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October 6, 1906.]
on
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
SUPREME COURT.
Monday, October 1st.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION
BEFORE MR. A. G. WISE (PUISNE JUDGE)
A WOMAN IN IT.
The Nam Cheong firm sued Li Sui-nam to recover $248.47 balance due on jewellery sold and delivered on August 2nd.
Mr. J. H. Gardiner (of Mr. O. D. Thomson's office) appeared for plaintiffs and Mr. F. X. d'Almada e Castro for the defendant.
Mr. Almada applied for an adjournment. Mr. Gardiner objected. as he believed defendant was keeping out of the way purposely to avoid judgment being given against him.
His Lordship-s not this the case, Mr. Almada, in which I told you that the defendant must get well by to-day, or else lose his case? Mr. Almada Your Lordship mentioned something about it.
His Lordship-Well, I am very sorry for him.
Mr. Gardiner-He has been seen walking about during the last low days.
His Lordship-Yes, I said I wouldn't stand any more of this. The case must go on. He could easily have arranged to be carried up here if necessary.
Mr. Gardiner He is quite able to walk up, your Lordship.
His Lordship-That's all right.
Wong 8i-cheung, manager of the plaintiff firm, gave evidence as to supplying defendant with jewellery to the extent of the amount claimed. The firm had not yet been paid.
His Lordship-What was the jewellery for, bis wife ?
the heart of the volcano thousands of men were gone in the twinkling of an eye. Only the other day that city of the golden gate, with its palices, its great business establish- ments, its great wealth stored up in its banks, stood in its pride. A few tremors of the earth and the whole thing vanished like the fabric of s dream. Again we saw on that sad morning of the 18th the fateful typhoon took us unpre- pared and the evening closed with broken hear s and homes in sorrow. After indicating the thoughts suggested by the prayer of the Hebrew sage, the speaker continued. This is not a time to speak of the anger or of the wrath of tod. God speaks not in wrath. No God forbid. He says "I am the resurrection and the life." What is the message of Jesus. Jesus Christ is our propitiation. He is a propitiation for our sins. He came not to reveal the wrath of God. He tells us himself that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoso- ever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. I feel that if our dear bishop could speak to us this morning he would not have emphasised the grief that we could no help. We are nowhere told that the flood of tears shall be locked. Because we are human, because we are men and women, the floodgates open and we express our emotions in tears. The bishop would have said to us "Make the prayer of this Hebrew sage yours', and pray for these things which I have been trying to interpret. I feel that I cannot close without a few per- sonal words regarding the gracious life of which we have been bereaved. He made his choice when his school and college days were over. He seemed to have settled his life these lines. When be came out to Chins a young man he settled in Ningpo, where he gave his time and he gave his talent and he gave his wealth and he gave all his capacity. He founded a training college at Ningpo. was looking the other day over what was left in his study, the piles of books in Chinese repre- seating his study and his daily teaching to impress upon the Chinese mind the characteristic of the Christian life. for 25 years he laboured there, and he gave all that was best in him to the work. Some 80 or 90 young men passed in those years under his moulding influence, and they are now working, most of them, in their native province. Then there came the period all too brief for the church at large when he served as bishop in the adjoining province of Fukien. I know what it meant: hills and valleys to be traversed, schools, churches and congregations to be visited, and thousands of people to be confirmed. More than all, the foundations of the native church to be securely laid in the province in which he ministered. And in this last remaining section of the great diocese of Victoria he was hoping to expand and extend it in every direction. Now the labourer's task is o'er. Now the soldier's fight is finished. We hang up the sword; we hang up the shield, and we mourn his loss. The bishop was ever a gentleman; he was ever gentle as a christian ought to be, gentle with all men, under provocation still gentle. And he was just. I have known him for twenty years, and cannot recall a single instance where he ever said a word of any man that was better unsaid. He was always fair, always just and always gentle. Last of all he was wise. He knew when to speak, and he knew when to be silent. He knew when to admonish, and he knew when to be glad. He was essentially a wise man with the wisdom that comes from God. In conclusion the preacher expressed sympathy with the wife and family of the deceased bishop.
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At the close of the service the organist played the Dead March in Saul, and the congregation remained standing,
was held.
In the afternoon a memorial service in Chinese
Memorial services were also conducted at St. Peter's church.
A scheme is under consideration for the open- ing of a new route into China, by linking up Assam with Szechuan. The first section of the railway line from Sadiya to Rims has already been explored. The line is practicable, and would be profitable, and the Tibetans are said to be cheerfully acquiescent. The second section, from Rima to Katang, will depend upon Chinese goodwill.
Mr. Gardiner-I don't know, my Lord. Mr. Almada-I think the articles were par- chased by a woman.
His Lordship-There is a woman in it, anyway. Judgment and costs for plaintiffs.
A DOUBTFUL ADMISSION.
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Tera Chand proceeded against Bogh Singh to recover $30.25, stated on the writ of summons to be due for ratious supplied.
Mr. J. H. Gardiner appeared for plaintiff, defendant, who was unrepresented, denying liability.
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Mr. Gardiner said he thought the writ ought to be amended, as he understood some of the money claimed was for a loan.
Plaintiff stated that he carried on business at No. 39 Cook Street, Hunghom. Recently he bad occasion to go to Shangbai. Before leaving he appointed a man named Gidham Lam manager of his shop.
His Lordship-That is your other witness? Mr. Gardiner-No, that man is in jail, my Lord.
His Lordship What is he in jail for? Mr. Gardiner-Larceny as a bailee. His Lordship-You've only got the books to go on, then?
Mr. Gardiner-And ou admission the defendant made in the Police Court.
Continuing, witness said the defendant had had 25 cents' worth of rations and a loan of 830. This money was advanced by the man in jail.
His Lordship-Had he the right to lend money?
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Mr. Gardiner-The defendant does owe the money.
His Lordship-Bat not to your client. Mr. Gardiner-He had it from the firm. His Lordship-But the manager had no authority to lend it. The trouble is your manager being a fraudulent person, and having robbed his master, might have made any entries in his books that suited him.
Mr. Gardiner-The only thing is the defend. ant's admission.
His Lordship-I‹ know, but I am not quite sure of it. I will put the case in Friday's list and you can consider your position
A similar case in which the plaintiff claimed $18.15 from Mangal Singh was also adjourn- ed till Friday,
Mr. Gardiner -He had no right, but he was under the impression that the plaintiff was not coming back from Shanghai.
EUROPRAN POLICE DESERTIONS.
DEEP-SEATED DISSATISFACTION.
On Sept. 29th three members of the European police force absented themselves from duty--one sergeant and two constables,—and it is reported that two of them have journeyed northwards by steamer. Only one explanation of this desertion is offered that it is the direct outcome of the publication of the refusal of the home anthorities to take any steps to improve the financial condition of the civil servants.
His Lordship-You admit the defendant got the money from the manager, so the plaintiff must sue him.
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Mr. Gardiner-It was advanced by the plaintiff's firm.
For some time the public have heard the outory of the civil servants that the rising dollar was bringing their wages down to the verge of mere subsistence, and while public sympathy was with the men, hopes were ex- pressed that the efforts of the Governor to procure better conditions would be success- ful." But the Secretary of State has not seen his way to make any alterations and the hopes of a large body of men in govera- ment service have been dashed to the ground. Not unnaturally the men feel highly indignaut that their reasonable complaints have been ignored, and as already indicated the action of the three men who have deserted is regarded as the outcome of that official refusal which
His Lordship-But the manager had no authority to lend it.
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Mr. Gardiner-But the defendant has had it His Lordship-Yes, certainly. That's right enough. I know they are ignorant people, but I must stick to the law. The only man who can be sued for the money is the Indian in jail. Witness continuing said defendant promised to pay him $30.2 on September 19th.
Defendant denied this He said another man admitted the debt
His Lordship-Supposing a man in that position did make a promise to pay and didn't owe it?
showed that there was little chance of improv. ing the conditions under which they merely existed.
The case as it affects the sacitary inspectors is already pretty well known but the police have had to bear their hardships and grievances in comparative silence. The dissatisfaction among the police is general. The constable is discon tented with his dwindling wage, and the inspec tor has no cause to feel jubilant. A constable just now draws about $60 at 3/- a dollar. True, be has quarters provided, but out of that amount he has to pay his mess bill, which embraces only food and attendance and probably amounts to $30 a month. The ordinary incidental ex- peases may absorb another $5 or $10 a month, so that indulgence in luxuries is out of the question. Then if he has to assist bis parents at home, his position is much worse.
To ascertain the police point of view a Daily Press representative had a conversation yesterday with a member of the force. He declared that the force was deteriorating as the result of the cheese-paring policy that was being followed, The men were not adequately paid and the con- ditions of the agreement which they signed were not being carried out by the authorities. The older hands suffered like the younger members, and while their protests, dictated by prudence and the desire not to endanger their pensions, might not be so loud, there was not the least doubt of their genuineness. This dissatis- faction which permeated the Hongkong police would be published in the police organs with the result that the authorities would find a difficulty in recruiting. Men who were ne ring the completion of their service to secure # pensions would not wait a day longer than necessary, while the younger men would leave as soon as their agreements were fulfilled. The niggardliness with regard to light and fuel made it imperative for men to eke out their supplies from their own money, a factor which constitutes a breach of agreement on the part of the Government. Added to that are the various little irksome details which make the sum of their lives not the happiest. The time spent at Pulice Court added to their six hours' duty makes a long day, while the liability to commit an offence against the numberless regulations is enhanced by the memorands