Ar the Mixed Court on Thursday (7th inst.) before Mr. Wong (magistrate), and Mr. S. F. Mayers (British assessor), a native contractor was accused of having insufficient hoarding around the premises in course of erection at the corner of Kiangse and Kiukiang Roads, with the result that a piece of brick fell on a coolie's head and injured him. Mr.
J. Morrison who appeared said the contractor was employed by him and ho did not think accused denied responsibility. The assessor asked if there was any inspection made by the Council previous to a building permit—being granted. Mr. Morrison said he did not think there was any regular inspection. No doubt inspection would be made at some time, as a number of large buildings were going up in the Settlement. The hoardings at present used looked fairly good but were not quite what they should be. Inspector Matheson sill accused had been warned several times. The hoarding in question had since been attended to. The gap was about 12 feet, but the contractor claimed it was only seven, Accused was let off with a fine.of $10 and $2- compensation to the injured man.—Inspector Mellows prosecuted four men and a woman, employed in river scavenging boats, for stealing coal from the lighters coaling H.M.S. Hermione. The Inspector stated that Lieut. Good-enough, of the Hermione, had complained to him'of the matter and that the boats ducted the fairway to and from the ship. The lighter people purposely dropped coals into the river and accused dragged for and obtained it. The Assessor remarked that the proper people to get hold of were the lighterman, He quite understood the nuisance caused in blocking the traffic to the ship and they should certainly move away when ordered. Inspector Mellows said all these people were in " clan and had their own chief. If one was told to go away the rest would be sure to know. He had never had any trouble with them previously; they had always obeyed him. The Court decided to send for the chief of the clan and explain to him how matters stood. The woman was discharged, the four men to remain in custody until the appearance of their chief.—On Friday (8th instant) before Mr. Wong (magistrate), and Mr.
F. Mayers (British assessor), the chief of the Kompo clan of river scavengers was brought before the Court by Inspector Mellows in connection with the case tried Thursday. He was cautioned and ordered to find security that, his clan would in future obey the River Police,—Three men were accused of assaulting-a native detective in the King Loong-ka district. The statement made by accused was that one man was selling tickets at the door of a picture gallery, the other two men were gong heaters, when the detective and a friend came npt snd endeavoured 10 enter the show. The tickeremilfisarnskes for his ticket, mot knowing who he was, and was promptly slapped in the face. Yroubte arose, and the three men were taken off to the station by the detective. Inspector Matheson said the detective had told him the trouble arose in the street, and gave different version. The Assessor asked the detective to produce his witness, but. he had not come to Court. The Assessor observed that it was almost impossible for people to know all the detect
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