+
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Mrs. David, and the committee thought it might be handed to the Shield Committee for presentation to the runners-up in the Shield Competition. He was sure he was only ex. pressing the feelings of members when he said they owed a very great deal to their genial and energetic hon. secretary, Mr. Garrett (applause); likewise to the captains of teams, the hon. treasurer, and to all who had taken part in the management of the Club (applause). If there were no questions to answer, he would move the adoption of the report and accounts.
Several questions were raised, but the CHAIR MAN informed those seeking information to apply again when they come to miscellaneous
business.
Mr. MEAD seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously.
The election of officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows:-President, Hon. Mr. W. J. Gresson; Rugby captain, Mr. F. C. Hall; Association captain, Mr. W. M. Weston; Treasurer, Mr. F. J. Howell; Secretary, Mr. H. L. Garrett;
Members of Committee, Messrs. E. F. Aucott
F. Browne, P. W. Goldring, E. Humphreys,
G. D. Mollwraith and W. B. Stantan.
It was agreed that Rugby caps and Associa tion badges should be awarded to the best players in such teams.
Mr. MEAD said he had been asked to put a question to the meeting in case of a challenge from Shanghai, He wished to know whether the interport team would be selected from all olabs in the Colony, or from the Hongkong -Football Club P
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
A BOLICITOR'S SUICIDE.
A profound sensation was created in the city on Sept. 27th when it became known that Mr. Reginald Harding had taken his life, and the of mournful interest to quite a large oirole. Fe fragic end of the young solicitor was the topic had not been seen much of late but no one would have thought that he was likely to commit suicide. He had no financial difficulties. As a matter of fact he is stated to have had several thousand pounds bequeathed to him quite recently and whatever troubles he may have had they were not apparent to his friends,
The circumstances are simple. Deceased had been living in the Connaught House Hotel for some little time and had kept rather closely to his room of late. Yesterday morning at half- past seven the report of a pistol was heard and when the manager and others rushed to his room they found Mr. Harding lying on a rattan chair on the verandah with a bullet wound in his right temple and a smoking pistol at his side, The bullet had passed right through the
head and
found WAS
On the
finor. A
glance was sufficient to show that he was dead and when the medical men arrived later they stated that death must bave been instantaneous. The body, which was partly dressed, was removed to the mortuary.
t is known that prior to his death a woman was in his room, as it was her shrieks following the pistol shot, which told that something of an unusually serious import had occurred. She was at first qui'e hysterical bat was afterwards quietened. One report suggested that deceused Mr. DANIEL-Will Shanghai play a repre- had been privately married at Canton but of
sentative team, or the Shanghai Club?
The CHAIRMAN-The whole Settlement. \presume they rent a representative team down
to us?
A Member-No. They were all members of the Shanghai Football Club.
a number of
THE
{October 8, 1908.
BUILDING COLLAPSE AT
YAUMATI.
THE INQUEST.
The inquiry into the destha of siż Chinese brought about by the collapse of house No. 36, Portland Street, Yanmati, during the typhoon of 27th-28th July, we continued before KF, J. - H. Kemp and just_the_Magistracy on Sept. 29th. Mr. FL. Bowley, Crown Boliciter, represented the Crows.
Mr. H. E. Haggard, assistant engineer in the Public Works Department, was recalled. He stated that Mr. Topker inspected No. 36, Portland Street on November 3rd, 1932, after receipt of a letter written by Messrs. Palmer and Turned to the Director of Public Works. The tie rods Fuggested by Mr. Tooker were put in and on that gentleman's Instruction on February 18th, 1903, witness issued a certificate that the houses had been completed in accordance with the requirements of the Ordinance. Until the typhoon this year witness had
after
nothing more to do with these houses. the 12th of this month he visited the house in question, and made a plan showing the condition they were in. There were straps along the party walls and end walls, their object being to tie the end walls and back walls together. ordinary tie rods. The whole of the verandah These straps were absolutely different to
and part of the wall was down at the corner houses; also all the root from the front to the first cross wall. The back yard and kitchens were intact but all the floors of Nos. 35, 37 and 39 had fallen in. There was practically no bonding front wall, Witness thought the party wall of No. in the brickwork between the party walls and the
35 fell into Pitt Street. The flank and oross wall and arowed no binding. The flank wall was of 35 ppeared to be cracked at the janotion
built of Canton red bricks of fair quality, but the mortar was bad. Witness did not find any the youngest son of the late Mr. Joseph Hard-adhering to the fallen bricks. Cracks were noticeable in those portions of the wall still standing. In the party wall between Nos. 39 and 41 there were a considerable number of orsoka
that there is no confirmation.
The weapon which Mr. Harding used against himself was a Browning automatic revolver.
On the table in his room was found a letter
addressed to the Registrar of the Supreme Court.
Deceased, who was about 33 vears of age, was
proprietors and founders of the St Anne's Well Brewery Company, Exeter. His father's resi- dence was at Northbrook, a suburb of the
Riobards and Thomas, wine merobants and
The CHAIEMAN-It seems to me that this is rather a difficult question to answer, but I pre- sume if we have enough members of our own we might as well play & Hongkong Footballing, of the well known firm of Messrs, Harding; Club team. If we have not, personally I don't see any reason why we should not go outside.
Mr. MORFEY proposed that the matter be lefe to the discretion of the committee.
The CHAIRMAN-There are considerations affecting the composition of the team that will go, and I think the committee will do its best to elect as good a team possible. If the invitation is worded so that we can send only a Club team we shall have to confine ourselves to the Club. If we are allowed a certain amount of latitude and it is easier for us to send a team including outside members, we shall go outside.
88
The matter was left in the hands of the committee.
It was agreed that the oup presented by Mrs. David should be presented to the runners up in the Shield Competition, and that the matter of forming a Rugby League should be left in the hands of the captain of the Ragby team.
The six-aside competitions will fake place as heretofore, and entries for the same close next Wednesday.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.
Lord and Lady Northcote arrived in Hong. kong on Sept. 28 by the "Kumano Maru". Lord Northoote is returning from Australia where he has been a very popular governor of the Com- monwealth. After the steamer had dropped anchor the N.Y.K.'s launoh, with Sir Frederick Lagard's aide-de-camp, Mr. T. Funatsu, Japan. 886 Consul, and Mr. B. Mori, representing the Nippon Yasen Kaisha, appro ached and greeted the distinguished visitors. A reception was held at Government House last night in honour of the visitors. It is under. stood that Lord and Lady Northcote will pro- ceed to Japan by the same steamer, and con- tinue the journey to Vancouver on board a C. P. E, steamer.
Baron Hayashi, accompanied by Baroness and Miss Hayashi, were passengers on the "Tamba Maru," which arrived here yesterday. They are bound for Marseilles en route to Germany, where the ambassador represents his country at Berlin,
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Cathedral City. Mr. Harding came to Hong kong some four or five years to Messrs. Ewens and Harston, of which firm he became a partner. He severed his connection with the firm last year and set up in practice for himself.
The funeral took place at Happy Valley on Tuesday evening.
KULANGSU MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.
Minutes of a meeting of the Council, held at the Board Room, on the 8th September 1908.
Present:-Messrs. W. H. Wallace (Chair. man), J. 8. Fenwick, Huang Ts'am chew, W. Kruss, 8. Okuyam, the Health Officer and the
coretary,
THE REGISTRATION OF DEATHS.
Mr. Huang Ta'so-chow enquired whether the present regulations regarding the registering of deaths and the issue of burial permits, could not be made less stringent. It was explained | to bim that the regulations were framed specially in the interests of the Chinese them selves, and it was only by insisting on these regulations being strictly carried out that the Con neil could hope to cope sucessfully with the spread of infections diseases, and more especially the present epidemic of cholers,
As regards allowing burials to take place in places other than at Lai-choo-ob, the Council was always prepared to consider special cases, providing application be made in sufficient time, but it must be remembered that in infec. tious cases early interment was desirable.
POLICE RETURN.
The Superintendent of Police reported that the following cases had been dealt with at the Mized Coust since the last meeting :- Sum monses-Breach of agreement 1 assault 4; illegally retaining possession of a house 1; breach of new opium regulations 4; illegal arrest 1; contempt of Court 1; failing to report a death I; breach of the conditions of a theatre permit 2; allowing pigs and cattle to stray 1. Summary Arrests, Committing a nuisance 2; escaping from lawful custody breach of new opium regulations 3; assault 2.
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Do you consider the defects in materials and
workmanship which you have mentioned would contribute to the fall of the houses ?—Yes,
Since 1902 have the requirements with regard to walls of 'the dimensions of this one been iDorested P-Yes, under the new ordinance.
Mr.J. Hutchings, inspector of buildings, mid he was in obarge of the wstern portion of Honglong.
Mr. Dibbs was in charge of Kowloon until he went home on leave on April 1st. Then witness had the western half of Ho Kowloon added to his Hongkong work. visited the buildings on July 28th, about noon, and gave orders for the pulling down of portion of the building which he considered dangerous. He also had the corner of the verandah of 35 shored up. The portions tinted red of the plans in Court had all fallen when he visited the place. The brick work in the flank wall of 35 was not well bonded, while the mortal used was bad. Most of the bricks which had fallen were clean. If the mortar had been good witness would have expected to find the greater portion in blocks. He thought the collapse started with the flank wall, and that brought down the rest of the building. The foundations of the buildings were very weak, and a settlement was probably the principal cause of the orsoks in the walls. After áve maximum years, mortar should be at its strength.
Mr H. W. Bird, a partner in the firm of Messrs. Palmer and Turner, architects, 'said he had been connected with the firm for 16 years. He had no partnership agreement. The notion of July 16th, 1900, regarding them buildings was signed by Mr.Turner, and a subsequent one bore Mr. Palmer's signature. The plan produced was prepared in the office of Messrs. Palmer and Tarner. His firm was employed by the owners to design the houses and superviso construction. The contract was dated 25th September, 1900. Witness could not my who prepared the specifications. The joontractors in the original contract were four men trading as Sam Kee, Sam Kes did not complete the
It was taken over be the Sai contract. Shing Hing Kee Co., of which Li Chuk and Lak
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