26
QUESTION.-Mr. BELILIOS, pursuant to notice, asked the following question :-
Is it the intention of the Government to invite competitive designs from local architects for the proposed new Government offices, or do the Government propose that the design shall be prepared, and the work carried out by the Public Works Department.
The Colonial Secretary replied.
NOTICE OF QUESTION.-Mr. BELILIOS gave notice that at the next Meeting of Council he would ask the following question :-
In the report of the Director of the Observatory for 1894 the fourth paragraph runs:--“In my last annual report I stated that Victoria Peak and Gap Rock would shortly be placed in direct communication with the Observatory. This improvement has not yet been effected, and the wind observations made at Victoria Peak are often received too late for insertion in the China Coast Register, and latterly no observations have been received until about 2.30 p.m. and frequently later than this each day. This apparently arises to a great extent from the roundabout method by which the observations are forwarded to the United Telegraph Offices in Queen's Road for transmission to the Observatory. The importance of the wind observations from Victoria Peak has frequently been insisted on by me, but their value is at once discounted through the delay in transmission." In view of the great importance of the storm warnings to the shipping of the port, and the impossibility of the Director of the Observatory giving accurate weather forecasts unless supplied with the wind observations promptly, may I ask if steps have since been taken to ensure the early and regular transmis- sion of such observations from the Peak and Gap Rock to the Observatory, and to whose neglect was due the delay in carrying into thorough effect so obviously necessary a system of communication?
The Colonial Secretary replied.
BILL ENTITLED "THE RIVER STEAMERS ORDINANCE."-The Attorney General moved the first reading of the Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Bill read a first time.
The Attorney General moved the suspension of the Standing Rules and Orders.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
The Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill and addressed the Council.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Council in Committee on the Bill.
Council resumed and Bill reported with a verbal amendment.
The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Bill read a third time.
Question put--that this Bill do pass.
Bill passed.
BILL ENTITLED
AN ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT THE DEFACING OR CHOPPING OF BRITISH DOLLARS.".
The Attorney General moved the first reading of the Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Bill read a first time.
The Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill and addressed the Council. The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Council in Committee on the Bill.
Council resumed and Bill reported without amendment.
The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Bill read a third time.
Question put-that this Bill do pass.
Bill passed.
Page 30Page 31