Page
June 17, 1905.)-
decision contrary in principle to the kindred, decision of last year.
Or, more plainly still, this decision (which, be it noted, we approve) was not given on the merits of the question; but was the result of a prejudice created by a side issue. Evidently, we might have called the Shanghai voter sheepy without unfairness.
UNNECESSARY HARBOUR NOISES.
Captain Davis, of the s.a. Albatross, was charged before Mr. G. N. Orme at the Police Court on June 18th, with blowing his steamer's whistle other than for the purposes of navigation at four o'clock in the morning in Hunghom | Bay, thereby disturbing the peace and quietude of the neighbourhood.
Defendant-I blew it to warn some sampans which were in my course. If I had not blown the whistle, and a collision occurred, I would have got into trouble. I blew it to avoid a collision, and I still get into trouble, so which way is the cat to jump
L. 8. Wills stated that the sampans were
some distance off when the whistle was blown. Defendant-There is no crime in blowing a whistle, neither is there anything serious or wrong about it, and I am willing to pay my fine right now,
His Worship-You are fined $20 De. fendant-820. Right, let her go.
Captain Munsey of the Hoi Ning was placed before His Worship to answer a similar charge.
Defendant-There were
sampans ahead of me, and sampans astern, I don't know what they were doing there, but if I had not given two blasts of my whistle, and had run one of them down, I would have got into trouble. I don't know exactly what to do, I'm sure. There were also junke lying about, and according to the Harbour regulations I was bound to give the signal.
Inspector Langley-But there was no neces- sity to blow four blasts of the whistle in the bay at that hour of the morning.
Defendant-I blew two blasts on different occasions.
His Worship-But you know it is creating a nuisance.
Defendant-I have been Master of a ship for ten years, and can only say that if I don't know the rules of the road it is time I did.
His Worship-You are fined $10.
CHINESE MAGICIANS AS CRIMINAL DETECTORS.
24
The master of the Wan Arms Shop, of Queen's Road Central, was so distraught aff the loss of a sum of about $150 which had been spirited away in such a manner to baffle Hongkong's sharpest detectives, that he decided to engage the services of a Chinese magician.
In reply to a summons, he was visited by many wise men of the order, and to whom
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
877
That the first defendant unlawfully and know- | to kill a man. His remains were removed to ingly did on the 2nd December, 1904, by false | the mortuary, where a postmortem examination pretences obtain from Chan Chi $30; (4) That will be held. The medicine bottles found in the first defendant did obtain $10 by false pre- his room have been forwarded to the Govern- tenow, and (5) That the defendants did by false ment analyst, who will analyse the contents. pretences obtain ten gold finger rings, one jade. stone finger ring, one pair of earrings and one pawu ticket valued $18. Mr. C. F. Dixon (of Mr. Hastings office), who appeared for the second defendant, said he would have to apply for an adjournment, as he had just been in
atructed in the matter.
Dr. Bell, superintendent of the Government plainant's admission on the 2nd June, when he Civil Hospital, gave evidence as to the com.
chest, face and right arm which had either been was suffering from superficial burns on the
caused by boiling water or a weak corrosive fluid.
The hearing was then adjourned until Monday.
POLICEMAN SENT TO PRISON.
A Shanghai policeman named Joseph Henry Sidney has been committed to prison for six months for extorting money by menaces from A Cantonese. The trial was by jury.
His Lordship said: Joseph Henry Sydney. You have been convicted by the jury of the crime with which you are charged. In passing sentence I think it right to say that I am perfectly aware that the police in this country are placed in a very difficult position. They are placed in a position in which the temptations are greater than they are in a European com- assured that so far as this Court is able to munity. While they do their duty they may be support them it will do so, but when I find t' at people abuse the trust which has been com mitted to them and take advantage of their position in the police to do what we have found you guilty of doing it is a very serious matter. I must take into consideration also in passing sentence the very great mass of this community and not only of this community but of all that the natives are protected from any impro. Europeans throughout China, who should see
per conduct on the part of those whom our introduction into this country has placed in a measure in charge of them.
THE IMPUDENCE OF THE HONGKONG COOLIE.
Near the coal godowns at Prays East on June 13th. a coolie defied a tramcar to remove him from the line on which he had taken his stand. The motorman of the on-coming car was sounding his gong violently, but the figure shead stood like a statue, and the car had to be brought to a standstill. So proud was the coolie
of his feat that he began to dance a jig on the line, the while shouting and laughing derisively. His manner changed, however, when he saw a constable alight from the car, and he suddenly
|
PLAGUE AT HONGKONG.
ANNUAL REPORT OF ACTING 'M.0.H.
The report of the Acting Medical Officer of Health on the epidemic of plague in the Colony during 1904 appears in the current Government Gazette. The period chiefly dealt with as ning of the year to the end of July. Here are covering the epidemic extends from the begin.
extracts from the report :-~~~
Although there were thirty-eight cases of plague between the end of July and the end of the year, the period dealt with includes practi- cally the whole of the time when the disease was epidemic and I did not think it advisable, on taking up the work on my return from leave, to re-write the part dealing with the statistics relative to mortality, age and sex incidence and the dumping of bodies, as this would have entailed considerable delay.
During the months of January to July inclusive there were 472 known cases of plague.
With the exception of the years 1895 and 1897 when there were only 44 and 21 cases respectively for the whole years, the figures for 18 4 are the lowest the Colony has yet experienced.
It is remarkable that during this year the disease has confined itself to Chinese (470 cases) and Indians (2 cases),
This has undoubtedly had some effect in this year, the low European death-rate and the raising the general death-ra's for the disease
comparatively low rate for other nationalities during last year having had a great effect in lowering the general death-rate. But notwith- standing this the mortality rate has been higher amongst Chiness this year than last.
The total death-rate for the epidemic is 96.8 per cent, as compared with 88.4 per cent, last year. Compared with 1902, however, this year's rate is very slightly lower.
The following are the death-rates for each epidemic since 1894:-- 1894 1896 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904
92.7 89.5 890 961 955 952 975 884 968 It is worthy of remark that, during the years 1902 and 1904 when the epidemic has been mild, the mortality rates should have been the highest two recorded. It is very difficult to suggest any reason for this.
It is certain that the epidemic of this year has been much milder when compared with the year 1903 than the figures for the total recorded eases in these years would lead one at first sight
to believe.
Last year when the epidemic was at its height there was almost a panic amongst the Chinese. and in consequence the exodus from the Colony on the least feeling of illness was very great
soever should unravel the mystery, he promised took to his heels, the constable in pursuit. able for the quiet way in which the presence of
a handsome reward.
Chinese Doctor Wong Ho Ching and Wong Kam Chun were recommended by a friend as being two of the most successful in their communion with the spirits, hence it came to pass that the doctor was installed in the master's house, and for several days held himself aloof from the inmates. On a certain afternoon he called the master of the shop into his presence, and informed him that the man who cried out that night would be the man who had stolen the money. At midnight a dreadful shriek pierced the ears of the sleeping inmates, who, when they had sufficiently recovered from their fright, proceeded to the room from which the noise had come, and found the occupant
severely scalded about the body and face. The magician had vanished, and next made his appearance in the Police Court, together with his friend. They were placed before Mr. G. N. Orme on June 15th on the following charge. (1) That being concerned together they unlawfully and malicionaly did cast or throw, at or upon, one, Tam Shing, a certain corrosive fluid with intent to disfigure or cause bodily harm on the. 2nd instant; (2) That Wong Ho Ching, with an- other man not in custody did on the 87th January.uniawfully and by false pretences obtain from Cheung Tao Tai two pieces of clothing valued at 84 with intent to cheat; (3.
|
was arrested just as he was rushing into a gordown.
The coolie, on being asked what he had to say, remarked that there were a great number of people about, and that the constable made a mistake and arrested the wrong man.
Inspector Gould informed His Worship that
cars often had to be stopped, owing to coolies refusing to get off the lines.
Defendant was fined $5, or imprisonment.
seven days'
EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY.
BUROPEAN DHAD, YET STANDING. At about midnight on the 14th June, a friend
called on Edward Heath, an unemployed civil engineer residing at Zetland House, Queen's Road, and on entering his room found him standing, his hand resting on a chair, though in deep thought. Ou calling him and receiving no answer, the friend made a closer scrutiny of Heath, and found that he was dead. Dr. O. Marriot was called in, but was then unable to state the cause of death. Decoseed has been in the habit of taking bromide of potasium, and it was first suspected that he had poisoned himself by taking su, overdose, This, however, was proved not to be the case, as the quantity he had on hand was not sufficient
This year, on the other hand, has been remark.
the epidemio has been viewed by the people.
One seldom heard any native this year admitting that there was anything more than a trifling amount of plague in the Colony.
It is, of course, impossible to give figures, but I feel sure that the ratio of plague for this year
to that for last year is very much less than the recorded number of cases shows.
1
It is extremely difficult to obtain trustworthy information as to the occupation of Chinese female plague cases. I have often thought that a large number of such cases are by occupation prostitutes, but obviously without accurate information it would be out of place to base any opinions as to plague incidence on this hypothesis. Seven female cases in the City of Victoria were, however, undoubtedly in the persons of prostitutes. Of these seven cases, six- were returned as suffering from the Bubonic type of the disease.
IMPORTANT SALE OF LAND.
A large pi-cé of marine fronts point measuring übout 200,000 bought by Memes. Butterfeld the Hongkong Reclamant per sq. ft. for the purpos through Hr. Henry Hääpare and godowns.
The
st Kowkén balen wils from
L. ting