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THE HONGKON › WEEKLY PRESS AND
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nable to hear him in his own defence, will no longer have that loophole of escape. There csu be no doubt that in many cases if a person had been allowed to make his statement on oath, and had then been cross-examined by prosecuting counsel, he would not have been able to exculpate himself. For many years judges have allowed prisoners to make statements, There is no authority in law for that, but prisoners have been in the habit of making statements. The bill we have now before us permite a prisoner to give evidence on his own behalf. It does not compel him to go into the box, but if he does he is liable to be cross- examined. If he does not go into the box the bill provides that counsel for the prosecution shall not comment adversely on that fact. It is a privilege he may take or not at his option. At the same time it is laid down that a judge has power to draw the attention of a jury to the fact that a prisoner, though he had the opportunity, did not go into the box, and the jury can then draw such deduction from the fact as they think fit. There is a general principle running through this ordinance that the wife or husband of an accused person shall be competent to give evidence for or against the accused. They shall not be compelled to do so except in certain cases, and those are cases which come under the law for the protection of women and children, and generally those cases which fall under the Married Women's Property Act relating to the question of criminal dealings by either husband ог wife with the property of the other. In such cases the husband or wife is not only a competent, but a compellable witness. I believe, Sir, this bill will result in the advancement of justice in this Colony.
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The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded the motion, and the Bill was read a second time.
Council then went into committee on the bill.
On resuming, the ATTORNEY-GENERAL reported to the Council that the Bill had passed through committee without amendment, and moved that it be read a third time, and that the title be deemed sufficient for the purpose thereof.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. The Bill was then read a third time, passed, and became law.
THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GEN GRAL-I move. Sir, that the next item, the Bill entitled an
Ordinance further to amend the Merchant Shipping Ordinance. 1899, and for other purposes, be postponed for further considera- tion.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the mo'ion was agreed to.
THE PREPARED OPIUM ORDINANCE.
[October 15, 1906. of the vote, Charitable Allowances Society of | Shasu, Matthew Fong, A. J. dtevens and the St. Vincent de Paul,
On Council resuming,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY reported that at the meeting of the Fiasace Committes just hold Finansial Minutes Nos. 73 to 77 had been approved, and he moved their adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
His EXCELLENCY-Council stands adjourned till Thursday, 25th October, at 2.5') p.m.
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, KOWLOON
DEDICATION AND OPENING.
The consecration of the new church at Kowloon, St. Andrew's Church, took place on on the 7th October, the office being conducted by the Ven. Archdeacon Bannister. As is well known, the raising of this church and the attend. ant congregation was a work in which the late Bishop Hoare took a very active interest, and the ceremony of Saturday was one to which he had looked forward as the accomplishment of one of his most cherished plans. In these circumstances the event, which should have been such a joyous one from the ecclesiastical point of view, was not without its melancholy aspect, pathos being mingled with thankfulness. The edifice is as much the creation of the large handed generosity of citizens of the Colony as the embodiment of the religions wants of the community. It is erected by Sir Pani Chater. Truly, & magnificent gift. The site, in Robinson Road opposite the parade ground, was given by the Government. this excellent example bas been followed by others, and the result is the completion of a pretty little church, capable of accommodating 300 persons, and adequately furnished for the services to be conducted therein.
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Situated adjacent to the Kowloon School, the new church is a welcome addition and enhance. ment to the architectural features of this growing locality. Its style is early English Gothic, and though the structure is not large it is not lacking ia dignity. Built chiefly of granite and red brick, the combination has been so utilised as to give the church the desirable appearance of solidity, with ▲ due regard to the beautiful and the artistic. The honorary architects, essrs. Leigh and Orange, are to be congratulated on the design which is certainly most effective. There are two entrances, one by the tower porch and one by the font. There is that without which no church is complete, a spir, in which are erected the tubular peal of bella collected for and provided by the Hon. Mr. E. Osborne. The comfortable teakwood pews with cans bottoms The ATTORNEY GENERAL-I move, Sir, and backs, the choir stalls, prayer desk, chancel that the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend seats, holy table and pulpit were the gifts of the the Prepared Opium Ordinance, 1891, be read|late Bishop, while the frontal for the table was a third time, and that the title be deemed presented by Lady Hosre, a relative. The fice sufficient for the purpose thereof.
brass lectern is a donation from Mr. A. Bryer, the cross was presented by Mr. J. Plummer, the communion plate was given by the com municants of the Cathedral and the Peak Church through the Rev. F. T. Johnson, while the alms bags were worked and presented by Mrs. Price. Another notable gift in the East window, which is another instance of the generosity of Sir Paul Chater. Undoubtedly it adds to the beauty and dignity of the church. Scenes in the life of Christ are represented ---- the last supper and His banging on the cross It should be added that the electric light, has been introduced through Mr. E. C. Wilks, who collected for and provided the installation. Mr. W. King gave the Prayer Book, Bible and Communion service and Mr. E. C. Lewis the communion linen. The grounds have been well laid out and turfed.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Bill was then read a third time, passed and became law.
is EXCELLENCY-Council stands adjourned until after the meeting of the Finance Committee.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held, the Colonial Secretary presiding.
The following votes were passed :-
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TYPHOON DAM GES.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) in aid of the vote, Botanical and Forestry Department-Other Charges, Repairs of Typhoon Damages.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of forty-nine thousand dollars ($49,000) in aid of the vote, Public Works Extraordinary, Typhoon Damages.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in aid of the vote, Police and Prison Depart ments, 4.-Police-Other Charges, Repairs of Typhoon Damages.
CHABITABLE ALLOWANCES.
The Governor recommended the Council to rote a sum of one hundred dollars ($100) in aid
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The con-
The service on Saturday afternoon followed the lines laid down by the late Bishop, sad, though necessarily curtailed, was impressively conducted by the Ven. Archdeacon. gregation was numerous and included Sir Paul Chater, Dr. F. Clark, (representing the Cathe- dral Body) and the honorary architects. Mr. Denman Fuller presided at the organ, and the members of the Cathedral Choir kindly assiste in the rendering of the servios. The choir and surpliced alergy-Bers. M. Longridge, R.N., J. H. France, G. A. Banbury, A D. Stewart, G. Searle (chaplain_to_the_forowy, Pak Taing
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Archdeacon- passed outside the church to the principal entrance chanting Psalm `CXXII, and proceeded to the chancel. The Archdeacon rendered the office and at the appointe-l time, received the trust deed and the lease from Mr. F. J. H. Bowley, Mrs. Hoare having made over the property from the late Bishop_to_the Cathedral Church Body as trustees. The Rev. J. H. France read the lesson from I Kings VIII, and the Rev. A. J. Stevens toɔk the last prayer.
The Archdeacon presahed the sermon. | Selecting St. John IV., 37.38 "Herein is that saying true, one soweth and another reapeth,' eto, he said-You will, I feel surs, not expect any lengthened remarks from me under the special circumstances in w hich we meet. There are however certain thoughts that very naturally and very properly come into our minds as we meet together to day. There is first of all what must be in the heart and mind of every one of us, the thought of regret, regret that instead of myself in this palpit to-day there should not have been one who thought, one who long desired, to see this church d diested and consecrated to God's gracious service for the use of men in Kowloon. We regret that Gol has so ordained it that the dear Bishop is not with us to day in body but if we believe in the immortality of the spirit, surely he is with us in spirit to-day, and with a rejoices that this sacred temple is dedicated to the servics of God. It is very natural that there should be another thought, the thought of thankfulness that this beautiful house of God is completed. It is opened for, I trust, many generations to worship in, for many generations to find pasce in this house. We are thankful that not only is the external fabric so beautifully finished but that all the furnishings have been provided. Every. thing that is needed for the orderly and for the reverent and decent worship of God in external things has been provided. We are thankful for that. We are thankful, too, that the clergyman has been appointed and we thank God that he is with us here in our midst to begin his ministry to-day. It is a true note that we sound when we speak of thankfulness. There is another thought, that of gratitude to Almighty God who has permitted you and me to meet together, and to bring your children, in this boase to worship Almighty God. There is gratitude to the generous giver of this building by whose open-handed generosity this church has been erected and appointed that it might be a blessing to many generations to come. It is right to sound the note of grati- tude to those who in many ways have helped to build and finish this church, to the committee of furnishing, to those who gave so much time and attention in order that the things might be prepared and mide ready for our orice. There is scarcely a single thing in this church that will be used from time to time that is not the gift of soms thankful loving, loyal heart. Then again there are thoughts of hope for us all when we think of the words I read
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one man soweth sad another min respeth." Is not that the history of all ages? You see there is a word of hope for you and for me ag we live our lives and do
our daily toil. There are the two things-continuity of labour and succession of work. Continuity of labour runs through all hamsn history. We are thankful to belong to the greit empire of Britain. We think of its constitution and how it was built up. We know how our forefathers laboured. We enjoy the benefit of their labours. We know that the constitution under which wa live and enjoy liberties that no other nation enjoys on this earth is the work of many ages con- tinued through many generations. The speaker proceeded to impress on his hearers that the work with which they were engaged should not be scamped. It should be well done because they were not working merely for the present. bat for future generations. As we had benefit- ed from the labours of those who are gone before us sa should we work with a view to benefit those who come after nå. They were told that the time would come when Kowloon would have few if any vacant spaces. It would become the terminus of the great trunk line that would run through China. Men would congregate here and would go to that church for inspiration. It would be open to all and he hoped the time would never come when its doors