126
ingly higher standards required, and the girls of this school I am glad to say recognise the fact that they can assist the teachers in th ir very hard work by that cheerful spirit which Dr. Eitel says animates this school throughout. In conclusion, I will only say to the girls that I hope they will play earnestly in their play hours, and work earnestly in their working hours. Make the most of the time; never let any time slip through your fingers; time passes quickly enough, and the older we get the faster it passes. Remember the words of old Samuel Johnson, who says that duty and perseverance
ure as necessary to womanhood as to manhood.
"Catch, then, O catch the transient hour;
Improve each moment as it flies; Life's a short summer-man a flower--- Ue dies-alas! how soon he dies!
(Applause). Thanks are due to the head mistress for the work which has been done. I wish the school every success for its future (applause.)
The following is the prize list:- 1st Class-Reading, May Hunter; Dictation, Ethel Long; Arithmetic, Lizzie "Abraham; Grammar, Lizzie Olson; Geography, May Hun ter; Composition, Ethel Long; History, Lizzie Abraham; Map drawing, Kitty Turner; Writ ing, Kitty Turner; Needlework, May Hunter; Highest number of marks, Ethel Long.
2nd Class.-Reading, Ida Armstrong; Dieta- tion, Hannah Olson; Arithmetic, Reuben Abra- ham; Grammar, Reuben Abraham; Geography, Emily Hahn, Composition, Eliza Moore; His- tory, Nannie Hahn; Map drawing, Ida Arm. strong; Needlework, Louisa Heang; Writing, Louisa Heang; Highest number of marks, Eliza Moore:
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
SOLICITORS AT FIRE INQUIRIES,
AN IMPORTANT POINT..
On Tuesday at the Magistracy Hon. H. E. Wodehouse resumed the inquiry respecting the fire which broke out at 70 Jervois Street, on the morning of the 5th inst
Mr. Gadge (of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master's office) appeared for the Hamburg and Bremen Fire Insurance Company, in which the premises were insured for $12.600.
P.C. Clarke said that at 12 50 a.m. on the 5th inst. a man came out of 245, Queen's Road Central and told him that the house was on fire. Witness went round to 70 Jervois Street, and found the staircase at the back of the countor on fire. He sent to the Fire Brigade station, in confining the flames to the back part. and also got two lengths of hose and succeeded There was nothing to show at the time what had set fire to the place. When he went in he heard an explosion. On Monday he and some coolies found four kerosine lamps under the stair- case. The fire spread to 245, Queen's Road Cen- tral, which is at the front of 70, Jervois Street. The lamps might have fallen from other floors, as a wall in the house had been destroyed.
In answer to Mr. Gedge witness said he found on the first floor several empty clothes boxes and a few articles of furniture; there was no stock. The front of the shop was full of piece goods, which were on shelves.
A tailor in 245, Queen's Road Central, spoke to being awakened by a upise at the back of the house. He got up and found 70, Jervois Street,
He told the last witness. or fire.
The cook at 70, Jervois Street, said he and two 3rd Class.-Reading, Edith Plinston, Dieta- servants slept on the ground floor on the night tion, Bertha Hahn; Writing, Annie Parker; in question. The basement was used for storing Arithmetic, Eliza Turner; Grammar, Wong firewood and empty boxes. No one was sleeping in Poey Wing; Geography, Ella Kiug; Composithe accountant's room. Only a small light, which was placed on the ground, was used in the shop tion, Jennie Hahn, History, Ella King; needle- work, Arnie Parker; Highest number of marks, that night. He was awakened by some people Edith Plinston.
upstairs, when he saw smoke coming from the ac 4th Class-Reading, Julia Ruchwaldy; Dic.countant's room on the ground floor, and the stair! tation, George Abraham; Arithmetic, Andrew case was on fire. The four lamps found underneath Hahn; Grammar, Letitia King; Geography, the staircase did not belong to the shop. The Minnie Stanlier; Writing. Faa Ah Mui; Needle accountant went home on 29th July; he was work, Jennie Madar; Highest number of marks, also master of the shop. Andrew Hahn.
5th Class-Reading, Kitty Abraham; Writ ing, Alice Lesbirel; Arithmetic, Faa Ah Mai; Highest number of marks, Nellie Olson; Needle- work, Alice Lesbirel.
6th Class-Reading, Ah Chai; Writing, Hannah Toy Arithmetic, Helena Ismail; Highest number of marks. Lily Heang; Needle work, Lily Heang.
7th Class. Reading, Henry Attack; Writing, Cecilia Quincey; Arithmetic, John Duncan; Highest number of marks, Hugo Ruchwaldy.
Infants.-1st, Emmanuel Watling; 2nd, Noof Kia; 3rd, Albert Ahwee; Recitation, Bessie Walker.
Chinese Embroidery.-Wong Poey Wing. Music-1st prize, May Hunter; 2nd prize, Ida Armstrong.
Drill Senior, Hilda Long; Junior, Ella King.
Chinesa Literaturo.-1st Class-1st, Lau Ut- sin; 2nd, Ho Shuh-ün. 2nd Class-1st, Wan Ut-oi; 2nd, Wong Wan-sin. 3rd Class.-1st, Leung Mi-yung; 2nd, Lau Sui-sam. 4th Class. -Ist, Li Tai-soo. 5th Class,-1st, Leung Mi- lan.
Chinese Needlework.-1st, Chau Fook-tai; 2nd, Wong Wan-sin; 3rd, Ng Li-hing.
After the children had given a short entertain- ment, a vote of thanks was passed to bis Excellency.
The piano for use on prize day was most kindly provided by Mr. Quincey.
The cashiered General Nieh Kuei-lin, who dis- played cowardice at the battle of Hsiuyen, a little south-west of Fenghuan-ch'eag, Manchuria, while fighting against the Japanese, and who was sent for trial at Peking the other day, has, the N. C. Daily News says, been sentenced to perpetual banishment in Kashgaria. This is the lightest punishment, so far, given to the cowardly Generals who ran away from the Japanese at Tailienwan, Port Arthur, S. Kinchow, Hsinyen, Fenghuang-ch'eng, and other places, all the rest -and there are seven of them-having been either sentenced by the Board of Punishments to summary decapitation or to await the exe- entioner next autumn.
By Mr. Gedge-There were altogether thir teen persons in the house. Only one lamp was lit in the shop, and the accountant's room was also lit by one lamp. There was a hanging lamp hung up against the wall on the first floor at the head of the staircase, and also one on the second floor. These were the only lamps used that night, with the exception of some small ones used by the tailors There was one tin of kerosine on the roof; none was kept under the stairs. He had not seen the four lamps until he came into court, and ho did not know they were underneath the stairs.
Mr. Gedge-Where did you keep your clothes that night ?
His Worship-I cannot allow that question to be put.
Mr. Gedge-But it is in the course of cross examination.
His Worship-It has nothing to do with the origin of the fire.
Mr. Gedge-My submission is that the origin of the fire has as much to do with the where- abouts of the clothes as with the finding of the lamps.
[August 15, 1895,
Mr. Gedgo then proceeded to ask other ques tions relating to the contents of the shop.
His Worship-I should like you to stop this line of cross-examination at present; you are going into a question now which is quite apart from the point we have been dealing with.
Mr. Gedge-I have finished then. His Worship-You wish to oross-examine in general as to the contents of the shop?
Mr. Gedge-I do. There are very suspicious circumstances and the premises are insured for $12,600, and our contention is that if arson has been committed it was committed to defraud the Insurance Company and for no other reason. Your Worship has allowed me under the section of the Ordinance to cross-examine this witness to the best of my ability as to how the fire ori-
the witness as to what motive there was for the giuated in the shop. My contention is that I am entitled to go still further and cross-examine
fire at all.
!
His Worship-You must understand that all the questions you have been putting have been put actually through the Court.
Mr. Gedge-No, I don't.
His Worship-The Court is conducting the enquiry and what you call cross-examination is questions put by you but actually pat through the Court; therefore in regard to your question as to the contents of the shop I stop it at this
know later on. That is my ruling, and stage. Whether I will allow it ultimately I will you are not satisfied I must ask you not to go further into the matter.
let you
if
Mr. Gedge-I want a ruling why I am not allowed to cross-examine.
His Worship I am conducting the enquiry, and I am not going to say anything further.
Mr. Gedge-Does your Worship rule that I am not allowed to cross-examine as to the con- tents of the shop?
That will do, get down.
His Worship-At this stage. (To witness.) Mr. Gedge-Would your Worship allow me to suggest one more argument?
His Worship-I have given my ruling. Mr. Gedge-If your Worship will allow me for one moment-
His Worship-No, I will not. Will you sit down?
Mr. Gedge-I shall not be—
His Worship-Will you kindly sit down Mr. Gedge Of course, if your Worship re- fuses to hear me
His Worship-I do." I am going to call the
master.
Tám Chung I, the master, was recalled. He said the four lamps were always kept underneath the staircase, and were used at Chinese New Year. There was no kerosine in them.
By Mr. Gedge-The lamps were last used by witness on the 11th February, when they were put away after being cleaned.
His Worship, during Mr. Gedge's cross- oxamination, pointed out that the solicitor was conducting the same line, which could not be followed at present..
Mr Gedge-I submit am quite right-
Mr. Gedge-Of course, your Worship, my His Worship-Not at present; kindly post-argument is shortly this, that this witness will pone that question,
go out of court and make up a story with the If, after the evidence is given, other witnesses the cross-examination is taken piecemeal the whole object of cross-examination is burked. That is shortly and pithily my argument, and I ask your Worship to allow me to cross-examine shortly-I am not going to take up the whole day-as to the contents of the shop and as to the clothes and goods that were in it, partion. larly a box of silk which is alleged to have been burnt on the first floor. Your Worship must see yourself that this man and the last witness will go out and make up a beautiful story, which it will be very difficult to upset. If we can get them and catch them in small details one by one as the evidence is given we may be able to find out the motive for the fire.
His Worship-I merely ask you to kindly postpone the question.
Mr. Gedge-I must make my cross-examina- tion as the questions come into my mind; one question suggests another. The present ques- tion is in my mind now and I have no other.
His Worship-What is the question ? Mr. Gedge-I was going to ask whether the witness had any clothes in the shop and whero he kept them. The motive must be enquired into in reference to the cause of the fire.
His Worship-I do not allow the question to be put at this stago.
Mr. Gedge-When will your Worship allow me to put it?
His Worship-Go on with your other ques- tions.
Mr. Gedge-1 ask your Worship's ruling on the point.
His Worship-I simply say I do not allow the question to be put at this stage.
His Worship-You talk of cross-examination; there has been no cross-examination at all.
Mr. Gedge-Well, I will use the word exami- nation.
says
His Worship-That I will conduct myself. Mr. Gedge-The section of the Ordinance "It shall be lawful for any inspector of police or other interested person present at such investigation, with the leave of the Magistrate, to examine the witnesses." My submission is that the Insurance Company is a most interested party-more interested in the enquiry than even the public themselves. It will not take more
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.