us information on the matter. That informa- tion will be quite sufficient for the Government if it thinks proper to appoint a Commission.
Mr. COUGHTRIE-In regard to what you have just observed, the matter appears to me in exactly the same light. I think that certain facts should be brought out by the Committee of the Justices and represented to the Govern ment. Upon these facts the Government may appoint a Commission with the fullest powers. My idea is that if the Justices elect a Commit- tée of seven and take evidence there will be something for the Government to go npon: At present there is nothing to lay before the Government in a tangible form. I have a list of names here and I therefore beg. to propose another amendment:- That Hon. H. E. Wodehouse, Rev. R. F. Cobbold, Dr. Hartigan, Mr. N. J. Ede, Mr. C. S. Sharp, Mr. D. R. Crawford, and Mr. H. L. Dalrymple form a Commission of seven to obtain all the information they can on this matter and report to the general body of Justices.
Mr. DALRYMPLE-May I ask if the Govern ment would itself give powers to any Committee in the collation of facts ?
The CHAIRMAN-Of course I am unable to answer that.
Mr. COUGHTRIE-We are here at the request of the Government for the purpose of making a recommendation to the Government, and I am of opinion--
The CHAIRMAN-I think the Government would like general facts.
Mr. COUGHTRIE-How can we get them unless we have the power? (Applause).
The CHAIRMAN-What I suggested was that the officers of the Navy and Army and the Mercantile Marine would be able to supply us with the necessary facts sufficient for the Government to take action upon.
Mr. COUGHTRIE-I am afraid the Committee
would like wider information than that.
The CHAIRMAN-We wilkleave it to the Committee to deal with the matter as they choose.
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Mr. MOSES seconded Mr. Conghtrie's amend- ment.
A
Mr. HERBERT SMITH-I should like to say that it seems to me that with every amendment we are getting further and farther away from the main issue, (Applause.) The Justices have plainly pointed out to the Government what they consider should be done and I am sorry to say that the Government, as usual, have shirked their responsibility and referred the matter back to the Justices of the Peace. It seems to me that though we are all agreed that the Government have the necessary machinery and should have every wish to put an Ordin- ance in force to try and ameliorate this trade in inferior drink, that as the Justices have been distinctly asked they should act at once, and I would suggest to the gentleman who proposed the first resolution that he might amend it by moving that the Justices now appoint five gentlemen, whose names shall be submitted to the Government, to inquire into and report upon the traffic in these liquors on condition that they are given all the powers of a Government Commission, (Applause.) I may say that two members of the Government might be put on the Com- mittee, as, for instance, Mr. Wodehouse and
Dr. Clark or Mr. McCallum.
Mr. INCHBALD supported the suggestion, Dr. HARTIGAN, the mover of the first reso- lution, said he consented to the alteration being made as suggested by Mr. Herbert Smith. The resolution would then read "that the Committee consist of five members and that the Govern- ment add two members thereto."
Mr. HERBERT SMITH-Leave that last part out. We will do it ourselves. The minuto distinctly says the Government wish us to appoint the Committee. Why not do it?
Dr. HARTIGAN-I was informed that the objection to that would be that if we ask for the powers of a Commission we must have Govern. ment members.
Dr. STEDMAN-We can appoint two officials from amongst ourselves.
The CHAIRMAN then put Mr. Coughtrio's amendment to the meeting.
Four Justices voted for it and twenty-two against,* The amendment was therefore lost,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND.
The amendment proposed by Mr. Dalrymple was then put to the meeting and lost by 10
votes to 22.
The following, original resolution was then put to the meeting and carried nuanimously:- That this meeting appoint five members to enquire into the question of the working of the liquor laws of this colony, and that the Gov. ornment be requested to give such Committee the powers of a Commission."
[January 27, 1898. prevented her from leaving, as she had to go into dock to have considerable repairs effected. She was struck right aft by the forward star- board side of the Powan, and her wheel box and gear were shattered, her rudder head. smashed and the rudder broken, part of the gunwale was carried away, a boat splintered, The wooden and other damage was done. wharf, too, had a number of its supports wrecked, causing about thirty or forty feet of the wharf to take a precipitate dip into the
Mr. SMITH proposed and Mr. EDE seconded that the following Committee be appointed-water. Hon. H.E. Wodehouse, Dr. Hartigan, Mr. H. McCallum, Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C., and. Rer. R. F. Cobbold.
Carried.
This was all the business and a vote of thanks to the Chairman having been passed the pro- ceedings concluded.
THE BRITISHI FLEET.
THE SOUTHERN DIVISION AT CHUSAN; THE NORTHERN DIVISION AT CHEMULPO. [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DAILY PRESS.'
Shanghai, 25th January.
The Grafton with Rear-Admiral Fitzgerald on board, the Narcissus, Undaunted, Rainbow, Daphne, l'haniz, Redpole, and Iphegenia are at Chemulpo.
The Centurion, with Admiral Buller on board, and Humber are at Chusan: the Alacrity, Handy, Hart, Immortalité, Algerine,
The Pique is at Shanghai.
MARITIME DISASTER AT SHANGHAI.
[SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE " DAILY PRESS."]
Shanghai, 25th January..
day.
THE SITUATION.
The Powar of course had her share of damage. and she is at present in the Dock Company's hands for extensive repairs. The forward part of the boat on the starboard side was split into matek wood, pillars supporting the upper deck were snapped, two sleeping cabins, which luckily were empty at the time, were crushed out of shape, and a protective iron plate was doubled
up.
Five firemen on the Powan had a miraculous escape from death. `The collision stove in the starboard anchor, which broke through the woodwork and fell quite close to five firemen who were sleeping in the forecastle. These men were buried beneath the anchor and the splintered timbers, and when after about five minutes work they were rescued it was found that beyond a few cuts and scratches they had sustained no injuries. A lady and gentle- man occupied a cabin on the port side, but for tunately they escaped unhurt, while the Chinese passengers aft suffered no injuries at all.
We do not know if anyone is to blame for the collision, but there is considerable difference of opinion on a very important point. It was a dark, clear night and lights could be easily discerned. The captain and second off- cer were on the bridge of the Poward as she was steaming slowly up the fairway to her
The Chinese tugboat Kongnam was burnt and beached in this harbour before daylight to-wharf. We understand that they say no light was shown at the stern of the Kwanglee and that she was projecting about thirty feet from the wharf and so hid the light which was shin- ing at the end of the wharf. The consequence was that it was not until the Powan was close upon the Kwanglee that the danger was ob- serred. It was then either too late to avoid a collision or the wheelman misunderstood an order given by the captain. On the other hand an officer on the Kwanglee says that his boat was lit-up like a house afire:"
}
Athough the political situation in the Far East still seems to be in an unsettled condition no uneasiness appears to be entertained in the London money market, as is indicated by the latest quotations, which are as follows:- pr cent. Chinese Loan, 101; 5 per cent. Japanese Loan, 101; Consols, 112).
Letters have lately been received in Hong- kong from officers. on board British vessels at present in Chemulpo. The writers all speak most feelingly of the biting frosts they have experienced, 27 degrees of frost being the usual Cruising under state of the thermometer. these circumstances must appear to the ordinary landsman to have its drawbacks, but each war- ship to her taste.
*
THE “POWAN" ASHORE.- About eight o'clock on Wednesday evening, 19th January, the steamer Powcan stuck on the mud at the second bar in the Canton River as she was coming to Hongkong, The weather was hazy at the time. On Thurs day morning the passengers were transferred to the steamer Honam and brought to Hong- kong, where they arrived in the afternoon. Just now the tides are very low in the river, but the Powan was got off on Thursday night, No damage was done to the steamer aud the service was not interrupted, as it was main- tained by the other steamers of the line.
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THE “POWAN” AND
LER
KWANG-
IN COLLISION.
REMARKABLE ESCAPES. About ten minutes past one o'clock on Tuesday morning, 25th Jan., the Hongkong, Canton, and Macao steamboat Company's steamer Powan collided with the China Merchants Company's steamer Kwanglee at the latter Company's wharf. The crack and crash of the collision caused such a tremendous noise that many people were dis- turbed in their slumber, and their first thoughts were doubtless of an earthquake or at least a thunderstorm.
The Kwanglee was stationed at the wharf at the time and she was to have left port at eight "o'clock yesterday morning, but the accident
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DHE NEW PUBLIC OFFICES.
The following further papers respecting, the proposed new Government offices were laid be fore the Legislative Council yesterday:
SECRETARY OF STATE. TO GOVERNOR.
Downing Street,
9th October, 1897. Sir; I have the honour to forward, for your consideration, the enclosed copy of a report by the consulting architects on the plans of the proposed new Government buildings at Hong-· kong,
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2. In view of this report I consider that the general arrangement of the buildings should be further carefully considered by you, and if you are prepared to recommend the adoption of the Webb & Boll, I suggestions of Messrs. request that you will send home revised outline or sketch plans to be again referred to the consulting architects
3.-These plans should show clearly the general arrangements proposed, but need not give details or be highly finished up; the details can be proceeded with when the further report from the consulting architects is received.—I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
SELBORNE. for the Secretary of State. Governor Sir W. Robinson, G.C.M.G.
&c.,
F
&c.,
:
&c.,
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MESSRS. ASTON WEBB AND E. INGRESS BELL TO GROWN AGENTS. 19, Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, S.W.,
September 15, 1897. Gentlemen, Having carefully considered the matter and after two interviews with Mr. Gale, we beg to report as follows:
We are of opinion that the best method of providing a secure foundation for the buildings is by piling with hard wood piles as proposed,
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