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10
October 7, 1899]
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Britial forces at Bronkhorstspruit," Laing's Nek, und Lugogo. We are only acquainted with the tenour of the discussion from ́a summary given in a leading article in the Times of India, but the following observa- tions of Sir Francis GrenfÉLL are quoted in full :-"As regards the Boers themselves, they had at that time what was no doubt a very great advantage, in that they were consistently underrated. Nobody believed in them, nobody gave any real credit to them for dash and pluck. Yes! no "doubt they were underrated-and now "for many years I feel sure they have "been immensely overrated. I don't believe "that the Boer could stand now against Bri- "tish cavalry, infautry, or mounted infau- try, if insufficient numbers; in the past numbers have been unequal. It "has been said they are excellent shots, "and no doubt they were in the days "of those engagements excellent shots, and "for a very good reason. In those days the "Boer's great object was isolation and that "his nearest neighbour should not be with- "in fifteen or twenty miles, and game was very plentiful. Butcher's meat they never bought. When they wanted food they " shouldered the rifle and went out and shot
a buck.
They lived on game. From this daily and life long practice they became "excellent shots, and their children were
trained to the rifle at an early age.
But now for years the game has gone, and the practice which made their shooting per "fect has gone with it." The last re- mark is corroborative of the opinion of the Boers' shooting held by Another Britisher." The Buers are no longer a un tion of marksn.eu in a position to carry on a guerilla warfare, but have to rely on a small army of militia, and when that is defeated, as it speedily must be, the resis- tance will collapse: Let us hope that even at the eleventh nour the Boers will think better of it and comply with the demands of) the British Goverшuent.
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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
On Wednesday afternoon a meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held in the Council Chamber at the Government Offices, there being present:-
His
EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR (Sir HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G.)
The Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.Colonial Secretary).
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK (Acting General).
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master). Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI.
Hon. T. H. WыITFHEAD.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon, WELA YUK.
Hon. J. J. KESWICK,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the motion was carried.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table report of the Finance Committee (No. 4) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded.
BEACONSFIELD AGAIN
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that the report No. 4 be referred back to the The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD--1 rise to move
Finance Committee for amendment and in order that the members may have the opport- unity of discussing the printed statement which should have been before the committee at last meeting and before the vote of $170,000 was passed. At the last meeting of the Council ply to my query as to why no finance minute the honourable the Colonial Treasurer, in re- had been submitted to the Council in con nection with the expenditure on " Beaconsfield." said, “I do not know." At the last meeting of the Finance Committee it was discovered that included under the head" Miscellaneous services, the expenditure of $20,095.89 in question was (other)." In fact, it appeared to have been smuggled in, and it wast until questions were asked that we found out that the expendi- ture on account of "Beaconsfield" was included under the heading of "Miscellaneous services." The said minute was laid on the table on the 31st July last by the honourable the Colonial Secretary. The honourable the Colonial Secretary and the honourable member were present when the Colonial Treasurer re- plied to my query. I think it was the duty of the Colonial Secretary to have informed the Connoil that the expenditure in question was included under the head Miscellaneous services instead of keeping the inform meeting of the Finance Committee in question ation concealed from the Council. At the
Bea the honourable member the owner of
was allowed to vote for the expendi- ture of public money for repairs to his own property. Sir, I would ask you to instruct the Colonial Secretary, the chairman of the Finance Committee, to direct the honour. able member the owner of "Beaconsfield" to refrain from voting those questions in which he is pecuniarily interested. Speak- July last Mr. Chamberlain, the Secretary ing in the House of Commons on the 7th of State for the Colonies, said: "I observe from the newspapers to-day that I am stated to be one of the largest shareholders of the Royal Niger Company, and one or more of these newspapers state that I am thus in the position of vendor and vendee.
I desire to state exactly what my position in the matter which was the parent of the Royal Niger Com. When the National African Company, pany, was formed 17 years ago I applied for
consfield
is.
多重
"
on
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thority of your Excellency on last. I think, sir, that, to
pa
on the 3rd May and four mont the Council to sanction, the sait after the money has gone beyo trol is an irregular proceeding lieve also that it is contrary to Col against which I record my formal protest, w regulations. At all events, it is, a proceeding His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR--What matter do you refer to P.
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The Hon. T. H. With mid Thig sidsit fis
WHITEHEAD Besconsfield” expenditure of 1891 Sir William Des Voeur, who was the Governor, followed like comme,, in paying Council frst obtained, and, three of the unst away public funds without the sanction, of the official members forwarded a written, protestsit against same to the Secretary of State, and Lord Knutsford in a despatch addressed to the Officer Administering the Government, dated,. honour to acknowledge the receipt of your 4th August, 189], said :—“ Sir,—I have the Despatch No. 186 of 28th May lastfor warding a protest from three of the
Un official Members of the Council against, the payment of the lapsed portion of the Military Contribution for 1890, before it had been voted by the Council. I regret that the Coun oil was not informed when asked to re-vole money that it had been already paid in, pation of the re-vote, which should have been taken first." I therefore, sir, propose the amendment I have mentioned. libron suu
67.
a
the
His EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (after ► pause)-Does any honourable gentleman second it? Whether it is seconded or not I should very sorry indeed if the honourable gentleman is due on the question of this item, for I take did not receive some explanation, which I thin that the item which the honourable gentleman alluding to is the item in connection with “Bes, consfield." I saw in the public press after. last finance meeting what had taken place at that meeting. I think it well that the Council should know exactly what took place, and I will tell you so far as I am able. A very short time after arrived in the colony I received a letter from Mr. Belilios asking me to re-open the question and I found that it had been decided, before
I looked over the paper of “Beaconsfield."
came here by my predecessor, and consequently I auswered that I declined to re-open question. That was in December. In early part of January it was brought to my notice, and in fact it was recommended by the Acting Attorney-General, that this case should be compromised. I think the Acting Attorney. this now, although there is a salutary rule that General can have no objection to my saying għ the opinious of the Attorney-General are held to be confidential. At that time the position was peculiar. The position at that moment that a case had been taken against Mr. Belilios by a contractor named Ah Hok, who claimed from him certain money dne for an expenditure on
on Beaconsfield
which taken by permission of Mr. Belilios and be declared by, bis plendings: had been under,
ried out through Mr. Belilios's agent counsel for Ah Hok in that case Acting Attorney General and the for Ah Hok was the Crown Solicitor. Th case came before me at a moment
hen the pleadings were changed. The pleadingu changed in this way--that the Public Work Department were inserted in them as the agents of Mr. Belilios. I had at the time as Acting Colonial Secretary Mr. Sercombe Smith, who.
was
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As it was less than the application made, I sub- shares, and a certain allotment was made to me.
sequently increased my holding to 1,500 shares. There seems to be a misapprehension as to the value of this investment, because there are two Attorney-classes of shares in the Company-one of £10, My allotment was the £2 shares, and my total fully paid up, and the other £2 only paid up.
investment was of the smaller amount-£3,000. I may say in passing that it would be difficult for any hon. member of this House to invest in anything which might not at some time or other be the subject of discussion in this House. But when the question of the possible revocation of the charter came before the Government I took the opportunity to inform the Prime Minister and my colleagues of the fact that I had some Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of interest in the Company; and I begged, there- Councils).
fore, to be excused from offering any opinion was also a barrister. Mr. Sercombe Smith' whatever in any negotiations which might sub- on the transaction, and from taking any part very strongly of opinion that the Government.
were not liable in any way, but the result sequently take place. Accordingly these ne- the change of pleadings practically would be gotiations have been entirely in the hands of that in the event of the case being decided in my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the favour of Mr. Belilios the Government Exchequer, and I did not know of the result be the defendants, and in the face until the matter was substantially settled."vice and under those circumstance I observe, sir, from the printed statement of did not know who the Government the expenditure estimated and actual for the to look to. The gentleman at that nine months of this year in connection with the engaged as counsel for Ah Hok would New Territory the sum will amount to the be engaged for Ah Hok or for the Governa grand total of $346,629-17. I think, sir, that the having first of all decided from the anofficial members are entitled to a little more that practically the Government were time to carefully consider and study the matter. say distinctly that no one has a higher At the last meeting of the Council the Honour than I have of the Acting Attorney, able the Colonial Treasurer informed the meme and that no one realises more full- bers that the expenditure in connection with the enormous care he takes in all his..
BeaconsBold" was paid by and under the su his ansïety to de his-work faithfully
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table English translation of the proclamations issued by the Magistrate of the San Ou District and the Viceroy of Cautou regarding the New Territory; statement of expenditure on plague; statement of extra expenditure under sub-head "Miscellaneous services" (Other); statement of expenditure (actual and esti mated) for 1899 in connection with the New Territory; and further papers relating to the military operations in connection with the dis turbance ou the taking over of the New Torri tory.
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FINANCIAL
ThƑ COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table financial minutes Nos. 13 to 15 and proposed that they be referred to the Finance Committes.
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