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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 14 JUNE, 1884.
In Lord DERBY's words, "The Lords of the Treasury have finally consented to an arrangement by which the Government of Hongkong shall contribute at the proposed rate of 26,000 from the 1st of February 1888 only, the claim for the arrears of this increased! payment for the period anterior to that date being waived."
The Council has already asscnted to the principle of contributing towards the loss to the Imperial Government by the Eastern Mail Service, and, when passing the Estimates for 1884, voted the sum of $22,000 for that year, and $55,000 as arrears for 1880, 1881, and 1882, being at the rate of 44,000 per annum only. This was done in accordance with a resolution of the Finance Committee passed at its meeting on the 21st June, 1883.
Considering that the original claim was for £13,771 per annum, and that Lords KIMBERLEY and DERBY have successively done all in their power to obtain the most favourable terms possible for the Colony, and have caused the contribution originally required, to be reduced by more than one half, the Governor believes that the Council will recognize the efforts that have been made in England on behalf of this Colony, and will accede to the arrangement now proposed by Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies.
VOTE PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Acting Colonial Secretary moved the following Vote passed by the Finance Committee:~
1105 of
(Finance Committee, 29th May, 1884.)
Works and Buildings.
18. Erection of a Sixty-foot Mast with yard-arm, &c., at Tsim-sha Tsui Police
Station, for Police and Storm Signals,..
$ 200.00
The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question-put and passed.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE SUBJECT OF THE ISSUE OF ONE DOLLAR NOTES.-The Honourable W. KESWICK, pursuant to notice, moved the adoption of the Report of the Finance Com- mittee of the Legislative Council on the Correspondence presented to the Council by command of His Excellency the Governor on the subject of the issue of One Dollar Notes.
The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question-put and passed.
The Governor addressed the Council.
BILLS READ A THIRD TIME AND PASSED.- -On the motion of the Honourable W. KESWICK, seconded by the Surveyor General, the following Bills were read a third time:---
An Ordinance to authorise FRANCIS BULKELEY JOHNSON to construct piers and wharves in the harbour of Victoria, and to confer upon the said FRANCIS BULKELEY JOHNSON certain other powers and privileges.
An Ordinance to authorise CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, to construct piers and wharves in the harbour of Victoria, and to confer upon the said CATCHICK PAUL CHATER certain other powers and privileges.
Question put that these two Bills do pass.
Bills passed.
On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, the following Bill was read a third time :-
An Ordinance to make provision for certain duties formerly attaching to the Office of Sheriff.
Question put that this Bill do pass.
Bill passed.
On the motion of the Acting Colonial Secretary, the Council adjourned until Thursday, the 12th instant, at 4 P.M.
Read and confirined, this 12th day of June, 1884.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.
Acting Clerk of Councils.
G. F. BOWEN, Governor.