28
with which the convict Huffam was connected, I am met with difficulties which the power of the Chief Justice enables him to raise, and which I am unable to overcome. I have through the medium of the Chief Justice asked to have brought to the notice of His Excellency one of these obstructions, but with the ingenuity of the Chief Justice and the advantage which his position and long acquaintance with the colony gives him I am powerless to contend any longer.
The Chief Justice has written me two long letters dated respectively June 24, 1880, and July 30, 1880, which I have answered categorically in my letters dated respectively June 25, 1880, and August 3, 1880, and when I have asked him, as I did in my letter dated August 10, 1880, as the responsible head of the office for definite instructions for my guidance and to state who are the subordinate officers whom I am required to control and supervise, he has delegated to his clerk the duty of acknowledging my letter, and by that medium on August 12, 1880, desired me in future to write to him through his clerk and referred me for particulars I required to Mr. Sangster.
It was the case, as before stated, and contained in the letters mentioned which I wished to be brought to the notice of the Secretary of State, for I find in my present position. I am not only subjected to personal treatment which is almost intolerable, but my usefulness as a public servant is reduced to a nullity. I am satisfied that the conduct of the Chief Justice will not be approved of by the authorities in England, and as my health will not enable me to bear much longer the harass and worry which it causes, I must pray His Excellency to accord me an inquiry, and failing that, to obtain the sanction of the Secretary of State to my being released from my engagement as soon as another gentleman can be appointed to succeed me.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
HY. FREDERICK GIBBONS,
Registrar.
29
APPENDIX No. 5.
The Hon. F. STEWART, LL.D., Acting Colonial Secretary.
SIR,
SUPREME COURT HONG-KONG
September 9th, 1880.
Among the bankruptcies which I found pending when I took charge of my office in April last, was that of Ng A Kui, a female, who was adjudicated bankrupt in March 1878, but who has never surrendered. On looking into the papers which I found in the office, it appeared that the bankrupt was connected with several brothel keepers in the colony, and that a large majority of the creditors who had proved were females.
The assets consisted of a life interest in some Chinese Houses, which appeared to have been let on lease by my predecessor in office, without having obtained (as far as I could ascertain) any order of the Court and contrary (as far as my information goes) to the principles on which official assignees generally act, and the practice in bankruptcy. This lease had been prepared by Messrs. Brereton and Wotton to one Leong Cheong, and the rents received from him were paid to me. Finding on enquiry that several of the houses were of a disreputable character, I mentioned to the Chief Justice my objection to being connected with the management of any such property; on which he said that it was not thought anything of in the colony and that if I wished to make any objection, I had better place it before him formally: I had before then prepared a report asking for directions to hold a dividend meeting for the purpose of distributing among the creditors the moneys which were then in hand, but after the before-mentioned intimation of the Chief Justice, I prepared a further report, setting out the nature of the bankrupt's interest, the probability of the parties entitled in reversion becoming the purchasers, and the character of the tenants, and praying for directions as to a sale. These reports were presented to the Chief Justice in
277
28
with which the convict Huffam was connected, I am met with difficulties which the power of the Chief Justice enables him to I have through the raise, and which I am unable to overcome. medium of the Chief Justice asked to have brought to the notice of His Excellency one of these obstructions, but with the ingenuity of the Chief Justice and the advantage which his posi tion and long acquaintance with the colony gives him I am power- less to contend any longer.
The Chief Justice has written me two long letters dated respectively June 24, 1880, and July 30, 1880, which I have answered categorically in my letters dated respectively June 25, 1880, and August 3, 1880, and when I have asked him, as I did in my letter dated August 10, 1880, as the responsible head of the office for definite instructions for my guidance and to state who are the subordinate officers whom I am required to control and supervise, he has delegated to his clerk the duty of acknowledging my letter, and by that medium on August 12, 1880, desired me in future to write to him through his clerk and referred me for particulars I required to Mr. Sangster.
It was the case, as before stated, and contained in the letters mentioned which I wished to be brought to the notice of the Secretary of State, for I find in my present position. I am not only subjected to personal treatment which is almost intolerable, but my usefulness as a public servant is reduced to a nullity. I am satisfied that the conduct of the Chief Justice will not be approved of by the authorities in England, and as my health will not en- able me to bear much longer the harass and worry which it causes, I must pray His Excellency to accord me an inquiry, and failing that, to obtain the sanction of the Secretary of State to my being released from my engagement as soon as another gentleman can be appointed to succeed me.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
HY. FREDERICK GIBBONS,
Registrar.
(
29
APPENDIX No. 5.
The Hon. F. STEWART, LL.D., Acting Colonial Secretary.
SIR,
SUPREME COCKT HONG-KONG
"September agth, 1880.
(Omitting the formal parts.)
Among the bankruptcies which I found pending when I took charge of my office in April last, was that of Ng A Kui, a fernale, who was adjudicated bankrupt in March 1878, but who has never surrendered. On looking into the papers which I found in the office, it appeared that the bankrupt was connected with several brothel keepers in the colony, and that a large majority of the creditors who had proved were females.
The assets consisted of a life interest in some Chinese Houses, which appeared to have been let on lease by my predecessor in office, without having obtained (as far as I could ascertain) any order of the Court and contrary (as far as my information goes) to the principles on which official assignees generally act, and the practice in bankruptcy. This lease had been prepared by Messrs. Brereton and Wotton to one Leong Cheong, and the rents re- ceived from him were paid to me. Finding on enquiry that several of the houses were of a disreputable character, I mentioned to the Chief Justice my objection to being connected with the management of any such property; on which he said that it was not thought anything of in the colony and that if I wished to make any objection, I had better place it before him formally: T had before then prepared a report asking for directions to hold a dividend meeting for the purpose of distributing among the cre- ditors the moneys which where then in hand, but after the before- mentioned intimation of the Chief Justice, I prepared a further report, setting out the nature of the bankrupt's interest, the pro- bability of the parties entitled in reversion becoming the pur chasers, and the character of the tenants, and paying for directions as to a sale. These reports were presented to the Chief Justice in
277
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