19th March 1957
Present:
His Excellency The Governor,
The Honorable The Lieutenant Governor,
The Honorable The Acting Colonial Secretary,
The Honorable The Attorney General,
The Honorable J. F. Edger, Esquire
The Honorable J. Jardine, Esquire
The Council met today pursuant to adjournment.
The Minutes of the last Council were read and approved.
The Acting Colonial Secretary placed on the Table has Dissent from the Ordinance No. 4 of 1857, which passed the Council on the 5th Instant. It was as follows:
"I dissent,
"Because I consider this Ordinance to be a confirmation of Ordinance 14 of 1856 which would have been disallowed by Her Majesty the Queen but for an impression on the mind of the Secretary for the Colonies that inconvenience might arise "from such immediate disallowance whereas no such inconvenience would have arisen.
"Because the Legislative Council is not the proper body for originating rules of practice for the Supreme Court.
"Because as in the matter Country Rules of Court in the framing of which the Chief Justice can have the assistance of the Registrar are the only proper made by which in this Colony the scale of costs and other minutiae connected with the supreme Court can be settled.
"Because the unnecessary curtailing of Solicitors fees is likely to introduce a much lower style of legal practitioners than has hitherto to existed in this Colony and it is patent to use that within a very recent period litigation for the mere purpose of getting costs is on the increase in the Supreme Court.
"Because with the exception of the Attorney General every member of the legal profession in this Colony considers such Ordinance to be uncalled for and prejudicial rather than beneficial to the Community."
(Signed) "W. T. Bridges"
"Acting Colonial Secretary M.L.C."
The Attorney General handed in a minute containing a suggestion of his on the Printed Estimates for 1857, as regarded the establishment of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, and His Excellency undertook, so forward the same so the Secretary of State.
Read a 2nd time, and amended, the Ordinance "for salvage and Prize in certain cases."
Read a 2nd time, the Ordinance "for Registration and "Regulation of the Chinese "People, and for the Population Census and other purposes of Police."
The Section respecting brothels was omitted, the Acting Colonial Secretary alone voting for its retention.
It was ordered that these Ordinance should be published for general information in the next Government Gazette, and reconsidered at the next meeting of the Council, which was fixed for Wednesday next the 25th Instant at 1 o'clock. Messrs May and Caldwell to be instructed to attend the meeting.
The Council adjourned accordingly.
(Signed) John Bowring,
Governor.
Read and approved,
this 25 day of March 1857.
(Signed) L. d'Almada e Castro,
Clerk of Councils.