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November 17, 1900.]*
ALICE MEMORIAL AND NETHER- SOLE HOSPITALS.
The Hon. Treasurer of the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals begs to acknowledge with thanks the following donations to the funds of the Hospitals :-
Ho Ngok La Young Lau
Ke
Kwong Wai Company Sincere Co.
Chow Dart Tong
Man Cheung Yuen..
Yu Yuk Chi
+
850 20
15
10
10 10
10
Po On Marine Insca. & Godown Co. 10 Compradore to Hashell & Co.
Wing Cheong Tai
Tai Chan
Tung In Tai
Lien Wo Coy.
Shing Kee Coy Kung Yuen
...
Compradore to S. J. David & Co. Compradore to Meyerink & Co. Wing Mow Sang
Kwang Sang Co.
Sun Yee Hong..
Tong Long Hin
Un Lai Chuen Chan Chau Nam Sums under $5 ..
5
5
67
$277
THE HONGKONG COTTON SPIN- NING, WEAVING, AND DYEING COMPANY, LIMITED.
On Saturday, at noon, 10th inst., an extraordin- ary meeting of shareholders in the above company was held at the offices of the General Managers (Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co.) for the purpose of considering the financial position of the company. The chair was occupied by the Hon. J. J. Keswick, and there were also present the Hon. C. P. Chater, C.M.G., Messrs. R. M. Gray, A. Haupt (Committee), T. F. Hough. G. Stewart, B. Byramjee, T. S. Forest, R. M. Mehta, Ho Fook, Ho U Shang, Chan Chan Nam, Hon. Kwai Hin, V. H. Deacon (Legal Adviser,) Jas. McKie (Secretary) and A. Shaw (Manager).
The SECRETARY read the notice convening the meeting.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
397
The plaintiff gave evidence in support of Mr. Hays' statement. He said that when he got to the defendant the latter said to him, “I have got a good job for you. "He replied, “That is good, what good job p" The plaintiff said. "To go to Tientsin." Witness asked for $80 a month but the defendant agreed to give him $70 a month for six months. He told the defendant he would not engage for less than six months even if he got $100 a month. Witness asked the defen- dant, "Is it really six months P" and the defen- dant replied, "Yes. Even if you go there and back at once you will get' six months' pay.' Witness asked him for a written agreement, but the defendant said a written agreement was not necessary; that a verbal agreement was quite sufficient. Witness asked, "Is this an honest deal ?" and the defendant replied, “Yes; when one Chinaman deals with another there is no cheating."
it will be absolutely necessary to call an extra- ordinary meeting of shareholders, at which we shall reluctantly have to propose a resolution | that the company be liquidated voluntarily. It will be a most unpleasant step to take, but one that we shall be compelled to adopt with great reluctance, if in the meantime shareholders are unable to come forward with some proposal that | will save the situation by finding the working capital we have mentioned. It has been the wish of the general agents by any possible means to safeguard the shareholders and their own investment in the company's shares, but you as business men will perceive that they cannot go on indefinitely providing money, and I am com- pelled now formally to intimate that unless money is forthcoming they will have no option, but to call as I have already said an extraordin- ary meeting to submit a resolution for the liquidation of the company. I shall be glad to receive any suggestion from shareholders, also Evidence was also given by several other to answer any questions, bearing on the busi- members of the crew. Leung Fun, who went to ness of the meeting, to the best of my ability. Tientsin as quartermaster in the Fai Lee, mid No questions being asked the CHAIRMAN he was present in the Kung On Shop when the said:-I would have been very glad to have arrangement was made between the plaintiff received any suggestions from any of the share-and the defendant. Several other members of holders, but as there are none, I am afraid there the crew were also present. He heard the con- is nothing to do but to call an extraordinary versation between the plaintiff and the defen- meeting as I intimated before was necessary. It dant. The plaintiff wanted $80 a month, but is a step I take with the very greatest reluctance. the defendant replied that the engineer on the That being the case I will call an extraordinary boat which had gone up was receiving $70 a meeting in order to give the necessary notice. month, and added, "You are engaged for six That concludes the business before this meeting, months. If you come back at the end of a gentlemen.
month's time it will be all the same; You will have six months' wages."
They asked him to give a written agreement, saying that they did not care about going as it was war time. They ultimately agreed to go, though the agree. ment was only a verbal one. Several of the crew put their names down on a piece of paper. He did not know why the crew were sent ashore at Tong-ku. The lights on the launch were always kept burning properly. Sometimes the oil was not very good and they had to add kerosene to it to make it burn better. When they were sent ashore nothing was said about their not attending to the lights properly.
SUPREME COURT.
November, 12th.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR T. SERCOMBE SMITH (ACTING PUiske Judge.)
KWOK MI NGAU V. CHUI NGAU MUI. A CLAIM FOR WAGES.
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Mr. Hays (Messrs. Johnson, Stokes, and Master) appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Brutton (Messrs. Mounsey and Brutton) for the defendant.
brought by an engineer.
This was a claim for wages amounting to $350
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Another quartermaster said that when they got to Tong-ka the chief engineer and the others did their duty properly. When the crew. were sent away from the launch he heard no reason given.
Mr. Brutton said the case for the defendant was that he was instructed by Captain Cannon to engage a crow for the Fai Les for a voyaga
to Taku. An agreement was drawn
up between agreement the wage to be paid to each of the Captain Cannon and the defendant, and in this crew was mentioned, and the agreement added. Taku."
This agreement stands good until we get to terms he had to offer to the men, and the crew The defendant knew exactly what
were employed on those terms simply for a voy- which the men were engaged. It took eight age to Taku. That was the understanding ou days to get to Taku. After they had been there three or four days complaints were made to Captain Cannon that the lights were not kept on board his launch and was asked if he could not keep any. He replied that he could but that the crew would not keep them alight. Ac- cordingly the harbour authorities removed the and put a fresh crew on board and the old crew were sent back.
crew,
The defendant corroborated.
Mr. Hays said that this was a suit brought The CHAIRMAN said:- Gentleman, As by the plaintiff, who was an engineer by pro- mentioned in the notice calling this meet- fession. ing, which has been read, the invitation of agreement with the defendant, who was the In August last be entered into an 27th September to shareholders to take up master of Preference Shares has met with practically no
the Kung On Shop in Des Voeux Road, to serve on board the Fai Lee response, and we are again met here to-day as one of the crew in the capacity of chief to confront and consider the financial position engineer. They were to take the Fai Lee, of the company. It may be advisable for on behalf of the American Government, to me to repeat what I said at the informal Tientsin. No written agreement was entered meeting hold on 25th September to the into at the time-that was to say, no agreement effect that after allowing for the estimated signed by both parties. The plaintiff went to proceeds of yarns and cotton in stock and see the defendant at his house in the Kung On Cotton in process, etc., the amount advanced to shop, Des Voeux Road. He was told there was a the company by Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and
vacancy for an engineer on board the Fai Lee. Co.approximated $1,000,000 and I then added that The question of wages was discussed, and the Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co. had decided plaintiff was told that his wages would be $70 not to exceed that amount, although they were per month for six months. There were eight willing not to press for repayment at present, or nine other persons present at the time, and if some arrangement could be made to provide these were to form the rest of the crew. The working capital. At the same meeting I launch was to be commanded by Captain Cannon, further intimated that, subject to the regular who was to take her up to Tientsin. They quarterly payment of interest on the amount got to Tientsin and remained there a short they have advanced, and provided that Share- while. They were landed and lodged in a sort holders were prepared to furnish a capital of of cook-house, and after a short while they were not less than $300,000, Messrs. Jardine, told that their services were not required any Matheson and Co. would undertake that repay. more and that they could go back to Hongkong. ment of their advance should not be demanded | On asking what they were to do for their wages before the end of September, 1901. Well, they were given a letter addressed to Captain Gentlemen, the financial position is practically Hoare, whom he proposed to call as a witness, the same to-day, we are no nearer relief than and this Captain Hoare was to see that their when we last met, our invitation for applica wages were paid. Captain Hoare was a quarter- BEFORE HIS HONOUR T. SERCOMBE SMITH, tions for Preference Shares was not responded master in the service of the United States to, a scheme for re-construction drawn up by Army, and he was the paymaster on whose rolls your consulting committee has been returned by these people's names were put for payment, and the company's solicitors as illegal and imprac- he was the man, unless he transferred these
The hearing of this case was resumed, case for the defendant being continued. The ticable unless absolutely unanimously sup- rolls, to whom they had to look for pay- claim was for five months' ported, and all agreed to take up the new
wages at the rate of shares in the suggested new company, and no
ment. At Tientsin they were put into one | $70 a month and 88 pasange money from of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's boats. Shanghai to Hongkong. suggestions of any kind have been forthcoming They were told that they would be taken from Shareholders. I trust, Gentlemen, that to Hongkong, but they were taken on to Shang- you are alive to the fact that if you do not hai. They had to get back to Hongkong as come forward and protect your own interests in I best they could, and the plaintiff's passage some such manner as we have submitted to you, down to Hongkong formed part of the claim.
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paper which had been mentioned to show that In reply to Mr. Hays he said he signed the he had got the money with which to pay the
men..
The hearing was adjourned.
November 18th.
IN SUMMARY JurisdictiON.
KWOK MI-NGAU V. CHUI NGAU MUI.
Mr. Hays was for the plaintiff Brutton for the defendant.
Mr.
John Cannon said he was a master mariner in the merchant service. In August last he took the steam'-launch Fai Lee to Taku on 'the-
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