416
C.A.O.
1262 of 1886.
0.5,0.
2595 of 1885.
C.3.0.
1376 of 1894.
Ma. Doc.
1234 of 1886.
(2.) Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:-
W. H. MARSH,
The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $522 for the temporary employment of a Land Surveyor, for the purpose of obtaining particulars of the acreage of the ground, and nature of the localities, occupied by unlicensed Squatters as required by the Land Commission, viz.:—
Salary at $150 per month, for 3 months.
Chair allowance at $24 per month for 3 months,
Government House, Hongkong, 12th November, 1886.
$450.00
$
72.00
522.00
After explanations by the Chairman, the Committee recommend that the amount be voted.
(3.) Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:-
W. H. MARSH.
The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $150 as a honorarium to Mr. BRUCE SHEPHERD, for services rendered to the Commission under the Chefoo Convention.
This honorarium is recommended by His Honor Mr. Justice RUSSELL, one of the Commissioners under the Chefoo Convention. Mr. BRUCE SHEPHERD having taken short hand notes of the proceedings, and performed a great deal of work of a very confidential nature, which could only be entrusted to a responsible person.
Government House, Hongkong, 12th November, 1886.
After explanations by the Chairman, the Committee recommend that the amount be voted.
(4.) Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:-
W. H. MARSH.
The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $11,500, the estimated cost of constructing a strong granite retaining wall on the northern face of the cliff upon which the Government Hospital buildings are built.
The last rain-storm having caused serious damage among the cliff, which is now nearly perpendicular, it is beyond doubt that the wall of retaining and the road before it might be threatened by another landslip.
Government House, Hongkong, 12th November, 1886.
After explanations by the Surveyor General, the Committee recommend that the amount be voted.
(5.) Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:-
W. H. MARSH.
The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $150 for the employment of a temporary Copying Clerk, to copy both Chinese and English, for four months, in connection with the valuation at present in progress.
Government House, Hongkong, 12th November, 1886.
After explanations by the Treasurer, the Committee recommend that the amount be voted.
Extraordinary Public Works.
The Chief Justice draws attention to the fact that the Committee have not yet had placed before them the list of Extraordinary Public Works mentioned in their Report on the Estimates for 1887.
The Surveyor General states that the list is being prepared, and will be submitted at an early date.
The Committee is then adjourned sine die.
Read and confirmed this 19th day of November, 1886.
ARATHOON SETH,
Clerk of Councils.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Chairman.
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE,
C.O.
1526
AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG, On the 26th November, 1886.
PRESENT:
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART), Chairman.
His Honour the Chief Justice (SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt.).
The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD),
the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).
the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE).
HENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N.
PHINEAS RYRIE.
FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.
WONG SHING.
ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN.
JOHN BELL-IRVING.
The Committee meet this day at the request of the Acting Colonial Secretary.
The Report of the proceedings of the last Meeting, held on the 19th instant, being taken as read, is confirmed.
(1.) The Surveyor General reports with reference to the Minute of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, dated the 16th instant, respecting a vote for $200 for repairs to the Police Rifle Range at Kowloon, that he has funds on hand for the work and that the work will be proceeded with at once.
In connection with this question Mr. MacEwen enquires whether any separate vote was taken to fit the place for the use of the Volunteers.
The Chairman says that he is unable at this moment to reply to the inquiry, but that the papers will be looked up.
(2.) Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:-
W. H. MARSH.
The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote a transfer of the sum of $253 from the Registrar General's Department to the Treasury, to defray the expenses of collecting Municipal Rates at Villages.
This service which has hitherto been performed by the Registrar General's Department is now carried on by the Treasury; therefore a transfer vote is required, viz.:--
2672 of 1885.
Allowance to Collector,
Salary of a Coolie,
Petty expenses,
Government House, Hongkong, 26th November, 1886.
$120.00
108.00
25.00
$ 253.00
The Committee see no objection to the transfer of this vote.
(3.) Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:-
W. H. MARSH.
The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $12,176 to pay the expenses incurred in making good the damages caused by the rain-storm of the 15th of July last, to roads, streets, bridges, and sewers.
In former years the practice has been to assess the damages at the time, and apply for a supplementary vote. This year, however, this practice has been deviated from, and the alternative adopted of seeing how far the ordinary votes for Public Works could be made to meet this extraordinary demand, leaving the balance only, which could not be met from ordinary sources, to be voted as Extraordinary Expenditure.