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October 15, 1906.|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. mad with rage. Every second I thought would although the said stone, as photographed by be my last, for the fury of a Chinese mob Mr. BAINBRIDGE, is on the outside of a brick beggars all description. A happy thought building and about a foot broader and two flashed through my mind, and, quick as light-feet taller than a man. ning, I pulled out my folding camera and turned
We will not repea it towards them-thinking to photograph the the description, because few of our readers murderous beasts before they butchered me.
are as credulous as Mr. BAINBRIDGE seems The shook was tremendous; they dropped their to be, and none of them is so easily satis bricks, knives, and clubs, and crushed and fied. It is perhaps unkind to pour too jammed one another in their rush from the much cold water on the famous explorer's devil's glass." My friend, interpreter, and enthusiasm; but there are so many internal soldiers very discreetly banged and fastened the evidences-more than we have quoted-to
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two allowances to & in one
249
a double one
doors after them, and the interpreter explained prompt the repetition of a terse criticism re-erected. Of course this vote represents a very
first phrased by au American philosopher called CLEMENS. As he would have said, Mr. OLIVER BAINBRIDGE's story is "inter-
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 11th instant in the Council Chamber at 2.30 p.m.
to the Mohammedan priests that I was not a Jew, but a British traveller, and only wanted to see these things. They said if I would promise that, in the event of the Jewish synagogue being rebuilt, their mosque would not beesting, but tough." interfered with, the people would be pacified, and permit me to see the ark and examine the tiles. They are much afraid their mosque will be destroyed, if the synagogue is rebuilt, in order to get the Jewish tiles which they have stolen. I promised everything and anything they asked. The ark (an old cylindrical case) is purely Jewish, but the missing scroll they informed me could not be seen, for it was in a secret place. That evening, about eight o'clock, four boxes of sweets, cakes, and two baskets of tea were sent to me by the priests, with the kind greetings of their people, who had decided to present "their elder brother" with the ark, which they did the next morning. When the Chinese make a present they expect something equally valuable in return, so I sent a few dollars to each priest, which proved to be a lucky move, for I experienced no more trouble during my stay."
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It is quite evident from the foregoing that whatever aspersions may be cast on the scientific attainments of Mr. BAINBRIDGE, he is an excellent hand at telling a story. He remarks incidentally that "the Chinese are undoubtedly the most evil-minded [prurient people or earth", a sweeping remark which he omits to justify in the text. An incident fully as extraordinary as his last wish to photograph his murderers was his discovery of a stone bearing an importaut inscription iu language not specified. It would must likely be in Chinese, in which case Mr. BAINBRIDGE's interpreter ought to have his share of the credit. A short distance from a Confucian temple containing Jewish pillars, Mr. BAINBRIDGE, or his interpreter, made a remarkable find. "I found" be writes, an old, long, narrow stone in the side of an empty uud-hut, which bore traces of an inscription, dealing with a Foreign Heaven Chapel', in which the foreigners that 'pluck out the sinews fast and weep together".
It is to be presumed that the traces of an inscription were not too incoherent to leave this much valuable testimony. But the remarkable part of it is to follow. I sent for two of the most intelligent Jews, who were not aware of its existence or location, and I enjoyed", he adds, their unmistakable surprise". We derive almost similar en- joyment at second-hand, and fear that those two most intelligent Jews were either not so intelligent as our explorer gives them credit for, or that they took less interest than he in the evidences of their ancient faith. It seems almost a pity that he did not invite the "handsome and intelligent Chinese Jew" whom he had previously interviewed so profitably. This gentleman, "not yet forty years of age", told him a great deal about his rich and numerous ancestors, who worshipped in a fine syna- gogue three housand years before, and who had with them a roll of the law in a
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language not understood to-day. Mr. BAINBRIDGE gives a description of that ancient temple, as supplied by the band. some and intelligeut young man who did not know of the existence of the stone referring to the "Foreign Heaven Chapel,
PRESENT:-
(Colonial
last year, but has asked that may be paid to them this. The payment of charitable society year, is inconvenient, and I am taking steps to prevent its recurrence in future. Financial Minute No. 73 is for $1,200 for repair of typhoon damages to the gardens in the care of the Botanical and Forestry Department. It incla les items of $300 for labour in clearing away debris; of 8270 for repairs to buildings; and of $250 for raising street trees.
With that last item 94 trees have been satisfactorily
Gardens. Most of that damage is only repair- small proportion of the damage done to the Public able by time, and the Superia eadent of the Department estimates taat it will take from ten to fiften years before the gar dens will look again as they used to look before the typhoon. Financial Minute No. 75 is for $5,000 for repair of damages done by the typhoon to the boats of the Police Department. It provides the money required for raising the one of the three launches that was sunk, for refloating one that went aground, also for raising one pinnace and for the hire of boats for police work on the days immediately subsequent to the HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. SIR typhoon. Financial Minute No. 76 for $5,846 MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.
is for repairs to damages incurred by the boats Hon. COLONEL DARLING, R.E. (Officer in charge of the Medical Department. Of Commanding the Troops).
this, repairs to the Health Officer of the Hon. Mr. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (Colonial Port's steam launch Sybil amouut to. Becretary).
8973, and to the Hospital hulk Hygeia Hon SIR H. S. BERKELEY, (Attorney- | to 84,873. The Hygeia und her roof blown General).
away and suffered sundry other damages. F'in- Hon. Mr. A. M. THOMSON
ancial Minute No. 74 for $19,000 is for repair Treasurer).
of damages incurred in the typhoon of Sept-m- bar 18th by public works and buildings. Council will remember that at their last meeting they voted $20,000 for this purpose. The aggre- gate. $69,000 is made up as follows:-For buildings, $15,000; for piers and sea walls. $14,000; for drainage works, $4,500, for water works, $3,0; for telegraphs and telephones, $7,500; roads $24,000; floating plant $1,000, | making altogether $63,000, These amounts for repairs are those that will be spent in making good damage done on September 18th, Un fortunately the subsequent typhoon of the 29th inflicted further injuries on public works, sad it will be necessary later to ask for a further rote on account of those injuries. As far 88 I can 800, the Cust
of making good damages to public works will not fall tar short of $10,000. In addition to that, the cost of making good damage to the boats and other property in charge of varioas departments may together with special expendi. ture incurred by them for work done at the time of $25,091, so I do not think I am mach over- the typhoon amount to nearly
estimating the total loss to the Colony, represented by its Government, when reckon it at $125,000. This is just ten times the amount we put into the estimates for 1997 for making good typhoon and storm damages, and that amount Still it must be recognised that $125,000 damage the annual average over some years past.
to Government property bears a very small proportion to the injuries done t; private property in the Colony by the typhoons of last month.
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar- General).
Hon. Mr. F. J. BADELEY (Captain-S-perin- tendent of Police).
Hon. Dr. Ho Kat. I.B. CM, C.M.G. Hou. Mr. WEI YUK.
Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT. Hon. Mr. W. J. GRESSON.
Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Council).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
TRIBUTE TO THE LATE C PTAIN HARNES-
LAWRENCE.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Gentleman, the con stitution of this assembly and the conditions of life among Europeans in this Colony are such that we frequently at our meetings welcome the members. But, though many leave us to go home advent of new or regret the departure of old
to England, it is fortunately a rare occurrence that an active member should be taken from his work in our midst, summoned to his last resting place. Since we were last here together we have had to deplore in the death of Captain Barnes Lawrence, the loss of a valuable member of this Council, of a capable and energetic official, aud of a noble-miadel, kind-hearted victim to his care for the interests of the modest gentlemau (hear, hear) who has fallen a Colony-especially those of the shipping com. munity-which were so close to his heart. I know I have every member of the Council with me in expressing deep sympathy with the bereaved wife and family.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. His EXCELLENCY - I appoint the following standing committees of Conacil :
Finance Committee: The Colonial Secretary as Chairman and every member of Council.
Law Committee: The Hoa. Attorney General, Chairman, Hon. Captain Superin. tendent of Police, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk and Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock
members.
Pablic Works
Director of Public Works, Chairman, Hoa. Committee: The Hou
Colonial Treasurer and the Hon. Messrs. Osborne, Hewett and Gresson as members.
FINANCIAL.
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The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 73 to 7 and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Financial Minute No. is a vole of $100 to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul necessitated by the fact that the Society did not claim the allowance
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The motion was carried.
was based on
THE LAW OF MVIDENCE. The ATTUNEY-GENERAL-I rise, Sir, to propose that the Bill to amenl the law of Criminal Evid ncs be now read a second time. The object of this measure is to accord to a few accused persons in this Colony privileges which have been accorded in England since 1893. The bill provides that henceforth every accused person, and the wife or husbaud as the Case may b of such accused comp:llable-a competent witness at every stag+ person, shall be a competent witness but not
and at any part of the proceedings in a criminal charge. The objection that a person accused of a orime, while having in his own mind obviously the bast knowledge of the facts alleged against him, has been provenÃ- ed from stating on oath to the jury who have to try him, his knowledge of those facts, will bÉ” removed, and all who have experience o criminal courts will be aware that as a result, many a guilty man who now escapes ou account of the jury giving him the advantage of the doubt- whether or not he is guilty because they are