20
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Perhaps it might not be desirable to follow the example of the Chinese Customs Service in its very frequent changes, but on the other hand there does not seem to be any substantial reason for straining after per manency, as advocated by the Chinkiang Chamber. The more experience a Consul has the better able will he be to serve the in terests of the port at which he happens to be stationed, and experience is to be gained by moving from one port to another.
THE JAPANESE AND THE REBEL- LION IN FORMOSA.
The rebellion in Formosa, the attack on Hoonim, and the reported murder of a British subject are unpleasant incidents, and ought to rouse the Japanese to the necessity of effectually subjugating the island and putting its affairs in order. If it be the case, as stated by our Formosa cor- respondent, that the deplorable state of affairs that exists is solely due to the cruel- ties committed by the Japanese in the country and the ignorance, arrogance, and general misconduct of the officials, the sooner the delinquent officials are replaced by others more sensible of what is required of them the better. The eyes of the world are upon Japan in Formosa and if the new rulers of the island make any conspicuous failure in their administration the conse- quences may be serious. Unlike the case of the Liaotung peninsula, no opposition was offered to Japan's acquisition of For- mosa, but it is not impossible her retention of it may be opposed if she proves herself incompetent to manage it. As it is, she will doubtless be called to strict account for the death of Mr. OLLIA, and if it turn out that that sad event was due to any official neglect suitable restitution will have to be made to the deceased gentleman's representatives.. It must not be forgotten, however, that difficulties are almost invariably met with in the settlement of countries acquired by conquest.
The suppression of dacoity in Upper Burmah was mot accomplished in a day, and in Tonkin, although the French have now been in pos- session for ten years, piracy is still rif in certain districts. Doubtless there are many restless spirits in Formosa disaffected to the new regime who will take advantage of every opportunity of stirring up sedition and disorder. It behoves Japan, however to see to it that such opportunities are not needlessly created by official arrogance or misconduct, for her administration will pro- bably be judged more critically than that of any European Power in a new country would be. Japan is, so to speak, on her trial as a colonising power, and it would be altogether unfortunate for her if she made egregious mistakes at the commencement.
THE LOCALISATİON OF PLAGUE.
Mr. O. JOHNSON, the Consul at Hoihow, in his report for last year mentions that plague made its appearance there about the end of February and lasted till June, carrying off
five
Bothe
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`thousand victims. 'It is curious," the Consul adds, "that in the prefectural city of Kiungchow, distant only "about three miles, not a single case was reported." The same singular circum- stance has made itself noted in the visitations of the plague at Hongkong, Canton, and Macao. In 1894, when the disease raged at Canton and Hongkong, it was entirely absent from Macao; in 1895, when Hong- kong and Canton escaped with only a few sporadic cases, Macao was visited with
1
a severe epidemic; and this year again, when the disease has been prevalent at Hong- kong and Canton, Macao has escaped. near to Hongkong or Macao is not só Canton as Kiungchow is to Hoihow, but it is in daily communication with both places. The peculiar localisation of the disease, then, is a subject which would probably The same circum- repay investigation. stance occurs in connection with cholera, and in the earlier days of sanitary science the authorities were much puzzled to know why the Scourge in making its pro- gress through a country should jump over a village or a whole district and why in towns some streets would escape while others in their immediate neighbourhood showed markedly high death rates. Investigation showed that an impure water supply was the condition favouring the activity of the cholera virus, and it is now generally re- cognised that a place with a good water supply is practically safe from visita- What the special tions of that disease. condition is that favours the spread of the plague virus has still to be discovered, but the peculiar movements of the disease as regards locality ought to afford some assist- ance in the investigation.
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SUPREME COURT.
2nd July.
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR DR. CARRINGTON (CHIEF JUSTICE).
IN THE MATTER OF THE Companies' ordin. ANCES 1877 AND 1886 AND IN THE MATTER OF THE YOKOHAMA ENGINE AND IRON
WORKS, LIMITED AND REDUCED. The Yokohama Engine and Iron Works, Limited and Reduced, petitioned for confirma tion of a resolution passed by the shareholders reducing the capital of the Company from $130,000 to $65,000.
Hon. H. E. Pollock (instructed by Mr. Master, of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master) appeared for the Company.
Hon. H. E. Pollock said the petition was presented to the Court on the 25th April and he applied for it to be granted and that the form of minute proposed to be registered be approved by the Court, and for directions under Rule 91 of Ordinance 30 of 1886. The application was made under Section 11 of Ordinance 1 of 1887, which was as follows:
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[July 8, 1896-
bank to cover these liabilities. Under those circumstances he asked the Court to order, the words "and reduced" to be discontinued at once. His Lordship-I make an order confirming the reduction of the capital as settled by the special resolution passed at the extraordinary meetings and I approve the minute which has been handed to one, and I direct that the Com pany be at liberty to discontinue the use of the words "and reduced" from the date of this order. I further direct that notice of the re- gistration of the order and the minute be published once in the Hongkong Government Gazette, once in the Hongkong Daily Press, and once in the Japan Gazette.
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1st July,
CRIMINAL SESSIONS.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR DR. CARRINGTON
(CHIEF JUSTICE). │
BREAKDOWN Of a case.
Li Fung was charged with unlawfully re- ceiving a woman named Un Shing Kwai with intent to let her out for the purposes of prosti- tution.
Hon. H. E. Pollock (Acting Attorney-Gen-
eral), instructed by Mr. A. B. Johnson (Crown Solicitor), prosecuted and Mr. E. Robinson
defended.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty and the jury. men were-Messrs. E. Mast, Lam Hon Wan, D. H. Silas, J. A. Guttierez, E. Mauricio, Leong Shin Kong, and R. H. Heard.
The Acting Attorney-General said the com- plainant formerly lived with her husband, -mother-in-law, and sister-in-law in a smali village in the Kochow Prefecture” in the south of China, a few days' journey from Hoihow. There was a famine in the village this year and complainant's family got into pecuniary dif ficulties, which were very much aggravated by the death of her father-in-law. The family decided to leave the village and they went to Hoihow to look for work. The prospect of getting work was not very bright and two or three days later the complainant and her family came to Hongkong. On the steamer was a Chinaman who by which they came had lent some money to pay the funeral The steamer expenses of the deceased man. arrived here on the 20th May and the whole of the family went to a boarding house, where there was a dispute about the payment of the bill. The lender of the funeral expenses there-
The complainant, in her evidence, said that when she went to the brothel the defendant told her to go away, and complainant then asked to be allowed to stop for a month or so.
At this point his Lordship stopped the case and directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty.
upon pressed for the repayment of his money and an arrangement was consequently come to between him and the complainant's mother-` in-law whereby the complainant was to be pledged to a brothel and the money so raised to go towards the refunding of the loan. The complainant was taken to a brothel on the A Company which has passed a special resolu- '30th May and money was paid over to secure tion for reducing its capital may apply to the her: Counsel mentioned that the complainant was a consenting party to the arrangement,' as Court by petition for an order confirming the reduction, and on the hearing of the petition she was anxious for the family debt to be paid the Court, if satisfied that with respect to every off; but his Lordship would doubtless direct the creditor of the Company who, under the provi-jury that that fact made no difference in point. sions of this Ordinance, is entitled to object to of law. the reduction, either his consent to the redno- tion has been obtained, or his debt or claim has been discharged or has determined, or has been received as hereinafter provided, may make an order confirming the reduction on such terms and subject to such conditions as it deems fit." The petition in the case was dated in Japan, 16th March, 1896, and signed by Mr. Lowder and Mr. Johnson, two of the directors of the Company. The petition set forth that the Company was incorporated in 1888 and the head offices were at 90, Queen's Road Central, Hong- kong. The capital of the Company was $130,000, divided into 1,300 shares of $100 each. This year certain resolutions were passed and con- firmed empowering the reduction of the capital of the Company from $130,000, divided into 1,300 of $100 each, to $65,000, divided into 1,300 shares of $50 each, such reduction to be effected by returning to the holders of 1,300 fully paid-up shares the sum of $50 per share and by reducing the nominal amount of the shares from $100 to $50 each. Counsel then put in affidavits showing that the Company had no debts, with the execption of employés current wages, and there was sufficient money in the
The complainant had told a different story, at the Magistracy and she was severely rebuked by his Lordship for telling lies.~ The Court then adjourned.
4th July.
THE PERJURY CASE.—JUDGMENT: His Lordship delivered judgment in the cass in which Wong King Tong and Wong Wa were charged with perjury. It will be remem bered that the prisoners were found guilty Monday, the 29th ult., and immediately on the verdict being returned Mr. Robinson, who de- fended, moved for arrest of judgment on three grounds, the principal one being that the in- dictment was bad in law as the prisoners had been jointly indicted. After hearing the argu- ments of both Mr. Robinson (for the defence) and
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