136
by disinterested and generous motives, would not be so interpreted by the native races, and possibly even some European nations might
not be disinclined
to
bluff.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
C
be:
during which all who desire a holiday may be at liberty to take it. But in Hongkong the rule with regard to the setting down of cases for hearing is to consult as far as
summer.
were
suggest that their own demonstrations had i possible the convenience of all parties con had something to do in bringing about, cerned, and where the bar is numerically so the final result. In fact, however absurd it small and the amount of legal business is of may seem at the moment, an American such manageable proportions it would seem withdrawal would ultimately come to be a more satisfactory course all round for the regarded as a running away, and an un-
legal gentlemen to arrange the periods of desirable amount of encouragement would their holidays for themselves according to be afforded to the policy of
their inclinations and the exigencies of their Whatever the final settlement may
engagements. The long vacation is fixed, therefore, and even if it be decided that according to the Bill, to extend from the Spanish sovereignty over the Philippines is 20th September to the 17th October, but we to remain unimpaired, it would be desirable should imagine that most people wishing and for American prestige that a preliminary able to take a month's holiday would prefer condition should be the occupation for an
to take it a little earlier in the year so as to agreed period of the city of Manila. The escape more of the fierceness of the summer. city has been at the mercy of Admiral Also a person who has seen Japan, our prin- DEWEY for the last three months, and for cipal holiday ground, in the late summer or our own part we are inclined to think that autumn, might on the next occasion prefer to time his visit in the spring or early the gallant Admiral has made a mistake in not taking it. General MERRITT has since
The Attorney-General says he can find no record showing that the barris- arrived with an army of eleven thousand
ters and solicitors of the colony men, and still the summons to surrender
consulted before the former vacation has not been served upon the Spanish Cota-
was abolished. That, we think, is hardly mander-in-Chief, although there is reason to
an accurate statement of the base.
The believe that had it been served it would
feeling on the subject was 30 notorious have been complied with and that no
that it would have seemed rather bombardment or loss of life would have been necessary; and even had resist superfluous for the Government to have ance been encountered it could not have formally consulted the profession as a body; the Attorney-General of that time must been really serious. But in addition to the bave been thoroughly cognisant of the question of America's prestige her duty general feeling of his fellow lawyers and towards the insurgents has to be considered. have been competent to speak in their She has taken these people by the hand,name, and, moreover, if the profession ha assisted them to success in the field, and objected to the abolition of the vacation encouraged high hopes of future independ they had full opportunity of stating their ence, and she cannot now behave per objection and would assuredly have exercised their right. The fact is that the old vacation Not only can she not do so, but we may be was generally recognised as a fraud, and the well assured that she will not even wish to
new one will soon come to be so recognised do 80.
Although she may not be prepared also. When the Bill of 1882 was introduced to support their claims to complete in- the first idea was to allow the Chief Justice dependence she will certainly take such
to fix the vacations from time to time provis guarantees as will ensure for the Philippinosion being made for facilitating argent busi a reasonably just government and exemp tion from illegal levies by the religious
fidiously towards them and throw them over.
fraternities or official classes.
VACATIONS FOR THE SUPREME
COURT.
"
(6
<
44
(August 13, 1898.
THE POKFULAM RESERVOIR.
(Daily Press, 12th August.) A study of the water supply figures for last month ought to convince everyone of the inexpendiency of the suggested doing away with the Pokfulam reservoir. At the end of July, with more than half the rainy season past, the Tytam reservoir was still unfilled, and it is quite within the hounds of possibility that the deficiency may not be made up
even at the end of the sen- son. Pokfulam, or the other hand, has for a large part of the summer been running over. If the supply, that has been drawn from the latter had had to be drawn from Tytam. the number of gallons in the latter. would be much less than it is and exceptional rains would be required to completely fill the storage capacity. Consequently, without Pokfulam a water famine during the ensuing winter would not only be possible, but almost certain. The selfishness of wealth could not be better exemplified than in this pro- posal to deprive a city of its water supply in order to obtain sites for a few villa residences.
$
ness during the vacation. At present," said, the Attorney-General, it is not per- mitted, except with special leave, or by consent, to file the pleadings, and so business comes to a standstill, which believe is found practically inconvenient, particularly at the present time, when there is a great deal of business and everyone is willing and able to work but is pre- vented from working by this hard and fast rule." Before the Bill came on for second reading the determination had been arrived at that it was desirable to abolish the vacation altogether. The Chief Justice, Sir G. PHILLIPPO, who occupied a seat in Council, said he had consulted Mr. Justice SNOWDEN and they were "of opinion that "whilst the vacation is a considerable loss
to suitors and others engaged in the courti it is really of no importance to the judges or officers." Having shown why it was impossible ever to close the office completely, His Honour went on to say, "Under those "circumstances it seems to me the better plan would be to place the Judges and "officers of the court in the same position as "other officers, that is, that they should get "their vacation when they want it and "when the state of public business allows
ofit." The arguments adduced then are, equally cogent to-day, except that as it is provided in the present Bill that business may go on in the vacation the same as out of it, the measure will be more farcical than actually harmful.
C4
<<
(Daily Press, 8th August). The Supreme Court Vacation Bill, if it will ¦ not prejudicially affect the interests either of suitors or of the general public, as surmised in the Attorney-General's state- ment of the reasons and objects of the measure, will on the other hand not be likely to afford mich relief to the members of the legal profession, at whose instance it has been introduced. Due provision is made that urgent business may go on during the vacation as if no vacation existed, aud those who remember the time when vaca- tions were in force before will no doubt remember also that the vacation was some- times the busiest time of the year, in nc- cordance with the usual contrariness of things. History is not unlikely to repeat it- self in that respect. If the members of the legal profession desire the Bill we see no particular reason why they should not be allowed to have it, but it will not do them any good, nor will they be at all satisfied when they have got it. In England and in colonies where there is a large bar and a correspond ingly large amount of legal business vacations may be considered necessary, because the business of the courts has to pursue its re- gular course and cannot be arranged to suit the individual convenience of the barristers
It is notified in the Gazette that Dr. F. O. and solicitors engaged in it, and it is there. Stedman has been appointed a member of the fore desirable that there should be a perio l' Alcoholic Liquors Commission.
<<
!
:
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR,
SANGUINARY ENCOUNTER AT MALATE.
ELEVEN AMERICANS KILLED AND
FORTY WOUNDED).
HEAVY LOSSES OF THE SPANIARDS.
DEATH OF THE BRITISH CONSUL.
Hongkong. Luth August, Manila is still in the hands of the Spaniards,
made until the Monadnock made her
appearance
or at any rate was when the German steamer Petrarch, which arrived here yesterday, left Manila harbour on Saturday last. The under- standing was that the final move would not be and the American army had received still fur- ther reinforcements. Apparently the Americans cannot altogether rely upon the insurgents, and they wish to make assurance doubly sure by having enough troops to perfectly control and police Manila in the event of any luke- Monterey and the Brutus have already joined warmness on the part of the insurgents. The the fleet, and the remainder of the third expedi- tion reached their destination on Sunday morn ing. July 31st. There are now some 11.000 American troops in the Philippines and it is expected that within a month there will be as many more.
The most important news brought by the Petrarch was the lamented death of the popular
British Consul at Manila, Mr. Rawson Walker, who died of dysentery on Tuesday of last week, and intelligence of a determined attempt on the part of the Spaniards to drive the Americans from the trenches at Malate which, at the re quest of General Greeue, the insurgents had vacated on Friday morning, July 29th. On the
trenches being occupied by a portion of the First California Regiment and four guns of the Utah Batteries it was found to be untenable, and the making of new breastworks was com- menced, work with which the Spaniards do not seem to have seriously interfered. At about teu o'clock on the evening of Sunday week, however, the Spaniards moved forward, and a sharp fight lasting about four hours ensued in through the imprudence of the American troops that the conflict took place. They displayed considerable carelessness in exposing themselves, and led the Spaniards to conclude that they would be able to snatch a momentary advantage
a storm of wind and rain. It is said that it was
on account of the apparent want of order which prevailed. Having got the runge the Spaniards fired with surprising accuracy, and the Ameri- cans vigorously responded. Reinforcements pushed their way to the trench in a perfect bail-storm of ballets, and several of the Ameri caus were killed and a number wounded.
The