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Defendant Yes; he left without giving notice and took some of my cooking utensils
sway.
His Lordship-Well, I think you had better not admit the debt then. He had no right to leave you without giving notice. We had better hear him.
Plaintiff was then sworn,
His Lordship-You are cook to defendant P- Yes, sir.
When did you go thore P-I joined on January 12th, last,
Quite sure P-Yes.
You say the 19th here on the writ. How much a month? - $12 a month.
When did you leave-I left on January 12th because she assaulted me.
His Lordsbip-Oh!
Plaintiff Her husband assaulted me with a knife.
Why didn't you take the man to the Police Court P-I reported the matter to a Chinese constable who advised me to take out a summons. Why didn't you?--I laid a complaint in the charge room. Then I was told to come down here and take out a summons in this court.
Have you any witnesses ?-No; I am afraid to go to defendant's place.
His Lordship You could always get a subpoena. (To defendant)-You had better get in the box.
What is your name?-Huard. It is not correctly spelt in the summons.
Are you a married woman ? - No, sir. He talked about your husband-No reply. Defendant-This man came to me as cook on the 19th. He refused to do anything on the 26th, so I said to my boy, when he informed me that the cook would not work, "What do I pay him for?" The boy returned and said the cook still refused to do anything. Then I got up. He was at the door when I came out and demanded his wages. I went down into the kitchen, but as I found several things missing, I refused to pay him.
His Lordship-What about this story that he was assaulted?
Defendant-He was not assaulted.
His Lordship-Have you anybody here? Defendant-The boy came with me, but I don't know what has happened outside.
A bailiff was theu dispatched to look for the boy.
Defendant He was not assaulted. I have ways paid my servants.
His Lordship-It will save time if you go out there and look for your boy.
On her return,
i
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
COMPANIES.
[February 5, 1906.
The CHAIRMAN My answer to the first question is No; the land was not knocked down to the Secretary of the Company,
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Then, who was it
THE HONGKONG LAND INVEST-knocked down to ?
MENT AGENCY CO., LTD.
The seventeenth ordinary meeting of share- holders in this company was held at the com- pany's offices, Victoria Buildings, on the 1st Feb. Hon. Mr. C. W. Dickson presided, and there were also present Sir Paul Chater, Messrs. H. P. White, N. A. Siebs, A. Haupt, and E. Shellim (directors), A. Shelton Hooper (secretary), Hon. Mr. Gershom Stewart, Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock. K.C., Messrs. J. Orange, J. R. Michael. G. Murray Bain, H. Percy Smith. A. Apoar, E. Georg, 8. Hancock, T. F. Hough, C. W. May, G. J. B. Sayer, W. H. Wickham and Ho Fook.
The SECRETARY read the notice convening the meeting, and the CHAIRMAN, in proposing the adoption of the report and accounts, said Gentlemen,-I propose with your permission to dispense with the formality of reading the report and accounts which have now been in your bands for several days. There were in 1905 no acquisitions of new properties, the attention of the Board being devoted to the farther development of those already held, and towards this purpose a considerable sum bas been expended, as you will observe from the increased amount appearing as invested in property. The blocks known as Royal Build- ings have been completed during the year, the first-named yielding revenue from September- and the other two from October, but in these last there are still a few vacancies to be filled, When this is done and alterations to one other European building completed, our rent roll should be increased by about $45,000 yearly, It is a matter of regret to your Directors that notwithstanding every endeavour it has not been possible to let many of your Chinese properties, such vacancies representing about $75,000 annual rental, and in connection with this regrettable experience I can only repeat the statement made to you from this chair at the last annual meeting that it is difficult to reconcile such a state of affairs with the complaint of overcrowding in more central districts. Towards development expenditure money invested on mortgage has been called in to the extent of $263,500, reducing the revenue from that source, and our in- debtedness bas likewise been increased for the same purpose entailing the payment The sum of $100,526 appearing at credit represents the profit on a sale of property still to be completed and an increase in the book value of the Company's holding in shares of the Hongkong *Land Reclamation Co., Ltd., which, I may incidentally mention, have been recently dealt in at over 50 per cent. above what they now stand at in your books. A slight increase in charges is more than counterbalanced by a reduction in the sum expended on repairs. while the extra amount paid away for fire insurance is explained by the enhanced value of properties. Finally, gentlemen, your Directors are sanguine of being able, even though no sales of property be effected, to show in future years results which will admit of the payment of at least an equal dividend to that they propose for 1905, viz., 7 per cent. There are no other points which occur to me to refer to, but any questions you may desire to put bearingpon the state- ments now before the meeting I shall be glad to answer to the best of my ability.
His Lordship asked-Can you see him out of further interest. there?
Tefendant-I can't see him anywhere. He had taken me up to the other court by mistake.
His Lordship-Tell plaintiff he has not proved his case. It is only one person's word against another, Judgment will be for defendant.
A HONGKONG FAMILY DROWNED.
A HARBOUR FATÁLITY. Among the small craft that suffered by Wednesday night's storm was the water boat Tak Lee, which foundered at Tsim-tsa-tsui about midnight when running from her anchorage at Yaumati Bay to Causeway Bay for shelter. In the hurricane she shipped a considerable amount of water, and gradually sauk, all the crew with one exception being missing. This man succeeded in swimming to Kowloon where he reported the occurrence, but the others -two men, two women and three children—are still missing.
A Peking letter states that several natives of Kiangsi province holding responsible official appointments in the capital have addressed the Ministry of Commerce (Shangpu) on the advis. ability of memorialising the Throne on the importance of opening up, without delay, to international trade the provincial capital of Kiangri (Nadch'ang), the city of Chian, and two other towns between Nanchang and the treaty port of Kiukiang, so as to prepare the way for the proposed railway between those two
The N.-C. Daily News is informed that 5 above suggestions have been favourably ceived by the Ministry of Commerce.
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The CHAIRMAN-I don't know that I can answer that question. This is the Land Invest- ment Company's meeting.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-You have just admitted that the managing directors thought it advisable for us to invest $200,000 in the Land Reclamation Co., and that we were original shareholders. Therefore, I am entitled to know.
The CHAIRMAN-The decision to
take $200,000 worth of shares was arrived at by the full board of directors.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I want to know to whom the property was knocked down ?
The CHAIRMAN-I haven't the information on hand.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-The information must be known to you, Sir Paul Chater, or the secretary. SIR PAUL CHATER-I was not in the Colony at the time.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK—Mr. Northcote able to tell us ?
may be
The CHAIRMAN—No. Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I understand - Mr. Northcote is secretary to the Land Reclamation Company?
The CHAIRMAN-No. He is bookkeeper, He was acting Secretary.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-What profit has acorned to the Company as a shareholder in the Land Reclamation Co., from the reclamation effected by the latter Company at Taimchatsoi, near Blackhead's Point P
The CHAIRMAN-Ouly a portion of the re- clamation in question has beeu disposed of and the benefit to the company is derived in the shape of the interest, dividend and bonus recently declared, amounting to 12 per cent. in all.
+
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK—And we still hold shares in that company to the amount of $200,000 ?
The CHAIRMAN-YOS.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-And you told us just now that those shares have appreciated ? -
The CHAIRMAN-I mentioned by 50 per cent. as they now stand on the books,
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-What is the increase in the value of our property after making allowance for expenditure, depreciation, etc.?
The CHAIRMAN—The face value of the shares is $75 each, but they stand in the books at $100.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK - Are the managing directors of this Company also managing direc- tors of the Hongkong Land Reclamation Co. P
The CHAIRMAN—It is a well-known fact that they are.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I only want to know the fact. Is it so P
The CHAIRMAN—Yes.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Is it true that this com- pany has disposed of any property or rights-of- reclamation to the Hongkong Land Reclama- tion Co. P
The CHAIEMAN—One lot has been sold by the Land Investment Co. to the Reclamation Co.
Hon Mr. POLLOCK-What lot is that Payla The CHAIRMAN - Kowloon Marine Lot No. 49.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK—And when did that sale take place?
The CHAINMAN-In 1932, Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Was that a property partially under the sea?
The CHAIRMAN—Not at that time.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Was that sale effected solely by the managing directors of this company to the managing directors of the Land Reclama tion Co. ?
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Mr. Chairman, I rise to put some questions which I think ought to be The CHAIRMAN-I have no personal know- put in the interests of the general body of share | ledge, as I was not a managing director at the holders of the Company. The first is-Is it a time, but I am informed that the board of fact that this Company was one of the this company decided to sell. original shareholders in the Hongkong Land Reclamation Co. ?
The CHAIRMAN-It is a fact.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-To what extent ?
The CHAIRMAN-The Land Investment Co., has held shares to the value of $200,000 in the Reclamation Co., which represent 16 per cent.
Hon Mr. POLLOCK-Is it a fact that reclaim- ed property was knocked down to Mr. Shelton Hooper, the paid Secretary of this Company, at public auction? If so, by whom was he employed to purchase that property P
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Well, the managing directors of the other Company must have made up their minds that it was a good thing to buy, otherwise the matter wouldn't have gone
matter wouldo t through.
The CHAIEMAN-That seems a reasonable conclusion.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK — How is the item, $100,526, which appears in the accounts profi on property and on investments, mad
The Chairman—I have already answ that question in my speech.
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