108
unwarranted; he has accordingly ordered the suspension of the journal. At the same, time it is reported from Peking that the Emperor has decreed the total dissolution of the Association. This news ought not to surprise any but the most sanguine, who alone could have entertained any expectation that such an exotic would have a much longer life than JONAH's gourd. It seems to have originated at Peking with the Rev. TIMOTHY RICHARDS, and that it should have been launched at all is a proof of the influence possessed by that gentleman, but there is only too much evidence that there is no force of public opinion, even amongst the most educated classes in China, to sustain such રી movement. In some quarters it was taken seriously, for which readiness with which members were first enrolled may have given some excuse, but the Association possessed no real root in the feelings of the people and the illusion has soon been dispelled. The Hanlins are not a progressive body and we fear are not likely to become so for many a long year. The Rev. TIMOTHY RICHARDS' work may not be altogether thrown away, but any progressive movement in China will be a plant of slow growth.
the
at
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
"any outside interference." The British Government has no wish to interfere, and would only do so in the last resort, but if any secret treaties with other powers are discovered England would have no option but to assert her rights and resume control of the Transvaal. The attitude assumed by the German press in the matter is altogether incomprehensible, and we can only hope that it is mere vapouring and does not really represent the views of the German nation, Englaud and Germany have never yet fought against each other and Germany has certainly no cause to pick à quarrel
now.
+
REPORTED GERMAN OCCUPATION OF QUEMOY.
Renewed rumours of a German occupation of Quemoy having been in circulation, we tele- graphed to Amoy for information on the subject. The reply is as follows:
**
AMOY, 30th January, 3.58 p.m. at Quemoy. Nothing authentic is known."
It is rumoured that the tia is surveying
THE OPENING OF THE WEST
RIVER.
The following telegram appears in the
GERMANY AND THE TRANSVAAL. | Rangoon Gazelte :
(30th January.)
LONDON 19th January.
Į
CAPTAIN BALLENTYNE'S CASE AT SAIGON.
We learn that Captain Billentyne, of the steamer Flintshire, who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment at Saigou of a charge of as- sisting two French soldiers to desert, has been acquitted by the Court of Appeal. The resuit could not have been otherwise, but shipmasters will no doubt be careful in future not to take on board European passengers at Saigon who are not duly provided with tickets.
The report current in London that a British The Reuter telegram published to-day, ultimatum has been presented at Peking de- stating that the German press continues to manding the opening of the West River is posi- publish violent attacks against England and tively denied by the Foreign Office. Nothing that several papers refer to the Emperor's
in the nature of an ultimatum has been pre- action re the Transvaal as a splendid triumphsented, the representations made by the British over Great Britain is somewhat puzzling; West River being absolutely of a friendly Minister regarding the opening of ports on the What has transpired to constitute a splendid character. triumph? Nothing, so far as Reuter has informed us, and nothing, we hope, in fact. The German papers must, however, have had something to give a show of colour to their claim of a splendid triumph, but of what that something is Reuter has left us in ignorance, When the details are received it will probably be found that it is something altogether insignificant and that the splendid triumph is a mere figment of the imagination. It is true that in a telegram to a Batavia newspaper the statement is made that a secret treaty has existed between the Emperor W ILLIAM and the Transvaal Government since 1885, but there is no splendid triumph in that. If the Em- perur made any such treaty as alleged it would be a very despicable action, and so far from bringing any advantage either to Germany or the Transvaal would be likely to have quite the opposite effect. The agree ment between England and the Transvaal, while giving the latter internal autonomy, precludes all secret alliances with foreign powers, and if such an alliance has been entered into it would afford England valid cause for setting the agreement aside and resuming control of the territory now ruled, or misruled, by the Boers.
Since the first news of Dr. JAMESON'S ill-advised and unfortunate expedition start- led us in the Far East further information has been received which, while it cannot excuse or condone JAMESON's action, shows that the uitlanders have genuine grievances
and that the situation had become unbear- able. This has been practically admitted by President KRUGER, who has declared himself willing to grant the sufferers poli- tical privileges. It is unfortunate he did not make the declaration earlier, but now that is in the mind to do justice it is permissible to hope, with his diplo matic agent in Europe that the question "of the foreigners in the Transvaal will "be settle:! in a peaceable manner without
SUPREME COURT.
30th January.
IN BANKRUPTCY.
BEFORE HON. W. M. GobDMAN (ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE.)
RE WONG LI SAM, EX PARTE FUNG SHING
TAK TING.
This was an application to annul a receiving order which was made on 28th November, 1895, in this suit.
tor in support of the application and stated Mr. Gedge appeared for the petitioning credi-
that all the creditors were in favour of adopting a scheme of an arrangement and annulling the receiving order.
Mr. Seth (Official Receiver) stated that since the affidavit had been filed in support of the application another creditor had proved, so that at present it could not be said the creditors
看好
"
[February 5, 1896. this case, however, the creditore, having had a first meeting, adjourned that meeting to con- sider whether they would accept a scheme of arrangement. Now to make that scheme or required and the regular procedure is laid down composition binding`a special" resolution is in the Ordinance. If that procedure is complied with and the scheme accepted by "special resolution and approved by the Court, then, by section 22 of the Ordinance 20 of 1891 the Court might even after adjudication annul that adjudication, and therefore it might annul the receiving order. It would be dangerous, how- ever, to depart from the procedure laid down by the Ordinance as regards approval of a scheme of arrangement, and although no doubt the applica- tion is made with a view to save expense, it might, if granted, work injustice to creditors who disclosed debts over $7,000 and the amount of were uo parties to it. The debtor's own statement
debts proved by creditors who were in favour of the scheme would seem to be under $4,500. I, therefore, decline to grant the application. There should be a further meeting of creditors and the procedure by special resolution should be adopted before the petitioning creditor would be in a position to apply to the Court to approve the scheme, the nature of which was not yet be fore the Court, and to rescind the receiving order. I may add that Lord Justice Fry in an application of this kind in the case I have quoted of In re Wester, said at p. 641 of 22 Queen's Bench Division: It an idle notion that the Court is bound by the consent of the creditors. The Court has far larger and more important duties to perform than merely to consider whether the creditors have consented to the rescinding of the order. We are bound to take a wider view.
of the creditors themselves, who are sometimes We are bound not only to regard the interests
careless of their best interests, but we have a duty with regard to the commercial morality of the country." This being so, it would at least be well for the Court to be informed as to the scope and character of the scheme of arrange- ment proposed if further application is made in this matter.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on the 30th Jan. at the offices. Hon. F.JA. Cooper (Director of Public Works) presided, and there were also present Hon. Commander W. C. H. Hastings (Acting Captain Superintendent of Police), Dr. Atkinson (Acting Colonial Surgeon). Dr. F. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
་
NEW BY-LAW.
A new by-law made under! Ordinance 17 of 1887 was ordered to be sent to the Colonial Secretary with the request that his Excellency the Governor be asked to confirm it.
AWNINGS AND SUNSHADES.
The following letter was read from the Colonial Secretary:-" 17th January, 1896. Sir, -In continuation of my letter No. 42 of the 9th inst. I am directed to transmit for the information of the Board the enclosed copy of a minute by the Assistant Registrar-General on the subject of the removal of awnings and sunshades.-I am, &c., J. H. Stewart Lockhart." The following is a copy of the enclosed minute:" Hon. Colonial Secretary. Reply in Chinese (approved by you) sent to Mr. Chan Shiu- ki on the 11th inst. and two notices! posted: With reference to the statement that no request” was made for the 'removal of these sunshades, I have the honour to draw your attention to the fact that the Chinese on all the notices signed by Mr. Hore which I have regard to the English decisions, such as In
The Acting Chief Justice said that having seen runs as follows:-'Whereas the sunshade in front of your premises obstructs the street, you re Flatow, 2 Queen's Bench Division (A.D. are requested to pull down and remove the said 1893), p. 219, and In re Wester, 22 Queen's sunshade.' In English the occupant is requested Bench Division, p. 632, it was clear that to abate a nuisance caused by an awning over in certain cases the Court had power to annul the front of his premises and nothing is said 88 to what the exact nuisance is which a receiving order, just as it might annul priniciples which regulated the latter case,
of adjudication, and that the the existence of the awning gives rise to. Those signed by Mr. Brett state in the Chinese which alone was provided for expressly by the as well as in the English that the sunshade is Ordinance, guided also the Court in dealing old and dirty and that the huisance must be with the annulment of a receiving order. Inmoved. All the same, those who presented
were unanimous.
an order
ung
2