November 16, 1903.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. Committee were very firm and absolutely Registrar; Mr. M. W. Slade, Mr. H. H. declined to have that road from Shaukiwan. Gompertz, Messrs. H. W. Looker, F. B. L. Of curse I need hardly tell you that with Bowley, J. Hastings, P. W. Goldring, E. J. their pertinacity they succeeded in domiun- Grist, C. E. H. Beavis, G. C. C. Master, V. ting the Goverument on that point. The Deacon, E. A. Boaner, J. S. Harston, O. D. argument on the one side was that you would Thomson, J. Hays, M. J. D. Stephens, S. W. have a driving road round the island. On the Tso and F, X. d'Almada e Castro; Hon. F. H. other side it was said you woull have a May, Colonial Secretary; Sir Paul Chater, road round Mount Dasis on which the Chinese Hon. C. W. Dickson, Hon. would come out in the afternoons and would be Atkinson, P.C M.O.; Hon. Dr. Ho Kai; Messrs. Dr. J. M. seen there in crowds ejoying the balmy south-J. Dyer Ball, H. P. Tooker, B. A. Hale, P. H. westeru breezes lade with the odours of Jones, B. B. Parker, E. A Hewett, H. G. Fisher, Cheung Chow. (Langter.) The real secret of Gershom Stewart, L. A. M. Johnston, M. the Committee's determination was never opeuly S. Northcote, Rev. C. H Hickling, Rev. T. stated. I do not know how it got about. It Wright, Messrs. P. P. J. Wodehouse. A. Shel. may have been that one of the Committee ton Hooper. G. A. Woodcock, Fung Wa Chun, was, like Cassius, lose of soul, and in his Lau Chu Pak. Dr. W. W. Pearse, and Dr. sleep did mutter his affairs. (Laughter.) The B. T. T. Barnett, A body of police under Cap- real secret I believe was that the Committee tain Lyons and Chief Inspector Baker was Baid the Government have undertaken to finish present and pre erved excellent order. this road and it will take up all the money we His Excellency and party having taken their have to make this small bit round Mouat Davis, places on the platform at te foundation-stone, and if we do not spend it on that difficutl Hon W. CHATHAM said-Your Excellency. p ece of road we will ever see it done. Now la lies and gentlemen, -We are met together we have a very good 16 feet road there at pre- to-day to inaugurate the construction of the sent. So far as we can see it appears to be Dew Law Courts. The Colony, though still principally for the purpose of affording an somewhat young, has already ontgrown the ac- opportunity to the Dairy Farm of sending their commodation afforded by the present Courts, milk by the higher and lower levels. It has which were built in 1848, and the question of been completed in part at such a level as would erecting a new building has, for a considerable probably shorten the wind of any assailant who time past, exercised the minds of the Govern. attempted to take the land that side and leave ment and the public. The first real move in him an easy victim of the Volunteers or other the matter was made in 1896, when the then defenders of that section. (Laughter.) It is Director of Public Works, Mr Cooper, sub- true that with the persevering determination that mitted a scheme for constructing new Law characterises everything in Hongkong, portions Courts on a site immediately to the North of of the road after the heary rains attempted bodily the one we are now standing on. The Courts to convey themselves to the sea level, but they formed ouly a part of the scheme, which con- were coaxed back into position by Messrs. Denison templated the erection on this site of public and Ram, and now it is good road and I hope it offices to accommodate several other depart will be availed of by a large number of people ments, including the Post Office. Mr. Cooper's and ultimately will be completed round the proposal was referred by the secretary of State island, when, I hope it fill satisfy all the condi- for the Colonies (Mr. Chamberlain) to the tions that were intended. And now, Sir Paul eminent English arch.i.ects, Messrs. Chafer, and ladies and gentlemen, as regards the Webb and Ingress Bell, and, upon their recom Hospital: this is a work, I think, against which mendation, which was based upon the inadequate no caviller could say one word, and I look for- area of the site to the North of th's it was de- wad with great pleasure to the unique cided to erect the Courts her. The other opportunity of turning the key in the entrance- departments, to which I have referred, will be door of a building 1.00 feet above the foundation provide for on a site adjoining Blake Pier. stone which was laid. I believe, originally near the where they will be more conveniently situated, Government Civil Hospital. (Laughter.) This from a public point of view. The area to building with its 41 beds, and situated as it is
the North of this will therefore remain un abore the vitiated atmosphere of the crowded built upon, and an almost uurivalled site for the city, must be, I am sure, a blessing in the future Courts, having regard to the open spaces to the poor people who will be accommodated
which will adjoin them 00 here. It is a fitting memorial to our late will thus be created. Lack of funds has been three sides, beloved Queen, and I am sure we will all join in responsible to some extent for the delay which wishing it God-speed. I have great pleasure in bas occurred in undertaking the work, and I may declaring that it is well and du y opened. here mention that some 11 years ago an agita- (Applause)
tion was got up to arrest the progress of the reclamation works, by the carrying cat of which the site for the Courts has been rendered avail able. As the cost of the works will amount to about $750,000, it has not been an easy matter to provide for it among the numerous urgent demands for public works caused by the rapid development of the C lony. Other factors in causing delay have been the difficulties arising out of the contract for the foundations, th necessity of removing the Praya Reclamation Office in order to clear the site, and subsequently of piling the area which it had occupied and the difficulty of obtaining a tender to construct the superstructure for a reasonable sum. that these have been overcome, there is every prospect of the work progressing satisfactorily, though, on account of the large quantity of dressed granite to be employed,—over 150,000 cabic feet, progress must necessarily be slower than if brick and plaster were used as in the case of most of the buildings around us. The build ing when completed will be in every way worthy of the Colony and of the high purpose it is designed to serve, predicted that, in it, that justice which plays and it may safely be
continue to be administered for many years to so important a part in British rule will
I would now ask you. Sir, to lay this stone, and for this purpose I have to hand you this trowel and mållet and spirit-level which Tong. (Applause). are the gift of the contractor, Mr. Chan A
His Excellency then turned the key in the look and the company entered the Hospital and iuspected it.
Refreshments were afterwards served.
THE NEW LAW COURTS.
FOUNDATION-STONE LAID BY HE. THE GOVERNOR.
On Thursday afternoon the foundati n-stone of the new Law Courts was laid by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Henry Blake, G.C.M.G., in the presence of a brilliant gathering of Hongkong residents. 'The ceremony took place at half-past four o'clock, and long before that hour had arrived a large crowd of spectators had assembled on the scene. All the scaffolding on the site was decked with banting. Stands were provided for the ladies, of whom many attended, and for the members of the Bench and the Bar. The founda- Lion-stone
Was suspended by # crane, ready to be lowered into position. At the hour fixed for the ceremony H. E. the Governor and Ddy Blake, with Sir John Keane, AD.C., a rived in the enclosure and were met by the Chief Justice, Sir William Goodman (who wore his official robes), and the Hon. W. Chatham, Director of Public Works, who escorted His Excellency to the staud erected for the purposes of the ceremony proper. Among others present were Lady Goodman; Hos. Sir Henry 8. Berkeley, Attorney-General; His Honour A. G. Wise, Puisne Judge, Mr. A. Seth, Registrar; Mr J. W. Jones, Deputy
come.
351
Arthur Blake, G.C.M.G., Governor of Bong- kong, on the occasion of his laying the founda- tion-stone of the new Law Courts, by Chan A Tong, contractor. 12th November, 1903."
Sir WILLIAM GOODMAN then said-Your Excellener very kindly asked me this morning, as Chief Justice, to make a few remarks, on this extremely interesting occasion, upon the working. Perhaps I may be permitted, in present Supreme Court and its actual practical the first instance, to express, in the name of the members of the legal profession, satisfaction we experience in being present here to-day, and in knowing that, all obstacles lency is now about to lay the foundation-stone of having been at length overcome, Your Excel-
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building thoroughly worthy of the position of this Colony, and of the traditions of the administration of British justice. It is most, important, especially so in Oriental countries, that justice should be administered not only with firmness, impartiality and promptitude, but also with dignity, and in surroundings in consonance with Supreme Courts of His Majesty the King, wherein he ad- ministers justice, through his Judges. There been somewhat difficult for the Judges to keep have been times, quite recently, when it has up even a semblance of dignity. purposes, I believe, it is convenient to be For certain
Office. in the closest proximity to the General Post It is supposed to enhance the value of the property. But in the diate proximity is a serious drawback. I can, of the Supreme Court such imme- from my own experience, asap your Ex- cellency that you have no more active and in what I may call the carpentering branch energetic Civil servants than those engaged of the Parcels Post and the machine-stamping departments of the Post office, and the Collector of Stamp Duties. (Laughter). Last year, I recol- lect being entirely suppressed as a Judge. was in Chambers; and whenever the legal gentle of their argument, the stamping machine would got to the most interesting point
commence operations, with the regularity of a smith beating on an anvil-a smith who
smith." (Laughter.) The machine was within certainly not harmonious black-
20 feet of the seats we were occupying, and we bad, day after day, to select our most per. suasive officer (it was mostly Mr. Beth-you know the smoothness of his tongue) to go round and bag for half an hour's cessation, as After much correspondence with the Govern- it was impossible to hear a word, (Laughter.)
meut, during your Excellency's absence, that machine was removed, but I believe the Colleo- tor of Stamp Revenue has never been thoroughly happy since. (Laughter.) But as for the carpentering and the hammering at parcel post cases, these, like the poor, are ever with us," and, at times, we bar owing to our proximity to the Queen's Road, visits from the steam- roller, which seems to consider that the granite in front of the windows of the Court House is best crushed into shape during the sittings of the Court. I believe my colleague, Mr. Justice Wise, was once very nearly committing the steam roller and its driver for contempt of Court, but I daresay there were difficulties in the
into way of getting it upstairs the presence of the outraged Judge to re- Now! orivo the marited sentence. (Laughter.) At present the Post Office occupies about half of the ground floor of the Supreme Court, I remember on my return from leave of absence, some years ago. I found that the Post Office had expropriated me. (Larghter.) I could plend no New Territories Treaty, and they took possession of Crown Solicitor's chambers, and remain there the Attorney-General's and
The trowel was silver and the mallet black. wood silver-mounted.
souvenirs, which bore the following inscription: His Excellency formally accepted the
Presented to His Excellency Sir Henry
DOW. At one time I remember that the
Court Room. Registrar-General had rooms in the Supreme one had to push one's way through a crowd of Chinese applicants for those numerous licenses which he has the daty of granting or withholding. I can speak only from personal recollection, of a period of some
years, but that is quite long enough to impress upou me the fact that there is no heating apparatus in the Court. Once there were hot-water pipes, but no officer was deputed to look after them, and one of the
to listening to the weird blood-curdling noises former Chief Justices preferred catching cold those pipes produced and running the risk of
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