The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1896-12-31 — Page 4

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its utility: We regret to learn that it is not likely to be re-opened after the Christ mas holidays. The mat-shed was blown away in the last typhoon, and the fifteen hundred dollars subscribed has therefore been entirely lost. A house was rented for the complet of the term, but the rent in addition to the other expenses of the school is too great a strain to be continued; and Government assistance, it appears, is not forthcoming except on terms that are felt to be impossible. The Govern ment we hear, is willing to provide a site if $5,000 is subscribed for the erection of a school house, but this sum is quite beyond the means of the com- munity. It is urged with some force that the Government does a great deal for Chi- nese education on the peninsula and that the European community is also entitled to some consideration and attention in a matter of so much importance. At present they find themselves in the position of the middle classes in England as described by Dr. CARRINGTON, namely, that nothing is done for them by the Government in the matter of education. It is obviously undesirable that children at Kowloon should have to make the long journey necessary to reach the schools on this side of the harbour, especially in bad weather, and the want of a good school on the peninsula will no doubt act as a deterrent to many people with families who might otherwise be disposed to take up their residence there..

THE SANITARY BOARD QUESTION.

-2

THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND His Excellency would of course not admit that sweeping away the Sanitary Boar would mean a revival of the state of things that previously existed hor would it for a time, while the lesson of the plague continues fresh, but when that begins to fade from memory the inevitable tendency of officialdom will again assert itself. It is satisfactory therefore to know that the Sanitary Board is not yet finally strangled and that though its constitution as established by Ordinance remains for the. time being suspended, its functions being exercised by a remnant, there is a fair prospect of its ultimate re-establishment upon a legal basis, for we can hardly think that the next Governor will be prepared to totally disregard the public opinion of the colony upon this important subject. Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON was unfortunate in be- ing altogether misled by his advisers as to what the opinion of the public really was. His successor will not labour under that dis- advantage.

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[December 31, 1896.

SUPREME COURT

21st

IN ORIGINAL JURISDI

BEFORE HIS HONOUR DR.

THE BANK OF CHINA,

STEATTS LIMITE

CHEONG ZAUŠKUNG The plaintiffs sought

debt due on a bond.

(CE)

FON:

AND. THE

Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C., Pollock (instructed by Messrs. Joh and Master) appeared for the Mr. WV Drummond, Mr. E. the Hon. Ho Kai (instructed by Mr. appeared for the defendants.len err 9th October last and lasted six days. - 1

ennys)

· The hearing of the case commenced on the

His Lordship delivered the following written

judgment:—-

tion

this

the

ave

The writ of summons in this on the 10th Sept 1894. the defendants were sued as ox SPAIN AND THE UNITED STATES. executrix of Cheong Kai, decease

specially endorsed, under section

United States is undoubtedly rather strained, and several bond of one Cheong Koon Sing and The position as between Spain and the Code of Civil Procedure, with a claim

$100,000, being the amount due under the joint but we do not believe that the action of the the said Cheong Kai, deceased, to the plaintiff American Senates will lead to any actual Bank, dated the 25th August, 1891, and con- collision. President CLEVELAND is not ditioned for payment of the sum of $100,000 on likely to desert his Secretary, nor is it default being made by the said Cheong Koon probable he will, at the close of his admin- Sing to perform and observe the duties, obliga. istration, do anything likely to involve histions, matters, and things contained in the said bond. There was also "claim to hay the country in a war. For it is tolerably cer-

estate of Cheong Kai tain that any active intervention by the

was not followed up in the United States would be regarded as a casus plaintiffs. Nor do the plaintiff belli at Madrid. The Spanish Government taken any further steps by way The long expected decision of the Secretary have a good deal on their hands at the claim dealt with under the above. of State regarding the reconstitution of the present moment, what with the formidable visions of law relating to specially endorsed

The petition was filed on the 20th October, Sanitary Board must still be awaited for "a rebellion in Cuba and the native insurrec- "year or so" longer. Mr. CHAMBERLAIN has tion in the Philippines. They have, it is 1894. It set forth that the plaintiff bank decided to defer giving any final decision said, no less than two hundred thousand bank in Victoria and at other places in the & limited company carrying on the business of a during Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON's tenure of men in the Pearl of the Antilles at present, East; that, at the request of Cheong Kai the office of Governor; he understands the and probably ten thousand more in the the plaintiff Bank, on the 25th August, 1891. Koon Sing as Board, as at present constituted, to be work-Philippines. They are spending enormous engaged his brother Cheong ing well, and he considers its future con- sums in maintaining this large force, are compradore of the Bank; and that, in consider stitution may well stand over to be dealt building a number of warships, and raising ation thereof, Cheong Kai agreed to become with, if necessary, by Sir WILLIAM's suc- new regiments at home, altogether involv- surety to the plaintiff bank to the extent cessor, "who will be in a position to ap- ing a strain on the national resources $100,000 for the due performance by Cheo

Koon Sing of his duties and obligations as such "proach it de novo with the advantage of which cannot be borne for very long we compradore; that upon the same date Cheong "the information which has already been imagine. Yet the spirit of the haughty Koon Sing wrote a letter of agreement to the

gained on the subject." What view the nation that was once mistress of nearly the plaintiff bank in which he specific next Governor may take must remain a whole of America cannot brook being driven upon which he had been engage matter of conjecture., but having "the out of its last stronghold there, and so and obligations as compradore

advantage of the information which has an effort will be made to hold Cuba Kai signed at the foot of this letter a

all and any cost,

that of tion whereby he approved of the letter and "already been gained on the subject " he at

the per ought to arrive at the conclusion that a war with the great American Re declared himself liable as sure

formance by Cheong Koon

d his em a popularly constituted Sanitary Board is public. President CLEVELAND and his ployés of his and their obligatio under the only reliable means by which the advisers will not fail to recognise that. letter and under a bond annexed thereto; that public health of the colony can be properly Spain is in deadly earnest in this conflict. this bond was executed on the same date and looked after. The general experience of the While most persons will sympathise with it Cheong Koon Sing and Ch empire and the particular experience of her in the tremendous sacrifices she is. and severally bound themselves, the this colony both point to that conclusion. making to retain her hold on Cuba, it is and administrators, to the ] Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, however, is strongly impossible not to recognise the fact that her that one of the conditions of th

that if the said Cheong Koon Sing in favour of the control of sanitary matters misgovernment has brought about the posi-mployés in the Bank should be being placed under the control of the tion, and that the incapacity of her generals responsible for and pa Government and of the abolition of the prolongs the agony. Unless she can come Sanitary Board. Well, the Government to terms with her colony soon, or reduce it enjoyed for over forty years the "undivided to submission, the American nation will "responsibility" of which His Excellency clamour persistently for recognition of the

autonomy of the island.

18-80

so much enamoured, with the result that the colony was allowed to drift into a state of insanitation truly appalling. The Sanitary Board was created with the idea of which it rapidly Improving⠀⠀ matters, proceeded to do, but its powers were exceedingly limited, and the fact that it did not succeed in a day in sweeping away the consequences of forty years of official neglect and mismanagement is now made the excuse an attempt to sweep away the Board and revert to the old rotten system hich brought such disastrous consequences upon the colony. Those who agree with

even

by the

same should fall due all Ch bills, drafts, promissory other securities which received or purchase Sing or by any of plaintiff bank wit of the said knowledge and said employe.. the

Vold

of no e

me date

The case brought against Baron de Horn and his Sikh watchman in the Singapore Police Court was concluded on the 11th December, The Court thought the first defendant had and committed an offence by dipping the Baba in upor the sea. The Baron submitted he offered the the lad the alternative of baptism or being pro- title deeds of seonted for trespass. The boy went quietly in Viotoris, with him. The Court still considered that an

offence had been committed, and handed the all Penal Code to Baron de Horn to read constituted criminal force. Tho the first defendant $23, the Sikh $5.

the

tiff

that

nd orde

terms

his