}
December 17, 1904.]
therefore, Sir, to move that the Council do now approve of the recommendations of the Finance Committee.
The Hon. COLONIAL TREASURER-I beg to second the motion.
The motion was carried.
ADJOURNMENT.
The Council adjourned sine die.
ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.
The report by Professor T. E. Thorpe, F.R.S., was dated Government Laboratory, 26th September, 1904. It read as follows:--
The five samples of spirits forwarded by the Under Secretary for the Colonies have been examined and the following are the results of the analyses :-
M 127
Mark-Govt.
Laby. No.:
Colour
Flavour
Strength
A
B
C
D
M 130
E H 131
M 128 M 129
Light Light Sherry Dark Light Sherry Sherry
Sherry Sherry Slight Slight Harsh Slight Very slight Whisky Whisky Spirit Brandy Whisky
22.8 15.7 17.2 22.7
15.4 u.p.
u.p. u.pl u.p.
u.p. Percentages:- Grams, per 100 c. f. at proof strength, Acidity-Total... 0.087 0.089 0.014 0.014 0.021
Volatile ...
0.029 0.035 0.008 0.00% 0.004 Furfurol. 0.0009 0.0007 Nil Nil. Trace. 0.0010 0.0012 Trace. Trace. Trace.
Aldehydes
Esters ("Com-
pound Ethers,") 0.05C1 0.0020 0.0080 Higher Alcohola 0.1290 0.1174 0.07
0.804 0.028
Solid matter in
solution
Ash..
=
0.0048 0.0021 0.0120 0.0100
0.330 0.100 0.020 0.030
From a consideration of these results we are of opinion that samples A and B consist of
5.
46
patent still" or silent" spirit with an
admixture of genuine "pot still" whisky for the purpose of imparting the genuine whisky flavour to the mixture. These samples are very similar to what is usually sold in "public houses in this country as whisky.
The whisky would not, of course, he con- sidered of good quality from a commercial point of view, but the total percentages of "fusel oil impurities," and more especially the proportions of furfurol and aldehydes present in these sam. ples, are considerably less than are generally found in genuine Scotch and Irish
pot still whiskies of high commercial quality.
Samples C, D, and E are wholly, or almost wholly, composed of "patent" or "silent" spirit diluted, coloured and flavoured to imitate brandy and whisky.
C
The "silent" spirit used in concocting these mixtures was highly rectified; and, as will be seen from the results of the analyses, the "fusel oil impurities" in the "whisky" and "brandy" as sold are very low.
Two of the samples, C and E, are coloured with caramel only, the colouring matter in the other three samples containing also traces of an aniline dye, but both colouring and flavouring matters are used in very minute quantities, and there is no evidence of the presence of any substance not usually found in spirituous drinks of this kind.
These "brandies" and whiskies" cannot, therefore, be considered as in any way of a specially deleterious character; and apart from the quantities consumed, are at least as whole some as spirits of the same quality sold in this country by publicans and other licensed traders,
That the justice of Chinese justice is just as just as the justice of the unjust is evident in the following extract from a recent imperial decree. On "information received," the Emperor (read Empress-Dowager) promises a "strict investigation." How much the inquiry amounts to we have tried to indicate by putting quotation marks to the significant phrases: We hereby command that the said Hsiang Shan, his assistant, Li Yi-ts'ing, and others associated with them in the "nefarious trade," be forthwith handed over to the Board of Punishments, which in conjunction with the Imperial Clan Court, shall make a strict inves- tigation of the matter and mete out to the culprits" the penalties which they "richly deserve," thereby serving as an example and a warning to others desirous of following their evil trade."-The culprits are accused of opening a pawnbroking den of the lowest order.”
14
46
Į
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held in the Board Room on the 13th instant. Dr. J. M. Atkinson presided and there were also present Dr. Clarke, M.OH., Hon. A. W. Brewin, Col W. E. Webb. R.A.M.C., Mr. Lan Chu Pak, Mr. A. Rumjahn, Mr. Fung Wa Chun, Mr. F. J. Badeley, Dr. P. Barnett and Mr. T. H. Hanmer (Secretary).
The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.
CLEANSING THE CITY AND VILLAGES.
the city and villages. During one fortnight Dr. Barnett made a report on the cleansing of
cleansed with the assistance of and under the 2,280 houses, comprising 6,702 floors, were supervision of the Board's officers. During the same time 212 empty floors were cleansed and 189 cartloads of rul bish were ed to the dust boats by the Sanitary De- partment coolies. Also, Shaukiwan and the neighbouring villages have been cleansed,
The report was laid on the table.
APPLICATIONS.
remov-
Applications for exemption from the necessity of providing a scavenging lane and from provid. ing the other half of the scavenging laue respectively, in respect of No. 51, Bonham- Strand, was considered.
The application was refused.
There was another application for a modifica- tion of the requirements of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance on Kowloon Inland Lot No. 5, Garden Road. Tsimshatsui.
The application for modification was granted.
OFFENSIVE TRADES.
Regarding an application for No. 15, Fuk Sing Lane, Yaumati, to be registered as a fat boiling establishment. It had been suggested that to provide a lane at the rear of this and other hous.s, three feet might
be taken from each.
Dr. Macfarlane wrote:-Unless offensive trades are all removed right out into the country-which seems unnecessary-this lane seems as isolated as any other place.
The PRESIDENT moved, and Mr. RUMJAHN seconded, that a license be granted from the first of January on the understanding that the conditions laid down by the Medical Officer of Health be complied with. The motion was agreed to.
*
A MARKET REQUIRED. After other uninteresting applications, re- garding the sale of food, etc., had been treated. an application for a transfer of a beef licence from No. 21, Queen's Road East, to No. 1, Wing Fung Street, was considered. It had been reported by Mr. Gibson, the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, that in the immediate neighbourhood of Wing Fung Street there were three pork shops, two fish shops, two beef shops, and four fruit shops. A small market would take in these people, and would prevent trouble from sub-letting part of the shops to other people, and would make it easier for a proper supervision to be exercised over the shaps.
The Captain Superintendent of Police minut- ed—A small market should be opened in this neighbourhood. If there is no land available it would be worth while to rent a ground floor of an ordinary house and fit it up with stalls.
The matter is to be referred back to the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon to report on the number of stalls required, and the amount of accommodation necessary.
WATER ANALYSIS.
Mr. Arthur C. Franklin, Government An- alyst, reports that on the 28th ult. he analysed water collected from fountains in Bonham Road (Pokfulam service). Hollywood Road (Tytam service), Chater Road (Kowloon service), and Yaumati (Cheungshawan supply), and in each instance found the water of excellent quality.
LIMEWASHING.
During the fortnight ended on the 6th inst. 3.399 houses were limewashed in the Central District and 5,315 in the Western District.
RATS.
During the week ending 6th instant 844 rats were caught, of which 16 were found to be infected. Twenty rats out of 767 caught for the week ending 12th instant were found to
be infected.
SUPREME COURT.
Saturday, 10th December.
BEFORE HIS HO OUR MR. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (PUISNE. JUDGE),
RITCHIE AND CO. v. F. L. CLYDE. In this case the plaintiff firm, which was epresented by Mr. P. W. Goldring, claimed 177.84 for goods sold and delivered to the defendant.
The defendant admitted liability on account of some of the items, but submitted that others were bought on behalf of a yole club to which he belonged.
His Honour held the defendant responsible and gave judgment for the plaintiff firm with
costs.
Monday, 12th December.
IN APPELLATE JURISDICTION.
BFFORE SIR H. S. BERKELEY (CHIEF JUSTICE) AND MR. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (PUISNE JUDGE),
TANG TSZ U v. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL. This was an appeal against a decision of Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz, made when he was presiding over the Land Court, regarding a claim for land in the New Territory, being Claim C.A., Survey District No. 4.
Messrs. M. W. Slade and H. G. Calthrop, instructed by Mr. J. Harston, appeared for the appellant; the Hon. E. H. Sharp, K.C., and Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., instructed by Mr. F. B. L. Bowley (Crown Solicitor), for the Attorney-General.
Mr. Slade-My Lord, the appellant in this case is a trustee for and representative of the five branches of the Tang Clan. He is not appealing on his own behalf alone, but on behalf of himself and fellow clansmen of whom he is trustee; and he claims on their behalf 150 acres of the foreshore in Chung-sha-wan Bay, which is the large bay in the Harbour on the mainland opposite Stonecutter's Island. The rights of the appellant are based on two documents issued by the board or bureau called the Sha Tin Kuk, in the year 1890. It is not disputed that these documents are genuine documents or that the Sha Tin Kuk was the proper Chinese authority to issue them. The questions which Your Lordships have to decide are:-first, what is the effect of these documents what title, if any, do they give to the appellant; and secondly, whether the British Government has the right to. confiscate or avoid these rights by anything done or omitted to be done by the appellant. I propose before going into the legal question to define the boundaries in dispute. The boundary on the east of both pieces of land claimed by the appellant is Sham-sai-po; and the boundary on the west, the Lai-chi-kok Custom House-the old Chinese custom house at Lai-chi-kok. The two pieces of land which are claimed are con tinuous pieces, the one joined to the other.
The
Mr. Blade here alluded to two exhibits (documents). Continuing The reason, I may mention, that both have counterfoils is because the man who held the originals would not give them up, and then others were drafted-they sent a petition to the Sun On Magistrate and drafted their own copies. There is nothing, however, between the two documents. boundary of that piece of land which is the northernmost of the two is stated as the long embankment on the border of people's fields. This northern boundary was rectified in 1892, and it was moved some little way nearer to the sea. The decision was given by the Sun On Court, specially sent down for the purpose of deciding this particular question. In the evidence before the Land Court the appellant This was the stated the effect of that decision. boundary the appellant pointed out to the officers, and was the British demarkation one which he claimed in the Land Court. It was held in the Land Court that this boundary was the northern boundary; the southern boundary was the sea. It was held by the Land Court in regard to this that the land comprised within that certificate included land only above high water mark (Sec. 14. Page 6 of Judgment).