1002
C.S.0. 445 of 1890,
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH OCTOBER, 1890.
Amount required to be expended in this year, as part of $38,000 estimated, for training Albany and adjoining Nullahs, and opening up the land now available as building sites between the Bowen and Kennedy Roads,
Publishing in a separate volume the proceedings of the Legislative Council during
one year,
$15,000.00
.$ 200.00
C.S.0.
1617 of 1890.
New set of storm signals, iron frame and lanterns to signal at night, for the use of
the Observatory.
.$
200.00
Taxed costs of the Hongkong and China Gas Company, Limited, of their appeal
under The Rating Ordinance, 1858,
.$
178.50
C.S.O.
11 of 1890,
Additional Staff in the Observatory, viz.:--
Additional salary to the 2nd Assistant, as Telegraphist, at $20 per inonth, $ 2 Telegraph Clerks, at $20 per mouth, cach,
240.00
480.00
$
720.00
97 of 1800,
C.0. Half pay of the First Assistant at the Observatory, from 1st June to 19th July, inclusive, to be given to the Substitute, during Mr. FiGG's vacation leave on full pay. (Sanctioned by the Secretary of State),
The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded. Question-put and agreed to.
His Excellency then addressed the Council as follows:-
HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN,
104.84
Before we adjourn to indulge in a short recess from our Legislative duties it may be of interest to have brought before you a short retrospect of the work we have accomplished during the last few months and to be informed, in so far as I can inform you, of the position of the Colony at the present time.
It was with regret that we learnt from Sir WILLIAM DES VEUX, towards the beginning of this year, that ill-health compelled him to leave us for a while, but we trust that when he returns in December next he will do so with renewed vigour so that he may be enabled to take in the future that same active interest in the welfare of this Colony as he has taken in
the past
A few months ago we welcomed in our midst a Son and a Daughter-in-law of Our Gracious Sovereign, and we have the gratification of feeling that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Connaught were well pleased with the brief visit they paid to this the most Eastern Point of Her Majesty's Colonial Empire.
The number of Ordinances which we have passed during the present session has not been very great and I was in hopes that we might have been able to deal with several other matters, more or less ripe for our consideration.
We have, however, enacted some laws of importance. I may refer to "The Magistrates' Ordinance"- -a very lengthy measure; "The Waterworks Ordinance;" "The Vaccination Ordinance;" "An Ordinance relating to the Falsification of Accounts;" besides others of less significance.
There are several matters which I trust will engage our attention when we meet again-- such as a new law on Bankruptcy, the modification of our Emigration laws, the amendment of our laws concerning Opiuni. &c.
But the enacting of Ordinances is not the only work we have got through. We have adopted a new Code of Standing Rules and Orders for the regulation of our procee lings, more in accordance with the procedure we now follow and more in conformity with the Royal Instructions under which this Council is constituted.
The Finance Committee have had under their consideration many matters of importance to carry out which it was necessary to apply for public moneys.
It will always be my endeavour to consult this Council previous to undertaking measures which involve that cost which it is necessary for this Council to sanction. I do not hesitate to say that there are few Colonies in which Members of the Legislature are prepared to vote moneys so readily as here for what they consider essential in the public interest. But the more the Members of a Legislative body put trust in the proposals made for public expenditure, the less they regard with suspicion suggestions made in this direction, the more careful should a Govern- ment be in bringing such proposals before them and the more anxious should it be to see that the money is legitimately expended towards the purpose for which it was asked.
In addition to such questions as have actually been submitted to you, many matters have occupied my attention.