December 29, 1902.]
1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Hougkong with (sny) Singapore. What differ, difficulty in finding one way home, to say ence car it pos ibly make as regards the currency nothing of the fac lily for highway robbery whether the distance between Hongkong and | afforded by the darkness. —Yours, etc. 8me of the principal ports of China, aud Singapore and the principal ports of China is three days or eight or ning days?
The Malay States are simply produc»rs, and if the Straits Settlements surrounded by these and other great producing districts (Boruco, &c.) can go on a gold basis, surely we, who are importers not producers and are merely the half-way house between London and India and China, can make the change much more easily, as there is scarcely a single import that is not sold ou a gold basis. If the Strai ́s Settlements can do it, we can, and if the Singapore Currency Commission fi ally decide in favour of a gold carroury it is hardly necessary to apply for a Commission to investigate the question here In the event of Singapore deciding to “ go gold
"
what we have to do is to follow suit and call for experts' opinion for Hongkong only when the Straits have the proposed change to gold decided against them Yours, etc.,
CURRENCY:
THE WATER SUPPLY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS." Hongkong, 26th De ember. SIR,-As a graphic illustration of one of the many distressing phases which will largely The Street Hydrant Supply obtain under System, I would ask you to afford me a litle space to paint a word picturs.
Christmas Night. Time-Long after midnight. Very dark. Weather-Cold with an atmosphere damp and raw. Sky overeast. A little rain falling. Returning from midnight mass, at many of the street corners and places where the hydraat supply taps are situated, numbers of this very poor, underclad, and in many cases ragged people of both sexes, could be son, who, at 1.30 am, had taken up their stations, huddled together as close to the taps as possible, thera to remain in the cold and rain to wait four or five hours for the water to be turned on from the mains. Can you imagine, Mr. Editor, what it must be like sitting on the stones for four or fire hours, the weary hours after miduight, in the hopes of catching or obtaining a small can- fall of water worth t most of us white people not more than a single cash, and even not so much?
i
|
If any of your readers have any sympathy and would like to verify the description here given, they have only to visit the thickly populated quarters of this City of Victoria during the small hours after midnight and they can learn the truth for themselves. Somewhat similar conditious will also be found along the many rocky watercourses which pass under the aqueduct, Bowen Road. Throughout the whole distance from the Tram Station to the Wanchai Gap Read hundreds of our fellow-creaturs of both sexes and all ages are compelled to make. almost superhuman efforts to obtain a smal{ canfull ofwater, such as it is, to sure life! This is the truth.
PEAKITE.
HONGKONG HIGH-LEVEL TRAMWAYS CO., LD.
The following is the r. port for p esentation to the shareholders at th⚫ eighteenth ordinary general meeting, to be held at the Company's Registered Offices. 38 and 4, Queen's Road Central, on the 30th December, at three o'clock. Gentlemen,-Wa beg to lay b fore you the report and state neut of a counts for the year ending 30th November, 1962.
The net profits for the twelva mouths, after paying charges and all runuing expenses and making provision for auditors' fees, amount
to
To which has to be added the balanco brong ht forward from last account
And from this has to b· deducted remuneration to general managers 6 per cent. En gross earnings)
$37,052.80
3,870.42
$41,923.22
4.292.84
Leaving available for appropriation $37,630,38 Your generul managers and consulting com- mitt e recomend that a divid nd of $18 per share h› paid to shareholders, absorbing $22,500, that 85,00 bo written off rolling stock and $1,240 25 off stations and shelters; that $5 000 ba transferred to po-man nt reserve and the balance, riz, 83,890.13, bà e tried to new profit
and loss nesunt.
CONSULTI G C MMITT E.
In ace wdance with Rale 15 of the Company's Articles of Association, the present members. Mr. C Ewens, the Hon C. W. Dickson, and themselves for re-ele tion. Mr. J. Grange ret're, but, being eligible, offer
AUDÍTOLS.
In the absence of Mr. Fallort on Henderson from the Colony, the accounts have been audited by Mr. W. H. Ports and Mr. A. R. Lowe. Mr. Henderson and Mr. Potts offer themselves for re-election.
JOHN D. HUMPHREYS & SON,
General Managers. Hongkong, 20th December, 1902.
The accounts'ns are follows:-
BALANCE-SHÈET
LIABILITIES.
For the year ending 30th November. 1902. Capital account : 1.2 4 shares of ÷ 190 each
fully paid up... Permanent reserve fund Unclaimed dividends Local and general liabilities
Profit and loss: brought forward $3,870.42 Profit and loss: for current year 38,052.80
ASSETS.
Pernanout way, concession and deed of
grant Stations, Crown leaseholds, and buildings (uland lots 1,317, 1,232, 1333, 131, 1,335, 1,353 and R. B. lot 86)
Furmture account Coals and stores in hand Accounts receivable
Cash in H. and S. Bank Cash and compradores' orders in
hind
There was, I think, if I read rightly, a matter lately brought before the Sanitary Board, rela- Rolling stock tive to an application for permission to put in a "water-closet service in a new bouss nearing completion. Under the existing circumstances. pictured above, and the immediate state of our water supply, I would humbly beg of the Water Authority that consideration first be given to the sad condition of the very poor, who are scarcely able to get sufficient water for their living needs, befor any permission is granted which in the nзar future, might form a dangerous precedent.-Yours, etc,
----
SPECTATOR.
PEAK LIGHTING
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS. Hongkong, 26th December, 1902. SIR,-Considering the enormous increase of houses at the Peak, and it may be added, the increased frqeueucy of dark, foggy evenings during recent y ars, has not the time fully come for our urging on the authorities the lighting of the more frequented parts? At present, unless carrying a light, many of us have no small
Dr.
$11,235.93
1,986.69
|
|
SUPREME COURT.
Friday, 19th December.
IN CRIMINAL JURISDICTION,
BEFORE HIS HON UR SIR W. M. GOODMAN (CHIEF JUSTICE)..
THE ALLEGAD BJAT ROBBERY.
409
The boaring was resumed of the charge against Kwok Shing of being concerned in a boat rob- bery ut Causeway Bay.
On the previous day the case had been adjour- ned to allow for the attendance of o. e of two Chinese coustables, who, the prisoner alleged, had illircated him at Tsimshatsui Polico Stá ion in order to make him confes about the robbery. One of these cons ables had been examined previously, and had deposed that there was no | truth in the prisoner's allegations.
|
|
|
The second constable when put the box also emphatically denied the truth of the charges made against them by the prisoner. He admitted that he took the prisoner out of his cell and interrogated him about the robbery. No constable had the right to go into a prisoner's cell and talk to him, but on this occasion special instructions had been given to him by cogeant Sullivan. During witness's twelve years' experience in the police he had never seen a man illtreated to make him confess,
His Lordship iu summing up commended the jury for their anxiety to sift to the bottom the charges of ill-froatmeut brought against.
the police by the prisoner. It seemed to him highly improbable that the prisoner had been treated in the manner described, considering the stringency of the police regulations There was no evidence to Show that the prisoner's statement was true. If there had been any evidence to show that the prisoner's confession had been made under the compul-ion of ill-treatment, his Lordship would certainly not have allowed that statement to go before the jury as evidence, and as Chief Justice of the Colony he would have been ashamed of the police.
The jury, after twenty minutes' consideration, found the prisoner not guilty by a majority of
six to one.
His Lordship-I would like to ask you this question. gentlemen. Do you believe the pri soner's statement that he was beaten and that a sword was put across his neck?
The Foremsa (Mr. Mitchell)-We are quite C. satisfied, your Lordship, that nothing of the
sort happened to the prisoner.
$
125,60, 0 2,000,00 3470 3.951.83
41.923.22
$191,215.07
Sc
1:25.602200
Prisoner was discharged,
His Lordship (addressing Mr. P. P. J. Wodehouse, Assistunt Deputy Superio- tendent of Police) said he wished to point out that there was no right on the part of the police, after a man had been taken into custody and put into a cell, to cross. examine him or endeavour to make him make a statement. His Lordship could not in this case understand why these Chinese policemen were allowed to take the man out of his cell aud 12.210.25 interrogate him; be hoped that would be inves 35.410.89 tigated and the person responsible everly 125 reprimanded. There was no right whatever to take a man cnt of a cell and ask him a series of questions though it was quite permissible to ask him questions before he was taken into custody. This case showed the great disadvan- 16,222.67 | tage of keeping a man five days before bringing him before the Magistrate, because no doubt the $191,215. 7
jury bad come to the conclusion that the man was asked a great many questions and that a certain amount of pressure had been brought to bear upon bim, and therefore had given him the benefit of the doubt.
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT.
To salaries and wages
To maintenance and repairs
To charges
To coals and stores
To interest
To rates, Crown rent, and fire insurance
To godown and station rent
Less sundry rents received
*210*01 640 66
To office rent and clerks' salaries, &c. To balance
Cr.
By amount brought forward from last year By traffic receipts for the year to date By transfer fees
726.10 1,199.86
C.
19,280.86
3.027.62
10.509.88 9,479.28 24.09 1,024.01
1.1:9.34 3,000 41.923.22
$89,728.30
$
C 3,870.42
1.(*1
CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER AGAINST. BUILDING CONTRACTORS,
Tam Kit and U Cheung, building con- tractors, were empanelled on a charge of causing the death of a boy named Wong Chun in connection with the Second Street collapse on 2nd August.
They pleaded not guilty, and were le fended by Mr. M. W. Slade, barrister-at-law (instructed by Mr. P. W. Goldring, solicitor); the pro- secution was conducted by the Attorney- General, Hon. Sir Henry 8. Berkeley (instruct- $39,728.30 ed by Mr. F. B. L. Bowley, Crown Solicitor.)
85,850.8
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.