January 25, 1904.]
no limitation at all; they limited it in deference to the representations made by certain unofficial members.
On a division the amendment was defeated by 11 to 2.(Hon. Messrs Dickson and Jollock). (Mr. Dickson was not present at the previous division. }
:
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved a verbal amendment of liues 5 and 6 of the same sub- section so as to make that part read as follows:-"any person who being at the time of landing a lunatic, idotie or imbecile shall become within a period of three months," etc., so as to make it clear up a misapprehension that the effect of the section as printed was to make the shipowner liable for bringing bere a man who was not a lunatic at the time he landed but became such within three months after landing.
The amendment was agreed to.
With reference to section 3, sub-section 2. Hon. GERSHO: STEWART thought it seemed to confer on the captain of a ship absolute con- trol of any person ou board. He moved that in line 1, before the word "Every," the words "In case such permission as aforesaid is refused " be inserted; and that in the 3rd and 4th lines the words "without such permission as afore- said" be deleted.
This was agreed to.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK proposed an addition to that sub-section making it compulsory on the P.C.M.O. or the Medical Officer of the Port t give a certificate to the master of a vessel to the effect that, he had refused to land such a person in the Colony.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he had no objection to that.
After some discussion it was agreed that this amendment should take the form of a sub-section, No. 3, as follows:-"In every case in which permission to land from any vessel is refused ander the authority of this Ordinance the officer refusing such permission shall give a certificate to the master of said vessel if so required by him.”
+
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the short title of the Bill he altered to "The Im- becile Persons Introduction Ordinance, 1903."
This was agreed to.
The Bill than passed through Committee. HIS EXCELLENCY said it would be printed and be ready for next meeting.
The Council adjourned sine die!
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
| Increases to 52 seamen
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council-the Acting Colonial Secretary (Hon. A. M. Thomson) presiding.
The following votes were passed :-
CABLE AND TELEPHONES.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote sum of $7,000 in aid of vote No. 19, "Cable for Observatory and other Telephone lines to Kowloon,-Public Works, Extraordinary,"
LEPERS AT AUTAU.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a
sum of $300 in aid of the vote Police-Other Charges" on account of rations for Lepers in the Asylum at Antau in the New Territory.
EDUCATIONAL VOTE.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote & sum of $3,600 in aid of the vote "Education, Inspector of Schools-Other Charges" to meet the cost of participating in a scheme for the visual instruction of children as regards the geographical features, lite and industries of the various parts of the Empire.
POLICE VOTE..
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of $12,845 for the following:
POLICE.
Personal Emoluments. 50 Chinese constables at $150 each... Ration allowances
2 Barrack Bergeants at $240 instead of
$168 each; difference ...
2 Station Sergeants at $168 each instead
of $144 and $156; difference 16 3rd class engineers and coxswains at
$216 to $24) each instead of $:16 and 8 stokers at $144 to $168 instead of $144 each (previous service to count); difference.....!
624
།
144
36
96 $12,445
Total Personal Emoluments Other Charges. Clothing, &c.
...$ 1,900 Lodging allowances during alterations to
Central Police Station...
500
Total Other Charges ...$ 2,400 Public Works Extraordinary. Addition of Storey to Central Police
Station
Graud Total
TRAINING NULLAHS.
...$28,000
$42,84
The Officer Administering the Goverumeut recommended the Council to vote a sum $9,50) iu aid of the vote Public Works, of
Extraordinary, to meet cost of training nullahs in the vicinity of the Bay View Hotel, and filling up wate holes, &o
BANITARY DEPARMENT.
The Officer Administering the Governinent recommended the Council to vote a sum of $4,623.90 in aid of the vote Sanitary Depart
meat under Persual moluments:-
JAPAN AND RUSSIA.
We take the following paragraphs from the Kobe Chronicle of the 9th inst. :--
Yesterday there was a rumour in Kobe that Japanese and Russian warships had come into collision off sushima, and that the Japanese had proved victorious It was a mere canard, however, probably arising from the fact that the Japanese Squadron was reported to have left Sasebo for an unknown destination, and that two or three Russian warships had pre- viously been reported to have left Vladivostock. for Port Arthur. Of course a collision would not be impossible, as over-zealous officers might be tempted to act without orders in the present strained relations, but we think a conflict will || not be forced in that way.,
Acting on instructions reozived from Tokyo, Mr. Hattori, the Governor of Hyogo prefecture, | called representatives of the various local journals, Japanese and foreign, to the Kencho yesterday, and add essed them on the necessity of closely observing the notifications with reference to the exclusion of news dealing situation, said the Governor, was extremely with the military or nal movements. The grave, and it was because of the gravity of the situation that the notification had ben issued. No indication must be given of the whereabouts of warships or transports, the number of trans- ports chartered, the materials of war in process of manufacture, or even the amount of the War
Fund expended. The question was so important, added the Governor, that he had thought it best to address the representatives of the news".
1. Assistant Secretary from 11th
January to 31st December, 1904 $2,335 50 papers in person rather than delegate the Assistant Secretary Exchange Com.
matter to subordinate officials. pensation... 2. Corr spondence Clerk (additional...
Salary)
Total
1.868.40
420.00
.$4,623.90
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of 825,395.24 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, for the following items :- 1. Extension of Inspectors' Quarters
at Kennedy Town
..$
2. Tai Po Road
3. Extension of Wanchai Market... 4. Cattle Depôt Extension
5. Public Mortuary, Extension and
Reconstruction
Total
This was all the business.
1,250.00 5,000.00 645 24 15,000.00
3,500.00
$25,395.24
THE FISCAL PLEBISCITE IN
HONGKONG.
The final figures in connection with the local plebiscite with regard to the Fiscal policy now being enunciated by Mr. Chamberlain, which concluded on the evening of the 16th inst. at the City Hall, were as follows:
For Mr. Chamberlain's polioy Against
Majority for
3.
392
20 372
On the 18th inst. a telegram was sent off to Mr. Joseph Chamberlain in connection with the plébiscite. The following is the text:-
'Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain Birmingham five days plebiscite of merchants bankers shipping repre entatives and thers British Subjects resident here taken here for or against your Fiscal Policy from Imperial not C. P. Chater Hongkong local standpoint result 392" for 20 against ir
L'Echo de ('hine of Shanghai used to pass for a sober journal. That it is no longer so may have been gathered from some remarks and parts of articles which we have quoted from it lately.What now are we to mak: of this? In its issue of the 10th inst. it has a leading article beaded "A New Phase of the ...$ 7,500 Crisis,” In 1897, it says, "if our memory 600 is good, the English Admiral left for Port Arthur with a magnificent feet, but never 690 arrived there. An amiable Russian agent had 360 left for him at Ch-foo a very sweet surprise: 1,675
We have five ships at Port Arthur, but they are very precious and each of them is worth the empire of India. So history repeats itself, 720 and India¡has its price." |
23 3rd class constables promoted to 2nd
class; difference
Allowances for 6 detectives
Increased ration allowances
***
8 1st class constables promoted to be
1st class Sergeants and 4 2nd class Sergeants difference
...
病
4
The gravest news regarding the situation reaches us as we go to press. There is no longer any doubt that the Russian reply handed to the Japanese Government on Wednesday was of such a nature as to form a virtual rejection of the principal demands made by Japan. The reply is silent as to Manchuria, and the concessions offered regarding Corea are. looked upon by the Government as merely a ruse to protract negotiations and gain time.. | The conference held on Thursday between the Ministers and the chiefs of the Army and Navy Staff Departments was practically to decide on the immediate measures that are to be takeú to enforce Japan's demands, which presumably. means that operations will be begun without further delay.
|
Our contemporary, the Osaka Asahi, informs us that last night it received a despatch from its Tokyo correspondent who has had an interview with a high and responsible official. This official is reported to have said: "The situation is now more than critical. The forces of the two countries are practically waiting an opportunity to open fire. Under these circumstances the Government is now in a position to give information in regard to past events leading up to the present position as soon as enquiries are made by responsible leaders of the political part es. Journalists may now inform their readers that the country is on the eve of war, even if they must not state anything with regard to actual movements, though this prohibition will probably be removed in a few days. Journalists ah uld urge bankers and wealthy men to contribute to the War Fund, and patriots should be urged to send such articles as will be appreciated by the soldiers. This action will encourage the troops and let the enemy know the feeling of Japan,”
In view of the above news we greatly fear that all hopes of a pacific settlement are now at an end.
The N.-C. Daily News says:It comes from a well-informed source in Japan that the two cruisers, Nisshin and Kasuga, now coming out from Genoa to reinforce the Japanese fleet, will be delivered in Shanghai. They are said to be coming out as far as here under the British flag, though why British rather than Argentine, that of the government from which they have bean parohased, is not stated.
The Shanghai Mercury in its issue of the 14th inst. understands that a squadron of the Japanese fleet has been seen oruising near, the addle Islands. Referring to this editorially: : the Mercury says:-Outside Woosung and near. the Saddles is a squadron of Japanese war- vessels and torpedo-boats. They may be