No. 29.
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE,
AT. A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,
On the 27th October, 1888.
PRESENT:
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary (FREDERICK STEWART), Chairman.
His Honour the Acting Chief Justice (JAMES RUSSELL, C.M.G.), vice His Honour SIR
GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt., on leave.
The Honourable the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY).
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the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (HENRY ERNEST WODEHOUSE, C.M.G.).
the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE).
the Captain Superintendent of Police, (WALTER MEREDITH DEANE).
PHINEAS RYRIE.
WONG SHING.
JOHN BELL-IRVING.
BENDYSHE LAYTON, (vice the Honourable ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN),
on leave.
The Committee meet pursuant to adjournment.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 24th instant, are read and confirmed.
ESTIMATES, 1889.
The Committee resume consideration of the Estimates for 1889.
DEFENCES.-Mr. BELL-IRVING draws attention to a statement made by him at the last Meeting, and reported in the local papers, and explains that he had no intention whatever of reflecting in any way on the construction of the forts.
TYTAM WATER-WORKS.-With reference to Mr. LAYTON'S request at the last Meeting, the Chairman lays upon the table the following Statement of Account, up to date, connected with the Tytam Water-Works, viz.:-
Cost of Reservoir and Byewash,.
Cost of Tunnel,
+
Cost of Conduit and Tank,
...£ 84,565.16.0
,, 46,158. 0.5 39,272. 5.0
£169,996. 1.5
The Chairman also reads an extract of a letter from Sir ROBERT RAWLINSON to the Crown Agents, dated 20th August, 1888, to the effect that these Water-Works have not only cost less than the average of English Water-Works, but they are much more permanent, being of masonry in place of
earthwork.
The Surveyor General states that a detailed Statement of the expenditure in connection with these works will be laid before the Committee in due course.
LAND SALES.-In compliance with Mr. RYRIE's request at the last Meeting, the Chairman lays on the table a Statement of Account of the amount of premiums realized from land sales from 1882 to date, shewing a total of $425,788, and intimates that the Statement will be made up to the end of the year and published.
Surveyor General's Establishment, (page 16).
After some explanations by the Chairman and the Surveyor General, the Committee recommend that the votes for this Establishment be approved.
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