466
After full discussion, it was resolved unani- mously that the Committee are prepared to recommend. in principle, the provision of a destructor for dealing with the refuse of the city of Victoria, but advise that, before any further steps are taken, the makers of the type of destructor which it is proposed to adopt should be requested to send out a representative to investigate local conditions and submit tender, accompanied by a guarantee for 3 years, for dealing effectively with 100 tons of refuse per day.
a
His EXCELLENCY-I have already explained to the Council that it will not be possible 6 take action at once on this report of the Public Works Committee with regard to the proposed refuse destructor. The subject is one which has been under my consideration for a long time. I am perfectly satisfied that the provision of such a destructor is the only satisfactory way of getting rid of the refuse of this city. assure the Council the matter will not be lost sight of as soon as it possible to make the necessary financial provision for it.
80
MINERALS IN THE NEW TERRITORY. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled Ordinance to empower the Governor to grant licences to search for and prove minerals and to grant licences and leases of land for the purpose of working mines and minerals. He said-If minerals should be found in the new Territory it is well the Governor should have to go and the right to authorise persons
be If they should prospect for them. found in paying quantities it would add enormously to the wealth of the Colony. It is desirable that His Excellency should have power to grant licences and lenses.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and 'this was agreed to.
On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECRETARY, the Council went into committee and considered the Bill clause by clause.
On the Council resuming, His EXCELLENCY reported that the Bill had passed through
without committee amendment.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-The Bill has
just passed through committee, and as the next meeting of Council will not be for som, con- siderable time it is well that the Bill giving these powers should become law at the earliest possible moment. I beg to move the suspension of the Standing Orders, and with the coussut of this House to move that the Bill be read a third time.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill passed into law.
BILL DISCHARGED,,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the second order of the day, the cousideratiou in ommittee of the Dentists' Bill, be discharged.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.
#
NAVAL AND MILITARY WORKS.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third rading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to authorize the construction and maintenance of certain naval and military works upon and over certain portions of the Crown foreshore and sea bed situate upon the harbour frontage of the City of Victoria, in this Colony.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill passed into law.
His EXCELLENCY-The Council stands ad- journed till after the meeting of the Finance © Committee.
+
held
FINANCE COMMITTEE A meeting of the Finance Committee was afterwards-the Colonial Secretary presiding.
The following votes were passed:
PRISON DEPARTMENTS,
The GOVERNOR recommended the Council to vote a sum of one hundred dollars ($100) in sid of the vote, Police and Prison L'epartment, Prison-Other Charges, Executioner's Fee, and for Inflicting Corporal Punishment.
JUDICIAL AND, LEGAL.
The GOVERNOR recommended the Council to rote a sum of four hundred and eighteen dollars and thirty cents ($418.30) in aid of the vote, Judicial and Legal Departments, B.- Magistracy-Other Charges, New Territories, Weights.
On the Council resuming.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
|
|
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—As it is under. stood that the Council will not meet till 6th September it may be necessary to use the money provided for in the two minutes just passed by the committee. I beg to report Sir, that the sums of money recommended to be paid in to 42 have been Financial Minutes 41 approved unanimously. beg to move the adoption of the report:
The COLONIAL TREASUKEE seconded, and this was agreed to.
His EXCELLENCY -The Council stands adjourned until Thursday. September 6th. at 2.30 p.m. when I hope to be able to lay before bon. members the Estimates for the year 19.)7 and also some important legislation.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on June 26th at the Board Room. The Hou. Dr. F. Clark (president) presided, and there wore als
M.O.H., present-Dr. Pearse, Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin, Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Dr. Macfarlane, Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, Lient.-Col. Sparkes, Mr. F. J. Badeley, Mr. A. Shelton Hooper, Mr. H. Humphreys. Mr. Fang Wa-chuu, Mr. Lau Chu-psk, and Mr. G. A. Woodcock (secretary).
[Juño 8); 19). Mr. HUMP¤BAYs—I beg to move a resolution to the effect that the Government be recom mended to go into the whole question of lims- washing with a view to either modifying or doing away with the existing regulation‹.
Mr. Lau CHU-PAK seconded.
The PRESIDENT—I‚am afraid the only answer we can expect is that it is the duty of the Board. Mr. HUMPHREYS-I will alter the word Government, and insert the words "Sanitary Board".
The PRESIDENT-Well, practically you move that an investigation b› conducted by the Board into the question ?
Mr. HUMPHREY8—Yes.
The PRESIDENT- By the whole Board or a commit'ce of the Board?
".
Mr. HUMPHREYS-By the whol› Baard. Mr. LAU CHU-PAK seconded the motion as am nde.l.
The PRESIDENT—Are membe s in favour?. Mr. HOOPER-The question has not bein discussed yet.
The PRESIDENT-Well, the mover should have disonsse lit when he moved his resolution. Mr. H OP&&-Bat he is writing out his motion.
The PRESIDENT-Oh! I beg his pardon. Mr. HUMPHREYS-I must take notice of your answers to the questions I submitted t that meeting, but at th› same tim› I cannot On the minutes being submitted for approval, think they are altogether conclusive. It has Mr. SHELTON HOOPER referred to one omission in the minutes.
SHOULD MEMBERS' SPEECHES BE MINUTED.
been found recently that mortar from the walls of a Paris hospital contained 46 per cant, of Mr. BREWIN then remarked that the rafer-organic matter. Organic matter is full of life, ence to confidential pap ra -omed out-of place in the minutes, which wra minutes of the proceedings of the Board and not minutes of the President's opinion or Mr. Hooper's inquiries as to what his opinious wee. The same applied to the limewashing, the statements concerning which should not be inserted in the minutes. If all that were to be put in it would lengthen the proceedings considerably. Certainly it was not in accord with the usual form.
The PRESIDENT agreed to some extent with Mr. Brewin, especially as to the first portion, bat he thought the questions and answers as to limewashing should be recorded.
Mr. HOOPER said that the minutes could not be questioned except with regard to their accuracy, and accuracy included completeness It seemed to him any speech a member made ought to be recorded in the minutes. No objection could be taken to that. He saw no reason why their minutes should not be as full as possible, and he would go further and sy that they ought to be fuller in the future than in the past.
The PRESIDENT It is a matter entirely for the Board.
THE LIMEWASHING QUESTION.
The MEDICAL OFFICER of HEALTH said- Mr. Humphreys said at a previous meeting of the Board that a medical officer of the Board bad informed members that limewashing was not a disinfectaut, I never informed the Board and Dr. Macfarlaus said he did not, therefore Mr. Humphreys must be under a wrong impression.
Mr. HUMPHREYS-I don't think I am. The PRESIDENT-You asked me, and I said it was not.
Mr. HUMPHREYS-I think you said distinctly at that meeting that limewashing was not a disinfectant?
The PRESIDENT-That is so.
on the
Mr. HUMPHREYS You upheld it ground that it was conducive to cleanliness.
The PRESIDENT-I think you are out of order in discussing the question.
Mr. HUMPHREYS-I move the suspension of the standing orders.
Mr. LAU CHU-PAK seconded.
The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-I am opposed to the motion. This is not a question of urgency. The PRESIDENT-And we have a very large ag-nda before us.
Mr. HEWETT-I think it should be put to
the vote.
The motion was carried.
Mr. HUMPHREYS-I was saying when you interrupted me-
The PRESIDENT-You will 'excuse me, but now you must move a resolution. You canuot speak on an abstract subject, and with regard to my interrupting you, it is my duty to inter rupt you when you break the standing orders.
may be of harmless germs, but on the other hand it may be of germs harmful to life. Before coming to any deffuite 009olusion I would like to submit samples taken from the basements of houses belonging to the Company I manage, and send them to a bacteriologist ia Europe. The whole question of limew shing has perhaps given rise to more friction than. any regulation we have. The house owners of Hongkong spend a lakh and a half of lollars annually in limewashing Chinese flsts. The old limewash is not scraped off, we simply s asar-—-- I think "smear is the proper word to use- the fresh limewash on to the old wall. The Government bacteriologist maintains that organic matter is destroyed, but I have grave` doubt about it myself. In my opinion the smearing over of thes walls makes the a like a white-washed sepulchre-fair without and foul within (laughter). Uati!I gst con«lusive‹ proof to the contrary i will still hold to my opinion.
The motion was carried.
SPANDING orders.
now
The PRESIDENT-The. Bord will resume. Before proceding with the agenda. I think this is the proper place in which tɔ giva the answer to the question raised by Mr. at the last mastinţ which Hooper is recorded on the minutes. The answer is—
Mr. HOOPBK-Which question are you alluding to?
The PRESIDENT-You asked Do you admit that the standing orders made by the Board in December, 1903, can still be enforced by the Board,“ The answer is only so far as
uch standing orders relate to regulations or' procedure at meet ngs of the Board." Standing orders for the guidance of officers and servants of the Sanitary Department are now adminis. tered by the P.C.M.Ö as administrative head of the Department.
Mr. HOOPER-Arising out of your answer. I take it that the standing orders of the Board for the guidance of our meetings stand good.
The PRESIDENT-Yes. so far as they are in accordance with the Ordinancei
Mr. H OPER-Then I think it is not out of place to ask you if you still adhere to your ruling that I should be out of order if I imored that somthing you considǝred con. dential should be considered ia piblio. I would ask the question seeing you have been advised by the law officer of the Crown.
The PRESIDENT-Such a motion as you It is one suggest would not be necessary. of the daties of the President to arrange provisionally what matters had better be discussed in public and what matters con- fidentially, subject of course to any change made at the meeting. When public matters are discussed and a motion is presented that a few subjects should be taken confidentially,