17th and 89th defendants, who were not in the position of principal offenders, $150 each or two months. The rest of the defendants would have to be discharged. His Worship said he ust be satisfied, and the onus lay on the pro- to satisfy him, that there had been tual participation by each specific defendant —not generally, but specifically-in aiding and abbetting, and in the absence of definite proof they would be discharged.
After having undergone imprisonment since the 8th inst., 133 of the Kaifong'a stowaways— one of them having already paid the fine f $150 -were liberated from gaol on Friday on pay ment of the reduced penalty of $10 each, and will probably be shipped back to Amoy at the earliest opportunity.
Mr G K. H. Bratton, on behalf of Mr. Kaw Hong Take, merchant, Hoihow. said his Worship would recollect that about a week ago he made an application for the rehearing of the case, and he now asked that the decision arrived at .be reconsidered, as the hearing of the charge against the crew of the Kaifong had shown, as was anticipated, that the compradore was the principal offender and was practically liable for the stowaways be ing on board the Kaifong. Mr. Brutton submitted that, from the evidence which had been adduced in the case, it would not have been possible for the stowaways to get on board but for the compradore, for in every instance in which stowaways were found on board ship, someone on the vessel must have helped them 1 His Worship-It must be 8; I understand
about that
Mr. Brutton-They could not possibly get on board without some person assisting them
His Worship-That is very `obvions. Mr. Brutton-The compradore is the man who enters into a contract with the owners of the
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
OPENING OF A SIKH TEMPLE
IN HONGKONG.
On the 10th inst. the inauguration took place of the new Sikh and Hindu Temple, the iri Gura Singh Sabha, Hongkong," situated in the Gap behind Morrison Hill, leading from Wanchai to Happy Valley. The ceremony consisted in depositing in the build- ing the Sacred Book of the Sikhs, and this was followed by a religions service and later by a meeting of a general nature, at which an account was giren of the scheme which had resulted in the erection of the temple. The building is picturesquely situated and stands upon ground granted by the Government for that purpose. It is a handsome structure, reflecting much credit on the architect, Mr. B. Brotherton Harker, and it is eminently suited to the uses to which it is to be pus The basement floor is arranged as a shelter for strangers and will accommodate 30 or 40 such. A cook-house and offices are adjoining. Above is the temple proper, a spacious oblong apart. ment 30 feet by 50 feet, running the whole length of the building and opening out on to balconies on each side. At the upper end sits the officiating priest, and the floor is laid with front by a. broad carpets for the worshippers. This hall is approached from the flight of steps. The facade of the temple is of Moresque design and presents a very pretty appearance Except for the grant of a site by the Government, the entire cost of the erection of the temple has been borne by the Sikh and Hindu community of this and some neighbouring coast towns. Yesterday's ceremony was the culmination of a design which the Sikh and Hindu community in these parts have fondly cherished for something like twenty years. The $12,000 or so that the com- pleted temple and crematorium are estimated to cost have been almost all subscribed, but only of those concerned. It is unfortunate that now, when the scheme is on the direct road to completion, an objection should have been put forward by the Govern- ment to the effect, that they cannot authorise the construction of the crematorium in the form proposed. Hitherto the cremation of the Sikh method of a wood-fire in the open air. connection with the temple u crematorian was proposed to be built at a cost of $500 or $600 which would have sufficed for all the needs of the community, but the authorities decline to sanction such a structure and recommend the erection of a crematorium on the European model. Such a place would cost anything from $20,000 to body in that fashion is correspondingly expensive $30,000, and as the cost of cremating a dead as compared with the present system the Sikhe find themselves quite unable to follow out the Government's recommendation. that the bulk of the Sikh population in the Colony are in the Government service, would it not be a gracious thing for the local Legislature to provide the essential crematorium itself?
May 19, 1904
and watchman
Subadar TEJÄ SINGH gave an address In English. He pointed out that in the Colony there was a Sikh and Hindu community of about 700, but that though the R. A., the Police and the merchants had each a copy of the Sacred Book at their respective places there- had hitherto been no centre where they could joint'y offer their prayers and engage in the service. The provision of such a place had been thought of for the last twenty years, but the heavy cost had always stood in the way of its accomplishment. The coming of the China Field Force brought an opportunity, however of their wish s being carried out. The Sikhs in the Force were asked to subscribe and every soldier, policeman, ta th Colony gave one month's pay and ihe merchants one month's income. (Hear, hear.) The China Field Force assisted them very ably and other outside stations sent in their portions. For their success in securing a site from the Government thanks were due to Captain Bland, R.A, Mr. May of the Police, His Excellency the General Officer Commanding, and Mr. Ormsby of the P.W.D. The subscrip tions were limited to Sikhs and Hindus. They had not thought it necessary to appeal to others for support, and, thank God! they had been able to effect their purpose, though they had no doubt that had they appealed to others that appeal would not have been made in vain. Among the subscripions worth noting were $2,50. from the H. K. Police, $2,285 from Nos. land 2 Companies, H.K.S.B R.A., $1,461 from the China Field Force, $223 from the Victoria Guol, and $634 from the Shanghai Municipal Police. The total sum $10,500. After expressing the hope that the Public Works Department would grant per- crematorium, Subadar Teja Singh went on to mission for the erection of the proposed small say that their special thanks were due to Mr. getting the temple ready under circumstances Harker, who had kindly assisted them in
amounted to about
ship for getting the cargo from shore on board. I by the excroise of great relf-denial on the part of considerable difficulty and had done so in a
and he, under the superintendence of the first officer, is the person who looks after the stow-
ing of that cargo, so that if there are any stowaways on board he primarily is responsible to the owners of the ship.
His Worship-A very large number of stow
aways are put on board by firemen,
manner reflecting the greatest credit upon him. He had now very great pleasure in
a
asking Mr. Harker to accept, for Mrs. Harker, ring as a token of their appreciation of his services, and he wished him and his wife long life and prosperity. (Applause.)
After further remarks by Mr. Brutton. / dead has been carried ont by the primatireing the gift-a handsome gold ring set with
his Worship asked if his client was prepared to pay a fine of $10 or $15 for each stow- away, and Mr.
Brutton, after consulting with Mr. Kaw Hong Take, said he. WAS The prepared to pay the former amount. money, he explaimed, would have to be raised by subscription, as the stowaways had no money. of the owners, Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, Mr. G. C. C. Master, who attended on behalf was of opinion that the stowaways ought to have some punishment, although certainly they were not so guilty as those who put them on board, between whose case and their own some Then again, distinction should be drawn. continued Mr. Master, some distinction ought also to be made with reference to the three stowaways who gaye evidence against the crew of the Keifong, and thas helped to secure a conviction.
cases,
༨
In
Considering
The company which attended the opening ceremony yesterday assembled at the Central Police Station at 8 a.m. and marched to the His Worship said he found that in these temple headed by the band of the Hongkong. when he fined the stowaways a nominal Regiment, which was present through the amount, the fines were paid and it was im courtesy of Major Berger, commanding, and possible to get any evidence against the real offers. The Sacred Book was caried in front culprits. That being so, he thought the better On arrival at the temple, the Book was with way for him to do in the present case was to due ceremony deposited in the place of worship fine the stowaways heavily, and if any of them and a religions service followed. Then followed were innocent they could be called on to give the general meeting before alluded to. Among evidence against those really culpable. As Mr. those present were Subadar Ikbal Singh, R.A., Master had said, three stowaways were called and president of the committee; Jemadar Lal proved successfully that the principal instigatorsingh, H.K. Police, vice-president; Lala Sham were the compradore and his men. These three stowaways, it might be mentioned, adopted quite a different course when they were in the ently thinking they would get off nominal penalty. Under the tinned his Worship, he would application and reduce the His object in sending had had the desired effect, reason for keeping time however they in the matter, as was hat their agreement, they their money unless they were
Beer
herel
Das, representing the Hindus on the committee; Seth Wasia Mall, representing the merchants; and Sirdar Kehr Singh, representing the watch men; Bhai Raga Singh, priest; Subalar Major Sirdar Khad, H.KR. (who assisted in getting the band); Subadar Teja Singh, former president of the committee, who came from Singapore to take part in the ceremony Suba- dar-Major Sri Garjadhar Perehad, 5th Hyderabad Regt.; Subadar Lall Singh, 22nd Bombay Inf. A number of Europeans were also present, including Mr. B. Brotherton Harker, the architect.
After a statement by LALA SHAM DAS in Hindustani,
Mr. BROTHERTON HARKER, in acknowledg- diamonds—thanked the donors very heartily for their kindness. That gift was a token of their appreciation of his endeavours to con- struct their temple to the best of his ability. The circumstances attending its construction had rendered his task rather difficult, but he was pleased to think that his work had given them satisfaction. (Applause.)
taken, the formal proceedings terminated. A A photograph of the company having been dinner was afterwards given to over 500 persons.
THE GENERAL POST OFFICE
IN 1901.
The report of Mr E. Cornewall Lewis, Acting! Postmaster General, for 1901 is published in the Gasette. We make the following extracts:
DEPARTMENTAL CHANGES.
Captain Hastings, the Postmaster General, after an absence of 19 months in England returned to the Colony and resumed his duties on the 19th September. Unfortunately he was obliged through illness to remain at home after only a month in office, and, I regret to add, never returned to duty. During his absence I was in charge of the Department.
with
ignations
Twenty-eight new appointments were made during the year, and twenty-one clerks resigned or were dismissed. The new appointments included a Deputy Superintendent of the Money Order Officers, three Assistant Marine Officers, and a Correspondence Clerk – these officers were very much required the increased business in the Department whole. The principal cause of the was the fact that these men alleged they
ployment, and les secure more remunerative
1100. hard work, outside the Poet
Both of the Travelling Shanghai resigned during
the groun short period of service, insufficiency of the salary a ached to their "It was with some dificulty that their places
could be efficiently filled.
Officers at tor but a the