July 19, 1909.]
TRANSFER OF LICENCE REFUSED.
A meeting of the Justices of the Peace was called for on the 12th inst. at the Magistracy to consider an application from R. H. Whittaker for a licence to sell by retail intoxicating liquors at No. 1 Queen's Road East under the name of the Victoria Hotel in exchange for and on surrendering the licence now held by him in respect of the Praya East Hotel. Mr. F. A. Hazeland presided, and there were also present Mr. F. J. Badeley (captain superintendent of police), Mr. J. R. Wood, and Mr. C. D.
Melbourne.
Mr. Barlow, of Messrs. Goldring, Barlow and Morrell, who appeared for the applicant, said that the application was before the Justices on June 25th, when Mr. Hooper was present. Mr. Barlow found that what he then said with respect to Mr. Hooper's appearance was not correct. Mr. Hooper said he had an objection to make but he would make it in private,
which was sufficient reason to invalidate the
WES
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL,
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
OFFICIAL CHANGES.
June 30th.
There have been quite a number of important official events recently. The chief, perhaps, is the return to his duties of H.E. Na Tung Na Tung is the Manchu successor of the Chinese
character and calibre from the former President Yuan Shih Kai, and is a man of very different
of the Japanese, and is understood to be in of the Waiwupu. He is wholly in the hands dread as to the coming negotiations with the Japanese Minister on the Fakumen Railway; Chientao and other questions. It is expected that he will sacrifice Chinese interests and that there will be trouble in consequence for the be on his trial, so to speak, during the coming whole régime. Even the Prince-Regent will
months.
DEATH OF THE METROPOLITAN VICEROY.
You will have received news of the death of appointment of Viceroy Tuan of Nanking as H. E. Viceroy Yang of Chihli and of the his successor. I can, however, give you some details that have not appeared in print. H. E. Yang began to suffer from Bright's disease Shantung. At Tsinanfu, however, he seems to more than two years ago when Governor of have limited himself to Chinese doctors and Chinese medicines. This resulted in the disease becoming chronic instead of being stopped European medical skill
might have been
had competent been invoked. I pity that such
detail because it seems sacrificed at the early age of fifty, when its a life should have been
Regent, and was by the agreement of all owner was in high favour with the Prince- marked out for future high advancement.
as it
mention this
8
Yang came to Tientsin and did well-better than anyone anticipated, especially of oue following so distinguished a predecessor as Yuan Shih Kai. But the insidious disease was present all the time. Yang had both domestic and public worries.
meeting. What he suggested of course was that Mr. Hooper should have made his complaint in public 80 Whittaker would know what he was up against. that Mr. His client, he held, did not get a proper hearing. If sufficient objection had been properly brought forward and made in public of course his client would have been satisfied.
That was the reason why he made this second application and he trusted to getting a fair hearing. There a slight difference in the form of the application, but that was necessary if he had to petition the Governor. As he said before, one of the reasons for the applica- tion was that the traffic had been diverted from the existing premises, which were unsatis factory on account of the water and mud which gathered on the floors. The general convenience of the public would be met in the new premises and he submitted that the Justices should grant the application. The licencee was entitled to consideration. All licencees of course paid a heavy licence fee and the public also were entitl- ed to consideration. The new premises were more suitable, and unless there was some valid objection he submitted that the Justices should allow the transfer. He believed his client was the only British licencee except the Hongkong Yang was Governor of Shantung, and, coming Before he succeeded Yuan Shih Kai, Viceroy Hotel, and while he did not enter into the merits of any particular case his client suggested that chau and elsewhere in that province, and with much into contact with the Germans at Kiao- other licencees got more facility for moving other foreigners not having much communica their licence. The first application was refused and so far as he knew there
tion, he naturally acquired a German bias. He objection except that which Mr. Hooper said
is certainly the most pro-German Viceroy there he had to bring forward and which he presumed concession to build the northern section of the aver was in Chihli. The Germans got the he had brought forward. In conclusion he pointed out that the traffic had gone to another
Tientsin Pukou Railway, and naturally made place and his client was losing money.
the most of it from their own standpoint. The Hel hoped, however, to make good in the new pre-a German-speaking official who married
Director of this section was Taotai Li Te Shun, mises. He has had the opinion of his customers German lady. The merchants and gentry of who are of opinion that the new premises would Tientsin and Chihli impeached him for cor- be more suitable.
ruption with the result that an official was sent from investigations, the outcome being a recommenda- the capital to Tientsin to make
To this recommendation effect was promptly tion that Li Te Shun should be dismissed. given. This culmination produced Viceroy Yang's seizure. •
was
no
The Justices considered their decision in camera, and when Mr. Barlow was called in he was informed that the Justices could not see
their way to accede to the application. Their objection was to the locality. They had objection to the applicant.
THE ESCAPED PRISONER RECAPTURED.
ATTEMPTS TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
no
The Chinese prisoner who made the sensa- tional escape from Victoria Jail about a week ago has at last been recaptured, through information supplied, we understand, by another prisoner. It appears that the fugitive, before leaving the jail, told another man where he intended going should he be successful in eluding the police. This second prisoner, after keeping the secret for a week, at length yielded to a desire to make it known, the result being that the fugitive was captured in a house at West Point. When placed in the waiting cell at the Central Station, the prisoner attempted to strangle himself with his coat, and on being relieved of this by the police he made a second attempt with his trousers. After this Inspector Smith placed a lakong on guard over him until the man was charged before Mr. J. R. Wood at the Magistracy on Saturday with escaping from jail. When he heard the evidence, His Wor- ship sentenced the accused to a further term of six months' imprisonment with hard labour.
а
55
doctors' prescriptions. On the Friday before his death he defied the European doctors altogether, getting up and sitting on the side of his bed with his feet dangling on the floor.
That finished him. He fell back uncon- scious and remained so, The family were glad then to have the European doctors, who had been They came, but it was too late. They kept him banished from the apartment for two days. alive on oxygen till Sunday morning, but he was dying all the time, and suddenly expired about
8 o'clock.
Yang had no connection with your district, but his death affects it, as it has involved the removal of Viceroy Chang from Canton to
survived a long or a short time. Nanking. It had been obvious that Yang's official
career was terminated whether he
THE NEW RAILWAY DIRECTOR. Director of the Tientsin-Pukou Railway has An excellent successor to Li Te Shun as
Peking Kalgan Railway, Taotai Jeme Tien been appointed in the Chief Engineer of the Yow, who has constructed the Peking-Kalgan foreign engineer whatever. line himself without the assistance of any the by, is now completed, and will be opened This line, by
for traffic for its whole length_next month.
A "PUBLIC SERVANT" DEFINED.
Here are some entirely new and perfectly authenticated particulars. After the anxious day of the Li Te Shun affair, H. E. had dinner. but was feeling ill at
ease. His kidney disorder was worse, and it affected his stomach and digestive system. Yang would find himself and he would sing. So he ordered in relief in music. He was an excellent musician his orchestra and started singing. All know the familiar falsetto. Yang was extraordinarily effective in this method of vocal exercise. He went on till he got to a passage of very high notes, and pansion to get out.
these required some chest ex- suddenly became faint and dizzy. He sank into While thus singing he
and became speechless. Doctors both European a chair, and immediately lost the use of one side and Chinese were sent for, and under the care of the European he was brought slowly but surely on the way to recovery from the stroke. But the stroke aggravated the Bright's disease. and this he would not allow the European doc- of his family favoured the Chinese doctors, some tors to treat properly. Both he and members of whom were qualified and some of whom were quacks. He swallowed large quantities of Chi- nese nostra and would not take the European
A case of more than ordinary interest has
watchman was charged on three charges with been engaging the attention of Mr. Hazeland at the Magistracy for some time. A bailiff's accepting bribes from three men, namely, $3, $1 and 31, he being then a public servant. Mr. W. E. L. Shenten, of Messrs. Deacon, Looker and Deacon, appeared in support of the prosecu- tion and Mr. Leo d'Almada e Castro appeared for the defendant.
Ө
The case, which came on for hearing last week, was concluded yesterday afternoon. The evidence of the prosecution was to the effect that on the afternoon of the 25th June last the bailiff and two watchmen came to their premises 332, Queen's Road West, second floor, and distrained for rent. lodgers
The complainants were on the premises and they insisted upon
the tenant of the floor. Defendant, it was said, no money to their immediate landlord, who was their right to remove their e ffects as they owed
asked for the three sums of money mentioned examined at length by Mr. d'Almada, who set up as tea money. The complainants were cross- the defence (1) that the defendant was not a public servant within the meaning of the public servant, on the evidence he did not Ordinance, (2) that assuming that he was a take the bribes with a view to their influencing his conduct as defendant received his salary from the Suitors' a public servant, and that as
Fund Ordinance he did not receive his salary from the revenue of the Government, and there-
(3) a total denial of the defence. fore could not be considered a public servant;
After hearing the evidence his Worship gave
thought he should first state what he considered his decision on July 12. He said that before proceeding with the merits of the case he a good definition of public servant. He had been guided in that opinion by having consulted one who was well versed in such matters and who was a reliable authority. The definition was
one who performs functions of the Crown except military and naval As the defendant had signed a bond with the Government to secure his services as watchman his Wor
L.
ship was bound to decide that the defen. of the Ordinance. On the merits of the case he dant was a public servant within the meaning
strong enough to convict, there being several discrepancies in the evidence of the complain- ants, and he must therefore order his discharge. good reason for incurring the expense of the He emphasised the fact that the landlord had
many previous occasions when distraint was prosecution, as he had reason to believe that on
furniture and effects never covered the rent dus made for rent the proceeds of the sale of the
came to the conclusion that the evidence was not
to him.
Formerly in command of the Boston Steam- ship Company's steamer Shawmut, Captain E. V. Roberts on June 11th took over the com- Captain Charles Austin, who has been her mand of the Hill liner Minnesota in place of
master for several years.