At 「Nu: -EREopaY.
$36
ALLEGED BRIBERY.
Before Mr. G. N. Orme at the Police Court on May 23rd, Ap Ching, accountant at the Yee Hop boarding house, 291, Des Voeux Road West, was charged with bribing Wong Ka Lung, a clark employed in the Registrar- General's department,
Mr. A. G. Wood, assistant Registrar-General prosecuted, and Mr. O. D. Thomson appared for the defendant; Mr. R. F. C. Master (of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master), watched the case on behalf of a witness.
to
me
Wong Ka Lung, clerk and interpreter at the Registrar-General's años, declared that on the 11th April the defendant came and asked for a licence for a boarding house, at the same time stating that he would like to get it issued as quickly as possible. I was writing at my desk when I saw defendant place an envelope on it, and when I had finished my writing I picked it up and found that it contained $5. I took the money to the Regis trar-General, who subsequently had the defen- dant and his books brought before him. entry of $10 for a licence was found in his books, and Mr. Brewin asked him what it was. Defendant il he could not say, but afterwards he said "Let me tell you the truth. It is true that I put the money on his desk, but I was afraid to tell you before because I did not know what would happen." Then Mr. Brewia said
Why didn't you confess before," and I was told to go back to my desk.
An
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY:PRESS AND
THE BALTIC fleet,
AS SEEN IN VAN FONG BAY ON MAY 12,
(By our Special Correspondent.)
SAIGON, 13th May. When I left Hongkong on the 8th inst. there were reports that the Baltic Fleet had left the coast of Annam in compliance with the protesta- tions of the French authorities, and rumour alleged that Admiral Rozhdestvensky intended making for one of the Bays on the south-coast of Hainan. It so happened that we were Four hours after calling at Hainan for cargo. passing Gap Rook we sighted the German steamer Forsteck, right out of the track of steamers coming from Saigon or Singapore. Her general appearance indicated her to be a collier. She looked very dirty and the fact that she was light in the water and still had her derricks up led me to conclude that she had just discharged a cargo of coal for the Baltic Fleet and that we would probably find the Russian armada somewhere south of Hainan.
We dropped anchor for the night at the Tinhosa anchorage, and the ship having transacted its business, we were able to leave the following morning at daybreak, making for Annam. We passed right across the entrance to Goalong Bay about half a mile to seaward, but there was no sign of the Russian Fleet or any other craft save a few fishing boats. Goalong Bay was surveyed some years ago by the Russians and a Russian chart, I believ, is commonly used by ship masters. It is a large bay with a sufficient depth of water to afford suitable anchorage for a fleet of warships. They were not there however, nor were they to be seen in Yulin Bay, which opened up shortly A small wooden orafi, the 8.8. afterwards.
these regularly trades in The issue of lic-nces Hainan, which
waters had the whole of
the bay to herself. Neither Goalong Bay nor Yu-lin Bay are good typhoon shelters except perhaps the small inner harbour of the latter bay where however the water is not deep enough for big warships.
In cross-examination-Whenever money is handed over to me, I take it together with the licence book and hand it to the shroff. The bond was signed on the 11th, and the licence granted on the 12th, when the money was paid to me. When the $5 was placed on the counter I thought it was a trick, and I have to be very careful as I have an enemy who is always trying to get me into trouble.
rests with the Registrar-General.
Further evidence was heard, after which Mr. Thomson contended that the defendant's connec. tion with the shop had not been proved. The mere fact of his being in a boarding house where the books were was not evidence that he kept them. There was no evidence that defen- dant was the socountant, kept the books, or had any connection with the shop.
His Worship-On the evidence I take it that defendant should have explained certain entries to the Registrar-General. He applied for the licence, and his connection with the shop is undoubted.
Mr. Thomson-There is not proof that the entries in the books were made with the know- ledge of the defendant,
Mr. Wood-Evidence has been brought to show that he is the representative of the firm in the dealing to which the entries in the book refer.
His Worship in summing up said he could not find under the circumstances that the defendant had any intention of offering the 85 in payment of the licence, therefore he must find him guilty of offering a bribe contrary to the rules of honesty and integrity, and fine him in the amount of $200, with the alternative of four months' imprisonment.
A DANGEROUS CARGO.
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Getting away from Hainan, and making for Tourane we ran into a dense tog and when it lifted the ship was found to be beading right into the Bay of Tourans. Only one cargo steamer was inside, but there was no indication here that the Baltic Fleet was anywhere in the neighbourhood, and as Tourane is an important township and centre of commerce with fine European buildings, including a Residency, a military hospital and the inevitable Cas. tom House, and has besides a large fort out- side the town, it is unlikely that the Russians would assemble here.
But it was not long after leaving Tourane that we came upon the Russian Fleet. Approach- ing the Three Kings we sighted the converted cruiser Columbia, just off the eastern end of Van Fong Bay. She was under weigh, but her engines were stopped. As we opened up Van Fong Bay seven battleships, one cruiser and two destroyers were in full view of our ships. The battleships were the Borodino, Orel, Imperator Alexander III, Slava and the Knias Suvarof which are sister-ships with two funnels. The other battleships were the Oslaiba (three fannels), the Sissoi Veliky, (two funnels) and the Navarin (four funnels in pairs abreast). The cruiser was the Admiral Nakhimoff, a one-funnel belted cruiser very well known in the East as she was on this station eight or ten years a o. The converted cruiser Fuerst Bismarck was scouting off the western end of the Bay.
Inside Three Kings Bluff-in Kua Bay- the converted cruisers Auguste Victoria (three funnels) and Petersburg (two funnels), together with six cruisers and two
I Wag colliers.
unable to identify the cruisers as they were lying end on to us. I send you a sketch chart showing the position of the warships as Į saw them lying in the Bay. [We publish The powder was concealed in samshu jars, also a reproduction of this sketch herein as in tea-pots and biscuit tins, and is believed to supplement.] Where was the remainder of the have been destined for West River pirates. The Fleet? Possibly they were in the Bay too, for if they had been lying in Bing Koi Bay and strange cargo was discovered secreted in a
Port Dayot, they would have been concealed woman's cabin, when the lid of one of the
from our view. tespots was opened.
Another conjecture is that the His Worship fined the defendant $100 on the other part of the Fleet was at sea, within touch first charge and $250 on the second.
perhaps, by wireless telegraphy. This subsequently
A native was charged before Mr. G. N. Orme at the Police Court on May 25th with sending or attempting to send dangerous goods to wit, gunpowder, to a port in Chins without distinctly marking the nature of the goods on the outside of the packages containing same; with not giving written instructions of the nature of such goods, or the address of the senders, to the owner or master of the ss. Chukong at the time of taking same on board, and with sending or carrying on board goods to which a false trade description has been applied.
We 88. W
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(May 29, 1905.
appeared the more likely theory, for as we passed the Bay the seven battleships an i oruiser already named and the two destroyers stemed out of the barbour, beading towards the South- East in the following close formation :--- B B B B
Petersburg
→
B
B
F. Bismarck
B
[KEY-B represents battleship; C. cruiser : D. destroyer.]
When the squadron came out the Columbia steamed into the Bay. The ships moved slowly and were evidently manoeuvring. Had my first supposition that the other ships of the Fleet were concealed in Port Dayot and Bing Koi Bay been correot, I should have expected to see them come out and join in the manoeuvres. But nothing was seen of them.
We passed Kamrahn Bay the same day at noon (12th inst.) and had a good view of it. There were no ships there-warships or mer cantile craft.
Arriving at Cape St. James to-day (18th inst), I counted aft en colliers at anchor there and thres a little way up the river. i was able to make out the following names (—
Hans Menzell Crewits Hersalia
Totti Аніз Vasta Horasburg M cedonia Westfalen
Waglinda
Irmgard Horn Pisa
Hornstein Jupiter
All
Admiral Rozhdestvensky will not lack coal. On March 22nd it was reported from Aden that 34 steamers laden with more than 100,00 tons of coal for the Baltic Fleet were lying at the French port of Djiboutil near A den. the ships now at Saigon were in that list of 34, but they constitute only half the number. This reminds me of the report ourrent in Hongkong when I left that the converted raisers with the Baltic Flest had coal stored on their decks. This was not the case when I saw them, but excepting the Petersburg, which was rather light, they were very deep in the wat-r.
NEW TRADING CENTRES,
[Translated by the "P. & T. Times."]
memorial has been submitted by Viceroy Yuan Shih-kai and Hu Ting-kan, ex-acting Governor of Shantung, with regard to the opening of Chinan as a commercial centre, and Wei-hsien and Chou-taun as sub-ports. An office for the management of the affairs of the port has been established in Chinan and nine regula- tions drawn up for the guidance of the authori- ties. They are as follows:-
1. Definition of Boundary. The port of Chi- nan is locatel to the west of the provincial capital, south of the Kisochow-Chinan railway. about five li in length from east to west and two li from north to south. It covers an area of 400 mou. It is to be an international trade centre, all Powers being permitted to appoint representatives of trade; "merchants and other people are to enjoy the privilege of leasing land. But foreign merchants will not be allowed to rent land or set up business at any place beyond the spot defined.
2. Lease of Land.-The land, whether owned by the Government or privately is to be surveyed and divided into sections, of which the price will be fixed according to its quality and situs- tion. The houses and fields of the people will to purchased when required and leased to Chinese and foreign merchants through the officials, in order to avoid unreasonable demands A notification will be issued to landlords and landrenters prohibiting private transactions Landrenters must register the land they intend to rent.
3. Establishment.-The Taotai of Chi-nan, Tungchang, Taian, Wuting and Linching will be appoint d to manage international affairs. The principal establishments will be a Works Department, a Police Station, a Mized Court, to be under the direction of a superintendent who will appoint deputies to attend the oABOS. A special official with experience of foreign
affairs will be appointed as co-director and a foreigner may also be placed there either by the
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