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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
!
the
an explosion. The jurymen who sit in the irritation in knowing that every stamp meant February Sessions always appear to me ex- for the Colony at least five cents or perhaps tremely unhappy, and I have often sympathised more. (Laughter.) Now I think the lesson we with them. (Laughter). But I have said bave learned from his observations has thrown a enough about the present Courthouse as a light upon the charity of our Chinese friends building. If I have said too much your because I bave known much of it, and now we bear Excellency knows how delightful it is to from the Chief Justice that when an unfortunate ventilate long-suppressed.grievances, and will man is at his last gasp te is nursed, cared for in your goodnese excuse me. Turning to the and at last buried, and after that his will is work of the Court it may be of public intere made. (Laughter.) Can charity do more? to give some idea of what goes on within its (Renewed laughter.) Well, from time to time walls. I believe the Chinese are not at all I have read sarcastic strictures upon inclined to embark in litigation in their own supineness of the Government in their delay country. But they seem quite willing to do so in carrying out this most neceseary public
and Speaking of the last ten building
while I wished in Hongkong.
I had months, namely, from 1st January, 1993, to Aladdin's lamp I wondered if those who girded 31st October, 1993, o less than 1.476 civil at us understood the time that was necessary sotions have been brought, of which no less in carrying to its conclusion a great building than 1,200 have been disposed of. The amount of this kind. First of all, immediately after in dispute in these actions was roughly the Commission, we had he plans prepared, about $900,000. In addition to all this here and sent forward to England. Then they there have in the same period been eight | returned the plans saying that on consideration! Admiralty cases and 26 Bankruptcy petitions those plans were rejected, and others were and an immense number of applications for referred to us, which were admirable in their way, but unfortunately ignored the fact that probate and administration. I find that on an average for the last five years the value of the pro- Hongkong bad a winter as well as a summer perty for which probate or administration has climate, which necessitated a reconsideration, been granted has been nearer $4,000,000 than Then again, when these plaus were returned, the
were obliged to be $9,000,000 per annum I am afraid some of the details
considered Chinese wills are made by the family after the supposed testator's death (laughter), as amicable arrangement to prevent having to take out administration and find securities for the necessary bond. Judeed I had a very funny so-called will presented for probate only yester day which begins with unusual candour by reciting that the testator is now already dead. (Laughter.) It rather gave the scheme away, and is interesting as showing the in- genuity of some of our Chinese fellow-citizens. As regards the criminal jurisdiction 11 persons have been indicted, and 91 have been convicted, by the Supreme Court, during the last 10 months. But I must not weary you. Speaking generally, I may say that the Court is, at pres- ent, working in a satisfactory manner, with little friction or delay. Indeed, there is not a single case on my paper for trial, in which the parties are ready to proceed, which has not been affirm disposed of. I think therefore, I may that there is no unnecessary delay in the administration of justice.
I thank your Excellency for having asked me to make these remarks, and I will no longer binder the performance of the interesting function of laying the foundation stone of this much-needed edifice. (Applause.)
an
A bottle containing copies of the local news- papers, coins of the Colony, and other records was placed in a cavity underneath the founda- tion-stone, which was then lowered into its place.
the
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f
[November 16, 1903,
pure, impartial and incorruptible administra- tion of justice tempered with mercy that is the foundation of the rock upon which alone coutented society may endure, and in that sacred name of Justice it has been my happiness to lay the foundation-stone this day, (Loud applause.)
This concluded the ceremony, and the com- pany afterwards dispersed.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE COURTS. When the Now Victoria Law Courts aro completed, Hongkong will be the proud possessor of a very handsome building. The courts will have an extensive fr atige facing west, and measuring two hundred feet in length, and having fifteen bays forming a wide colonnade along the entire length. The style of the building is to be of the Greciau Ionic order. Over the centre of the front there will be a broad pediment containing the Royal arms in granite, flanked on either side with the letters "V" and "R.I." This is to be surmounted by a towering status
'Justice,"
with
Mercy" and "Truth reclining immediately below. The height of the building, from the ground to the top of the immense dome, will be 148 feet, the dome itself being nearly fifty feet high. There are to be three entrances to the Cena'n front. one for two being public entrances, and prisoners and their custodians alone. latter leads only to the docks and waiting ` cells. The former enter upon bond corridors, | having the laud offices and offices of the court officials on either side, and two broad flights of stairs leading to the courts on the floor above. There will be separate entrances on the west side for the Judges, Attorney-General, and Crown Solicitor.
The
by the Judges, and the Bar, aud solicitors and all the people concerned, and their recommendations as to what was necessary for the proper administration had to go home again, and again be considered. When you come to remember that had to be done you will agree | with me that this could not be done very rapidly, even by the aid of the telegraph, at a distance of ten thousand miles. And then, when everything was settled, came the getting out of the enormous mass of details of the quantities, was a work of many months. I tho which
On the first floor are to be situated two at one time felt the impati-nce of unstructed Courts, the larger of the two being 73 feet by ignorance, and with fiery zeal I determined to 40 ft and 48 ft. bigh. On this floor are also go down and examine for myself the work witnesses' rooms, consulting rooms, and rooms and push forward what I thought the work for solicitors and the grand jury, as well as and an immense of the laggard draughtsman. I left the judges' retiring rooms,
On the office with 8 chastened spirit (laughter) library, and barristers' chambers. aud with the consciousness that the second floor will be situated the offices of the enormous8 mass of detail in getting out Attorney-General and Crown Solicitor, and The large court the quantities was being got through with as storage and record-rooms, much speed as was consistent with care. And being immediately below the dome will be now the time has come when the difficulties are well lighted. and being also in the centre building is expected to be very overcome and the foundation-stone is at last of the
At first I quiet. There will be a lift, worked by ready for the superstructure. think it was mentioned it was to have been electricity, for the convenience of the judges placed upon the northern portion of this vacant and court fficials requiring to visit the second ground. I am glad that was rejected, because foor. Below are to be situated the furnaces, my view is that the northern portion should boilers, etc., for heating the building, furnishing never be built upon, but that it should light, and the motive power for the lift. The remain as & public garden to be adorned dome will be supported by massive granite by the statues of their Majesties the King and pillars, and granite will play a large part in the general construction of the building. Queen, and to become in time a fitting entrance to the city when the Statue Wharf is replaced Red bricks will be the material used for by a new pier of the same description as Blake the interior, while the main portions of the exterior will be raised in fine white Pier. (Applause.) As the Director of Public Works has informed us, the progress of Hong-granite, which is being specially selected
edifice, while the kong in commerce and prosperity during the last ten or eleven years has been phenomenal. will be of concrete and steel, the whole being But, gentlemen, when drowsy, disjointed fire-proof, and every possible means will be. China shall have been aroused by the bustle of adopted against the depredations of white ants. great railways carrying her merchandise, and The floors of the upper floors will be of i ard- the whirr of the engines bringing to the surface wood duly protected, except in the lavatories, her buried treasure and giving employment to
where they will be of glazed tiles. Light will millions of her industrious people who are now
be furnished by means of electric glow lamps. liable to periodical famines or driven to robber bands, then the reciprocal trade of East and West will be to now as an ocean to a lake, and Hongkong with her unrivalled position and her arme flung wide for the nurestricted commerce of the world will see her crowded shipping spreid into the deep-dredged bay of Yaumati and waiting to load or unload at the wharves of the Kowloon terminus of the great arterial railway to Haukow (applause), while the Chater of that day (laughter) will cast his eye over the hills and valleys of the Kowloon
The expected aud much-discussed Russian Peninsula, will make the crooked straight, and the rough places plain, and build weekly paper in English is to be started within the next month or two at Port Arthur by a city that will make the Sanitary Poard
Colonel Artemieff, Editor and proprietor of laugh with glee (laughter), while
the Novi Krai--a fact which hardly promises thousands of prosperous workers will gaze much for its policy. Its object will be to ad with admiration in the quiet night on the twinkling lights of the reconstructed mother vocate an alliance between Russia and England, city lying nestled at the foot of the guardian and it will contain a series of articles by Mr. Peak and clinging to its sides. (Applause.) Levitoff, which will run for some two-and-a-half that Ια
arise years, ou the historical relations between Russia It is said that an English this splendid building with its lofty dome and England. will be a fitting and a proper temple for the journalist has been engaged as adviser,
HIS EXCELLENCY having formally applied the implements of the mason to the stone, said In the name of justice, I declare this stove to be well and truly laid.
The consummation of the ceremony was marked by a loud outburst of cheering.
HIS EXCELLENCE then said-Sir William Goodman, Mr. Chatham, ladies and gentlemen, -may I add, gentlemen of the jury (laughter) -I felicitate myself on being in a position before I leave the Colony to lay the foundation stone of its most important public building. From the statements that have been made by the Chief Justice and the Director of Public Works you will have gathered the necessity for the abandonment of the present Supreme Court, which was acquired at a time when the population of this Colony was 21,000, and the difficulties that have prevented the construction of this noble pile up to the present moment. We have heard of the difficulties of the present Supreme Court from the Chief Justice, and I sympathise with him deeply, and I think it struck me while he was speaking-that for the present, if the same difficulties arise, we should change the motto over the judgment-seat and make it "Let Justice be done if the stamp should fall." (Laughter and applause.) The Chief Justice also complained of the noise of the roller, but he has omitted to state that the roller was engaged in smoothing the way for the litigants to the Supreme Court, where the probability is that the figure there ettracted them was the Chief Justice sitting dalivering his judgments, with the calmness of
such
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city
as
will then
her
for the
Gew
floors
The New Law Conrts when completed will certainly be the finest edifice in the colony, and
■ monument of architecture.
The construction of these Courts is being carried out under the supervision of Mr. H. G. Fisher, A.K.I.B.A., of the Public Works L'epartment, and the architects who designed the building are Messrs. Aston Webb, R. A., and E. Ingress Bell, F.R.I.B.A. of 19 Queen Anne's Gate, London.
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