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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 1.
TUESDAY, 25TH JANUARY, 1898.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
(Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, G.C.M.G.).
His Excellency the General Officer Commanding (Major-General WILSONE BLACK, C.B.).
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary and Registrar General, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART),
the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN).
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the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).
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the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.).
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the Colonial Treasurer, (THOMAS SERCOMBE SMITH).
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the Director of Public Works, (ROBERT DALY ORMSBY).
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CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.
Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.
EMANUEL RAPHAEL BELILIOS, C.M.G.
JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.
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WEL YUK.
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ABSENT:
The Honourable THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD (with leave from His Excellency the Governor).
The Council met pursuant to summons.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 20th December, 1897, were read and confirmed. PAPERS.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers, viz. :-
1. Report of the Head Master of Queen's College.
2. Further Papers respecting the proposed New Government Offices.
3. Supreme Court Revenue Returns, &c. for 1897.
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.--The Director of Public Works laid on the table the report of the Public Works Committee, dated the 11th January, 1898, (No. 1), and moved its adoption.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
His Excellency the Governor then addressed the Council as follows:--
GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,
My principal object in calling a meeting of Council this afternoon was that I might have an opportunity of announcing to you officially a fact with which you are already acquainted privately, that I am leaving this Colony on the 1st of February and that my successor will be Sir Henry Blake. The Secretary of State for the Colonies, to whom I telegraphed a few days ago. is unable to inform ine of the exact date upon which my successor will arrive in Hongkong, but I assume that after eight or nine years' hard work in Jamaica he will probably apply for several months' leave of absence. In the meantime, His Ex- cellency General Black will administer the affairs of this Government, a duty for which he is eminently qualified I have to thank you all, Gentlemen, for the kindness and considera- tion which you have extended to me during the past six years and two months--a term of office which, uninterrupted by any leave of absence, I do not think has ever been exceeded by a Governor of any one of Her Majesty's Colonies. To Mr. Chater, the senior unofficial member, my thanks are especially due. From you, Gentlemen, I have received valuable advice, and I think I may fairly say on some occasions even unanimous support. I can assure you that I shall always look back with great pleasure upon our meetings here-and if I should ever recall any serious difference of opinion which may have occurred between the Executive and the Unofficial Members of Council I shall not forget that we one and all, according to our own lights, although we differed, were solely animated by a desire to do what we individually thought was best for the interests of this progressive Colony. Gentlemen, I bid you farewell and may every success attend you in the future, both in your public and private capacities.