May 29, 1897.]
A. M. Essabhoy
H. A. Asger & H. Esmail
Fairall & Co.
Palmer & Turner
Burnie & Goddard...
75
75
50 50
50
50
50
...
50
Kinghorn & Macdonald
Carmichael & Co.
More & Seimund
W. Brewer & Co.
J. L. Chuttoo.
50
50
50
50
N. D. Ollia
Mehta & Co.
Mahomed Haja Essack Ellias
50
C. A. Camroodin
Lamke & Rogge
Erich Georg
Surg-Col. Evatt
W. J. Saunders
W. H. Ray
Dinshaw & Co
Col. Elsdale
C. D. Wilkinson
Dr. Jordan
50
50
50
50 50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
B. Byramjee
Rev. R. F. Cobbold...
Officers Hongkong Regiment
42
Col. E, H. Gorges
30
Bell's Asbestos Eastern Agency, Ld.
25
T. Sercombe Smith
25
Fletcher & Co....
25
J. M. E. Machado
25
A. S. Gomės
25
Augusto J. do Rozario
25
Francisco A. Gomes
25
Augusto J. Gomes
25
J. J. Leiria
25
25
M. A. A. Souza
Martel & Co.
F. J. V. Jorge......
J. A. de Carvalho
25*
Girault & Co.
J. M. Armstrong
X. Y. Z.
C: Abdoola & Co.
A. Esmaljee
25
R. C. Vania
H. N. Cooper
E. Niedhardt
Rev: J. B. Martinet
20
Lient. Col. The O'Gorman
Capt. Long
20
Lieut. Col. Noel Clarke
20
J. M. S. Alves
15
15
15
F. D. Guedes
15
C. Danenberg
10
J. M. A. Silva
10
Capt. Mould, R.E.
10
Capt. Carey, R.E.
10
Capt. Langhorne
10
Capt. Thompson
7
Lieut. Heaton
7
Capt. Welman
Capt. Trevelyan
Lient. Randall, R.E.
Lieut. Nugent, R.E.
Lieut. Swan
Lieut. de Vitre, R.E.
$42,363.92
THE GRANITE CHIPPING QUES- TION AGAIN.
Granite dressing formed the subject of another case at the Police Court on Saturday (22nd May.) The defendant was Kang On, contractor, and he was summoned for dressing granite on the Praya when such dressing could have been executed at the quarry. Mr. Looker defended. P.S. Robertson said on the 18th inst. he saw coolies in the employ of the defendant rough dressing granite near a building which is in course of erection on the Praya near new Pedder's Wharf. In answer to Mr. Looker Robertson said that he knew the Government was rough dressing stones, but the police could not summon the Government. Mr. E. M. Hazeland, of the P.W.D., gave it as his opinion that the stone could have been dressed at the Mr. Looker said the defendant had quarry. been allowed to dress stones in this manner for
many years and it was astonishing that the His defence police took such sudden action. was that the stones could not have been dressed at the quarry without rendering them liable to injury. The Magistrate adjourned the case until Thursday in order that some of the stones might be produced.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
At the Magistracy on Thursday, before Mr. H. E. Wodehouse, the hearing was resumed of the summons against Kang On for dressing granite on works on the Praya Reclamation when such dressing could have been done at the quarry without rendering the stone liable to injury.
Mr. H. W. Looker appeared for the defendant. Mr. R. K. Leigh, who was called for the defence, said that it was almost a universal practice to do the rough and the fine dressing at the works, both in Government and private works. The method was for the stone to be rough hewn at the quarries and brought to the nearest point of landing on the Praya, where it was landed and carried to the site by, coolies It was almost impossible to bring fine punched granite over from the quarries without injury. There was a very large quantity of granite stone being used in the construction of the buildings on the lots in question and the patterns were of immense variety and required great nicety and precision in the execution of the design. If the stones had been dressed at the quarries they would certainly have been liable to injury in transit and the contractor was justified in thinking that the stones could not have been further dressed at the quarry with ont running considerable risk in transit. There were plenty of buildings in Hongkong in which the same process of dressing was going on; the Government were erecting several buildings. Almost immediately adjoining this particular property on the Praya Reclamation rough dressing had been going on in a precisely similar manner for five or six years; in fact, in almost every Government work rough dressing was being done on the spot.
By the Magistrate-There was not so much
·liability to risk in the transit of rough dressed stone. Rongh dressing had equally to be done to a gauge as fine dressing, so that if a stone rough dressed was chipped on the corner ever so little no amount of fineness would make that stone of any use. If the stone was packed in straw and cases it could be safely carried, but the expense would be very heavy, so heavy as to be practically prohibitive. Witness had yet to learn that the dressing was a nuisance on this particular work; there were no means of doing it in a quiet way. Such dressing as had been done could not have been done at the quarry without great risk of injury. The stone came from different quarries where there were no masons and no houses.
Mr. Thomas Grimshaw, overseer to Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, was than called as a wit- ness for the prosecution and said he had seven years' practical experience of buildings. There were some stones which it would be impossible to dress at the quarry, but there were others which could be done there; it would de. pend upon the nature of the dressing to be done. He agreed in the main with Mr. Leigh's evidence, but he could not agree with all of it. The stones used in Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's new building were fine dressed at the quarries; one of the quarries was at Samshuipo and the other at Hongham. The stones were transported in the usual way, being cased with wood, and none of them were injured. In regard to some of the stones referred to in this case it would de-
421
TWO FIRES IN HONGKONG.
A CLEAR CASE OF ARSON.
At 1.45 on Friday morning there was a fire at a cigar shop at 231, Queen's Road Central. There is not a shadow of doubt that the out- break was due to a most daring act of in- cendiarism and it is to be sincerely hoped that the police will be able to bring home the guilt to the offender, whoever he may be, for a clearer case could not be imagined. At present one of the masters of the shop and a boy are under deten- tion pending enquiries which are being made by Inspector Kemp, but at present no formal charge has been made against them. The fire was dis- covered by Chinese Constable No. 255, who He was acted in a most commendable manner. passing the shop when he heard an unusual noise and on going into the premises he dis covered that a bedroom partition was on fire in five different places. The constable, whose action deserves the highest praise, at once took steps to extinguish the fires, which apparently had just been started. He took up a cloth door screen and with the aid of this and some water which was served by one or two other policemen succeeded in very quickly smothering the flames. The alarm of course was given and in a very short time an official inspection was made of the premises. The building consists of two floors and it was found that a partition in the bedroom had been bored in two or three places and kerosine-soaked pieces of paper stuffed into the holes. To further aid the immediate spread of the flames the partition had been smothered with kerosine about four feet above the ground in a manner which in- dicated that the culprit had taken a tin of kerosine and poured the contents on the was watering plants. wood just as if he Not only that, but the floor was covered with kerosine and a tin containing kerosine was found at the head of the stairs. The stock was worth about $1,000 and it was insured in the South British Insurance Company for $4,300,
There was also a fire early on Thursday morning and on this occasion Mr. F. H. May, the Captain Superintendent, narrowly escaped serious injury. The fire was discovered at 1.45
a.m., it having broken out at a paper and cracker shop at 71, Jervois Street. The Fire Brigade turned out promptly, but owing to the highly inflammable nature of the contents of the building, which was a three- storied one and extended into Burd Street, the flames soon obtained a firm hold of the premises, which were gutted. The firemen succeeded in to preventing any damage being done the adjoining houses. The place was insured with Messrs. Turner and Co. in the Northern Assurance Company for $15,000. During the progress of the fire Mr. May was directing-
a ladder and as he was de operations on scending a considerable quantity of débris fell near him and he just managed to get out of the way, otherwise he must have sustained very nasty injuries.
4, S. WATSON AND CO., LIMITED.
The twelfth annual ordinary general meeting of A. S. Watson and Co., Limited, was held at noon on Saturday at the offices. Mr. H. Buck pend upon the end for which they were intended as to whether they could be dressed at the presided and there were also present-Mesars. quarry and transported without risk of injury. A. H. Maucell (Secretary), É. K. Chandler, The mere fact of dressing stone at all rendered. S. Hagen, R. Mitchell, E. W, Terry, and the stone more liable to injury than it was before it was dressed.
The Magistrate said that on the evidence of the two witnesses called that day there was sufficient authority for the contractor to carry on dressing at the work instead of at the quarry, The Ordinance said "when such dressing could have been executed at the quarry without rendering the granite or other stone liable to injury during its transport to the place where The overseer said it was required for use." that the mere fact of dressing rendered the stone liable to injury. Under these circum- stances his Worship was of opinion that the dressing can be carried on at the works instead of at the quarry. The summons would there- fore be dismissed.
There was also a similar summons against Chan A-tong, contractor, and this was also dismissed,
J. P. Thomas.
The SECRETARY read the notice calling the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, with your per- mission I will follow the usual custom and consider the report and statement of accounts as read. The General Manager is at present in London, but he has been notified of the pro- posed distribution of profits and has ex- pressed his approval of the same and satisfac- tion with the balance sheet generally. As mentioned in the report, we have experienced a reduction of our profits in the Philippine Islands for the year under review. This, however, is not likely to recur in 1897, as our manager at Manila advises us that since February last the business in his charge has materially improved and the returns in some important departments are larger than he has been able to previously record. There is little further for me to add, but, I think, gentlemen, that the continued payment