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THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th, 1928.
BIG EXPLOSION IN FRUIT TAX RESIST-ROUND THE POLICE BREACH OF RESTAURANT
CANTON.
ANOTHER MUNITION FAC- TORY BLOWN UP.
A SHOWER OF DEBRIS.
THE CITY SCARED.
[YROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT. ¡
CAYTON, Sept. 6th.
A terriño explosion occurred yes- terday morning at about 5-o'clock
ANCE.
CANTON GOVERNMENT
YIELDING.
MERCHANTS' SUCCESSFUL.
OPPOSITION.
COURTS.
THREE BAD BOYS.
AT THE KOWLOON MAGIS- TRACY.
Two Police recruits were sent in plain clothes on August 31st to the restaurant and ordered beer after a p.m.
***WANGHAI RESTAURANT *- PROPRIETOR FINED.
TWO POLICE DECOYS,
M... Kato Yucho, proprietor of At the Kowloon Hagistracy before
the Wanchai Restaurant, was sumi- Mr. W. Schoßeld yesterday morning
moned before Mr. R. E. Lindsell [FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT- the Foo Loong Firm, contractors at the "Central Magistracy for in- to the F.W.D., were summoned for fringing the conditions of his CANTON, Sept. 5th.. opening and closing a valve attach-license by selling beer without also The wholesale fruit dealers in ed to a pedestal fire hydrant with serving a meal, and also for sell- Canton are still on strike, no satis-out permission, with injuring the ing beer after 9 p... factory agreement having been valve and drawing water without in the Second Munition Factory on reached with the Municipal Gov-permission. Tung Shah Road in the northernment as regards its recent im- The defendante who were engaged eastern part of Canton, injuring position of the 23 per cent. ad in repairing the roadway, admitted persons, two probably fatally.....
valorem duty on all fruit entering the offence and were fined $10 on The catastrophe, was again du Canton. The merchants concerned the first and #95 on the second and to the carelessness of workinen
preferred to close up their shops also ordered to pay $15 for the who were drying high explosives.
and quit business sooper than pay damage caused.. The detonation was so great that
the tax which they consider it shook the surrounding buildings like an earthquake." The Provincial Kuomintang Headquarters about" a block away to the south of the Factory had most of its windows broken and several persons were thrown out of bed. The Kwong Wah Branch Hospital and the Holy Trinity College, a British institu tion, all situated near the Factory, were similarly shaken and dam aged.
The explosion was ao terrific
absurd and unreasonable." They argue that the Government is con- tradicting itself when one day it declares it will abolish all vexatious and oppressive taxes and give re- lief to the people, while the next day it imposes more “
abominable taxes."
This fruit import tax which the merchants are opposing is, it is contended, an example of oppressive taxation.
\
SMUGGLING FROM HONAM. that it shattered the roofs and greater part of the walls of the Ever since the strike started four small drying buildings. Im-nearly three weeks ago, the, con- mediately after the report the
ately back with broken sumption of fruit in the city has sky bricks, tiles, machinery and pipes, been considerably decreased. The These were hurled in every diree prices for a time soared on account tion over a block away and car- ried terror and destruction in all of the threatening shortage. But directions. Many of these pieces the city has been fairly well sup- of flying debris smashed through plied with "fruits by people from the windows and root of the Honam who daily ferry their goods Kwong Wah Branch Hospital nearby and lodged in the plaster to Canton in small boats. For a of the inside walls. One big time these new fruit dealers suc- piece of iron pipe, which belong- ed to a steam boiler, was hurled ceeded in evading the tax farmers directly through the window of a room on the south side of the Hospital where a patient was sleeping. Fortunately, the sick man cacaped injury and was only given a terrible scare,
FIRE BREAKS OUT. A serious fire immediately follow ed the explosion, and soon spread to the adjacent building where rifle ammunition was stored. The car tridges went off in rapid, succes- sion, the noise resembling a bat- tery of machine-guns in action. In less than a minute these five emall buildings were a. mass of flames shooting up like a volcanic eruption. The conflagration was rendered more terrifying by the in- eesaant explosions of gunpowder and cartridges.
Three big out bursts of flames shot high into the sky in rapid succession, caused it was thought by the firing of some chemicals, probably lithium-com- pounds.
18
"A SET OF YOUNG RASCALS."
Sub-Inspector James prosecuted three Chinese boys whom he called "a set of rascals.” Many a time had he thrashed them, he said, with the cobsent of their parents yet here they were again on a charge of larceny.
The "rascals who were accom panied in the dock by a bigger lad aged 17, had stolen a clock from St. Mary's School, Chatham Road, and the older boy had bought it from them. Two of the boys bad got in by the kitchen window while the third was on guard outside, the big boy bought the loot later for
40 cents.
The "fence got three months' hard labour and the two older of the boys 12 strokes of the birch or if unfit six weeks' "hard." Tho baby of the party was sentenced to
Detective Sergt. Goodwin went to the shop at 30 pt. and found that beer bad been served. It is understood that the restaurant was under suspicion at the time and that the two officers were seat as decori.
CONTRACTORS' DISPUTE.
NEED OF POLICE GUARDS.
JUDGMENT RESERVED.
The case in which a building con- tractor in suing the Wing On Lung of 29, D'Aguilar Street, far #881.30 for work done in respect of six houses, came up again before the Puisne Judge (Mr. Justice P. Jacks) at the Summary Court yes terday morning.
The defendant counter-claimed for $1,000.
Mr. A. el Arculli was for the plaintiff and Mr. M. K. Lo for the- defence.
It is alleged by plaintiff that..be contracted to do the masonry for 83,400. This was completed with the exception of work worth $7, which he was prevented from finish- ing because he was obstructed. Defendant states that plaintiff ceased work without good reason and that his men intimidated other workmen brought in to finish the job with the result that police guards bad to be obtained. Ho further alleges that it cost $330 to finish the work, exclusive of the cost of materials,
"No Speakes English ↑ "*' P.C. Packson said that he and P.C. 119 went to the Wanchai Resturant at 8.45 p.m. in plain clothes. The clock in the shop showed 8.40 p.m. They were taken to a table and handed a menu, but it was written in Chinese or
Defendant agreed in answer to Japanese. A Japanese woman ap- Mr. el Arculli that he had said peared and witness pointed to the that he was satisfied at the begin- menu and said "e no savvyzing but when the plaintiff stopped two beers please." As the women work he was not satisfied. left witness said that he took the opportunity to look at his watch and compare it with the clock in the shop; which showed that the shop's clock was five minutes slow. The woman returned with two bottles of beer and two glasses. Witness gave 81.30 to the woman who replied with thanks.
P.C. 119 then asked the lady if business was good but the lady
and walked away..
and got their wares over to Canton six strokes or three weeks' imprison-replied "I so speakes English'
unmolested. But they were 8000-ment. caught and made to pay the 2} për cent. imposition tax which they did. They erected temporary matsheds along the Bund near the Cantan Light and Power Electric Co. to dispose of their goods. The city retail fruit dealers also accepted the position and have been buying their fruit from these temporary dealers.
CLIMBING DOWN.
STOWAWAYS.
"
At 5.55 pm. an American sailor came in and a man whom witness took to be the proprietor entered, Three Chinese were charged with looked around and walked out stowing-away on the as St. Albans Witness said that he finished his which arrived on Tuesday from Ausglass of beer at 18.12 p.m. and tralia and Manila. They were disked the fame inly for another covered among the 3rd class passen gers and arrested. The defendants who pleaded guilty were each fined $15 or three weeks' hard labour.
*......
bottle. Witness said that they remained smoking and drinking until 8.30 p.m. Sergeant Goodwin then entered in plain cicthes and they left the shop...
If your story is true you are asking us to believe you were satis- fed with the plaintiff not working from July to October 1-He could not start work in July as I had to do some concrete work. -
||
plaintiff was only allowed 50 days Owing to your own delay, the
to do work, which you say, would take five months 1-We must reckon the five monks from the day be
started.
Defendant said that he arranged with plaintiff with regard to a time limit and that he also showed the contract, plans and specifica- tions. Defendant admitted that there was no mention of that in entries had been made by a clerk the books, but explained that the who had probably forgotten:
Mr. Arcull: I must ask your. Lordship to note that reply. Judgment was reserved.
QUININE AFTER ALL.
P.C. Mackay (119) who accom panied the last witness to the restaurant · corroborated the evi dence given. He did not have a watch hut P.C. Packson showed him his watch after the first beer MAGISTRATES WARNING TO
had been served.
A JAPANESE.
A Chinese was sentenced to four months' bard. Iabour on a charge of loitering with intent to break in and steal. He was arrested at
Sorgeant Goodwin then gave the rear of the Ngai Hing Knitting formal evidence and said that he Factory in the early hours of Tues-informed the proprietor that he
Kukimoto, the Japanese who wai day morning and was found to be had reported the incident for the armed with two hammers, & BAW,
purpose of a summons.. This wit arrested .on Friday last and Desa also corroborated the state charged with possession of"50,000 and a pair of pincers. He admitted ment that the clock in the shop heroin pills was discharged by Mr. that he carried the implements for was five minutes slow. His watch, E. Lindsell at the Central the purpose of breaking into the the Central Police Station before Magistracy yesterday. building and stealing a sewing they left. machine.
It is reported, however, that the WANTED A SEWING MACHINE. Municipal Government is prepar ing to yield to the merchants and to cancel this new tax. It is of the opinion that the continuance of the strike does the city more harm than good. The Hop Tick Co. which has been empowered by the Muni- cipality upon payment of a heavy sum of money to collect this tax and turn part of it over to the Government, is also getting dis couraged at not being able to col Meanwhile the Police, the Fire lest nearly as much as it expected, Brigade, and the First Aid Corps losing proposition, as the small of the Kwong Wah Hospital were suma collected from the temporary summoned, and quickly arrived on fruit dealers is not enough even to the scene of the catastrophe with all meet expenses. The Company will necessary paraphernalia. The Police further learned. that the Municipal probably give up its job. It is
net a cordon around the area," | Government has only given a allowing no one to pass in or out The Fire Brigade drew their water "from the pood in front of the Holy Trinity College, whilst the First
Its officers declare that it is o
twenty days trial to the Company, the allofted period will expire to- marrow, it is understood that the Government will let the matter drop. If this is true, the fruit merchants will reopen their shops
A MOSQUITO FARM.
it
The Sanitary Board have, appears, had difficulty in prevent ing the breeding of mosquitos on piece of land in Hai Tan Street where several firms are in the
was checked with P.C. Pockson at
Mr. F. H. Loseby pho appeared
Chief Preventive Officer Clarke,
on behalf of the defendant called who was prosecuting, handed Mr. the Japanese female servant who Lindsell the Analyst's certificate waited on the two plain clothes and asked for permission to "with policemen. She said that the men draw the summons.
came in the shop at 8.10 p.m. One
Mr. H. A. Taylor was naked by
of them ordered two bottles of beer and as she could not pader stand them, nor they her, sier. Lindsell whether he could say thought that they would order what, in fact, were these pink pills. meals later. At 840 p.m. the men
Mr. Taylor: They are, in fact, quinine pills.
Aid workers dashed into the Fae and again carry on their business molasses and similar.trades. Pro-asked for another bottle of beer.
tory buildings to carry out the in- as usual to-morrow.
jured. The fire lasted three hours.
secution has followed prosecution and yesterday morning it was the and was not extinguished until. 8
turn of the Tak Lee Loong firm o'clock in the morning.
Not knowing what the real cause who were charged with allowing
these unfortunate It was extremely fortunate that the was,
people explosion occurred at 5 o'clock in thought that the end of the world mosquitos to breed in jars, pools the morning, for no one except the had come and fled in all directions and other receptacles. night watchmen were up at that screaming with fright Earthen
The defendant firm pleaded guilty early hour. Had it occurred later jars were smashed and the crowd on during working hours, the conran leaving their baskets, konge, and, although the manager had had sequences would have been appall and bamboo poles behind." It is a similar conviction in June last, ing. As it was no one was in not known whether any of these in view of the fact that he had either the explosive drying rooms early hawkers was injured. Their made efforts to abate the nuisance or in the rifle ammunition store, belongings were collected after since the summons was served on All the injuries were due to shocks wards by the rescuing party. him, his Worship imposed a fine and flying debris and being The people in the vicinity of the of only 825 and ordered that the thrown violently from the beds Factory were also given a scare. nuisance be abated to the satisfac on to the cement floor. The night They jumped out of their bede and tion of the Sanitary Departamcat watchmen on the premiaca were the listened in silent apprehension. within seven days. people who suffered most. One Many thought that another Com- had his skull fractured and is in munist uprising had occurred and a precarious condition in the were preparing to flee to safety as Kwong Wah Hospital. Another they did in December Inst. received laceration and deep cuts their.. fears and apprehension about the body, fãce and feet. quickly subsided upon learning the
real facts of the explosion. PANIC IN THE STREETS. Subsequent investigation reveal- ed that practically all the furni- At the time of the explosion ture, machinery, etc., in the other there was a group of hawkers and buildings of the Factory were peddlers carrying large baskets badly damaged by the concussion. and earthen jars along the maloo Many things had fallen and were in front of the Factory on their either partially or completely at the Central Magistraer that way to the market. When the ex-broken. The General Office, which plosion occurred, they were thrown is at some distance away from the off their feet into the air. A mo- source of explosion was also par ment later the volley of rifle shots tially demolished and half of the was heard and the terrible storm roof caved in. A rough estimate of bricks and iron began to shower of the total damages thus incur- down from the sky.
en by the authorities won red, given (Continued on next Column). cerned, is 850,000.
But
AT THE CENTRAL MAGIS TRACY,
THOSE GARDENERS
AGAIN."
Witness said that she wanted to tell them to order meals but The Magistrate: Have you ever couldn't speak.. The Magistrate pointed out to the witness that seen quinine pills made up like liquor." it was her duty to refuse the that before-No, I never have.
The They Look Like Hercia. P
Do they, in fact, resemble the ordinary heroin pills which have
closely resemble them been seized lately 1-They very
The Magistrate then told Mr. Loseby that the woman was a very poor witace to which Mr. Losgby replied that He was afraid that it
WAS,80.
His Worship was then 'informed that the café had a clear record and with no previous conviction of similar nature.
both counts and ordered to pay a The proprietor was convicted on fine of $50 on each count.
FIFTEEN-FOOT, SNAKE.
CAUGHT ON GREEN ISLAND.
Is it likely that the defendant was palming off these quinine pilla as heroin pills? It is very likely
Clarke of the price that was asked on the face of the statement of Mr.
for them.
་ ིི་
His Worship then told the des fendant, through a Japanese inter- preter, that the pills seized did not, in fact, contain morphia and there- fore he was discharged. His Wor A äfteen-foot snake el brown chip added that it looked very colour was killed on Green Island much as if defendant was trying by the Sub-Inspector of the Light to sell his pills na. morphía pills, house, Mr. G. F. Taylor. The whereas, in fact, they were not. reptile was brought to Hong Kong
The defendant said that the pills and its skin cured: An interesting point is that after it had been did not belong to him, and he was cured the whole skin could be not trying to chest anybody. neatly wrapped into a parcel about # foot long
His Worship: Quinine pills, are It appears that its presence was not made up like that. These pille for the defence, said that his client suspected on the tiny island how have been made to resemble mor was not a director, as alleged. The it got there is a mystery and a
Twenty-seven employees of the Ming Yuen Gardens, North Point, complained, to Mr. RE. Lindsel
Leung Sik Fan, director of the gardens, owed them a total of 8789.20 as wages.
Mr. J. M. d'Almada Remedios,
case was fixed for hearing on Mon-small parts was organised to hunt Phia nills. I advise you to be more
idow day next at 11.30 am,
ではま
5
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