March 11, 1899.]
ceived receipts for interest paid. He was sued for this same debt by the National Bank of ́China in Macao, and a suit was also brought against him by Countess Fernandes, the latter suit resulting in the closing of his shop at Macao. It remained closed about 12 months.
6th March.
new
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
197
agreed upon for the construction of the launch | Government under the Stars and Stripes seems was $3,200. It was about half built, and Cap. to have cooled a little, for during the month of tain Burnie estimated the value of the work January many soldiers and arms came over from done at $1,800, which left $1,900 worth of work Negros and the Iloilo Generals boasted that they to be done yet. Plaintiffs had paid Lan Wah | had several thousand more men awaiting orders. 82,000 on account of this launch, or $700 more than the value of the work done.
As soon as operations were commenced against Iloilo, delegates from Negros hastened to visit Kwok Chau, managing partner in the plain- General Miller and place their island at his dis- tiff firm said it was agreed that the steam posal. Miller gave them a favourable answer launch should be afloat on the 12th of March. and they returned to hoist a hastily improvised The price was to be $3,200. The contract was American flag over the Government building. made on the 9th of October last year. Altoge-Commissioners were chosen and given passage ther $2,000 had been paid to the Shing Lee Wah to Manila. Kes on account of the launch, and be produced receipts "chopped" by Lau Wah and also signed by him. On the 4th of Feb. this year he found out that Lan Wah had gone away from the colony, and in consequence he brought this action.
The anticipated expedition is the result of their representations here.
CEBU OCCUPIED.
A battalion of the 23rd U.S. Infantry, under Major Goodale,-left for Cebu on Sunday night. He had received a It is understood that the flag was already raised report from Messrs. Burnie and Goddard there by the Petrel on 22nd February. Peace- valning the work done to the launch at $1,300.able possession is anticipated. He paid $500 on the day of the contract and the rest because Lan Wah said he wanted the money to buy materials with. Lan Wah had not done any work for the firm before. He had
not seen Lan Wah since he absconded.
F. Howell, Bailiff at the Supreme Court, said that on the 4th February he served the writ of summons in this action just off the boat building yard at Mong Kok Tsui on the steam launch Yuen Huon by affixing it to one of the timbers. He found the police in possession.
The Chief Justice-How about the costs? do not know how you can get them.
Defendant, w. o gave his evidence on Friday, was subjected to a severe oross-examination by Mr. Francis. He admitted mortgaging bis shop in Macao in 1882 in favour of Count Fernandes for $5,000, but said he never received the money. The mortgage was obtained by fraud, but he was afraid of disclosing the details lest his life might be en- dangered. When he gave the mortgage for $5,000 he received no money, but he received goods, which, however, he returned. He did not know whether the goods were of the value of $5,000 or unt. These were the goods with which he opened his shop and commenced business. He returned the goods five or six months after he received them. Count Fernandes received the goods from some one else. Witness found out that the goods had been stolen, and so he returned them. He might have sold some of the goods, but these le replaced with ones when he sent them back. He returned goods to the value of $1,000-not because they were damaged. They were new goods. He deposited money with ount F'ernandes, and accumulated about $8,000 in this way. He1 thought he made the last deposit in 1891, but was not certain. When his clerk Ismail went to Hongkong with young Fernandes he told him to go to the Bank with him with a paper which had been given to him (Ismail) by old Fernandes. The paper in question was the letter referring to the loan, and Ismail had also a letter addressed direct to the Bank. He told Ismail to go to the Bank with young Fernandes, and that the latter would arrange the matter. He did not send his clerk to give his (defendant's) name as security for the money borrowed from the Bank. He never did intend to guarantee the money for the Bank. He did not think at the time that the letter contained a statement to the effect that he would guarantee the loan. He had signed the letter when Ismail took it away to go to Hongkong, but the letter was not explained to him until Ismail had returned from Hongkong.
7th March.
Mr. Robinson having summed up for defend- ant Mr. Francis followed.
His Lordship gave judgment for plaintiff for $4,790.74 and interest from the 1st January, 1897, at the rate of 8 per cent., plaintiff also to have costs of suit.
9th March
IN ADMIRALTY JurisdictION.
BEFORE SIR JOHN CARRINGTON (CHIEF JUSTICE).
BEEKING TO OBTAIN POSSESSION OF A
STEAM LAUNCH.
In this action plaintiffs sought to obtain possession of a steam launch.
Mr. Pollock (instructed by Mr. Gedge, of Messrs Johnson, Stokes, and Master) said he appeared for plaintiffs, who had obtained leave of the court to proceed ea parte. Plaintiffs, the Yuen Huon firm, were a firm of merchants carrying on business at 4, Queen's Road West, and Mr. Kwok Chan was the managing partner of the firm. The steam launch Yuen Huon, against which the action was brought, was in course of construction, and was now lying on the stooks in the boat building yard which lately belonged to the Sheung Lee Wak Kee firm, at 28, Mong Kok Tsui, British Kowloon. A man called Lau Wah was the sole proprietor of this boat building yard. Up to the morning of the 4th of February last, Lan Wah was in charge of plaintiffs' launch, and was en- gaged in building her for plaintiffs, but on that morning plaintiffs discovered that Lan Wah had absoonded from the colony. Plain. tiffs socordingly commenced these proceedings for the possession of the launch. The price
Mr. Pollock-I ask for costa. There is a
possibility of a fund being available. In fact there is one now in the Court to the amount of $82.90.
Judgment for plaintiffs with costs.
THE WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES.
NEGROS COMMISSIONERS RETURN TO BAKOLOK.
TROOPS LIKELY TÓ ACCOMPANY THEM.
CEBU OCCUPIED.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT].
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Firing continues pretty much all around Manila and the same restrictions cause all residents and especially natives to remain at home after seven o'clock in the evening. The circus, theatres, and public amusements and drinking houses are accordingly suspended for the time being. For several days there has been practically no fighting beyond sharpshoot- ing, which at times flares up and disturbs a brigade, but does little harm beyond wearing. out the men. Nearly every day one or two Americans are shot or badly wounded, but as orders are severely against bringing on engage- ments as answering stray shots, things are rather more quiet than they have been since the outbreak on 4th February.
The English and Japanese marines still come. ashore at night to patrol the banks and foreign › business houses and guard against fire. In a former communication I believe I said they were armed. It was a mistake, as they carry no arms and merely afford extra protection against fire.
The advent of the peace commissioners is eagerly awaited and spaonlation is on as to the changes their coming will produce.
ST. DAVID'S BALL.
On Friday night the Warrant Officers, Staff- Sergeants, and Sergeants of the 23rd Royal MANILA, 28th Eebruary. Welsh Fusiliers gave a ball, in honour of St. The transport St. Paul is expected to leave David's Day, at the City Hall, and right well : for the south to-morrow, carrying a battalion of were all the arrangements conducted. The he California Volunteers under Major Sime. staircase leading to the dance-rooms looked Col. Smith, the commanding officer of the regi. pretty indeed with numerous plants and ferns. ment, is believed to have been named for the At the top of the first flight of steps swayed ́a government representative of military affairs white ensign and an American flag, and between and civil administration. The news is not yet the two a star of bayonets scintillated in a blaze confirmed at headquarters, but indications point of electric lights, the latter being artistically to Negros se destination of the men now pre-arranged under various coloured globes by Mr. paring for departure.
After being the guests of the United States Government for more than a week, the com- missioners from Bakolok, the capital city of the island of Negros, are about to return. They have been closely questioned as regards the in- tentions of the mass of Negros people, how far advanced their Government is to-day, and what they expect to have in the future under the dominion of the Americans. The four meu here are intelligent, well behaved Visayanos, keen observers, and evince great interest in everything American. From the first Negros has never been strongly in favour of Aguinaldo, though the inhabitants fought under his flag and drove out the Spaniards. On the 6th of last November the Spanish evacuation of Bakolok took place. On the 7th, the next day, the Negros local Government was formed, and three days later two Commissioners from the Malolos Government arrived and set up the same form as existed in Luzon, appointing also some Ta galog officers in addition to those already in power. On November 12th, six days after they look possession, a communication was sent to Captain Glass, of the Charleston, then in Iloilo harbour, asking him to come to Negros and es- tablish an American protectorate. This is their interpretation of the message, and Captain Glass answered saying the matter must be re- ferred to the seat of Government before he could sot.
The commissioners maintain that they had absolutely no connection with the Iloilo people during the recent troubles, but their desire for a
C. Robinson. Guests, on entering the dance- rooms were greeted by a sight not often wit nessed in Hongkong, as far as decorations are concerned. Both rooms were a blaze of colour |-flags artfully arranged over all the walls, set off here and there by mirrors and pots of ferns and shrubs. The band of the regiment, con- ducted by Sergt. Adams in the absence of Band- master Gregory (who, unfortunately, is confined to hospital), occupied the usual stand between the two halls. Seats and lounges were cosily arranged in an adjoining room and in the verandahs outside the dance-rooms for guests to retire to in the intervals between the dances, - and on the same floor a refreshment table was. Great credit is due to provided for the ladies. the committee and decorators for the manner in which they carried out their duties and the attractive way in which they used the flags and bunting at their disposal. Many of those who are frequent and favoured guests at balls given" in Hongkong were unanimous in pronouncing the embellishments on this occasion as among the best. The committee and decorators deserving the encomium were: Col-Sergt. Kirby, Sergeanta Palmer, Moore, Hadly, Notman, and a petty officer and three signalmen from H.M.S. Undaunted. Previous to starting the first dance, Sergt. Clarke took up a position in the St. Andrew's hall bearing the regiment's colours, which were guarded by Privates Booth and Vaughan carrying fixed ・・・ bayoneta. Noticeable amongst the guests were Colonel Mainwaring, Major Sir Robt Colleton, Sir 'Horace McMahon, Capt. Hanbury, Capt. Ban