THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
to the House of Commons praying for an amend- ment of the constitution laid before the Council on Wednesday, 8th inst., will the Government state for the information of the Council if there it any correspondence in existence from the Co- lonial Officials to the Home Authorities and vice versa between the 23rd August, 1894, the date of Lord Ripon's despatch, and the 29th May, 1896, the date of the Right Honourable Mr. Chamberlain's despatch on the subject, and if so will the Government lay it upon the table; if put, why not?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—In reply to the hon, member I have the honour to state that the Government has no further correspondence to lay upon the table, all public correspondence Having already been laid.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-I beg to ask the been given. With regard to the report of the following question, of which due notice has.
Director of Public Works of the 9th May on the Water Supply of the colony, is it the inten. tion of the Government to take steps to increase the present supply, and if so, how soon will the necessary operations be commenced?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—Subject to the approval of the Secretary of State it is the in.. tention of the Government to take steps to increase the water supply. The Secretary of State has been requested to send his approval by telegram, and it is anticipated that the works will be commenced early in September. (Applause.)
WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' PENSIONS
ORDINANCE.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I heg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to further amend the law relating to Widows' and Orphans' Pensions.
The COLONIAL Šecretary seconded. Council went into Committee on the Bill. Council resumed, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILI.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled au Ordinance to authorise the appropriation of a supplementary sum of $1,002,275.07 to defray the charges of the year 1895. The total ex- penditure for 1895 amounted to $3,159,343, while the estimate was only $2,386,201, leaving an excess of $773,142. but owing to the fact that votes for public works are kept distinot the total excess to be sane- tioned is $1,002,275. This sum is made up chiefly by the following unforseen items Resumption of Taipingshan, $820,000; Public Works Recurrent, extra, 817,000; Plague Expenses $30,000; and exchange compensation paid on account of 1894, $40,000. Supplementary votes amounting in all to $950,000 were sanc tioned by the Council from time to time during the year. The ordinary expenditure exceeded the estimate by only $90,000, which is made up largely by the last three items before men- tioned. On the other hand the revenue collected came very near to $2,500,000, and if appropriations in aid be added it amounted to $2,535,000 as compared with $2,278,000 during the previous year. The excess of expenses, exclud- ing loan works, over revenue in 1895 was about $490,000, but if the extraordinary expenditure on Taipingshan be deducted from the former there would be a surplus of over $330,000. · Ia spite, however, of the large expenditure the amount of liabilities over assets on 31st Decem.
ber was only $175,000, which it is hoped will be wiped off by December next. If any further explanations are required I shall be glad to give them. With these remarks I beg to move the second reading of the bill.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
7
Bill read a second time and referred to the Finance Committee.
!
THE SÅLE OF FOODS AND DRUGS 'ORDINANCE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-With regard to the next item on the orders of the day, the Sale of Foods and Drugs Ordinace, I do not propose to proceed with it to-day. I may mention that this Ordinance has recently been referred to the Sanitary Board and they have suggested certain amendments for my consideration: I have not yet had time to fully consider those suggested amendments, and I do not propose to proceed with the Bill to-day,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second the motion that this order be discharged.
Order discharged.
THE MARRIAGE AMENDMEnt ordinancE.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Marriage Ordinance, 1875. The object of the Bill is to enable all parties who desire to do so to enter into a valid civil marriage before the Registrar-Ge- neral, even though neither of such parties pro- fesses the Christian religion.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY--I beg to second. Bill read the second time.
Council went into Committee. Bill read a third tsme and passed.
THE TITLES OF 'PRISONS OFFICERS,
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to alter the titles of prison officers, employed in this colony. The object of this Ordinance is to amend the present designations of the existing officers of the gaol so as to make their titles correspond as nearly as possible with those in use in English prisons.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Bill read the second time. Council went into Committee, and the Bill was reported without amendment.
Council resumed, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS, The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the third reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend and consolidate the law relating to the registration of births and deaths.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Bill read the third time and passed.
THE REGULATION OF ADMIRALTY PROCEDURE.
As a matter of
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL I beg Sir, to move the second reading of the Bill en- titled an Ordinance to regulate the Admiralty Procedure of the Supreme Court. I may men. tion, Sir, that this Bill and the rules in the schedule were drafted by our recent Chief Jus- home and submitted for the approval of the right tice, Sir Fielding Clarke, and that they were sent hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as was required under section 4 of the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890. These new rules in the schedule of the Bill are founded mainly on the existing Vice-Admiralty Court rules, but there are a few important alterations to which I think I ought to draw the attention of the Council. In the first place, under the existing rules there are fees which are declared to be payable to the Judge, and the Registrar, and the Marshal of the Vice-Admiralty Court. fact for the last few years these fees have not been paid to those officers, but have been paid into the Treasury of this colouy. Sir Fielding Clarke pointed out that one result of collecting upon persons taking Admiralty proceedings, and those fees was that a special tax was imposed
Sir Fielding Clarke accordingly recommended that these fees should be abolished, and the Secretary of State has approved of that recom- mendation. Another point is that these rules abolish altogether the office of marshal and direct that the duties heretofore performed by the marshal shall in future be carried out by the bailiff of the Supreme Court. Another change brought about by these new rules is in regard to the costs of bar- fitters and solicitors. Under the present rules of the Vice-Admiralty Court the fees made pay able to barristers and solicitors are in sterling, which is found to be very inconvenient in practice, and therefore that is altered under the new rules, by which barristers and solicitors
are to receive fees оп the same scale 88 they are payable in the Original Jurisdiction, except in cases where the matter in dispute is less the $1,000, when only half costs are to be allowed. The only other point I ought to mention is that in the existing Vice-Admiralty Rules a special procedure is laid down with respect to discovery, interrogatories, admission of docu- ments of facts, evidence, and the forms of affidavits and oaths. It is considered desirable that the special Admiralty procedure in these matters should be abolished, and therefore it is pro- vided that the ordinary law on these matters shall be followed in Admiralty proceedings. With these observations, Sir, I beg to move the second reading of this Bill.
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The COLONIAL second.
Bill read the second time. Council went into
Bill read clause by clar out amendment.
Council resumed.
· Bill read a third time and passed:
ADJOURNMENT.
ported witha
His EXCELLENCY-The Council standa journed to this day fortnight, at thre Yolock
FINANCE COMMITTEE
A meeting of the Finance Committee was: held immediately after the meeting of Council Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Colonial tary) presided, and all the members were present.
j THE QUEEN'S STATUE. - The CHAIRMAN-The first minute is one in which the Governor recommends the Council t
vote a sum of 31:059 60 for expences incurred in connection with the erection of the statue of Her Majesty the Queen, being difference between the amount spent (89,559,60) and the amount voted ($8,500).
The vote was recommended. KENNEDYTOWN - SHEEP AND SWINE DEPÔTS, The CHAIRMAN-The next minute is one in which the Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of $10,000 for the erection of a land- ing-stage at Kennedytown, in connection with the sheep and swine depôts.
Vote recommended.
THE IMPROVEMENT OF STREET LIGHTING:
The CHAIRMAN-The next minute is one in which the Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of $810,000 for the improvement of street lighting. The reports on the subject Legislative Council which has just been held. were laid on the table at the meeting of the
to have more time to consider this subject or I do not know whether hon. members would care
whether they are prepared to recommend the the $10,000 will be spent this year, but it i vote now. It is not likely that the whole of
amount, and if it is not all expended an ap thought advisable to take a vote for that plication will be made to the Finance Com-
mitten for a re-vote.
The DIRECTOR of Public WORKB $5,000 will be spent this year and the balance will be entered on the estimates for next year.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY That amounts to exactly the same thing.
Vote recommended. THE SUPPLEMENTARY COLONIAL ÉSTIMATES.
The Committee then considered the Supple mentary Appropriation Bill, and the items were taken one by one.
On the first item (Pensions, $18,776.97) being read, Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD said—In regard.___ to this item, was it not possible to have formed a more accurate estimate as to what the pensions would really amount to?
The CHAIRMAN-It is rather difficult to form an accurate estimate, because it is im possible to anticipate who are about to retire on pension; exchange also varies during the year.
HoD. T. H WHITEHEAD It seems to me to be a very large difference, and that it should be possible to estimate more accurately.
The CHAIRMAN The sum is large, but you will observe that the total estimated is a pretty large one $94,000. As the hon member is aware, exchange fluctuates a good deal new pensioners have to be provided for l pensioners die. Every attempt make the estimate as Bconrata Considering the fluctuations in exchang the uncertainty as to who int 1 to tal sions, I do not think that $18,000 is reall much out of the way in a total of nearly a of dollars
and peno
Hon. 1 H. WHITEHRAD-Ins the me exchange the fluctuations have been infinite. mal for some considerable time,
The CHAIRMAN -During 1895 plies to the year 1895. Of- member is much better question of exchange than myc the impression
year in the m point will
Betimate WI
Item recomm