LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 22.
61
FRIDAY, 1ST MAY, 1885.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
(SIR GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, G.C.M.G.)
His Honour the Chief Justice, (SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt.)
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (WILLIAM HENRY MARSH, C.M.G.)
the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY.)
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the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)
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22
the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.)
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the Registrar General (FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D.) PHINEAS RYRIE.
WILLIAM KESWICK,
THOMAS JACKSON,
FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.
WONG SHING.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
Minutes read and confirmed.
DEFENCES OF THE COLONY.-His Excellency the Governor addressed the Council as follows:--
HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,-Before proceeding to the order of the day, I desire to inform you that I have now received from the Secretary of State a reply to my telegrams respecting the subject of the resolution adopted by this Council on the 1st April in favour of a direct telegraphic cable between Hongkong and Singapore and the provision of a flotilla of torpedo-boats for this harbour. No reference is made to the question of a direct telegraph, which, it is to be presumed, is still under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government. With regard to the torpedoes, Lord DERBY'S telegram is to the following effect:-
The Admiralty cannot promise more torpedo-boats; but, after consulting with the Naval Commander-in- Chief, they are satisfied that the Colony under your Government is quite safe in the event of apprehended war. And they are thoroughly aware of what is necessary for the defence of the Colony.
I stated to the Council, on the 15th April, that I had learned from other sources that it was very improbable that any torpedo-boats, beyond the four already here, could be spared for this Colony at the present crisis. I added that, in my opinion, we should prefer to look to our own resources on the spot, which can be made available in a very short time and at a very small cost.
Directions have already been given that four of the steam-launches belonging to the Imperial and Colonial Governments shall be fitted forthwith for tor- pedoes, thus making à flotilla of eight torpedo-boats, which, as you are already aware, the Naval Authorities consider amply sufficient. I had also telegraphed asking when the heavy guns for the new forts may be expected to arrive. On this point the telegram is to this effect:
The new heavy guns will be sent as soon as practicable, though there will be some delay, owing to an alteration in the design of the gun-carriages. The rest of the heavy guns will be sent out sooner.
I am informed by a high military authority here that the words in the telegram "an alter- ation in the design of the gun-carriages," probably refer to the substitution of what are called "disappearing carriages," which are considered necessary for the protection of the artillery- men while reloading.