700
of good order and the preservation of! property in the Public Gardens has been dricwn"up, and was reprinte from the Government Gazette in our columns on Monday. These provide for the preserva- tion of the flowers and plants, the Kennedy statue, the greenhouses, cages, baudstand, etc.; also that persons frequenting the Gardens shall be properly clothed, shall not lie upon or put their feet on the seats, fly kites, carry loads, or use the Gardens as a thorough- fare. Dogs will only be allowed when on leash, and no public or private vehicles, cxcept sedan chairs for the use of invalids, will be permitted in the Gurdeus. Power is also reserved to the Superintendent to close the Gardens or any portion thereof and graft admission thereto by ticket or otherwise on such occasions as may be approved by the Governor.
These regulations have, How the Colony has grown to its present proportions, become absolutely necessary if the Gardens are to be -as they were originally funded to be—the botanical centre of Hongkong, and a plea. sant retreat from the use and bustle of the traffi: on the lower levels. We are glad, therefore to see them inaugurated, audi believe they will serve to render the Gardens more popular. Mr. DUNN is 'doing his best to stimulate interest in his department, and it is to be hoped that every encourage- ment will be given to him, by appreciation from the Government and the public, to continue his efforts to promie botanical knowledge and help to develop the natural resources of the Colony. There is a con. siderable field her for the botanist to explore, and we doubt not that, before long, Mr. DUNN will be able to make some dis- coveries of interest in the New Territory, if not on the island of Hongkong. In connection with his work, we trust the Government. will see its way to increase the very slender vote hitherto accorded to the Afforestation Department. There is much to be done, both on this island and on the mainland, not only in the shape of afforestation but also in the way of forming nurseries, wherein experiments could be made with different products adapted to the soil and climate or that might be induced to thrive on the slopes. The Chinese would be only too willing to
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
try new crops, no doubt, if it were demonstrated to them that they could succeed in raising them for the local market. The success that has attended the cultiva- tion of the pineapple on the slopes of Timoshan is n case in point. The hills, too, require planting on a large scale, and their more effective conservation is most desirable, to which end the staff of forest rangers should be increased. Efforis should also be made to grapple with newly introduced parasites which threat to overrun the entire island if left to riot unmolested. We refer more especially to the Mimosa sensitiva (sensitive plaut), the Fantana, and the Aggeratum, all of which are quite recent introductions, and are spreading in various parts in the unkest profusion, des roy- ing the turf and choking garden beds. The first named amazingly prolific, sentters its seeds far and dear, and, contrary to all preconceived ideas is very hardy aud difficult of extermina ion. Mr. DUNN will, we trust, wage war against this intruder and check its progress, otherwise it will soon Le almost impossible to preserve a piece of good green sward in the Colony, As we have already indicated, there is plenty of scope for the new Superintendent's energies, and if the Government will only increase the botanical vote, there is no doubi important developments in this direction will take place in the next few Je tra
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was heldon the 10th iast, in the Council Chamber.
Present:-
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, Sir
HENRY A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY Sir W. Gascoigne,
K.C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary), Hon. Sir HENRY SPENCER BERKELEY, KT. Attorney-General),
Hon? A. M. THOMSON (Colonis! Treasurer). Hon. Commander R. M. RUMSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon.W.CHATHAM(Director of Public Works).
[August 15, 1903, to receive suggestions with regard to the penalty proposed—$25 or 3 months..........
H. E. the GOVERNOR said he thought that 3 months was ton hard an alternative penalty,
The COLONIAL TREASUBER suggested that prop sed term of imprisonment be left ont of the Bill altogether, leaving it to the Magistrate to impose what alternative he thought fit in each case.
tho
The ATTORNEY-GBNERAL signified his assen'.
On the Council resuming, the Bill was rend a third time and passed, on the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL Secretary.
CHARGE FOR IMBECILES.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to provide for the Recovery of Costs and Hon. J. M. ATKINSON (Principal Civil Charges incurred by the Colony by and on behalf
Medical Officer).
Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, C.M G.
Hoa. WEI YUK.
of imbecile persons introduced into the Colony. He said-The reason for introducing this measure is that the Colony has from time to time been put to expense by having thrown on its charge imbecile persons brought here and left Mr. H. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of here without being able to pay for their upkeep Councils).
Hon. GERSHom Stewart.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financi1 Minute (No. 35) and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed t^.
The COLONIAL SECRETATY laid on the table
the Report of the Finance Cominitt e (No. 6)
and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
PAPERS..
The CoʻONIAL SECRETARY laid on the fable
the Report on the Assessm at for 1903-1904 and the Report on the New Territories for 1902.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS laid ou th table the Report of the Public Works Committee (No. 5).
VICTORIA DAY.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL Moved the second reading of the B llentitled An Ordinance to set apart a holiday to be known as "Victoria Day" in loving r membrance of Her Most Gr: cions Majesty the late Qu en Victoria. He said-
this The object of the introduction of Ordinance everyone is aware of. It is to cele brate and keep in loving memory the birthday of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria by setting apart a day to bo observed as a general holiday in the Colony. In doing this we are following the example of, if not setting the example t, the rest of the Empire. I move, sir, that this
Bill be red a second time.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY Seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
The Concil then went into committee ou the Bill and ousidered it clause by clause, and ore alteration having been made the third reading was not takeu.
INTRUSION INTO SERVANTS' QUARTERS. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to prevent intrusion by parsons other than the servants of the occupier of premises into the as servants' portion of such premises used quarters He said-Sir,-This Bill has been produced because of the inconvenient and injurious habit which has grown up among the servants of people here of introducing into the quarters set apart for them by their masters friends and outside coolies and others who in very many cases pass the night there. Thes3 quarters only contain room for the servants, and the result is that, apart from the annoyance and the naise of having these pers ns in the house and premises. the masters of the house my reader themselves liable for an infringement of the public health laws in repeat of overcrowding of their premises The Ordinance makes it a punishable offence for outside coolies or persons not belonging to the house, not in the employ of the occupier of the premises, to occupy without his permission the quarters provided for servants. I think the House will accept the principle of the hill.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the second reading was agred to.
The Council resolved itself into committee and considered the Bill clause by clause.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he was willing
in the hospitals and other charitable institutions to which they have been removed. It is con- sidered to be a charge which the Colony as a whole should not be called upon to bear, and that thous who bring snch persons here without taking care that they do not become a charge upon this Colony bear the cost. Similar legislation has been
ought to
adopted in other colonies-Australia and New Zealand-and although it is now to Hongkon I do got think we can be doing wrong in ful- lowing the example off he colonies I have named. I move that the Bill_b, read a second time.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY Beconded, and the second reading wes agreed to.
The Council then went into committee on the Bill, which was eventually referred to the Law Committee.
WATER SUPPLY.
The ATTORNEY-GENE‹AL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to repeal The Water-works Consolidation Ordi- nance, 1902, and to provide for and regulate the Supply of Water in the Colony_of Hongkong and for the Maintenance and Repair of the Works in connection therewith. He said- Your Excellency and the Council will see from the title of the Bill that it is proposed to repeal an Ordinance which was passed by this Council last year. The reasons why the Government introduce this Bill are that on further cou sideration it has appeared that all the objects aimed at by the Bill of 1902, principal among which is the supply of a sufficient quantity of water to the town of Victoria with the least possible waste, may be effected without incurring the hardships which the Bill of 1902 would have unavoidably inflicted on a certain sec ion of the community using water. The means by which this will be effected is known tech.ically ng the rider-main system. Rider mains are a means by which the supply of water can be regulated to blocks of houses as affectively as it can be by meters in the case of single houseS. The Director of Public Works has provided ma timy with a very full and at the same succint statement of the objects and reasons Theso reasons are printed, and I for the introduction of the Bill. objects and
that I can add anything do not know to them. The principle is that while wo can we ought to give water to everyone in the town of Victoria, so long as it can be done We believe that this Bill will without was . enable us to give the whole community of Hogkong the water that they require without ficting upon them what in many cases would be the irksome and sometimes hard necessity of having to go long distances for their water.
The COLONIAL SECZETARY seconded H.E. Major-General Gascoign¤—Sir, I beg with the utmost respect to move an amendment -that the second reading of this Bill be post- pon d until the matter can have been threshed out thoroughly in the Council. This Bill was That Bill was passed after not one meeting intended to supersede one passed last year. of the Executive Couuoil but, I should think, quite half-a-dozen. We met time after time, we heard arguments used, we ad- journed the Council to look into these argn- ments and gradually reasons were given, änd