December 12, 1908-] -
of personal conduct which will, as the advertise- ments say, be useful in every household.
What a romance was concealed in that litigation last week over a sewing machine Romeo, or was he Othello, madly in love with a fascinating opera girl seeks to win her favour and presents her with a sewing machine, None of your gold rings or flashing diamonds. No, a practical, useful gift, which can come in handy by and by. But the course of true love doesn't run smooth. The lady goes away, 80 does the machine, and the lover is left lamen- ting, faced with a bill to remind him of his fascination.
Shades of Lindley Murray! Lord Robert Cecil has asked in the House of Commons why black men die three times as often as yellow men. Colonel Seeley confessed that he did not know, nor could he explain why Chinese com. mit suicide six times as often as the blacks. I give it up too. If anybody had put the ques- tion to me : "which die oftenest-blacks or yellows?" I would unhesitatingly have said yellows, for I know quite a lot of Chinese young men who have buried their fathers or their mothers times out of number.
Apparently a better feeling has been created in local commercial circles by authoritative information that the reports which were in circulation last week of wholesale deportations in connection with the recent riot, were greatly exaggerated. It is true that a few well-known merchants have been deported, but rumour said there were to be a hundred. The rumour is entirely false. I understand that the Govern- ment has no intention of banishing any more unless, of course, there is further lawlessness and violence..
RODERICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG.
The King has been pleased to approve of Senhor Joao Joaquim Leiria as Consul of Portugal at Hongkong and as Consul of Brazil,
Mr. G. A. Woodcock, the secretary of the Sanitary Board, having returned from leave, has taken up duties at the Supreme Court tem- porarily until March. Mr. Woodcock was called to the bar five years ago.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
On the 8th instant the coolie quarters at Blackhead's Point were seen to be ablaze, and in very short time the flames had spread to a matshed covering a stack of coal. The coal burned quickly and it looked as if a serious conflagration was impending. However, the Fire Brigade was summoned from Hongkong and with the additional assistance rendered by the Dock Company's tag, succeeded in subduing the flames. Considerable David Gillies," damage was done, the loss probably amounting to over $2,000.
C
The Colony remains free from communicable disease. Not a single case came to the know- ledge of the Medical Officer of Health last week.
at the Magistracy on the 8th inst. to consider an A meeting of Justices of the Peace was held application from 0. E. Owen for a publican's licence for premises at 30 Elgin Road, Kowloon, under the sign of the Kowloon Hotel. The application was granted. The Magistrates pre- Captain Badeley, and Mr. Bowen Rowlands.
were Mr. J. R. Wood (who presided).
sent
Notification has now been received of the results of the Royal Sanitary Institute examina- tions held at Hongkong in May last. Only one candidate, Mr. Samuel R. Boyd, presented himself for examination in sanitary science as applied to buildings and public works, and he has been granted a certificate. Two candidates sat for examination for inspectors of nuisances Mesars. F. E. Beach and Robert Hudson both of Hongkong, and they are certified, as regards their sanitary knowledge, competent to discharge the duties of inspector of nuisances
Wande
under the Public Health Act 1875.
*
It is interesting evidence of the public appre Country Girl" that on the last three nights ciation of the A.D.C. performance of
A the audiences were larger than on the first three. The most crowded house was on Saturday, the next largest was on Tuesday (the final porformance), the third largest was on Monday, the fourth on Friday, the fifth on Thursday and the first night was actually the smallest, though it did not appear that seating room could be found for another hundred persons. The Country Girl" there- fore met with an amount of support which is quite exceptional, and all who witnessed the performance will agree that it deserved.
richly
4.
was
in-
The
At the Supreme Court on Dec. 9th the Chief An impudent case of snatching was Justice, just before the adjournment for tiffin,restigated at the Magistracy os Dec. 8th. said it would be convenient to stop then. "I complainant, a gun layer on the German cruiser can't go on," he added, "until I get hot water
Fuerst Bismarck." left the German Tavern in pipes. I am half frozen." The Court was
Des Voeux Road about 11 o'clock on Saturday warmer in the afternoon.
and entered a ricsha, He had only gone a little way when he felt a tug at his waistcoat, and on looking down saw that his chain had disappeared but that his watch was still in his, pocket. P.C. Lanigan, who was on duty at the time, saw a coolie following the ricsha, but thinking he was another runner paid no attention until he saw the man leave the ricsha and run under the verandah, practically into his arms. The chain was not found on the coolie. His Worship (Mr. Wood) after hearing the evidence, decided to convict and sentenced the defendant to six months' imprisonment.
The rainfall of the 8th and 9th inst., following the typhoon in the China Sea, must constitute something like a record for December in Hong. kong. The mean rainfall for December for the last twenty years has been 1.03 inches; the maximum 4.10 inches. The total fall on the 8th and 9th inst. was 2.30 inches to 10 a.m.
On December 9th a detective went to the office of "The Query" and arrested Alfred W. Hall, who was described as a reporter, on a charge of forgery and embezzlement at Manila. He was brought before Mr. Kemp at the Magistracy yesterday and remanded until Wednesday next.
Before Mr. J. B. Wood at the Magistracy on Saturday three of the crew of the 8.8. Loongsang were charged with being in unlawful possession of 700 taels of opium, which Was found concealed in the ventilators and on the bridge. His Worship fined one of the defendants $500 and each of the others $250.
Inspector Ritchie, after seventeen years,' ser- vice in the Hongkong Police,has retired from the force on pension and leaves for home to-day, He joined the Edinburgh Police in 1886 and came out to Hongkong in 1891. A very efficient officer, his departure will be regretted by all his colleagues.
A dramatic incident was witnessed in the Supreme Court on Dec. 9. A Chinese was suing for damages for the loss of his wife, and his case had concluded when the solicitor for the other side rose and said "I will now call Li Ting, the real husband of the deceased." The effect was dramatic. The sequel has yet to be heard, but interesting developments may be expected in a case where two men claim to have been
married to the deceased woman coolie,
was
MASONIC.
The installation of officers of the United Service Lodge 1341 E.C. for the ensuing year took place on Tuesday evening. The ceremony conducted by Wor. Bro. T. F. Hough, D.D.G.M., assisted by the District Grand Lodge officers, and the duly invested by Wor. Bro. J. N. Jones:- following were W.M., Wor. Bro. J. N. Jones; I. P. M., Wor.,
Bro. E. C. L. Bro. W. Wolfe; J.W., Bro. O. F. Frost; Lewis ; S.W., Treasurer, Wor. Bro. H. G. Baker; Secretary: Wor. Bor. W. H. Woolley: 8.D., Bro. A. J. Knight; J.D., Bro. C. A. Atkins: Chaplain, Bro. T. W. Martin: Organist, Br. J. C. Pendlebury; D. of C., Bro. W. B. Sutton; Asst. D. of C., Bro. J. W. Adnams; I.G., Bro. G. 8. Hill; Steward, Bro. W J. Lewington; "Asst. Steward, Bro. T. G. Gough; Tyler, Bro. J. Vanstone.
The usual banquet followed, at which about 120 members sat down, under the chairmanship
of Wor. Bro. Jones.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVI
COUNCIL.
Council was held on Dec 10th inthe Connell A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Chamber.
FREDERICK
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOvarnos, Sin K.C.M.G., C.B., D.8.0.
JOHN DEALTEY LUGARD,
H. E. MAJOR-GENERAL R. G. BROADWOOD, C.B., A.C.D., (General Officer Commandidg),
Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G., (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. Mr. W. REES DAVIES, K.C., (Attorney- General).
h
Hon. Mr. A. M. Thomson (Colonial Tron- surer).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G., (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. E. A. IRVING (Registrar- General).
Hon. Mr. F. J. BADELEY, (Capt. Superinten. dent of Police).
Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK, C.M.G. Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT. Hon. Mr. H. A. W. SLADE. Hon. Mr. W. J. GEESSON. Mr. C. CLEMENTI (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the last meeting were read, and confirmed.
FINANCIAL MINUTES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minute (No. 69) and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 19) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, ahd the motion was agreed to.
NEW TERRITORIES SMALL DEBT COURT
ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to empower a Magistrate to hold a Small Debt Court in the New Territories and to regulate the proceedings in relation thereto. In it is desirable doing so he said - Experience has shown that deal with small debts in the New Territories. to enable a magistrate to The powers conferred under the Magistrates
Ordinance
1
of 1890 generally extend to civil debts in the ordinary sense of the term, as they are confined to claims declared by the Ordinance to be civil debts. The question has therefore arisen as to whether oivil debts come within the jurisdiction of a Magistrate in the New Territories. The Bill therefore proposes to give a magistrate jurisdiction to hear and deal with cases summarily. It requires that a defendant do reside or carry on business in any part of the New Territories exclusive of New Kowloon which is defined in Ordinance 6 of 1900. It further requires that action be brought within three years after the cause of action arises. That is after the general principle prevailing in the Statute of Limitations which requires an action to be brought within a definite period of time after the cause of action arises. This Bill creates the necessary machinery for carrying this out and for issuing the process of the court in respect of which any judgment should be given. It em- powers a magistrate if in his opinion the sub- ject of action is of sufficient importance to be dealt with in the Supreme Court to decline to proceed with the action and the plaintiff then will have a right to start de novo on the Sum mary side of the Supreme Court. This is an important provision because having regard to the fact that the amount of claim is limited to $200 it is not proposed in the Bill to grant any magistrate may consider of sufficient importance right of appeal. Questions may arise which the
to engage the attention of the Supreme Court and questions with which he would not be justified in dealing summarily he is given by this Bill power to refer the matter to the Supreme Court. He is also empowered to re- view any judgment or decision "given by him.