210
creases
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND $24,000; land revenue, $6,000; a few do- | considered and always thoroughly independent
Captain of small amounts accounting for advice.
Murray Rumsey is now the difference. The estimated ordinary expendi- leaving the Colony very soon, and I am sure ture exceeds the estimate for 1903 by $543,447 you join with me in wishing him a long made up as follows:-Stipulated increments and life to enjoy the pension that he has so richly increases of salaries, 830,329,89; new posts, earned and the honour that has been placed $41,956; exchange compensation, $2,911.60; upon him by His Majesty in appointing him fall in exchange, $9,390.38; conversion of one of the first members of the Imporial Service dollar salaries to sterling salaries, $12,701.60; Order. (Applause.) I do not know whether allowances, $8,011.75; other items, $2,988; Hongkong forgets its old friends, but I hops if other charges, $21,418.55; peusions, $1,600; Hongkong does not forget its old friends that miscellaneous arrices, $27,035; military ex- perhaps some day in the not distant fature: penditure contribution to Imperial Govern- Captain Murray Rumsey and I may meet again ment, $375,893; Public Works recurront, in Hongkong at the opening of that great $9,200; total, 8543,447.77. The estimated bridge, the inception of which must always be ordinary revenue
the estimated connected with his name. (Applause) I am exceeds ordinary expenditure by $950,358.
sure the members of this Conueil will wish estimate of Public Works extraordinary for every happines to Caplain Murray Rumsey. 1904 is $1,273,400 while land sales are ex- (Applause.) pected to realise $400,000, leaving a difference of $873,400; thore is therefore au estimated surplus of $76,959. The estimate of revenue for 1904 is however a cautious one, and it must be remembered that the increased revenue for the Opium Farm does not begin till the 1st March next, so that in 1905 there will be a further increase from this source represented by two months' fees from it. If due regard be had to economy in expenditure, it may be expected that the debit balance of $281,039, with which we shall begin the year 1904, will be wiped off by the expansion of revenue, at any rate early in 1995 if not before.
The
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion for the first reading of the Bill was agreed to.
VICTORIA DAY.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the third reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to sat apart a holiday to be known as "Victoria Day in loving remembrance of Her Most Gracious Majesty the late Queen Victoria.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
EXPORT OF CATTLE.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordiu- ance to provide for the Regulation of the Export of Cattle and other Live Stock from the Colony.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
THE WATERWORKS ORDINANCE. The Council went into committee on the Bill entitled an Ordinance to repeal the Water- works Consolidation Ordinance, 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 c.nnection therewith,
Several minor amendments were made and section 32 was deleted.
On the Council resuming,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. DEPARTURE OF CAPTAIN MURRAY RUMSLY. HIS EXCELLENCY said-Gentlemen,-Before we separate now I would like with your per- mission to make a few observations. We have just lost one of our members of Council and we are about to lose another member, Captain Murray Ramsey, who is to-day sitting for the last time at this Council, His Excellency the Major-General Commanding, who had been in this Colony for five years, left the Colony two days ago with every expression of good-will on the part of the community. Captain Murray Rumsey has been for nineteen years in this Colony, and before that time he had rendered valuable services in His Majesty's Navy and in other Colonies. He has been for ten years
a member of this Council and for seven years a member of the Executive Council I think I am only stating the views of all you gentlemen present when I wish to express publicly to Captain Murray Rumsey my high appreciation of his valuable services to this Colony (Applause.) Captain Murray Rumsey is not only thoroughly con- versant with every detail of his own duties, but both at this Council and in the important duty of advising me in Executive Council I have always found that I could depend on Captain Murray Ramsey for giving sound and well
Hoo. Captain MURRAY RUMSEY said - Your Excellency and gentlemen, I am deeply sensible of the high honour which I have received in the kind remarks of your Excellency and the way in which they were received by the Council. A greater compliment I cannot imagine any public officer receiving. It is the greatest satisfaction to me, on leaving the service of the Colony, to think that I have so performed my duty as to merit these remarks. (Applause.) The Conacil adjourned till Thursday, 1st proximo.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
the
A meeting of the Finaucs Committee was held immediately after
Council, the Colonial Secretary (Hon. F. H. May, C M.G ), presiding.
The following votes were all passed :-
CEMETERY EXPENSES.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,330 in aid of the vote for Cemetery Incidental Expenses under Other Charges, Sanitary Department.
CHINESE SCHOOL AT YAUMATI.
The Governor recommended the Council to vole a sum of $6,000 in aid of rote Public Works, Extraordinary, to meet the cst during the current year of the works of constructing a school at Yaumati for Chinese.
REPAIRS TO RYGEIA."
i
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $2,328 in aid of the vote for Repairs to Epidemic Hulk flygeia auder Other Charges, Harbour Master's Depart-
ment.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENTS EMOLUMENTS. The Governor recommended the Council to rote a sum of $352 in aid of the vote for Personal Emoluments, Medical Departments :-
Increases to Salaries of the following Staff from 1st September to 31st December, 19:3-
Civil Hospital
13 Chiuose Nurses
4 Dispensary Coolies 13 Coolies
Lunatic Asylums:
$156
+
52
Attendants for Sisters: - 3 House Coolies,
12
$224
72
16
88
24 8
32
+
6 Chinese Nurses 4 Coolies
Maternity Hospital :-
2 Chinese Nurses 2 Coolies
Kennedy Town Hospital:
2 Coolies
Total
MAGISTRACY VOTE.
...$ 353
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $900 in aid of the vote for the Magistracy under Other Charges:-
Office Furniture, Repairs, and Incidental
Expenses
8 450
Costs of Witnesses for giving Eri- dence in Criminal Cases, and for Interpreting Dialects with which the Court Interpreters are unac- quainted,
Total
450
[September 21, 103.
PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY. The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $11,000 in aid of the votes for the following items under Public Works Extra- ordinary :-
1. Extension of Tnspeolor's Quar-
ters at Kennedy Town
·
2. City and Hill District Water-
works
3. Government Offices-Extensions
and Alterations
4. Temporary Market adjoining
new Harbour Office
5. Governor's Peak Residence
Total
$ 2,00
4,000
1,500
1,000
2,500
$ 11,000
OBSERVATORY CHARGES. The Governor recommended th Council to vote a sum of $204 in aid of the vote Observatory, Other Charges to meat cost of flags required for making Weither Siguals for the information of Shipmast rs:
TRAINING NULLAHS.
The Governor recommended the Council to rote a sum of $375.06 for Public Works Extra- ordinary to meet the excess over the estimate not covered by savings, incurred in training the Western District nullahs,
LAND REGISTRY OFFICE. The Governor recommended the Council to Fot
of $219.80 in aid of the vote Landl Registry Office, Other Charges, to meet cost of the following:-
$280.80
One Typewriting machine One Table for the machine
+L
Total
M
9.00
$289.80
TELEGRAPH SERVICE. The Governor recommended the Council to nea sau of $3,000 in aid of the vote for Tele- grab Service,-Telegrams sent and received by Gov rnment-under Miscellaneous Services. FIRE BRIGADE VOTE.
The Governor recommended the Council to rote a sum of 81,8:0 in aid of the vote Fire Brigade, Other Charges, for the item "Repairs, to Engines, Hose, &o., and Gratuities."
POST OFFICE VOTE,
'The Gover or recommended the Council to rote a sum of $45, in aid of the Vote Post Ofice, Personal Emoluments, for the following items
Accountant
་་་
Superintendent of Registra-Local Allowance,
tion Branch
J being a personal non-pensionable allowance equivalent to 25 per cent. of the salary of their posts.
SANITARY DEPARTMENT CHARGES.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $342 49 in aid of the vote Sanitary Department, Other Charges" made up as follows:-
Microscope and Post-mortem Instru- ments, £29 188. Cd. @ 1/10 to the Dollar, 5% for Incidentals,
Total...
VICTORIA HOSPITAL.
44
$ 326.18 16.30
$ 342.48
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $200 in aid of the vote Medical Departments, Other Charges, Victoria Hospital for Women and Children, to meet the cost of fixtures required.
This was all the business.
SHIP-BUILDING IN HONGKONG.
We are informed that, Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, on behalf of the China Navigation Co.. Ld., have contracted with the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co., Ld., for a new light draught twin-screw steamer for the Lower Yangtsze trade. The vessel will be of a l-ngth of 310 feet, wi ha 46 ft. beam; her draught will be 14.3 ft., and her tonnage will be about 2.0 0. Thus she will be the largest steamer by far that has yet been built in Hongkong. Naturally it may be expected that she will be fitted throughout with the most complete and up-to- date equipment for the safety and comfort of European and Chinese passer gers alike.
There are rumours that similar vessels will shortly be contracted for by the Indo-China Steam Navigation Co., Ld., and China Mer- chants Steam Navigation Co., and we can only $ 900 hope that our Local Dock Co. may be successful
in securing the work for Hongkong.
-