1909-12-04 — Page 15

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

·MINUTES.

PAPER

The Colonial Secretary laid on the table *Financial Minuten Non. 52 10:54. It was agreed that they be referred to the Finance Committes,

· FINANCIAL REPORT,

The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency.the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committen (No. 18).

SANITARY BYE-LAWS,

On the motion of the Colonial Secretary, seconded by the Attorney General, bye-law ander the Public Dealth and Buildings Ordin- ancer, 1903-1909, relating to:-

11

stories it

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH SATURDAY DECEMBER 4 1900

widespread and more outspoken. Ever since then the condition of the plot has been an eye- sore. At first, there was no surrounding pall.

das to the Garter Missibe to the visit provement due to the erection of these pali-

STAMP ORDINANCE, ・・ The Attomey General moved, and the

Bill entitled An Ordinance to, amend-the- Stamp Ordinace, 1907. Stamp Ordinanco.

Thin. Bill proposes to farther amend the

Clausta 1° to 3 are designed, by the imposition" ta ludace interested parties to make early of penalties in respect of delayed applications, application for the grant of probate of the evasis of deitated persons and to prevent

..

veyance or assignment on sale and incorporates Clause 4 relates to the stamping on a con- Section 55 of the Imperial Act 1891,.

CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDORE On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, the first reading of a Bill sutitled An Ordinance to amend the Dode of Civil Procedure was passed. The object of the amendment which la effected by, this Ordinance in to restore the right of either party to ask for a Jury in civil causes which right existed and would appear to have given satisfaction between the passing of the Hongkong Code of Civil Procedura In the year 1873 and the passing in the year 1991 of the Code of Civil Procedure which repealed the earlier Code.

... SQUATTERS ORDINANCE.

The Colonial Secretary seconded, Agreed.

This Bill amends section 1a of the Squattern Ordinance, 1893.

allowed by the Banrd, but it has been deemed Io certain cases 'squatters' claims have been. desirable to withhold the grant of leases until sanitary buildings have been constructed and it is now proposed to give the Director of Public Works the alternative power of arranging for the grant of new sites in approved. positions in exchange for the origical holdings.

In the event of the arrangement not being effected the amount of compensation payable to the claimant is to be assessed by the Director of Public Works,

some less unseemly use or submit to a forced salo" He might contend, without going all the way with the 'Chancellor of the held in the Cousel! Chamber laat Thurship should carry with them

A meeting of the Legislativa `Council WAS Exchequer, that no rights_of_prírato.ornetz. -ada-The-Hongkong-public owes the im/ Colonial Secretary seconded the first reading of day. Present His Excellency the Governor, atter want of consideration for the proprieties

such a Sir Frederick Lugard, K.C.M.G., His Excel of city government and so imperfectpaid to the Colony by His Royal Highness lency Major-General R. G. Broadwood, C.D., sense-of-the-fitness-of-things-to-lease (Commanding the Forces), Hon. Sir Henry Hout for such a purpose land adjoining May, K.C.M.O.,(Colonial Secretary), Hon. Mr. F. public square. If the stranger, as well as being A Hazeland (Attorney-General), Hon. Mr. A. observant and interested, happened slap be M. Thomson (Colonial Treasurer), Hon. Mr. P. distinguished, and had been met and to on M. H. Jonas (Director of Pubile Works), Hon. charge of on landing by se emissary of the Mr. J. Badeley (Captain Superintendent Government, say by the Hon. the Director of of Police), Hon. Mr. A. W. Brown (Registrar Public Works, how could it be satisfactori General), Hos. Dr. Ho Kai, H.D., C.M.G., Hon. ly explained that there well-kept gardens were Mr. W.. Gresson, Hou. Mr. Wel Yuk, C.M.G, the outward and visible sign of public spirit, Hon. Mr. E. Osborne, Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, displayed by private citizen, and that the hideous Hon. Mr. Murray Stewart, and Mr.. C. Clementi spectacle of disorder lying to the left was created (Clerk of Council).

and maintained by the governing power? The Govermentapologist recalling certain answer The minutes of the last meeting were read to recent questions would say that the nuisance and confirmed.

Was necessary to the work on the new Post Office, which building would be pointed ont in the dis The Colonial Secretary, by command of Hisse, taken five years to raise. Passing possibly with pride, as one whole four Excellency the Governor, laid on the table a along the Praya towards the Olub the stranger memorandum on the licensing of public house would first note a squat bungalow. He would In Hongkong.

ba told that it is a special drawing office for new FINANCIAL MINUTES.

Post Office plans, the building being now up. He would make a mental note that such an ugly || 1tracture ought never to have been erected in e prominent position on the sea front. Next his curiosity would be aroused by the sight of four lean and musty iron chimneys sticking up at varying angles one out of each of the four corners of a small anclosure immediately in rear of the ugly bungalow. He would look to and see that each of these chimaeys rose out of a brick oven. He would sen sand lying about and small stones in heaps. He would smell coal tar. He might even taste it. He would if we imagine him to have lauded before (a.) Depots of Cattle Pigs Sheep and Goats.notice of this resolution was given. Two (b) Cemetery Bye-laws Nox. 6, to and 11.TM

immering cauldrons stood out in the (.) Cemetery Bye-law No, 11:

roadway smoking öyer the passer-by. Our were adopted.

stranger might have recognised the process of tarring macadam and wondered what The Colonial Secretary maved the following this bad to do with the work on the resolution :-

Post Office." It would have had 10 be explain. Resolved that the duties on all native winesed that this tar macadam factory is the and spirits referred to in Section 3 of the said Public Works Department's separate contri. Ordinance be repealed and the duties following bution to the chaos, for which it cannot be

claimed that it is coveted by any sort of ne cessity whatever. 1 do not see how any apologial of Government can even excuse it. suppose it will be said that, as the Post Office, contractor had already made an unsightly mess, there was no particular harm in making it worse. But surely the officials of the Public Works Department should restrain, not lead, disorder. They owe this duty to the public. To their immediate superiors they recognite a duty well enough. They would re. alise the impropriety of making tar macadam factory opposite the entrance to Government House. Why then upon the threshold of the Colony? This is a glaring instance of that want of a proper sease of the fitness of things con- cerning which there is justifiable public com plain!. The Praya opposite Royal Square is the city's front door step. I should be kept clean and swept clear. It is to more suitable for such, purposer that is the front door step of a private house'suitable for cooking the dinner, Walking on round that part of the plat enclosed by a palisade the stranger would wonder why tha. lessee is allowed to leave about, outside on the sidewalk, old cart wheels, and stono road rollers, drain pipes and logs of wood. And from what he saw on turning to the right, he might reasonably suppose that cal only was an indus try in connection with road-making bring carried on from the enclosure but also the business of a laundry, He would bave noticed dangling on bamboos above the weedgrown heaps of bricks, which top the palisade on the cast, numbers of old coats and pants, and, when he came round to the west, another

of similar rags, flaunting be kind the statue of His Majesty the King. If he had been with me one day recently he would

CHINESE LIQUOR DUTIES.

ba substituted therefor

"1. So.15 cents a gallon on the native liquors known as Liu Fun and Sheung Ching and on the following sweetened, prepared and medicated winos :-

No Mai Taan Hak No Mali Mau Kan, Yuk Lau, Ning Mas Tau, Tsing Mei, Muk Kwa, Sun Fung, Wu Tau, Shut L Tasu, Sam Kat, Lung San Tsau, Te Kuk, Sam Bio, Tit Ta, Fung Sháp and Wai Shang. All such liquor shall contain not more than as per cent, of alcohol by waight.

3. $0.20 cents a galion on the native liquor known as, Sam Chiog, containing not more than 35 per cant of alcohol by weight.

3. So.as a gallon on the native liquor known sa Fa Trau and on the following sweetened, prepared or medicated wines

:

Ng Ka Pai. Mai Kwai Lo, Sz Kwok Kung, Fa Kwat Muk: Fa, Yae Chan Lo, and

Ko Leung Kon. All such liquor, shall contain not more than 45 per cent of alcohol by weight.

4. $9.35 a gallon on the sative liquor knows as Fan Trau, if containing "50% or under of alcoboi by weight with the addition of two cents for every one per centum between 50% and 55% of alcohol by weight.

5. $7.50 cents a gallon with addition of night cents for every nos per atum above 55% of alcohol by weight on any oative liquor containing above $5% of alcohol by waight.

6. $0.05 per gallon on all native liquor dis filled in the New Territories, not including New Kowloon, for consumption in the sold Territories."

Further resolved that on native wines and spirits declared or labelled as belonging to any of the above divisions the appropriate duty

themin laid down shali ba paid except that on Any nailva fiquor however declared or labelled

found by the Government Analyst or such person as the Governor may from time to time appoint in that behalf to contain more alcohol thau la parcaitted in the division to which It is declared or labelled as belonging there shall be paid the appropriate duty of the divl, sion in which the amount of alcohol found has placed it: each division in such case shall re present native liquor of the limit of strength in alcohol therein stated and irrespective of any. definition or description of such ilquor, and on any native wines and spirits not declared or labelled us belonging to any division thera sbali be paid the duly approprite to the division in which the amount of alcohol found by the Government Analyst or íúch person as the Governor may from time to time appolat on that behalf has placed it.

Further resolved that stills in the New Ter rities (not facluding Now Kowloon) shall be prohibited from sending Hquor produced in these stills to Hongkong or td New Kowloon provided that any licensee of, a distillery who desires, to send such liquor to Hongkong er New Kowloon may be granted a permit to do so, payment of the duties charged in Hong. kong or New Kowloon,

Farther resolved that on intoxicating liquors, other than spirits of wine, arrack and native wines and spirits, Imported into, distilled, mada or prepared in the Colony above proof stroogth there shall be paid an additional duty of 4 conta for every degree above proof in the case of brandy, 3 cents for every degree above proef in the case of whisky, and a tests for every degree above proof in the case of any other Ilquor.

The Attorney General seconded. Agreed.

The Colonial-Treasurer seconded. Mr. Murray Stewart inquired about the quation ut lecunhing lusa sauna al whisky,

The Colonial Secretary explained that such procedure would seldom be necosary.

NEW LAW COURTS SITE.

i

Hongkong Public Houses. .

GOTHENBURG SYSTEM

ADVOCATED.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE.

451

BOARDING-HOUSES IN

HONGKONG.

"INTERESTING-LITIGATION AT

SUMMARY, COURT,

Before Mr. Justice Gomperts (Pulsna Judge) in the Summary Court last Thursday, Mrs. R. A. Ford brought an mction against Mr. W. Hi Emberley, of 45, Robinson Road, to recover the sum of $500, being balance dus under an At the mosting of the Legislative Council agreement dated the 8th September, 190g, sn. last Thursday, the following memorandum es tered into by the defendant with the plaintiff

8 of 1999) the licensing of public houses in Hongkong, for the purchase by the defendant from the was laid on the table as a sessional paper (No. | plaintiff of the furniture and goodwill balanging to the plaintiff then in the house at No. 74, In 1904 Government took into consideration|| Calne Road. 'Plaintiff also claimed costs of the a suggestion for improving the public houses' of the Colony by introducing the Gothenburg system.

action.

Mr. P. M. Hodgson (of Messrs. Ewans and" Harton) appeared for the plaintiff. Mr. W. D. Hinds (of Messrs. Bruiton and Hett) was for the defendant.

Defendant entered a counter-claim, in which he stated that plaintiff was a widow and for- morly carried on the buslasin of a boarding. house keeper at 74, Oalos Road. Defendant was a boarding-house keeper at 43, Robinson. Road Defendant was induced to make the alleged agreement by the fraudulent repres entellous of the plaintiff that the boarding. house at 74, Caine' Road was folly occupied by boarders from January to April in the present year. Defendant was farther induced to make the said contract by fraudulent representatione to the plaintiff that her intention was to return

In March, 1905, a committee was appointed by Sir M, Nathan to consider the feasibility of perment, public houts on this system. B periment, one public house on this system.

The system is briefly that public house, licences should be transferred to a company, the shareholders in which should derive no profit from the sale of intoxicating liquors ba youd a fixed percentage on the capital treated, while the actual managers of the public houses abould be salaried persons having no share In the proften the sale of intoxicating liquors, The committee set out the object of the suggest adsyndicate and the manner in which the public house should be managed by it an follows:-

"It is proposed to form a company to into England and not to commence another stitute a public house in Victoria which shall board fofondant said that by a verbal agres. in Hongkong, in the alter- be managed on the principles adopted by the native, recently established Public House Trust Azso ment entered into between the platonis ciations in England.

and the defendant on or about the 8th

The object in to promote the higher temper. ance by the conversion of the public house from a drinking bar into a house of refreshment for the supply of wholesome food and non-alcobo- lic liquors as well as of beer and spirits,

The leading principip will be the elimination of the element of panonal profit from the sale of alcoholic liquors. Accordingly the dividend payable on the capital subscribed will be limit ad to 5% per annum. Shareholders will thus have a limited monetary interest in the trade, All surplus profits will be applied to furthering the object of the Company by extending its sphere of action.

It is proposed to begin with one house only, It will be conducted as a refreshment house rather than as a mere drinking bar; food as

NEW TERRITORIES FORESHORE. The Attorney General moved, and the Colo. sial Secretary seconded, the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to exempt Crown Leases granted in respect of Foreshore and

in condition imposed under the Fore-well as non-intoxicating drink including tea, submerged lands in the New Territories from a

coffee, and cocoa will be as readily served to shores and Sea Bed Ordinance, igat.

customers as beer or spirits; and the food and Carried.

drink supplied will be of the best quality obtainable.

The Foreshores and Sea Bed Ordinance, 1901, requires that Grows leases proposed to be granted in respect of foreshore or sea bed should inter alia be published in the Gastile for a period of one month,

The Bill proposes to dispense with this con. dition as regards the New Territories where the Gassifs is seldom seen and the cost is deemed

unnecessary.

The other conditions in the Foreshores and Sea Bed Ordinance, 1951. requiring the publi- cation in Chinese of the terms of such losses by publicly posting them near the site of the property are not affected by the Bill

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY,

Prince Arthur of Connaught. I remember the meat in tidying things up on the eve of his zeal displayed by the Public Works Depart arrival. The same real was once again display ad when His Royal Highness the Duke of Con naught subsequently spent a day or two in the Colony. As Hongkong has not since the been favoured by a visit from Royalty the condition of the plot in question has been uninterruptedly declining from

bad 10 worse. Are we faced, with the prospect of this process continuing until the Post Office is completed? This question was asked at our last meeting.. My aim is asking it was to ascertain, il possible, whether the Governmeal realised the extent af, and recognised reasons for, a growing in particular piece of public land for the impatience over the long continued use of purposes of a contractor's yard. The Hos. the Director of Public Works said that the ques tion-the third of a series-was disposed of by the answer youchsafed to the second. I am unable to see that the answer to the second question bad any relation to the third at all. The Hon: the Director of Public Works did

The Attonery General moved the first read. not catch the drift of the latter question. If being of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend had he would have foreseen that it could not

The Squatters Ordinance; 1890. be so easily disposed of, that it was certain to crop up again, as it has done to the resolution. The fact that he understood the question to refer obly the improper occupation of there worksheds as louamente argued as.im.; perfect realisation of the far larger aspect of the nuisance and have therefore felt cop strained to refer to it again, and to indicate the hope, which underlay the original question, of finding the Goveroment willing to admit thatthe ime has now arrived to improve matters. It does not seem to me lo be unreasonable to ex pect this. I have no wish to add to the work and worries of any hard-pressed official. To a man overwhelmed with the numbers of fles that heap themselves up upon his office desk, awaiting minuter, it may seem hard to be made responsible for what is happening on the Praya. But it is not the public's fault if the system on which the Department in worked calls for improvements, which would' onable the Hon, the Director of Public Works to use his pen less and his eyes mara. But this opens a larger question. I desire to confine the dis- cussion to the plot in question. Surely, now it might be possible to abate the nuisance created by its present condition. The Post Office is built up to the top storey. The edifice awaits only toof and the tower which is to crown it. If, as I understand, the only work, connected with the building of the Past Office, now belog car ried on in the yard is the sawing by hand of timber-a method somewhat actiquated in these days of bandsaws cutting teak like butter surely there is no necessity for renewing the, lease? The contractor will say there is no other place to saw it. But if he were to receive to-morrow three months' notice to quil, is that time I think could find a way. Where there's a will there's always one. And if the Public Works Department had the will they could find a way to do without the drawing, office and the tar factory on the sea front. The erasure of the drawing office, the removal of the road surface factory, and an issue of matching orders to the woodyard, these are the immediate steps called for under the cir cumstances and this is the meaning of the word abate-the meaning which it carries la law when coupled with the word nuisance. Thus strengthened It is the equivalent of abollsh; thus I intend it to a read in the resolution which I now speaking to it 1 have endeavoured as far as possible to repress the pent up feelings of years of irritation. They are not personal to any have seen the crew of junk, evidently mistaking idea that the Hon. the Director of Public Works particular official: They are directed against the the land on which the statue stands for waste land, using as a place to spread and mand and. contractors in carrying out Goverment their sails. If he had been with me a day work are free to display indifference towards later, be would have seen the Monarch's considerations which it should be their pride to effigy closely lovested, up to the steps of the advance. I appeal to powers in the Govern pedestal, by ramparts of large iron pipes, Olten

meat overruling this department to pat co he might have seen, since the begloning of the

end on the plot of ground in question to a N.E. mansono, smoke from the coal-lar factory condition of things which has grown to be pouring over it, or perhaps from the kitchen.

discreditable to the Administration as a whole. chimneys in rear. The stranger might have

Hon, Mr. Osborne:-I beg to second this questioned the propriety of erecting this statue

rasolution. It will no doubt be contended by satilit could be treated with proper respect. He

those who are responsible for the retention might ask, How did this state of matters begin?

of these unsightly structures that they are His cicerone might not be able to tell bim.

necessary, for construction - work on the Qaly an old resident could give him as idea.

new Post Office, That the site in question Here, I might come in. My recollection would

is a convenient and economical one for the be that the Public Works Department did not start the buirance now complained of

contractors, Messrs. Sang Lee and Co., is ne deabt correct, but to contend that work They have only Increased and intensified

for the Post Office can be done nowhere it of late years. Higher powers in the also than in Royal Square is an absurdity; for Government began it 1 can't remember there is not a vestige of material prepared there, A sam of seven thousand five hundred dollars exact dates, but I recall the circumstances. nor adf atom of material stared upon the ground,

in aid of the vote Miscellaneous Services, print remember as one who can recall local which could not equally well be accommodateding and binding miscellaneous papers. events far longer than 1 care to KOA. on sny piece of waste land outside the City limits. lise. But one aned, aut confess to having If the Government, Sir, is bent upon con- taken a continuous forest to this parti: tinuing this nuisance, to the disregard of public cular matter for more than a decado. Only

sentiment, then let it at least mitigate the off- then did the question arise, What is to

ence by interposing a suitable screen so that we be done with the plot of Government land between the site fixed for the may be spared the Indignity of bebolding the Law Courie and the Praya? In those days workmen's shantiat, by a lumber yard; and by statue of our King embroidered as it is by | Hongkong was prosperous. She occupied a

a tarred macadam faciory. dominating position as a docking centre. She still held her own as a mart and dieributing centre. We were all filled with pride and vain glory. And when we discussed the question of what ought to be done with the plot in question, some of us maintained that the Gov erament should bere erect a building to serve the purposes of a Town Hall, a noble granite building in the classic style worthy of the most beautifully situated city la the King's Domi- nions. That dream will someday, I hope, come true, though seems further off now than then. But even then, is the days of prosperity we saw that it could not be realised" unill the new Law Consts and Post Office had been built and the claims of waterworks satisfied, And consequently it was hoped that the whole works would be tidied up as and expected that, in the meantime, the amusing description of the Star, Farry Wharf, the scene of no little commotion this afternoon soon as possible. He concluded with a most

Assortment

new

The Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Wireless Tolography Ordinance, 1903, and the Wireless Telegraphy Ordinance, 1909, WAS read a first tim on the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary.

This Ordinance provides penalties for the violation of the Ordinances relating to wireless telegraphy.

ORDER AND CLEANLINESS.

The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the mave. In

Order and Cleanliness Ordinance, 1864.

The Colonial Secretary seconded. Agreed,

is a law unto himself and that his subordinates

LIQUORS'ORDINANCES.

Liquor Licences Ordinance, 1898, and the Liquor Licence Extension Ordinance, 1908, and to repeal the Liquor Licences Amendment Ordinance, 1902, was withdrawn,

POSTPONED.

Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the

The following Bill was postponed:- Second reading of the Bill entitled An Or dinance to amend the Tramway Ordinance, 1902,

ADJOURNMENT.

The Council adjourned until the oth inst.

FINANCE COMMITTEE..

A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the meeting of Council, the Colonial Secretary presiding. It was agreed to recommend that the following votes be adopted by the Council:-

•

PRINTING AND BINDING.

CUSTOMS AND Excise staff,

1

A som of nineteen thousand three hundred and fifty dollars in aid of the vote, Harbour Master's Department, C.-imports and Exponts Office, salaries and expenses of Customs and

Oxcise staff.

'MAGISTRATE'S" ALLOWANCE,

A sum of three hundred and twenty-five Mr. Hewett also spoke in favour of the abate dollars ($335) in aid of the vote, Judicial and meat of the nuisanca in question,

Legal Departments, B.-Magistracy, Other The Colonial Secretary, in reply, remarked | Charges, allowance of $5.00 a day to the Dis that they would allagree that the land in question trict Officer, New Territories, acting as First should be tidied up, but he thought members Police Magistrate in Hongkong. did not realise the difficulties in a Colony such

This was all the business. as Hongkong of providing facilities for the con tractors of buildings such as the Post Office and Law Courts, by far the largest buildings the Government of this Colony had undertaken. Hefreferred to the eraction of Jardine, Mathe- contractors of that structure found it to obtain son & Co.'s buildings and how difficult the

He entered into detalls on the subject and sald ground for the requirements of their workmen,

STREBISNATCHING EXTRA-

ORDINARY,

LIVELY SCENE IN QUEEN'S ROAD,

and inst The most central part of Quaen's Road was

The manager will be paid a fixed salary, He will have no interest whatever is the profits arising from the sale of intoxicante, and will in consequence be under no inducement to push this part of the trade. On the other hand be will be encouraged to promote the sale of food and non-intoxicants.”

Under date of the 20th April, 1905, they re ported as follows:

"We submit an estimate (not prlated) of the working are seat of a public house on the

Gothenborg system."

The estimate of receipts'may perhaps 'be somewhat low; on the other hand the expon- diture will certainly not be loss. The estimate | is based on information of the working expon- ses of certain public houses in the Colony, and it must be remembered that when a man ja working for himself he will manage mora economically than when he is working as the paid servant of another.

We have therefore been forced to the conclu. slon-that, without support in dabscriptions and donations from the public, and in competition with ordinary public houses, the Gothenburg house would not pay.

We have therefore to suggest the alternative methods set out in the enclosure hereto by which Government might improve the public houses in the Colony.

with the addition of (a), (b) and (c) in suggestion Of the three suggestions wo favour the frat No. 3 inserting words or approved by be tween the words "from"god" Government" in (a).

(Signed) F. H. MAY.

Q. P. CHATER. EDWARD USBORNE,"

"

#

[Enclosure.]

Alternativo suggestions for improving public houses in Hongkong.

(d) Let Government take over the licens- lag of public hauses and give notice to the pre sent licensees of public houses that after threo years from next licensing date it will not renew the existing licences.

(4.) Let it then reduce the number of licences to 10 (which gives about 1 for every 1,000 of the white population including the Garrison) and issue there to to a company to run the houses on the Gothenburg system; or 12. Lat the Government only license a certain' limited number of first class hautes at an in- creased fee for the sale of beer, wines and spirits as at present and license another set

Let it at the same time alter a grocer's licence lower fees for the retail sale of beer only. so that sales may be limited to 3 bottles (instead of to I as at present); or

3. Let Government take over the licensing of all houses in place of having it in the hands of the Justices and reduce the number of public houses and at the same time impore new cop. dilions on the remaining ones, eg, 1—

ment:

(a) all liquor to be procored from Govern.

(6) premises to be passed fit for use as a public house by Director of Public Works and Medical Officer of Health;

(<)licance to be liable to, immediate can- cellation if drunkennes permitted on the pre- mises,

OPIUM SMUGGLING.

SMUOOLERS CAPTURED,

Hos, Mr. Murray Biewart-1 rise to move that "in the opinion of this Couvell immediate steps should be taken to abase the nuisance Government would clear and maintain bich, he suggested, was as much of a pulsance Bust before the resumption of business after the † seven-thirty, says the Manila Times, of 20th

EU

་

as the matsheds in question.

Mr. Osbomo spoke on behalf of the Star dition on the Government. Farry Company, laying the blame for its con

created by the condition of the plot of Govern.

an open space the plot in question, as well ment land between the new Law Courts and the Praya" Perhaps the best-way

as the 75 feet to the wait of it. This inst, the nuisance referred to is to put one-self example set on the other side of Queen resif the Government, filled with emulation by the lo the position of a stranger. Any observant Victoria's Statue, actually proposed to do, and interested stranger landing on the Praya just eight years ago.. Bat this Colony suffers Mr. Morray Stewart replied. opposite Queen Victoria's status and looking from lack of continuity, the word which

His Excellency the Governor said he was first to ble right front and then to his left would Lord Kitchener left as a legacy to the Indian very fully, lo sympathy with the object of mark a striking contrast. On his right he would Army. A new ruler-the plea of necessityisance, except in the ordinary conversa the resolution, but he objected to the word note with pleasure a well-kept grass plot alleged by a Director of Public Works, able an bordered with flowers and enclosed by a so englocer, but apparently lacking in artistic

tional use of the torm. He would give his own brudsome rulling. On hle left he would perception, and so, Instead of a garden, a draw personal consideration and endeavour to see an unsightly conglomeration of raming office, and a matshed for some Indian polico

ameliorate the condition of affairs. shackle and tattered matabeds, piles of whose quarters had to be re-built. Then, when

Mr. Murray Stewart said that in these cie routing poles, odds and ends of old timbers, these were completed, the rebuilding of the

comstacces be would not press the resolution, untidy heaps of gmuito chipplugs, weedgrown Volunteer Headquarters was decided upon, and stacks of bricks; cookbensosciber outhouses the matsheds vacated by the police were utilised all the stagnant squalor which collects in s as temporary beadquarters. The public indul builder's yard. The fact that the tattered mat ged a hope that it would not be for losg. But sheds are in the occupation of a certain Chinese upon the completion of the Volunteer Hoad contractor is advertised in large Intters over quarters a new reason was found for delay. the entrance to them, and the observant The contractor who had nadertaken the bulld stranger, policing this, might imagine that log of the Post Office-induced the Government here was a figrant case of private owner. to let the plot to him. There was then little

September, plaintiff agreed not to set up another boarding-house in Hongkong. Defen dant funber stated that according to the true construction of the contract, the plaintiff was precluded from setting og boarding-honse in Hongkong and from canvasslag persons to have boarded with bar in order to induce them to board in any boarding-house which she might set up. Plaintiff was fitting out 74. Caine Road for the purpose of using same sava boarding. house. Plaintiff on or about the 8th September canrassed certain boarders who resided in the aforesaid boarding-house, then being carried en by her for the purpose of inducing them to board in another boarding-house which she injunction restraining the plaintiff from open. was about to open. Defendant claimed (1) An

ing or continuing to carry on a boarding house in the Colony. (1). Remission of the aforesaid contract and the ratum of the sum of $500 paid by the defendant to the plaintiff on the signing thereof; or in the alternative de- fendant claimed (3) the sum of $700, being tha damages caused to him by the acts of the plaintiff mentioned in the foregoing para graphs

Bafore, the case was opened, Mr. Hinds moved for judgment on the counter-claim on account of an admission in the pleadings, › for that, what sort el damages do you want? —- His Lordship Suppose you get judgment Ordinary damages.

Mr. Hodgson My Lord, I submit that it is

impossible to give my friend damages before.

we go on with the case.

His Lordship ruled that the case be proceed/ ed with,

Mr. Hodgson read the claim and said he attached particular importance to this words "At present in Hongkong" In the pleadings, He submitted that there was never a greater attempt to get out of a contract, which was perfectly unjustified and inflicted a wrong on the plaintif

The plaintiff was called into the witnesi. box and stated that in July last, the defen dant, in company with his wife, came to her house at Cafne Road and said that they had beard that she (plaintif) was in 'great gelsi over the death of her son and that sho' wa leaving for Home. She said "Yes" and was

She said the sam was insuficient and asked if she would sell her furniture. She con sonted to do this and was at Brat offered $500. defendant then offered $1,000, which sho said she was willleg to accept. Subsequente ly Mr. Emberley reduced the amount to" $ões owing to a question of lease, whereupon sha told him she would let him know. On the after noon of the following day, plaintiff communi. cated to Mrs. Emberley by telephone, that she would not leave the hours for less than $1,000, and as winter was approaching, she decided to keep the house. "Altar some time, Emberley again offered $1,000, which sha stand that matters had not turned out a accepted. Subsequently, he gave her to under they had expected and offered $500 down and $500 in two instalments of Sz50 each, pay ablo on the 1st October and 1st November, respectively, to which she agreed and in respect of which she drew up an agreement in the presence of and signed by a third party. She made plans to leave on the 5th October, as sha did not wish to press them unduly. She viitted Mr. Emberley, who bade her "Good-after noon", went upstairs, came down again and finally said she was sony that she could not pay her, as she was unable to collect, the money from her boardars. Plaintiff replied that she bad always been able to collect ber money at that time of the month. Mts: Km. berley then stated that the English Mail was not in. The plaintiff said: "The English Mail has nothing to do with this. You have humbegged me quite enough," At another interview, M. Emberley opened the_ques- tion of the plaintiff having agreed not to start another boarding-house. Planif replied that she was leaving for Shanghai where she was going to settle her son's grave and that she did not contemplate opening.another.house. In answer to a question from her solicitor plafo tlf said it was quite cotrue that she had aver undertaken not to open another boarding-honed at the time she entered into the agreement with the defendant and always considered herself at perfect liberty to do what she liked. There was no question about it,

The defendant was called into the witness. -box-

Mr. Hodgson-Do you suggest · fraudulent conduct on the past of Mrs. Ford?,

Witnese-I wouldn't like to imputa it to her Mr. Hinda-My Lord, it is only an allegation of legal fraud.

His Lordship-It must be fraud or nothing, Mr. Hinds It is only a reckless statement, His Lordship-Without knowing whether t is true or not?

Mr. Hinds-You.

His Lordship-It is not so in this case, Mr. Hodgson (to wilnesi)—On the 1st Octo- ber and 1st November, when Mm. Ford did not open a boarding-house, you still declined to pay bor?—Yes, because she would not gira as & written undertaking.

Quiet reigned supreme in the crew's quarters on board the steamer Rudi last evening after

iiffin interval The cause of all the hullé-baloo Nor. No fast or laughter in high-pitched Chi were the cries of a small-fest Chinese woman of nese echoad around the bunks where the crew ampla dimensions, whose face was livid with gather nightly to play some game fascinating to burning rage and who was giving chain an|the Oriental mind, or to smoke a pipe before best she could to a particularly avil-looking turning in. Most every member in those little Chinese of the male persuasion, who was quarters was touched on a sore spot, bis pocket seen to exercise the utmost precaution in giv last night by the capture of large quantity of woman poured a shower of expletives on the thair flickering light into faces, hard and Im og his pursuer a wide barth. The excited opium on board, and the lamps swung with villainous looking individual and by her wild morable.

Boog after seven o'clock fast evening, white gesticulations, it was apparent that someone had snatched her gold our-pick and it was the white officers of the Rub) were in the plainly noticed that the unfortunate man, who saloon for dinner, secret agents of the Customs by the time was hotly, pursued by an in- † service caught two quartermasters of the yER- terested and motley crowd who were anxious sols, one a Filipino and the other a Malay, to see the game through, felt far from comfort putting a quantity of opium through one of the seconded by the Attorney General, the draft whose feet fallowed the vulgar crowd, was the

On the motion of the Colonial Secretary,able. Whether the fackless ladividual, at lower port koles.

The sacratas captured the man in the act, get Rules under the Steam Boilers Ordinance, 1900, right colprit or not we have so means of ting one fifty pound tio, & twenty-six pound tip, (Ordinance No. 33,of 1909) were adopted.

knowlog, and

soon the man was lost in the 126 small tins, and four empty ties, the opium crowd. The rest of the story is a blank as far | contained in the different receptacles being | As we are concerned. It is, however, possible | worth P6,000. The quartermastem, Macario Bill extitled An Ordinance to amend the Law escorted to headquarters and if he be the right

Council again considered in Committes the that the man was ultimately captured and Mendes and Bacho (the Malay) were arrested. Rats are a sore plague in the rice-growluz

This is the first sierare made on one of the districts of Cochin-Chins,. They have been to. man, we dread to contemplate bis dire panish: Shewan Tomes bosts for many months, Kach destructive of late that the colonisi, consc When Council resumed,

member of the nefariousgang of street-snatchers | the vessel twice for the hidden dope, and it is to offer a reward of one hundred thous one your's hard labour with twelve strokes of an account of this precaution that no opium has the birch thrown in for a similar offenge. been found by the agents here at MAIN TAKOOPE

· STEAM BOILERS,

TRADE MARKS. '

At this point, His Lordiklp suggested that defendant should pay to the plaintiff the amount claimed on condition that plaintiA vacate 74, Calpe Road in: Jandáry next but to be at liberty to set up a boarding-house als where. This was agreed to by both pantes, The question of costa is to be considered is Chambers.

@ship in land resulting in public wrong, | realisation of the length of time it would take relating to Trade Markhe Bill was rsport. ↑ ment, for only yesterday, Mr. Wood awarded a trip to Manila the officers of the ships search Saigon has taken action by asking the seCE.

Hore, he might say, "is x care whare it to erect the edifice, and no notion that for five or would obviously be right for the State six yeare this use of the plot would be an

ed with amendments.

to map in and to force the owner of this alleged necessity of its eventual existence. Had The Bill, was cass read a third time and

inently situated pict either to put it to there been, dissatisfaction would have been more Į paroed

for the discovery of an chictión mutacLY

troy the rich dafd rate in De Colony,

Page 15Page 16