!
November 19, 1893.|
p.m.1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Lau Ku, sergeant interpreter, said he took down the following statement which was made by the first defendant when he was brought into the charge room on the 16th inst. I am a coolie; how am I going to squeeze ? If I wished to squeeze, how would people give me money? He says that I wanted to squeeze. What evidence is there? I do not know him. I never saw him before until now in the charge- room."'
"
+
Inspector Moffat said he was in the charge room when second defendant, after being duly cautioned, made the following statement, which was taken down in writing :-"I have nothing to say. I am quite surprised that such a charge should be brought against me."
The further hearing was adjourned till Friday at 2.15 p.m., bail being allowed as before..
WATER RETURN.
LEVel and storage of water in RESER- VOIRS ON THE 1ST NOVEMBER.
Tytam
Pokfulam
1897.
LEVEL.
1898.
419
rity, it is asserted that under the existing
With much plausibility and show of autho treaty between Great Britain and China, al suits taken by British subjects against Chinese are to be decided solely by Chinese law, and in the particular case at issue it is held that a native proprietor of shares in a British Limited Liability Company cannot be compelled to pay calls thereon. With much speciousness the pall in question is termed by the Taotai " extra money," a misleading and mischievons term, for as a matter-of-fact the call is on shares not fully paid up, and consequently within the limit of the liability of the shareholder.
The effect of this judgment if upheld cannot but. be to relieve Chinese of all liability on shares not fully paid, and to destroy the security of "uncalled liability," which in many public Companies, specially Insurance Offices and Banks, has hitherto been the financial guarantee of the policy holder or depositor respectively. The effect of the judgment is even more far-reaching, for if so-called Chinese Law is to be held good for every native defen- dant, it may relieve unscrupulous tenants, and render nugatory agreements and contracts of every kind!
Tram.ft. 6in. above overdow 1ft. Lin, above overflow A foreign defendant sued by Chinese Pokfulam...Ift. 3in. below overflow Oft. 2in. above overflow might, according to the Taotai's interpre-
STORAGE, GALLONS,
tation of Art. 2, Clause 3, of the Chefoo. 1897.
1898. Convention, be liable under British law for 407,000,000 404,880,000 compliance and responsibilities which the native 63,260,000, 66,360,000 would be free from, and in the absence of any Chinese Code of Law it seems preposterous to suppose that the Article and Clanse in question were intended to over-ride the principle olearly- laid down in Article 16 of the Treaty, viz., that "Justice should be equitably and impartially administered on both sides."-
Total
470,260,000 471,240,000 CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND HILL DISTRICT DURING THE MONth of OCTOBER.
1897.
went to the Sanitary Board's office about 3 the same day. Shortly after my arrival there Tang Chan, who is the manager of the Kwang Hing Shang baker's shop opposite, arrived. We waited until about four p.m. We waited down below where people get licenses. I asked for the Sanitary Board, and I was told to go up stairs to the second-floor. We went up and saw second defendant there. I asked him what was the matter, and he replied, "I'll take you in." He then took me into first defendant's office, Tang Chan remaining outside. Second defeu- dant went outside after taking me into the first defendant's office. First defendant asked me where, I belonged to, and I said 157, Hollywood Road. First defendant then said, "The inspec. tor these few days has been very pressing and has wanted to summon you." Then I came out, nothing else being said. When I got outside Lo Wing went inside and came out again while I waited. He said, "The clerk wants you to go this evening at 8 p.m. to the Kwong Tai Chau, Wellington Street, second floor, to wait for him there." When second defendant took me into the clerk's office there was no one in but me and first defendant. When Lo Wing told me to go to the Kwong Tai Chan, ang Chan was present and heard the message. I went to the Kwong Tai Chan that night, but on my arrival I was told that first defendant had just gone. Then I left the house and I met first defendant in Wellington Street. First defendant did not speak to me then. He was walking with a Chinese in a long coat. When they sepa- rated first defendant stopped me and said, "The inspector has been very unpleas- ant about you and said that your place is very dirty. Is that so? The inspector says he wishes to summon you. I am very friendly with the inspector, and I will send some one to let you know." We walked a little further and then he told me to go home. First defendant did not offer to assist me in any way. On the 13th instant I went out and returned to my shop at 4 p.m. In consequence of what my foki told me I went to the Sanitary Board's office the next day about noon. It was Sunday and nobody was there. On the 14th at 10 a.m. second defendant came to my shop and asked me to go to the Sanitary Board's office, and al- most immediately afterwards I went. I saw second defendant there. He was in the verandah where the square table is. I asked him what was the matter, and he replied, "Nothing is the matter. Want $25 from you. There will be no prosecution. It will be all right.". I did not reply to him and he went into first defend. ant's office. Then he came out again and said, "No mistake. It is $25 wanted from you, and no prosecution." I said, “Business is dull,” and offered $10. Second defendant went into årst defendant's office and when he came out again he said, The least is $15," and I agreed. Second defendant again went into first defen- dant's office, and when he came out again Kew came and stood at the doorway. Head a pen or pencil in his hand and he pointed to second defendant and said, You can pay the $15 to him." Kew went into bis office again and then second defendant said, "Have you got the money now?" I replied, 'Two or three days later." Second defendant then said, "I'll go and get it, and you can pay it to me or you can pay it to Kew." As I was going away I said to second defendant, "Is it the case that if I pay you $15 there will be no prosecution P and he replied, Nothing will be the matter. If the inspector comes and wants to prosecute you come back and get the $15." On the 15th November se- cond defendant came to my shop again about ten o'clock in the morning. He said to me, "Your $15 you can put into an envelope, seal it, write anything you like on it, and take it to the Sanitary Board, and give it to the Inspector." Tang Chang, of the Kwong Hing Shang Baker's shop, 146, Hollywood Road, said on the 8th inst. Chan In came to his shop from the Sanitary Board office and in consequence of what he said witness went to the Board's office about 3 p.m., where he met the last witness. Before they went upstairs they went down be low. They saw the second defendant at the table and he said to them, "The clerk, at eight o'clock this evening, will be at the Kwong Tai Chan; you go and see him and talk with him." Witness did not go to the Kwong Tai Chan,
99
..
Consumption Estimated popu-
lation...... Consumption per head per day...
CONSUMPTION
1898.
98,422,000 108,151,000 gals.dress Your Excellency as the representative of The Committee of the Chamber specially-ad-
197,000
191,500
16.6 OF WATER IN KOWLOON'
17.7
PENINSULA DURING THE MONTH OF
gals,
1898. 7,172,000 gals.
26,200
OCTOBER.
1897. Consumption 6,796,000 Estimated popa-
lation......... 25,000 Consumption per
head per day... 8.8
8.8 gals. The Government Analyst reports that the water is of excellent quality.
R. D. ORMSBY,
Water Authority.
LIABILITY OF CHINESE SHARE-
HOLDERS IN RESPECT OF CALLS.
In the minutes of a meeting of the committee of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce held on the 8th November, the following appears -
the country on whose Treaty the Taotai has based decision, and sincerely trust you may see your way to make a decided representation to the Tsungli Yamen on the inequitable judg- ment to which we ask your attention. I have the honour to be, Your Excellency's obedient servant,
E. F. ALFORD,
Chairman.. H.E. Sir Claude M. Macdonald, K.C.M.G.,
H.B.M.'s Minister, Peking.
THE PERAK SUGAR CULTIVATION CO., LIMITED,
The following is the report presented. to the thirteenth annual general meeting held at the offices of the Company, Shanghai, on the 16th November
The Directors submit the following report for the season ending 31st August, 1898, cover. ing a period of twelve months (as against 8 months in the last report.)
Crop. The area oropped has been 1,248.25 orlongs (1,662.9 acres) producing piculs 48,000.25 of sugar, or an average of 384 piculs per orlong (1 tons per acre); the proportion of No. 1 sugar made has been 78.6 per cent. of the whole. output, as against 741 per cent. last year, the best previous record being 75.2 per cent. This ments in and additions to the plant, referred to marked increase is the result of the improve- at the last meeting of shareholders. The average price realised has been $5.83 net per picul.
The Bank of China, Japan, and the Straits, Ld., (in liq.) and Chinese Shareholders-A letter from the Manager of the Bank of China and the Chamber to the judgment in the case lately Japan, Ld., was read, calling the attention of tried that had been delivered by the Taotai. It lost no time in dealing with the matter, having was decided to reply that the Committee had addressed a letter on this subject to H.B.M.'s two new centrifugals, which were erected dur Plant. Additions during the season include Minister on the 31st ultimo, as being the Re-ing the stoppage. at the close of last season awaited an answer from Peking. On receipt of has largely increased the evaporating power of presentative of the plaintiffs in the case, and also, the application of" Chapman's circulator, this the Committee would further com- the triple effet. municate with the Manager if necessary. It Estate Extensions.-A further area of 60 kong Chamber of Commerce was further decided to send to the Hong-orlongs has been taken into cultivation during the letter addressed to H.B.M.'s Minister, 1,763.75 orlongs, of which 316.50 orlongs are a copy of the year the total area now opened being and to ask them to support the action of the ander lease to Chinese cane growers. Committee.
The following is the letter to the Minister
Shanghai, 31st October, 1898. Sir, The Committee of the Chamber desire to draw the serious attention of Your Excel- loney to the judgment delivered by the Taotai of Shanghai in the case of the Bank of China, Japan and Straits, Limited (in liquidation) versus certain Chinese shareholders. A copy of the judgment in question is enclosed herein, and its perusal reveals statements as startling tions between foreigners and Chinese. as they may be far-reaching in business rela-
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Fresh Water Supply. This work, which has been referred to in previous reports, is now completed, the factory being connected by canal with the Gula-Kalumpong Canal and thence to the Kurau River; this new water supply will come into use with the commence- ment of the new crop, and it is confidently expected that, amongst other benefits, it will effect a considerable improvement in the feed. water for the boilers, which is one of the great difficulties that the company has had to contend with in the past; the total cost of this work has been $6,800,