106
THE AMERICAN FLEET AND HONGKONG.
A MISTAKS IN THE CABLEGRAM.
The following correspondence is forwarded to us by the Colonial Secretary. n a covering latter the Hon. Mr. May observes: -"It would appear from the letter of the Department of State that the United States Government did not sooept the invitation of this Government to the American Fleet to visit Hongkong; and it would appear that a mistake was made in the cablegram from London to this Government on the subject."
American Consular Service.
Hongkong, July 28, 1908,
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary, Hongkong.
SIE, I have the honour to enclose you here. with copy of a despatch received by me from the Department of State at Washington re. lative to the United States Battleship Fleet, Regretting the combination of circumstances which makes it impossible for the Fleet to visit Hongkong, and with assurances of highest esteem,—I have eto.,
.
AMOS P. WILDER, American Consul-General.
[Copy.]
Tepartment of State, Washington,
June 23rd, 1908.
Amos P. Wilder, Esquire,
American Consul-General,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
NAVAL YARD EXTENSIONS.
BIG CONTRACT COMPLETED.
CAN BE FO
The departure of the staff of Messrs. Punch- ard, Lowther and Company from Hongkong marks the completion of one of the most gigantic enterprises out in the Far East, H.M. Naval Yard Extension, after being in progress for something like eight years, bas been finished and the works are now taken over by the Works Department of the Admiralty. It will be remembered that the large dook, which is to form such an important part in the scheme of British naval operations in the Far East, was opened about a year ago. The water was then let in, but of course the dock was not ready for use. Dredging operations had to be conducted outside and a pumping plant had to be erected. This installation, not yet completed, is one of the best possible consisting of two deep wells communicating with the dock by pulverts, and when it is finished in the early part of next year the dook will be ready for use.
[August 8, 1908.
SUPREME COURT.
Friday, July 81st.
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION.
BEFORE SIR Francis Piggott (CHIE JUSTICE).
LONG STANDING LITIGATION. In the notion between Li Po Kam and Li Po Lang, plaintiffs, and Li Ling Shi and Id Trung Pak, defendants, and in the matter of a claim by the Cheong Shing Bank and by Wong Tong to be entitled to the sum of $11,424.94 paid Into
Court.
Mr. M. W. Slade, instructed by Mr. C. E. H. Beavis (of Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist) appear- ed for Li Po Kam and Li Po Yung, Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., instructed by Mr. B. F. C. Master (of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master) represented the Cheong Shing Bank, and Bir The main feature of the extensions, is as
Henry Berkeley, K.C., instructed by Mr. A. stated, the large graving dock which is roughly Deacon) appeared on behalf of Wong Tong.
Holborow (of Messrs. Deacon. Looker and about 650 feet in length and 100 feet in width. If these figures do not convey an adequate im question raised regarding Li Chit's assignment. His Lordship gave a formal decision on the pression of the gigantic nature of the under. He said he had read the agreement very ear- taking, perhaps a few facts will assist to give fully, and there was no doubt in his mind as to a proper conception of the vastness of this work.
what it was. It was not the assignment share For instance there are roughly 100,000 cubio in the Lai Hing which Li Chit said he formerly yards of concrete and about 500,000 cubic feet owned, but it was an assignment of the interests I of dressed granite ashlar absorbed in the dock, in the shares of other companies held in the while the sea wall which extends to practically name of Lai Hing, or in other names by Lai smile in length, is built of concrete blocks
Hlog. This was made very olear by the founded at an average depth of 45 feet below second paragraph of the statement of low water. The large basin covers an area of claim. It was very clear that the assign- ne less than nine sores, and this will accom-
meat. could not be assigned or handed modate the largest battleship. Its depth is
over to another. Notice in writing had to be about 30 feet 6 inches at low water. Io ad-given to complete the title of the debtor. There dition to this there are timber and steel jetties
was no pretence that any notice in writing with embankments and reclamation for the War had been given to the Chap 8ing Co., and the Department. This reclamation was a particular-laim, so far as Wong Tong was concerned, The Department regrets that the report has ly difficult task, and no less than one million seemed to His Lordship to be, out of Court bean odronlated that the United States accepted cubic yards of filling, consisting of quarry subject only to one point. On reconsideration the invitation of the Hongkong Government rubbish, etc, had to be brought from the other he thought the pleadings should conform to the to the Battleship Fleet. The invitation in side and utilised in the work. In connection rules of pleadings. Undoubtedly the claim question, extended through the British Am-
with the graving dook, it will perhaps be re.
should have been set out, and the assignment bissador here, was d clined for the reason that,membered that the contractors (were" faced at
should have been mentioned in the statement in carrying out the then already determined itinerary of the fleet, which contemplated the fleet's arrival in home waters in time to hold the annual record target practice in Cuban waters during the month of March next, it was found impraticable for the fleet to visit Hongkong. ----I am eto.,
Hoogkong.
SIR,-I have to acknowledge the receipt of your annumbered despatch of May 12th. 1908, transmitting newspaper clippings which indioste that the people of Hongkong anticipate the visit there of the United States Battleship
Fleet.
W. J. CARE,
Chief Clerk, for the Secretary of State.
THE DEATH OF MR. R. M. MAZE.
News was received some weeks ago of the death of Mr. H. Marshall Maze, Acting Com- missioner of Customs at Szemao, bat no parti- culars reached the Colony. We now learn that Mr. Mase was proceeding from Szemao to Hongkong and fell ill on the road between Mongize and Loakay (on the Tongking frontier) of the dangerous malarial fever which pre- vails there during the wet season. He reached Hanoi in a oritical condition and died on the night of his arrival (May 29th in the French Military hospital. Mr. Maze joined the Customs in 1888, and immediately before serving at Szomɑo, he was in charge of the Customs at Lungchow.
JAPAN AND CHINA.
|
A telegram from Tokyo to the N.-C. Daily New states:-In reference to the arrival of H.E. Hu Wei-te, the new Chinese Minister to Tokyo, and the impending departure for Peking of Mr. Ijuin, the new Japanese Minister to China, the Tokyo Fress urges a readjustment of Japan's policy towards Chins for the sake of consolidating friendship between China, and Japan. It disclaims that Japan is actuated by any selfish desires and declares that it would be impossible for Japan to secede from the concert of the Powers in the Far Fast; but it adds that this concert requires the introduction of new life into it,
→
the outset with a serious obstacle owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the bottom However by piling and pamping that was overcome, and the present satisfactory result has been achieved." A tremendous quantity of timber was utilised in the construction of the dam and the foundations of the deck. This was obtained from the China Borneo Company. The amount of cement used was also very
large, no less than 52,000 tons. The Green Island Cement Company supplied this and it is satisfactory to record that the cement stood all the tests and showed no signs of deteri.
oration.
Messrs. Panobard, Lowther and Company have been in the Colony for about eight years, but the time occupied in the actual construction of the dock was about six years! The big staff engaged and the large amount of plant employed will also help to give some impression of the immensity of the contract which has just been completed. At the busiest period there were about 5,000 employees on the work, with a European staff of afty, while the extensive plant embraced a dredger, Henderson's cable way, five locomotives with rolling stock, 27 steam cranes of various sort, a large number of concrete mixers, and a large number of portable engines and pumps. Moreover there was a separate establishment and plant at Malakok, about six sores in extent, where the blocks for
the sea wall were made.
Messra Panchard, Lowther and Company, have been represented by Mr. A. J. Williams, A.MIC.E., under whose supervision the big undertaking has been brought to a successful
issue.
Mr J. Lawrence Woods, the business manager of the Reach All-American Baseball Club, has visite 1 Japan for the purpose of making arrange ments for the visit to Japan in November of what he describes as "the finest combination of professional baseball players" which has ever left the United States. The team is to leave San Francisco on November 3rd, and will stay in Yokohama about ten days, afterwards touring Manila, China, and Hawaii.
of claim of Wong Tong. The assignment was not set out in the statement of claim, so far as bis Lordship could see, therefore. subject to argument, he was of opinion that Wong was out of Court.
Bir Henry Berkeley-Paragraph 8 of the statement of claim sət out the assignment,
His Lordship-That point must be argued. Sir Henry Berkeley-What is the effect of it, if we have alleged the assignment?
His Lordship-If you have not given notice hear argument on the point later, of assignment, the assignment is bad. I will
Tuesday, 4th August,
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION,
BEFORE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
(SIB F. PIGGOTT.)
A QUESTION OF SALE, The Hip On Insurance, Exchange and Long Company, Limited, and the Hongkong and Manila Yuen Sheng Exchange and Trading Company, Limited, sued Li Po Yung and Li Po Kam for $49,052 62 as money leat. The Hon. Mr. H. 8. Pollock, K.C., who had with him Mr. MeNeill from Shanghai, and who was instructel by Mr. Bowley, of Messrs. Bowley and Dennys, appeared for the plaintifs, G. K. Hall Bratton, represented the defendants, and Mr. M. Blade, instructed by Mr.
Mr. Atkinson of Masara, Denoon, Looker and while Bir Heary Bərkəlèy, K.C., instructed by Deacon, appeared for Li Po Kam on a countes
olaim.
The statement of claim set out that defen. dants as mortgagors in oonsideration of certain parties named Yu Yuk Chi and Li Po Krai, as mortgageed, assisting Li Trang Pakr brother of Li Po Yang, in the settlement of his affairs and in payment of his debis agreed that, they would on January 20th, 1905, repay to the mortgagees all sums of money not exceeding $150,000 as should then have been expended by the mortgageen. Li Po Kam assigned as
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.