Page
COMPANY MEETING.
CHINA BORNEO, LTD.
ON THE
THE HONGKONG DAILY TRESS, SATURDAY, MAY 19TH, 1917
"PHEUMPENH." CHIEF ENGINEER'S STORY
HOT BEARINGS; DON'T SEND
CHITS,
The fourteenth ordinary annual meet- ing of the China Borneo Company, Ltd.,
The enquiry was resumed at the was held at the Company's offices, St. George's Building, yesterday morning Hongkong Marine Court yesterday into certain charges against a Chief Engineer, MAO Lang presided, and there were Capt. F. H. de la Sala, of the s.8. 190 present:-Sir. Paul Chater, C.M. Pheumpenh, charged the Chief Engineer
obedience and misconduct
the Captain he did not have to poss through the emigrants. It was not cur- rect to say that he was gesticulating with the glass of water when on his way to see the Captain. It was always under stood that the Captain should be the final arbiter on the water supply, and he had to submit a sample to him after 1 each pumping, before the hose was put into the fresh water tank. Speaking off April 10th, witness said he pumped again as usual, and, when the water became
He did say, ut Saigon, that his hide was worth as much to him ne was the Captain's, but on that occasion he did not use the expression Mr, Man On this occasion he did say that if the ship were overloaded he would go over the side. He considered that he always afforded sufficient co operation to Capt. de la Sala in maintaining discipline on the ship
INTIMATIONS
LANE,
CRAWFORD & Co.
SOLE AGENTS FOR
and Mr. AE, Griffin, members of the of the vessel W. J. Stokes, with dis- reasonably clean, be took a sample los municate with the bridge; it was a reply PAIDING SESSAN-PENIO
and J. A. Gomes
Haid:
In the absence of the Hon. Mr. E. H. Sharp, K. C. (Mr. Eldon Potter instruct ed by Mr. E. L. Shenton), appeared on behalf of the Captain, and the Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C. (instructed by Mr C. D. Wilkinson) represented the Chief Engineer, en
Capt. Spink was recalled, and, in reply to Mr. Shenton, said he had been that time he had never been asked to
bear.
Answering Engineer Lt. Commander Nuttall, defendant said that he had a telegraph in the engine room to com telegraph, but on one occasion when the engines ensed down he admitted that he forgot to telegraph. The main bearing had a cooling apparatus fixed to it, but, in his opinion, the heating would heat up in two minutes. Ordinarily he would not stop the engines when the main bear- Addressing the Court on behalf of do- fendant, Mr. Pollock said it was obvious, and incontestable, and nobody could dis. pute it, that whatever Mr. Stokes might be, he, at all stente, wus an honest wit- ness. He submitted, also, that the evidence showed the strongest internal evidence of malce on the part of Capt. de la Sala, who had even striven to rake Spink and Stokes. It was mere spite.. up the palty episoda between Capt.
numerous other petty incidents which Stokes thought had beet confined to the limbo of forgotten things. He had even probed up the incident of the throwing" overboard of a bottle of anchovy sauce and that incident, he was glad to notice,
As to the had been thrown overboard by the Counsel for the other aide expressions My Manor "Mr. Man" that manner of address had never been: objected to by Capt de la Sala, and Capt Major who had also been addressed in the same manner, stated that only a thin- skinned man would take any notice of that. As to the question of overloading at Saigon, he did not think any Cour there was averloading The most serious would he able to say whether, yes or no, charge which could be made against a chief engineer was that he was a person liable to commit an act of barratry and a person who was liable to damage the engines and that charge was made against the defendant. It was an exceed. ingly serious charge, and one which would have to be proved up to the hilt. The Court must bear in mind that there was strong internal evidence of malice on the part of the Captain, and his opinion in that connection was that the Captain had cusitlerably over-shot him self
to the Captain This sample was quits Congriting Committee, Mr. W. G. Darby, The Court was composed of Com-clean; so much so that the Captain said Go on with it. Th Captain was at e General Manager, Mr. H. W Ken- mander Beckwith (President), Lieut.
breakfast at the time, and the interview the Secretary, and the following Commander FE Nuttall (H.MS net, Shareholders: Messis, A. W. Smith, WTamar) Cap. Bell Smith (8.8. Honam), was quite a friendly one. Dr. Arelli, Russell, & H. M. da Silva, K. Sayee, O Capt. P. B. Rolfe (Marine Superintend who was with the Captain, said the Baptista, R. L. Bridger, W. Ford, junrent, Indo-China Steam Navigation Co.) water was of good quality. Several and Mr. D. McMurray (Superintending more samples were taken, quite good The report recommending the payment of n dividend of 60 cents per share and Engineer of the Indo-China Stean ones, and then I had the biggest suring warmed up
Navigation Co.)..
prise uf my life. I was logged and had the statement of accounts have already
a big entry read out to me about the been published in the Daily Press. In
water, the enquiring looks on the faces proposing their adoption the Chairman
of the emigrants, my malicious conduct, Uwing to the continuance of the War
and an act of barratry. I asked the regret that we have to again lay before
mending of barratry and was told by you figures which are far from satisfac
Capt de la Sala not to say another word. The statement was so long that tory. I can only say that in view of the
even though I took notes of it I could many difficulties under which the Con pany's business has been conducted the
only write up a garbled account of it results might well have been worse on the vessel for seven weeks, and during afterwards. 1 was told I would be And Capt de la Salu had also raked up Shortage
of tonnage and high rates of
plied with a copy Defendant denied freight have rendered it increasingly diff overload his ship. Mr. Pollock, wit the statement in the log that he
Cross-examined by wit paraded dirty water along the deck. cult for us to bring our timbers to mar ket, and owing to our having been obligedness said he resigned from the Wo Fat Where he drew the water off was in the Sing Co., owners of the L'heumpenḥ, most secluded part of the ship. In output, the cost of to reduce the
increased Further, necessarily
Asked why he had never complained everything he did in connection with the tion has in the accounts under review, we have
about Stokes, witness said it was always water he did in the interests of the had to make provision for a sum of aphis policy to give a man a chance. He owners with whom he had been most proximately $53,000, or nearly 10 per
i had no intention of bringing any charge happy for the past 13 years. Nothing he cent of the capital of the Company, in order to adjust the balances due by our gainst Stakes; he merely came forward did could have injured the conduct of as a witness to assist the law and to the vessel; he was doing the best he could, London and Borneo offices to the rates of assist in keeping discipline on the ship." he was not attempting to injure anyone exchange ruling here at the end of the year. These balances are represented by He had never "logged" the Chief En- on board, or attempting an act against accounts in course of collection, and gineer, and when he left the ship he the ship or the machinery, All he was destroyed all the correspondence which doing was to try and keep the emigrants stocks of material which we hold in Borneo and London in the ordinary passed between them, as he never thought quiet by making the water as pure as course of our business. My predecessorit would be of any further use possible. He was acting conscientiously Inst year drew your attention to a fund Counsel handed to witness some of the throughout. He was not trying to get which we had created to provide for such
the Captain into trouble, o
Coming to the stopping of the engines, fluctuations, but owing to the phenomenal rise in exchange it has proved insufficient
for which he was "logged" witness said and we have had to encroach on our profit
this was due to the bearings becoming and loss account to the extent of some
heated; the No. 1 main bearing Ho $35,000 in order to provide the balance
had always had trouble with it. There was no white metal in the bearing it required. Under the unfavourable condi tions which have prevailed I can assure Cap Spink-But that was not the was all brass of the age of the ship, 38 you that great care and economy have way to reply to a superior officer, he years, and the brass itself was cracked, Lern exercised in conducting the Comhould have stated what the engine they could never rely on it. The bear- pany's business, and I may point out that trouble was. His manner was not coring could beecure hot within a minute, once it had started, and it was not always Our office expenses have been again re- dused by more than $10,000, while our
Capt. A. Jenkins, master of the possible to spot the commencement of Bucks of material show a reduction of aerter, was the next witness called. The the heating, the bearing was a plague.
$40,000. Shareholders will have
Smertes, be said, was also owned by the When the bearing became hat on the noticed that the accounts show an un-
Wa Ent Sing Co., by whom he had been night he was logged, he was in the employed for about 3 years. During engine-room on watch: The engines did that period he had never been asked by not stop, he himself pulled them ap. If the owners to overload his ship. He he had not done so they would have should say that the statement made by stopped themselves. He shut of stean Capt. Majar that the reason he resigned because it was the only thing to do He from the Company's service was because had no time to go round saying he was he was asked to overlord his vessel, was going to stop the engines, hot bear a lie
Wings; don't send chits, he added, amid and I have no doubt that our
Mr. Pollock objected to this, and laughter The man who was really to in this respect will have the full Capt. Jenkins then reinarked that to blame was the greaser, who should have noticed who was happening. As to the approval of shareholders. I much regret the best of my knowledge it is untrue.
the Day a that we are unable to recommend
Me Shenton Capt. Major also told suggestion that the main bearing had ment of a larger diivdend, but in view of the Court that he never had any com been allowed to run hot, he could not the difficulties of tonnage which are likely plaints to make about Mr. Stokes What understand what was meant by that; he to increase the longer the War lasts, we is your personal opinion about that had not allowed it to do so breause he consider it essential to keep our financial
Witness-Every time the ships were in did not know it was happening. This position as strong as possible. Under the circumstances shareholders will scarcely Saigon or Hongkong together Capt was the main greaser's job. Subsequent Major always came to me with his ly witness stated that he was paid off expect me to hold out any very favourable troubics. He always complained to me on May 3rd, and, in the usual way prospects for the present year, or as long as the War Insts, but after penes is de about Mr. Stokes' conduct, and the handed his gear over to his successor. clared we have good reason to hope that nature of that conduct was that he was Then he saw him (Mr Pollock), as a prosperous times may be in store for the always interfering with the deck de result of which he issued a writ against for libel. He only had, notice of that the pro- properly p
uaquiry at 18.55 p.m.
usually large amount of cash in hand and since the end of the year our tion in this respect has further improved, 4s we have stopped all capital outlay in Borneo till after the conclusion of the War, we have no immediate need of any large cash balance, and we have accord ingly invested
880,000 or approximately
in Straits War Loan 6 per cent.
chits he had sent to the Chief En gineer when on board in relation to the sudden stopping of the engines, and reminded witness that the Chief Engineer said that the engines were not stopped, but eased down, because of engine trouble.
rect,
Speaking on behalf of the Captain, Mr. Potter said the charges bad been divided into categories, those which were defended by Mr. Stokes and these which he wished to say nothing about. No evidence had been given on the great majority of the charges by Mr. Stokes. Mr. Pollock then asked if the Court would really believe that Capt de la Sala had gone out of his way to trump Of course not. Be up those charges made, thin, because he believed what he wrote Chapel then proceeded to review all the charges prefered against the Chief Engineer and remarked in this con nection that if orders were given by the Captain which were admitted to be law ful:commands, then they must be obeyed If one were not a teetotaller, for instance, and the order was that no wines or spirits wore to be taken on board, it might seem somewhat unpleasant, but the order would have to be obeyed. If those on than thrests to go over the side, they could see
a lave gone to see the Harbour This concluded the case, and the Pre- sident announced that judgment would be delivered at 5 pm on Wednesday, as it would take some time to go into the case, and some members of the Court had a lot of work to do
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Mr. A. W. SMITH seconder the partment, and did not address the master Capt; de la Salt, in the Summary Court, board objected they had remedy other! Stocked by HONGKONG HOTEL
Company.
posal, expressing the hope that when the pr.-war dividends, and the accounts were passed
war was finished they might return to
The apointment of Mr. A. O. Lang to the Consulting Committee, which post- tion he has occupied since the resignation was confirmed on
of Mr. J. W. C. Bonn M. DA SILVA, the proposal of Mr.
by Mr. BAPTISTA .conden
Κ. On the proposal of Me SAYCE, seconded by Mr. H. W KENNETT, Mr. A
Grifin was re-elected a member of the Consulting Committee
E
Mr. C. B. Brown was re-elected auditor for the Company at a remuneration of $250 per annum, on the proposition of Mr. A. E. GRIFFIN, Seconded by Mr. R. L.
Cross-examined by Mr. Pollock wit
ness said he would not answer and question with regard to the discharge of Capt. Major, it was not his business to do so. He might and might not know the reason Capt. Major was discharged, but he would not give any answer.
CHIEF ENGINEER'S STORY: Mr. Pollock then it the Chief Engineer in the witness-box,
Defendant said he was formerly on the l'heumpent, and he had been in the service of the Wo Fat Sing for thirteen years and nine months. His previous ship was the fertes, is Chief Engineer His masters on the ertes were Capt. Jackson and Capt. Frampton, and every thing went smoothly while he was with these Captains When he transferred to the Pheunpeak in November, 1910. Capt. Scott was the master. Then came Capt. Bird, Capt. Major, Capt. Spink, and Capt. de la Sala. Neither Capt. Scott SCHOOLBOYS AND NAT ONAL nor Capt Bird had been no complaints
SERVICE
BRIDGER
This concluded the business, the Chair man announcing that dividend warrants would be ready on application at the office to-day
ALL GAMES STOPPED.
One of the Dusly Fres readers in Swatow has forwarded for publication an extract from a letter received from Mr. J. Lewis Paton, headmaster of the Man- chester Grammar School, which should prove of interest to all old Man- cunians" in Ching. Mr. Paton writes
You would be interested to see the Grammar School organised for national service. All games are stopped for boys over 14 They are out on allotments digging, or on munitions, or in the case of juniors, acting as trolley boys, order lies, ate. It has been a big business getting every boy accounted for (there are 1,000) but it has been worth doing, It means of course, stopping the usual athletic sports at Fallowfield, and I can, see already it has put other schools on the go. We had 54 chaps out on Batur day and Sunday unloading trucks at Newton Heath. They shifted 135 tons and gave considerable satisfaction. They are phelping the Parks Committees, and requests are coming in for further help. The great inspiration is that we are giving direct help to the lads at the Front. A fellow does not feel this over his mathematics in the same way as he Boes when he is unloading s railway
truck
Our correspondent adds "to read of such a spirit amongst our schoolboys at Home is conscling; it is this spirit! which has gone to the making of our Empire and it is this same spirit which will be with us when the war is over? Lez
|
about him; there had been no complaints at all, as far as he knew, until Capt. de la Sala made thent. He obtained his engineer's certificate in 1899, and it was a clean record still He had never been "logged" Previous to when Capt. de Iu Sala did 30.
commenced, as the day before it
Cross-examined by Mr. Potter as to the water incident, defendant said that Capt de la Sala bad, considerably extended and coloured the truth. What Capt. de la Sala said, with regard to the samples of water at breakfast time Was wrong; and Dr. Arculli was also mistaken. He admitted that some of the water was tested in the presence o soms of the crew, but it was not true that he held a dirty glass of water in the air in front of the emigrants: the Captain had not imagined this, then one of us is Lot telling the truth. It would be a reasonable thing for the Captain to drink a glass of water in front of the emigrants to allay any fears they may have had regarding it The only time he realised that his conduct was not considered right was when lie waa" logged he considered his con- duct with regard to the water perfectly correct, and could not understand why the Captain should some to that Court and tell a whole pack of falsehoods,
Asked if he had any reasons to suggest for the Captain making all the entries he did in the log book relative to his conduct, defondant said, be could suggest no reason whatever
CAPTAIN DE LA SALA SUED.
The case was mentioned at the Hong- kong Summary Court yesterday in which Walter J. Stokes, late Chief Engineer of the Phempenh, is suing Capt, R. M. De la Salu, of the same vessel, for $1,000- damages for libel
Mr. Grist mentioned that be was ap pearing for plaintiff and Mr. Mattingly for the defedce. It was also stated that Mr. Sharp would appear for the defend not and Mr. Pollock for the plaintif
His Lordship asked what the action was, and Mr. Mattingly replied that it was an action for libel.
The hearing was adjourned for a fort- night
TO-NIGHT'S BOXING. ARRANGEMENTS COMPLETED
the
right in what he wrote in the log-1 accommodation on shelter from the rain Referring to the drinking water in No doubt the Captain thought he was. There need be no fear of Jack cident, when emigrants were on board
After the tin adjournment Mr. teor Parade Ground. The fact that the the vessel, witness said he was told be suppose, he thought it was right, at tonight's assault at arms on the Volun was a pessimist, but he desired his sug Pollock interpused a witness, Mr T contests are being held under the gestion for purifying to be put into O'Sullivan, second hailiff at the Supreme auspices of the Police Reserve, with operation as he believed it was a good Court. This witness said that at 11 am. Inspector Wilden as the busy man be on May 5th he was given a writ ofhind the scenes, guarantee that one. On the morning of April 9th, when at sea, the Captain sent a "chit" to summons to serve on Capt de la Sala, nothing will be wanting so far as patrons him to ask him to pump water as re The plaintiff was W. J. Stokes, and the are concerned. The accommodation which quested by the compradore Pumping claim was one of 81,000 for libel Wit has been provided is very extensive, but commenced about Ur.., and he pumpness did not succed in serving the writ the bookings have been heavy, and, 18 ed, and pumped, and pumped again being unable to find Capt de la Sala vion of the fact that the proceeds until they got something reasonably Mr. Pollock remarked that he had evening's sport are to be devoted good. During this, knowing the Captain called Mr, Sallivan to show that he (Mr. Charities, a full house”, is, being look- wet weather which has been experienced was interested, he took six samples af Pollock) commenced proceedings before ed forward to In, view, slab, of the intervals, placed them in his cabin, and the other side. FERMON called in the Captain to have a look The defendant, further cross-examined lately, the officials have seen to it that at the samples. After the Captain hed by Mr Potter, said that he would always all those who attend will be securely
weather prove unkind RS seen the samples he threw the water communicate with the bridge any changes sheltered from the rain, should, the away There was more pumping, and speed, if he had time, If prompt then he thought he would be able to action was necessary, he would have to pump up clean water to the deck. This take ing Elas Water had to pass through 60 feet of piping. He pumped the water up, it was a fair sample, and he puts some in a glass and took it away to the Captain, bying That's the best we can do. It was very fair sample of water, and Do you usually address your superior then a tank was filled up for the use officer in that way --No, sir. I admit of the coolics. He denied that he did the expression was wrong, but it was not-take the sample to the Captain not used in a pasty way, it was not used an ordinary sort of way he did not in the spirit it was taken by Capt de parade it. It was not hreckish water, la Sala, He denied any further accusa It was merely unfitered, and in going to tions of discourtesy
Questioned by Commander Beckwith, defendant, said he was sorry to admit that he did address the Captain as Mr. Man," and that it was an act of dis- courtesy
welly and some keen contests may safely All the med who are to box are fit and be anticipated Craig is exceedingly fit, extending Scott far more than the heavy- and his supporters look forward to him
done. "Battling" Brannigan, who is to weight champion's last few victims bave box Richards, also has a good following, and here again it is anticipated that mat- ters will run very even. The programme arranged is a good one throughout, and local sportsmen may rest assured of, good evening sporty The programmė
Comences at 8.30 p.m. sharp. 23
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