1
286
Grist, appeared for the appellants, and Mr. M. Slade instructed by Mr. G. R. Hall Brutton, appeared for the respondents.
Mr. Pollock said the decision of the Full Court was to the effect that the defendants excluded the debt from their assignment to the plaintiffs.
Mr. Slade argued that the appellants had not completed their security within the three months stipulated by the rules of the Court.
Their Lordships reserved their judgment,
HONGKONG HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
The third annual general meeting of the Horticultural Society was held in the music room of the City Hall, on Agril 30th, the business being to receive the annual report and elect a Committee and officers for the ensuing year. Mr. J. Barton presided over a meagre
attendance.
The report tated:
Two shows were held during the year, a chrysanthemum show on the 14th November, 1907, and the annual flower and vegetable show on the 26th and 27th February, 1908 Both shows were held in the Botanic Gardens.
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHỤW.
There were 5 entries by 14 exhibitors in 24 classes. 19 prizes were won between & exhibil tors. The Peak flowers for which special olasses had been arranged were a failure, no prizes being awarded. The net cost of the show was $322.95.
Year.
FLOWER AND VEGETABLE SHOW.
Entries.
Exhibitors.
Classes.
Prizes won
bitors win-
No. of exhi-
ning prizes.
Highest No.
won by ung
1907 651
55.
134
150
exhibitor.
1908 422 43 102 149
The Chinese Market gardeners again failed to exhibit in the vegetable classes specially set apart for them, and it is proposed to omit these
classes in the next schedule.
THE RONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND.
The judging of the general exhibits was done by Messrs. J. Barton, D. W. Craddock 8. T. Dunn, and W. J. Tutcher. Of the gar, den by Messrs. J. Barton, S. T. Duan, L. Gibbs and H. H: Gompertz, and of the table! decorations by Mrs. Pollock and Mrs. Turner.
The winter was not a favourable one for fowers, the early part being unusually wet and warm and the two months before the show having much more than the average rainfall. A very fair show of flower was however produced. Some of the special features being carnations shown by Mr. Looker, some very fine roses grown by Mrs. Makeham at Pok- fulam and primulas shown by Mr. Choa Leep Chee. And among the vegetables some broad beans were put in as a special exhibit by Sergt. Kerr.
The net cost of the show amounted to $431.45. The thanks of the Society are due to the following who kindly presented prizes or gave contributions to the priza fund-H. E. Sir Frederick Lugard, H E. Major-General Broad- wood, Sir Paul Chater, Mrs. Ho Tung, Mrs. Turner, Messrs. J. Barton, Chau Sin Kee, Choa Leep Chee, D. Dorabjee, S. T. Dunn, Fung Wa Chan, L. Gibbs, Ho Kom Tong, Ho Tung and H. E. Tomkins. Also to the Police Depart- ment who supplied constables to take charge of gates during both shows and to the Botanical and Forestry Department for assistance in staging the exhibits.
From the statement of accounts it will be seen that the year's working resulted in a loss of $68.31. It will be seen however that without
the expense of the chrysanthemum show the Society would have been about $250 to the good on the year's working, but it should be noted that $140 of this belongs properly to the previous year. The committee have decided not to hold a chrysanthemum show in the autumn, as the attendance at the last was exceedingly poor and the funds of the Society do not admit of the necessary expenditure.
The membership shows a satisfactory in- oresse, the orinary members now number 108 as against 66 at this time last year.
On the 21st March, Sir Paul Chater kindly invited the members of the Society to visit his garden in Conduit Road and several availed themselves of the privilege.
In accordance with rule 4 the committee retire but, with the exception of Mrs, Brewin and Mrs. Turner, offer themselves for re election.
The following office bearers were eleo'ed for the ensuing year:-Mr. Barton, President; Mr. Gibbs, Secre ary; Messrs. Cho Lip (hi, D. W. Craddock, S. T. Dunn, H. H. Gomper z, W. J. Tu cher, Mrs. Sudar, Mrs. Boll, Mrs. Gibbs and Mr. Ho Kam Tong Committee.
TIENTSIN.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
April 13th.
With reference to my last remarks on the unreasonable extent of anti-Japanese sentiment in North China, a significant incident has just becurred in this region. Your readers will have read a Reuter's telegram circulated is the second week of the month giving news of a fracas in the United States Consulate-General at Moukden. Nothing about it fras published cally till Reuter's telegram was received a few days ago. Reuter said the news was published in New York.
What appears to have happened was this a young and enterprising news. paper correspondent was travelling through Manchuria on behalf of an American paper, and sent a telegram to his journal about the Moukden incident. This was published in New York and telegraphed to London, hence
|
Reuter sent it to China.
(May 2, 1908.
Mr. J. R. Brazier, (Commissioner, IMO detached) formerly head of the Transvaal Chamber of Mines Labour Importation Agency, who resigned that position when the British Government decided to stop the immigration of Chinese coolies to the South African mines has just returned to Tientsin after a holiday in England. He has been appointed agent and general manager in China of the Peking Syndicate, in succession to Mr. George Brown, who is going home and will, it is said, take the place of Mr. Jamieson in London as manager in England. Mr. Brazier, with or without his own consent, Was one of the candidates-amongst /whom also were Mr. Jamieson and Mr. J. O. P. Bland- nominated by the Shanghai clique and a section of the China Association in the Far East and in England for succession to the Inspectorship- General of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs in opposition to Sir Robert Bredón: This opposition to Sir Robert Bredon was much stronger than the generality of the lay publicare gained the victory, is still being carried on, in aware, and, although Sir Robert has temporarily
the hope that, before the actual retirement of Sir Robert Hart, which is anticipated with perhaps more eagerness than the actual circum- stances justify, the decision of the Shui Wa Chiu and Empress Dowager in favour of the Inspector General's brother-in-law may yet be reversed.
are
Next to the trade depression the question of River and Bar improvement is the most
discussion absorbing topic of
in Tientsin. There are two camps: the Haiko Conservancy Commission and the merchants, who want to improve the port and so continue and enhance the prosperity of Tientsin, and the shipping interest (comprising the big firms whose head offices are at Hongkong, Shanghai, and It is a singular thing that this news of what Singapore as well ал the local tug and happened on cur doorstep should reach North lighter owning firms), who
reluctant China only after having been wired right round to contribute towards au expenditure which the world. Still more singular is it that such they fear will result in the non-employment of a trivial incident was ever telegraphed at all. the small steamers at present employed in the The affair at Moukden was merely a vulgar local trade as well as of the tugs and lighters brawel between the Chinese coolies of the and will introduce the competition of larger and American Consulate and the Japanese postman more up-to-date and more economically worked and some of his fellow.countrymen whom he vessel. To these a continuance of present summoned to his assistance. Naturally the conditions is good enough, for even if the port United States Consul General complained to should silt up, as it threatens to do unless the Japanese Consul-General, and a series improvement works are quickly instituted and of communications were exchanged between carried out, their purpose would be still served them; but the matter Was a very ia by lightering at Taku Bar or even by discharg- significant molebill out of which to trying at Chinwangtao. This last, of course, is a
to construct a mountain. The American news- paper correspondent, anxious to distinguish himself no doubt, seems to have jumped at this incident as providing, plus an active imagina. tion, good copy at a time when things were pretty dull. So he made an international and diplomatic incident of it, putting the blame on the Japanese, and leaving it to be inferred that the matter must be taken up by the Legations and an appology extracted from Japan before the incident could be considered settled,
The matter must be regarded, however, by all fair-minded people as a glaring instance of the prejudice which exists, especially in Man- ohuria, where the Japanese are naturally pushing ahead in their own interests, and especially among Americans, whose piecegoods trade has been badly hit by Japanese competi- tion ame gst foreigners against the Japanese.
is
policy which Major Nathan, the agent and general manager of the Chinese Engineering and Maing Co. (which owns Chinwangtao and wishes to develop it) seeks to encourage.
TOKYO MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED,
The following digest of the report to the shareholders is supplied by the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, the Hongkong agents.
Profit and Loss Account 1906 and former
years.-The balance in band on this account at the beginning of the year was Yen 4,641,620; during the year the total disbursements have amounted to Yen 415,016. The Directors re- commend the payment of a dividend of four Yen per share out of this account. which. will absorb Yen 24,000 and that the balance of Yea. 3,9,604 be carried forward.
Another instance of this prejudice afforded by the way in which many foreigners have chuckled at the Canton boycotting agitation which Was 8 sequel of the
Working Account, 1907-The net premia for "Tatsu Maru" incident. In every possible the year amount to Yen 1,687,488 against which way it was sought to encourage the local
net claims and losses have been settled aggregat- Chinese in this province and in Manchuria tong Yen 508,198; the expenses to amount to Yen institute a boycott of Japanese goods. Here as
221,689. There therefore remains a balance of elsewhere in China many of the most prominent en 957,601, to which has to be added interest officials and wealthiest merchants are Cantonese, and it was thou.ht by the anti-Japanese foreigners that these men would be easily urged to impose a boycott on Japanese trade.
But they reckoned without their host. H. E. Yuan Shih Kai from the Foreign Office in Peking and H. E: Yang, the Viceroy of Chihli, issued instructions and warnings against any boycotting movement, and these have been loyally and generally observed by all Chinese. Their Excellencies had mainly if not entirely in view, doubtless, political consideration; but the end they sought and obtained was no less desirable from an economic point of view.
of Yen 395,016.
The surplus funds, in excess of capital, now amount to Yen 5,300,000,
:
In reply to a dispatch from the Waitupa with reference to the non-acceptance of notes issued by Chinese Banks in Shanghai by the Foreign Banks, the Doyen of the Diplomatic Body in Peking has, it is reported, informed the Waiwupu that if the Government, will guarantee the Bank notes in question, there would be no difficulty in their acceptance by Foreign Banks, etc.