THE HEAVY RAINS. MANY REPORTS OF DAMAGE.
In the twenty-four hours ended at 10 am., yesterday, over four inches of rain mere registered at the Observatory.
Many reports have been received of damage caused by the rains in various parts of the Colony,.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 11TH. 1981.
A MOTORIST FINED.
FAILING TO STOP AFTER AN ACCIDENT,
The case in which a motorist, William Christians van der Steen, of the Deli Platters Association, was summoned for failing to sound his horn and falling to stop after an accident, on April 25th, came before Mr. R. E. Lindsell again at the Magistracy yesterday,
THE HOUSE COLLAPSE IN OLD BAILEY.
เ
COMPANY REPORT. THE HONGKONG ELECTRIC CO.,
LIMITED.
THE JURY'S VERDICT:
The inquest on one of the persons whoThe report of the Board of Directors lost their lives by the collapse of a house
states:-"
in Old Bailey on April 13th was resumed Your Directors have the pleasure to be Mr. Orme and a jury of three yesterenbait the accompanying Statement of day afternoon..
the Company's account for the year ending February 25th, 1021,
"The balance at credit of proft and loss
Mr. J. W. White, Engineer in Charge of Buildings, at the Public Works De.. The Magistrate: I do not quite underpartment, said that his duties included account available for, appropriation, the passing of plans. The office records after allowing depreciation is 5000, 102.30, failed to show the date of the construe and your Directors recommend that this
be disposed of an follows:- tion of the Old Bailey Buiklings, but they would probably be some 40 or 30 years
To pay a dividend of $1.30 per share on 2230,126 nkl.
sbares
On the Shaukinn Road, "between Quarry Bay and the tram terminus, many tons of cgth and stones alii froin the billside at various points on Monday,stand why you did not attend this Court, and, blocked all traffic, including the last week.. You wrote a letter to the trams, for several hours. There was & Court saying you had a business engage succession of landslips along the road-
A Court of Law cannot possibly nient. soven in alt. No sooner had gangs of
accept any excuse of that sort. Coolies cleared the road for traffic at one
Defendant: I am very point than they were called to another.
not know. 11 was 9.20 p.m. before the tram service could be resumed.
The torrents from the hillside carried away a good deal of the foreshore at Quarry Point, and a man is reported to have been carried off his feet by the rush- g water near the Taikoo Sugar Refinery and drowned in the wen. A large boulder fll from the hillside at Quarry Bay and
missed a house by, inches.
Slides of considerable proportious are reported on the Stanley Rond and minor side on May Road and Conduit Road.
air, I did
When the charges were read over to
him, the defendant said he used his horn and stopped the car after the man fell down.
The evidence already taken was read His comment over to the defendunt, was that he stopped the car, looked around, and seeing everything all right, went on.
The Best witness, Mr.-E. W. Lewis, of the vctric Light Co., re-called, said it was possible the car stopped and then went on again. He was confident the harn
He had reccived no previous in- formation with regard to the dangerous condition of any of the houses in the
block, with the exception of house No. 17 which was danged as the result of an
earthquake in 1918:
The Coroner: You regard the damage as being due to the earthquake}
The Witness: Due both to the earth quake and to old age.
give you any reason to suppose that the The Coroner: That in itself did not
other hauses were unsale No.
The "witness went on to say that the text occasion on which he had received The retaining wall on the hillside at
any information about the Old Bailey the back of the new Government quarters
houses was when he received Mr. in Wongnoichong Road, Happy Valley, was so badly rapped by the rain that it
Wenser's plans for alterations to house No. 11 The plans submitted by Mr. collapsed without warring, bringing was not sounded.
Weaser complied with the requirements down with it a lot of earth. The houses, suffered no damage.
The Magistrate (to defendgut): Both of the Building Ordinance, and were The occupants .of some of
suffered great the witnesses got straight off the tram accordingly panded by witness. Having them inconvenience by the flooding of the lower and by the time they got to the scene, regard to the later history of the build Boors with the water from the hift side the car had gone. It does not seem to ings, he would not hesitate to approve which poured down like a river. To excuse your having gone on immediately.ximilar plans again. If plans complied crown their misery te electric supply Defendant: 1 saw the man walking to with the Ordinance, the witness had no failed.
the side walk. I only knocked him with power to reject them. After pass- my mud-guard
ing the plans, the witness did not hear any more about the house until the after noon of April 12th, when he received a report that the party wall between Nos. 11 and 13 was cracking and he at once took steps to have it shored up. The wall between Nos. 2 and 11 then appeared to be quite sale. About 6.30 am, on the 13th, he received information of the fe had crossed the inner set of rails B and 11. He made enquiries as to the on the tram line and was unconscious. eollapse of the party wall between Nos.
The off collapse and after examination of the when he was knocked down.
He heard no buildings. he came to the conclusion that horn blows, and he did not see the car the building had come to the end of its mud-guard struck him.
tether and that the collapse was due to until he was knocked down.
old age: The fact that the wall between Nos. 0 and 11, which on the previous day appeared quite safe to him, had collapsed, instend of the wall between Nos. 11 and 13, was a mere coincidence.
Akuall land slide occurred on the bill Tear the Yes Yuon Gardens (Happy. Res treat), Happy Valley. Earth and stond's blocked the drain, and the rain water rushed over the road into the Race Course, which was soon very badly flooded. The recreation groands an the other side of the track were also several inches under Wongneicheng village behind the race- course was also flooded, and in many places the ground was under several feet of water. Two houses collapsed, luckily the vilingers were homeless and without with ont causing any futality. Many of shelter during the sight owing to their
water.
| one-storeyed shacks being flooded. No report of foods or land slides has ye come from the main 'nual.
Au open balcony on the third floor of No. 25, Elgin Street collapsed without warning on Monday afternoon, and the rain flooded the second floor of the house, to death of about one foot. The houso
Kwok Ling, a fitter einployed by the Hongkong Electric Company, said that on April 25th he was waiting for one of the Company's cars. Mr. Lewis shouted to him from a tram car and as he did not hear him he decided to board the tram. A motor cur suddenly came round the corner and knocked him down. He lay
The Magistrate: You said just now you' were und nscious, but you got up directly afterwards, I understand.
Witness was lifted up. You knew that -Yes,
..
When you came to your senses, was the car there ?—No, it was not to be seen.
The defendant: It must have been dif was immediately vacated by the occu- cult for him to hear the horn if he was pants, and shoring work was undertaken.running for the car.
The Mingistrate: You had better pat Large chunks of plaster and bricks
4.
. #358,880.00
To place to reserve
* 100,000.00 To pay a bonus to staff
29,710.24 To carry forward to next
account
112.754.00
9000,182.30
Directors-Hon. Mr. J. Johnstone having resigned on leaving the Colony, Mr. D. G. M. Bernard was invited to fill the vacancy. This appointment re quires the confirmation of shareholders.
In accordance with the Articles of Association Hon. Mr. A. O. Lang and Mr. G. M. Dodwell retire, but being eligible, offer themselves for re-election,
Auditor.-The accounts have been audited by Mr. C. Bernard Brown, A. CA, who retires, but offers himself for re-election.
SURPRISED IN A FLAT. CHINESE WOMAN'S PLUCKY FIGHT. While a Chinese woman, her mother and several others were dining in the front room, on the first floor, at No. 1, Yeewoo Street, Wanchai, at about 3.45 on Monday afternoon, they were taken by surprise by three men, who made their entry into the Bat. One of the intruders,. anyone offering resistance.. armed with a knife, threatened death to
The mother of the occupier of the fat pluckily grappled with one of the in- truders. The armed man stabbed her in the neck, and another relieved her of an enr-ring set-with inde, which is valued at 87. In the commotion, an aman went unobserved by the intruders into the kitchen, and gave the alarm. The rob bers took to their heels.-
Mr. Lo (for one of the house"The wounded woman was removed to possible as to the cause of the collapse, Bay, where her injuries, which are not owners); There are only two alternatives the St. Paul's Hospital, at Causeway namely, that that it was either due to the considered serious, were attended to. old age of the building as a whole, or to faulty shoring 1-Yes.
what makes you think that the cellapat
was a coincidence?
came down from the roof and walls of that in the form of a question and ask Mr. Lo: In view of these two points, No. 113, Queen's Road East, the house if he was walking or running. (To the Adjoining the ous which collapsed some witness): How could you possibly catch time ago causing many deaths.
This house was also ordered to be vacated, and the tram if you did not run the walls and roof were immediately ahored.
Witness: The car had not passed me then. The witness also said he was per- A large verandah beat of a Chinese fectly certain no born was sounded. Restaurant it the corner of Queen's The Magistrate (to defendant): 1. Hoad Central and Swatow Street gave understood you to say you saw this man Way
and fell into the road Beveral get up. Did he get up,by himself?. pedestrians escaped death by a hair's Defendant: No, somebody was helping breadth Luckily the other beam held him. and the prompt shoring of the verandah saved a collapse.
Heports from the the West River are to the effect that many cities are inan dated. Wuchow and other cities up the Biser are under waer varying from 3 to 5 feet, and bonts are used in the streeta to facilitate travelling. It is feared that unles the rain ceases, there will be general flood in the territory along the West Titter.
SPORT:
GOLF.
The Magistrate: Then you can hardly say you saw him get up...
La Sam, fok said he was with the last witness. He did not hear the horn sounded. After the man was knocked down; the car weat on.
The Magistrate: Wont straight on, without halting
Witness: It slowed down but the peo- ple did not get out of the car. I was 40 feet away from the car and when I came up the car was moving away. It slowed down that did not stop...
The defendant did not cross-examine. The Magistrate: Do you wish to give evidence on oath yourself? Defendant: Yes sir..
Are you calling any witnesses 1-No, but my driver is outside.
ROYAL HONGKONG GOLF CLUB.
The winner of the Captain's Cup Com- The Magistrate suggested that he be petition, played at Fanling laat week-end sent for and instructed that some one over the Old Course, was A. B. Stewart,should be detailed to look after the car.. with a score of 81+1=83.
BUNS OF ANAK,
The defendant said he was driving car No. 191 on the day, in question.
The Magistrate: Tell me exactly what happened 2 Tramway Station on the way to the Hong Defendant; I came down from the Peak kong Hotels I was passing the City Hall corner, a man was running to catch the tram. I put my brakes 'on' but the right side of the car knked him down. After that 1 stopped my car, just for a moment, and saw the Chinese going to
The sous of Anak are unduly proud that so many of them should have figured In the University Boat Race. In the Cambridge crow Nos. 4, 6 and 8 were eit sin, in height, and every one but the bow is over six feet. The Oxford men have a6ft. 51 man; and four over six feet. The average height of Cambridge was 6ft 12-5: the Cambridge erew oft. o the average weights were 12st. 191lb. and the sidewalk, and, thinking it Was Oxford 12st. ejib.
HONGKONG, BASKET BALL ASSOCIATION.
nothing
The Magistrate: You saw him go overt Defendant: Yes, I saw him; he was being helped by one of his friends.
1 The Magistrate Yes, and after that 1 The local Basket Ball season is over Defendant; Thinking it was not Beri- with Moslem Club, St. Paul's Collega nus, I continued on my way and Queen's College: the respective win-The Magistrate: You did not get out ners of the Hongkong Open Basket-ball You did not think it was your duty, when League, Hongkong. Students' Basket-ball you had knocked a man down, to get out League and the Hongkong Small-Boys' and find out if he was injured: You did Basket-ball League.
An Exhibition Match, Moslem Club Bathing You made no report to the 9. The Rest, will be played off on the police but went straight m
Defendant: Yes, t Chinese, V.M.C.A ground at 4:30 pm |
?
DUTIABLE CIGARETTES.
SHOPKEEPERS AND STALL
HOLDERS FINED.
The witness said that the coincidence was that the wall appeared to him to be quite safe, but, of course, there might have
A number of cases, in which shop- been some internal defect of which he keepers and stall-holders from various was not aware, and could get no inkling districts in the island and Kowloon were Mr. Lo suggested faulty construction, prosecuted for having in their possession to which the witness replied that it was dutiable cigarettes, were dealt with, yes not necessarily that.'
terday, at the Magistracy, by Mr. G. N. Replying to a further question, the wit-Orme, Mr. Taylor, of the Revenue De- ness said that the crack on the party wall partment, conducting the prosecution.. between Nos. 11 and 13 was considered a serious one."
In the first case, a Chinese tobacconist was charged with the unlawful possession of 8,040 dutiable cigarettes of various Chinese brands,
41
Mr. La: If a wall were coming down, other indication of the pending accur would you expect to find any cracks or
rence?
...
..
Mr. W. B. Hind, who appeared for the defence, in pleading guilty" to "a The witness: Not necessarily; old technical offence, explained that, on the houses some times come down without day before the new tobacco duty ordi- any warning.
bance came into force, his client sent Mr. Lo suggested that whatever defects out his fokia to purchase in the Colony there might be in the house; the whole all the cigarettes they could get at the of it was transferred to this particular old price. Unfortunately for the defend- wall by faulty shoring and cobbling.nt, among the cigarettes he had pur The witness disagreed, and said that chased were 25 packets which were mark he still held to his opinion that the col-ed For Export." When the revenue lapse of that particular wall was a coin-officers checked his stock, and found these cidence and due to the old age of the packets, they seized his whole stock. building.
He would have to plead guilty" with After further examination of the wit-regard to all the cigarettes, as his client ness, the enquiry was closed, and the had no means of proving that duty had jury without retiring returned a verdict been paid on them. of accidental death." They also found, In answer to the Magistrate, Mr. that every precaution had been taken to Taylor said that there was no direct test prevent, collapse, and added that they to prove whether or not duty had been for the collapse. had no means of ascertaining the reason paid on a particular packet or cigarettes,
SILK ROLL THEFT,
CHASE IN QUEEN'S ROAD.
and the onus of proving that duty had been paid rested on the defence. It was, therefore, the safest thing for tobacco nists to get their stock, direct from the BAT. or the. Nanyang. Brothers.
The Magistrate imposed a fine of $100, or in default, one month's hard labour..
OTHER CASES. "'·
A well-dressed Chinese, was charged, Charged with the unlawful possession yesterday before Mr. R. F. Lindsell, at of 4,000 dutiable cigarettes, another man the Magistracy, with the theft of a roll said that he could not say whether or not of silk from the Chi Ebing. Co., in duty had been paid. He was fined $30 Queen's Rond Central.
A fine of $15 was imposed on a third
The defendant, it was alleged, went to the shop about 7 pm, on Monday, and man, who was charged with the possession asked to be shown some silk. After in- of 500 Raven" brand cigarettes, from specting several rolls, he said they did the packets of which the mark. For not suit him and left. The shop assistant Export had been erased. missed a roll of silk, and rushed out of all boy, who produced a licence the shop after the man After a short as the holder of a cigarette stall, was chase, the defendant was caught and, fined $20 for the possession of 800 dulinble
cigarettes. when searched, the silk was found hidden
Five hundred dutiable cigarettes-agat sharp to-morrow (Thursday),, at the con Anything else: "No, sik.
f-under his long coat an clusion of which Mrs Bevern will kindly What about the horn Four witnesses The Magistrato passed a sentence of a Yaumati stali-holder $15 in fines. distribute the trophies to the various have said you never sounded your Eero 4 weeks' hard labour.
at nli as you went round the corner7-1 When I turned the corner I sounded my 1 born.
winners
PROFITABLE TEST ORIOKET. The Adelaide Obiercer says:- Although
no official announcement bpa been, made by the Board of Control or the Victorian Cricket Association about the Gnancial result of the visit of the English cricket team (says pur Melbourne correspondent), it is understood that the visitors made a profit of 17,000 to £6,000. The English team's total share of receipta was thus between £22,000 and £23,000, out of which "the team's expenses had to be puid. Tho amount to be divided between the various Australian associations and the Board of ———Control will be considerably greater............
The defendant's chauffeur said the horn was sounded and after the accident the
car stopped."
When a Hongkong shopkeeper was charged with the possession of 1,600 dutiable cigarettes, Mr. Taylor, for the prosecution, said that, besides the The Magistrate No, of course, it isn't cigarettes, when the defendant's shop You admit yourself you only stopped for was searched, a large quantity of empty one minute, find both charges, proved. cigarette boxes, from which the export The Magistrate: How long
I think it is quite possible you stopped marks had been erased, were niso found. Witness: For five minutes.
momentarily, but that is not what is The defendant said that he got the boxen The Magistrate Five minutes 1
contemplated by the requirement to stop, by buying other articles of a nature which The witness repeated his reply in Eng to definitely stop the car and render shops kent empty cigarette boxes for as provided in the Regulations. It means could not be packed up in paper. Many lish. He added: Seeing the man getting assistance, and see if you can do anything this purpose. A fine of 850, or one up, by himself, the master started again for the injured person. It does not mean month's hard labour was imposed. thing else you wish the witness to say man isoing to die, and never making 325 for the possession of 1,159 cigarettes, The Magistrate (to defendant) Any going away without waiting to see if the In another case, a shopkeeper was fuell Defendant: Yes, he said the car stop any report to the police For not sound on which duty had not been paid ped for five minutes: That is not trueing the horn Line you $10 and for not In every case, the cigarettes were sen
(Continued as foot of nezt colump,) stopping, Tine you 100 fiscated
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