1914-03-10 — Page 3

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ELECTRICITY IN HONGKONG

[COMMUNICATED]

There are three facts which strike the technical man as curious, concerning the supply of electricity in Hongkong. Two of these facts are easily understandable by the general public; the third is so much mixed up with purely engineering problema that it will be merely mentioned, but it is by far the most important. The first two fects may be easily changed at any time the third must be changed now or never.

THE PRICE PER UNIT

As the purchaser of any commodity the most important person to consider, from the business man's point of view

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESE, TUESDAY, MARCH 10TH, 1914.

is no use groaning over pardonable errors of judgment which took place in the stage of experiments. Ib however, serviceable to point out possible blunders which might casily be made in the Maskee spirit, or even in sheer It would be quite fair to ignorance. warn shareholders of the danger of not changing an out-of-date system; it becomes a matter of publio daty when the future prosperity of the Colony might easily be affected by this matter.

SOME CONCLUSIONS.

It is an open secret that the present nite of the electrical generating station in hopeless, It should never have been selected, for it would be difficult to imagine a more unsuitable situation. Fate has been very bind to the supply

SUPREME COURT.

Monday, March 9th.

IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.

BEFORE HIS HONOUR MR. HE J GOMPENTZ (Puigne Judge).

A QUESTION OF PRINCIPLE.

Administrator Plaintiff claimed from Ali Khan Hugh A Nesbit Official the defendant the sum of 65 cents, being the amount expended and paid by the plaintiff for and on behalf of the defen- dant as administrator of the estates of Leng Chan Bhi and Leung Yik Ting, deceased,

Plaintiff appeared in person and Mr. Hodgson (Assistant Crown Solicitor)

We will discuss, as fact number one, the Company the invention of the Diesel oil appeared on behalf of the defence.

price of twenty-seven cents per unit of

Assuming Alim Khan come back and told Mr Jonce that he had paid the money it did not make his legal position hotter than it would be if Mr. Jones had paid it to him there and then

The Puise Judge Putting aside tho question of departmental routine, was it bis legal duty to pay this amennt Alim Khan had volunteered to pay the money. on behalf of a person or corporation, could as he recover f

Alim Khan Yes, I can. I have my The Assistant Crown Solicitor-No. authorities.

FOOTBALL JÖTTINGS.

The glorious uncertainty of football was never more demonstrated than in the match D.C.L1. v. HMS. Hampshire on Saturday, in the first round of the Shield Competition, when the sailors ousted their clever opponents from the competition by were originally made the Cornwalls were subsequently the Hampshiremen decided only goal scored. When the draws given a walk over in the first round, but

upon entry, and they were pitted against what has been regarded as the most. Soccer in the Colony: The most sanguine formidable exponents of the finer arts of of the sailors could scarcely have hoped Infantrysien. The inconsistency of the for a verdict in their favour against the latter teams, however, undoing, and the sailors now oppose the tomorrow at Happy Valley, to fight for

proved their

The Assistant Crown Solicitor then ex plained that the legal position was that the money could only have been properly Fald by the authority or expressed wish facts there was no dispute, because they of the Official Administrator On the

quoted Chitty on Contracts to support Lis did not deny that plaintiff paid it. He

ment by which Alim Khan should have contention that there must be an arrange paid the money called and denied

Mr. Lee Jones Was any recollection of having told plaintiff monies. If he did so he was acting foolish the estate said that ly because they already had monoy n

In reply to plaintiff witness by paying the 65 cents he probably did While fickle fortune was all against the me good to the estate, by way of saving soldiers in Saturday's game, the in- a day's interest. When shown the memo.. of ferg with the 35 cents ticket off, signi epttade shown in practically every line lying approval, witness said he could not and particularly in the front rank of

original and specimen to his Honour, clever undoubtedly, frittered was this say is the tick was his. Plaintiff got wit the team was suficient in itself to justify ness to make a tick and handed the the result. The forwards, polished and

electricity. This is the tariff which theine enabled the officers to obtain very 20th January, 1013, he was clerk to the no would pay him the 65 cents out of estate Hongkong FC in the semi-final round

in

190

unfortunate consumer of current pays in Fongkong when he wishes to electricity for lighting his bouse. At a rtain period of the day & reduction le made for power-the price for that is ten cents a unit In Shanghai it is about. two cents a unit.

Nobody in our bright little Colony

much more power for the same door space, which, but for the Diesel engine would have been occupied by steam sets. But the end of extensions must come soon,

if it has not been already reached. And yet the demand for current-despite its price increases rapidly, What will happen 2

the whole problem, and it is a matter of There is only one possible solution of

Plaintif explained on oath that on the defendant, and he was deputed to take Letters of Administration of Loung Chan Shi to the Stamp Office, and to pay the estate, and also to pay any necessary probate duty payable on the value of the

Court fees.

For that purpose he was handed an open cheque for $89.20 in

ote duty prepared by himself and accordance with the memo, of fees, and

entrance into the final."

seems disposed to consider the possibility of electric cooking and beating rooms by the utmost importance to the Colony of confirmed as correct by Mr. Lee Jones, who remarked that he would not like to innumerable opportunities through dowd-

means of electric radiators. In the past twelve months a few people have made sporadic efforts to preserve their books and piatios by means of heating lamps, but there is little enough encouragement to do even that when the price is twenty- seven conta a unit. Without wishing, in the least to criticise those connected, in

Hongkong that there should be no patch-the deputy registrer and accountant in work methods and subsequent muddle. It the Registry. Upon presenting the letter is a matter of auch vital consequences that at the Stamp Office he was informed by the Government might well cause an the clerk that he had to pay 05 cents inquiry to be held-as, indeed, happens interest on the amount of the probate in Great Britain. put together in a constructive and in no been accounted for in the memo. of fees These few notes are duty, which totalled 18. The 65 cents not sense a destructive spirit. probable that the directors of the Com- of his own pocket and completed the It is most he thereupon paid the 65 cents out pany are genuinely anxious to do the matter. Upon his return to the Registry right thing, but it is practically certain he informed Mr. Jones that he had paid that they are quite unable to grasp the the 05 conts, and the latter cold him to technicalities of the problem. It is well make a note of it, and that when they known that they have a most excellent got some money out of the estate ha staff of officials and possibly the whole to apply for it and for rent then be was

test more especially would they be wrong be ill-advised in any sort of football con

a knock-out competition, whore

INTIMATIONS

ECZEMA IN ITS VERY WORST FORM

One Mass of Horrible Running Sores.

Life a Perfect Misery, Used Cu- ticura Remedies. Not a Sign of the Trouble Since.

60. Bingner Avo, Munster Rä. Fulham, London, B. W. Eng. My daughter bas boon a great sufferer frosi eczema, tu.-E

should think. Its very worst for every since the wom about three years old, and she is now fourted and a half years of age. It first. staited as a small boll on her arm which sprood becimo and mass of horrible ruming soros. She used to have it on her lands, arms Bad feet and has often been laid up and absent from school for weckt at #idno. quite helpless, with every finger on both hands tied up. Em He at these times was a porfees misery, and the iritation of the affected parts was terrine Sho could not get any sleep on account of ft.

saw the Outeurs advertisement of a free sample and I am for it. Well, the sample the of Cuticura Ontmcat cerned. to do her good and to allay the itching. so-1-got a bige tin, also a cake of Chute- Cura Soap and a bottle of Cuticura Puls and her hands for

got better quicker than they had ever done before, and she has not had the alightest so it since. (Signed) Mra. J.

Jan 22, 1912 J. Onklay, Maz, 22. Cuticura Soap and Cutleurs intentaro sold throughout the world. A sample of asch with 32-p. Skin Book from from nearest de Dot: F. Newbery & Sons, 27, Charterhouse 84.. London: Poster Drug & Obeni. Сол Boston; V. S. A.

A #Tendor-freed men should savS WIEN Cottura Soap Shaving Stick, Sample from

[96-19

any way, with the existing Company for the supply of electricity in Hongkong, we are perfectly justified in saying that fact number one is unsatisfactory. In the twentieth century electricity is as much a necessity as water and roads, The price of twenty-seven cents a unit compels us to regard current as a luxury, matter has been under consideration. paid. On the apth June Inst he was trans nothing wrong, assuming plaintiff paid and aimless, They care at their objce KANGARPP? and indeed almost an extravagance. But the delicate problem wante anferred to another Government position, The short-sighted individual might say entirely detached point of view-it wants and not having heard anything about the pay it. It was not wrong, and it was

"charge as much as you can obtain, but there are two very definite points to be remembered about electricity supply Firstly, the lower the price (within reason) the greater the profit on the

to be looked at with an eye, not only to this year's dividends, but to the future of the Company, and above all to the good of the Colony.

Life in the tropics can be made more

65 cents he applied to Mr. Nesbit, but received no reply

Replying to Mr. Hodgson, plaintiff said that the choque for $60.20 was made

Plaintiff then asked that Mr Nesbit ling about when within shooting range. judge in the matter of likeness of ticks" should be called, and this was eventually He who hesitates is lost," and to the plaintiff would confine ne santioning to unusual besitancy of the Infantrymen's matters connected with that case only.

his

attacking line must in large measure be Alim Kban said he wanted to prove that attributed the result. Their tactics would glasses, because he had been told to, but he often did things which were not really his duty. He had bought, champagne

that it was his duty to investigate all might for goal" is the policy long that was not his duty claims which were submitted to him The Preved to be correct, and being correct,

Mr. Nesbit, in reply to plaintiff, said

only intimation he had regarding the es invariably successful. That the forwards cents was a letter enclosing a writ and were clever and tricky there is no gain- fle at the transection showed that 65 cents saying: that they inade loopholes in the demanding payment within 24 hours. The

not answer the letter because it was a be conceded; but their finish was stingless had been paid by somebody. He did sailors' defence time and again must also

the th cents in Mr. Jones saving he would five, the Hampshiremen's goal, in solid very impudent ono. There would be

The plaintiff made a lengthy statement not legally right. to the Judge, quoting Shirley on Common claim that he was doing a public duty and Law, and other authorities to support his on the question of ratification What he There was even a suggestion of con benefits of the action. It was, he ex- reconciled to this in lace of the sturdy employer who ** had been enjoying the walls play, but one can hardly become plained purely a question of principle. fight put up by the sailors in the first ciple so far as a fun is concerned in the week. It was not until the

The Fuisne Judge And law. A prin game, when they shared honours, earlier would reserve his decision in order to go red and then they

His Lordabin the intimated that be half had begun that the the second

voluntary oue, and that plaintiff had no have postewed, as a jolly Jack far put was no doubt that the payment was a

and vita into their efforts The Hampshiremen's goal must rend authority to do so

it a charmed life, but its " the manufacture of the soldiers forwards.

charm was

seemed to crumple up from some inherent line, with spicy, low passing, but at the Just line of the sailors' defence the attack

weakness.

capital outlay; for there is a great healthy and leas irksome to Europeaus ip/out in pursuance of a direction by the did was fully in the interests of his then tempt at times early on about the Corn:

advantage is taken of the latest inven- tions. There are local climatic trials which will be greatly minimised if science

Officia. Administrator, Treasury, upon au application by the

Asked why Le did not mention the

increase in the demand as the price drops. And, of course, the cost of generating the second million of units (per mouth or per annum) is much less than the be applied in a common-sense fashion Deyment of the 65 cents to Mr Nesbit, expense of producing the first million. A number of young men are now being plaintiff said that it and aboubly

Sopily, electricity supply, is not quite trained in the Colony with the latest and nothing to do with Mr Neebit he whinto the question of ratification. There the customary spirit something

or

the same as the supply of groceries, boots cigare. It is, for all practical purpusas, a monopoly, and for that very reason many people think that it should be run by the Government, as is the

best scientific apparatus at the Univer- not in charge of the accounts. He facto and figures which will make cone ring the accounts," added plaintiff, aity. They are being taught daily won't entertain a clerk who goes to him them particularly interested in apply.

And you paid this money without the

water supply. The writer does not, of Ing their knowledge to local condi. Knowledge of Mr. Nesbit 7-At first, yes,

tions The supply of electricity is one

necessity, advocate that in Hongkong;

When did it cons to his knowledge ?→ but it is perfectly reasonable to suppose

of the subjects of instruction and the It ought to have come to his knowledge: that the Government of the Colony has uses and applications of this type of when I came back and told Mr. Lee Jon

THE GRAHAM STREET DOUBLE MURDER

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

& CO., WATCHMAKERS

AND

JEWELLERS.

HIGHEST GRADE

ENGLISH SWISS

AND

There were times when the goal gaped AMERICAN WATCHES.

AGENTS FOR

wide-mouthed at them, when cool aim would have sent the ball into the inviting aperture; but no, it could not be done. There was one man in the sailors eleven AMERICAN HOWARD WATCH. to whom the rest of his side should look an its hero, Martin, the Skipper" and The Magistracy hearing of the charge left back, played one of the most wonder When the whole of the defence were beaten attack failed before them. A ready and sure kick with either foot, resourcefit and cvol, the sailors captain's display was the transcendant feature of the match."

the power, and the duty, to see that any Power, light and heat form subjects. for ou paid this without any consent from preferred against Pung Hin Tung of Jul defensive games I have ever beheld monopoly considers the citizene of the numerous courses of Jectares and demon the Administrator? I had no authority murdering his wife and mother was con excent himself and the custodian; the

area over which the supply operates. Anstrations. Potential users of electricity or any express wish,

effort is being made, in Shanghai, to change over from Municipal control to a private Company, and whatever the result

I had implied You say Mr. Leo Jones said that the Doney would be paid book as soon as they got any out of the estate?--Yes.

will be demanded in bulk are being made in the near future power authority, the supply Company could not meet a At present large demand.

An entirely new generating station,

cluded by Mr. Wood, vesterday afternoon, the accused being committed for trial at the next the next Criminal Sessions.

The Assistant Crown Solicitor (Mr. P

Kong Sing defended.

in the future, the fact of to-day is that fitted out with the last word in machinery I put it to you he did not say that /M. Hodgson) prosecuted, and Mr. Otto The suspense and anxiety of the last.

electricity in Shanghai is cheap; Hongkong id is dear.

THE SHARES

appears satisfac Fact number two tory and requires little comment. It is that the Electric Supply Company's shares, which a few years ago stood at $10, now stand at $43. Of course other shares in Hongkong have fluctuated a great deal, as witness the market price, for the past year or so, of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company's issues. Fact number two means, naturally, that the shareholders are satisfied and at

Bre

Subsequently plaintiff explained that he paid the 65 cents in order to save the estate another day's interest,

Was that the only reason you paid it

in and designed so that large extensions

possible must be built. The seventy-five I say he did. Frequency must be courageously abandoned. The advice of some eminent specialist upon the whole scheme should be obtained. Hongkong referred the Kowloon Canton railway to London why not ask London again? The Colony be interested in a subject which affects the should pocket of every citizen. The Government It was very good of you. Did you write represents the Colony in this matter and is responsible that progressive measures

a letter (produced) to Mr. Nesbit? Yes, are taken Hongkong compares most unfavourably with Shanghai in this gave Mr. Nesbiti-No, he had heard Now that is the first intimation you matter, and the cheap supply of electricity about it a long time before then. He in the latter place is attracting industry. future plans he does not hold a share the Legislative Council before that letter The writer knows nothing of any heard about it before the Committee of in the Company or any rival concern.was sent. His suggestions are made as "a citizen.

He was under my cross For satisfaction sometimes spells stagna so obvious have already been iner Committee in regard to the 65 cents. The of no mean city. Perhaps these ideas examination for quite an hour before that porated in a programme to be announced letter was the first request he had made. by those who control these matters. It possible but it would be more satis-

You

were still Government servant Council probed a little into tais matter factory if some member of the Legislative when you wrote that letter Yes affecting the welfare of the Colony

ELECTRON.

times it is bad for an individual, or a nation; or shareholders, to be too satisfied.

tion.

THE FREQUENCY.

Fact number three is not understand able by the general public and no attempt will be made to bore them with technicalities. But the fact remains, and ite effects are unpleasant The supply of electricity in Hongkong gives us what is called alternating current, and that- means that the current alternates from positive to negatire many times a second The number of alternations per second

NIGHT TRAIN SERVICE TO-

CANTON:

Important additions and alterations to

the train service between Kowloon and

I put it to you it would have been more Beemly if you had written in polite language instead of in a threatening way ? I had put it to him politely before, before the Committee of the Executive Council, and he denied everything. If he had admitted it I would not have dose

this. He swore thers that he never gave

an open chequo

is called the frequency Hongkong Canton are announced in our advertit It does not matter in this case what he

is probably unique in the whole world,

possessing the unenviable distinction of

ment columns. The additions include starting from Monday next, night express trains to and from Canton

or sixty are essential in modern electricity Many readers will also observe with

swore there Bat it does matter.

whom the

ten minutes was not the least attractive element in the game to the interested Dr. Charles McKenny Medical Officer spectator. The large number of Tara ing the bodies of the two women, one of attacker and attacked again, shouting of Victoria Gaol, gave evidence to examin. in the stands left their seats and cranni their necks forward as the DCLI. saw her. She subsequently died skipper," sent the back as often. The younger was alive when he hoarsely as Pincher as they call their at the Hospital. He was present when long sigh of relief and utmost satisfaction the woman gave her depositions regard which they rolled out when "ecase fre ̈* McKenny described the nature of the small kot of soldiers walked disconsolate ing the case to a Magistrate. Dr. sounded was frank and genuine. be

from the left side. The case of death enthusiastic followers of the code, are the wounds minutely, and said that the wife ly away feeling somewhat hurt, and lovs- was shock and hemorrhage, caused by the Cornwalls, and it was a bitter disappoint- of the defendant must have been shot ing most pitiably woebegone. They are shot wounds

ment.

finding three rounds of ammunition in a Acting Inspector Grant gave evidence to glass-case, alleged to belong to the defen-morrow, between the Hampshire and the The semi-final round, to be played to dant. They were of the same calibre as Hongkong FC, should be worth wareh Eve empty cartridges which he found. ing, and should result in civilian football

Representatives for--

MAPPIN & WEB, LTD., London. CARL ZEISS, Jena,

W. F. STANLEY & Co. LTD., London. E. E. WATTS & SON, London, VOIGTLANDER & SOHN, Braunschweig.

ALEXANDRA BUILDINGS,

CHATER ROAD.

CALDBECK,

He discovered the key which opened the being once again represented in the last MACGREGOR&C

glass-case in the defendant's room.

Accused reserved his defence, and was committed for trial.

A CHINESE FINANCIER'S

MYSTERIOUS DEALINGS.

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.

Ho Hop money changers shop, Bonham that he received the full force of Inl Strand West, named Ng Tin San, came bloeded shot from behind on

a

struggle for the trophy. This on the show- being of the sailors on Saturday They may have a knock out in store for the Club, too, but the writer is inclined to fancy the Club's chances this time. They are placing a representative team in the field, posses sing a defence second to none in the Colony Whatever the result, the exhibi- tion should be a really sporting one,

Two rather singular complaints have expressing sympathy with the energetic

All footballers changer, of No. 5, Banham Strand East, Association, Mr F. W Eager, in the will join with me in reached officia) quarters, A money- Hon. Secretary of the local Football has reported to the police that at about accident he sustained whilst officiating as 2.30 p.m. on Sunday, the maunger of the referee in a match last week. It appears The Assistant Crown Solicitor anid that his case was that it was quite possible

the back plaintiff paid the 60 cents; it had been to his shop and bought 200, sovereigns the leg, bursting a vein. The blood un- post by somebody, and he was a handed the money over to Ng Tin Sao, wager has to dissipale his crergies in paid et in The complainant's feki, who happily spread the amount. Ho did say that having regard was told to wait outside the latter's shop rest cura It is to be hoped that ho to plaintif's position at the time he made for the dollars in paytrent. He waited will be quite fit and well when next season application to the Official Administrator, accordingly-waited so long that even hie comans along. been written in polite manner as it investigation it was ascertained that the it was a most impudent letter If it hauriental patienes was exhausted and un, heed nothing of done to hot the The cams Ng Tim Ean is also conserned should have been, no doubt they would wily Ng Tin San had disappeared defendant would have paid the 65 cents the second complaint, made by the out of his own pocket without ascertaining manger of the Wing Sang Bank, of the strict legality of the action. After Queen Road Central Half-an-hour reveiving the impudent letter which he after his successful " deal ...... at the money- did from plaintiff, Mr. Nesbit was per changer in Bonham Strand, Ng Tiago YUAN'S AUTOGRAPH LETTER feetly justified in coming to that Court San came to the Rank and purchased This important contest will take place The Chinese Minister to London we had himself admitted that he could gat $5,000 in Hongkong currency The bank to morrow, the kick-off being at 4.30 p.m. a to nert his strict legal rights. Plaintiff 6 in Kwangtung bank notes for on the Club's ground at Happy Valley received in audience by the King at gully recover the amount because he had were sent round to Ng Tin Sao's Buckingham Palace on the 9th ult and gold it voluntarily. He was never shon, and he promised to return later and The Club's team is as follows: —H, C. presented his letters of credence and enquested to pay it, and in regard to the the $5,000 as payment. Up to Cope: AJ Stalker and Hamil autograph letter from President Yum payment he remarked that this could

his promize remained unfulton WB Rigden RC Barlow and not be done with a Treasury direction find the manager of the Bank su R. P. Leng, V. V. Fennell. A ser

a frequency of seventy-five. Experience has demonstrated that frequencies of fifty

supply stations. The story of how Hong interest the announcement that the kong cans to be burdened with its core at present in use on the Fanling peculiar frequency probably reflects no

Shatoukok branch line are to be with discredit on the original designers of the drawn and replaced by new rolling stock, system One version is that Professor of

and that for the convenience of excar Gisbert Kapp, now of the University of sionists and Birmingham, planned the scheme, and tickets will be issued to Bhatoukok from certain it is that nobody knew positively Hongkong and Kowloon. Cada vegan in the early days which frequency would become standard practice. Ope does not blame past others of the Company for the unfortunate incabus which they have handed on to their successores one can only hope that courage will not be wanting at the critical period by the present managers when extensions are made. It' Shib kait

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