tween the executive and the unofficial members of Council I shall not forget that we one and all, according to our own lights, although we differed, were solely aminated by a desire to do what we individually thought was best for the interests of this progressive colony. (Applause), Gentlemen, I bid you farewell and may every success attend you in the future, both in your public and private capacities. (Applause).
Hon. C. CHATER-Your Excellency, we have listened with much interest to the announce- ment you have just made, which, although not unexpected, when thus officially spoken em- phasises its reality. Speaking on my own be- half and, I trust, on behalf of my unofficial | colleagues present, I desire to express my sincere appreciation of the able manner in which you have for the past six years presided over this Council (applause)-and of the unfailing courtesy and forbearance shown by yon to all. (Applause.) During your Excellency's ad- ministration many important Ordinances have been added to the statute book and many im portant public works accomplished and others inaugurated. (Applause.) This Council, as well as the Executive Council, has been enlarged, and the colony thereby afforded more voice in the control of its affairs Your Excellency. arrived in this colony. at a time of deep depression. You will leave it in a condition of renewed prosperity with every thing on a sounder basis; and this has come to pass in spite of some adverse conditions, namely, the continued dullness of trade and two ont- breaks of plague. Under your auspices most important sanitary legislation has been carried through, greatly to the benefit of public health, though in the face of a good deal of opposition; and the city now is in a far better position to grapple with epidemics than it has ever been before. (Applause), Naturally there been some friction occasionally and our debates at times have been very warm indeed, but your Excellency has held the reins with tact and impartiality, and now in laying them down you have the great satisfaction of knowing that you will leave the colony botter in every respect than you found it. (Applause.) I feel only too-conscious that I am unable to do justice to the occasion, but I trust that my un- official colleagues, some of whom will no doubt address you themselves, will supplement my feeble attempt at expressing the general appre ciation of your Excellency's successful and popular administration, which has also been the longest since the founding of this colony. And now, Sir, in bidding you officially farewell I have only to say that although we may not meet at this table or in this Council Chamber again, yet we shall cherish with deep and lively recollection the urbanity with which you have always presided over our deliberations, In the best sense of the term I am sure we all join in wishing you, Sir, goodbye. (4
(Applause.)
has
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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plause:) The financial position of the colony has steadily improved from year to year under your Excellency's administration, and now I venture to think that the colonial finances are so much improved as to be placed on a sound and healthy basis, pessimistic views to the contrary notwithstanding. (Hear hear). Now, Sir, in bidding you farewell to-day I wish to tender you my personal thanks for unvarying kind assistance I have received at your hands as the senior representative of the Chinese com- munity. I have on more than one occasion- in fact on many occasions made representa- tions on behalf of the Chinese to your Ex- cellency. You have always received such representations most kindly and subjected them to your kindest consideration. You have granted a great number of requests, and the few occasions on which you have found refusal necessary you have carefully explained the reason why the requests could not be granted. I wish to thank you further for the interest you have always taken in Chinese affairs and most especially for the increased representa tion which you have given to them on this Council. The hon. member whom you have so happily nominated to be the junior member of this Council will represent the Chinese in many ways much better than I and will render the greatest assistance in looking after and protecting their interests. Now I am sure that my hon. friend, Mr. Wei A Yuk, will join with me iu assuring your Excellency that by this act alone you have won the lasting gratitude of the Chinese community of this colony. Now, Sir, as probably this is the last time you will preside over us in this Council I, as a member of this Council, wish you goodbye and all future happiness and prosperity. (AP plause.)
Hon. WEI A. YUK-Your Excelleney, my hon. friend and hon, colleague has so well and fully expressed my own views and sentiments with regard to your Excellency that he has left me nothing more to add than to express my entire concurrence with his remarks. I join with him in wishing your Excellency health, happiness, and prosperity. (Applause.)
Hon. J. J. BELL-IRVING-I have listened with interest and with great pleasure to the remarks made by the senior unofficial member and by the two unofficial members representing the Chinese community, and with all of them I fully concur. The Hon. Dr. Ho Kai has referred to the great consideration which you have shown to all questions affecting the welfare of the Chinese community, und would like also to mention the support you have always taken in all matters in connection with the commercial progress and prosperity of this colony during the past six years. (Applause) During that period you have warmly supported the many new industrial undertakings started in this colony and in many other ways helped the mer- cantile community, who, I consider, have good cause to be most grateful to you. (Applause) I also desire to wish you long life. and every happiness in the future. (Applause.)
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-You Excellency, the hon. members who have just spoken have se- tually taken the wind out of my sails and I have very little to add to the remarks which have been made. As the oldest member of the Jewish community in Hongkong I can endorse every word of praise that bhs been spoken. To be brief, I can only say that by your departure we shall lose a kind friend, a good associate, and an able colleague, and I can only trust that those who succeed you will follow the example you have set in your career which I am certain will result in the happiness of the inhabitants generally of this Island. With these words, Sir, I wish you farewell and happy meetings with friends in the old country (Applause.)
Hon. Ho KAI-Sir, I fully concur with the remarks that have fallen from the lips of the họn, the senior unofficial member. I have been. with him in the sentiments he has expressed in regard to your Excellency. For the past six years your Excellency has most successfully presided over this Council and during that long period your consummate tact, your wise discre tion, and your unfailing courtesy have promoted good feeling and harmony amongst hon, members and increased the usefulness of their delibera- tions. Whether we agreed of disagreed upon a measure or a subject, whether we engaged in heated discussion or pleasant banter, the decorum and dignity of the Conncil have always been maintained. During the six years of your administration we have passed many useful measures and have revised and improved
Ordinances, a great many old
but I venture to say that in no instance has
His EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR Gentle any harassing or embarrassing legislation. been passed. So far as the public works of the men, it only remains for me to reiterate my colony are concerned, when your Excellency hearty thanks to you for the kindness you have shown me and for the handsome tribute you have assumed office there were many useful works in progress and in point of completion, but your just paid to my administration. It is certainly Excellency has inaugurated many useful works gratifying to me to know that I leave the and when they are completed such a the Peak colony in a very good position and that I have roads, the road leading from Plantation Road given satisfaction not only to the public to Magazine Gap, the new houses that are to generally but to the Chinese, who form an im- be built in Taipingshan, and other new works portant part of the community. I can only which your Excellency has caused to be in-claim to have done my duty honestly and with augurated all these, when completed, I say, out fear, favour, affection, or ill-will, and I am will remind the colony of your energetic and quite sure that my successor will follow in my what I might call sanitary government, (Ap- steps. (Lond Applause.)
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[January 27, 1898.
SUPREME COURT.
18th January.
CRIMINAL SESSIONS.
BEFORE SIR JOHN CARRINGTON (CHIEF JUSTICE).
A POINT OF LAW...
The Attorney-General (Hon. W. M. Good- man) mentioned the case of Wong On, who was charged with bribing a constable.
Defendant, who was on bail, did not answer when his name was called.
เ
The Attorney-General explained that the bond money had been deposited at the Magis. tracy. He had carefully gone into the facts of the case. The defendant was in possession of some Mauila lottery tickets and he offered $5 to a constable who went up to him in con- sequence of his suspicions behaviour. He (the Attorney-General) had come to the conclusion that if the police had arrested the man for the mere possession of the lottery tickets, that was not an offenco at law. He offered money to the police not to arrest him, but there were grave doubts as to bribery, because the money was not offered to the policeman to do anything which was contrary to his duty. Therefore counsel asked for a nolle prosequi to be entered.
His Lordship It is a very donbtful point of law, Mr. Attorney. I think the defendant What do you should have appeared here. suggest on that point?
The Attorney-General-I think, my Lord, that as he does not appear his recognizances should be estreated unless he can give a valid reason for his absence;
His Lordship-It may be that he attempted, as he thought, to evade justice.
The Attorney-General-Of course he could not have thought what was in my mind. I ask your Lordship to estreat the recognizances subject to his making any application to your Lordship.
His Lordship consented to this course being adopted.
A BUSY JURYMAN EXCUSED.
The Attorney-General 'asked that Mr. D. Kennedy might be excused from attendance on the jury that morning as he wished to superintend the unloading of some animals from a ship in the harbour. If he did not do this work himself the animals would perhaps be injured. His Lordship granted Mr. Kennedy leave of absence until the afternoon.
CONVICTION OF A CONSTABLE, Liu Chu Yau was charged with demanding with menaces the sum of $25 from the master of a junk on the 4th December.
The Attorney-General (instructed by Mr. H. L. Dennys, Crown Solicitor) prosecuted The prisoner, who pleaded not guilty, was undefended.
The jurors were-Messrs Sierich, J. Goos- man, P. A. Barlow, A. A. Joseph, J. A. Plumb, V. de C. Rozario and F. F. Barretto.
The prisoner was a Chinese constable at the time the offence was committed On the 4th December a foki on a bumboat went ashore and bought two bottles of brandy. After taking. them on board the prisoner told the men they were breaking the law and he should arrest them unless he was paid $60. The master of the bum- boat was sent for and by way of emphasizing his anthority prisoner twice blew his police whistle. The master came on board and after, some conversation gave the prisoner $25.
The prisoner was found guilty and sent to gaol for fifteen months with hard labour,
FRAUD.
G. H. Schwalm was charged with obtaining $500 from a Chinese firm by false pretences.
The Attorney-General prosecuted and pri- soner, who pleaded not guilty, defended himself.
The jurors were-Messrs, G, M. Carvalho, T. Banks, F. M. Cama, G. L., Tomlin, J. Alves, A. N. P. dos Remedios, and V. F. V. Ribeiro.
The prisoner was temporarily employed by the German Consul, daring the absence of the secretary, and the evidence showed that He went to a Chinese firm and induced the master to lend him $500by falsely representing that he had received $1,000 from the German Consul and, that he required an additional $500 to obtain a position as shipping master. -
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