March 5, 1898.]
men, every British subject who had a case in which important issues were involved could take his case.
That was a most striking thought and one which perhaps had not crossed their minds before. What made the government of the British Empire so extraordinary was the quiet working of the machinery of the Privy Council. It had not been made a subject for poetry and very little prose, that prose being hard, dry legal reports. But had they tried to extract a great thought that lay in it-the thought that that Court exercised direct jurisdiction over such a mass of human beings? It was a practical, serious factor in the government of the British Empire and it affected the expense, the actual working, and the life of the British Empire. Bearing these things in mind and the fact that if a search was made throughout literature the Privy Council was not described in any way, was he not justified in saying that it was a secret? He hoped this unfilled column of literature would soon be filled. The subject was as fiue as any writer could wish to have in this world, and yet it was practically untouched.. Therefore he was led to say that in the history of the Empire there was something in the nature of an unknown secret. He hoped be had given them some slight food for thought. The history of the Privy Council did not consist of a mere dry record of somebody fighting somebody else, but it contained the germ of a very great thought, the germ of a great principle which going on all over the world and enabled us to govern the world at au enormous cost, not only with the approval of the citizens of the Empire but with the admiration and respect of all those who were not subject to the British nation at all. (Loud applause.)
WOS
Mr. Granville Sharp, in proposing a cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Drummond, said he knew the answer to the first question was "Justice," but he hoped he would be forgiven for not hav- ing "spotted" the Privy Council.
•
Colonel Eldsdale said he had saturated himself with the weakness of the British Empire, and he would like to hear Mr. Drummond or come other capable gentleman deliver a lecture on the weakness of the Empire, because it was a most excellent thing that we should from time to time endeavour to see ourselves as others see us. (Applause.) If no-one came forward he would be most happy to give a lecture himself. (Applause.)
|
Mr. Francis thought the greatness of the Empire was coupled with some degree of weakness, and there were weak points in the legal administration of the Empire. It was absolutely essential that some endeavour should be made to more thoroughly, more completely,
more perfectly organise the administration of justice throughout the Em- pire. He complained that three-fourths of the laws which were being administered to the Chinese had not been translated and were cou- sequently not known to them. There were also defects in the Privy Council itself, some of which had lately been remedied by admitting colonial judges to their body.
Mr. Robinson said he guessed "Justice" as one answer. The Privy Council was an in- strument of Justice, and the second 'auswer he wrote down was "Liberty." Mr. Drummond had included freedom in Justice, but he (Mr. Robinson) would put it the other way about. A free man demands Justice. A great despot may give justice, but a free man demands it. Justice may give respect; Liberty gave contentment, He advocated free Parliaments and a free Justiciary, and maintained that the vivifying principle which gave hope to the British Empire was the principle of Liberty. the world came against us we should see the strength of our Empire-a Volunteer Empire, an Empire not held by force, but by Liberty, and Liberty meant force. (Applause.)
If
His Excellency the Chairman also made a characteristic speech and the vote of thanks to Mr. Drummond was enthusiastically carried. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the extremely interesting proceedings, which were rendered all the more enjoyable because all the speakers, including Mr. Drummond, spoke extempore,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE LAUNCH COLLISION AT
KOWLOON,
On 25th Feb. Hon. R. Murray Rumsey (Har- bour Master) held an inquiry at the Harbour Offiec into the circumstances connected with the collision between the steam launches Dakin and Heron.
E. W. Langley, assistant in Dakin and Co., Victoria Dispensary, said-I was on board the Dakin about 4.30 p.m. on the 22nd inst. We were leaving No. 4 Wharf at the Kowloon Wharves and we went out ahead from the wharf. As we got opposite No. 2 wharf a Star ferry launch, the Rising Star, was turning between the wharves to pass under our steru bound for Hongkong, while the Guiding Star was on our port bow about a hundred yards off. At about the same time the Heron was on our starboard bow about a hundred yards off. All the boats were running at their usual speed. My coxswain blew two whistles and went towards the Guiding Star. We were passing port to port with the Guiding Star when the Heron was coming in on us on our starboard bow, and I saw the coxswain putting his heln to port. If he had kept his course he would have cleared
us.
As it was, he came right into us without slowing or stopping and struck us about amid. ships and cut into us. Water was coming in and the Guiding Star took us in tow to the wharf and we lashed the Dakin and so prevented her from sinking.
Wong Yung, master of the Heron, said-I was coming from Carlowitz and Co's steamer and going to the ferry wharf. The Dakin was coming round from No. 1 wharf and the Guiding Star was coming from Hongkong. The Dakin was on my port bow and the Guiding Star on my starboard bow. I blew my whistle to the Dakin, and she answered and I went astern. The, Dakin came up and I ran into her. The Guiding Star
close to me was when I struck the Dakin, 1 did not give way to the Guiding Star because we were both going to the wharf and we would have been clear of each other.
Aida Alves A.. Leé W. J. Clerihew Madeleine Quincey Mary Quincey E. M. E. Kiug Emily Jorge
THEORY,
Associate in Music:- Emil Danenberg Junior Honours:-
E. S. Ford Frank Crawford Ruby Ley Kum Alfred Humphreys
Junior Pass :--
A. A. Wilson... M. Rocha Madeleine Quincey W. J. Clerihew Elementary:
Mary Quincey F. W. Shaw
173
*
31
11
pass
(I.C.) (I.C.) (D.8.0.) (D.)
"
(D.)
"
(H.)
11
(I.C.)
pass
(B.)
1st class
15
(D.S.0.) (C.)
$1
(W.)
pass
(D.)
1st class
(C.)
pass
(D.)
(D.)
(D.S.0.)
...1st class
pass
(D.) (D.8.0.)
The teacher or schools to which the candidates belong are denoted by letters placed after the names, thus:-
Mr. W. G. Bentley Miss Crawford Mr. E. Danenberg Diocesan School Mrs. Grimble
11
Hatherley
(B.)
(C.)
(D.)
(D.S.O.)
(G.):
(H.)
(I.C.) (W.)
Italian Convent Mr. A. G. Ward. The Belilios medals are gained by Ruby Ley Kum and Frank Crawford. Miss Ley Kum, it should be mentioned, was examined in piano playing by Mr. Grimble only, Mr. Ward, as her instructor, withdrawing,
THE FIRE BRIGADE report.
Gazette
The following report of the Superintendent of Fire Brigade for 1897 is published in the
Police Office, Cheung Lo, the master of the Dukin, said
Hongkong, 31st Jan, 1898. When I got to No. 2 wharf I blew two
Sir, I have the honour to submit the follow. whistles to the Heron because I wished to keeping report on the Government Fire Brigade for to port and not give way
to the Heron, the year 1897. When we were near to
2.There were 26 fires, two of which occur- each other the Heron was coming on my
red on vessels in the harbour, and 58 incipient starboard side. She blew a whistle. The Guiding Star came
fires during the past year. Details regarding- up on my port side and we were passing port each will be found attached. The Brigade turned to port. The Heron did not slow nor go astern
out 40 times during the year, and she ran into me. I blew my whistle four times. The Guiding Star took us in tow. We were sinking.
The coxswain of the Heron said-I saw there would be a collision because the Dakin did not give way and I could not go to port because of the Rising Star, which was coming round the stern of the Dakin.
The following was the finding of the Court: -Dakin solely to blame for not giving way to launch on her starboard side, instead of which he blew two whistles and thinks this absolves him from observing the rules of the road. Certificate suspended for two months.
THE HONGKONG MUSICAL EXAMINATION,
The results of the examinations held in
The estimated damage caused by the fires was $177,150.00 and by the incipient fires $334.50,
A list is attached shewing the number of fires that have occurred during each of the last ten years with the estimated value of property des- troyed in each case.
3.-There were three prosecutions for arson. In two cases the intention was to defraud and
in these the prosecutions were successful. The first was in connection with the fire at No. 99, Jervois Street in which three occupants of the first floor, which had no connection with the shop on the ground floor where the fire origi- nated, were smothered by smoke before they could be rescued.
Among the débris ou the ground floor were found unmistakeable evidence of incendiarism, and the master of the shop was convicted and sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment with hard labour.
The second case was in connection with the incipient fire which occurred at No. 231, Queen's Road Central on the 21st of May.
November and December last by the London College of Music have just been announced. The candidates in pianoforte playing were examined by Messrs. A. G. Ward and G. Grimble. The theory papers were examined by Dr. W. H. Sungster and Dr. Karu. The follow-smoke issuing from the house, and forcing an ing is the list of successful candidates :-
PIANOFORTE PLAYING.
Senior Section
Ruby Ley Kum Intermediate:—
M.. Duncan Serene Mehta Alfred Humphreys M. A. Hyndman M. Carroll Frank Crawford A. A. Wilsou... M. F. Rodger J. C. Henderson Elementary :-
Honours (W)
1st class (G)
(G)
pass
(D)
(D)
([C)
(C)
(C)
(G) (G)
A. Purlane A. M. Parker
1st class (G.)
"
(H.)
The Chinese constable on the beat noticed
entrance found the cubicle, used by the ac- countant of the shop on the ground floor, on fire in four different places. With commend. able courage and presence of mind he beat ont the flames with an old curtain.
The accountant was convicted and sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment with hard labour.
These convictions seem to have had a bene. ficial effect, for the estimated value of property destroyed by the 14 fires that occurred up to the 21st of May amounted to $115,950, while the estimated value of property destroyed by the 12 fires occurring after that date amounted to $61,200, including the tire of the 15th June which took place before the second conviction.
4.-The latter fire was the most destructive that occurred during the year. Three houses
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