The Council goes into Committee
upon
the Estimates for 1875.
The following Votes are agreed to:-
ESTABLISHMENTS:-
Governor,.
Colonial Secretary, Colonial Treasurer, Anditor General, Clerk of Councils, Surveyor General,.
→
Council divides.
Mr. WHITTALL.
Mr. ROWETT.
740.00 7,880.00 3,072.00 14,799.00 100.00
Mr. RYRIE.
Motion lost.
................ 21,062.00
On this last Vote being taken, the Honorable JAMES WHITTALL suggests that the Forest and Rangers should be placed under the immediate control of the Surveyor General, who ongs in his opinion, to have charge of the Trees in the public lands of the Colony.
The Council concurs generally in the suggestion of the Honorable Meinber.
Postmaster General,
Registrar General,.
Harbor Master,
.$27,486.00 10,198.00 26,954.00
On this Vote being taken, the Honorable PHINEAS RYBIE recommends that an additing fast Steam-launch should be purchased for the Public Service of the Colony.
Light Houses,
Collector of Stamp Revenue, Judicial,
$ 6,428.00
4,078.00 20,180 00
On this Vote being taken, the Honorable RicHARD ROWETT draws attention to th inefficiency of the Interpretation in the Courts of the Colony.
The Honorable the Colonial Secretary states, that the subject has the carnest attenfisi the Governor, and that steps are being taken to improve the staff of Interpreters.
Official Trustee,
Registrar of Companies,
Ecclesiastical,
Educational,
Medical,
Police Magistrates,
960,00
102.00 1,230.00
17,876.00
16,200.00
6,100.00
150,478.80
Ayes (3).
Noes (4).
Mr. ALEXANDER.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
449
The Honorable PaINEAS RYRIE gives notice of Protest against the decision of the Concil.
Government Gardens,......................
.$4,660.80
The following Protest, referred to above, was received on the 16th November : -----
PROTEST.
Notice having been duly given I PHINEAS RYRIE a Member of the Legislative Council of Hongkong protest against a vote of said Council, sanctioning the Expenditure of a sum of $8,112.00 on the Fire Brigade for the following reasons:-
1st.-That clause 5 of Fire Brigade Ordinance No. 4 of 1868 has been contravened in as much as that on the report of a Fire being made at the Central Station on the morn- ing of the 23rd September, 1874, the Brigade was neither mustered or turned out with their Engines and all necessary implements as provided by said clause.
2nd. That the aforesaid clause provides also for the framing of regulations and that no
such regulations have been made.
3rd.---That the President of the Council did not reply to a question put who was the
Officer in Command of the Fire Brigade.
4th That the present management of the Brigade is faulty: a proper Fire Commission such as exists in Shanghai and other places should be appointed: it being most undesirable that one person only should have the control of the expenditure, as from mistaken economy on his part much damage may result, and I am fuformed that a valuable Engine the property of the public has been rendered almost useless in consequence of there not being a properly qualified and careful Engineer to attend to it constantly.
5th.--That the Drill of the Brigade is not such as to make it an efficient one in event of a fire: much more being needed to that end than merely turning out the force once a month and feebly pumping water out of and into the harbour for the space of a quarter of an hour, such instruction can never fit men to cope successfully with the difficulties to be encountered at a serious fire.
Police,
On this Vote being taken, the Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE, after complaining of the conlu of the Captain Superintendent of Police during the late typhoon, and of the refusal of Government to institute a public inquiry on the subject, after a petition had been addressed The His Excellency The Governor praying that an inquiry should be made, moves that the Vomi reduced by the amount of the Salary of that Officer.
The Honorable RICHARD ROWETT seconds the motion.
Debate ensues.
The Council divides.
Ayes (3).
Mr. WITTALL.
Hongkong, 16th November, 1874.
P. RYRIE.
Honorable the President adjourns the Council at 4.30 P.M. until Monday next, the 16th November
at 2.30 P.M.
Read and confirmed, this 16th Day of November, 1874.
for the Clerk of Councils.
CECIL C. SMITH,
JOHN SMALE, President,
Mr. RowETT.
Mr. RYRIE.
Motion Lost.
Gaol,
Noes (4).
Mr. ALEXANDER. THE COLONIAL TREASURER. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
..$16,694.00 8,112.00
Fire Brigade,
On this Vote being taken, the Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE moves that the Vote he poned until the Council should be informed as to what Officer actually commanded the f Brigade, in order that it might be known who was responsible when the Regulations were carried out. It was advisable that a Commission should be appointed to manage the Brig
The Honorable RICHARD ROWETT Seconds the motion.
Debate ensues.