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January 22, 1906.]
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Schools, by far the most important of which is Queen's College, where ~, au average of over 1,000 boys are instructed. Next, after Queen's College, come the three principal Anglo-Chinese Schools which the boys are here assembled at this morning. One is the Wantsai School, situated on the east side of Victo is, another is the Saiyingpun School, situated at the west side, and the third is here at Yaumati. Then there are other Chinese schools at Tang Leung Chow, in Victoria, at Aberdeen, on the south-west side of the Island of Hongkong, and at Ng Lung, the principal market town on the west side of the New Territory. Then there is the small vernacular school, which I hope eventually will become on Anglo-Chinese school, at Shek Ho, on the south east side of the island of Hongkong. We are going to start this year an Anglo-Chinese school at Taipo, a market town For on the east side of the New Territory. special purposes an Anglo-Indian school has been started in Victoría, the Victoria school for British boys and children, and the Kowloon school for British girls and children, while for Chinese girls there is the Balilios School in Victoria with its English and vernacular classes. I don't propose to increase the num ber of these schools, but I hope we shall
be able to add to their extent and to their efficiency. In order to carry out this idea we propose in the first place to start evening con- tinuation classes at Queen's College; next, to raise the general standard of that establishment and make the three principal Chinese schools feeders for that College. It seemed to me that there was a waste of teaching power in having larger classes for a higher standard in the Anglo-Chinese schools where there were only tue or two boys in each class, who would do better if they had greater stimulus in the higher classes of Queen's College. I hope in time that Dr. Bateson Wright's best scholars will be those who have been through Mr. Young Hee, Mr. Curwen and Mr. Morris. I see no reason why we should not be able to raise the other Anglo- Chinese schools, those on either the island or in the New Territory, to the same level as their principal ones, so that they also shall become feeders of Queen's College. In the Anglo-Indian School there is room for considerable develop- ment, and I know with regard to the British that Messrs. Williams and James are doing their atmost to push them oo, while at Belilios School Mrs. Bateman's successor will find work in front of her in training the future mothers of the Colony. I thought these general remarks on education in the Colony would be of more in- terest to the ladies and gentlemen present than any detailed criticism of the Head Master's reports. With regard to those reports and the work of the boys, I have only to add that I think much has been done in the past year by Messrs. Curwen and Young Hee, and that Mr. Morris has made an excellent start in his school. I will give my special prize on this occasion- the occasion of the opening of the Yaumati school-to Yeung King Fuk, the head boy of that school (applause). I wish now to express the thanks of the Government to Mr. Ho Tung for his generosity, and to declare the school opened (great applause).
Mr. Ho Tung briefly acknowledged this, and Mr. Curwen, on behalf of masters and scholars, conveyed a hearty votes of thanks to the Governor.
THE FAR EASTERN SHIPPING COMBINE.
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The Union of Steamship Companies has for long had a scheme on foot to form one large steamship company, but the idea was shelved on the outbreak of the war, as most of their steamers were taken up by the Government for transports. Now that peace has been restored, and the steamers in the Union are being grad- ually released from the Government service, steps are being taken to carry out the scheme. Steamship owners in South America, the South Sea Islands, and China will join the proposed company, and the union desires to admit if possible foreign steamship owners and form a large corporation in the Far East, running steamers between Japan, China, Corea, Europe and America. The steamers of the Union at present number over 180, with an aggregate tonnage of about 350,000 tons,
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
SUPREME COURT.
Friday, January 12th.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION,
BEFORE MR. A. G. WISE (PUISNE JUDGE).
CLAIM FOR A WATCH.
The plaintiff, A. C. Roberts, for whom Mr. F. X. d'Almada è Castro appeared, sued G. A Souza for $180, value of a watch belonging to him which defendant bad in his possession.
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the Tai On " maintained the same easy speed at which she had come up from Hongkong, even against the tide because she was in plenty of time. She came up to the "Kwang Tung” which was ob- viously going dead slow, and passed her about 5.15. Pleasantries were exchanged between the Cap- tains, and the “Tai On" drew ahead. Immedi. ately she was clear of the "Kwang Tung" the latter, which was the faster of the two vessels, put on speed and came on again. She overhauled her and after the two ships steamed close together for a sort distance, drew ahead, between the barier and the Salt Flats, where the channel narrows very considerably. At that point it would be prudent for the ship on the starboard side to alter her course. The "Kwang Tung" which was not
Mr. d'Almada e Castro produced a letter written in Portuguese by defendant in which he acknowledged having possession of the watch quite clear ahead, started so as to get clear of the and promising to return it. The defendant was put in the box.
His Lordship-Did you write this? Witness did not reply.
His Lordship—Is it in your writing? The signature is yours; surely you understand your own language.
Mr. d'Almada-I would ask for judgment
with costs.
His Lordship-Let us hear what he has to say. (To defendant) Do you admit writing the
letter?
Defendant--Yes. Plaintiff came over to me as a friend to return the watch, rs his father was bothering about it. Plantiff gave me the watch.
His Lordship Why did you write the letter ? Defendant-He begged me for the watch. not do anything else on the face of this letter. His Lordship-Judgment with costs. I can- Yon said you had the watch and that you would
return it.
Defendant-He begged me to.
The Paisne Judge-Well, you are a kind. hearted man, but I can't help you.
Monday, January 15th.
IN ADMIRALTY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE SI FRANCIS PIGGott (Chief JUSTICE) AND CAPT. MORRISON, NAUTICAL ASSESSOR.
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The Yik On Steamship Company sued the owners of the steamship Kwaur Tang" for $500, for damage caused by a collision between the Tai On" and the "Kwang Tang ".
Mr W. Slade, instructed by Mr. R. Harding, appeared for plaintiffs, and Mr. E. H. Sharp, K.C., instructed by Mr. H. J. Gedge (of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master), appeared for the defendants.
The preliminaries and pleadings having been read,
bank and enter the deep narrow channel. She miscalculated her speed and the amount of room she had, with the result that her quarter struck the "Tai On" a glancing blow on her bow. The Kwang Tung" was then unable to straighten up in the narrow channel-her stern was held-and she struck the junk on the left hand side of the river. The damage done to the “ Tai On" was little more than breaking some stanchions caused by her anchor being forced inwards. As far as could be seen from the answer to the preliminary acts, the story of the "Kwang Tung "was that the Tai Od" at no time succeeded in passing the Kwang Tung and that the accident was caused by the Tai On" sheering from side to side. When there was a danger of a collision the "Kwaang Tung" stopped and reversed her engines, but they failed to avert since the collision the first mate of the "Tai the collision. In conclusion, he stated that
On" had died.
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Capt. Lawrence, master of the " Tai On”, said he had been engaged in navigation on the Canton River since 1878. Detailing the circumstances which led up to the collision, he stated that the Kwang Tung' passed the "Tai On" below Whampoa, and above that place he saw her about. a mile and a half or two miles ahead. Continuing at the same easy speed, the " Tai On" passed the Kwang Tung" on her port side about 5.15 and drew ahead. About ten minutes later he heard the noise of a steamer coming up behind. Then come up and repass he saw the “Kwang Tung
on the starboard side. When the "Tai On” right abreast the two ships drew towards each other and witness sang out “ Captain There- Walker, mind what you are doing." upon a bell was rung on the "Kwang Tung" which shot ahead, starboarded her helm and crossed his bow. When she was going across his bow, he telegraphed to stand by, full speed astern, and helm amidships. There were junks on his port side which gave him no room to Mr. Slade outlined the case for the plaintiffs. starboard his helm. The "Kwang Tung's" At the outset he mentioned that his friend staunchions caught the fuke of his anchor and and he were agreed on one point that that broke the staunchious forward. When she got action was not confined to the amount of clear from his vessel, he saw her run into the salt The junk on his port side. In trying to straighten damage sustained in the collision. "Kwang Tung" had sunk a fully-laden salt junk, "up, she caught his anchor and the ebb being on her starboard bow that caused the “Kwang and one of the parties must pay that solatium Tung" to ran into the junk. He went straight of $20,000, so that the sum in dispute was
on and reported the matter. really much more than the $500 claimed. Pro- ceeding to relate the facts, counsel said that his Lordship would see from the preliminary acts that the oase resolved itself into a dispute between the two steamers as to which was the overtaking vessel. The “Tai On said it was the "Kwang Tung" and the latter said it was the former. He believed he would be able to satisfy his Lordship that the plaintiffs' story was the accurate one. They said the "Kwang Tung" was the overtaking vessel and there could be no question as to her liability. It would be proved that she steered a course which brought her across the bows of the "Tai On," and another point against her was that she admitted increas ing her speed, and being the overtaking vessel she passed the Tai On" and caused the accident. The story of the "Tai On" was an exceedingly simple one. She left Hongkong at 8 o'clock pa the evening of the 16th May, and the other vessel left exactly an hour later. The "Tai On" was an old and very slow ship,while the “ Kwang Tang" was a comparatively new and fast vessel. Some time before the " Tai On "reached Wham- pos-she reached Whampoa at 4 o'clock-the Kwang Tang "passed her. From Whampoa up to the place of collision, a distance of some miles
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Cross-examined-When the " Tai On" passed the "Kwang Tung" on the starboard he was in the middle of the channel. It was not com gulsory that whistles should be blown if an over. taking vessel wished to pass. It was usual to do
It was etiquette so if there was little room. that vessels should proceed up the river in their berthing order.
Have you ever been complained of for break- ing this rule ?-No, not to my knowledge.
Were you master of the Tai On” when she collided with a Chinese torpedo boat -Yes,
You have not heard whether your owners have had to pay damage P-No.
I put it to you that the “Kwang Tung" had to go full speed ahead to clear you ?-That is hot so.
I put it to you that your bow never got for- ward to her midships. Then she began to leave you behind and you began to sheer about ||and got into her ?—I was clear ahead of her.
At no time was your bow further forward than our wheelhouse?-No that is wrong.
Have you read the evidence given by Mr. Lewis, passenger on board the Kwang Tang"-I don't know anything about it
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