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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
On the application of Mr. Francis, it was agreed to take the cases separately.
The case against Wan Kwong was taken first.
[February 3, 1900, THE ENGINEERS' INSTITUTE.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING,
the concern and entrusts the publication to one whom he selects and in whom he confides, may be said to cause to be published - what actually appears although you cannot show that he was individually concerned in the
Mr. Looker said the facts of the case wore as particular publication. It would be exceed. ingly dangerous to hold otherwise, for then an follows. On the 20th December, 1899, by a crown irresponsible person might be put forward and lease made between His Excellency Sir Henry the person really producing the publication and Blake, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, on without whom it would not be published might the one part, and Chau Kwai Chn and Lai remain behind and escape altogether." In the Hok Taan on the other part, all that piece present case the first defendant is admitted to of ground covered by the sea on the eastern be one of the proprietors, and I cannot hold shore of Lautan was leased to complainant
THE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS, that because he and his partners (to whom the for a term of five years, from the 7th of
The following is the report of the Committee paper belonged long before this arrangement | October, 1899, at a yearly rental of 8300, with the second defendant) receive a fixed and there was a provision in the agreement of Management for the year 1899:-" At the revenue of 2,000 dollars per annum from the whereby which the lessees were not allowed to beginning of the year the Committee thought newspaper instead of a sum varying from year erect any building or use the same for any it advisable (owing to the many complaints to year acconding to the earnings of the paper; other purpose than that of searching for corals from members), to seek now quarters with better therefore, he is absolved from all civil liabilities and shells in the bed of the sea, so as not to accommodation for the Institute, and after care- for any libels inserted in the paper. What is interfere with fishing and navigation. Heful enquiry brought the matter before the mem- the second defendant but the agent of the first submitted that the effect of that lease was to bers at two extraordinary general meetings with defendant to carry on and keep alive the pro-lease to the complainants a piece of land under the result that we moved into these premises on prietor's newspaper. The proprietors can get the sea for the purpose of obtaining coral from the first of July, and the rooms were formally rid of the second defendant if they do not it. The defendant was master of a junk or an opened on the 15th July by H.E. Sir Henry approve of bis conduct of their paper. The employee on board a junk, and on the 12th Blake, G.C.M.G. The Committee are aware that letting is for no fixed number of years even. January last, he being then anchored or oruis. it was a very big step to take, but they venture The payment of 2,000 dollars is to be made ing about in waters round about Lantan which to think that the present balance sheet will prove that the change has not been a failure. yearly, but no time is fixed for the duration of covered this particular piece of ground, was
The work of the Institution has been carried on the agreement, which indeed is not even signed gathering coral and shell from the bed of a by the first defendant or his co-proprietors but piece of land leased to complainants, coral and during the year with some degree of unccess only by the second defendant. To hold that an shells which by virtue of this lease belonged to which is very gratifying to the Committee, as arrangement of that kind can absolve the pro- the complainants, and took them away. The showing that the members appreciate the prietors from civil liability would open a most defendant was caught red-handed by the police change of rooms and the increased accommoda- tion. There has been a steady increase of the dangerous door to putting forward irresponsible and he was charged with simple larceny. persons as so-called lessees, while the real pro-
membership during the year, amounting to prietors are deriving paofits whether fixed or
nearly 29 per cent. of ordinary members and otherwise from the paper itself.
about 19 per cent of visiting members, and the roll now stands as follows:-Ordinary members 233, visiting members 110, associate members 3, honorary members 2, total 348. We regret to record the loss by death of four members, namely, Messrs. W. A. Greenhill, W. H. Marshall, T. M. Dow, D. McGlashan. We have drawn out a syllabus of the various meetings to be held during the session, and it is gratifying to record that our request for papers resulted in no less than six being promised, three of these have been read and circulated among the mem- bers; the meetings have been well attended and the discussions full of interest. These meetings were interspersed with a smoking concert on each alternate Saturday, and they have been
On Saturday evening the ninth annual gen- He was charged with stealing 20 piculs of coral oral meeting in connection with the Institution and shells of the value of $1.
of Engineers and Shipbuilders of Hongkong was held at the rooms, No. 3, Prays Central. The chair was occupied by the President of the Institution (Mr. D. Gillies), who was supported by Messrs. R. Cooke, J. W. Kinghorn, N. Mumford, W. Ramsay, Owen Ordish, A. Bain, J., Kyles, J. Murchie, T. C. Hutchings, T. Skinner, A. Ritchie, and C. B. Buyers.
the paper.
. I hold, therefore, in point of law the arrange. ment in question does not absolve the first de- feudant from his civil liability for any libel iu Will you, therefore, gentlemen, find such verdict as you think right with regard to the first and also to the second defendant, and assess such damages as you think right and proper in all the circumstances of the case, taking with you the papers which have been given in evidence in the case.
His Lordship finished his summing up at half-past 11.
The jury retired to consider their verdict, returning after an absence of half-an hour.
The Clerk (Mr. J. W. Jones )—Gentlemen
Mr. Francis, interrupting, contended that there was no possibility of a charge of larceny being sustained, and that the case should have been made the subject of a civil action.
Mr. Looker argued the other way, but as his Worship seemed inclined to adopt Mr. Francis's view Mr. Looker suggested that a postpone meut should be granted to enable him to look up the point. He said he was taken by sur- prise by the turn the defence had taken.
Mr. Francis opposed an adjournment, and pointed out that civil actions were pending against three of the defendants.
His Worship declined to grant an adjourn. ment and dismissed the case, the other cases being also dismissed.
of the jury, have you agreed upon your verdict? SAD ACCIDENT ON THE U.S. GUN- much appreciated by the members. The Com-
The Foreman (Mr. Orange)—We have.
The Clerk-How say you?
The Foreman-Verdict for the plaintiff against both the defendants, damages $11.370.
His Lordship-I am much obliged to you for your attendance, and the attention you have given to this case.
THE SHELL-COLLECTING MONOPOLY.
PROCEEDINGS AT THE SUPREME COURT
AND THE MAGISTRACY,
Among the cases down for hearing at the Supreme Court on the 126th ult., before Mr. Justice Wise (Puisne Judge), were five in which junk-owners were sued by Lai Po and Leung Lai Tong, the following being the particulars of claim:-"The plaintiffs as lessees from Her Majesty the Queen of a certain piece or parcel of ground covered by the sea off the eastern shore of the island of Lautau, in the colony of Hongkong, claim from the defendant the sum of $100, being damages for the wrongful act of the defendant in trespassing upon the said pre- mises and taking therefrom certain shells and corals, the property of the plaintiffs, on or about the 18th December, 1899, and their costs of suit. Mr. Grist, for the defendants, asked that the cases might be adjourned sine die,
His Lordship agreed to this.
**
BOAT WHEELING."
TWO MEN KILLED AND THREE SERIOUSLY
INJURED.
Saturday being the German Emperor's birth day, the warships in the harbour were decor. ated and at noon salutes were fired. While a salate was being fired on the U.S. gunboat Wheeling a sad accident occurred. One of the guas missed fire, and the gun's crew were ex- amining into the cause of the jam when an explosion which burst open the break block occurred. Ganners Mate and Campbell were killed instantly, Lieutenant-Commander F. F. Beatty, Gunners Nelson. Conray, und Bite were seriously injured. Nelson died yesterday morn- ing.
KANG YU-WEI GOES TO SINGAPORE.
Kang-Yu-Wei, who has been living quietly in Hollywood Road, Hongkong for sometime, left for Singapore on Saturday in the P. and O. steamer Bombay, travelling under an as sumed name. He was accompained to the steamer by an escort of police.
mittee take this opportunity of thanking all those who so kindly assisted at these functions, and they wish to put it on record that at one of these social gatherings the sum of $100 was contributed towards the "Missis and Kids Fund." A dance was given in the City Hall on the 22nd December, under the auspices of the Institute, and was voted a complete success. Before opening the new rooms the furniture was all overhauled and put in good order and the billiard tables were re-covered, The Billiard Tournament among the shore members was very well contested, but was er-cntually won by our veteran champion, Mr. R. V. Rutter. The mixed handicap is not yet completed, but is making good propress."
The PRESIDENT, in proposing the adop tion of the report and accounts, said:- Gentlemen,-The report gives a very clear and succint statement of the most prominent events that have taken place during the period under review, and if we can be guided by the figures presented to us we have every reason to con- clude that the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders of Hongkong is not only in the happy position of having succeeded in gaining the confidence and support of its members, but it has also in a large degree attained the object. for which the Institution was originally formed. (Hear, hear.) Amongst other topics of interest which have been brought before us were three- most excellent lectures on subjects which pos sess a very great interest for engineers. The first of these was a lecture on the uses of aluminium in constructive work and its adapla- The British steamer Libelle, recently sold at bility to shipbuilding and engineering. Nickel Singapore by the Borneo Company, Limited, to and aluminium and nickel steel are both coming Messrs. Gutierrez Hermanos, Manila, is now ¦ into use as substitutes for ordinary mild steel under the Spanish flag under the name of in the construction of boilers. Experiments Magallanes, The German steamer Sulu, of have demonstrated that nickel steel of 20 to 25 Singapare, has also been sold to a firm at Manila. per cent. of nickel will have as regards corrosion The British steamer McAlister and the British | a vastly longer life than mild steel, and as barque Spinaway lately sold there to another | regards deterioration from the action of heated firm at Mauila, were to leave on the 23rd ult. . gases, steam and salt water fat last twice the
The Manila Commercio thinks England has not only to fear an alliance between France and
her in case of further adverse events in South Africa. The third power, says the Commercio, is Spain. Next!
Mr. Looker, for the plaintiffs, asked his Lord. Russia, but a third power may be allied against ship his reason for doing this.
His Lordship declined to say. At the Magistracy yesterday afternoon, be. fore Mr. Gomperts, Wan Kwong, Wing Ping, Chu Fuk, Wan Chu and Wing Shing, junk owners, were charged at the instance of the Lee Hing Company with stealing shells and corals from the eastern shore of Lantau Island. Mr. Looker (Messrs. Deacon and Hastings) appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Francis, Q. C. (instructed by Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist for the defence.
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