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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 23.
MONDAY, 13TH OCTOBER, 1890.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT (The Honourable FRANCIS FLEMING, C.M.G.).
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (WALTER MEREDITH Deane, C.M.G.).
the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD).
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the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (HENRY ERNEST WODEHOUSE, C.M.G.).
the Surveyor General, (SAMUEL BROWN).
the Acting Registrar General, (NORMAN GILBERT MITCHELL-INNES). PHINEAS RYRIE.
CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.
JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.
HO KAI, M.B., C.M.
THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
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The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 6th October, 1890, were read and confirmed. His Excellency appointed the following Members under Section 48 of the Standing Rules and Orders as the Law and the Public Works Committees :--
Law Committee.-Attorney General, Chairman.
Colonial Secretary.
Honourable N. G. MITCHELL-INNES. Honourable J. J. KESWICK.
Honourable Ho KAI.
Public Works Committee.-Surveyor General, Chairman.
Colonial, Secretary.
Honourable C. P. CHATER. Honourable J. J. KESWICK.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.
PAPERS. The Acting Colonial Secretary laid on the table the papers respecting the proposed reduction of postage and gave notice that at the next Meeting of Council he would lay on the table the papers relating to the Estimates for the year 1891, and would move that they be considered that day week.
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Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD addressed the Council and gave notice that at the next Meeting he would move the following resolution :--
That the Government be requested to formulate and lay before the Council proposals for defraying
the extraordinary expenditure on Public Works by means of a loan.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD further gave notice that at the next Meeting he would also put the following question :--
Have the Government received a report from the Honourable E. J. Ackroyd and Mr. Nicolle on
the recent defalcations in the Money Order Office and on the causes which led to them, if so, will they lay it on the table, together with a statement of the measures which have been taken to prevent such defalcations in future?
His Excellency addressed the Council and stated that in connection with the resolution of the Honourable Member he would desire to consult the Executive Council between this and the next meeting when the resolution would be brought forward. As to the question in connection with the defalcations in the Money Order Department, a report had been received regarding the proposed amendments of keeping the accounts. He had not had an opportunity of looking through the report, but would shortly do so, and as soon as all the papers in connection with the matter could possibly be laid on the table, he would certainly lay them. His Excellency further stated that he had replied to the Despatch the Secretary of State wrote in answer to his first despatch in connection with the increased Military Contribution. There had however not yet been time to receive a reply. When the despatch was answered and he was in a position to know what the Secretary of State said it would be his desire to give the fullest information in regard to the matter to this Council and to the public generally.
Honourable Ho KAI, pursuant to notice, asked the following question :-
What steps have been or are to be taken by the Government
1. To suppress or diminish public gambling in the Colony.
2. To regulate, register or suppress the hundreds of gambling clubs that have sprung into
existence during the last few years.
The Acting Attorney General stated in reply that a draft Ordinance dealing with the question of gambling has been prepared and is at present under the consideration of the Government, and that the question of the so called Clubs has not been lost sight of.