THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11тя SEPTEMBER, 1880.
MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
MR. AUSTIN,-—-It occurs to me that before the Estimates are finally closed it might be possibl for Mr. RENNIE and the gentlemen having the management of the City Hall to shew cause for granting a small sum in aid of the Institution. so far as the latter, by its Museum and Library, may be held to offer advantages of a valuable kind to the public.
It is very desirable that a person acquainted with such things should be early appointed as Li. brarian and Curator of the Museum, which latter, if well fitted up, would soon attract to it a large collection of interesting objects.
The fittings for a Museum are not, however, an easy whilst they are certainly a costly matter. These things will require time, which is passing rapidly.
I am anxious to help any scheme likely to secure a Museum and Library at the City Hall, managed on liberal terms and such as may fairly entitle the Institution to a grant from the Colony. Hongkong has quite a sufficient tendency already towards the almighty dollar. munity good to give them a slight "list over" the other way.
It would do the Com-
1st October, 1868.
3rd October, 1868.
MINUTE BY COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Referred to Mr. RENNIE.
MINUTE BY MR. RENNIE.
Returned with answer.
See C.S.O. No. 2669/68."
R. G. MACDONNELL,
30th September, 1868.
J. G. AUSTIN.
W. H. RENNIE, On behalf of the City Hall Committee.
LETTER OF MR. Rennie, ChairMAN OF THE CITY HALL COMMITTEE, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
HONGKONG, 2nd October, 1868.
SIR,-His Excellency the Governor having been pleased to make enquiries as to the public nature of the Institutions comprised in the City Hall, I have the honour to state on behalf of the City Hall Committee, that the building, which is now nearly completed, has been erected at great cost by means of funds raised by public subscription, and that its sole object is to provide accommodation for various public purposes which have hitherto been neglected.·
As His Excellency is doubtless aware, the scheme was originated, in 1861, for the purpose of supplying a want long felt here, of some large room or hall in which the public could come together for discussing questions of general interest. This scheme then became enlarged, and a Library and Museum were agreed to be added; for the former of which some valuable collections of books already existed in the Morrison Library and Asiatic Society's Library. These books were being destroyed for want of proper accommodation, and when re-bound and put in order will forn a good nucleus aroue! which, it is hoped, a comprehensive library will, ere long, be grouped.
The Museum is an institution urgently required in every large civilized town, and with the empires of China and Japan, about which so little is yet known, so close to us, we think such an institution here likely to be of great public benefit.
The remainder of the edifice consists of assembly rooms, a room for meetings of the Chamber of Commerce, and a hall for dramatic representations; in fact, the building is just such a one as, if a Municipality had been in existence here, would have been erected for Municipal purposes.
The management of the Institution is intended to be conducted on the most liberal footing. Th public benefit was the object with which the money was subscribed, and that is the object it is intendi to keep in view.
The very munificent subscriptious by which the undertaking has been forwarded will be exhauste! on the completion of the building, and considering the depressed state of trade, and that nearly all th now here are already contributors, we foresee much difficulty in providing for the fittings requisite to permit the Institution at once to enter on the sphere of its usefulness.