:
April 18, 1908.]
master in time to save him, but he managed to retrieve the body which with the assistance of the other members of the crew was got on board. On the return journey the whistle was blown continuously and this attracted the attention of the officer in charge of the police launch who went out to meet the " Canada," and obtained the story from the Chinese. On the Police wharf Dr. Ainslie tried the n-ual methods of resuscitation but without avail. Mr. Rennie's dispatch box, hande i over to the police at the same time as the body, appeared to have, been in the water. The body was subsequently removed to the mortuary at Kennedytown.
In response to our enquiries at the Water! Police Station the officials declined to make any statement.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT States has proved a factor in the wheat market which a few months ago could not have entered into the calculations of the most far-sighted and sagacious of men, And on top of this has recently come a heavy slump in Pacifio.freights, flour being now carried across at half the rate which obtained down to within the past fort- night. This s'ump has been brought about, we understand, by the Chinese boycott of Japanese trade, which has had the effect of causing the Japanese lines to separate themselves from the Conference, and a freight war has resulted.
events has affected the prospets of the business To what extent this unexpected turn of
with which Mr. Renuie was so prominently identified time alone can tell, but the serious disappointment of bis sanguina hopes and expectations may have been too much for a nervous system already overstrung by the mental strain which the initiation of such an important enterprise as the Junk Bay Flour Mills must have en'ailed.
According to Who's Who in the Far East, to which the late Mr. Rennie had given the particulars, Alfred Herbert Rennie, J.P., was born on Nov. 17th, 1857. He completed his education at a Toronto college, and b came confidential clerk to the Hon. John Norquay, Sir Paul Chater and Mr. Mody who were 30 the premier and provincial treasurer of Manitoba. intimately associated with Mr. Ronnis in ibis In 1890 he joined the Hongkong Civil Service enterprise reposed unlimited confidence in bis as a correspondence clerk in the Public Works business acumen and ability as well as in his Department, and enbsegu ntly acted as Acting personal integrity. The de-past sympathy is Assistant Harbourmaster and Acting Superin-felt for Mrs. Kennie in her sudden bereavement. tendent of the Water Police (1892) Acting Superintendent and Secretary Sanitary Board (1893).
THE FUNERAL,
!
The funeral took place on Wid.esday afternoon. Since then be has been in commerce.
It was very quiet and only a few of his friends began as impor.ing agent for Canadian and other and business ass ciats attended. Thes- joined dour, and is understood to have done a big and
the corlege at the Monument and followed to profitable business. He came promitently the graveside in the Potestant Cemetery, where before the public within the last two years as the Rev. J. T. J hnson officiated and pro the promoter of the huge undertaking at Juuknouuced the committal sentences. The chief Bay, and it is very few weeks ago that he was mourners were Sir Paul Chater and Mr. H "pointing proudly to the success of it. Privately N. Mody. The others present were ir Henry we know at he had ambition to come forward Berkeley, the Hon. Mr. Rees Daries (Attorney as a publicist in the early future, and he, General), Capt in Fleming representing II. E. certainly took a keen interest in administrative the Governor, the Hon. "Mr Wei Yak, Dr. matters affecting the interests of the Colony, Sanders, Mess78. W. Macdonald Parr, B. His comments on public questions were usually Leighton, G. Liebert (French Consul), Ho very shrewd and pointed and direct. On all Fock, J. Ú. Peter, G. C. C. Master, C. A. Lowe, haud, and during his life, so that it is no
H. Percy Smith, J. Hastings, A. Sath, II. Seth, mere post mortem compliment, his marvellous S. A. Seth HF. Chard, G P. Lammert, energy and industry were ommented cu
W. L. Weaser, L. Berind ague, ul. and bis business abilities generally admitted.
The coff was made of English oak and was mounted with brass furnishings breast plate was inscribed-
The
1
Not for many years bas the community of Hongkong received such a shock as followed, the news of the untimely death of Mr. Reznie. His friends and associates could scarcely believe the sad intelligence but the grim reality became apparent when the remains of the gentleman who was so conspicuous for his marvellous energy and keen business
capacity were
laid to rest, The all absorb:: g topic of conver- ation on April 15th was Mr. Rennie's tragic end The sensation it created was profound. Certainly Hongkong was deeply moved over the death of this citizen, and bis disappearance from the scene of so many activities will be felt,
As to the tragedy itself, details are coming to hand which make the events of Tuesday afterLoon stand out more clearly. Before Mr. Rennie jumped overboard he had fastened the despatch box, which is fairly large aud weighty, round his neck with a cord. After he took the fateful leap the first coxswain threw a buoy overboard, but, as Mr. Ronuie made no attempt to reach it, the second coxswain jumped in after his master. As be approached him Mr. Renbie either said or indicated that he did not wish the buo, and put his face under Some little time elapsed before the body
water.
w.s recovered, but life was theu extinct.
It has since transpired that Mr. Rennie must have contemplated taking his life. On Tuesday he arranged personal affairs, and even wrote, so it is stated, a letter to his wife.
Suicide is clearly suggested by the accounts of the affair, and there has naturally been much speculation in the Colony regarding the cir- cumstances which could have driven a man of Mr. Rennie's buoyant di-position to such an act of desperation. An explanation is general y sought in the recent state of the wheat market. It has long been public property that in conse- quence of the shortage iu the world's wheat crop, Mr. Rennie made heavy purchases for the Junk Bay four mills and had been importing large cargoes in anticipation of a big rise in the price of wheat and flour Events, however, have so far falsified his predictions; the financial crisis in the United
Alfred Herbert Reanie, Aged 51 years, Died 14th April, 1905.
255
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Chamber. Council was held on April 16th in the Council
PRESENT:-
IIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR FREDERICK JOHN DEALTRY LUGARD,
Troops, Colon-l U. H. DARLING. K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.
His Excellency the Officer Commanding the
Hon, Mr. F. H. MAY, M.G: (Colonial Secretary).
Hoo. Mr. W. REES DAVIES, (Attorney- General).
Hou. Mr. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial
THOMSON
ISON (Colonial Trea.
surer).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G. (Director of Public Works).
E. A. IRVING (Registrar-
General).
Hon. Mr.
Hon. Commander BASIL R. H. TAYLOR, R. N. 'Harbour Master).
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K,C.
Hon. Mr. WEI YUK. Hou. Mr. H. KESWICK. Hon. Mr. E, OSBORNE.
Hon. Mr. MURRAY STEWART. Mr. C. CLEMENTI (Clerk of Councils).
The minutes of the previous meating were read, and confirmed.
MINUTES.
NEW MEMBER. Mr. MURRAY STEWART took the oath and I assumed his seat as a member of the Cou ucil.
PAPERS
|
The floral tributes were very beautiful, The sanders were:-Sir Paul Chater, Mr H. N. Mody, Mr. R. Yoneda, Messrs. Weaser and Raven, Mr and Mrs Ho Tung. Mr Ho Foo, Mr and Mrs Tang au Kok, Hon. Mr and Mrs Wei Yuk, Mr G. P. Lammort, Offica Boy A Cheong, Mr and Mrs Li Wai Lum, Mr Au Young Kit, Mr James, Dr. J. W. Noble, Mr C. E. Warren, Mr B. L. A. Howard. Mr Wm, Lysinght, Mr Leung Shiu Kong, Mr. S. A. Abmed, Mr. an i Mrs B. Layton, Mr Tak Cheong, Capt. W. Downer, Commodore R. H. S. Stokes. Dr. Ho Nai Hop, Mr Kwan Kai, Dr. and Mrs F. O Stedman, Office Staff Hongkong Milling Co., Mr Harold Seth, Capt. and Mrs Godfrey Wait, Hongkong Milling Co., Junk Bay Staff, Mr and Mis J. C. Peter, From the Servants who say, "He was always so kind," Mr and Mrs. G. C. C. Masier, Dr and Mra Jordan, Mesars Cornell Bros., Mr H.
R. Mr G. P. Chard, Mr Lam Ping Woon, Lammert. Mr and
Mrs N A. Siebs, Mr Leung Shin-kong, Mr Sam
A yak, Mr and Mrs H. I. Black, Mr Yee Kee, and Mr G. S. Cruickshank. Mr and Mrs A Seth, Mesars Arnhold Karberg & Co.
We are requested to state that no notice of the hour fixed for the funeral of the late Mr. A. H. Rennie baving reached either Government House or the Colonial Secretary's Office till just before a meeting which the Governor had
convened for the consideration of the Publis
i
Health and Buildings Bill and at which the Colonial Secretary, the Director of Public Works, the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai and Messrs. A. Turner, A. H. Ongh and A. Denison were present, His Excellency was unable to postpone the meeting to attend the funeral.
We are also authoritatively informed that His Ex- cellency "had fully intended to be present in person.' As it was, Capt. Fleming, A.D.C, went to represent him.
"
|
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by direction of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table th following papers-Reports of the Ciptain Superintendent of Police aud of the Super- intendent of th Fire Brigade for the year 1907, Financial Returus for the year 1907, Report ou Queen's Colle e for the year 1907, Report of the Director of the Hongkong Observatory for the year 1907, Returns of the Police Magistrate's Courts for the year 1907, and R-port of the Registrar of the Suprem› Court,
FINANCIAL MINUTES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by direction of His Excellency the Governor, lud on the table Financial minutes Nos. 14 and 15, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee. The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by direction of H. E. the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 5), and moved its adoption,
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, aud the motion was agreed to.
CHINESE FITR DITION ORDINANCE, The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first
reading of a Bll euitled an Ordinance to amend the Chinese Extradition Ordinance, 188.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY Seconded.
His EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, this bill has been introduced in order to make a slight alteration in the original ordinance of 1889 in cons quence of a ruling given lately by the Full Court. The Treaty of Tientsin upon which the Ordinance of 18 was based used t words "Chinese authorities." That has bee. inter- preted in the Ordinance to mean the Chinese Government, but following the ruling of the Full Court it would be nec ssary to obtain a pledge that the prisoner would not be tried for any offence other than that for which he was extradited and if so, he would be first returned to His Majesty's dominions. It would be necessary to obtain that consent from the Central Government i self and not from the local authorities in the Two Kwang Provinces. Since, however, the ordinance does not use the actual words employed in the Treaty upon which it is based this ordinance is intended to interpret what the meaning of the words Chinese authorities shall be. We have introduced a short clause to make it clear that Chinese Go- vernment shall include the Viceroy or other officer administering, a Provincial Government. This is in accordance with what has been the
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