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October 3, 1908.]
Mr. Hooper has scored again, As the resul of representations made by himself and or two others, His Excellency has stopped the wholesale issue of summonses by the Building Authority for non-compliance with notices to execute certain repairs And none too soon. Yesterday I was informed
that a certain owner had received a notice to construct a flue in the kitchen of an indicated house. This was followed by another notice ordering him to pull down the kitoben. He had scarcely recovered from his bewilder- ment when he received a letter informing him that the summonses recently issued had been withdrawn for the time being. This made him feel a little better, but judge of his surprise to receive on Saturday a summons calling upon him to show Gauss
the Magistracy why he should not be fined for failing to comply with the notice to pull down the kitchen. Like the hero of the song "'e dunno where 'e are" and be wonders when the authorities will have a "lucid interval. "
RODERICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG,
We understand that there will be no Coroner's inquest into the cause of death of the late Mr. Reginald Harding, the magistrate being satisfied with the report farnished him by the Ipolice.
A Bonhem Strand gold dealer reported to the police on Wednesday that while weighing gold In his shop he missed a piece valued at 8700 from his counter. Detectives have the matter in hand.
His Majesty the King has not been advised to exercise his power of dis-allowance with respect to Ordinance No. 13 of 1908, entitled-An Ordinance to prohibit the Exportation of Pre- pared Opium to China and to French Indo. China.
A marriage has been arranged, and will take place early in November, between Lieutenant the Hon. Arthur Stopford, Royal Navy, second BOD of Viscount Stopford, of Gorey, Ireland, and Mary Angusta Grace, elder daughter of Mr. G. C. C. Master, recently of Hongkong.
On Sept. 26th a Chinese woman 82 years of age, an inmate of the Asile de la Sainte Enfance at Wanobai, committed suicide by hanging. Fastening the end of a rope to the banister of the stairway while standing on a stool, she looped the other end round her neck, then pushed the stool away. When found later, she was dead,
Two summonses under the Stamo Ordinance came before the Magistrates at the Police Court on Sept. 29. In one, the compradore of the 8.8. "Tai On" was fined $75 by Mr. Kemp for failing to affix a stamp to a shipping receipt. In the other Mr. Wood imposed a fine of $25 on Messrs. Sincere and Co, for neglecting to stams a receipt.
Mr. J. R. Wood passed an exemplary sentence on a lakong on Sept. 30. The defendant and another native were prosecuted by Inspector Fenton for stealing vegetables from a hawker in Swatow Lane. The offence was proved, and the lukong sentenced to three months' impris onment with hard labour. His accomplice was sent to jail for six weeks.
A judgment of interest to landlords and tenants was given in the Supreme Court on the 29th ult. The acting Puisde Judge found that the landlord where he let part of the building, a filst, should bave inspected the roof of which be retained possession and was sccordingly liable for damage done in consequence of water accumulating on the roof and descending into the rooms beneath,
The
The Union Church Literary and Debating Society begins its winter session on October 8th with a lecture by Dr. J. C. Thomson, on "The Romance of Lowland Sootland.” Syllabus for October to March 1908-9 includes lectures by Tr. Amos P. Wilder, Bev. T. W. Pearos, the Hon. Mr. Murray Stewart, Dr. W. W. Pearse, Dr. C. K. Edmunds, Rev. C. H. Hickling. Messrs F. W. Terry, A. Bellamy Brown, W. H. Williams, J. J. Stabbings, W. Drew Braidwood. A. C. Franklin, and A Rodger. The syllabus includes thres debites, in two of which Messrs. H. L. Garrett and
A. H. Crook opposs each other.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
A mining lease for a further area of one square mile in Sai Kung district on the South shore of Tolo_Harbour, was, according to the Report of the Director of Public Works, issued to Sir Paul Chater last year. It authorizes the working of deposits of iron ore. A mining licence was issued to Mr. Grant Smith for an area of 28.32 sores on the Southern portion of Mount Davis.
We do not think we are divulging a secret, says the Queen's College magazine, when we say that the plans for a magnificent hostel to accommodate eighty students and containing a gymnasium 60+80 and all its equipment and appurtenances, with reading rooms, games rooms and library, are complete, and need only very little to see them realised in material brick | and mortar, Four munificent donors-two English noblemen, ons gentleman in the States, and another in New Zealand, have given some $40,000. A further sum of $10,000 is needed to carry these plans into full execution.
The river steamer "
Yingking," which foundered in the typhoon of the 27 28th July with a loss of between 300 and 400 lives, has been raised and brought to Hongkong. She is now lying behind Stonecutters, and it is ar peoted that she will go into dock in a few days. Her top deck has been washed away, but the hull is intact. As soon as she is seaworthy again the owners intend to put her on the Canton run as before. It is stated that when the vessel foundered she was bringing about 60,000 dollars' worth of subsidiary coins to Hongkong We learn that about half this amount has been recovered
DEATH OF MR. L. A. M.
JOHNSTON.
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One of the most popular men in the Colony Mr. Johnston will be greatly missed. In the Civil Service he was held in high regard, and his subordinates in the Post Office found in him a fair and impartial superior. He was well liked by the staff. In social ciroles his personality was highly appreciated, and a very large number of friends both here and in the Straits will mourn his untimely death.
H demise will be a great "blow_to_the Volunteer movement in Hongkong. He had recently been appointed to the command of the newly formed infantry company, and under his influnce the company grew considerably in numbers. He was a very keen volunteer, having been for about 13 years in the Straits Volunteer Artillery, in which he held a commission.
The greatest sympathy is expressed for the bereaved widow (who is a sister of Major Jones of the R.A.M.C., Hongkong), whose grief is the more poignant as she only came out from holiday at home by the last German Mail to join her husband who returned from absence on leave in the early part of the year.
THE FUNERAL.
The funeral took place at the Happy Valley yesterday under particularly gloomy circum- standes which emphasised the sadness and solemnity of the occasion. Though rain fell in torrents throughout the evening, a large number assembled to pay their last tributs of respect to one do generally esteemed, and no more eloquent testimony to the regard entertained for the decessed could have been bad than that so many should brave the discomforts of the evening to attend the interment. His Excellency the Governor was among the number, and during the hat rites he seemed much affected.
Military honours were accorded the deceased in recognition of his connection with the Volun. teerd A bearse brought the coffin to the Monument, where the firing party drawn It came as a great shock to the community from the 3rd Middlesex were assembled, as on September 30th to learn that Mr. L. A. M. well as the band A contingent of Volan- Johnston, the Postmaster-General, had died at teerd was present with a gun oirriage, the his residence at the Peak of blood-poisoning, offlers in uniform being Lient. Colonel Chap- Only a few days ago he trod on a nail in his man Capt. Armstrong, Captain Wood, Lients, room, but, regarding the occurrence as triding. Northcote, Kennet, and Wolfe, while special be paid no attention to it. Unfortunately blood tram cars, which stood near by, brought the poisoning supervened, and despite unremitting Governor and a number of government officials. medical attention he succumbed as stated. The coffin having been transferred to the gan Deceased was a son of the late Mr. William carriage, the firing party with rifles reversed Johnston, of Ballykillbeg County Down, a moved off, followed by the band playing the well known Irish Parliamentarian and leader of Dead March. Then came the gun carriage the Orange party; being member of Parliament drawn by Volunteers. Walking behind were for one of the divisions of Belfast, and Mr. Major Jones (brother-in-law) and other military Johnston was himself В Justice of the and naval officers with Colonel Darling, Peace for his native country.
Geders! Officer Commanding. Immediately afterwards came the Governor at the head of the other mourners, amongst whom were Sir Paul Chater, Hon. Mr F. H. May, Hon. Mr A. M. Thomson, Hon. Mr Rees Davies, Hod. Mr W. Chatham, Hon. Mr E. A. Irving, Commander Basil Tayer R. N., Hon. Dr Ho Kai Hon. Mr Wei Yak, Hon. Mr H. A. W. Slade, Hon. Mr W. J. Gresson, Hon. Mr Murray Stewart, Mr C. Clemen'i, Dr Atkinson, Mr M. I. Messer, Dr Wilder, Mr A. Beth, Mi H. N. Mody, Mr. E. C. Lewis, Captain Lyons, Mr A. J. Brackenbury, Capt. Hooper, A.D.C., Mr Shelton Hooper, Mr J. R. Wood, Mr C. D. Melbourne, Mr Dowley, Mr Gray Scott, eta
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Mr. Johnston was forty-three years of age, He was educated at Dublia University and took the B.A. degree. Joining the Civil Service in 1888, he came out to the Straits Settlements as a cadet, and was attached to the Colonial Secretary's Office. In the following year he was transferred to the Resident Connoillor's Office at Penang, and a year later he was appointed Magistrate and Assistant Collector of Land Re. venue at Sungei Ujong. After passing his final examination in Maly in 1890 he was attached to the General Post Office at Singapore. | He became assistant Postmaster-General there in 1995, bat in the interval he had been Assistant District Officer at Alor Gajah (1902-3) and Assistant Official Assignee and Registrar of Deeds at Singapore, while costioning to act also as District Officer at Alor Gajah. In 1896 he was acting Postmaster General at Singapore, and in the following year came to Hongkong on B special mission concerning postal matters. On returning to the 8traits be went to Penang as Assistant Postmaster-General for a few months, and then went to Malacos as Acting Collector of Land Revenue, Officer in charge of the Treasury, and Municipal commissioner for Malacca. Mr. Johnston held these appointments and in addition that of Collector of Land Revenue and Registrar of Deeds at Singapore until September 1900 when he again became
The floral tributes were numerous, acting Postmaster General While on leave most conspicuous was a harp and a cross, in 1902 be was appointed to succeed the late with appropriate ribbons attached bearing the Commander Hastings, N., as Postmaster inscription. "With deepest sympathy from General at Hongkong. Mr. Johnston arrived the staff, G. P. O. Hongkong." "The Governor in the Colony in February 1903 and assumed sent a special wreath, as did also the two aides. duty on March 1st. Since then Mr. Johnston de camp and the private secretary, while Lieut. had twice soted as Colonial Treasurer and Co. Chapman and the officers of the Volunteer while filling that position was ex-officio a Corps forwarded similar tokens. Beveral other member of the Executive and Legislative | wreaths came from military officers and leading Councils.
members of the community:
At the entrance to the cemetery the cortege halted, and the coffin was carried by Volunteers to the graveside, where the Rev. F. T. Johnston offliated. The service was very impressive. The coffin, which was enveloped in a Union Jack sad on which rested the helmet and sword of the decessed offler, was afterwards lowered into the grave. Then the hundred rifles rang out three volleys, the drums playing the usual tattoo after each volley. A pathetic sight was witnessed when numbers of Chinese postmen followed the example of the European mour- ners in throwing a handful of sand on the top of the coffin.
The
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