378
THE DAMAGE TO THE
STAR."
RISING
At the Harbour Office yesterday, before Com mander Rumsey, an enquiry was held into the circumstances connected with the damage sus- tained by the steam launoh Rising Star, Chan Kai master, certificate No 758, by colliding with Pedder's Wharf on the 19th October,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND | forth in the treaties that British subjects in China are amenable only to the laws of Great Britain; but whatever Treaties or Conventions there may be extant none of them declare that Chinese subjects are not to be governed by the laws of their own country. All subjects of China within the boundaries of this Empire are therefore governed and subject to the laws of China. Without, therefore, going to any other question, one thing seems certain The special agree ment above named can never ("a myriad times never") be set on top of a treaty e executed be- tween the two countries, nor cap it interfere with the authority which China possesses over her own subjects.
Francisca Sousca said-Iam collector on board the Rising Star. I was on board at the time of the launch being damaged on Wednesday week. We were going from Kowloon to Hongkong, I was in the cabin when the boat struck against Pedder's Wharf. I came ou deck and saw the stem was broken.“
William McDonald, inspector of nuisances, said-On Wednesday, 19th October, at 9.30 a.m., I came over from Kowloon in the Rising Star. When passing the Tai Fu the coxswain seemed to have some friends on board and was speaking to them. He was then about 50 yards from Pedder's Wharf. I heard the bell ring then. That was the first time it had rung. I think he rang two strokes. I got up to see what the coxswain would do, as I saw the launch had a great deal of speed on. I saw that he at first intended to go alongside the east side of the wharf, but apparently because the launch had so much way on he put the helm to port and struck with the blaff of the bow on the end of the wharf. When he got clear he manoeuvred round to get alongside on the east side of the wharf and in doing this he struck the wharf again through what seemed to me bad manage- ment. The bow was much damaged.
Chan Kai said-I had to avoid a sampan. I had eased down a long time before. The boat was driven by the tide.
-Certificate suspended for three months.
THE BANK OF CHINA, JAPAN, AND THE STRAITS, LIMITED, AND IIS CHINESE SHARE- HOLDERS.
THE JUDGMENT.
The Taotai of Shanghai has given judgment in the suit of the Bank of China, Japan, and the Straits against Wai Pow-kee, and Woo Chee-dong, wealthy Chinese merchants in respect of unpaid calls, on shares in the Bank as follows:--
Now as the said special agreement between the parties to this suit is greatly contrary to the meaning of the treaties, it should therefore be forthwith cancelled and made null and void. As for the suit of the said plaintiffs complain: ing that the said defendants Woo Chee-dong and Wai Pow-kee have refused to pay extra calls on their shares I find that according to Chinese law there is none wherein a man may be forced to pay extra money on his shares against his will, hence I cannot allow the present suit and order that the case be dis- missed. This is my judgment.
(Signed) TSAI,
A brevet officer of the second grade button, Superintendent of the Kiangnan Customs, and Intendant of the Military Circuit of the Soo-Sung-and-T'ai prefectures. The 24th year of the reign of Kuang Han 9th moon, 10th day (24th October, 1898.) N. C. Daily News.
A REPLY TO KANG. YU-WEI, The following statement has been published by Liang Ting-fên, a Cantonese censor, who appeal of Kang Yu-wei: was cashiered sometime ago, traversing, the
The treasonable letter of Kang Yu-wei has been read and found to be unreasonable in the extreme. All officials and people of the Chi- to stand on end and their eyelids ready to split nese Empire would on reading feel their hairs with anger. Loyal ministers and dutiful sons would have the same opinion regarding such mad and wild talk, and nothing need. be said or written about it. But it is feared that Kang's treacherous design may not be fully known to the world, hence his views are hereby specially traversed for the information of all.
This a case in which the defendants refused to pay extra calls on their shares in the above named Bank, in consequence of which I, the Taotai of Shanghai, heard the case in accord. reign, the Empress. Dowager acted as Regent When the Emperor Tung Chih began to ance with Treaty, at the Bureau of Foreign and in this capacity she was frugal and appointed Affairs. with Mr. Brenan, H,B,M. Consul-able and wise ministers, talents abounded, and General, at Shanghai, on the Bench sitting as overy abuse was corrected. She was thus able Assessor. Accordingly on the 13th day of the to crush the great Taiping rebellion, preserve 7th moon of the present year (29th of August, Peking, and restore peace to the Empire. In 1898) I had assembled before me, at the above the winter of the 13th year of Tung Chih, the named place, the plaintiffs and defendants to this Emperor died from small-pox, which fact was case, with regard to the hearing of the evidence proclaimed throughout the Empire. The Em of which there were repeated sittings of the press of Tung Chih was wise and righteous and Court, the pleadings and arguments having been much beloved by the Empress Dowager. Grieved made by Mr. Hanson and Mr. Stokes on behalf with the death of Tung Chih she refused food of the plaintiff Bank and Mr. Jernigan on be- in her great sorrow, half of the defendants.
~
The Empress Dowager out of sympathy again and again sent eunuchs to her with food, which she declined in tears. In a short time she died. It is now over 20 years and the Empress Dowager still cannot think of the Empress of Tung Chih without tears.
November 5, 1808,
of the Empress Dowager and having under- taken the weighty responsibility of Emperor Tung Chib, cannot have done what Tân - Ten- tung declared, and all the Chinese people and officials are aware of this. NE
the Emperor was in his childhood and the In the beginning of the reign of Kwang Han ministers then requested the Empress Dowager to act as Regent, as she did in the reign of Tung Chih grieved at heart and anxious for the welfare of The Empress Dowager being
the Empire consented to do so. The Empress (Tan An) was right-minded and firm and was on the best of terms with the Empress Dowager, In the Inner Palaces these royalties address each other as sisters and state affairs are decided after joint consultation. In the 7th year Tzu Ann was called to Heaven to the sorrow the Empress-Dowager was afone directing state of the people. Afterwards affairs and reflecting on years gone by, when there was one to share all difficulties with the same concern. She grieved over her loss; cour sequently after the marriage of the Emperor she retired from power, although the Emperor besought her weeping and the ministers kneeling asking her to remain in the Government.
Censor Tu Jen-shau was an upright man and the best of Censors. He requested that even in case the Empress should retire all memorials should be addressed jointly to the Emperor and Empress-Dowager. This was not permitted and Censor Tu was cashiered never to be ap, pointed again. The Empress-Dowager well knew the good, conduct of the Censor. The reason she did not listen to his advice and fur ther punished him was that she desired to mani, fest to the people that she no longer cared to take the reins of Government in hand.
In a letter submitted in the 11th moon of the 14th year by Kang Yu-wei he, praised both the Emperor and Empress-Dowager in figurative language on the good government and good observance of the established usages of the understanding with the people and the due Ancestors. He lauded the Empress-Dowager for her readiness to employ talented men and the Empire, and for her energy in crashing to adopt improvements, for her solicitude for great revolts and preserving its integrity.
mended by Wong Tung-ho at a time when the Taking advantage of his having been recom. Emperor was already treading the path of pro- gress, and under the pretence of urging re- forms, Kang concocted his running plan of ruining the Empress Dowager, relying on conspired with the eunuchs for the same end, Chang Yin-huan's help for its success. He also and after committing this crime he escaped abroad and joined the rebel Sun Yet-san Mercury, **-
THE EMPEROR'S FATE STILL IN DOUBT.
Shanghai, 27th October. received a very important letter, dated the 22nd Yesterday's Echo de Chine states that it has inst., from Peking, giving the details of the visit of Dr. Dethève and M. Vissière to the Emperor. We translate this letter as follows:--
formation on the subject of the interview on the "It is extremely difficult to get precise in- 18th between M. Vissière and Dr. Dethave on the one part and their Majesties the Empress- Dowager and the Emperor on the other,
pecially on the professional side, is easily under- "The reserve maintained by the visitors, es-
stood..
"
I find that the most important principle in- volved in this case is as to what law should be applied in giving judgment thereon, and wlie- ther the special agreement made between tlie plaintiffs and the defendants should be binding upon the said defendants. I now find that the re When the Emperor Tung Chih died without is a clause in this special argeement in which issue the minds of the people were much excited it is stated that in the event of any dis- and officials all secretly discussed the matter. It putes arising between the plaintiffs and was then proposed to adopt an heir, but all the defendants the said defendants declare their princes of the near branches of the Imperial on the side of the lakes or gardens in à small The doctor and M. Vissière were received willingness to abide by the laws of Great family were incompetent except the present Em-hall at the two extremities of which they found Britain. In Article 2, clause 3 of the peror Kwang Hsu, who surpassed all, for he was the Empress-Dowager and the Emperor, hoth Chefoo Convention there is the statement that affectionate, endowed with filial piety, and pos- seated in large, Chinese arm-chairs. in trying cases involving the interests of sub-sessed rare virtues. His Majesty had won the jects of the two nations, as the laws of the two countries differ from each other, the law govern- ing said cases shall be those of the country to which the defendants belong, and that the officials of the two countries trying such cases shall obey the instructions contained in the said Chefoo Convention. It is therefore evident that in determining the procedure governing cases involving the subjects of the two countries the respective governments have already agreed to the manner in which such should be tried and therefore no deviation from said instructions is permissible. Moreover, we have it clearly set
Empress Dowager's affection when a child, so she herself decided to adopt him as a progeny to Hsien Fung, until he had a sou to succeed Tung Chih.
The mandate announcing this met with uni- versal satisfaction and the pleasure of the people. The adoption of the Emperor Kwang Hsu by the Empress Dowager was therefore prompted by the Empress Dowager's desire to choose a desirable person, and there is motive like that represented by the treacherous no and criminal Kang Yu-wei. The Emperor, having been favoured with the great affection
"The Empress had in front of her a table head-dress with some precious stones and pens with a yellow cloth. She had the ordinary. dants of coral, and wore an embroidered plum- coloured robe.
foot-stool and wore the usual. Audience costume The Emperor had in front of him a yellow and winter hat with a knob of plaited silk.
visitors, accompanied by Prince Ching, ap
"After having saluted the Empress, the
proceeded to a complete examination of his proached the Emperor, and Dr. Dethève
Majesty.
is impossible for us to give the details of