284
THE HOUSE-TAX QUESTION IN
JAPAN.
According to a Japanese contemporary, the Japanese Government has proposed the follow. ing terms as the basis of arbitration in the House-tax difficulty:-
1. That the question at issue shall be referred to one of the Treaty Powers for arbitration.
2. That such decision shall be final, and all the Powers shall agree to abide by it.
3. That the operation of the Japanese law shall not be suspended pending arbitration.
We have reason to believe, says the Kobe Chronicle, that the statement of the conditions as above is correct, and the last clause explains the delay that has arisen in formally announcing the arbitration. Not unnaturally the repre- sentatives of the Powers principally interested find the last condition objectionable under the circumstances, and have refused to agree pending the receipt of instructions from their respective Governments It is reported that the French Government has accepted the conditions but not Great Britain, Germany, or the Netherlands. In Kobe the decision to permit distraint to take place as a protest is unshaken.
TROUBLES IN HONAN AND KANSU
THE KONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
BIGAMY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PRESS
Brixton, London, 7th March. SIR, With roference to the case of Frederick G. Hanson, formerly of the Royal Engineers, as reported in your issue of Jinary 20th of this year, may I be allowed-having intimately known the prisoner and his wife, Minnie Hanson, for many years to clear the character of his wife from a cruel, cowardly tissue of falsehoods His statement as to their habits of life and circumstances are absolutely without foundation, and as the Attorney-General truthfully remark ed, Mrs. Hanson sjemed from the evidence to be ab "extremely respectable woman." I can add that she is thoroughly respected and esteemed by all who know her.-Yours, etc.,
J. DAVIDSON.
A SMOKE NUISANCE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
."
constitutes
DAILY PRESS." Hongkong, 8th April, SIR,With reference to my complaints against a smoke nuisance caused by several ill-constructed funnels erected by Ting Hing Co. and Kee Heong Chan, both situated at the foot of S. Francis Street (which you were good enough to publish in your paper of 14th December, 1901) I shall feel obliged if you will allow me to call the kind attention of the Government again, as the evil is daily A Kaifengfu despatch reports that the rioters assuming a more serious aud alarming aspect. who recently massacred a number of Christians In section 23, sub section 9, of the Public Health Ordinance, 1991, which came into force at Piyang and Tungêh, in Housu, have now formed themselves into a regular military on 25th March last year, it is stated that any organisation and are bi ging th cities of chimney (not being the chimney of a private Piyang, Tangusien, and Hsinye, which from dwelling-house) sending. forth black smoke in latest accounts are in a critical condition. such quantity as to be a nuisance Piyang is near the Hupeh froutiers an adjoins an offence. I wonder whether the above funnels the Hapeb district city of Tsaoyang-hsien. which have been the subject of so much corres- The people of the latter city, it is stated, barepondence and of petitions from the S. Francis lately also begun to be excited, in consequence community, come within the meaning of this of which Viceroy Chang Chih-tung has been section; and if not, when will the Government appealed to for help by the magistrate of that enforce the Ordinance referred to by Dr. Clark city. The Christians massacred by the Piyang in the meeting of the Sanitary Board on 11th were Roman October, 1900, when he said that "the Govern- and Taugpêh desperadors
ment have written home for full particulars as Catholics.
Depatobes from Lanchon, capital of Kansu,to the means of enforcing sub-section 7 of report that the numerous battalions formerly section 91 of the Imperial Public Health Act of under the ex-General, Tung Fuhsiang, which 1875, which deals with smoke nuisance." I am were recently ordered by Imperial decres to be sorry to trouble you, but it is unavoidable as disbanded, have all joined their old Commander, | the ghost had come a second time.-Yours, etc., the Imperial forces being too weak either to disarm or prevent them. Furthermore, it is now known that Tang Fahsiang has refused to be inve gled into Lanchou, ignoring the "warm", invitations of Sung Fan, Mauchu Viceroy of Shen-Kan, t a grand dinner "which the Empress Dò va fer had command-d to be bestowed upon him at Lanchon." Affairs in Kansu are therefore considered to be critical, as a rebellion may break out at any monent
CORRESPONDENCE.
e do not hold ourselves responsible for the Wopinions expressed by our correspondents.]
AZALEAS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.'
•
M. FERNANDEZ, Messrs. Kelly & Walsh, Ld.
SUPREME COURT.
Monday, 7th April.
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION.
|
[April 12, 1902.
inserted giving notice of the presentation of the petition and of the day fixed for the hear- ing. These advertisements have been duly nserted in accordance with the order of the Court. Having now heard Counsel in support it, I make an order confirming the reaction of of the petition, and no one appearing to oppose the capital as prayed in the petition, and I approve of the minute as set forth in paragraph 10 of the petition. As regards fixing a day on and after which the Company shall be at liberty to discontinue the addition to its name of the words "and reduced," I fix the date as one week from to-day.
The Court adjourned.
Thursday, 10th April. '
IN CRIMINAL JORISDICTION.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR W. MEGH GOODMAN (CHIEF JUSTICE).
THI PERU SHOOTING AFFAIR.
At a special sitting of the Criminal Court held yesterday morning, Alb rt Marshall, late Peru, was indicted for shooting with intens 10 chef steward of the Pacific Mail steamship murder Albert Freeman Pillsbury, master of the steamer, while in Hongkong waters on the 23rd January last. There was another count against him of shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
The Acting Attorney-General (the Hon. A. G. Wise), instructed by the Crown Solicitor (Mr. F. B. L. Bowley) prosecuted, and Mr. M. W. Slade, instructed by Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist, defended the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty.
a
The following jury was empanelled:-Messrs. A. Bryson, Gustar Meyer, R. H. Stephenson, R. Menashir, A. A. H. Milroy, F. E. da Silva, and W. C. Drew.
The Acting Attorney-General asked permis- sion to be allowed to add another count-of common assault-to the indictment, and this was granted by the Chief Justice. Continuing to address the jury, the Acting Attorney-cn- eral proceeded to detail the circumstances of the case, observing that on the evidence be would produce he thought they would have no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that the prisoner was guilty on the first count, in which case the others would not be gone into. Capt. Pillsbury would be called, they would also hear | the evidence of a night watchman who heard the prisoner say he was going to kill the cap- tain, and another witness might also be called. to bear out that evidence At the Magistracy the stewardess gave evidence, but she was now unavoidably absent, and he thought that very. likely her evidence would be read,
Captain Pillsbury then went into the witness- box aud gave his evidence, all of which was
(BEFORE HIS HONOUR W. MEIGH GOODMAN, published in full in the Daily Press when the
CHIEF JUSTICE.)
THE CHINA PROVIDENT LOAN AND MORTGAGE CO., LD., AND REDUCED.
An application was made by the China Pro- vident Loan and Mortgage Company, Limited and Reduced, for the sanction of the Court to a reduction of the capital of the Company.
Mr. M. W. Slade, barrister-at-law (instructed by Mr. E. C. Pontifex, solicitor) appeared in support of the petition.
Having heard coùusel,
case came before Mr. F. A. Hazeland, Police Magis rate.
Cross-examined by Mr Slade, Captain Pills- bury said that the statement made by him to the Attorney-General daring the examination- in-chief, that he had bad trouble with the pri- soner, but not in connection with the stewardess, should be qualified, as he did have occasion once, at Yokohama, to reprimand the prisoner for misconduct. In answer to anther question, he said that he remained in the stewardess's cabin, after the first struggl, with the prisoner, for over an hour.
Mr. Slade-What were you doing all that time --Sitting in the same position that I was shot in.
You said at the Police Court that you re- mained only twenty minutes ?--I thought it was twenty minutes.
Hongkong, 7th April.
The Chief Justice said-This is an application SIB, Having derived much pleasure from walking through 'the hills of this beautiful on behalf of the China Provident Loan and Mortgage Company, Limited, and Reduced, for island, especially on the southern side, and bein a great admirer of the local flora, I have noticed the sanction of the Court to a reduction of the during the last few days with great regret the capital of the Company. The matter came destruction that is going on of the scarlet previously before the Acting Chief Justice, Three or four times and after considering the affidavits and petition, and purple azaleas.
The witness had been manifesting an inclína- lately I have met coolies carrying large that learned Judge was of opinion that the pro-
tion to fence with the questions, and this gave some posed reduction of the capital would aot involve bundles of azales boughs, and in cases plants uprooted, which are doubtless the payment to any shareholder of any paid-np-rise to one or two incidents during the cross- The capital, and that the creditors had either coni examination. Mr. Slade asked if the struggle taken to Wyndham Street for sale. purple azalea is almost extinct now in the sented to the proposed reduction or werefully ontside the stewardess's room had been a violent one, and the answer given by the witness was island - indeed. I have found only one plant secured in accordance with Section 13 Ord-
He therefore ordered that Marshall offered -ome resistance. this year-and the scarlet species is rapidlynance No. 1 of 1877. becoming so. Can nothing be done to prevent that any further particulars to the creditors of this? The destruction appears to be going on the Company should be dispensed with, and mostly in the valley between Tytam and adjourned the further consideration of the Stanley, or thereabouts. Surely this destruc- petition till to-day, to give any creditor or tion could be easily stopped by the Botanical shareholder, who desire to object, an oppor- tunity of doing so, and he directed the and Afforestation Department.-Yours, etc.,
A. M. necessary and proper advertisements to be
J
Mr. Slade-Was it a violent struggle or was it not? He offered some resistance.
Captain Pillsbury, will you answer my ques- tion ?
Witness (to his Lordship)—I don't think, sir, this gentleman has any right to speak to me as he is doing.