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The Secretary of State, Gentlemen, has drawn my attention to the absence of any vote in the Estimates for this year for the erection of a New Gaol and it cannot be doubted that the present prison accommodation is insufficient for the numbers confined. The question of constructing a New Gaol is one that has been mooted for some years past and a site has been selected and reserved for such a building. But, bearing in mind the many important works now on hand and the considerable expenditure that will be incurred thereon, I am not disposed to commence a new prison, the estimated cost of which is between $100,000 and $500,000 if such can be avoided. But recognizing, as I do, the strong necessity of further prison accommodation I have lately been considering a scheme by which I trust this may be obtained without having recourse to a new and costly construction.
Some time since we were called upon by the Imperial Government to increase our Military Contribution from £20,000 to £40,000 a year on the understanding that our garrison would be increased. This Council, on the ground that it begrudged not the expenditure of money for an efficient defence of the Colony, voted, without opposition, the amount asked for while stating what it expected as a return for the additional cost involved. I forwarded the conclusions at which the Council arrived, together with a copy of the Resolutions it passed, to the Secretary of State. I have not yet received a reply from him, but when I do so I trust there will be no objection to my laying on this table a copy of the despatch I wrote so that Honourable Members may see the views I expressed.
I may add, concerning certain rumours that have been lately afloat, that no intimation has been made to me in regard to the organization of any Chinese troops in this Colony, nor have I any reason to believe that there is any foundation for the reports to which I have alluded.
There is no Department, Gentlemen, which the people in this Colony naturally take a deeper interest in, nor which is of greater importance than that of the Public Works.
I consequently requested the Surveyor General to prepare, so that I might lay the same before you, a Memorandum of such public works as had been proceeded with this year, or were in course of construction. This he has done and the report has been submitted to you. It is gratifying to find that the work connected with the Gap Rock Lighthouse is proceeding so satisfactorily, also that a real commencement has been made in the work of the long talked of Central Market and in that of the Lunatic Asylum for Chinese. A new Pier has been opened at Kowloon Point and orders have been given that the District School, for which provision was made in the Estimates for this year, should be proceeded with as soon as possible. A site at Kennedytown has been selected for a new Slaughter-House and Depôt for pigs and sheep. It has been decided to commence, without further delay, the erection of new Police Stations at Aberdeen and Quarry Bay. The additions to Government House are being rapidly gone on with, while plans are nearly completed for a new house, offices, &c. for the Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforestation Department. The Council is aware that during the course of last year an agreement was entered into for lighting the City of Victoria with electric light, and I trust that in a short time hence we shall see this work com- pleted. It may hereafter be found possible to extend this system of lighting to another and more lofty part of this Island which is daily becoming more popular and more populated.
Instructions have lately been given to carry out some of the recommendations made by those Gentlemen who were appointed to enquire into the working of the Observatory and when the Estimates for next year are submitted to you proposals will be made for some addition to the staff of that Department. I am far from wishing to suggest increased expenditure, but if such an institution as an Observatory is to be of any real good it must be efficiently maintained, or it would be sounder economy to do away with it altogether.
Much good work has of late been done, under the supervision of Mr. CHADWICK, in connection with our drainage and waterworks. It is to be hoped that these important undertakings on which much money has been, and has still to be, expended, will prove satisfactory to the community.
There is nothing more necessary than from time to time to ascertain the financial condition of a country, and I will inform you, Gentlemen, in so far as I can, what the finan- cial condition of this Colony was on the 30th of June last.
The balance of assets in hand on 1st January, 1890, was $505,109, and the Revenue at the end of June was $1,073,079, making a total at end of June of $1,578,188.
The expenditure in the Colony up to the end of June was $720,658. The actual expenditure in England up to end of May, and that estimated for June, amounted to $254,619. To this must be added a sum of $34,127 for premia on Land Sales, making a total (partly estimated) expenditure for the first six months of the year, of $1,009,404 and shewing a probable balance of assets on 30th June of $568,784.
Within the last twelve months, Gentlemen, there have been many changes among the Members of this Council. Most of these have fortunately been caused through the necessity of making temporary arrangements. But there have been a few of a permanent nature.