VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG.
No. 13 of 1858.
FRIDAY, 14th MAY, 1858.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR AND ALL THE MEMBERS, EXCEPT THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND MR JARDINE.
The Council met to-day pursuant to adjournment.
The Minutes of Council held on the 10th instant, were read and approved.
The Governor laid on the Table a Minute which he had received from the Attorney General, protesting against the passing of Ordinance No 8 of 1858;
And after some discussion, the same was read and ordered to be entered in to-day's Minutes.
Read a letter from the Governor of the Gaol, stating his inability to supply a detailed List of Prisoners in the Gaol from 1st May 1857, to 1st May 1858, as required by the Resolution of Council of the 10th instant,—unless he be provided with a Clerk for that purpose,—inasmuch as the information applied for involves the preparation of Returns embracing names and particulars of from three to four thousand Prisoners, and renders necessary a reference to the Records of the Courts at which they were committed.
Under this explanation, further consideration was deferred.
Read a Despatch, of the 22d March last, from the Secretary of State, declining to accede to a recommendation from the Governor to pay out of the Parliamentary Grant of £10,000 for 1857, a Gratuity for that year, at the rate of 25 per Cent, upon all Salaries not exceeding £300 per Annum; but leaving to His Excellency, with the concurrence of the Legislative Council, to increase the Salaries of the Subordinate Public Servants upon a review of the Colonial resources, and the whole of the demands upon the local Government. In reference to this, the Governor stated that the Revenue of the Colony for the current Year would admit of a moderate increase in certain cases, and with this view His Excellency laid on the Table the following Supplementary Estimate:—
SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATE FOR THE YEAR 1858,
To appropriate the Sum of £605, 10s., part of the Revenue for the current year, towards increasing the Salaries of Fifteen subordinate Colonial Servants in the following respective amounts;—such increase to date from the commencement of the current Year.
DEPARTMENT.
YEARLY INCREASE.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S,—
3d Clerk, .............................................................
s.
d.
£
37
0
0
4th Do. ............................................................... 5th Do. ............................................................... COLONIAL TREASURER'S,—
2d Clerk, ............................................................. 3d Do. ............................................................... SURVEYOR GENERAL'S,—
2d Clerk, ............................................................. Inspector of Nuisances, ...................................... SUPREME COURT,—
Bailiff, ................................................................ Under Bailiff, ..................................................... MEDICAL DEPARTMENT,—
Dispenser, ........................................................... CHIEF MAGISTRATE'S,—
2d Clerk, ............................................................. 3d Do. ............................................................... European Usher, ................................................. HARBOUR MASTER'S,—
1st Clerk, ............................................................ 2d Do. ............................................................... Total, ............ £
0
34
0
52
10
0
0
0
30
0
52
10
52
10
0
0
0
22
0
50
0
0
12
10
0
45
0
0
52
10
0
0
50
0
45
0
30
0
0
0
0
40
605 10 0
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 14th May, 1858
W. T. BRIDGES,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
It was unanimously resolved that the various additions set forth in the above Estimate be sanctioned;—such additions to commence from the 1st January 1858.
A discussion took place on the subject of charges made against the Registrar General, but no motion passed the Council.
The Council then resolved itself into a Committee of the whole, for the consideration of the Draft Market Ordinance, recently re-committed.
Section I. was adopted.
Sections II. and III. struck out.
Sections IV. and V. were amended, renumbered, and made Sections II. and III. Section VI. struck out.
Sections VII. to XVIII. inclusive, were renumbered, amended, and ordered to stand as Sections IV. to XV.
Section XIX. renumbered, and made Section XVI.
On the motion of the Attorney General, a new Section was inserted, and ordered to stand as Section XVII.
Section XX. was renumbered, made Section XVIII., and amended.
The Attorney General moved that the words "Superintendent of Police" be substituted for the words "Registrar General" in the said Section.
Debate ensued.
The Governor put the question,—That the words "Registrar General" be retained. Council divided,—
Ayes (5.)
MR DENT.
MR LYALL.
SURVEYOR GENERAL.
ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
Question carried.
Section XXI. struck out.
Noes (3.)
CHIEF MAGISTRATE. COLONIAL TREASURER. ATTORNEY GENERAL.
A new Section was introduced and ordered to stand as Section XIX. Section XXII. amended, and made Section XX.
Paragraphs 1 to 5 inclusive under this Section were amended and agreed to.
On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, and unanimously agreed to, a new Paragraph was inserted against breach of Section XVIII., and ordered to stand as Paragraph 6.
Section XXIII. struck out and substituted by a new Section, which was ordered to stand as Section XXI.
Sections XXIV. and XXV. struck out.
Section XXVI. was renumbered, made Section XXII., and amended. Section XXVII. struck out, the Provisions thereof having been embodied in Section XIX.
Title amended.
It was ordered that the said Ordinance, as amended, be published in the Government Gazette.
The Council adjourned till Tuesday, the 25th May, at 12 o'clock.
By Order of His Excellency The Governor,
J. M. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,
for the Clerk of Councils.