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25TH NOVEMBER, 1901.
PRESENT:―
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR (Sir HENRY A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. Commander R. M. RUMSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. C. MCI. MESSER (Acting Colonial Treasurer). Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works). Hon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hon. J. THURBURN.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils).
EXAMINATION OF MOSQUITOES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report drawn up by Dr. J. C. Thomson on the examinations of mosquitoes in the Colony.
THE COOLIE DIFFICULTY.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report of the Commission appointed by H.E. the Governor to enquire into and report on the question of the existing difficulty of procuring and retaining reliable chair and jinricksha coolies for private chairs and jinrickshas.
SANITARY EXPERTS.
The Colonial Secretary laid on the table a document entitled "Continuation of Correspondence regarding appointment of Sanitary Experts."
PLAGUE MORTALITY.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table a paper entitled "Drainage Systems: Plague Mortality."
FINANCIAL MINUTES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minutes 64 to 68 and moved their adoption.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 13) and moved its adoption.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS laid on the table the report of the Public Works Committee (No. 6).
AMENDMENT OF STANDING ORDERS. The next item on the agenda-paper was a motion by the Acting Attorney-General to the following effect:―
That the standing rules and orders of this Council made in pursuance of Article XIX of the Royal Instructions of the 19th day of January, 1888, and dated the 9th day of June, 1890, and amended by the Legislative Council on the 11th day of June, 1900, be further amended as follows:―
That No. 10 of the said rules and orders be amended by removing the words "on receipt" following the word "Clerk" in paragraph 5, and inserting them between the words "shall" and "be" on the first line, and that the words "of the Council" be inserted after the word "Clerk."
HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR said―In the absence of the Hon. Acting Attorney-General, I may state that these amended rules are not quite ready.
FIRST READINGS.
On the motion of the COLONIAL SECRETARY (in the absence of the Acting Attorney-General), seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER, the following Bills were read a first time:―
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, 1893.
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Law relating to Dangerous Goods.
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to facilitate the investment of Trust and other funds in the United Kingdom, in Hongkong Government securities.
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to authorise The Hongkong Rope Manufacturing Company, Limited, to construct a Tramway within the Colony of Hongkong.
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 1889.
The Council then adjourned until next Monday. ───────
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council meeting― the Colonial Secretary presiding.
GOVERNOR'S PEAK RESIDENCE.
His Excellency the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $40,000 in aid of the vote of $50,000 for "the Governor's Peak Residence" under the heading "Public Works Extraordinary."
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The CHAIRMAN said―In applying for the vote the Hon. Director of Public Works has pointed out that better progress has been made with the work than had been anticipated. The additional sum they are applying for the Committee to recommend is largely required in connection with the stores, etc., ordered from England and expected to arrive before the end of the year. The following is the total expenditure:―Up to the end of October in 1899, $2,125; in 1900, $15,000; and in 1901 up to the end of October, $67,125.
The recommendation was agreed to.
PUBLIC WORKS.
His Excellency the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $32,000 in aid of the following votes:―
1. Maintenance of Sewers.................................. $2,000.00 2. Maintenance of Waterworks, City and Hill District......................................................... 3,000.00 3. Maintenance of Waterworks, Kowloon....... 2,500.00 4. Gas Lighting, City of Victoria....................... 2,500.00 5. Miscellaneous Works..................................... 10,000.00 6. Waterworks, Miscellaneous........................... 10,000.00 7. Maintenance of Buildings in the New Territory....................................................... 2,000.00
Total .................................. $32,000.00
The CHAIRMAN said―In applying for this vote, the Hon. Director of Public Works states that the maintenance of storm-water drains has been paid for out of the vote for the maintenance of sewers, as no provision is made for the service elsewhere. The channel of Albany Nullah, through the Naval Yard, had become much obstructed by material washed down during the heavy rainstorms, and a considerable sum was spent in clearing it sufficiently to obviate the flooding of the Yard. With regard to the Waterworks, extensive repairs have been made to the Albany and West Point Filter Beds to prevent leakage. The pump and motor for the Peak supply also required repairs, and the pumping to the Hill District and upper levels of the city has been exceptionally heavy. The necessity of further supplementing the vote for Kowloon Waterworks has arisen principally from the large expenditure incurred in putting the pumping machinery in proper repair. The cost of this alone has amounted to $6,887. Considerable additions have been made to the number of gas lamps in use throughout the city, in consequence of the lighting of private streets and lanes, hence the necessity for supplementing this vote. A large number of miscellaneous works have been undertaken, some of the principal items being―New Rifle Range, Tai Hang, $3,196; name-plates for streets, $2,000, causeway and pier at Tai Po $1,863; alterations of police telephone service, $1,180; road from Kennedy Road to lower tramway terminus, adjoining boundary of military property, $2,047; huts for lepers at Au Tau, $2,300; workshop at Wanchai Store Yard, $2,000. The additional sum asked for under the heading of
"Waterworks, Miscellaneous" is to cover the cost of catch waters and channels which are being constructed to divert the waters of any available streams into the City supply. With this object, it was intended to construct a catch-water along the south side of Mount Cameron to intercept a considerable stream there and to form small channels alongside the existing catch-waters leading to Tytam and Wongneichong Reservoirs. The reason of the latter proposal is that, owing to the large surface of the catch water bottoms and the very limited quantity of water flowing along them during the dry months, the whole of the water is either evaporated or lost by leakage. The proposed channels will be of small section so as to concentrate the flow and prevent this loss of water.
The recommendation was agreed to.
A recommendation by His Excellency the Governor to the Council to vote a sum of $200 in aid of the vote "Incidental Expenses, Government House" was also agreed to.
NEW TERRITORY "INCIDENTALS."
His Excellency the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $500 in aid of the vote of for "Incidentals," Land Court, New Territory.
The CHAIRMAN said―In applying for this vote Mr Gompertz points out that the first vote for "Incidentals" is nearly exhausted. The expenditure under this head for the next two months will be not less than $500, the reason given for this being the doubling of the field staff.
The recommendation was agreed to.
A DEFICIENCY VOTE.
His Excellency the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $661.62 to meet the deficiency in the rate of exchange between 1/11⅛ and 2/1 on £850, being the amount agreed upon for the laying of the Waglan cable in December last.
£850 at 1/11⅛ per dollar,.................................... $8,821.62 £850 at 2/1 ,, .................................... 8,160.00
$661.62
The CHAIRMAN said―Hon. members will remember that this vote was recommended at a previous meeting when it was explained that the Telegraph Company had undertaken the laying of this cable for the Government and by so doing had saved them a good deal of extra expense. The vote now brought forward was to adjust the rate of exchange
The recommendation was agreed to.
This was all the business.