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THE CHIEF JUSTICE COMMISSIONED.
At the Supreme Court on the 25th May the commission appointing Francis Taylor Piggott, M.A., Chief Justice of the Colony of Hongkong. was read by Mr. A. Seth, Registrar of the Court, in the presence of local barristers The and solicitors, and a number of ladies. members sitting at the bar were ir H. S. Berkeley, Dr. Ho Kai, and Megars E. H. Sharp, K.C.. H. E. Pollock, K.C., H. G Calthrop, H. N. Ferrers, F. A. Hazeland, C. D. Melbourne and J. W. Jones, Deputy Registrar.
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The commission read was as follow:- 'Edward VII.' by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the seas, King Defender of the Faith. Emperor of India.
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To our trusty and well.beloved Francis Taylor Piggott, Esq., M.A.. one of our counsel, learned in the law,
"Now know you that we, taking into considera- tion all your loyalty, integrity and ability of our special grace, certain knowledge and immediate motion have thought fit to constitutesudappoint and do berel yappoint you, the said Francis Taylor Piggott, to he Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of our Colony of Hongkong and its dependencies from the 27th day of April, 1905. inclusive, to hold, exercise and enjoy the said office and place during our pleasure with all the rights, profits, privileges and advantages thereunto be onging and appertaining, provided the said Francis Taylor Piggott, always that you. do actually reside within our said Colony and do not quit the same without the previous permis. sion of our Governor of our said Colony or of
1 such person as may for the time being be charged with the government ther-of
"And also that you execute the said office in your own person except in case of sickness or other incapacity, and do all other matters and things and perform the duties thereof in di-interested and ordinary manner.
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In testimony, whereof, we have caused these' our letters, to be made patent and to be sealed with the public seal of our Colony aforesaid.
"Witness: Our trusty and well-beloved Matthew Nathan, Knight Commander of the most distinguished order of St. Michael and St. George. Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its dependencies and Vice-Admiral of the same. This 23rd day of May, in the year of our Lord 1:05, and in the fifth year of our reign. By Command."
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
'few arrival in words of like courtesy. I Pank you very much for the expression I of your good will, and need hardly say reciprocate it most heartily. You have been pleased to say that, in your opinion, I have succeeded a number of illustrions men who have sat in this Court. I bave, it is true, done a certain amount of work, which, if it has any merit at all is that it has materially assisted in bringing me among you. So far as our rela tions are concerned. I feel sure they will come of the be perfectly cordial, as we common stock. In the colony where I spent a great many very arduous, but not unhappy years, I never failed to endeavour to impress upon those who came in contact with me the absolute necessity of maintaining the traditions of England on which the wellbeing of the community in a large measure depends. In Mauritius I have always met with the loyal co-operation of the bar, aud i feel sure it will be the sime in Hongkong. So, gentlemen, we begin our joint labours with mutual expres. sion of goodwill. I trust that no act or word of mine will ever mar or in any way militate against these good feelings.
HONGKONG'S POST OFFICE.
The following extracts are taken from the Postmaster General's report on the Post Office for the year 1904, which is published in the Government Gazette :-
DEPARTMENTAL CHANGES.
Mr. E. Cornewall Lewis, the Assistant
Postmaster General, returned from leave on the 3rd March. Mr. S. B. C. Ross ceased to act as Postmaster General on the 11th May, and I then resumed charge of the office. Mr. T. H. Martin, Supervisor, was appointed Superinten dent of the Registration and Parcels Brauch. and Mr. R. A. J. Savage, Supervisor, Super- intendent of Mails, both taking up their duties on the 1st January, 1944.
MAILS.
Mails were closed during the year for 126 different offices of exchange, and the increase in the number received as against the previous year is 10,213, while the increase in the number despatched, including those sent in transit through Hongkong in 15,339. The increase in the number of steamers carrying mails to and from this port is: arrivals, 2.118. departures. 2,597.
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The number of articles posted in the various pillar boxes, was 66,746. as against 48.110 for the previous year.
REGISTRATION BRANCH.
Received, 1904 1903 Increase
Bags. Packets. Boxes.
6,063
13.578
11,615
5,455
1.961
609
13,167
6,368
1903.
Sir H. S. BERKELEY-I take this opportunity on the occasion of your Lordship's first taking your seat in this Court to offer to your Lordship on behalf of the bar of this Colony-and I feel sure I am also expressing the sentiments of the solicitors of the Supreme Court-our hearty congratulations upon the high appointment which His Majesty Despatched. 1904 the King has been pleased to confer upon you: the office of Chief Justice of so important a Colony as Hongkong, one of the greatest commercial centres of the Empire. My Lord, your name will be added to a lengthy roll of distinguished judges who by their legal learn- ing, and by their pure and independent administration of justice in this Colony in the past, have preserved the great traditions of the English race and without question the addition of Your Lordship's name will add lustre thereto, My Lord, it is a matter of great
satisfaction to me to be able to state without reserve that the relations which exist between the bench and bar in this Colony are of the most bappy disposition. I need not
say
to your Lordship how important that fact is in the administration of Justice in this court. Your Lordship will find that the bar, as it ever should be, is zealous of the privileges and rights entrusted to it. They will at the same time be ever ready to give due obedience and deference to the considered rulings and judgment of this Court, and I can only repeat our welcome to Your Lordship and trust that you may be accorded health and strength long to hold the high office which has been entrusted to you.
The CHIEF JUSTICE, in reply said: Mr. Attorney and Members of the Bar a few days ago when I landed in this Colony you were pleased to extend to me a cordial welcome, truly eastern in its character. To-day we meet for the first time in Court and you welcome
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.
The statement of revenue and expenditure shews a balance in favour of the Post Office of
(May 29, 1905.
MONEY ORDER BRANCH.
There are increases in orders in sterling, gold yen and silver dollars, and "decreases in gold dollars and rupees. Both British and local postal notes show an increase. British postal orders are now cashed in Hongkong and at the British Agencies. The limit for single money order has been raised from £1) or $100 to £40 or $400. A direct exchange of Money Orders bas been arranged with the Transvaal Post Office.
DEAD LETTER OFFICE
38.229 articles were dealt with, 24,771 being returned from Hongkong to other administra- tions and 13,458 sing received from other countries. There were found in 63 unregistered letters opened in the Dead Letter Branch returned to their several senders; and silk handkerchiefs, a lady's b.dice, silver curios, Imperial postal orders amounting to £22 14s. Ud. bank drafts, cheques, Bank of England notes and money orders representing in those drawn in sterling a sum of £ỗ77 78. Od., and those drawn in local currency $235.45. A large number of letters received in this branch, owing to the absence both of address and name of sender, could not be returned and were therefore destroyed, particularly was this the
in Chinese. 0888 with letters written return of correspondence to senders in the Navy and Army would be much facilitated if the sender's name, rank and ship or regiment appeared thereon.
GENERAL.
The
Owing to labour difficulties at Marseilles the mails which should have arrived by French steamers were brought on by other lines, on the following occasions :-On the 5th October, 1904, by Capri, on the 18th October by the Marie Valerie and on the 31st October by the Gregory Apçar. The mails despatched from Loudon by French packet on the 2th April, 13th May and 8th July were, owing to breakdowns. brought to the Colony by the P. & 0.88. Ballaarat and Nankin, and s.s. Catherine Apcar. The last mentioned mail had in the first instance been transferred at Colombo to the German Mail Prinz Heinrich but that boat not being able through an accident to proceed far- ther than Singapore transferre i there both her own Mails and those of the French packet. The mail despatched from London on the 15th March by German packet 8.8. Oldenburg was transferred at Aden to the P. & O. mail packet and reached Hongkong on 22nd April by P. & A mail for Manila was placed O. 98. Chusan on board the s.s.*Legaspi on the 15th December, but the steamer has not since been heard of.
CHANG CHIH-TUNG AND DAPHNE POLLARD.
was
"The
4,724 3,920
-Little Daphne 804 The Seattle Times says:- 6,47 Pollard, the child soubrette, still heads the 11,770 4,084 3,972 Pollard Lilliputian Opera Company, which Increase.. 1,397 2,284 2,435 begins an engagement at the Grand to-morrow The number of registered articles and parcels night in the famous musical comedy, handled in the General Post Office, Hongkong, Belle of New York." While performing in shows the very considerable increase of 68,498 the province of Hankow, China, an incident over the previous year. The average number occurred which might have had a very un- haudled on each working day is 1,914 or 219 pleasant termination. Viceroy Chang Chih
A Parcel Post Conven- Tung more than last year.
80 taken with the child that tion concluded with the United States of he commanded her presence. When she Daphne langhed and America came into force at the beginning of beheld him Little the year, and 1,700 parcels were dealt with irreverently exclaimed: "What a funny Chink." The viceroy who understands English, but is under it.
slightly deaf, did not catch the purport of the remark and asked one of his suite what she had said. The wily courtier, who was next to his The little one is very much job, replied: impressed with Your Highness's appearance, and What a great and noble- had exclaimed
"She is a very wise child," looking man.'
and I will remarked Chang Chih Tung,
He then buy her to instruct my wives." offered to give Mr. Pollard in exchange for Daphne & sum in Chinese ta-ls equal iu American money to $800. When he was in- formed that white people did not barter their children, but loved and cherished them, he frowned and turned away, thereby intimating that the audience was at an end. Mr. Pollard was greatly perturbed at the occurrence and lost no time in getting out of the province where Chang Chih Tung was omnipotent.
We fear that this story may possibly contain a little of the element of exaggeration!
891,702,36. The decrease in the revenue from the sale of stamps is due to the fact that stamps for general revenue purposes are now sold ex- clusively by the Post Office. A sum of $124,284 has been transferred to other heads of general revenue under which fees and duties are paid in stamps. The decrease in unpaid postage is only apparent certain official mails previously prepaid in cash, which was brought to credit under this head, are now prepaid in stamps. The principal savings in Expenditure are due to the higher rate of exchange prevailing dur- ing the year.
Books containing stamps to the value of $1 were available from 1st January, 1904, and were purchased to the number of 3,040. Postage envelopes, though very convenient, are not in great demand.
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