May 27, 1896.]
But if the jury believed the evidence of the police he did not think they would arrive at that conclusion as it would be proved that there were three separate fires on the ground floor. He then referred to the insurance of the pre- mises and said at the date of the fire there were two policies outstanding in two different com. panies. One was taken out in the Northern In- surance Company, for which Messrs. Bradley & Co. were agents, on the 11th May, 1894, for the sum of $2,500-$2,000 on the goods and $500 on the furniture and fittings. That policy was renewed on the 11th May, 1895, and therefore expired on 11th May, 1896. some three weeks after the day of the fire. The second policy was taken out in the Magdeburg Fire Insurance Company, for which Messrs. Sander & Co. were agents, on the 25th March this year (abont a month before the fire) for the sun of $3,500— $2,000 on the goods, 8500 on the furniture and fittings, and $1,000 on clothing, In conclusion he submitted that the premises were deliberately and intentionally set fire to and with the connivance of the people inside the house at
the time.
Witnesses were then called and examined by Mr. Francis.
Yim Wa, a rice pounder, who was asleep on the ground floor on the night of the fire, repeated his evidence as given at the Police Court.
Mr. Prosser put in plans of the premises, which he described in detail.
The Court then adjourned.
22nd May.
THE CHARGES OF ARSON.
The trial was resumed of Tsung Tse Chap and Lau Wai Chin, masters of 41, Praya West, who are charged with wilfully setting fire to their premises on the night of the 22nd April.
Hon. H. E. Pollock (Acting Attorney-General) and Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C., appeared to pro- secute, being instructed by Mr. A. B. Johnson (Crown Solicitor), Mr. E. Robinson (instructed by Mr. J. Hastings) defended the prisoners, and Mr. H. L. Dennys was present to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Insurance Com- panies interested.
prosecu-
Additional evidence was given for the tion and P. S. Macaulay spoke to being the first fireman on the scene. He described 'the whereabouts of the outbreak and said that soon after his arrival he saw a tin containing kero- sine fall from the top floor.
Į
Inspector Witchell spoke to examining the premises after the fire and finding tins contain- ing kerosine and pea-nut oil on the floors, while firewood and joss paper. bedding, and other articles had been saturated with kerosine.
One of the pots of peanut oil was produced in Court and on the lid being removed a most disgusting odour was wafted all over the Court and everyone applied their handkerchiefs to their noses. The lid was replaced as soon as pos sible, but it was some minutes before the traces of the abominable stench were entirely removed by the swinging punkahs.
The hearing was continued on the 23rd and was then adjourned until to-day (27th).
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Sanitary Board was held at the offices on the 21st May.
Hon. F. A. Cooper (Director of Public Works) presided, and there were also present-Dr. Atkinson (Acting Colonial Surgeon), Mr. H. B. Lethbridge (Acting Captain Superintendent of Police), Mr. N. J. Ede, and Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
- PLAGUE AT CANTON,
The Colonial Secretary forwarded the follow. ing letters from H.B.M. Cousul at Canton concerning the prevalence of bubonic plague.
H.B.M. Consulate, Canton, 12th May, 1896. Sir,-Referring to previous reports, I have the honour to inform you that there is no abatement of bubonic plague in the city of Canton and its suburbs. During the five days, 7th to 11th May, I had the coffins leaving the north gates counted. The average number was
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
80, which, allowing for the other gates, the suburbs, aud Honam, probably represents a total mortality of at least 240 per diem iu a population of a million and a half. The city magistrates have issued another joint proclama- tion enjoining the cleaning of the streets.-I have, etc.,
E. H. FRASER, Acting Consul. The Colonial Secretary, Hongkong.
The following minutes were attached;- The Health Officer-This represents a death rate of 55 per 1,000 per annum, and indicates the extensive prevalence of fatal epidemic, presumably plague, from which deaths at the rate of about 00 per week at least are occurring, in addition to the ordinary death rate.
some
The President--Is anything going to be done as to restriction of traffic as recommended by the Board months ago ?
H.B.M. Consulate.
445
must be grounds for some of these complaints and I submit that an effort should be made to induce per- sons to come forward and give evidence. As far as P.C. 103 is conserned I can state that he came before me immediately after Mr. Danby's letter appeared in the papers and stated that he could satisfactorily answer all the charges alleged against him. I in- formed him that the case would be dealt with by the Sanitary Board. The constable has a clean defaulter sheet and bears a good character.
•
The President-When persons allege that certain facts have come within their personal knowledge one expects to find that their statements concerning them are something more than mere hearsay and in against certain of the Board's officers are most un view of the inquiries made Tecnsider the charges made
justifiable and contemptible.
•
The Secretary-With reference to Mr. Wm. Danby's letter in the English daily papers of the Colony, I think it desirable to lay before you the facts, in so far as the remarks therein refer to me Cantou, 18th May, 1896.
personally. On Saturday afternoon. Mr. Ede called Sir-Referring to previous reports, I have at the office and said that Mr. Danby had made cer- the honour to inform you that the bubonic tain definite statements to him, declaring that in a plague has abated very considerably during narrow street which he called "Egg Lane," but the past week in Canton and its suburbs, very which is really Wing Sing Street. We went into few cases being brought to the Chinese Free-four shops, in the lack part of which there were Hospital. Steps are being taken to keep the cocklofts about seven feet above the ground floor. streets free of filth and rubbish, and a free Bearing in mind that certain cocklofts had to have a dispensary has been opened by the Board of clear space of nine feet below and eight feet above, Reorganisation in the southern suburb. The remarked that the cocklofts we had just looked at plague is, however, reported to be raging in appeared to be illegal, but that before making any Sainam near Samshui, on the West River.-I definite statement I would refer to the Notifications dealing with the subject of granting permission for the continuance of cocklofts. This I invariably do when a question about cocklofts occurs, because the Notifications are not easily retained correctly in one's memory, Mr. Danby then went to No. 90,
have. &c..
E. H. FRASER,
Acting Consul.
The Colonial Secretary, Hongkong. THE ALLEGED CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION OF Bonham Strand, and showed us that cocklofts stand-
SANITARY REGULATIONS.
Colonial Secretary's Office.
15th May, 1896.
Sir, I am directed to forward for the in- formation of the Sanitary Board the enclosed letter addressed to the China Mail by Mr. W. Danby on the subject of the cleansing of the city, and to state that His Excellency the Gov- erner desires that a strict enquiry may be made at once into the alleged irregularities and the result of the investigation reported for his information.-I have. &c.,
I see
ing over eight feet from the floor had been removed. We passed from No. 90 into No. 88, and there also cocklofts standing over eight feet from the floor had been removed. When leaving these two premises we were asked to enter a shop, where the owner pointed out a place where some shelving had been removed, the reason for which removal he did not understand. On my return to the office I looked at the Notifications Nos. 373 and 407, and at once saw how matters stood, but to clinch the matter I sent for the Inspector of the District and questioned him as to how he read the Notifications and the construction he put upon then. This
in red the part which showed that the cocklofts which he considered were illegal were perfectly legal, and it would have been an illegal act to have re-
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
he did at once and without the slightest hesitation, Colonial Secretary. showing to me that he was perfectly conversant The following minutes were appended-- with this part of his duties. I took him with me Mr. Ede-I have made a comment in the margin and revisited the premises which Mr. Danby had of the draft letter re two paragraphs. The first leaves shown to Mr. Ede and myself the previous afternoon. an incorrect impression as it is how worded and the Whilst making this second visit I told the tenant last paragraph I would omit because I think Mr. of No. 90, Bonham Strand to call at my office and I -
would explain to him the reasons for the action Danby was actuated by a desire in get matters set right which he thought were going wrong.
taken, and which he so glibly professed not to under- no mention in this about the ceiling we suw in Pon-stand. On Monday morning I sent to Mr. Danby ham Strand which had been removed and about which a copy of Notification No. 373 of 1895, underlining the man complained. It had evidently been a large piece of ceiling and at a considerable height froin the floor, judging from the holes in the wails where the joints had rested. Mr. MacCallum said he would
moved them. Mr. Danby has either failed to see about it. I do not consider the investigation in grasp the meaning of the Notification or he is this case complete. Surely there must have Feen guilty of a gross misrepresentation of the few remarks witnesses to these operations complained of who could
I made to him on the subject with which the have been called. Mr. Danby distinctly says in his Notification deals. I also sent a copy of the Noti- letter to the Press that he sue all kinds of ) erishable fication to Mr. Ede, with a note explaining that the and valuable goods leing treated in a rough manner
cocklofts in Wing Sing Street were in accordance with the law. The tenant of No. 90, Bouham Strand and dirty water from washing verandahs allowed to run into cargo and stock-in-trade. This is evidence called to see me on Monday; together with six which is good until it is rebutted by letter. Ax or seven others. I carefully explained to them regards the statement of the complainant denied by the reason why their cocklofts had been removed, P.C. 103, I am inclined to believe the complainant, viz., that they had a combination of cubicles because as a rule Chinese are very unwilling to make and cocklofts, and that the cocklofts had not the space below them which the law demands. specific complaints against specific individuals for fear of after trouble. I look upon the complaint of They seemed to clearly comprehend the position. ill usage as the principal point in Mr. Danby's letter Some of them said they wished to re-erect their to the Press. The legality or illegality of cocklofts cocklofts, and they were told there was no reason can generally he decided by direct inqui, out there why they should not receive permission to do so in have been a good many complaints lately of rough accordance with the law if they applied for such treatment, one way and another, and to my mind permission. One of the men talked very volubly the results of the inquiries made have not been satis-about the damag to his goods, which he estimated factory. I may mention that complaints of this nature have several times reached us from different independent quarters and I can hardly think they are all untrue.
at $1,000. I told i he had better specify the actual damage done and apply for compensation, but that $1,000 was a considerable sum of money and he would have to show clearly and distinctly how he arrived at that round figure. He somewhat
The Acting Colonial Surgeon-There are two de fite charges by Mr. Danby, one that the stock-in-impertinently replied that trade was damaged by dirty water from the verandahs, the other that he received abuse from this P. C. 103. As far as I can see neither of them ha een answered. Te Acting Captain Superintendent of Police-It is much to be regretted that persons are so fearful about giving evidence which would materially assist the Board to get at the real truth. I should like to see the case more thoroughly sifted, but if evidence is not forthcoming I cannot suggest any alteration in the President's proposed reply. I fear there
be would make
a claim, but that if the Board would not accept his claim in full he would put the matter in the hands of his solicitor. I at once told him that if these were his views he had better go to his solicitor at once and let the point be determined in a court of law and that I reber could nor would listen to. such statements frous. It is perfectly true that on several occasions when Chinese have come to this office expressing a desire to cleanse their own premises that I have told them that was just