1930-06-13 — Page 7

“DON'T GO TO LAW.”

MR. ELDON POTTER GIVES GOOD ADVICE TO HIS FRIENDS.

REFRIGERATING EXPERT'S HUMOROUS TILT AT LAWYERS.

The fifth day's proceedings at the Supreme Court in the ac tion brought by Messrs. Andersen, Meyer & Company against the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Ltd, deviated occasionally from. technicalities into breezy passages between Mr. Potter and Mr. Hacker, the expert witness, who spent another day in the witness-

box...

Mr. Hacker contemplated the fate of lawyers if there were no lawsuits, and he agreed with the learned Counsel that they were a necessary, evil,. whereupon Mr. Potter advised his friends not to go to law. Counsel also told a ñshing story where two men never agreed, not even as to the weight of a Ash.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1930.

Effect of Brackish Water. You had to make up your mind whether this type of condenser would work effectively with brackish water or not 1-Yes, I prefer the word "efficiently " instead of "effectively." I mean they will do the cooling.

Will brackish water affect the durability of a condenser of this type --No.

Did you leave the question of water, whether brackish or not, to Mr. Brearley-Yes, I told him I left the water question to him, and he said "Right O."

Would it mean that Mr. Brearley would have to know just as much about condensers and tubes as you do 1-No.

In answer to a question as to what witness would have done il the manager of a hotel, who knew nothing about the subject beyond the fact that he had a well, asked for a refrigerating plant, witness

STORY OF A HOUSE THAT COLLAPSED.aid he would deal with the water

himself. His frm had a water engineer and the question would be

Plaintiffs in the action are claim-¡ with 'an average degree of intel referred to him: If the request

ligence.

ing $25,000 as balance due for re- frigerating' and ice plants installed in the Peninsula and Hong Kong Hotels, while the defendants coun- ter-claim for $140,000.

Mr. H. G. Sheldon, instructed by Messrs. Johnson, Stokes & Master, is appearing for the plaintiffs, while Mr. Eldon Potter, E.C.; with Mr. F. C. Jenkin, are for the defend

sats.

When the case was resumed yes- terday before the Chief Justice (Sir Joseph Kemp), Mr. Potter suggest ed that as the Court contemplated sitting for only half the day on Friday, it would be a good idea to take advantage of the interval to pay a visit to the Peninsula Hotel and see the plant.

His Lordship agreed and it was decided to meet at the Peninsula Hotel at 10.30 this morning.

Expert's Calculations Wrong? Mr. Potter dealt with the ques tion of fruit, commenting that Mr. Hacker's calculations were entirely and utterly wrong.

came from an engineer instead of a hotel manager, then witness would suppose that an analysis of the water was not necessary.

CANTON-HONG KONG KWANGSI SITUATION

TELEPHONE.

CONTRACT SIGNED.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

CANTON, June 12

LESS COMPLEX.

SUBMISSION OF TWO UNDERLINGS.

A PROVINCE WITHOUT A

GOVERNMENT.

The contract for the installation

The complicated situation in of a long-distance telephone systera Kwangsi has improved to some between Hong Kong and Canton extent with the submission of two has at last been formally signed of the leading satraps in the pro- with the Hong Keng Telephone Company. The actual construction of the line will be started within this month, and the whole system is expected to be completed by the end of this year or the beginning of hext year, when telephone calls between the two great commercial centres of South China may be made.

Discussion and negotiation be tween Canton and Hong Kong have

been going almost without inter ruption for the past twelve months er more for the installation of such a-system. It will be remembered

a

draft "contract was made and submitted to Nanking for approval. Excepting a few minor points, the draft document met with the You know that Mr. Parker and approval of the Central authorities Mr. Mackenzie had gone into the These few minor points they want whole scheme of refrigerationed to change to their satisfaction. Government again

Yes.

water as saltish 1-Yes.

་་

And any others who came "after them would assume that the water question' had been gone into thoroughly 1-Yes.

It is true clear that your pre-

The Canton

vince-Hon Tsoi Fung and Luk Fuk Cheung. These two chieftains of the disbanded soldiery, ar zemi- bandits, who were not long ago the allies of the Kwangsi-" Ironsides coalition, have now been appointed by General Lui Woon Im as gar- rison commanders of Liuckow and Nanning respectively.

General Lui is now trying to en- list or incorporate into his forces the other non-Government. troops

in the province. Lui has issued a notification" to the effect that any one of them submitting to him with a machine gun or a field gun. will receive a reward of 3200, and those surrendering with a rifle will each be rewarded with 380. Re- wards are also being offered for any information leading to the arrest of rebel agents, extermination of ban- dits, etc.

#Figurehead." Lui.

Mr. Hacker: Yes, I understand that, but I don't agree with you.

You agree that in his specifica- sent Mr. Tang Chung Iu, an elec Kwangsi is still a province with Mr. Potter: We say that tabletion, Mr. Mackenzie described the trica! engineer, to Hong Kong to out a government. Lui Wood Im, (which witness used for his calcu

talk the matter OYOT with the a former rebel general, is now the lations) is a farce. I don't say that in anything like an impertinent

Hong Kong Telephone Company nominal head of the province. He in view of the suggestions from is called "Figurehead" Lui, as he way, you understand, for, as you

Nanking. But the Hong Kong rules the districts under Govern- said yesterday, my advisers might

Telephone Company was at that ment control and at the direction be fools. I am suggesting that the

of the automatic system to give the a native of Kwangsi, but he is zot people behind you with this table

time too busy with its installation of the Canton Government. He is might have been equally foolish.

matter much attention. Mr. Tang popular among his fellow-provin- cials Assisting Lui is General Chu returned to Canton without accom- know you are calling me a fools. directly and I am not calling Mr.

plishing what was desired. He was Wai Chun, Pacification Commis- Sheldon a fool because of your

seat to Hong Kong again last loner of Kwangsi and Commander vidence. It is our misfortune and not our fault.

Saturday, and after soine discus of the First Kwangsi Division, sion agreement was finally reach which was made up of disbanded ed, thus making the long-cherish troops and the so-called people's ed project a reality.

Answering Counsel's contention that only 141 pounds of pineapples could be put into the room for bring- ing down to the contractual tem- Cooling Potatoes."

perature, Mr. Hacker gave a long Questioning Mr. Hacker on his explanation, saying that if any pine- calculations of loads for the various apples were going to be used the cooling rooms, Mr. Potter said that next day there was no need to have if he wanted to reduce a load of them reduced to 34 degrees tem- potatoes from 90 degrees shade temperature. All that had to be done perature to the contractual tempera- ture of M degrees in the vegetable rooth, he could only put in a load of 211 pounds of potatoes.

U

was to take as many pineapples as were needed from the cold room and put them in the kitchen box.

After a reference to the figures in respect of the wine room, Mr. Potter told witness not to be too personal, as they were both perform- ing their duty. "Let's carry on decently," added Counsel.

Witness agreed that, it would be correct if one put in that amount of potatoes each day, "Mr. Patter reminded witness that he was taking Mr. Hacker's Agures and remarked: "Why, if you get Expert's Responsibility. hold of a good old Irish spud, there

Mr. Potter said that he would put would not be more than 500 it to his Lordship and his own ex- potatoes."

port in due course that it was left Witness replied that the working to Mr. Hacker, as an expert, to of the room would not be handled supply an effective type of con in that way at all The working denser. If the condenser was not out figure was correct, and one effective, then Mr. Hacker was res- „would not put in 211 pounds every possible because he was the expert. day. He added: "You don't know Counsel asked witness if he had what I know. You are always anything to say in this matter. arguing with me, and it irritates

me."

Mr. Hacker said that apart from the water, he would say that the Questioned as to the basis on condenser was efficient. Inter wit- which he arrived at his figure, Mr. nees told his Lordship that he Hacker said it was based on wished to correct a wrong meaning common sense. The basis was that which would be placed on his an- one did not put in a certain amount ever. It was Mr. Brearley who had one day and take it all out the next asked for that type of condenser. day,

His Lordship remarked that he understood the point and the ex- planation, but the figure of 211 pounds of potatoes did seem a small amount.

Mr. Potter: It was left to you to say whether the shell tube (or closed) type of condensed would be

éffective 1-Yes.

That direction was subject to your having passed it as an effective type of condenser 1-Yes.

In other words, it was left to you as an expert to say whether it was

effective or not 1-Yes.

Witness said that if the hotel had a vast amount of potatoes to be put in the room, they could leave it in the cold corridor for a while to pre-cool. Dealing with what he

I am putting it to you that Mr. called a reasonable way of operat ing the room, witness said he did Brearley said, "in view of the not tell Mr. Brearley to put the brackish water, we ask you to de- potatoes in the corridor first. Hecide whether this is an effective type added that he took Mr. Brearley of condenser or not? -No, he did to be a man of just average-intel. not. ligence.

<

Did Mr. Brearley say anything Mr. Potter: - You suggest they about the water being brackish dannede do the while you were talking about the corridor for the purpose of pre-cool-condenser)—Yes.

I put it to you that Mr. Brearley ing them Yes, if you have a vast amount, but if there is a small left it to you as au expert to decide amount you can put them straight whether this type of condenser was in. The hotel ought to have people suitable in view of the water being with brains enough to use the rooms i brackish-No.

decessor was advised by Mr. Mac Kenzie that the water was salt?--

In answer to other questions, witness said. it was reasonable to assume that Mr. Mackenzie asked for a suitable closed type of con- denser as distinct from the atmos- pheris type. It was also fair to assume that they had believed the temperature of the water to be all right.

Fishermen Never Agres." After referring to the definition

Canton will construct the line as far as Shumchun, following the Canton-Kowloon permanent Way closely, and Hong Kong will be

of brackish" from Webster's Dic-responsible for the rest of the way tionary, Mr. Potter asked: Are you

fisherman, Mr. Hacker? Mr. Hacker: Yea.

"

Mr. Potter: When you go fishing, you come to the place where fresh and salt water meet?

Mr. Hacker: brackish,

I don't call that

Mr. Potter: No two shermen will never agree, even as to the weight of a fish.

The construction of the Chinese section will be undertaken by the China Electrical Company, a part of the well-known Belt Telephone System in the United States, which in recent years has supplied anto matic telephone equipment up to 1,000,000 lines in the name of the International Telephone and Tele- graph Corporation. It was this American firm that installed the Brackish water should have sug-present automatic talephone system

in Canton gested the presence of salt 7-Yes.

I aball put it that you, as an ex- pert, when you knew that this water was brackish, and if there was any danger or risk of the plant being ineffective, you should have advised the Hotel Company 1-No, under the

The British section of the line from Shumchun on will be con- structed by the Hong Kong "Tele phone Company. No restriction has been laid regarding what source the raw materials will be purchas

ed from. It is, therefore, most likely

circumstancee it was not my duty to

that the American contractors res do any more than I did.

Because Mr. Brearley was an Ca-ponsible for the Chinese section gineer -Yes, and another reason will use American materials, and

was that he knew more about water.

He said it was brackish -Yes, and he further agreed to take care of the water problem.

It was your duty to have warned Bir. Brearley of any danger to the plant by reason of that brackish water-No, I don't agree. I have already said that I was leaving the water question to Mr. Brearley, and *he agreed.

the Hong Kong Telephone Com pany British.

The cost of the enterprise will be over 82,000,000, as the expensive underground cable and baly the best materials will be used. The underground cable has been select ed in preference to the telephone pole because of its permanency and comparative freedom from being. molested by bandits. Each cable will be encased in a concrete tabe buried three fect in the ground in' accordance with modern standard practice.

the orginal drafted contract con- An alteration has been made in Corning the charge and the length of time allowed for each call. In stead of 81 per call of not more

Lawyers & Necessary Evil, Mr. Potter quoted the case of a building in which the architect told the owner after it collapsed that

wall. He asked if the present case. he ought to have put in a retaining on which they were engaged was hot on a parallel with that case.

Witness said he could not agree, because in this case they had pre-than one minute's duration, it has been agreed to charge. 82, and -ex- vious, correspondence and notes.

Mr. Potter: If you did agree, tend the time to three minutes for then there would not be this law-each call. Extra charges will be

uit 1

**** made on calls extending more than Mr. Hacker: That would be hard three minutes. fuck on the lawyers,.......

MY, POLLUE! I suggest you seguro

us as a necessary ovil.

Mr. Hacker: Rather

Mr. Potter: I hope the Fress will

militia.

The Cantonese troops in Huran," who captured Hengchow lately, are now heading for Hengshan to at tack "the Kwangsi."Ironsides " combined forces there. On Tues- day, a number of Canton aeroplanes were dispatched to bombard the rebels in Hengehow, when over ten bombs, weighing 200 pounds each, were dropped with telling effect.

Two more brigades under Wong Yam Wan and Chang Shui Kwai have been rushed to Hanan. The Cantonese expeditionary troops in Hunan now total about 40,000. General Chen Tsai. Tong, Com- trocps, is expected to leare Can- mander-in-Chief of the Cantonese ton in a day or two for Hunan to direct military operations.

ex-

As from June, the Nanking Government is to pay monthly 81,500,000 to the Cantonese peditionary troops to cOVET WAT expenditure.

COMMAND OF CANTONESE FORCES.

(FROM OUR OWN. CORRESPONDENT. }

CANTON, June 12 General Chen Thai Tong expecta to leave Canton for Hussa through the Canton-Hankow Railway to direct the Cantonese forces operat ing against the "Ironsides" and the Kwangsi troops there to-morrow

Everything is being prepared for

the nezn his departure.

His presence is badly needed there in view of the successes of the insurgents.

:

After he has left Canton, Genor- al Chen Ming Shu will assume charge of the military affairs in the rear.

A BEAR OF A STORY.

IN CANTON STREET. ESCAPED BEAST RUNS WILD,

Considerable consternation was caused on Wednesday by an escap

Chinese ed bear on Cheung Lan Road, in Canton, according to a paper of that city.

The animal was bought by the from a Peping man. It was leash- Chua Shou Tong medicine shop ed with thick grass cord, which the bear somehow, snapped. The beest ran into a neighbouring shop and attacked the shop assistants, After the completion of the long of whom two were bitten, on the Larm Great confusion- ensued and Canton and Hong Kong, the Munimedestrians 480 piano

The animal was finally shot dead cipal authorities here expect to by a policeman,

extend the line to Swatow to The gall of the bear is a very valasble Chinese medicine, while a report that the best advice I can facilitate the communication be bear's paw is accounted one of the greatest delicacies by the Chinese. give my friends is not to go to law.tween the three cities.

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