August 20, 1906.]
C
"19
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
since that date
HO
97
cial position which would lift them from depen. dence on their countrymen. In other words they are ready to live as Westerners live ay soon as they can afford to do so.
4
BANYAN.
SUPREME COURT.
Friday, August 19th.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
HIGH INTEREST.
Lam Yat sued Au Hing-sing to recover the sum of $137.50, interest due on mɔnsy lent.
Mr. F. C. Barlow (of Messrs. Goldring and Barlow) appeared for the plaintiff.
Defendant said he owed the amount claimed, more or less, probably less.
enlighten them by precept and example, to be desired from a military point of view, and so soon as the bureaucrats will let them. Sir Charles Dilke in his “ Problems of Greater In China, it is difficult to imagine just what Britain," published in 1890, remarks that when will happen, in the by no means certain he was in Hongkong, fourteen years previously, event of a constitution being granted at an!" the defences were weak in the extreme, but a good d at has been early date. To begin with, the EMPRESS done as regards every point but the garrison. DOWAGEE will be worse than the TSAR; she Hongkong has been called the Spithead of the will pull the noses of the parliamentarians
Fast
but it has hitherto been a from sheer force of habit, whereas it is. Spithead without the Spithead or ortsdowu charitably suggested the TSAR is autocratic forts or the Portsmouth garrison." In conclusion only when some reactionary courtier pulls Sir Charles declared that "Hongkong will never
be safe so long as it is supplied and administered BEFORE MR. A. G. W188 (PutsNÉ JUDGE). his leg. There is in China also a bureaucracy
from this side of the globe." About that there which will expect the same chancey
may be differences of opinion, but it cannot be under a constitution that it profite by now, gainsaid that the defences of Hongkong have aud as *
Young China" would inevitably been materially strengthened, and more be strongly represented in the Chinese Diet, during the régime of the Commanding Officer all kinds of surprises may be counted on. who has just left. The chief drawback, however, to the smooth working of really representative government in China for a long time to come will be the ignorance and indifference of the proletariat. They will early discover (probably with ample reason) that there is something to pay for the privilege of the suffrage; and they will have to be painstakingly taught that the free and independent elector is the master of his officials. After they have had the European's experience, they will know, without explicit tuition, that this proud boast is not valid long after the ballot boxes have been opened; but that is only a reflection by the way. The glaring fact is that to call the gift of a constitution a reform is wrong. A constitution is merely a post-reform symptom, not a reform in itself. Whether the EMPRESS. DOWAGER
really means what she says, whether officialdom be sympathetic or antipathetic, any constitution for China must be a hollow mockery 80 long as the great mass of the people are unready for it. It is a very proper start to make, but being made, it does not inaugurate the millennium. It is just like giving a child that knows nothing of music a violin. The child may be able in time to play very nicely, but before that there must be lots of discord and nerve trouble for other people. It will be a more seasonable time to introduce a constitution into China when the empire has been over-run with railways and telegraphs.
HONGKONG JOTTINGS.
Doubtless readers will learn with surprise that the old discussions which were waged in Britain some few years ago as to what con. stitutes a workman, have their counterpart at present in Hongkong, where tram conductors wrestle with the problem nearly every morning and evening. Of course it only concerns the Chinese who wish to use the cars provided for workmen. The conductors, I am told, hare rather peculiar ideas on the subject. If a man hope to rank as a workmau and all his eloquence wears shoes he is apparently too well dressed to and protest will not persuade the guard to let him ride in the workmen's cars. Should he discard his shoes, then all is well. The con ducter's scruples vanish and the intending a workman. It passenger has qualified as would be interesting to know whether this subtle distinction is of Chinese origin and also
whether it has official recognition.
When the question What is a workman was discu sed in Britain with a bearing cheap fares by tram or rail, it will be remem- bered that one notable decision was that no one
83 a workman.
Thus it
who wore a collar and tie was entitled to rank was that clerks earning a guinea a week had to pay full fare whes they rode in the tram, whereas the better paid but less tidy artisans were able to travel much more cheaply. The injustice of such a regulation brought about the wiser solution which sets apart certain train or trams to ruu at specified times, and anyone who used them was permitted to travel at the reduced fare.
After all, such ways of drawing distinctions, whether in Britain or in Hongkong, are absurd and always unsatisfactory. The company would lose nothing were it to adopt the plau which has worked so well elsewhere and run workmen's trams at certain hours and let all who wish to use them do so. To have to ride with uncouth coolies and begrimed workmen. may surely be held to counteract the attraction of the privilege of the reduced tariff in the eyes of those whom it is intended to exclude Perhaps the Chinese members might take up the question and have it decided by the Government.
Plaintiff said the sum of $2,500 was advanced by him to the defendant on a mortgage. The principal sum was still unpaid, and the interest due thereon was the amount claimed, being for nine months at the rate of 37 per cent.
Defendant admitted that his signature was attached to the mortgage. The plaintiff told him if he did not pay the interest within three months part of the property would be sold
to recover the amount.
His Lordship-Bat the plaintiff does not want to do that, and he is not bound to sell it. Judgment and costs.
Defendant-I would ask your Lordship to T'he ask the plaintiff to make other terms. interest is too high.
His Lordship-I can't do anything for you. You shouldn't have entered into the contract.
UNPAID AUCT ON GOODS.
Messrs. Hughes and Hough summoned P. Costa to recover 8449.75 due for goods sold.
Mr. Hughes stated that defendant bought goods at his firm's anction rooms to the ex ent of the amount claimed. He had taken delivery of the goods, but the amount was still due.
His Lordship gave judgment and costs for plaintiffs.
OUGHT TO BE REGISTERED.
The Lung On firm sued Yee Tsa to roover the sum of $23.83 due for goɔds-sold and
delivered.
Defendant denied liability.
Li Ping, master of the Tung Wan piece goods shop, stated that the goods were sold to defendant by his foki, who afterwards demanded payment, but was refused.
Defendant said the goods were ordered by the mistress of the San Kwai Fat at Shektonsui. She was the amab there.
His Lordship said brothels ought to be registered the same as Chinese companies. Whenever they had an action in Court the
mistress becam) the amah and the amih the mistress.
Li Al-man, a foki in the employ of the
plaintiff firm, swore that the goods were ordered and taken delivery of by the defendant.
Judgment was given for the amount claimed - and costs.
Monday, August 13th.
IN SUMMARY JUBISDICTION.
BEFORE MR. A. G. Wisk (PUISNE JUDGE).
13th August. It is a truism to say that the Sanitary Board has not many friends in Hongkong, but one would liave thought that the Board would have endeavoured to retain the few that it had. But such is not the case.
The latest body whose sympathy it has alienated is the large number of bathers who frequent the neighbourhood of Stonecutter's, and as complaints have been repeatedly made on the subject it looks as if
It has been said by some writers that the Chinese have not been influenced to any those responsible are decidedly remiss in their duties. Over and over again the bathing area appreciable degree by the presence of foreigners has been covered with all kinds of floating or even by their coming under Western forms That is doubtless true in garbage of a nature plainly showing that it of government. was city refuse, being carried inwards by the proportion to the prodigious efforts that have tide. Whatever explanation the Board may
been made to alter their ways of thought, for furnish, it cannot be asserted that it is ignorant an Oriental convinced against his will is of the of this state of affairs, because only a few weeks zame opinion still. Also, we know that "olo
custom means much to ago the heads of the department were seen
our Chinese I venture making a tour of that locality. It may be that friends.
to think, however, said can hardly be the contractor is at fault in not carrying the
the Chinese in Hongkong, who have shown a willingness to refuse sufficiently far to sea, but there can be no doubt that practically the best bathing resort in accept many foreign improvements, and are the harbour is being spoiled by this rubbish, and keenly alive to the importance of the innova- when it is remembered what a large part swim-tions with which British rule and enterprise ming and bathing play in our life out here it have made them acquainted. Trams telephone, surely needs little argument to stir the author-telegraph, steamboats, not to speak of the rail. ities to take the proper steps.
way, are not without their effect on the native mind. Moreover, we see that the people who Apart from his personal attributes, the are most imbued with a knowledge of Western General Officer Commanding, who lett on
ideas are inclined to depart from the traditional Saturday for Home, will perhaps be best as soon as they are able. We have seba bow remembered for the great activity in the the Chinaman modifies his attire with the less construction of defensive works which has picturesque garb of the Westerner and I have characterised his command. Up till recently been assured that many Chinamen would also the position of Hongkong certainly left much I out their queues as soon as they were in a finan-adjourned.
it
of
THE USUAL EXPEDIENT.
The Leung Shun firm brought au action against the Fook Chun Lung firm to recover a small debt due for vegetables supplied. Mr. Morrell, from the Crown Solicitor's office, who appeared for plaintiff, said that defendants had a stall in the market, but as the business did not do well they hit upon the expedient of retiring to the country.
His Honour-A man who has a little money
stays in the country, and a man who ba n't goes to the country.
Judgment was given for plaintiff:
ANOTHER PROMISSORY NOTE ACTION.
Suda Singh, watchman, in the Sugar Refinery, sued a fitter employed in the rame place for $30 due on a promissory note. Plaintiff asid defendant had paid two months' interest. Defendant denied all knowledge of the plaintiff or of the promissory note, and the case was
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