CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. and mounted on beautifully carved ivory rollers and suspended by silken cords with golden tassels. The silver casket to be presented to the Queen ina magnificent sample of Chinese work- manship, and consists solely of the dragon design. The work is open and splendidly executed, and the exceptionally fine finish to it bears out the statement that its completion occupied six months. The work is backed by royal blue plush, which gives a very pretty effect. The casket presented to His Excellency the Governor is made of teak wood covered with royal blue plush with finely worked silver mountings. The interior of each casket is lined with puffed cream silk. The casket to be presented to the Queen bears the following inscription: 1837-1897. The Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen Empress. Prayer of the Parsee Community of Hongkong. H. N. Mody, President, June 22, 1897." The inscription on the casket presented to Sir William Robinson is as follows:- To H.E. Sir William Robinson, G.C.M.G." The print- ing was done by Messrs. Kelly and Walsh and forms a handsome specimen of typographical workmanship. The caskets were the work of Wang Hing.
February 12, 1898.]
thanksgiving tendered by the mmunity on the auspicious occasion of the D mond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. Tb community is deeply imbued with love and yalty to Her Majesty and the British Govement, and in whatever part of Her Majesty's vast dominions | our lot is cast, it is our privileg to show that loyalty. As a memento of the completion of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's glorious reign, we now offer a humble tribute in the shape of our prayer for the welfare of our august Sovereign, her family, and her Empire. (Applause) The delay in for- warding the prayer has arisen through the length of time consumed in the design and manufacture of the casket. As a small souvenir of the occasion I would further request the favour of the acceptance by Your Excellency of this plush mounted case contain- ing a copy of the scroll of the prayer and thanksgiving. With it we wish Your Ex- cellency all happiness and prosperity in the future and a pleasant voyage home. (Applans..) HIS EXCELLENCY-Mr. Mody, ladies and gentlemen, a second surprise. has fallen upon me. I shall have a great deal of pleasure directly I get home, Mr. Mody, of communicating with Her Majesty's Private Secretary, and telling him that I have in my keeping this magnificent casket, con- taining this most beautiful prayer which you ask me to band to Her Majesty in record of Her Diamond Jubilee. It has given me the greatest possible pleasure to accept this. I only hope that Her Majesty will direct me to deliver it in person, and then I shall be able to tell her of the loyal though small community of Parsees we have in this colony of Hongkong. I have a great deal of pleasure in accepting this. I do not know whether it comes under the regula-Governor. tions at all,-(laughter)—but I shall have great pleasure in placing it in my drawing room when I get home. I shall never forget the kindness of Mr. Mody himself and the courtesy and respect which the Parsee community has always shown to me. (Applause.)
CIFEERS FOR HIS EXCELLENCY. Sir JOHN CARRINGTON--I suppose a cere- mony like this would not be complete without giving three British cheers for His Excellency.
The cheers were most enthusiastically given.
ON BOARD THE PREUSSEN.
On leaving the City Hall His Excellency at once proceeded to Bank wharf, where a guard- of honour composed of men of the King's Own Lancaster Regiment was drawn up. They pre- sented arms on the arrival of the Governor, who then went on board his launch Victoria, which conveyed him to Kowloon.. The steamer was crowded with people and as the Governor stepped on board the Preussen band played
God Save the Queen," all of the officers standing to attention the while. Several resid- ents trusted to the Fame to take them off to the Preussen in good time, but owing to faulty arrangements there was considerable delay and the passengers arrived on board only just in time to wish Sir William goodbye. As the steamer, which was flying the Union Jack, left the wharf there was much chering and waving of handkerchiefs from numerous launches and each vessel that was passed dipped its flag. Another salute was fired as the Preus- sen neared the man-of-war anchorage. She made two attempts to turn round in order to go out by Sulphur Channel, but owing to the strong tide she had to leave by way of Lyemoon
Pass.
THE CHINESE ADDRESS. The album containing the Chinese address is of green plush silver-mounted covers, four of the corners being of dragon design and the other four of bamboo design.. The following inscription is engraved on a silver plate:- "Presented to H. E. Sir William Robinson, G.C.M.G., from the Chinese Community of Hongkong, January, 1898." The address is printed in three colours-chocolate, green, and gold,
THE PARSEE PRESENTATIONS,
The prayer which the Parsee community have sent to her Majesty the Queen, and a copy of which they yesterday presented to His Excel- lency the Governor, was offered up on the occasion of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee and published at the time. It was printed on satin in chocolate, green, and gold, with the rising sun at the head,
SWEARING IN MAJOR-GENERAL BLACK AS-
ACTING GOVERNOR.
Yesterday afternoon a special meeting of the Executive Council, at which the members of the Legislative Council were invited to be present, was held at the Council Chamber for the purpose of swearing in His Excellency Major-General Black, C.B., (Officer command ing the Regular Forces), as officer administering of the Governor elect. Sir John Carrington the Government of Hongkong until the arrival (Chief Justice) administered the oath and then congratulated His Excellency the Acting
Yesterday afternoon a Government Gazette Extraordinary was issued: containing the fol- lowing notification.
It is hereby notified that His Excellency the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Sir William Robinson, G.C.M.G., having left the colony this day,
His Excellency Major-General Wilsone Black, C.B., was thereafter duly sworn in by His Honour the Chief Justice in the presence of the Executive Council, and assumed the administration of the Government.
SUPREME COURT.
7th February.
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION.
BEFORE SIR JOHN CARRINGTON (CHIEF
JUSTICE) AND A Special Jury.
GORHAM V. BENJAMIN, KELLY, AND POTTE.
95
His Lordship-A Bank manager's duties are very important in a commercial community.
Mr. Francis-I will leave the matter in your Lordship's hands, but Mr. Thurburn is quite a satisfactory juryman as far as we are.
concerned.
His Lordship Oh, I quite agree with thất, (To Mr. Thurburn.) If you wish to go we will get another juryman.
The name of Mr. Thomas Jackson was then called, but Mr. Jackson was not in Court,
7
His Lordship-With regard to Mr. Jackson he has already applied to be excused.
much
Mr. Francis-I submit, my Lord, that such proceedings are not justified at all. The other gentlemen who have been summoned од the jury have probably as claim to have their interests served as Mr. Jackson or Mr. Thurburn. I thought there was some special reason in the case of Mr. Thurburn-insufficiency of hands in the office..
His Lordship-The ground on which I ex- cused Mr. Jackson was that his duties are of great inportance in a commercial community and of such importance as not to justify him being detained in court several days.
Mr. Francis-That is a question for the Legislative Council and not for this Court,
His Lordship-Mr. Francis, the question is one for me to decide.
Mr. Francis-If your Lordship thinks so I have nothing further to say.
His Lordship-I shall exercise my discretion in the matter..
Mr. B. Layton was then called in place of Mr. Thurburn, who had left the jury box.
Mr. Layton-My Lord, I have no one to look after my particular work and I wish to be excused.
His Lordship, in excusing Mr. Layton, said -What I said in regard to Mr. Thurburn was that he might stand by to see if we could get. any juryman.
Mr. C. C. Cohen was the next name called to fill the only vacancy.
Mr. Cohen-I have no one to look after my work at all.
His Lordship-Mr. Thurburn had better go back into the box.
?
Mr. Thorburn then took his seat in the jury box and the case proceeded.
Mr. Slade read the pleadings as follows:- 1.-The plaintiff, the above named Charles. Leary Gorham, is an assistant in the office of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and is resident in Victoria, Hongkong.
2. The defendants are also resident in Vio- toria and trade and carry on business in co- partnership together as share brokers under, the style or firm name of 'Benjamin, Kelly and Potts.
3. The plaintiff has since the first day of. April, 1896, frequently employed the defendants In this case the plantiff, Charles Leary Gor
as share brokers to buy and sell for him shares ham, is an assistant in the Office of the Pacific of various Companies and Banks at the most Mail Steamship Company, and the defendants, favourable prices and the defendants, have S. S. Benjamin, E. S. Kelly, and G. H. Potts, bought and sold for the plaintiff for reward sharebrokers carrying on business in partner. to be paid by the plaintiff to the defendantsTM ship in Hongkong. The plaintiff claims (1) that shares to the value of $1,030,000 or thereabouts chases of shares by the defendants for the plain-since the said 1st day of April, 1896; and they an account may be taken of all sales and pur- in the whole at divers times and in divers parcels tiff as his brokers, and of all monies received and have furnished to the plaintiff on occasion of paid by the defendants for or on account of the each such sale or purchase an account showing plaintiff from the 1st April, 1896, to 15th the amount to be received or paid on the March, 1897, and (2) that the defendants may sale or purchase by the plaintiff to or from be ordered to pay to the plaintiff such amounts,
them and the plaintiff has at all times up be found to be due from tl defendants to the being true and faithful statements of the trans- if any, as upon the taking of such account shall
to November last accepted such accounts as plaintiff with interest on the several amounts actions of which they professed to be accounts tively due and payable. from the dates when the same became respec- and has settled with the defendants on the
basis of such accounts.
Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C., and Mr. M. W. Slade (instructed by Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist) appeared for the plaintiffs; Mr. W. V. Drummond and Mr. H. E. Pollock (instructed by Messrs. Johnson, Stokes, and Master) ap peared for the defendants.
The special jurors were-Messrs. N. A. Siebs, H. H. Kirch, J. Andrew, G. C. Anderson, J. Tburbura, H. N. Mody, and W. Poate. jury were being empannelled.
An interesting discussion arose while the
His Lordship With regard to Mr. Thurburn, I think as he is a Bank manager he ought to be relieved if possible.
Mr. Fraucis-He is such a thoroughly satis- factory juryman that we would like to retain him.
4. On or about the 6th November last the plaintiff instructed the defendants to sell at the China Steam Navigation Company, Limited, best price obtainable 100 shares in the Indo- and on the 7th November, 1896, the defendants rendered an account to the plaintiff of à sale by them of the said 100 shares at $10 and paid to him a sum of $3,950 in respect thereof being the price of the said shares at $40 less their broker- age of 50 cents per share. As a matter of fact the defendants sold the said shares on the said 6th day of November at $41 per share.
5.-On or about the 19th November last the plaintiff instructed the defendants to sell for him 50 shares in the West Point Building Company, Limited, at the best price obtainable