The defence was opened last Wodnesday in HM, Supreme Court before Judge A. G. Mossop, in the case of Vu Ling-wu, et al. (trading os The China Soda Consumers, Society) vs. Centrosojus (England) Ltd., in which the plaintiffs are claiming slightly more than $20,000 as damages, Fespect of soda, such damages alleges fo have been caused (a) by reason of {is containing certain impurities fu the form of sodium bicarbonate] and Cb) because of its dirty pearance, causing it not to come up, the specification called for in a contract said to have been entered! into between the parties for the] supply, by. the defendants to the plaintits of 1,100 metric tons of Soda ash, There was also a claim. for damages in consequence of the late delivery of a quantity of sulphide of soda. Originally the claim was for over $50,000 but during the hearing, it has been substantially duced by the plaintiffs amending their statement of claim.
Mr, K. E, Newman (of Messrs. teesdale, 'Newman & Ca.) presented the plaintifis, while Mr. 5.-E, Badeley (of Messrs. Hansons) With' Dr. F, Wilhelm (of Musso, Fischer and Wilhelm) appeared on behalf of the defendants.
Mr. John Dalton, are, was called by the defendants as an expert witness and, being shown a Sample of the soda ash, which the plaintiffs had put in as' an exhibit, and which they stated was a composite and fair sample of the whole argo. stated that it did not agree with his analysis of a sample which his frm (ihe Shanghai Chemical Laboratory) had taken at the refand from time to time, at the request Jof the plaintiffs, the balance was transferred from the instalment ac~ Jcount to a loan account, in reduction fof outstanding loans, 'Mr. Newman, having contended that the plaintiffs never saw at any time, the Joan accounts which had been produced in court, the witness, jin answer to counsel's' questions in Jeross-examination, stated that the plaintifis must have known about the loan account all the time, inasmuch Jas it was opened by themselves for it own benefit, and they could, at time, on application, have had fa copy of it-as it stood in the bank's books.
All the evidence in the case, pro land con, naving now been put before the court, the further hearing was adjourned sine die, and on the resumption of the case, counsel will address the court on behalf of their respective clients.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.