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had been doing the same thing in the same place or neighbourhood for years.
At this point Mr. Sharp read a letter ad- dressed to Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist by Messrs. Deacon and Hastings. This letter, which Mr. Sharp said he had not seen before, admitted that it had been the practice of Chinese Bishermen to dredge in this locality for years. He added that it was not part of his case that this marine lot had been previously leased.
After this admission the point was raised as to whether it would be necessary to call the wit- nesses mentioned by Mr. Slade.
At the suggestion of the Chief Justice, counsel agreed to confer during tiffin to see if an agreement could be come to on this point.
In summing up, Mr. Slade submitted that the defendant lived within the leased area, was an inhabitant of a district included within the ex-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE RELIEF OF MAFEKING. SERVICE IN ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL.
The relief of Mafeking was specially recog nised in St. John's Cathedral on the 20th inst. The service was cpinmenced with the singing of the National Anthem by the choir and congre- gation, and the special hymn "Now thank we all our God was also sung.
22.
May 26, 1900,
with them, into the hands of a Righteous Father because we are a Christian people, and because we mean to maintain the religion of our fathers. And though many be left sleeping beneath the sunny wind-swept veldt of South Africa; though hearts are sorrowing at the last long "leavej of absence" of comrade, child, father or friend, yet we can have it so, because we know that they have done their duty; and the same teaching which makes us sure our cause is right, bids and a happy restoration of suspended joy. us look for a blessed reunion of severed lives,
It is not the time yet, perhaps, to speak of the lessons of this great war-it will be later when it is over. But right at the back of all our strength and success, is the strong conviction -
It is as that our cause is true and just. brethren.
though God had said to us, as the Go in this thy might " angel said to Gideon, (Judges vi. 14). Right at the foundation of all our lives, helping us to bear sorrow, siding us in our prayers, sanctifying our thanksgiving, is our faith in Him, that He Himself is with us, that "underneath are the everlasting arms." If it were not so, if we did not firmly believe that we were amply justfied in accepting the arrogant challenge of an erring and misguided Boer, we could not go on; our gallant soldiers and sailors could not have done what they have done; the nation could not have prayed for the success our arms as it has done; we could not now offer our thanks to Almighty God for his great de- liverance from a great danger. How appro- priately came those words we have sung to-day in the 103rd Psalm-appropriate to the Nation appropriate to the individual:-
The Rev. R. F. Cobbold, M.A., the Chaplain, preached a very eloquent sermon dealing with the event, taking for his text Psalm civ the Lord, all ye "O Speak good of works of His, in all places of His dominion After tiffin it was announced that such an
praise thou the Lord, O my soul." He said:
There is no one amongst you, my agreement had been come to.
Wong Sing, the defendant, then gave eri-to-day who has misunderstood, and none I think dence, stating that he knew Sai Kok Tsui, his failed to take part in, the singing of the National junk being anchored there.
Anthem with which we began our service this morning. Though the relief of that seven months' besieged garrison in South Africa, ip which we happily at length rejoice, has been brought about by a combination of causes--by the strategical plan conceived in the mind of the Commander-in-Chief; by the stalwart execution of his commands by those soldiers of the Queen who pressed forward from north and south to succour their beleaguered comrades; aud by the heroic defence of the garrison and the citizens themselves--though the proper meed of praise will be accorded by a proud, a grateful, and a loyal Empire to all those who have so nobly achieved this victory: yet it must be in all our hearts to say.-and this is the proper place to say it-"Not unto us. O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name, give the praise; for Thy loving Head, and mercy, and for Thy truth's sake." hand, and heart, sustained by the Almighty power of God. have been strained to the utmost, and a great defence has been maintained for Lucknow, 43 years ago (July-September 25, more than twice as long as the historic defence of
tension, and that by the Government granting this lease to the plaintiffs he had been expro- priated of a right which he previously possessed. He did not think it would be disputed that if he/established that the defendant had a right to fish or dredge by the lease grant- ed to the plaintiffs he had been deprived of that right. Mr. Slade argued at some length on this and other points of law.
Mr. Sharp replied at some length, contending
that even if the defendant was an inhabitant of the New Territory, even if he had acquired a prescriptive right, and even if it was a case of expropriation. Within the meaning of the Convention, the matter was one not reviewable by a Municipal Court.
Their Lordships reserved their decision.
THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY CELE- BRATION IN HONGKONG.
On Thurday last Her Majesty the Queen was 81 years old. The day was fittingly celebrated in Hongkong. All the ships in the harbour were decorated, and at noon salutes were fired by the warships, the U.S. Brooklyn leading the way. In the afternoon the troops of the Garrison and the men of the Royal Navy in the colony
1857).
We have watched, and we have waited, and the prayers of a Nation have gone up to heaven to make them brave in death or in life, to put their trust in God. It has been as though we were watching and waiting and praying by the bed-side of one who had been laid low by a horrible accident, as though we were powerless to bring help, or bind up the broken limits; only able occa-
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"
The merciful goodness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear him: and His righteousness upon children's children.'
THE TRAGEDY IN THE HARBOUR.
ENQUIRY AT THE MAGISTRACY YESTERDAY.
VERDICT:-" DEATH BY MISADVENTURE.
++
At the Magistracy on the 21st inst. Mr. Gom- ertzp held an enquiry into the circumstances con- nected with the death of Alexander Reid, second officer on board the steamer Royalist, who died on the 18th inst The steward of the
paraded at Happy Valley; thousands of spectasionally to convey a message of hope, a word of / Hoyalist, Charles Black, who was arrested in
tors, the weather being favourable, were present to witness them. The Royal Welch Fusiliers trooped the colours at five o'clock, the navy mon and the Hongkong Regiment being formed up on the flanks. At half-past five the men marched past in column, then massed, and afterwards in line of quarter coluum. They then formed up in line of coluum on former alignment, and advanced in review order, concluding with a Royal Salute and three cheers for the Queen, H.E. the Acting Governor (Major-General Gascoigne, C.M.G.) leading off. The whole affair was gen- erally noted a great success.
The following are the details:--Field Officer of the Day, Major A. F. Cooper; Brigade Major, Capt. J. H. Gwynne; Adjutant of the Day, Lieut. A. Hay; Officer carrying the Colour, 2nd Lieut. W. Ğ. Vyvyan; Escort for the Colour, Capt. H. M. Richards and Lieut. H. Rosherhom; 2nd Guard, Lieut. G. J. P. Geiger; 3rd Guard, Lieut. F. J. Walwyn; 4th Guard, Lieut. R. I. B. Johnson; 5th Guard, Lieut. O. 8. Flower; 6th Guard, Major S. G. Everitt. Lieut.-Col. Hon. R. H. Bertie was in command
of the R.W.F.
Captain Misu, Commander of the Japanese battleship Asahi, telegraphed from Portsmouth to the Japanese Government on the 15th that the battleship was docked there on the 14th inst. No special damage to her bottom was found and she is expected to come out of dock in a fort- night. The necessary preparations for the voyage out will be commenced then and the ship will leave England toward the middle of June.
His cricketing friends in Singapore and Hongkong will be sorry to hear that Captain George Paley, 1st Rifle Brigade, who was so seriously wounded in the early part of the war, is still very ill, and not able to do anything. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Paley, who live near Bury St. Edmunds. Though quiet and unassuming, he was one of the most popular young officers of the Battalion, and was immensely liked here.-Singapore Free Press.
comfort, a promise of help. And just as some- times in the crisis of a dangerous illness, when aid is far or unavailing, a sudden turn comes, and the patient recovers, and we say: It was his strong constitution and his indomitable courage which pulled him through. so it was the strong British fibre, and the buoyant faith and courage of the little garrison of Mafoking which, through seven long months of siege, heroically endured unto the end, and was saved. "We can hold out with care.
C
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Handful of men that they were, they were
British in heart and in limb;
Strong with the strength of the race to com-
mand, to obey, to endure, Each of them fought as if hope of the garrison
hung but on him.'
**
Those words, written of the defence of Lucknow, might have been written of our soldier- citizens and citizen-soldiers of to-day, when the whole Empire rings with a glad thanksgiving that by the blessing of Heaven" and by the valour of her sons, gathered together from all parts of the world, many have been redeemed from suffering and from death, the uniting strength and stability of the Empire have been abundantly proved, the progress of a God-fearing people unimpeded, and the Kingdom of the Redeemer slowly but surely expanded. For, let it be re- membered, that we are a Christian People-not fanatically carrying the Bible in one hand and the rifle in the other, yet going forth not forgetting God even in the day of battle, remembering Him in defeat or in victory; and we must carry with us, into new countries, under new circumstances, in new opportunities, that spirit of truth, justice, and charity, which has, by the If the grace of God, made us what we are. Kingdom of Christ is not carried with us wher- ever we go, all our successes in life, all our victories, personal and national, will be of no avail for the consummation of the purpose of Almighty God. From the very first we have confidently commended our soldiers and our sailors, and all who labour with them, and suffer
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the first instance on a charge of wilful murder subsequently reduced to one of manslaughter, was present in Court.
Dr. Harston said-On May 18th I. was called to the S.S. Royalist, lying at No. 2 wharf, Kowloon, at about 11.30 a.m. I was shown a wounded man lying on his back in the cabin of the captain on the ship. I examined him and found a recent bullet wound over the left_collar lene from which blood was flowing. On ex- amining is back I could feel the bullet lying just under the skin internal to the left shoulder blade. The wounded man was in a state of ex- treme collapse and showed symptoms of severe internal hemorrhage. He had on, as far as I can remember, a coat and waistcoat which were opened. He had no trousers on.
There was slight bruising of the skin round the wound, but no singing of it or of the beard. I put on a pressure bandage and left the ship, going to the office of the Kowloon Godowns, where I tele- On returning to phoned for an ambulance. the ship I found the wounded man even more His position had been slightly collapsed. changed. He expired within five minutes of my return to the ship. There must have been very severe internal hemorrhage during my ab sence. My note-book has the entry made by my. self at the time, "Died at 11.52." Had the muzzle of the weapon been very close to the deceased when the shot was fired I should have expected to find the beard singed.
Dr. J. C. Thomson said-On May 19th, at the Public Mortuary at 11.30 a.m., with Dr, Harston, I made an examination of the body of a European male adult identified in my presence by Mr. Reginald Morton, chief officer, s.s. Royalist. and Mr. B. J.. Pinkham, third officer, as the body of Alexander Reid. I found a gunshot wound on the chest, the bullet entering over the middle of the left clavicle, fracturing the clavicle and the second rib, tearing the left sub-clavian vein, which was almost cut in two. It passed between the second and third ribs behind, and lodged under the skin of the back at the inner border