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SUPREME COURT.
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION.
BEFORE SIR FRANCIS PIGGOTT" (CHIEF
JUSTICE
A PARTNERSHIP DISPUTE.
Counsel continued their arguments in the case of Chan Yik-shi against the Wing Kee firm, which was an application for a trial of issue as to whether Lau Siu-chenn was a partner in the defendant firm, and at the close his Lordship gave judgment för plaintiff with costs.
Friday, February 15th.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE ME. A. G. WISE (PUISNE JUDGE).
NON-SUITED.
The case in which the Kwong Wing Tai sued the Kung Woo for $149.83, being the proceeds of the sale of 49 crates of dried persimmons sold by defendants on behalf of the plaintiff firm in February of last year, was resumed. Mr. C. F. Dixon (of Mr. John Hastings' office) appeared for the plaintiff firm, and Mr. G. K. Hall Brutton (of Messrs. Brutton, Hett and Goldring) appeared for the defendant firm,
At the last hearing the question was raised as to the actual ownership of the persimmons, the defendants claiming that the persimmons were brought to them for sale by one, Lo Ho Cheung, to whom the money for the same had been paid after sale, and the case was adjourned in order to secure the attendance of Cheuk Sing, a material witness for the plaintiff, who had gone to Canton.
This witness appeared and stated that Lo Cheung had nothing to do with the transaction; that witness's foki had taken the goods to the defendant firm.
The Puisne Judge said plaintiff must be non- suited, with costs.
IN BANKRUPTCY.
BEFORE SIR FRANCIS PIGGOTT (CHIEF
JUSTICE).
RE KUNG CHIN FIRM.
Mr. C. F. Bailey (of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master) applied for. a receiving order re the Kung Chin firm, ex parte MoEwen, Frickel and Company, the act of bankruptcy being that the debtor had left the Colony with the object of defrauding his creditors. Mr. Bailey stated that when he put in his affidavit he was informed by the Registrar that there were not enough facts stated in such affidavit for him to get a receiving order, and the ap- plication was adjourned. In the meantime Mr. G. K. Hall Brutton had filed an applica. tion for a receiving order against the same debtor, and g got it.
His Honour-But you are not going to deal with that now ?
Mr. Bailey-No, your Lordship; I merely mention it as I would submit, and I don't think my friend Mr. Brutton has any objection, that the two orders should be consolidated.
Mr. Brutton-I have no objection, my Lord. The order was made scoordingly.
REFUSED.
Re Hop. Wooban ez parte Hang Hoang Shin-ki, Mr. H. K. Holmes, appearing for the petitioning oreditor, said that the debtor owed his client 8651. He read a letter in which the debtor stated that his business was not " progressive", owing to inability to collect debts which were outstanding in foreign ports, and that he intended to “temporarily suspend" payment of the account between them.
His Lordship,
ip, in refusing the application, said that the temporary suspension was not an act of bankruptoy as laid down, but was merely asking for time.
The Chinese Minister at Paris, says the Nanfangpao, has wired to the Waiwupu stating **Portugal, being in want of funds, is illing to sell Macao to England and France, hat the French Government is quite xions to accept the offer.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
CANTON
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT].
February 10th.
THE DEMAND FOR RAILWAY SHARES, Several hundred thousand dollars worth of largest subscribers were Ko-Ki-tong and Chu shares were subscribed for yesterday. The Pak-kin, who each took ten thousand shares. The Chamber of Commerce has ordered ten distributed as soon as possible amongst the street thousand subscription books to be printed and
Kai-fougs so as to enable servants and children to take shares.
THE REMOVAL OF VICEROY SHUM.
Ex Viceroy Hin-Ying-kwai and the Canton gentry dispatched telegrams on the 7th inst. to the Cabinet and the six boards of Peking. and also to Chang Chih-tung, to the following effect:
"We insist on the removal of Viceroy Sham. If not removed from Kwangtung, we not only stop construction of the Canton-Han- kow Railway but we will also refund all the capital to the shareholders."
THE VICEROY'S QUANDARY. Viceroy Shum received the following telegram a fows days ago: "Regarding the case of Lai Kwai-pui's arrest and his disgrace, we have already authorized Viceroy Chou Fu to me- morialize personally, giving fall and clear explanation."
BIG BARRACKS FOR CANTON,
It is reported that the provincial Government intended to raise a huge army, and a contractor, Leang Shum-hing, has entered into a contract to erect barracks outside the big East Gate at a price of Tls. 160,000.
LAI-KWAI-PUI INTERVIEWED,
February 19, 1906
Kiangel Railway, We propose to them with the construction of our
(5.) When do you expect to That is a question that I am unable to This matter is left entirely in the 72 guilds and the gentry. I har know, been requested by several of the highest authorities to go home. I have refused. But obey. if there is an Imperial Edict, of course, I must
(6.) What action do you intend to take when you recover your liberty ?—This is another one gentry and the 72 guilds; besides, it all depends of those questions that must be decided by the
on the future actions of the Government,
(7.) Do you think a compromise is possible at
with the Government; the matter is a public affair and must be decided by the public. My humble opinion is that the people will insist upon having sole control of the finances and the construction of the railway, and do not want the Government to have a finger in the pie. All that they want from then is protec tion. They certainly will not consent to any inorease of the taxes.
this juncture --I have no power to compromisar
(8.) Will the Viceroy be removed in conse- quence of this affair ?-He will naturally be compelled to go if he is not in harmony with the guilds and the gentry. Provincial affairs will partake of the nature of a foreign parliament. come to a deadlook, as the guilds and gentry
The authorities will be unable to raise funds and few things can be done without their consent. The Viceroy has despatolied to-day a long memorial to Peking praying to resign and to be allowed to proceed to Japan to recruit his health. This is a flying despatch, and he has given orders that it should reach Peking within ten days.
I had an interesting interview yesterday (9.) Is the present feeling against official with Lai-Kwai-pui in the Nam Lo Ching Kuk.peculation local or general?-This feeling is I went there early in the afternoon on the off-general amongst all the Cantonese in China chance of seeing him and asking him a question and abroad. or two regarding the situation. I had to wait a good hour or so owing to the great number of visitors, The sergeant on duty told me that from 9 a.m. till evening there was a continuous succession of visitors, leaving Lai-Kwai-pui just the bare time for his meals. At 3 o'clock a clerk in a long blue robe informed me that my turn had come and that Mr. La. would be pleased to receive me. Following the bearer of my card, which was held up in the air, I stepped into the prisoner's room and after the usual greetings, and having enquired about his health, I asked him a series of ten questions, which Í append herewith with his answers,
(1) What is your opinion concerning the general aspect of affairs now P-Matters are entirely in the hands of the 72 guilds and the charitable institutions Everything seems favourable regarding the raising of funds for the construction of the railway; and I am sanguine that about fifteen or sixteen millions can be raised here and abroad.
(2.) Do you believe the merchants can carry out the scheme by their own resources (2.6, without resorting to foreign Įpans) ?—That I am unable to say definitely, but the people's idea is not to use foreign capital at all. We may, however, be compelled to resort to foreign capital.
(8.) It is estimated that the Kwangtung section of the line will cost about $30,000,000. Do you think such a sum can be raised ?— Quite so; it requires about $30,000,000 for our section alone. I believe that between the Cantonese here and those abroad about $16,000,000 can be raised, which will be a very sound capital to start with. The methods we adopt are those applied in foreign countries for the construction of gigantic lines. That is to say, when a certain large sum is raised it is used as a sound basis to go on with. The rest can be raised as the construction is proceeded with.
(4) You will require technical advice and foreign engineers. How do you propose to deal with this question Of pourse, the two northern sections intend to engage the services of foreign engineers; the Hunanese will employ English constructors and the Fukienese, Japancse. With regard to our section, we do not intend engage foreigners at all. We have two experienced Cantonese engineers Chan Tin-yan and Lo Kwok-shui, who have gained experience in the construction of the
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(10.) Are you satisfied as to the turn events have taken recently since the subscriptions have been started; and what are your plans regarding the future ?-I am perfectly satisfied with the turn events have tiken. The spirit and energy displayed by the Chamber of Commerce shows that there is every hope that the necessary funda will be forthcoming. I entertain personally the most optimistic views concerning the ultimate success of our scheme and the construction the railway.
Feb. 13th.
FOR THE UNIFORM'S SAKE. The Cheong Ping Hok Tong (the Military College for Training Officers) has issued notice inviting a hundred new scholars to enrol themselves for the coming session. Applica-- tions must be made between the 12th and 22nd inst. Many scholars are said to join merely for the sake of the uniform.
THE VICEROY'S HEALTH.
It is reported that the Viceroy is ill again and has recently been spitting blood. It is said that the present trouble has had a marked effect on his health.
BOMBS.
The Chief of Police has issued a proclamation prohibiting the manufacture and sale of bombs. This order was issued owing to the accident that happened in the Ting-Choi-Lane the other day, when the roof of a house was blown off owing to an explosion occurring while the mixture was being baudled in a mortar. Three women and one girl were seriously hurt.
RAILWAY SHARES,
It is reported that $400,000 were subscribed at Fatshan. On the 11th inst, Fung Yik-sang, Lau Sha-tong, and Lau Tse-skan, of the Hing Li-tong, went to the Chamber of Commerce and took 20,000 shares each. It is reported that these three men will proceed to Australia to canvass for subsoriptions.
Feb. 15th.
VICKBOY SHUM'S CRITICS, It is reported that Viceroy Chon Fa has deputed Tam Kai-yu (Grain Commissioner) and Shum Wan-hing (expectant Taolai) to investigate the railway trouble The former is the brother of Tam Kai-eni foot) who was cashiered some Viceroy Shum, owing
the discovery deficit in his socounts when he was in
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