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August 24, 1907.]
later he entered into another amounting to over five and a half million dollars before the former had been resold.
Mr. Grist submitted that the application for his arrest was that he might be brought there.
Mr. Dixon applied for an adjournment. Mr. Grist opposed any application for an adjournment on beh If of a number of creditors, The Chief Justice-The adjournment will be in prison.
Mr. Grist--We wish the public examination closed. We want our dividends,
Mr. Bailey, who also appeared for a number of creditors, said there could be no good done by prolonging the examination.
Mr. Goldring, who appeared on behalf of the debtor, submitted that the man was entitled to be heard by his representative when such an application was being made.
The Chief Justice-Supposing I decide to commit him, when does the trial come on?
Mr. Looker - The trial comes on од application for discharge.
the
The Chief Justice-Then there is no trial at all?
After further discussion Mr. Goldring applied for the public examination to be closed.
The Chief Justice-What does the Official | Receiver want?
фа
The Official Receiver- I would like it closed, my Lord.
The Chief Justice said the question of committing him to prison could only come upon the application for his discharge, and he asked what hold he had on the man in the meantime. Mr. Looker-I'm afraid I cannot tell you. The application WB8 adjourned until
Thursday.
AN INTERESTING POINT. Re Fuk On-chuen. The Official Receiver asked that this examina. tion be closed,
Mr. Dixon asked for an adjournment until certain information for which he had asked was furnished by the debtor.
Mr. Grist, on behalf of the debtor objected to furnishing such a statement. All that the debtor was required to do was to furnish a statement to the Official Receiver. All the information wanted could be got from the man under cross-examination. This application w s for a statement which would take a month to prepare. The debtor could not pay anyone to prepare the statement and he could not be compelled to do so. He could only be compelled to come there and answer questions in the witness box.
The Chief Justice remarked that it was 80 interesting point.
The case was adjourned for a week.
CROWN LAND RESUMPTION.
ARRITE TION.
An Arbitration Board presided over by his Honour Mr Justice Wise and consistig of the Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, C.M.G., (Director of Public Works), and Mr. W. Darby, M.I.C.E., sat in the Supreme Court on Ang. 22nd to determine the amount of compensa- tion to be paid in respect to the resumption of eleven lots of Crown land and portion of another at Kowloon, near the old boundary
and close to the road between Kowloon City and Yaumati. Theclaimant was Mr. J. C. Wong who was represented by Mr. G. K. Hall Brutton. Mr. G. E. Morrell (Crown Solicitor) appeared on behalf of the Crown. Mr. A. S. Hooper and Mr. A. H. Ough were in attendance on behalf of the Crown and Mr. Turner on behalf of the claimant.
Mr. Morrell stated that the land was resumed on April 16th and that the Government offered $425 as compensation, which the claimant re- fused to accept.
CHİNA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
submitted to arbitration but the suggestion was not adopted. In the plan wh ch was provided by the Crown Solicitor three lots appeared which were not included in the present arbit- ration, but claimant had a yearly lease of them. and was entitled to compensation. Mr. Bratton thought they should be considered by the board.
Mr. Morrell object, and the Hon. Mr. Chatham pointed out that in any case the com- pensation would not be ou the same basis.
Mr. Bratton then continued his opening statement. Throughout the negotiations, he said, Mr. Wo g had made several offers to the Government for the surrender of his land, but all were refused. It was admitted that the olaimant's title was a good one, therefore it was unnecessary to prove it. In an interview with the Colonial Secretary the claimant offered to give up his land for similar land in the vicinity, but the offer was refused and then claimant offered to buy land in the vicinity from the Government at one cent per square foot, the price the Government were offering for olaimant's property. The reply the Government was prepared to sell land was that in that vicinity for agricultural purposes. An application for the land for build. ing purposes at the same price met with a similar refusal; the Government declined to disclose their policy. Mr. Bratton submitted that if the land was only worth one cent per foot to the Government, or rather if they were only willing to allow that price, that claimant should be sold similar land by the Government at the same price, or in exchange for his own land. But the Government had been selling land in that neighbourhood at five and six cents per foot and private sales had realised eight, nine, ten, and even fifteen cents per foot. The Government's offer of one cent per foot was subsequently increased to two cents per foot 8425, and claimant refused to accept, but reduced his original claim of fifteen cents per foot to ten cents, together with a claim for the stone wall put up by claimant. The compensation to be paid by the Government was: First, the value of the land; then the Board had to take into consideration the disturbancs caused by the compulsory sale of the land; then there was the depreciation of the remaining lots, want of water, and loss of frontage. The Govern- ment had taken all the land bordering on the road and left no approach to the remaining lots, and had also taken three lots which apparently were not required for the road at all. The claimant's claim was as follows:-Land resumed, 20,517 square feet at nine cents per square foot, $1846.53; compensation for stone wall, 252' cubic feet at 18 cents per cubic foot, $453.60; depreciation on remaining lots 22,651 square feet at five cents, $1332.55; rent from April 16th to August 22, being 129 days at $140 per year, $49.46; other compensation, $368.21; total $4,50.35.
A discussion as to whether a claim had been duly lodged by claimant followed, but finally the claim was admitted.
Mr. Brutton said that the land was bought by Mr. Wong in 1901 and 192, and as the Government required some of the lots for the construction of a new road, negotiations were entered into between the parties in September 1905. On January 3:st, 1906, Mr. Wong pro- posed that the question of compensation be
Mr. Wong stated in evidence that he had au and accepted it, the sale to be completed on the offer for the land at 18 cents per square foot intending purchaser's return from China. This man had returned, but finding the Governm nt was about to resime the property he declined to complete the sale.
had no contract for the sale.
In answer to Mr. Morrell, claimant stated he
The Board re'ired to consider its decision.
FIRE AT THE NAVAL YARD,
|
broke out at the Naval Yard Extension, near A fire, which was at first rather alarming Arsenal Street, on August 19th about 10
&.m.
121
AN EXTRADITION APPLICATION.
Mr. G E. Morrell, Crown Solicitor, applied extradition of Ha Ki-shing who is alleg d to on behalf of the Chinese Government for the have committed murder and armed robbery within the jurisdiction of China. Sir Henry Bing. appeared for the defendant, Berkeley, K.C., instruched by Mr. Otto Kong
house
4
Mr. Morrell stated that the accused was
would have to refer to the fact that he com- charged with armed robbery, not murder, but he
mited murder as well. He was alleged to have committed robbery at the family village on April 16th,
of 岛 family at Ha Un Heang this year. The story for the prosecution was that on the this family, composed of sight persons, went date in question, at about 1 o'clock at night to bed, the master bolting the door before retiring. Early on the following morning, at about 1.30 a.m., the household was awakened by a hammering at the doɔr, which was shortly afterwards broken in. Two men entered, one carrying a revolver and the other armed with a sword and bearing a torch. These two men went into the room where the children were sleeping, seized them, palled off their jade bangles, and guarded them. while thirteen or fourteen other men entered the house
that the defendant
ransacked the place. It was alleged was one of the men these were armed, and it was alleged the defen- who entered with the last lot. Som, of dant was armed with a revolver and a sword. All of them had torches, so the premises were well lighted. Defendant asked the head of the house where he kept his money, and the master spoke to him, calling him by name. He pointed out where the money was, and asked the noonsed not found enough money, and shot him. The to spare his life. The defendant said he had
master died from the wound about two hours" afterwards. Then there was a noise of årearms outside, and the defendant called upon the other clothing, jewellery and money amounting to men to disperse. They left, taking with them about $3,000.
Flames were seen bursting through the Brigade was at once apprised of the occurrence roof of one of the coal matsheds and the Fire
The Brigade, under Chief Inspector Baker, turned out with a couple of engines, but
number the Military Brigade and
of naval ΤΗ ΘΕΣ had in the meantime set to work and son had the flames under destroyed, comparatively little damage was control. Though two matsheds were pratically done to the ocal. It is thought that the fire originated through some sparks carried from the roof. Street traffic in the neighbourhood a coolis house some distance away igniting was suspended for about an hour.
and
Evidence was called, and the osse adjourned.
MACAO.
(PROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
August 20th. birthday anniversary on Friday, and upwards His Excellency the Governor celebrated his
of two hundred residents of Macao joinel in the celebrations at a pleasant function hasily organised by the Military Clab. It appears that the Committee only became aware the day before that Aug. 16th was an interesting date in His Excellenoy's private osleadar, and the invitations were consequently not issued until the morning of the 16th. Had they ben ssued earlier the attendance would doubtless for His Excellency is generally respected and have been much larger than it actually was,
esteemed in the Colony.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING OF THE CITY. ▲ rumour is curreat that the interests of the Macao Electric ́ompany are to be transferred to the China Light and Power Co. of which Messrs. Shewan, Tomes sad Co. of your port
are
the general managers. If the rumour is correct we may now confid-ntly look forward to
seeing the city better lighted than it is,
NO DEMAND FOR GAMBLING MONOPOLIES.
No fewer than four Monopolies are want- ing syndicates to tske them up. The Pa-pin has been up for tender twice, but the years) that it was not accepted. The holders ten der was so low (836,000 per annum for three
of the San-piu and the Paoup-pin monopolies last Saturday broke their contracts and the security, amounting to $53,000 has besome forfeit to the Government. This afternoon the Santa Casa de Misericordia Lottery was up for tender, but no offers were received. All this, I submit, shows that business is not in a flourishing condition over here.
THE POLICE FORCE
continues to be obvious, and as the merchants That more policemen are nee ed in the City voluntarily pay a special police tax, the Govern up to a proper standard of strength and 'ment should see that the polios forse is kept
chiciency.