November 3, 1906.}
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or that she should send them round with a hideous chit book. I firmly believe that things of beauty do move away a pall from our dull spirits. I think anything we can do to make the dull surronadings of our life more beautiful should be done. It is not necessary that we should have expensive things, because cheap things are quite as well if they are beautiful as expensive ones. The hope that some improvement in the prettiness of things around us might be helped by art exhibitions was justification for the note which I entered in my small book here. Later on I took further step, because entry in a note book does not help matters much. You will probably remember--or to be accurate you will not remember-that at the meeting of the Legislative Council ou 7th September, 1905. I said that I saw Do reason why, in view
of the varions minor arts, lace
making, silverworking, bookbinding, etc. being practised here, a periodical art exhibition should not be a success. These remarks acting, I think, on the desire which was communicated to the papers by an hon. and learned member of the Council to hold a photographic exhibition bas, I think, resulted in our being here to-day to open the first exhibition of the arts and crafts of Hongkong. If I have claimed somewhat egotistically some credit for initiating the movement I certainly cannot claim the credit for it being the success that I believe it will prove to be. That is entirely due to the energetic work of the committee, the Chairman of which is Sir Henry Berkeley, and of its secret- ary, Captain Marchant. I am sure our thanks are due to them for their good work (applause). I trust the exhibition will prove so successful as to esult in it being repeated every year. This leads me to a somewhat kindred matter about which I have been looking for an opportunity to say a few words. I am strongly of opinion that we onght in this Colony to have a permanent I visited an excellent one in Colombo; I believe there is one in Singapore. At Hongkong we have crowded in that little room a nucleus of an important museum. Until we can transfer it into some more spacious accomodation, Hongkong museum will not be worth anything. I had hoped that the Govern- ment would have been able to make some pro-
museum.
vision in the estimates for ⇓ museum. bave looked for some time at a building Dear the Kennedy Road tram station
which would be suitable for the museum.
Now I see it is about to be made into a boarding house (laughter) and my hopes of our museum are becoming somewhat dim. Still, I may have the good fortune before I leave the Colony to be able to propose a vote for a museum, or failing that, perhaps some public spirited and wealthy lover of this city will step into the breach (bear, hear). You have come here to-day to worship the beautiful in the collections that have been prepared and not to listen to me speaking. While all the temple is prepare within I will not keep you to make you nod drowsily outside. Holding in my hand as a symbol this beautiful key, for which I desire to express my thanks to the committee. I declare the Arts and Crafts Exhibition of 19 6 daly opened (applause).
His Excellency ascended the stairs and inspected the various collections. Meanwhile there were many visitors, and the pleasures of the afternoon were enhanced by the selections played by the band of the R.W.K. regiment.
SUPREME COURT.
Friday, October 26th.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE MR. A. G. WISE (PUISNE JUDGE).
A MISSING PLAINTIFF,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Mr. Gardiner-He might be very ill,
His Lordship-He might; but, if so, it is probable you would have heard. He might be on a jaunt to Macao. The case is fixed for Monday.
The case was again called in which F. K. Tata sued 8. Ezekiel to recover $100 for goods sold. Mr. J. H. Gardiner (of Mr. O. D. Thomson's office), who appeared for plaintiff, asked his Lordship to allow the case to stand over, as Tata w s absent.
His Lordship-Is he paive yet? Mr. Gardiner-Lgway know. I have not seen him. I thinkt of thet be ill.
Monday, 29th October.
IN CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.
BEFORE THE CHIEF JUSTICE (Sir
FRANCIS PIGGOTT).
THE CHARGE AGAINST INSPECTOR GIDLEY.
The name of G. J. W. Gidley was called, and when the Inspector stepped forward, the Registror informed the Court that in this case the Attorney General had entered a nolle prosequi.
The Chief Justice-You are discharged. Defendant then left the court.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S FAREWELL.
The Chief Justice was accompanied by the Pniane Judge on the bench and all the Court Officials were present in view of the Attornet General's farewell.
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309
Mr. Elade mid the first motion he wished to move was for the discharge of an order made in Chambers on an ex parte motion giving leave to Mr. Ho Tung to smend his suit by rednoing it from $30,000 odd to $11,000 odd by valaing his security at $19,500.
Mr. Slado
In reply to Mr. Looker, said he made his motion ez parte.
Mr. Looker-I understand my friend is making the motion on behalf of the debtor.
Mr. Blade--O behalf of the debtor and every creditor except two.
Mr. Looker-I would point out that the debtor is bankrupt, and, therefore, presumably we shou'd be put on some terms as to costs.
His Lordship said he could not deal with that question in the present mo.ion.
was agreed that notice of the motion should be served on Mr. Looker by next Thursday.
It
Mr. Slade's second motion was that the trustee be restrained from the selling of, or otherwise dealing with, the public effects of the debtor at the sale by auction which is to take place to-morrow (to-day),
Mr. Looker-I am prepared to proceed with that motion now if my friend has no affidavits.
1
Mr. Slade said he had long ones, and proceeded to explain the grounds for his motion. He said some two months ago the debtor's property was originally advertised for sale. It was of very little value, but being personal property the debtor was desirous of keeping it. When the sale was first advertised the debtor requested a postponement until he kad-had time
to
The Attorney-General said I have no other case to bring before the Court on this occasion. My Lords, this is, I may say, the last ocsion or which I shall appear before the Court in this character on the criminal side of this Court. Indeed so far as I have any reason to believe this is the last time I shall appear in this Court as Attorney General of the Colony. I have been a law officer of the Crown for a great num- ber of years. I have held
prepare a scheme of composition to submit to this parti cular office as Attorney-General of Hongkong the creditors. This was agreed to on his brother for something like four and a half years. My of arrangement was prepared and assented to putting up the expenses. Meanwhile a scheme Lord, it has been my happy and pleasant experience during the period to which I have by creditors aggregating over three-fourths of the debts of the whole estate. The referred, in my tenure of the high and respon sible office of Attorney-General of this Colony, ustee was then requested to call a meeting, to have received at your Lordship's hands and but he persistently refused and mean while the hands of you, my Lord the Puisne Judge, kept this furuiture in the honse whereas it could have been stored. The trustee still every proper consideration which could ussist
insisted me in the performance of the responsible dut'es
ou proceeding with the sale of the connected with the administration of justice in furniture, and Mr. lade asked his Lordship to this Colony which falls to the lot of the order that the sale be postponed. He further Attorney-General. My Lord, it cannot but be moved that the expenses incident to the proposed a happy and pleasant memory for me in retiring into private life to know that I carry with me the recoll. ction that during the many years I have appeared in various portions of his Maj-siy's empire as Attorney-General my rela- tiops with the Bench have always been of a pleasant aud cordial nature.
These circum- stances, I need not tell your Lordships, are not only calculated to assist in the administration of justice but are essential for the proper perform ance of the duties of the officer representing the State. My Lord, I now respectfully take farewell of your Lordships as Attorney-General of the Colony.
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sale be disallow d.
Mr. Lookef pointed out that about a month had elapsed since the composition, when the sale was pnt. off on the application of the debtor, who promised to guarantee expenses. After another ten days when no movement bad been made by the debtor to come to any composition
the cou lusion was arrived at that it was time to proced with the sale. No sooner did the trustee decide to do this than the debtor said he wanted a postponement. Then he filed a motion creditors to consider the composition. To-day calling on the trustee to call meeting of for the first time they learned that he was filing
The Chief Justice-Mr. Attorney-General, a motion to restrain the sale. From their the Court is loth to take leave of you as previous experience of the debtor and his Attorney-General, for it is very much beholden various methods of not complying with orders to you for the tact, ability and invariable of the Court, Mr. Looker submitted that his | courtesy with which you have conducted cases
clients were entitled, before any indulgence of this description for the Crown. In speaking for the Court I
was granted, to have the believe I may also speak for the Crown and also debtor put on some terms as to costs. for the Colony. As Attorney-General you go
His Lordship decided to hear the motions out. As Sir Henry Berkeley you re-appear. We
on Thursday week. wish you every prosperity and long life.
The Attorney-General- Thank Lord.
The Court was adjourned sine die.
Thursday, November 1st.
you,
IN BANKRUPTCY,
BEFORE SIR FRANCIS PIGGott (CHIEF JUSTICE).
THE CHUNG SHUN-KOO INSOLVENCY.
AN IMPASSE.
Mr. Looker sought bis Lordship's assistance my relative to а backing account of the debtor's estate. He pointed out that the Hong- kong and Shanghai Bank had refused to open such an account, and although other banks were willing, H.E. the Governor declined to sanotion any other. Therefore they had arrived at an impasse. The trustee at present was carrying on by depositing proceeds in the Chartered Bink.
Re Chang Shun-koo ez partc Sum Che-chuen. This was a motion thatiwo ez parte motions should be filed in this matter.
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His Lordship, after reading the section requiring such monies to be deposited with the Hongkong Bank, said he was afraid he could afford no help as the approval of the Governor could not be obtained.
Mr. M. W. Slade, instructed by Mr F. X. The Nanfangpao states that a meeting of d'Almada e Castro and Mr. R. F. C. Master Cantonese merchants at Shanghai discussed (of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master) certain questions concerning the purchase of appeared for the debtor and a number of foreign dyes that had lately arisen. The result creditors, Mr. H. W. Looker (of Messrs. was that it was decided that Cantonese dyers His Lordship-embark think so. I will fix Deacon, Looker and Deacon) appeared for shall in the future only use dyes of Cantonese The anse for Mondary for if he is not here then, the principal creditor, Mr. Ho Thug, and Manufacture and shall not purchase forbign I will strike it ship
F. P. Hett represented other creditors.
dyes more.
to appr