461
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in Peel Street, and a Barber, next door but one to her house, occasions on which I had a quarrel with Mr Caldwell. I who gave me information in answer to an inquiry of mine on was officiating as Registrar General and Protector of Chinese this subject on the 11th or 12th of May last, should be called. for five or six years up to the time that Mr Caldwell was ap- This inquiry was a voluntary one, and the result was pointed to those offices,—I have never since then expressed a communicated to the Attorney General. I never employed desire to be appointed Registrar General.
About eight or any person directly to make inquiries. I gave a suggestion, nine months ago, when I had a conversation with the Acting not a direction, to Lyons, about ascertaining from the Colonial Secretary on the subject of Police, I stated that if it occupants, who they considered were the owners. I inquir- was considered by H. M.'s Government, that it would be for the ed of Lyons if he knew if Mr Caldwell owned any property interests of the public that Mr Caldwell should have the in Taipingshan. He said, "I do; he owns lot 206.". I asked Superintendence of the Police, I would most gladly take the him how he knew it, and he said Mr Caldwell had acknow-office of the Registrar General; I expressed no wish, but ledged himself to be the owner to him, when he had occasion said it rather in irony than otherwise. I did not ask it in to go to Mr Caldwell on business as Inspector of Nuisances Inspector Roberts is a member of the Police force
the slightest degree as a favour to myself, I did not say has that such an arrangement would be the means of putting made inquiries concerning the Ma-chow Wong branch thetop to any hostility on my part towards, or disputes between, inquiry; he has not done so by my direction, but in the myself and Mr Caldwell, or anything to that effect. I have pursuit of his inquiries he has acted upon my advice, s to emphatically disavowed on many occasions, and I believe then, the mode in which he should conduct them. Precisely the hostility to Mr Caldwell, and I do so now.
I did that Saine remark applies to Lyons.
say I think it would be believed the hatred of Mr Caldwell towards me, arising out imprudent in the present stage of inquiry, were I give f Ma-chow Wong's conviction, would never cease, and I say the names of others from whom I have sought information so now. I recollect some three or four years ago having a con- regarding the Ma-chow Wong branch of the inquiry. versation with Mr Caldwell, in which it was mooted between Cross-examined,—I have been on terms of acquaintance-as, that an arrangement by which he would be Superintendent ship, but not intimacy, with Mrs Caldwell, since she resided of Police, and I Registrar General, would be very pleasant. `at the Police Station-for about six years back. I went to I spoke to Mr Mercer about it. There would have been no their house on the occasion of their giving parties, bet net pecuniary benefit to me. I do not know what Mr Caldwel's half-a-dozen times otherwise. Within the last six salary s; my salary is £575, horse and quarters. I have since my family went to England, I may have dined 3 times owned houses which were occupied as brothels to my know- with them on Christinas days-but not more than 3 times. Hedge, but not with my consent.
I did all in my power to During the time I was on these terms with 'Mr and Mrs Murn the brothel-keepers out, but was unsuccessful by reason Caldwell, I believed that she had been taken out of a brothel of the then defective state of the law in that respect. I -but by this I do not mean that I believed she was in
in any way asked additional powers from the Executive, but I received connected with the business of a brothel, but only an inmate none. This matter was inquired into by the Government at Aof one. Her manners and demeanour, and the management of the time, and they expressed their satisfaction with my con- her household, were always marked by strict propriety of duct. I believe, but do not know, that Mr Caldwell resigned. conduct, and were those of a gentle woman; but the in-his appointment in 1855, because the Government refused to herent character of the Chinese, derived from education, increase his salary; I know he applied for an increase, bus manners, and custom, are not in my opinion iner, more on reconsideration I think he left the service because he than in any of her countrywomen, eradicated by her marriage purchased the Eaglet. with Mr Caldwell. By inherent character I mean the making use of position and power to of services rendered, The inquiries I made,
evidêng
ed,
FREDERICK WOODS, Recalled.
but that I did purchase at auction lots 206, 263, and 264, which were, I believe, Mr Caldwell's property in November last year. The part which I stated as mortgaged remains on the security of deeds. I have no anxiety about not
Referring to my answer when previously examined, as to I have given, and suggestions and advice
whether I had bought land from Mr Caldwell in Taiping- were not prompted by any private motives, but from the deshan, I have to state, that I did not purchase land of him, sire for the public good-morality was not the subject of my thoughts. I remember in 1851 giving Mr Strachan itor mation, which induced him to write an arti in his paper regarding Mr Caldwell's informant, in reference to an attack ou the steamer Hongkong. I know that the statement in being paid, and have no reason for supposing I shan't be paid. the article was proved to be untrue.Mr Caldwell wrote ay grounds for believing that there was a brothel on lot letter to the China Mail on the subject, and I reported that 206, is the fact that every house in Taipingshan is more or circumstance to the Governor. The result was a written less a brothel. apology from Mr Caldwell to me, relative to his conduct. E Cross-examined.—I believe that Assow and Lum Ateeu have it at home, and can produce it. I thought Ma-chowaid come to me before or after-I think after-Mr Caldwell Wong was the informant; and this was one of the two spoke to me of the purchase.
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Re-examined. It was within a fortnight after the Western ground than I, and that he pays the whole with my part. I arket sale in November last] that I resold one of the knew that the three houses next me used to be Mr Cald- ops to a Chinaman through Mr Caldwell. I have sold well's. In September or October last, Mr Caldwell and Ateen more land this year to Mr Caldwell, or through him told me, that Ateen had purchased them, and that I was to I told Mr May that the shops formerly Chinaman. I explicitly told the Colonial Treasurer and pay the rent to him. Astorney General, that I had not sold any lots to Mr Cald- belonged to Mr Caldwell. Mr May's question was, “Ate well this year, either to himself or through him as agent, these houses Mr Caldwell's;" I said "Yes," and he then went Caldwell has no interest in any purchase of land by away. When I said this to Mr May, I did not recollect that 'Ateen had come for the rents. Lum Ateen gave me the e this year. I had a section of lot 209 which I bought at
house blic Auction in the latter part of last year. At the time receipt, and he is the landlord; Lum Ateen came to my
for the rent. About April or May 1857, Mr Caldwell was Ibought it, it was in the name of Sheik Moosdeen.
The section was sold at Public Auction, about a going to sell all his houses; and I went to him and asked him ortnight after the fire, and the transfer was made within a
to sell me one of them, and he told me that he would only fortnight after that time; it was sold to Achong, the P. & O. sell them all together. Mr Caldwell never wanted to buy comprador. I never heard Mr Caldwell's name in the from me.
matter.
LEUNG ATAI.-Called and examined.
I am aware that a relation of mine has lately wished to sell to Mrs Caldwell two shops, numbered, I think, 381 and 332. They were entrusted to me for sale. I first went to Mr May, who could not give me the price I asked. I saw Mr May him- f I do not know a woman called Aoi. Mr May only red $400 and odd, and I asked upwards of $500. afterwards went to Sze-kai's shop; Sze-kai asked me where I had been; I said that I had been to Mr May's about
sale of my relation's houses. Sze-kai and I Went ation, and Sze-kai dealt personally with him, but I was not sent. I know that Sze-kai has bought the houses, because I ked my relation when Mr May requested me, and my relation
to my
me they had been sold to Sze-kai's mistress, who is Mrs Caldwell, for $500, of which $400 had been paid, and remainder was to be paid when the ground lease was
This was about ten days ago. examined,I went to the Central Police Station to Mr May; I was never offered $420 or any other sum by Chinese woman in European clothes or any other female the houses. When Mr May saw the houses, he said were old and broken down, and not worth so much. not know whether Mr May wanted to buy the houses, mself, or as agent for any one. My relation is called Tong Achewy and lived a litte way below the Police Cation.
MARIA-Called and examined.
Adjourned till Noon, 9th June.
SEVENTH DAY.
Wednesday, 9th June, 1858, at 12 o'clock Noon. Present,-All the Members.
On the termination of the proceedings on the 7th instant, the Hon'ble the Attorney General handed in a letter of protest, against the manner of taking the evidence of the Chinese, as being wholly favorable to Mr Caldwell.
From this opinion of the Honorable the Attorney General the Commission entirely dissent.
[Mak Afook's account books of rents received produced.]
J.MONGAN, Assistant Chinese Secretary, and examined.
-
-Called
There is no entry in either of these books from which it may appear upon whose account the rents have been collected.
MAK AFOOK,-Called and examined.
The rents of which there are entries in this book are in respect of the 22 houses, and of one of the other three.
LUM ATEEN,-Recalled.
[Produces five documents in Chinese, being copies of ground leases and mesne assignments, and also the receipt of
the Colonial Treasurer for £2.2.5 received on the 26th Feb- reside a little below Mr Strachan's house. Three doorsruary 1858, from Mr Caldwell, on account of Chew Alai, in my house there is a house which formerly belonged to respect of lots 238 C, 240, and 250; also, like receipt on the Caldwell and which I heard was sold in the middle of same date for £8.14.7 from Mr Caldwell on account of at year. On the 19th April, I paid the ground rent Lum Ateen, in respect of lots 179, 241 B, 241 C, 242 B, and to Lum Ateen. When Mr Rienecker was here I paid the $262, also of receipt on the 15th December 1857 by F. Wogds ground rent to him; afterwards for about two years to of $1,500 from Lum Ateen, as part of purchase-money of lots
Caldwell; and the at six months rent to Lum Atcen. Lum teen came to me for the ground rent about the beginning of February last, when I said I had not the money. that my house is Number 72 or 76, but I am not The reason I pay ground rent to Lum Ateen is, that
is in the same lot with his, that he has more acknowledgment by Siemssen & Co. of the receipt by them
206, 263, and 264, sold to him for the sum of $3,000, with an agreement that the balance shall remain on security of the premises at interest; also, the receipts given by F. Woods to Lum Ateen for the interest on the said sum of $1,500, from the 15th December 1857 to the 31st May 1858; also, an