July 15, 1897,]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
A SCANDAL IN THE POLICE FORCE. | trying to "make" them, whereas while the
We feel ourselves bound, in the interests of the public service, to make known a painful rumour which has been most persistently bruited in the colony during the last few
to give them a wide berth. This argument dangers are unlighted shipmasters attempt does not find much favour with the_mer- cantile marine, and apparently the Board of Trade has become convinced of its un-
SUPREME COURT.
8th July.
IN APPELLATE JURISDICTION.
45
days. From time to time one hears rumours | soundness, or, if not itself convinced, has BEFORE THE FULL COURT-SIR JOHN CAR-
occur a certain
yielded to the pressure of public opinion. It ever be regarded as a source of danger, but seems paradoxical that a lighthouse should it is nevertheless a fact that of the total num- ber of wrecks that proportion must be set down to vessels striking while trying to "make" lights, and it is held that in some positions the danger that would result from the existence of light- houses more than counterbalances any ser- vice they might render to navigators. Ship- masters, however, who ought to be the best judges in the matter, have long desired a light on Socotra, and the decision of the Board of Trade to proceed with the work must therefore be hailed with satisfaction. Whether a light would have made any difference in the case of the Aden it is impossible to say until details are received, but it appears at least possible that in the cyclonic weather experienced a light might have proved of no practical utility to the unfortunate vessel.
RINGTON (CHIEF JUSTICE) AND MR. A. G. WISE (PUISNE JUDGE).
W. JACKSON, APPELLANT, V. A. PREDDLE, RESPONDENT.
8p.
of an extraordinary nature which have ab- solutely no stable foundation to support them and they are soon dissipated and forgotten; but in the present instance the rumour has come from various sources, two of which are of moderate reliability, and it is because of the substance of truth that apparently underlies it that we make it public. The rumour is that when the Captain Su- perintendent of Police and Acting Chief Inspector MACKIE raided the gambling house in Wa Lane nearly three weeks ago a book was found containing the names of certain police and other officials who had been paid hush money; further, that it is a rule for keepers of gambling houses to pay bribes in order that the word shall be passed to them when a raid by the police is intended. Is the rumour true or not? In regard to the book an immediate answer can be made, and the truth of the second part of the rumour perhaps in a measure depends upon the nature of that answer. Many years ago it was found that bribery amongst the police force had eaten into the very root of the service and that small fortunes were made in a very short time, but we sincerely trust this pernicious and most dangerous system does not now exist. It is said, in support of the rumour, that bribes amount- ing to as much as $200 a day are paid by one gambling house alone. It is almost inconceivable that this can be true, and yet, if bribes are really paid, one can understand that a gambling house keeper would be pre- pared to pay large amounts in order to en- aure his own safety and the safety of Lis pumerous clients. We again ask, is it true that such a book has been seized ? If so we are quite sure that His Excellency the be as usefully employed in the 'discovery and was at Shanghai. Plaintiff communicated overnor, for the sake of the Hongkong | of reefs. We would suggest to the Com-with Allinson and obtained an affidavit from him
public service, will at once order a strict and impartial inquiry to be. held to thoroughly investigate the matter. What the Captain Superintendent of Police said about the rumour concerning the Sanitary Board subordinates we say about the present rumour: "If the thing “does not exist, well and good; if it does consequences will ensue." We hope the
**
rumour is false.
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[Since the above appeared in our daily issue several police officers have been suspended from duty pending further inquiry.]
THE LIGHTING OF SOCOTRA.
Referring to a recent Reuter's telegram stating that the Board of Trade would spare no pains to overcome the difficulties hitherto attending the lighting of Cape Guardafui and Socotra, the N. C. Daily News remarks:- It seems a ghastly thing to say that it required the loss of a P. & O. steamer to wake up the Government to the im- 'perative need of lighthouses on Cape "Guardafui and Socotra; but, ghastly as it "is, it is the fact." We must confess we fail to see the appositeness of the term ghastly." That, however, is by the way. As a matter of fact, the question, had pre- viously engaged the serious attention of the authorities, and one reason why an attempt to overcome the difficulties of establishing lighthouses had not already been made was the idea entertained in certain quarters that if established they would do more harm than good, as vessels would run into danger in
THE UNEBI-KAN REEF. Captain Hodgins' suggestion that a gra- tuity should be given to the fishermen of the Pescadores to induce them to point out the reef on which the Unebi-kan is supposed to have been lost is practical and should be acted upon. The Hongkong Chamber of Commerce has a fund called the "Pinnacle Rock Fund," which has not been drawn on for many years and which now amounts to nearly three thousand dollars. This fund was established to provide rewards for Chinese fishermen reporting the existence of uncharted pinnacle rocks, but it might
14
mittee of the Chamber that they should remind the Admiral of the existence of the fund and inform him that it may be drawn upon by the Com- manders of any of Her Majesty's ships when useful information as to dangers to navigation may thereby be secured from the natives. That a reef exists in the locality mentioned by Captain HODGINS there can be no doubt, and it is of the first importance to shipping trading in these waters that its position should be accurately determined.
Agency, moved for leave to appeal from the Mr. W. Jackson, manager of Bell's Asbestos decision of the Puisne Judge in an action he brought against A. Preddle, of the East Point Dairy Farm. The motion was heard ex-parte.
Mr. M. W.
Slade (instructed by Mr. he moved for leave to appeal on a question of Wilkinson) appeared for the appellant and said fact from a decision given by Mr. Justice The hearing of the case was as long ago as Wise in the Court of Summary Jurisdiction. 20th May, and the Court was empowered to give leave to appeal if application was made Court could also in its discretion grant leave within seven days of the hearing; but the under exceptional circumstances after the ex- piration of that time. Therefore their Lord- ships had full power to entertain this plication. The action was for the recovery of a dog and the evidence was solely of identification of the dog, which was pro- duced in court. The position the defendant took up was that this dog was given to him and that he was entitled to keep it. He adduced the that this dog was found by him or was given to evidence of a man named Touleman, who swore him by a man named Allinson at the end of September or the beginning of October last and that he gave it to Preddle, the defendant and respondent, in the beginning of January last. Mr. Jackson swore that he lost the dog some time in January. The defendant's evidence took the plaintiff entirely by surprise and on judgment being given against him he took steps had not in the least anticipated. He discovered to test the truth of the statements, which he that Allinson, who had been for some time in the Ordnance Store Department, had left to join the Imperial Maritime Customs of China
that this dog was found by him in the begin- ning of January. He fixed the date by its being remained in bis possession for some days and shortly before he was taken ill. The dog he gave it to the man Tonleman, who, according to the evidence in the court below, gave it to defendant. The affidavit, if it was correct, meant an absolute denial of the statements Counsel asked for leave to appeal on the ground on behalf of the defendant in the court below. that evidence which could not be adduced in the court below could be adduced now.
The Chief Justice said the most convenient course would be to serve a notice of motion on the other side for leave to appeal by way of re- hearing. He added that the question whether THE AREA OF EXEMPTION FROM the Court would entertain the application
LEKIN.
In an article in last week's issue reference was made to the clause in the Chefoo
Convention by which the Foreign Con-
cessions were to be the area of ex-
having regard to the length of time would have to be argued, and he fixed Monday, at 11 o'clock, for the hearing of the motion.
6th July.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION,
emption from lekin. It ould be men- tioned that by clause 1 of the Opium BEFORE MR. A. G. WISE (PUISNE JUDGE.) ↑ Agreement it was provided that this arrange-
ment should be "reserved for further con- "sideration between the two Governments," so that the arrangement is not legally claim and exercise the right to levy lekin operative, but the Chinese nevertheless anywhere outside the limits of the Conces- sions.
It is reported from the newly-opened port of Shasi that a severe epidemic is raging there, and that already a large number of people have succumbed to the disease. Whole families are
reported to have been cut down within three or four days of the first attack. The epidemic is stated to have also spread across the river into Wuchang.-N. C. Daily News.
T
WONG KUNG V. TAM CHUN. from the defendant for malicious prosecution.
Plaintiff brought an action to recover damages
M. W. Slade for the defendant.
Mr. Gedge appeared for the plaintiff and Mr.
The following jury tried the case :-Messrs. P. Morris, H. Cook, and A. Bune.
Mr. H. Baxter, of the Bank of China and Japan, was called as a juror and he asked to be excused. He explained that one of the staff, Mr. Gaskell, served on a jury for the best part of a week quite recently and he had been laid up with fever.
His Lordship-Is he sick now ? Mr. Baxter-He is not.
His Lordship-I cannot help his past sick-