May 1, 1909.]
His Lordship said he would give Mr. d'Almada leave to move that the receiving order be set aside.
The Official Receiver said that he also objected because there were no assets.
The matter was adjourned.
HONGKONG VOLUNTEER DINNER.
The officers and men of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps held their annual dinner at the head quarters of the company on Saturday night, Lieut.-Colonel Chapman presiding. He was supported by Captain Thompson, Captain Lammert, Captain Amstrong, Captain Forsyth, Lieutenants Northcote, Ross and Kennett, An excellent dinner was served and "The King" having been honoured tobacco was produced. Lieut.-Colonel Chapman proposed the toast of H.E. The Governor, who, in responding, con- gratulated the corps on its efficiency and promised to further its interests to the best of his ability. "The Guests " were also honoured, and Sir Henry Berkeley, res- ponding, urged the citizens of Hongkong to become members of the Volunteer Corps. The toast "Our Commandant followed, and was suitably acknowledged by Lieut.-Col. Chapman who strongly appealed to the Corps to maintain its efficiency, observing that it was all very well coming forward in time of war with enthusiasm, but in that event, the trained man was vastly superior to the untrained man.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Amongst the invited guests were Sir Henry Berkeley, Captains Park and Branch, and Messrs. George Grimble, W. A. Dowley, Robert Mitchell, Otto Kong Sing, F. Lammert, E. A. M. Williams, W. Clement Drew, H. F. Campbell, G. Moffat, W. J. Hansen, E. B. Ayris, F. Elphinstone and F. Nelson. H.E. the Governor distributed the prizes to the winners of the shooting competitions as follows:-
T
score
No. 2 Coy. First Prize for gross aggregate- Sergt. E. A hapman. First nett Lient. Andrews. Second prize, aggregate score, Corporal Crawford.
Third prize, aggregate score, Gunner Catchick. Fourth prize aggregate score, Sergt. Crapnell.
No. 4 Company.-First aggregate score. Sergt. Major Rodger. Second aggregate score, Gunner Barnett. Third aggregate score. Sergt, Grimshaw. First Range, Gunner $ Miller Second Range, Gunner Young.
MINUTE BY THE GOVERNOR.
The following minute has been addressed by H. E the Governor to "the principal employers and others
It is my earnest desire that the Hongkong Volunteer Corps should both by its numbers and by its efficiency be worthy to rank as an integral part of the defensive force of this Colony.
With regard to numbers the total strength stands at only 285. and I take this opportunity of appealing to the leading British citizens in this Colony to do their utmost both directly as regards themselves and their employes and indirectly by their infinence and the weight of
their opinion to endeavour to increase this number to a figure more in proportion to the British manhood of the Colony. I hope that steps recently taken may result in an increase of the number of Government Officials who are Volunteers.
time for preparation will be allowed when the crisis comes, and that the crisis itself will in all probability be sudden and unexpected. Those who have most stake in the Colony will be those who will lose most in case of a raid by hostile forces, and it is a measure of self-interest to do all that is possible to strengthen the defences,
In his report upon the Volunteer Corps for 1908-1909 the General Officer Commanding re- marks as follows-
As regards efficiency, it has been my aim since I have been in Hongkong to secure for the Hongkong Volunteer Corps a recognised place in the scheme of defence of the Colony to impress upon the Community that the Corps exists for a serious purpose, involving sacrifices of no small extent, both upon the individuals composing it and upon their employers.
The exigencies of the time demand a real sacrifice, and I am myself inclined to deprecate the multiplication of artificial incentives to effort in the shape of Cups and Prizes. A limited number of expert marksmen is not sufficient; we require in addition a body of serious men imbued with the vital necessity of defending this place on the outbreak of war and efficiently trained by a prolonged sacrifice of well-earned leisure in peace time, so that they may take their place in the fighting ranks when necessity may arise. We are all aware that in modern conditions but little
"I recommend that future camps should be held in the New Territories for a week or sight days and that endeavours should be made to get employers to allow men to be present continuously for at least three or four days of that time. If such a camp were run lines which bore some resemblance to service conditions an economy could be effect ed and the training improved." Upon this the Commandant of the Corps
observes:-
(n
"Since the last camp I have been consider- ing the possibilities of holding future camps in the New Territories, and see no insuperablo obstacle other than the difficulty of members obtaining sufficient leave from their employ. ment to enable them to attend the camp for a useful period. It is hardly to be expected that firms in a place like Hongkong could follow, to the full extent, the patriotic example of a large number of home firms who are giving Volunteers three weeks' leave each year to attend camp; but I see no reason why they should not follow this example to a modified extent, and am of opinion that an appeal from His Excellency the Gov- ernor to the various firms pointing out the vital importance to the Colony of an efficient and sufficient Volunteer Force would result in their being able to spare a portion of their Volunteer employees for half the week at a time. It would be impossible to hold the camp in the New Territories if the men had to return to their business in Hong kong during the day."
I appeal to you to render this proposal practi- cable by granting the requisite facilities to those in your employ, and I appeal to you also once more to do all in your power to increase the numbers of the Corps.
F. D. LUGARD,
Governor, &c.
Hongkong, 2'st April, 1909.
from such members for the purpose of protection of the character, status and interests of the solicitors practising in the Colony of Hong- kong, the promotion of honourable practice, the settlement. of disputed points of practice, which must necessarily arise, and the decision of all questions of professional usage on courtesy in conducting legal business of alikinds. And further for the consideration of all general questions affecting the interests of the profession at large, or the alteration or administration of the law. The accounts for the years ending 31st December, 1907, and 31st December, 1908, were before members. It would be seen that there was a credit balance at the bank up to the end of the year 1908 to the extent of $258.96 which was in every way satisfactory. Every member of the legal profession should, if he had the interests of his profession at heart become a member of the society. At the meeting held on the 15th April last Mr. Hodgson was appointed Hon. Secretary of the Society by the committee and he expressed his willingness to act in that capacity. At the same meeting Mr. D. Wilkinson was chosen as Vice-President of the ociety, and he was a member of the committee. The other members of the committee for the past year were Mr. John Hastings, Mr. Scott Harston, Mr. H. W. Looker, Mr. Dowley and Mr. Daniel. Mr. Grist was appointed during Mr. Wilk- inson's absence but he had now gone home. Mr. Deacon was appointed in the place of Mr. Looker during the latter's absence and Mr. Gedge in the place of Mr. G. C. C. Master, Mr. Bowley and Mr. Danied retired this year and did not seek re-election, and therefore the men- bers for the year at present were Messrs. G. D. Wilkinson (Vice-President), John Hastings, H J. Gedge, J. Scott Harston. F. B. Descon (until Mr. Looker's return). There remained two places to be filled, one to be a managing e'erk and to be ballotted for by the managing clerks present, and the other to be ballotted for by all members.
Mr. GEDGE proposed, and Mr. HASTINGS seconded the motion for the adoption of the report and accounts.
Carried unanimously.
On a ballot which succeeded the following solicitors were elected members of the society: Messrs. H. L. Dennys, Sr., W. G. L. Shenton, Hing Kam Hing and r. Reader Harris.
Mr. H. L. Dennys Br., was elected a member of committee, and Mr P. M. Hodgson was THE INCORPORATED LAW SOCIETY elected in the stead of Mr. Daniel.
OF HONGKONG.
t the annual general meeting of the the upreme Court Library yesterday afternoon. Incorporated Law Society of Hongkong, held at
the following report was submitted:-
ending 31st December, 1908, set out that since The report of the committee for the year the last general meeting the society has to record the retirement of Mr. Godfrey
C.
Master who has left the Colony Mr. aster was the late President, and the society owed much to him in its infancy. An unhappy event deprived the
Society of another member in the late Mr. Reginald Harding, and they had been shocked to learn the untimely death of yet another member, in the late r. O. D. Thomson, one who was re- pected and held in esteem by all members of the profession.
The committee expressed its deepest sympathy to his widow and family in their sad bereavement. The society was formed in 1907 in the belief, which had to some extent been justified, that it would prove to be of very considerable benefit to all members of the legal profession in the Colony inasmuch as it could properly be expected that all re- presentations made by the committee, chosen by the members of the society, would be received and regarded with the consideration due to a body of men experienced in the ways, and as to the needs of the Colony, and having the inter- ests of the profession and of their clients at The necessity, or advisability, of the continued existence of a Law Society in this Colony was apparent. There were пот, nearly 50 members of the legal profession enrolled as Solicitors. ttorneys and Proctors of the Supreme Court of Hongkong practising in the Colony, and it was obvious that these should continue to be a governing body formed
heart.
STEAMER ASHORE AT LINTIN.
the On Monday morning
Hamburg Amerika Linie's steamer Scandia, inward bound from Europe, grounded at the southern end of Lintin, about 20 miles from Hongkong, during the fog. The second officer came ashore and reported the matter at the office, and subsequently the tag David Gillies and several lighters went
out to her assistance.
The Japanese steamer Soshu-maru also reported the accident, the Scandia having signalled her to do so. aptain Sugi, of the Joshu, states that the shore thereabouts is "all rock," and he thinks the ship would be heavily damaged.
The steamer was refleated and towed to Hong- kong on Thursday by the H.A.L. Nicomedia after seven o'clock. As soon as possible the and the tug David Gillies arriving shortly
cargo will be discharged and the Scandia will be docked for repairs, which as far as can be ascertained at present, are not very extensive.
The new Bishop of Singapore, the Rev. C. J. Ferguson-Davie, has worked in India since 1899. After graduating at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in 1894, he went to Leeds Clergy_chool,_pass ing thence in 1896 to the curacy of St. Paul's
Preston Three years later he became domestic chaplain to the Bishop of Lahore, and sub- In sequently' S.P.G. missionary at Rewari, 19 7 he removed to Rawal Pindi, his present station. When home on furlough in 1904 he won the King's Silver Medal at Bisley, being the only clearyman to have done so. Years ago he was a familar figure at Bisley. and shot for Cambridge University and in various N.R.A. matches.