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difference between the amount paid in and the amount claimed was about $210.
This balance, according to the books of the plaintiff, had been credited to the defendant. and the receipts he held bore the signature of one, Lan Tim, the plaintiff's shroff.
The plaintiff contended that the signature on the receipts was not Lau Tim's, but his Lordship held that it was.
Mr. R. Harding said if his Lordship con. cluded that the signature was Lau Tim's, be would withdraw.
His Lordship.-The plaintiff had better take the money in Court, but minus the question of costs.
Mr. R. A. Harding asked that the plaintiff be charged for particulars, as he brought an action for $200 more than was owing.
His Lordship-You have books of your own haven't you?
Mr. R. A. Harding-But we had a fire in the shop, my Lord.
His Lordship-Oh! Oh! I'm sorry for that. Mr. R. A. Harding-We couldn't possibly pay into court $200 more than we owed without particulars, as originally their claim was $200 less than at present.
His Lordship-Well, I think Mr. R. Harding must pay your costs.
Mr. K. A. Harding-I would also ask your Lordship that they pay the $12 for particulars,
His Lordship-I will split the difference. Each side will pay $6.
His Lordship-There will be judgment for the plaintiff for the money paid in, and costs up to the time of payment in, less $6 for particulars. Also judgment for the defendant and costs from the time of paying in, costs to be settled by the Registrar.
LICENSING SESSIONS.
The adjourned annual meeting of Justices of the Peace for licensing purposes was held on the 30th November. at the Magistracy. Mr. F. A. Hazeland presided and the other Justices present were : Rer. C. H. Hickling, Messrs. B. H. Craig, T. F. Hough, C. D. Melbourne, T. F. Hanmer, Lyons (deputy superintendent), and E. Shellim.- Three applications were submitted to the meeting.
The first was from Lius Comar, of 63 Des Voeux Road, for an adjunct license,
The Chairman said there was no police objection, and the application was granted.
H. Peich applied on behalf of Mr. Weismann of Weismann's Tiffin Rooms, 34 Queen's Road, Central, for an adjunct license. The Chairman explained that the premises were all under one roof, and the license was granted.
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Mr. Sharp, K.C., instructed by Mr. H. W. Looker, appeared in support of the application from Mr. D. Dorabjee, of the King Edward Hotel, for a license in respect of the two houses, 3 and 5 Des Voeux Road. He explained that the two houses were separated by a side street, Ice House Street, and the license asked was publican's license. In Hongkong they had fewer licences than were recognised in England. Such a licence was defined as a license to keep an inn or a public house, and he was asking for a license for a hotel or an inn. They said the King Edward Hotel was an inn within the meaning of the Ordinance and that was covered by the terms of the license. The question before the Justices was a very simple one. Was the King Edward Hotel one or two inns? It was clearly one inn. Now what was an inn? It had been defined in many ways as a place adapted for travellers, where they could procure board and lodging. It might consist of several buildings so long as they are under one control. In the King Edward Hotel they had only the constituents of one inn. There was only one dining-room, one kitchen, one set of common rooms, and only one office for the conduct of the establishment-all these to be in the new building. No 3, the old building, will be simply an annexe, and will consist mainly of bedrooms. The front portion, which was now occupied as a bar, was already let to a bank. After pointing out that it was not necessary that a hotel or an inn should consist of only one house, he contended that it was only necessary that the houses should approximate and be under one control and stated that the present application was
for a license to
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The
keep an inn in the two houses mentioned. It was unnecessary to speak of the merits of the applicant, who was known to them all. number of bars would not be increased. If the hotel were held to be two houses, there would follow the absurd result that Mr. Dorabjee would be paying for the license twice the amount of that for the Hongkong Hotel, which was so much larger. Two licenses could not be held by the same person.
The Justices considered the application in private and after a lengthy deliberation agreed
to grant the license.
CANTON.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
23rd November.
BOGUE FORTS. The number of soldiers stationed at the
Bogne forts having been reduced 75 per cent., Admiral Li-Tsun has decided to establish a police force there. He has mustered 130 men, and three stations are to be established on the 27th inst. One will be situated at the Bogue forts' entrance and the other two will be located to the West and East of the Central station.
FACTE ARE FACTS, OR SEEING IS BELIEVING.
that
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A
he
Was
An extraordinary joss story is the subject of public comment here. Some time ago Viceroy Shum ordered the seizure of a certain temple in the City and sent to the Mint a number of bronze articles to be coined into money. man, surnamed Fong, living in the Sap-pat-po, hearing
certain joss which particularly revered was to he melted down, sent a petition to the authorities offering 300 taels for the release of the joss in question. His request was granted and the image triumphantly borne to his residence.
He pnt it in the place of honour and prayed the liberated joss to inspire him in the choice of the characters he was going to buy in the Shan-Piu lottery. Fong subsequently won a big prize! Daring the night Fong had a dream in which the joss appeared to him surrounded by hundreds of genii; the room was brightly illuminated and a conversation between the dreamer and the joss followed. The joss thanked Fong for his devotion and told him that such acts being meritorions he had rewarded him by pointing out to him the winning characters of the Shan-Piu lottery, Fong intimated that he would be thankful if the joss would suggest to him next what number to buy in the Macao lottery. The joss, being over 1,000 years old, knew nothing about Macao and its lotteries and expressed his regret at being unable to give him a tip. At the close of the conversation the joss stated that a private house in the Sap-pat-po was not quite the right place for a joss of his standing and expressed a desire to be lodged in more suitable quarters and suggested that a well- lighted corner in a temple would be just the place required. Fong promised to attend to the matter and enthroned the joss on a specially made pedestal in a popular temple in the walled city. The above story of Fong's luck is drawing vast crowds of devotees towards the joss shrine and the temple people are reaping quite & havest. I am sorry I am debarred from being able to consult him, not being a China- man, or I would ask a question or two about the high exchange prevailing.
TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE. It is reported that forty members of the Kwangtung gentry are about to proceed to Japan on a visit.
THE HA-CHAN-TONG QUESTION.
Fuk Chuen and Li-Yau-Sing having offered large sums for the release of the Ha-Chan-Tong sing-song houses, the Sin-Han-Kuk has instructed them to make proper tenders and to deposit with the authorities a cash bond of Tls. 5,000 as a guarantee of good faith. The privilege of re-opening the above quarters will be given to the highest bidder. The bond deposited will be returned to the unsuccessful candidates.
MADE IN CHINA.'
**
The Boycott committee have rented a large house for the purpose of mustering therein samples of all sorts of foreign made goods and
thus create a sort of museum where the exhibits
(December 2, 1905. might be studied by the public. The object of this is to encourage the people to manufacture the articles themselves and thus prevent China's wealth from flowing out of the country.
25th November.
THE CANTON-HANKOW BAILWAY DIRECTORATE,
Taotai Wong Tsang Ting, of the Canton- Hankow railway directorate, has resigned his post and is returning to Shanghai. successor has not yet been appointed.
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A CHINESE BRITISH FIRM.
His
A man surnamed Fung recently started a company in Ping-chow (Namhoi district) called the Yee Wo On and hung up a signboard showing that the concern was British. The last Namhoi magistrate, Woo Ming Poon, closed the company's offices under the plea that Fung could not carry on business in the interior under a foreign signboard. On the other hand a complaint had been lodged with the Namhoi against Fung for infringing the trade-mark ordinance by using an imitation of the trade- mark (flower-basket) belonging to a Japanese firm. The complaint was sent to the Namhoi by the Japanese Consul in Hongkong, who requested that an investigation should be made into the matter. Fung petitioned the Chamber of Commerce pointing out that the trade-mark in question was used by him before same was registered by the Japanese. The Viceroy says Fung might be right to use the trade-mark, but he had no business to use a foreign kong
name.
BOYCOTT PICTURES CONDEMNED. Viceroy Shum having received a despatch from the American Consul General asking him to suppress a boycott newspaper, which is published here three times a month, instructed the Poon-Yu to deal with it. The Poon-Yu wrote to the Boycott committee ordering them to stop publication. The Boycott committee replied that the paper is not edited under their auspices. The paper referred to is probably the She-she-Hua-pao (illustrated magazine) which recently gave pictures of the drowning of a Chinese compradore who was thrown over the Shameen bridge by American sailors. It has also had boycott cartoons.
CHINESE TIDE WAITERS.
Two Chinese tidewaiters, surnamed Chu and Ng, belonging to the Custom's staff at Swatow, have been denounced by a merchant and are accused of having accepted bribes from smugglers. Both men have been arrested and will be sent to Canton for trial,
LAND OWNER's deeds.
In order to prevent complications arising in the matter of land purchases made by foreigners (merchants or missionaries), the Viceroys of Liang-Kiang and Viceroy Shum have mutually agreed that in future purchasers applying to be registered as owners shall produce the red deeds (original deeds already stamped) which they receive from the seller, together with the white deeds (deeds of sale). Viceroy Shum has instructed different magistrates under his jurisdiction and the Bureau of Foreign Affairs to place this new regulation on record.
HABBOUR POLICE.
The Sin-hau-kuk have agreed to advance taels 100,000 towards the expenses for policing the harbour. This sum will be repaid from the receipts of the new tax which will be imposed. Commodore Wong Pui-Chung has been ap. pointed to look after this department.
BOYCOTT DEPUTATION TO HONGKONG. On the 28rd inst. the Boycutt committee held a meeting to decide how to answer the letter from the American merchants at the last Conference. The committee have decided to send Au Tat Po, Ho sim-Chnen, Wong-Fui Man and Ho Chap Man to Hongkong to consult with leading merchants there and to take advice from a Telegrams will be send to the solicitor. Shanghai committee and to friends in America on the matter and then a reply will be drafted and sent to the American merchants. The party left for Hongkong yesterday morning and are expected to return here on Monday,
27th November.
CHECKING COPPER MINTING.
It is reported that the Board of Revenue has despatched to all the Viceroys an order to tem. porarily suspend the coining of copper cents and
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