October 30, 1909.]
penalty for anybody] entering without a ticket.
CAPTAIN-SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE-I don't see any power to prevent anybody going in.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT—I take, it, sir, there will always be a policeman at the gate. And if the law says we have power to close public ground then only people with tickets would be admitted. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL· And a man without would be a trespasser.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
may suggest alteration, but at present the Bill, is accepted by us as satisfactory. ⠀
The Bill was then read a second time. The Council then went into Committee to con- sider the Bill clause by clause.
HIS EXCELLENCY-There are possibly one or two points outstanding which have not been settled, and we do not propose to-day to deal with the whole of the Bill. Those clauses which are debateable will be held over until this day fortnight. We propose, as the Bill is of great Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Quite so, and he would length, to read through a certain portion be thrown out by the police.
to-day and adjourn the remainder to a later
Council then resumed,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through Committee and moved the third reading.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY Seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
CHINESE EXTRADITION ORDINANCE AMENDMENT,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled "An Ordinance to amend the Chinese Extradition Ordinance, 1889." By section 12 of the princi- pal Ordinance, where a fugitive criminal has been resident in the Colony for a year and upwards his case has to be considered by the Governor- in-Council, who has to be assisted in such con- sideration by the Chief Justice, and the Chief Justice would be placed in an embarsased situation in the event of the fugitive criminal being ordered to be surrendered and then being brought up before the court on a writ of habeus corpus. Thus the necessity for this Ordinance.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
Council then went into Committee to consider it clause by clause.
Hon. Mr. STEWART-Has such a case ever happened?
HIS EXCELLENCY--Quite recently, and on that occasion the Chief Justice asked that this clause might be inserted as he might be put in a difficult position of he had to try the case.
Hon. Mr. STEWART It struck me as peculiar that this Bill has been in force for twenty years and that the question never arose before.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-It very seldom happens that the man has been here a year.
HIS EXCELLENCY-And it is only in that case that the Chief Justice advises.
Council then resumed.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through Committee without amendment, and moved that it be read a third time.
occasion.
Several verbal amendments were made and the Bill was left in Committee.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Council stands adjourned till this day fortnight.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding The following votes were passed:
PUBLIC WORKS.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one thousand six hundred dollars ($1,600) in aid of the vote, Public Works, Recurrent, Water Works, Maintenance of Kowloon.
JUDICIAL AND LEGAL,
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of ninety dollars ($90) in aid of the vote, Judicial and Legal Departments, Land Registry Office, other charges, incidental ex- penses.
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of five hundred dollars ($500) in aid of the vote, Miscellaneous Services, Coal.
CHARITABLE SERVICES,
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of six hundred and fourteen dollars ($614) in aid of the vote, Charitable Services, Passages and Relief of Destitutes.
CANTON
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
CLAN FIGHT.
October 25th.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY Seconded, and the ing was carried on all day and the strife was Bill was read a third time and passed.
TRADE MARKS AMENDMENT ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I rise to move the second reading of the Bill entitled "An Ordinance to amend the law relating to Trade Marks." This Bill proposes to assimilate the law and practice of trade-marks with that in force in the United Kingdom. It is considered desirable in this large commercial community that there should be uniformity in matters of trade-marks with that of the United Kingdom. The Bill received the consideration in conference
of the hon. member representing the Chamber of Commerce and also the hon. member the Chairman of the China Association, as well as of the Law Society. A few sections have been added to meet local requirements as the result
of the conference to which I have alluded. This Bill is taken practically literally from the Ordinance of the Straits Settlements. The objects and reasons appear at the end of the Bill and it is considered that the legislation is required here.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. The Hon. Mr. HEWETT-It is perhaps just as well that I should endorse what has been said by the Attorney-General. Your Excellency was good enough to refer this Bill to the Chamber of Commerce and the Committee of the China Association. The hon, member who represents the Justices of Peace can speak more ac- curately than I. as I understand he is the Chairman of the Committee of the China Association, but all the points so far as I am aware which have occurred to the Chamber of Commerce or the China Association--and we consulted leading merchants interested-have been met in the Bill, which from a commercial point of view, must be regarded as satisfactory. It is not unlikely that the working of the Bill
A very serious clan fight took place lately between the inhabitants of Sam Sing Tong and Pak Tong Villages. The trouble arose over some trivial matter connected with the visit of a theatrical troupe. On Thursday the fight- renewed on Friday. The fighting took place in the fields near the villiages and resembled a pitched battle. Many persons were seriously injured before the officials restored order. It is said that the trouble is likely to break out again in the near future. That such events can take place within a dozen miles of the provincial capital speaks volumes for the rottenness and powerlessness of the local Govern- ment.
ECHOES OF THE GREAT STORM.
|
The recent storm caused considerable damage to the sandy shore near the Shek Wai Tong Railway Station. It is said that the landing place from the ferry has been rendered unsafe and that much money will have to be expended before things are put into order again. The storm also broke the railway line at a place called Wa Tung, while at Ying Tsui the line was flooded to such an extent that the trains could not run. Workmen are busily engaged in repairing the damage.
The artful rice dealers of Fatsban are taking advantage of the recent typhoon to raise the price of rice. As the least rise in this com- modity falls very hard on the poorest section of the community much distress is being felt. It is said that the storm did very little damage to the fields in this district and that the dealers have only raised the price for their own selfish profit.
POLICE MATTERS.
385
the Nam Hoi district made an excursion in search of private opium smokers. A man named Chung Wah was shot and much excitement was thereby caused. At the trial which was held afterwards the petty officer was dismissed the service.
THE DYNAMITE SCARES. In reference to the numerous finds of dynamite which have recently engrossed public attention, it is stated that detectives have been told off to keep a watch on the storehouses of the city and district and to ascertain, of possible, whether the deadly stuff is being manufactured in the country or being imported from abroad. If the latter is the case the detectives have been commanded to pay particular attention to trade-marks on the packages so that some trace of its origin may be discovered.
|
HOW CRIMINALS ESCAPE PUNISHMENT.
Some indignation is being felt at the result of the trial of a certain official who, for a certain grave offence was brought up many times for trial before the last Viceroy. The man was sentenced to be decapitated, but as a result of the petitions of various powerful friends the sentence was never carried out. The offender happended to belong to the same province as the late Provincial Treasurer and the latter exerted his utmost influence to defeat the law. It was held that the man's crime was committed before the decease of the late Emperor, and that therefore he was one whom the general pardon granted
on the accession of the present monarch might bene- fit. He is soon to be set at liberty.
!
FURTHER BAD WEATHER.
As this is being posted (Tuesday morning) the rain is coming down in torrents, as it has done since 4 p.m. yesterday. During the night the wind has been very high and there is every sign that a great storm has occurred some-
where near.
PRATAS ISLAND.
It will have been observed that the official information published on the 4th inst., says the Japan Mail, was of a very vague character, as might have been expected, seeing that an agreement had not yet been actually signed. From particulars published in Tokyo, however, we gather that the rumour recently circulated as to the amount of compensation which is to be paid to Mr. Nishizawa was erroneous, and that instead of 2,000 yen, the actual sum is about 120,000. This mistake is explicable enough, in view of the Japanese method of counting. It is said that Mr. Nishizawa originally put in a claim for half a million and based it on the amount of capital said to have been actually sunk. But when the commissioners of the two Govern- ments proceeded to the Island and inspected the outlays actually made, they found nothing but a few sheds and a short length of light railway. Evidently such property scarcely admitted of any valuation at all, and nothing remained to be asked for except some compensation fr the loss of his business by Mr. Nishizawa. The Chinese, however, refused to entertain any proposal of that nature, and thus, as our readers doubtless remember, the negotiations drifted into an impasse. It was not until the change of Viceroys at Canton and the amicable settlement of the Chientao problem as well as its concomitant questions, that the Chinese consented to re-open the Pratas Island affair, and it was then settled on the lines that Mr. Nishizawa should receive a sum by way of com- pensation for the loss of his business, minus a charge for the Chinese property destroyed by him on the Island. It would seem therefore -we take these particulars from the Asahi Shimbun that Chinese property was destroyed after all, in spite of the strenuous denials formerly published in certain quarters. The net result is believed to be that about 120,000 yen will come into Mr. Nishizawa's hands, and it appears to us that he may consider himself very fortunate, although of course he must have spent a great deal more than the value of the property on the Island actually represents.
The Director and the Provincial Military Bureau has prepared a scheme for the strengthen- ing of the police force and the Viceroy has given it his official sanction. An officer has been sent to the North to investigate certain Singapore Legislative Council will consider matters connected with the police system and on a motion by Mr. J. Turner that a committee be the completion of his mission he will return to appointed to consider the question of increasing Cauton. A day or two ago certain Yamenthe Colony's revenue by taxing such imports as runners under the charge of a petty officer and the committee consider should be taxed.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.