CORRESPONDENCE.
THE DECIMAL SYSTEM.
{TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS.**]
21
Si-Your leader of the 9th inst entitled "A Necessary Reform" and bearing on the above subject, should be of general interest at this time, when so many of our old rule of thumb"
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15TF, 1816.
THE WEST RIVER COLLISION
CASE.
THE QUESTION OF FAIRWAY.
Sitting in Admiralty Juridiction, the Chief Justice (Sir William Rees Davies) heard counsel in debate on the question of fairway in the action in which the Shut On Steamship Company claimed $100,000 from the Standard Oil Company for damage resulting from a collision
between their steamer Shui On and the defendants' lighter Ruth in the West River on the night of January 15th, 1915.
It will be recalled that the action arose out of the Shui On running into the Rath, which had sunk, and that the plaintiffs alleged that the latter exhibited no lights and was lying in the fairway of the river.
methods are likely to go into the melting pot. Any step towards internationalisa tion of standards ought to be welcomed by all who have the future peace of the world at heart, and the decimal systems of coinage are obviously so much easier to work with than our English standard that the universal adoption of decimal weights, measures and coinage would, at Bral sight, appear to be an unalloyed
Evidence was given at considerable blessing. That such, however, is not length at a previous bearing in the spring exactly the case will be at once apparent and a judgment was subsequently issued to anyone studying the discussions which
by the Chief Justice, in which his Lord- have taken place from time to time in ship decided that the Fath, which was the engineering publications regarding
partly submerged, was not showing the the general question of a change from our present system of linear measure requisite lights. On the question of fair menta to the metric system. These discus-way his Lordship desired to bear for ther argument, and the present hearing sions show that, so far as the engineering |
was fixed for that purpose. workshop in England and America is
Accompanying his Lordship on the concerned, the difficulties in the way of such a change are very great indeed Bench was Commander CW, Beckwith, An article in the September 7th issue.N., sitting as Naval Assessor.
of Machinery on this subject illustrates the number of small tools and guages (about eighty) used in manufacturing one small part of a sewing machine,
, the needle bar. clamp guide.
All
these expensive accessories are used to
take this small part in order that it may be produced entirely by a semi-skilled
The Counsel engaged were Mr. E.. H. Sharp, K.C., and. Mr. C. G. Alabaster (instructed by Mr. Russ, of Mr. J. I Gardiner's office) for plaintiffs; and Mr. Eldon Potter and Mr. F. C. Jenkin instructed by Mr. C. D. Wilkinson, of Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist) for the defendants.
HONGKONG MAGISTRACY.
A CHOP OF OPIUM CASES,
KEEPING AN OFIUM DIVAN... Before Mr. Wood-yesterday, seven Chinese appeared on a charge of keeping or using an opium divan at No. 159, Des Vaux Road West.
PLAGUE RATS IN HONGKONG.
STARTLING REPORT BY MEDICAL OFFICER.
INTIMATIONS
LANE,
At yesterday's meeting of the Hong- kong Sanitary Board the Medical Officer (Dr. Woodman) reported that during the weeks ending October 28th and Nov-
law on the matter.
The prisoners pleaded ignorance of the ember 4th, 2,404 and 2,319 rats respective
ly were caught in Victoria and Kowloom. Of the rats caught during the week ond- ing November 4th, no less than eleven were found to be plague infected, ten of GENTLEMEN'S OUTFITTING DEPT.
The keeper of the divan was fined $100, or, in default, six weeks' hard Inbour, and the others, who were merely patronis $2 each, or fourteen ing the premises, days' hard labour,
- IN_REPAYMENT OF A LOAN, A Chinese was charged at the same
teeks of opium dross, which was not the Court with having in his possession 7
result of smoking Government prepared opium,'
them being found in Victoria,
Mr. Bowry asked what were the dis tricte in which the infected rodents were found,
Dr. WOODMAN replied that there was
three in each of districts 8 and 9, and one in each of districts 2, 4, 7 and 10, one in district 12, Kowloom.
The PRESIDENT (Mr. Tratman), coin-
about to undertake a general rat disia- menting on the report, said they were
fecting compaign on the Hongkong side of the harbour, and, probably, in Kow- loop.
· INCONVENIENT POULTRY
STALLS,
Blue Fannel steamer, which arrived sons The accused said he went aboard a
days ago, and there met a friend who had borrowed money from hi
him.
Accused naked for "epayment and his friend gave him a parcel of opium dross, which he had brought from England, and said he might sell it to recover the amount of the loan. Accused was on shore in the act of selling it when he was arrested,
In reply to the Magistrate, accused said he was a fruit bawker in Hongkong.causing an obstruction, and were a great
three months' hard labour,
A fine of $150 was imposed; in default, nuisance to the neighbourhood. De kag
gested that they should be moved to a more convenient situation,
AMONG HIS CLOTHES, Mr. Hazeland hud before him, the
With regard to a minute by the Pre- sident relative to poultry licences in Li Sing and Ko-Shing streets, Mr. Chan.
CRAWFORD & Co.
NEW STYLES IN
LINCOLN & BENNETT'S
FELT
CELEBRATED
and STRAW
HATS.
Kai Ming minuted that such stalls were FELT HATS IN SEVERAL SHADES OF BROWN,
A sul-committee, consisting of the Hon.
Chinese cook on board the steamer Fu Director of Public Works, Messrs Bow- Isen, on a charge of having in his posses-ley, Ng Ilon Taze and Chan Kai Ming, was appointed to consider the matter, sion 10 tsels of prepared opium. The opium was discovered in accused's hox and to frame a scheme for the removal
workman and to ensure that it will referred, to the evidence of the experts in the forecastle, and he admitted it was of the stalls elsewhere,
Mr. Sharp, in the course of his address,
including Captain Mackechnie, Lieut. Daly, R.N.R., and the various Chinese pilots, by all of whom it was agreed that there was a safe depth of water in which to navigate at the time of the collision. Mr. Sharp then referred to articles 1,
his when questioned.
A fine of $1,000 was imposed, with the alternative of 9 months bard labour,
FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE HARBOUR,
INQUEST.
KT
PUBLIC WORKS.
Arising out of a question by ̈ Mr. Bowley regarding the estimates for Public Works, and the reason why cer- tain works had been postponed, the Pre- sident said that certain works had been
venting Collisions at Sea, and laid
postponed owing to the fact that the special stress on Nes. 13 and 20 as being.
money already appropriated for public entirely applicable to the present casc.
works was considered to be absolutely: Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Hazeland, necessary and of pressing importance. He contended that the definition of a coroner, held an inquiry into the circum-Other works had to stand over until a fairway, as cited in the case of the stances. attending the drowning of a mere opportune time. Blucheit (where the circumstances were Chinese woman named Ho Sum in the
when finished, be interchangeable with all other similar parts and that it will exactly replace any worn or broken needle ber glamp guide without any skilled labour being required to fit it in place. Many millions of pounds worth of these small tools and guages are held in stock4. 11 and 29 of the Regulations for Pre- by engineering works in England and Americe, and the introduction of the metric system would mean starting at the beginning and accumulating a new set of these; and a century would not see the end of the confusion and expense which might her few such a change All old drawings would have to be mark in both metric and inch sizes, and the facility with which a draughtsman cạn scale his drawing down to one half, one quarter, or one eighth size would be lost. This latter argument brings back to my recollection an incident that occurred at school when the headmaster once took our
in similar to those in thin The following gendergr
the
Jose Souza, Eric Grant Smith, and Jose Candido D'Almeida,
in which it is safe for vessels of modeled as a juzy Messrs. Wilhelmino Juno, rate draught to navigate" was correct one and had never been chal- lenged in the Courts. In these circum- stances the defendants were undoubtedly under an obligation to exhibit two red and one white lights when lying where
Dr. McFarlane, Medical Officer in charge of the Public Mortuary, deponed that on October 28th he conducted a
Those present at the meeting were Mr.
W Ezatman-
Col Crisp,
(Secretary for Chine
Mr. W. Chatham (Director of Public Works), Messrs. F. B. L. Bowley, P. W. Goldring, Chan Kai Ming, and Ng Hon Taze, with Dr. Woodman (Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. W. Bowen Row-
class for mathematics and explained to us they were, but the plaintiffs would have 208-mortem examination of the body of lands (Secretary),
a Chinese woman, who was identified as
Ho Sum by her sister and mother-in-law. Death was due to drowning.
Alfred Archibald Birnie, master of the Shun Lee, deponed that on the 27th Octo- her, he was on the bridge at about 12.10 p.m. when he noticed a sumpan, which was roxed by two women. It was going right across his bow. He stopped and went very close to the junk anchorage in the hope of clearing the sampan, but was unable to do so on account of the women persisting in continuing their Course without any regard for the position of his abip or the consequences to any other craft in the neighbourhood of his going full speed astern. The result was that
SPORT.
ASSOCIATION-FOOTBALL/
TO-DAY'S MATCHES.
2ND DIVISION. Vary (R). 97 Co. GA-Navy Ground: Kick-off, 4.30 p.m. Referee, Mr. MePherson, FRIENDLY,
88th Co.. B.G.A, v.. 83rd Co. R.G.A.~ Military Ground. Kick-off, 3 p.m.
a systems he advocated, which I think he raised no objection and no collision would called the "octave system" or some such have occurred if any sort of warning or name. The idea was, if I remember signal had been given by the Ruth. In rightly, that the figures 8 and 9 should no caso on record had it been decided be left out entirely, counting 1, 2, 3, 4, that a vessel lying in any kind of 5, 6, 7, 10 and then proceeding in exactly navigable water was entitled to remain the same way as with the decimal system. there without any kind of warning what In the decimal system, half of ten is ever, as had been the case here. In all five, and hell of 5 is 25 and half of this the cases decided under the old rule the 1.26, but in his system half of 18 is 4 words used were a vessel aground in and half of 4 is 2 and half of 2 is
the fairway, and this, as he would half of 1 is 4, and so on. This system show, had been construed most compre appears to be much simpler than the hensively by the Courts. In the present decimal system, and may, therefore, lay action, where the words used were those claim to some consideration when the of article 11" in or near the fairway " question of universal standards comes up the case was, of course, much stronger for discussion: To my mind, however, The plaintiffs had pleaded both article his ship struck the "yulo," and this Japan Year Book, Count Okums wrote the adoption of international standards 11 and article 20 and also specifically, will be gradual, and the introduction of that the Ruth was in or near the fairway. standard decimal coinage, by some few If Mr. Potter's objection on this ground of the great nations, is quite likely to be was his strongest point he was sorry for the fairway and some sampans in the the first step. I think with you, sir, that him.
the question is a proper one to be taken Mr. Sharp had not concluded his ad-
up at the next economic conference of the dress when the Court rose at 4 o'clock,
Allies.
THE JAPAN YEAR BOOK.
In his preface to the 1915 edition of the
shook the boat, with the result that both that the work" must prove immensely women were thrown into the water. Two serviceable to all those foreigners who launches that were following him down are desirous to have an accurate know- ledge of Japan and Japanese," and thos vicinity immediately went to their assist who have commercial relationship with ance, and, before the way was off his that progressive country will heartily Professor. Y. vessel, both women had been taken from endorse this opinion. the water, and, presuming that they bad Takenob, who has been responsible for not suffered in any way beyond an immer the publication of the volume daring the past cleven years, carries out his task sion, he proceeded to his wharf.
in a thoroughly conscientious manner, with the result that the book has gained a very high reputation for accuracy. The 1916 edition, which is now on sale, re tains all the features of previous editions, Certain chapters have been curtailed and others expanded in accordance with what has been judged to be the need of the times, and in order that full and up-to date information regarding the later day
Gabriel J. Spick, first officer of the Shun Lee, corroborated.
a
A sister of the deceased said that ment will be ungrateful indeed if they the time of the accident their sampan fail to do something towards elevating advertising to the higher and cleaner was moored behind a junk and was not
crossing the steamer's bow. standing which is at, due.
The war has had a valuable educa tional effect upon our politicians and gull the public to an extent that is little legislators in opening their eyes to the short of marvellous. Recently, however, advantages of exact scientific methods, under the skilful hand of Sir Hedley le and no doubt we eball abortly see thesa Bas, it has provided Britain with a mag- introduced into all walls of life. Furnificent army, and the British Govern ther, if we allow our imagination to travel along the path of progress, we come, in turn, to a universal language,
It is known to the advertising experts Mr. Hazeland said there was a certain universal religion, and a Congress of to-day that, given a public having drawing its members from all nations certain tendencies and a certain degree conflict of evidence as to the actual pos-developments may be presented in a com-
of education, the results of a certain and backed by a powerful naval and grade of advertising will be in direct tion of the sampan at the time of the military police. The idea has long approportion to the degree of publicity accident, but he had no doubt the jury
used, and, when we consider that it is would have no difficulty as to which possible to mould the grade of advertis ing to suit varying public tendencies and the two stories they should accept.
The jury returned a verdict of death degrees of education, we come to réalize what a powerful instrument we have here for the introduction of reforms. The by misadventure. German propaganda amongst Neutrals, when more becomes known about it, will provide a useful example of the results obtainable from national advertising in the hands of experts, only we may hope for far better results when our pro paganda bears the stamp of truth which no evidence can disprove, and when it is used in the interest of honest reform.
Tours faithfully,
PLEBIS. Hongkong, November 14th, 1918.
pealed to me and sinos the outbreak of war has been considerably strengthened.
Advertising and publicity is one of the chief tools we have to look to for its accomplishment. Advertising has been called "applied psychology," and truly so, for has it not the power to create desires for things where none before existed? The pity of it is that this powerful factor in the life of max has in the past been utilised by charlatana and makers of fake patent medicines to (Continued at foot of next Column)
influence of the War upon Japan's pact and handy form. For example, the finance, industries, foreign trade and shipping has been adequately treated, and from the facts and figures published it is possible to trace the varying effects produced by Armageddon
on the different fields of the nation's financial and economic activities. There are, e usual, chapters dealing with Arts and Crafts, Charity and Relief, Religions and
FRANCO-BRITISH PROTEST IN Religious Work, Education, etc., besides
MEXICO,
the carefully compiled biographical notes of the leading personages in politics, in- The British and French Embases dustry and commerce. The volume, in have strongly protested to the Bute short, is a happy combination of a Department against the action of Statesmen's Year Book and Who's Who Carranza Government in seizing he in Japan, and can be warmly recommend Basets of British and French banknged to those who are in any way interested
astitutions in Mexico City
in Japanese affairs.
GREEN AND GREY, $7.50 Each.
STRAW HATS IN THE NEWEST SHAPES FITTED
WITH VENTILATED
$2.75,
LEATHERS.
$3.50, $4.00
A LARGE SELECTION.
OF
Each
TWEED HATS AND CAPS
LANE, CRAWFORD & CO.
A.V.C. FINEST OLD LIQUEUR BRANDY.
GUARANDØRD
V. D. SAUTERNES. V. D. CLARETS.
V.D. BURGUNDIES.
Stocked by HONGKONG HOTEL.
Obtainable at LANE, CRAWFORD & Co.
A. & B. MACKAY'S LIQUEUR
WHISKY.
THE ORIGINAL LIQUEUR
WHISKY,
PRICE $24.00 Per Case Duty Paid,
Has a fine mild flavour and a refreshing clean taste. Obtainable at all Local Stores.
E
Powell
Wi
TELEPHONE 348
LADIES'
[1204-3
Ltd
FOOTWEAR
EXCLUSIVE MODELS.
A GRAND DISPLAY
OF
SMART AFTERNOON
AND
EVENING SHOES.
(1077