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CANTON LANDRENTERS AND RATEPAYERS,
(Coatinued, from page 4) THE HOUSE "TAX. Mr. BOND, seconded by Mr. FORREST, put forward Resolution 1:-
THE HONGKONG DAILY "PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26TH, 1924
Mr. Surros nid that, according to the necounts, the water male amounted to $18,600 hk actual revenue for 1921. Ou the other side water, works rauning eX- penses are $5,000 odd, leaving $10,000 plus. He took that to represent the 1 per
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THE "TAI LEE” 'PIRACY.
·
ENQUIRY RESUMED.
CONFLICTING EVIDENCE. The enquiry was resumed yesterday e. Boso replini that the balance rafternoon into the circumstances sur presented interest on capital nud asked rounding the murder of Capt. Willox, late Mr. Sutton what he wanted slusse. The latter replied that he wanted nothing master of the s.s. Tai Ere, who was shot done-be did at want the ratė raised. by pirates, on board his vessel on
Mr. Bowy wid if Mr. Forbes felt satis January 21st. scheme and list already circulated; payed with the things as they were, he was able before 31st March, 1094."
Baziafund.
"The House Tax shall be 3.335% an the total assed annual rental 11 accordance with the NEW BASUS nent
Mr. BOND stated that the scheme of us acement which it was now propused to put into fare for the first time, whereby flour areas were taken into consideration, was sound, and at the same time fair, to all concerned and much better than the guest work plan of past years. A clear explan ation of the way in which the figures had beon arrived at could not be given at the lations were very com moting as the calculation plicated, but the revenue would be prac finally the same as before. It would be equivalent to a tax of 74%. The resolu tion was then put to the vote anil carried,
LAND TAX.
1. Boyd, seconded by Mr. Forrest, then put forward Resolution :-
Resolution & was then put to the meet ing and earried."
Resolutions 7, 8, and y were proposed by Mr. Bogn, seconded by Mr. Ponest:
Resolution - following rent 'shali be paid into the Council quarterly and in advance, for the use of meters; the quarters shall be considered to commence on the 1st day of January, the 1st day of April, the ist day of July and the 1st day of October :-
Rio. meter, 78 per quarter, 429 1234-Le
85 per quarter. $3
Mr. R. E. Lindsoll. (Coroner) presided and the Jury consisted of Messrs. H. E. B. Hancock (foreman), F. A. Perry and A. F. B. Silver Netto.
Mr. C. G. Pardue, A.S.P. and Assist ant Director of Criminal Intelligence, watched the enquiry on behalf of the Police, Mr. W. B. Hind appeared for the China Coast Officers' Guild and the Marine Engineers' Guild of Chica.
"QUAÛTERMASTER'S EVIDENCE. Tsang Shui, quartermaster for six years of the sa. Tai Lee, said he was on duty in the wheel-house when the ship was pirated. After the ship had left Wong Moon the Captain handed over
the charge of the skip to the pilot and weat The wheel-house doors were away. closed. When someone opened the door on the starboard side he saw the bosun motion the Chief Officer into the wheel house. He heard the bosun say to him in Chinese You go inside." heard no mention of pirates. The Chief Officer sat down on a stool and the bosun shut the door and went away.
The Coroner: Did you not think... it rather extraordinary that the bosun -The Coroner said that a member of should order the Chief Oficer into the Jury had raised the point as to the wheel-house-Yes; but nothing un- whether Captain Willox made any state-usual happened for the moment. Witness ment before bo died. In this connection added that he did not hear fire-arms a letter bad been received from the hos-fired until after the Chief Engineer was pital at Kongmoan, where Capt. Wiliox brought into the wheel-house. Previous was sent on the Arrival of the steamer to that he could not remember distinctly there. willx made no statement there, and that
The letter stated that Capt. whether he heard shots fired. Later, shots were fired on either side of the bridge. He heard a voice from the bridge say
"Keep the skip on her usual Froin this it appeared that the deceased ing:
course." made no dying depositions.
Witness went on to say that on the voyage to the pirates lair he received his orders from the pilot
At one time he heard the bosan call out that if anybody moved they were to be shot.
The Land Tax shall be .3761% of be ascertained in accordance with the he was not in a fit condition to do so.
H.M. Government's valuation of 1821- 2 for each lot; payahk before 31st March, 1024
Mr. Bomp nuded that this would impose a slighty higher tax on undeveloped lands which were more or less a luxury on the Island where accommolation was limited and routs high.
The Emolition was then carried.
GODOWN TAN:
Mr. Bos, seconded by Mr. Foзnes put forward Resolation 3:-
The Godown Tax shail he 850 payable before 31st Maren, 1924. The Resolution was carried without dis-
LICENCES.
cussion.
Mr. BoNu, seconded by Mr. FORBEST, put forward Resolution 4-
Licences:-Hotel 400; Theatre $100; Bicyle Hawker $2; Septic Tank 20 Matched 85; Minor alterations and Suliobling $3; Shameer Motorboats and Launches 810; Dutsile Motor-boats aud Launches 820
With regard to taxing Shamoen and outside Motor-boats and. Launches which make me of the Municipal Pier. Mr. Boso said that the river in front of Sh mean was sitting up what rapidly and the cost of dredging increasing each year: for example, the cost of dredging from around the water works intake pipes in 1999 was $15.03, for 1923, $31.74, and already this year $158.53 had heen spent He hul been given to understand that Major Oliveron was of the opinion that the river in front of Shamen will cor- tinue to silt up..
After a orizin amount of discussion, in the course of which it was pointed out that the Chinese tight retaliate, that it would be impossible to collect the tax and that the Council had no authority to in. stitute new licences unless a special byeta were passed and approved by H.M. Min Inter
H.AL. CONSEL GENERAL Pull that the licence foes en motor boats were ultra pires These were therefore struck out, and the Resolutics, thas amended, was carried.
BUILDING BYE-LAWS. Mr. BoxD, woonded by Mr. FounEST, put forward Resolution 5:
Resolution S-The value of the amount of water consumed daring at quarter will above Resolation Ne. 6.au Waterworks Byelaws No. 17 and is.
PILOT'S EVIDENCE.
".
Resolution :-The Council shall chlivér an account quarterly after 31st March.
Chan Ng. No. 1 pilot on the s.a. 30th June, 30th September and 31st De Tor Lte for the last three years, said he comer, of water. consumed in excess
was on duty on the bridge at the time during during the preceding quarter by the
of the piracy. As far as he knew no occupier any building and such account
of
passengers Came on board at Wong Questioned by Mr. Hauesek the witness must be paid within 14 days after presentoon. tation thereof. Mc. Baud said that these Capt, Willox was in charge on the bridge.the Captain's gronus from the deck.
When they left Wong Moon, said that after the firing ceased he heard resolutions were, similar to tho in force le noticed a man standing behind the at present with one exception that in reso lution 7 the meter rent is to be charged dodger near the wheel-house or the star- board side. The Captain went away for the whole quarter ant
and not uN monthly rate for barter perils Resolu- almost immediately and witness took tions 7, 8 and 9 were then put to the charge. The quartermaster was at the the time the anchor
*
wheel-house. He saw three men climb meeting and carried.
up through, the hatchway in front of the bridge from the fo'eas'le.
Rehition 10: That the Council be lic Health, and Building Ordinance so far authorized to enforce the Hongkong Pub- a xame is applicable to Shame-was Proposed by Mr. Boad and seconded by Mr. Forrest. H. M. Consul General remarked that the resolution, as worded, werned to cover very wide ground.
Mr. Boad explained that the Council wished to take the matter in band only and requested Mr. Suthar to move"na
SUTTON moved that the incoming Council be requested to make a digest of the Hongkong Public Health and Build- ing Ordinance and after they reached a conclusion that they submit a proposal to a later meeting."
Mr. KITCHING asked that their eqn- clusión he submitted some weeks before the meeting as the Ordinanes was a long one.
Lt. Col. Cross asked whether it was, then, propowd to wait one year—it was dificult, almost impossible, to secure Di quorum at a special meeting.
The amendment was then put to the meeting and carried.
A substnatitive resolution, in its amen. ded form, was then put to the moting and carried.
THE BUND LIGHTS, -
Mr. BOND, wcorded by Mr. FORREST, proposed Resolution 11:hat the Council bo authorized to expend a sum not exceed
33.500 on rewiring the Bund Electric Lights. Mr. Bond said that the present wiring and light standards were in a very bad state and the Council considered, after taking expert advice, that it would That building Bre-Laws 14 and 13 be better to lay new wiring underground should be altered to read: 14. and erect say 10 light standards from the Written notice shall be given to the boundary of the French Concession to the Council of the intended erection, re- Boathouse. The prewar wires were a dan erection, alteration of, or addition to ager to the public. building within the limits of the Con- Mr. LANG asked whether the contract cession, and it shall be the duty of the had been put up for public tender person giving such notics to deposit with the Council twa (9) sets of plans and sections of "such intended erection, re
rection, alteration or addition." The rest of the Bye-law will reniain as at present
15. A written notice with two (4) sets of plans and sections as recirired by the preceding Bye-law, must be given to the Council at least four (4) weeks before it is the intention of the applicant to commenge
we ung building, and the Coun eit shall signify its approval or dis approval within that period of time.
The Coroner: When these men climbed up was the Chief Officer on the bridge?
The witness: Yes. He was at the side of the bridge.
What happened then; Three men climb ed up and two of them pointed fire-arms at me. The third took a position at the port-side dodger.
You heard shots fired? Yes. What was the Chief Officer doing When the shots were fired I did not see him. He had disappeared.
Witness said he did not know any of the pirates. He could not see their faces as it was dark and raining. The pirates told him. to keep a good look out; other wise be would be shot. He was ordered to take instructions from the pirates as to the navigation of the vessel. He did not see the bosun that sight He did not come on the bridge. The vessel was first steered in the direction of Kongmoon but a little later he was ordered to steer the ship to Tung Ma Ling.
Witaess went on to describe how the pirates left the ship and said his final instructions were not to weigh anchor until the pirates had blown a whistle from the shore. He did not know then that the Captain had been shot. On hearing the whistle blown he gave orders
the anchor to be weighed.. The Coroner: Without consulting a European Officer -Yes.
for
Why did you do that? They said that I was not to leave until the whistle was blown.
You are not the Captain of the ship Wint business had you to do that with- out orders from the European Officers!- I was ordered by the pirates not to weigh anchor until the whistle was blown.
The Coroner: You mean you wanted to xet away as quickly as possible Yes. wanted to take the Captain. shore as
Mr. AUSTIN replied that three indepen. dent tenders had been submitted and Mr.quickly as possible. Bosn explained that the Council were in way committed to accept any one of them.
The resolution was then carried.
THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.
#
But you did not know the Captain was shot --I could hear him groaning.
Witness weat to say that after the pirates had left, the Captain asked him in English to bring a blanket and his Lt. Col. Crossɛ, seconded by Mr. Sur-hat. This was all the Captain said to
him. ros, proposed Resolution 12:
That a Committee of Ratepayers be formed to go into the question of improv. Lt.- ing the present telephone system,' Col. CROSSE said that the idea was nut
it new one.
the event of the Council assenting, one He wished to approach the Chinese Tele art of the plans and sections originally deposited will be returned to the ampli. Phone Compasy to put in a telephone exchange free of cost for the reason that eant with the Council's consent in writ there were 100 wire running out from ing, whilst the other set will be retained Shameen 2 miles into the city. People un hy the Council for reference and file." the Chinese bund were clamouring, for M. BOND said that the wording differed new uumbers. If they could agree to only in that two sets of plans and sections release 80 wires he thought they should ware required instead of one, in order that provide an exchange and service, free of "the Council would be in a position to see charge, The resolution was then carried. that there were no alterations or additions i Mr. DEMARETZ then said that he had been made without the necessary consent having directed by the President of the French been first chained. The Resolution was Chamber of Commerce to state that they were willing to do everything in their WATER CHARGES.
power to help towards the establishment of an exchange on Shameen. The wins were quite useless, at present and they would, if necessary, share in the cost of improvemente.
carried.
Mr. Bord, seconded by Mr. FORRET, put forward Resolution G:-
THE DEPRECIATION, QUESTION.
The Coroner: And the Chief Officer was still not visible at the time?-No. You did not see the Chief Engineer
Xo.
Mr. Hancock: You did not at any time, in the course of the piracy, see the hosun on the bridge No.
has
THE CARPENTER'S STORY. Chan Cheung, No. 1 carpenter of the 8.3. Tui Lee for two years, said that at was weighed at Wong Moon he was working the windlass on the main deck whilst the bosun was at the fo castile, head, directing opera- tions. He then climbed a ladder for'ard to 'tween decks, and then on to the upper deck by the companionway amidships. On his way up he passed the bosun on the fo'castle deck securing the anchor. The grille of the companionway was down and locked and he had to ask the Indian Guard to open it for him. He went to his cabin aft on the upper deck. The bosum and the No. 2 carpenter shared the cabin with him. Four or five minutes after he arrived there the boson came along with two other men whom he did not know. The bosun said the two men were his friends and asked witness to light a lamp as they were going to smoke opium. As there was no cpium, the hosun went away and came back two minutes later with a pot of opium. They all three finished the pet of opium and went away together. A few minutes later, whilst lying on his hunk, he heard the sound of fre-arms. He got up and closed the door. As he "was unfastening the hook one of the crew appeared cut- side and said: "Don't close the door. if you do you will be shot." He did not go outside. About 4-a.m. the boun came back with a pirate (who was armed) and ordered him to go for ard and let go the anchor. He did so.
Questioned by the Coroner as to a statement by one of the Indian Guards that the bosun had gone up, on the top deck before him, after weighing anchor at Wong Moon, the witness said that this Was not true. He was certain that he, (witncaa) went up first.
The Coroner: Well, then, is it true that as the guard bent down to lock the grille after you had passed through, he was shot and mortally wounded through the grille-I know nothing about that. That
is untrue.
The Jury decided that as further evi- dence was necessary and the bearing of evidence was closed.
The Coroner, intimated that it would be necessary for him to sum up at some length and that either Mr. Brutton or Mr. Hind would probably desire to address the Court from the point of the view of their clients. The Jury, he thought, would not much have to find as to the actual cause of the death of Capt. Willox. but to consider any rider they might think necessary. For this be proposed to adjourn the proceedings to another after-
noon.
The Enquiry was adjourned until Fri-
Nor hear his voice 1--No. The Coroner: Well, the Chief Officer day afternoon..
evidence that when he went on the bridge the boun came to him on the bridge and said to pirates were on board? I did not see the bosum speak to the Chief Officer.
Witness, in reply to Mr. Hind, said that the whistle blown from the shore was similar to that used on ships by the bosun.
1)
COMPRADOBE RE-CALLED.
The Compradore, re-called, said he was responsible for the first-class Chinese passengers on board. On the night of the piracy, there were only three first class passengers on the boat deck. One
two were his staff officera.
ALLEGED THEFT OF RICE. ASSISTANT COMPRADORE OF THE
S.S."TEAN" CHARGED.
At the Magistracy, yesterday morning; before Mr. R. E. Lindsel, a Chinese, named Tam Kuen, described as the assist- ant compradore of the ss. Tean, of the China Navigation Company, was charged with the larceny of 10 sacks of rice, the property of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire. charged with receiving the alleged stolen
property.
יו
Mr. D. McCallum appeared for the first defendant and asked for a formal remaad of ons week. This was granted and the defendants werd allowed out on bail of 81,000 each.
The Charges for water supplied by the Council shall be at the rate of cents per 1.000 gallons provided that: (n) no charge shall be nude where, the Mr. BOND then said that the Council of them was a friend of his; the other Another man, named Tsing Ying, was
quarterly consumption of any build-wished to obtain an expression of opinion
Oh he is General, then, is hat quer ing does not exceed in value 1% of from the meeting about the sinking fund, the assessed rental of such building
After a short discussion H. M. Cossued the Coroner.
Witness: He is the Commander of a for the quarter.
GENERAL put to the meeting Mr. Bond's
d's Brigade. (b) where the consumption of water in question whether the ratepayers were
in excess na aforesaid, only such
The Coroner: What? Commander of agreeable that a sinking fund should be the brigands? (Laughter.)} experi shall be charged for.
to meet t depreciation, which winking
Witness: No, no; Commander of a Mr. FORREST stated that the Council fund would recessitate an incrgus in the had not proposed to change the rate for rates.-at the same time stating that an
in Brigade.
Witness went on to say that these three water from 60 cmly a gallon but they expremiun of opinion, if made would be
The occupied one cabin. wished to obtain from thủ ratopayers an no way binding on the ratepayers. expression of opinion in regard to the meeting thon divided as follows: other first-class cabins were not occupied sinking fund. For this year the Council Ayes: Lt.-Col. Crosse, besary, Bond, by Chinese as far as he knew. When the ship reached Kongmoon the three was only naking for bare expenses and Forrest and Austin, was leaving the question of depreciation Noes: Mess Sutton, Wallis, Hogg, passengers were still on board. These for appreciation) to be settled by the new Campbell Kitching, Ferbos, Lang, Sande passengers travelled free. He did not know whether any of the passengers Council and the expression of opinion maa, Clark, Button and Benson,
(second-class) were taken ashore by the of the meeting,
pirates.
(Continued on next columa.)
Mr. SUTTON said he gathered that there was not enough income from the water works to cover depreciation, 2
The
AN UNWANTED PATIK.
Mr. Browse then proposed that the path between the foothil ground and the
band be removed.
passengers
VOTE OF THANKS.
4 vote of thanks was offered to the
Mr. Bonn replied that the income from Mr. Bonn objected that inflict the water works was $19,193.43 grows notice of the proposal had been given, but profits, Allowing for proper deprecia H. M. Consul General ruled that notics tion, he arrived at $714.25 on buildings, was not necessary excopt at a special mert Chairman of the meeting and by HM ing. After some discussion Mr. Browns Consul General to the outgoing Council amended his proposal and suggested that whereupon B.M. Consul General declared the incoming Council consider the removal the meeting closed. of the path in question.
$7,706 on machinery, 2464.40 on water meters and 88.910 interest on capital routlay at 7 percent, which roproerted tx not lose actually of 48,812 cu the under taking.
(Continued at foot of next colump.)
The minutes are signed by Mr. Bertran Gile H.B.M. Consul General Ugaton
1:
"HEWS AND VIEWS.
Both the local evening papers yester day published special, articles on the Murch Settlement, which took place yesterday,
'One Baid: Ice House Street was a .scene of much activity this morn- ing, brokers and broker's clerks scudding up and down with bugdles of cheques and scrip like aats op an antheap.'
The other said: "Ice Hosée Street bas been almost deserted all day, office work claiming the attendance of brokers and their assistants,”. You pay your money and take your choice.
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THE
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DAY SHIRTS:
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AND
7.50 9.50
6.00
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UNDER-SHIRTS
TRUNK DRAWERS 6.00 COMBINATIONS
SIZES TO FIT THE SMALLEST AND LARGEST MAN
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PURE FRUIT ESSENCE MAKES REFRESHING SUMMER DRINKS 35 cents will make 35 ozs. Syrup
LEMON
BANANA PINEAPPLE
RASPBERRIES
POMEGRANATE
MANDARINE
CHERRY
STRAWBERRY APRICOTS ORANGEADE
THE CHINA DISPENSARY
L1123
82, QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL, HONGKONG.
ENGLISH
RECORDS
(COLUMBIA" NEW-PROCESS)
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L1169 SAINT-SAENS TRIO 1 F.
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VESTS OF DRAWERS
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