Robinson contended that it was the duty of the steamer to avoid a junk, and it had not been shown that everything was done to avoid it. If the course of the junk was altered it
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so called, does not exist among the troops, and certainly there is nothing of the kind among the natives.
With the departure of at least 10,000 men (soldiers) and, they say, many of the coolies, it is anticipated that the general strain will soon be lessened, when, if Takow is intended to be an intermediary base" for the sick of South Formosa, it is most sincerely to be hoped that something will be done towards providing pro- per hospital accommodation, and, above all, that essential sanitary organization for which we have hitherto heard the Japanese are specially commendable, but for which there is now no provision at all.
With the exception, however, of those bowel complaints, inseparable concomitants of the malignant fever for which Anping and Tainanfu are famed, we are glad to hear the no out- break of epidemic bowel disease has appeared; thus we are still assured cholera, properly,
On the 14th H.E. Viscount Takashima, Commander-in-Chief of the Army in Formosa and Lieutenant-Governor of the Island, left with all the Headquarter Staff, and with his de parture the "expeditionary army," as a whole, ceased. What was the Sceond Division of this "Southern Army' under General Nogi will remain to garrison South Formosa, and so long as active operations are needed at the various outports or stations occupied by the military their rule will be supreme at such places. At the main towns or cities the Prefects and sub- Prefects have taken over charge and will not so long as there is no call for mi- litary interference, but the numerous minor oivil officials who will eventually be distri buted over the country have not been appointed yet, and will not be until all need for active military co-coperation has ceased. To this extent, therefore, and only in this sense, can civil rule be said to have begun.
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Bureaucracy prevails in full force in Japan. Departments are legion, and "the The jealousy with which each guards its own in- terests is intense. So long as the military have anything to do with affairs no member of the Civil Department will stir a finger, or express an opinion, and in both services the same ex- treme exclusiveness exists between the different
departments themselves. With many trans- ports lying idle and available, outside steamers are chartered at $500 per diem, "because the work required does not come under the bureau to which the transports are attached," and so on ad infinitum, proving official nature to be the same all the world over, circumlocution being by no means confined to Whitehall, or even the British Horse Washington, or Guards. In this connection, however, it must be admitted that everything man (red-tape bound) can do to meet exigencies and modify disturbing effects on civilians generally is done by that bureau whose special function is to watch over foreign affairs, and that, from the Head Prefect Ferusho, through the genial and ever courteous sub-Prefect Saigo, until at last, but indeed far from least, we come to the ubi- quitous hardworking and kindly Chief Assistant Matsumoto, without whose unfailing good hu mour, earnest, and often effective desire to help all and sundry who apply to him, the re- strictions and non possumus which must other. wise prove unusually galling to all subjected to them would no doubt have been infinitely more accentuated than they are at present.
It would seem that in the main arrangements the form of future government will be some- what similar to that obtaining under Chinese rule, but perhaps more closely allied to the French plan where it deviates from the old Japanese system. Thus while there will be but one Prefect in South Formosa-Mr. Ferusho the districts previously ruled by Shiens (magi- strates) will now be presided over by sub-Prefects. As the minor authorities are appointed, how- ever, and begin their rule, you will be duly advised of same, and thus avoid any errors in description which too premature a report might entail."
Large drafts of soldiers are arriving from Japan to fill up the numerous vacancies caused by disease and death in the ranks of the Second Division, and, to judge by the numbers of the new arrivals, the casualties among the troops originally landed must be very much out of proportion to anything previously suffered or anticipated.
Much has been said of the railway which has been already begun at Takow, and which the Corps of Railway Engineers promise “shall be ready in two months." We now find that this rail-a very light one of only 18 inch gange---