July 9, 1906.)
METRIC SYSTEM OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
A letter was read from the Decimal 'Associa- | tion expressing thanks for the Chamber'k donation to the Parliamentary Campaign Fund, and gratification that the Hongkong delegates at the forthcoming Congress of Chambers of Commerce would support the resolution favour. ing the adoption of a metric system of weights and measures throughout the Empire.
SIXTH CONGRESS OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
OF THE EMPIRE.
The following letters were read :-
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
2nd June, 1906.
Sir Thomas Jackson, Bart, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation, London. Dear Sir, With further reference to my letter of 7th April last inviting your attendance at the 6th Congress of Chamber of Commerce of the Empire I regret to inform you that the Committee have no further information of the actual resolutions to be brought before the Congress. Doubtless they are on the way and when received a cable will be sent you through the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank should the Committee deem it necessary to record their vote in any particular resolution.
Before leaving Hongkong Mr. Gershom
Stewart had an interview with the committee and knows the attitude they take up on some of the questions likely to be raised. Mr. Dickson only left on Wednesday last via Canada and will not arrive in time to attend the Conference, but your committee of four will without doubt cable me if there are any points on which they think my committee should decide for themselves.
I enclose a copy of the Chamber's 1905 Report just issued. — I am, &c.,
(Sgd.) A. R, Lowe,
Secretary,
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
15th June, 1905. Dear Sir, I am in receipt of your letter of 17th May, now in circulation amongst my committee, stating that the preliminary pro gramme being already in my hands my com- mittee would doubtless communicate their views to the Hongkong delegates by wire. Nothing has come to band since your circular invitation
was received so I conclude it has miscarried and unless Singapore or changhai can favour me with one of theirs I am afraid it will be too late to instruct the Hongkong delegates unless they cable for instructions on any particular point. Yours faithfully.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REFORT.
to the proposal referred to by my correspondent. -I am, &ò.,
(8gd.) THOMAS W. HARKEY,
Secretary. The Secretary, Hongkong Chamber of Commerce.
*
EXTRACT.
China Late delivery of goods by manu facturers.
"At the present time the law here does not admit of any compensation for goods late against contract, but we understand that some. merchants in Manchester are taking this matter up, as under present conditions the temptation is open to unseruplous manufac turers and others to delay goods in order to sell to advantage to others on a rising market. We are informed that it is proposed that oce month's grace should be allowed, but if over one month a penalty of 5 per cent. ad valorem should be exacted. We think if the Hong- kong, Manchester, Liverpool and Bradford Chambers would come to some decision on this point, it might be possible to institute the clanse we have mentioned.
"We shall be glad of your opinion on this subject,”
The Secretary reported that a circular letter had been issued embodying the above to the piece goods firms, and several replies bad been received in favour of the proposal but intimating that it hardly went far enough,
It was decided to form a sub-committee com- posed of representatives of some of the firms mostly interested to see whether some workable solution could not be arrived at.
This concluded the business before the meeting.
1
A COURT EPISODE.
CLOTHES MAKE THE LAWYER.
i
During the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court on July 2 there was an amusing incident which considerably enlivened the proceedings, Mr. Grist had made his opening statement for the plaintiff and had sat down, while Mr. Hursthouse offered some remarks on behalf of the defendant. Suddenly, the Puise Judge, who had been looking keenly at Mr. Grist, interrupted Mr. Hursthouse and addressing Mr. Grist informed him that he could not recognise him. Everybody knew that something Was
wrong. It could not be that his Honour's eyesight was failing! No, the fault, whatever it was, lay with Mr. He Grist, as a glance at his face showed, (Sgd.) A. R. Lowe,
stammered out some remark, and left his seat, Mr. Hursthouse saying, “I'm sorry I can't lend you one". Then it appeared that Mr. Grist had been guilty of a breach of court etiquette He was wearing a grey jacket under his robe instead of the regulation black one. Whether he borrowed the necessary sartorial effect from a legal friend in the vicinity, it would be difficult to say, but the business of the Court was suspended for only a few minules-during which time there was a smile on most faces-and then
Secretary. Kenric B. Murray, Esq., Secretary. Congress of Chambers of Commerce, London,
E.C.
The Secretary reported that Mr. R. Chatter- ton Wilcox had written to accept the invitation to act as one of the Hongkong delegates and that letters, have been despatched to the Shang- hai and Singapore Chamber asking for the loan of copies of the Conference programme.
REGISTRATION OF PARTNERSHIPS.
The Chairman said that at the Legislative Council meeting on 17th May, last, he had expressed the views of the committee of the Chamber that the motion brought forward by Hon. H. E. Pollock, K.C., should be withdrawn pending the introduction of a Bill showing the scope of the resolution.
Mr.
Pollock had accepted that view and it was understood a draft Bill would in due course be
introduced, and H.E. the Governor had promised
the Chamber of Commerce should then have au opportunity of expressing an opinion on the subject.
CURRENCY QUESTION.
Correspondence with the Star Ferry Com- pany, Limited, and the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce was read and approved.
LATE DELIVERY OF MANCHESTER GOODS.
The following letter with enclosure was read:-
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.
Liverpool, April, 9th, 1906.
LATE DELIVERY OF GOODS IN CHINA.
Dear Sir,- endlose extract from a letter received at this Chamber from a member, on the above-named subject.
I should be glad if you would kindly let me know the views of your Chamber with regard
he returned properly attired in a black jacket, and the hearing was continued.
CRACKERS AND LEGAL ARGU- MENT.
BARBARIC LOVE OF NOISE.
3
The firing of crackers at the foot of Wynd.
SUPREME COURT.
Friday, June 29th.
IN CRIMINAL Jurisdiction.
BEFORE SIB FRANCIS PIGGOTT (Chiri JUSTICE).
ALLEGED MURDER.
Tsang Ming was charged with the murder of a coolie named Ng Yuen on board the sa Indravelli on the 18th instant.
Sir H. S. Berkeley, Attorney-General, in- structed by Mr. G. E. Morrell (of the Crown Solicitor's (ffice), prosecuted, and Mr. H. G. Calthrop, instructed by Mr. P. W. Goldring (of Messrs. Goldring and Barlow), appeared for the defendant,
Save
The Attorney-General said it seemed that the prisoner and the man he was alleged to have murdered were among a lot of coolies returning from South Africa by the Indravelli. On the 18th instant, at about one o'clock in the morning, whilst the ship was between Singapore and Hongkong, a noise was heard which awoke the passengers. Cries of ":
were heard, and several coolies rushed in life'
Од the direction from whence they came. arriving on the starboard side of the vessel about amidships they found deceased lying down and prisoner standing by his side. Prisoner said that deceased was drunk, and tried to cover him up with a blanket, at the same time endeavouring to push away the crowd. One of these men, who was rather more curious than the rest, got a candle and had a look round. He saw some blood which rather frightened him, and he went and informed. As a result of this, amongst those who appeared on the scene was Mr. Whiting, who was in charge of the coolies. He saw that the man lying down had two stab wounds in the heart. The prisoner was taken in custody, and next morning a sort of inquiry was held, when the prisoner admitted that he stabbed the deceased. He said he did so as the result of a quarrel, but not until the deceased had struck him and threatened him A curious feature about the with a knife.
affair was the disappearance of one of the coolies who was on board the ship on the morning previous to the murder, when search was made after the inquiry he was not to be found. The Attorney-General emphasised the fact that prisoner tried to conceal the body, and said it would be for the jury to say whether, after hearing the evidence, the charge should be reduced to manslaughter.
When evidence concluded, counsel addressed the Court and his Lordship summed up, the jury retired to consider the facts. Shortly afterwards they returned and found the prisoner guilty of manslaughter, The crime was committed under great provocation, and- they strongly recommended him to mercy.
His Lordship said he could not disregard the jury's recommendation, but at the same time he was bound to exercise his own discretion in
which was to be imposed upon the prisoner. regard to the reduction of the punishment He therefore sentenced him to seven years' imprisonmbat with hard labour,
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION.
A DISPUTED CONSIDERATION. The case in which Chan Tack sund Chiu
balance of purchase money in respect of the sale of certain property, was concluded.
ham Street on the 4th July was responsible Yeung-leong to recover the sum of 32,000,
for cutting short a legal discussion in the The Chief Justice had Supreme Court. referred to the incidents which recently called from him very severe strictures in the now. famous Wong Ka-chueng litigation, and Counsel was replying when a deafening fusilade from outside made the discussion something like a dumb show. Parties waited for a while in the hope that the firing would not be prolonged, but as the noise did not cease, their Lordships rose and the discussion was left at stage all which must have been unsatisfactory to concerned.
One hundred deportees from Saigon, who arrived here by the 8.8. Derwent on July 4, were marched to the Central Police Station, where they will be guarded until they can be for warded to their homes in China.
Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., instructed by Mr. G. Hastings (of Mr. John Hastings' office), appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. M. W. Slade instructed by Mr. F. X. d'Almada e Castro, for the defendant.
After hearing the evidence, his Lordship, gave judgment for the defendant and costs.
In Summary Jurisdiction.
BEFORE MB. A. G. Wise (PuisNa JUDGR).
ALLEGED BREACH OF CONTRACT. The case was concluded in which Messrs. Carlowitz and Ca, sued the Fuk Lee firm and