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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH OCTOBER, 1890.
Instructions have lately been given to carry out some of the recommendations made by those Gentlemen who were appointed to enquire into the working of the Observatory and when the Estimates for next year are submitted to you proposals will be made for some addition to the staff of that Department. I am far from wishing to suggest increased expenditure, but if such an institution as an Observatory is to be of any real good it must be efficiently maintained, or it would be sounder economy to do away with it altogether.
Much good work has of late been done, under the supervision of Mr. CHADWICK, in connection with our drainage and waterworks. It is to be hoped that these important undertakings on which much money has been, and has still to be, expended, will prove satisfactory to the community.
There is nothing more necessary than from time to time to ascertain the financial condition of a country, and I will inform you, Gentlemen, in so far as I can, what the finan- cial condition of this Colony was on the 30th of June last.
The balance of assets in hand on 1st January, 1890, was $505,109, and the Revenue at the end of June was $1,073,079, making a total at end of June of $1,578,188.
The expenditure in the Colony up to the end of June was $720,658. The actual expenditure in England up to end of May, and that estimated for June, amounted to $254,619. To this must be added a sum of $34,127 for premia on Land Sales, making a total (partly estimated) expenditure for the first six months of the year, of $1,009,404 and shewing a probable balance of assets on 30th June of $568,784.
Within the last twelve months, Gentlemen, there have been many changes among the Members of this Council. Most of these have fortunately been caused through the necessity of making temporary arrangements. But there have been a few of a permanent nature.
In October last death prematurely and unexpectedly deprived this Colony of the services of the late Colonial Secretary, Mr. STEWART. I had not the advantage of personal acquaint- ance with this officer, but no one could be long in this Island without hearing how much he was respected and of the great good he rendered to this country, more especially in the all-important cause of Education. Another who was but a short time since among us we shall see no more. I refer to Mr. LISTER, our late Postmaster General and Colonial Treasurer, who during a quarter of a century begrudged neither time nor labour in the performance of his duties and whose reluctance to take rest when rest was needed may have gone far to hasten his end.
I am happy to say that among the un-official Members only one change has occurred during the time I have alluded to. I refer to Mr. WONG SHING, whose period of service expired during the present year, and who desired, by reason of advancing age and the neces- sity of attending to business elsewhere, to be relieved from further duty at this Board. I recommended for Her Majesty's approval as his successor Dr. Ho KAI of whom we have already seen sufficient to know the deep concern he takes in the work brought before us and to feel how efficiently he will strive for the welfare of those whose interests he is here to represent.
I have endeavoured, Gentlemen, to lay before you such inforination as I considered might interest you at the present moment. It will not be very long before we meet again when we shall take up as it were the threads of the work we are quitting for a while to-day. In conclusion let me thank you for the consideration you have shown me since I have been presiding over this Council, let me wish you a pleasant recess, and let me express the hope that we may all join once more in working, with increased strength, for the benefit of a Colony to which many have been indebted for good fortune in the past and to which may many be indebted for success and happiness in the future.
ADJOURNMENT.—The Council then adjourned till Monday, the 6th October, at 3 P.M.
Read and confirmed, this 6th day of October, 1890.
F. A. HAZELAND,
Acting Clerk of Councils.
F. FLEMING,
Officer Administering the Government.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 419.
The following Bills, which were read a first time at a Meeting of the Legislative Council held this day, are published for general information.
Council Chamber, Hongkong, 6th October, 1890.
F. A. HAZELAND, “Acting Clerk of Councils.