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10. An Ordinance relating to Bills of Lading.
11. An Ordinance to consolidate the Laws relating to the Post Office.
12. An Ordinance for the better preservation of Books printed in the Colony.
13. An Ordinance for the regulation of Markets and the importation of cattle.
14. An Ordinance consolidating and amending the Laws relating to St. John's Cathedral.
15. An Ordinance to facilitate the incorporation of Religious, Educational, and Charitable
Institutions.
16. An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to the registration of Trade Marks.
12. The following Bills are also under consideration or preparation, and will, it is hoped, be introduced this Session:-
1. An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Criminal Law Procedure.
2. An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Pawn Brokers.
3. An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Coroners.
4. An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Magistrates Ordinances.
13. The Commission appointed under Section 3 para. 7 of the Chefoo Agreement of 1876, and the additional article of July, 1885, has met and agreed conditionally to the terms of an arrangement, which however will not have effect, unless it is ratified by the Imperial Government as well as by that of China. I am unable therefore at present to enter into any explanations.
14. The representations of the Chamber of Commerce on the necessity of constructing a Light- house for the Southern approach to the Colony will be transmitted to the Secretary of State, as soon as I have received all the reports on the subject which have been called for. The Gap Rock is, in the opinion of those qualified to judge, the best situation for this Lighthouse, although it is more difficult of access than some of the other Islands in the immediate vicinity. This objection is, however, I believe, not insuperable.
15. I regret to say that the prospect of carrying out the scheme for the extension of the Praya, in order to connect the Eastern and Western parts of the City seems as remote as ever. The original estimate of the cost of this work made by the Surveyor General was £45,000. This bad to be raised subsequently to £71,000 in order to meet the objections of the Naval and Military Authorities, and although the whole of the land to be reclaimed, which is estimated at £160,000, was to be appropriated to their use, the War Office and the Admiralty declined to bear any portion of the cost.
The Secretary of State for the Colonies on the other hand has considered that one half of the cost should be borne by the Imperial Departments in consideration of the great extension of ground that they would gain. General CAMERON has since recommended that a portion of the extra cost, entailed by the modification of the original plan should be borne by the War Office, but the Admiralty have stated that until some extension of their premises has been obtained, they must withhold their consent.
16. In respect of the larger public works and undertakings in which the Government has been engaged during the past twelve months, I may mention that, in spite of an unprecedentedly sickly season among the workmen at Tytam, good progress has been made in the construction of the new water-works, and that partial relief may be expected from the subsidiary supplies in connexion with these works, in the event of a drought occurring during next summer. The erection of Victoria College also progresses satisfactorily, and the new building will, I trust, be ready for occupation early in 1888. New Police buildings have been commenced both at Kennedy Town and at Mount Gough for the protection of the residents in those localities, and proposals will be duly submitted to you for the construction of Police Stations near Quarry Bay and at Aberdeen. Arrangements are also in course of completion for beginning the erection of the proposed new Central Market Building during the coming year.
17. In conclusion I am confident that our labours during the present session, probably the last at which I shall have the honour of co-operating with you, will be marked by the same zeal for the welfare of the Colony that has always been manifested by the Members of this Council in past years, and that the measures to be submitted to you will receive at your hands that careful and attentive consideration which has always characterized the proceedings of this Council.
His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government having then left the Council Chamber,
the Chair was again taken by the Chief Justice.
The Acting Colonial Secretary moved that the following gentlemen be appointed a Committee to prepare the address in reply to His Excellency's speech:
The Honourable THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER,
The Treasurer seconded. Question-put and passed.
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P. RYRIE.
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F. D. SASSOON.
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J. BELL-IRVING.
THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
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