(Hon. P. RYRIE-Hear, hear.) If the blockade chastises us with whips the Imperial Maritime Customs would chastise us with scorpions. Sir, in the speech from the chair very full details are given of the public works about to be undertaken, I am quite sure the colony joins the Council in a feeling of satisfaction, not only with the liberal policy that has been pursued in this important matter by the Governor, but also with the activity which has been shown by the Surveyor-General in carrying out these works. I will not, sir, proceed to refer to the various measures which are enumerated in the speech, I can only say of them as a whole that I believe they will tend, on being carried out, very greatly to develop the resources and prosperity of the colony and the health and well-being of its inhabitants.
I am glad to hear in the speech from the chair that not only are reclamations of land to take place at Causeway Bay, but they are also to be undertaken in Belcher's Bay. But, sir, in order to give full effect to these reclamations I am quite sure the negotiations which have been referred to in the speech should be, as the Governor promises they will be, energetically pushed forward so as to obtain a continuous Praya the whole length of our sea frontage.
Sir, I am glad to see my hon. friend the Surveyor-General is in his place, because I am about to make a suggestion to him which he may at first think rather crude, but I hope, nevertheless, he may see his way to carry it out. I would have the Praya not only run continuously along the whole sea frontage, but I would have it also widened. Now I am quite aware my hon. friends here will feel there are questions of finance to be considered; but I also think that if the Government were at once to prepare plans for a widened Praya, if they were to arrange what the limit line of the land is to be, and then if they were to give permission to individual lot holders, if they pleased, to build out to that sea line, great progress would be made without at all calling upon the Government for any expenditure.
The conditions upon which that land should be allowed to be filled in should, I think, be somewhat of the following nature. I think the land lot holders who elect to fill in their ground to this line should be entitled to the use of that ground until the Praya is completed, subject of course, on the completion of the Praya, to their being reimbursed the cost of filling in, and having the privilege of preemption at any price fixed by Government, or buying it at public auction.
I am assured on the best authority that if this scheme were carried out we should speedily see the whole of the Praya, at all events from the westward from Belcher's Bay as far as the P. and O. Company's wharf, rapidly filled up.
Sir, before I sit down I think it necessary to say a few words upon that much vexed question, the education of the colony. I am indeed glad to see that at last we are to have the Central School commenced. But, sir, I confess I do not think we are yet alive to our responsibilities in the matter of providing adequate secular education in this Colony.
It seems to me that we are lavish of our grants to the denominational schools, and that we are very grudging of any support to the Central School. It is very much in this way, sir, that when 150,000 of our fellow colonists call out for the bread of that knowledge which they require, we seem to tender to them the inharmonious fragments of stone which to them at least represent the divergent and conflicting tenets of western sectarianism.
Sir, I am sure all who were present at that interesting ceremony which took place at the Central School a few weeks ago must have come away perfectly assured that the character of the education applied at the Central School is satisfactory to the Chinese, and I am also sure we cannot in justice refuse longer to provide them with the accommodation they require, and which they are willing to pay for.
With regard to the Grant-in-Aid schools, at the last meeting of this Council, when I protested against a further grant of about $6,000 to the St. Joseph's College, I asked a question of my hon. friend three paces on my left (the Registrar-General) as being more acquainted with educational matters in this colony than perhaps any other person, whether he felt quite sure that the character of the education supplied by that college was satisfactory to the people who were concerned in it.
He was unable to give me any information on the subject, but, sir, since then I have received communications from many quarters which assure me that the Catholic population of this colony are not satisfied with the education for which large grants of money are given. That dissatisfaction is not more widely known is, I am told, mainly in consequence of the fears which the members of the Roman Catholic Church have of the influence of their priesthood.
And, sir, the painful incident which occurred the other day, when the remains of a much esteemed resident of this colony, and a member of the Roman Catholic Church, were refused interment in the Roman Catholic burial ground, seems to give some ground for these allegations.
I shall take an early opportunity of calling the attention of the Council to the subject, and of inquiring under what conditions the tenure of the Roman Catholic burying ground is held.
I have only one word more to say, sir, with regard to this question of education, which is that I hope my hon. friends the unofficial members, when the estimates for 1885 are to be laid before them, will most carefully scrutinise the way in which large sums of money are granted to educational institutions in this colony.
I trust, sir, that they will satisfy themselves that the educational tests on which these grants of money are made are satisfactory as well to themselves as to the colony. I myself am inclined to believe that it will be far more satisfactory to us all if the inspection of schools is confined to a single individual, or confided to a qualified commission.
The speech from the chair, sir, alluded to the defences of this island. I am glad indeed to hear that His Excellency the Governor has made forcible representations to the Imperial Government with regard to the necessity of at once taking measures for placing this island in an efficient state of defence.
I am opposed on principle to any grant of public money for the purpose of carrying out what I believe to be exclusively an Imperial duty; but nevertheless I cannot but feel that it is very desirable for this colony that those defences should be proceeded with.
I am now merely stating my own opinion, and throwing it out as a suggestion, that I think it would be desirable if the colony would approach the Imperial Government with some measure of compromise.
I am sure that if the waste lands now held by the military authorities while they are considering what kind of batteries they should erect--if they were handed over to the Colonial Government they would yield a very ample revenue, and under those circumstances, sir, I think it very desirable those lands should be released as soon as possible.
Suppose, as I have heard it estimated, that a sum of £100,000 is required to put this island and its approaches into an efficient state of defence, I do not think it would be any very great hardship upon us, considering that upon that condition these waste lands would be given over to us, if we were to pay one fourth of that amount on the condition that the Imperial Government would guarantee a loan to be raised for that purpose.
I assume that under these circumstances the money could be raised at a very low rate of interest, and supposing we are worth £300,000 or £350,000 a year, it would make no great difference to our finances.
I am sure you will all agree with me that it would be a very serious thing if this island were subjected to a successful, or indeed, an unsuccessful attack from any hostile power.
The suggestion I have thrown out I submit to the consideration of the Council.
Sir, in conclusion I cordially echo the language in the speech from the chair which expressed a hope that the cordial co-operation of the members of this Council with the Governor will tend to the prosperity of this colony.
I am quite sure, sir, as I said before, that the committees will tend greatly to the efficiency of the Government. I am sure, sir, our thanks, and the thanks of the colony, are due to His Excellency the Governor for the great interest that he has taken, as my hon. friend Mr. Ryrie has justly remarked, in all matters affecting the welfare of the colony, and not only that, but in stimulating the interest of the public of this community in all public matters.
Sir, he will have done a great deal if by exciting that public interest he has done something to wean us, the members of this community, from that devotion to our business and private affairs, which is admirable in itself, but which, I venture to say, does not release us from those responsibilities, and from performing those duties, which every citizen owes to the community to which he belongs.
(Hear, hear, and applause).
The COLONIAL TREASURER-I rise, sir, to answer the question of my hon. friend with regard to the opium revenue.