March 18, 1899.]
stood, because the new residence would not have been completed before the expiration of his term of office. But your Excellency has but just commenced your administration, and if a residence were now commenced you would in eighteen months be lodged in a mansion worthy of the colony and of the Queen's representa- tive. I come now to the question of economy, on which plea I suppose the present action will be defended. Well, Sir, I say such economy is false economy. True economy would be found in building a new house. If you add two years rent of "The Cliffs" to the proposed expendi- ture of $3,500 you will find the total is more thau the interest on $75,000 at 3 per cent. per annum for the same period- $8,700 versus $5,250-besides the advantage derived by your being provided with a com- fortable bouse. Besides, what guarantee is there that such a frail wooden structure as is proposed to be added to "The Cliffs" may not, especially in so exposed a positiou, be damaged or blown down in the first typhoon that occurs after its com- pletion? It is also my experieuce that such estimates are almost invariably exceeded. Loss has already been incurred by delaying to build and this will be augmented by further pro- crastination. · Mr. Cooper's estimate of $60,000 | for a Government residence would no longer suffice. Our present Director of Public Works estimates that a suitable residence could not now be built under $75,000 This alone repre- sents a loss to the colony of $15,000. If to this you now add $3,500 for a temporary bunga- low you have a total of $18,500 actually thrown away. I think that the local architects will bear me out in saying that there is no chance of building rates going down; the tendency is quite the other way, and further delay may result in further loss to the colonial exchequer. I hope your Excellency will take the bold and the prudent course and build. I shall be proud if anything I have said or done will conduce to such a resolution, and shall be very pleased to see the Governor of this colony provided with a residence worthy of his position and dignity. (Hear, hear.)
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for and
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
year as compared with the rent paid by the former tenant. That increase is due to certain improvements having been made to the property the expense of which amounted to a sam the interest on which is $50 a month or $600 a year. The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-At what por cent. per annum?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I think it was 5 per cent. The honourable member opposite can furnish you with that information no doubt. With regard to renting the house opposite Mount Austin otel and "Craigieburn," the rea- son why the Government did not rent either of these houses was that the rents asked by the owners were considered far too excessive.
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private lanes, are used by wholesale dealers in✨ (1). Many of the Lanes in question, being fruit and vegetables for the conduct of their trade and may consequently be found, during the day time to contain fresh vegetable refuse, but this is removed daily, night and morning, by the Government scavengers, and is not allowed to lie in the streets and lanes and decompose as alleged.
the outside of kitchen walls, rather than on (2). It is customary to place soil pipes on
choked, through carelessness of tenants, but the inside, and such pipes do occasionally become immediate action is taken to compel the abate- ment of the nuisane and the tenants are ren- HIS EXCELLENCY-With regard to this mat-dered every assistance in the removal of such ter of the Governor's summer residence, I may tell the Council that the first thing I know about the fact that "Craigieburn" was not available was when I got to London. I do not think they knew at the Colonial Office even that Craigieburn would not be available until
obstructions.
THE CONTROL OF THE SLAUGHTER HOUSES, notice of the following questions :-
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD had given
immediately before my arrival in England. I think it goes without saying that "The Cliffs" is probably not a suitable place for the Governor for a permanent summer residence, but I deter-ruary last, which reads:- mined I should wait for one summer at least before I determined the position of the Gover- nor's House, because I think it is my duty not alone to consult my own convenience in this matter but to look forward a little and consider the possible expansion of the colony and possi- ble best position for the future Governors. As regards this addition to "The Cliffs" that is to be put up, that is a temporary matter. I be- lieve I am right in saying that at the expira- tion of the lease of three years the structure can be removed. In the meantime the possi- bility of a typboon has been discounted by me, because the temporary structure will he occupied by my Private Secretary and my A.D.C. (Laughter.)
(1) Will the Government inform the Council to the farming out of the slaughter-houses to on what grounds it has refused to put an end a Chinese contractor as recommended by the Sanitary Board in their resolution of 2nd Feb-
to transfer the management and control of the "That the Board recommend the Government slaughter-houses to the Sanitary Board apom the expiration of the present lease to the farmer."
The report was adopted.
REPORT OF THE LAW COMMITTEE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL laid on the table the report of the Standing Law Com. mittee on an Ordinance to amend the law relating to solicitors of the Supreme Court.
A SCHOOL WANTED AT KOWLOON. The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-At the next meeting of the Council I propose to ask a ques tion on the subject of a school required for children of residents at Kowloon, (Hear, hear.)
THE JUBILEE ROAD.
The Hou. E. . BELILIOS had given notice of the following questions :-
(1.) There being an understanding between the subscribers to the fund for the commemora- tion of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee that the Jubilee Road shall be constructed, the funds for which are now lying in the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank untouched though nearly two years have elapsed since their subscription, will the Government be good enough to state whe- ther the survey and planning of the road have been completed?
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-When this Tote was brought before the Finance Com- mittee certain information was asked for which was partially supplied. I then considered that the vote was a necessary and reasonable one and I voted for it. The honourable mem- ber opposite asked what rent was paid for The Cliffs by the previous tenant. The Bank which 1 have the honour to represent was the previous tenant, and we paid $2,000 a year rent. The honourable member who was in the chair at that meeting could not say from memory what the rental was now, but he thought it was $2,700. Then the esti-
sent mates were
soine of cur valuable time was wasted until they arrived. It was found that the rental was $2,600. I have not the least doubt there are good and valid reasons for this very large increase in reat, but so far the Council has not been informed of the reasons for that substantial increase. I submit that when financial votes are again brought-forward the Chairman of the Finance Committee should come fully pre- pared with regard to such votes, and that every information should be furnished with-
(4.)-Can the Government give the approxi- out its having to be dragged out of the Go-mate date of the completion of the section to its vernment. On the last occasion I submit that juncture with the Aberdeen Road P the time of the Finance Committee was un- necessarily wasted while the estimates were being sent for and certain information was being huuted up. I think it would be more conducive to the maintenance of the dignity of this honourable Council if the Finance Committee were treated with less flippanog than they were treated with on the last occa- sion. (Hear, bear.)
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-1 very much regret to hear the honourable member on my right speak as he has done. It is true that some two minutes' time was wasted, as he puts it, in procuring the estimates from the inner office. When these estimates had been procured the Finance Committee was at once put in possession of the information desired. All the information on which both the speeches of the honourable members have been delivered was in possession of the Finance Committee at its last meeting. With regard to the increase in rent to which the honourable member on my right has referred, the increase amounts to $600
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(2.)-Will the Government be good enough to state when it is proposed to commence work on the first section of the Jubilee Road ?
(3.)-Will the first section be made round Mount Davis?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY gave the follow. ing aaswers to the different questions :
(1.)-Yeg.
(2.)—The work will be commenced as soon as the money subscribed is available.
Mount Davis, as there are military objections.
(3.)-The first section will not be round
(4)-No auswer is required in view of the answer given to question 3.
INSANITARY LANES.
The Hon. C. P. CHATER had given notice of the following question:-
With reference to the Notes and Comments contained in the Hongkong Telegraph of Monday, the 27th February last, relating to the alleged insanitary condition of certain lanes and alleys lying between Queen's Road and the Praya, to the westward of Pedder Street, will the Government state whether the condition of the lanes and alleys in question is such as it is said to be P
The COLONIAL SECRETARY replied as fol- lows
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(2.) Referring to the statement in the fifth paragraph of the Secretary of State's despatch No. 254 of 6th November, 1896, will the Gov- ernment inform the Council whether the Seore tary of State for the Colonies has given any decision as to the reconstruction of the Sanitary son's recommendations on the subject contained Board in connection with Sir William Robin-
in his despatch No. 150 of 30th June, 1896.
Council whether, in the opinion of its legal (3.) Will the Government inform the
adviser, the action of the Sanitary Board as at present constituted is, in face of the provisions of section 4 of the Public Health Ordinance : No. 24 of 1887, legal and justifiable ?
(4.) Will His Excellency the Governor inform the Council whether he has received any instructions to deal with the reconstitution' of the Sanitary Board P
The COLONIAL follows:-
SECRETARY replied as
(1)-The Government does not consider it ad- visable at present to make any alteration in the management of the slaughter-houses.
(2)-No decision has been given. (3)-Opinions of the Attorney-General are confidential communications to Government and cannot be made public.
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(4)-No instructions have been received. LAY MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH BODY AND THEIR TENURE OF OFFICE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to provide for the Performance of Divine Worship and other Services in accord- ance with the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England at Saint John's Cathedral Church at Victoria and elsewhere in this Colony; for the Incorporation of a Church Body in which the said Cathedral Church shall be vested and by which it shall be administered; and for other purposes connected with the said Cathedras Church. If honourable mem- bors will kindly turn to the statement of objects and reasons set out at the end of the Bill they will see that this measure is for the most pert purely a re-enactment of the present law which is in force. The only point of any importance in which this Bill contains an amendment upon the present law is that it makes the tenure of office of lay members of the Church Body annual instead of permanent. The COLONIAL SECRETARY 86Corded and the motion was carried.
Committee it was read a third time and passed.
The Council having considered the Bill in
THE LAW Relating tO SOLICITORS.
HON, F, R, BELILIOS AND THE
RBIDENCE CLAUSE.
THE
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL—I bog to propose that the Council go into Committee to consider clause 21 of the Bill entitled an Ordin- ance to amend the law relating to solicitors of the Supreme Court. I would ask honour- able members to kindly refer to the report of the Standing Law Committee on this Bill which I have laid on the table at this meeting