there was a considerable increase. In the first place, there was the salary of an Assistaut Su- perintendent, $1,440. The Sanitary Board had recommended that an epidemic hospital should be erected, and that necessitated pro- vision being made for some one to take charge. Ordinarily the Assistant Superintendent would give his services at the Civil Hospital, but if an epidemic broke out he would be transferred to the epidemic hospital. There was also an ad- dition for what had been talked about for a long time, European female nurses. He thought it probable that within two months these nurses would be here; they were Sisters of Charity from Saigon, but the Lady Superior must get nurses from France to take their places at Saigon be- fore she could transfer them:
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING-Then it is the same
as at Shanghai.
The CRAIRMAN-Yes, the sisters are coming from the same institution, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Hon. B. LAITON-It will be a great blessing to the patients.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING-I suppose there is no objection on the score of religion.
The CHAIRMAN-No, I think that has quite dis- appeared now, and I think it was a very silly one. Hou. B. LAYTON-There has been no objec- tion at Shanghai.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING-There was at one time. The CHAIRMAN-Some difficulty was caused by Dr. Atkinson saying they should be able to speak English, but the Secretary of State refer- red us to Singapore and Penang, where they have worked so well. They speak English sufficient- ly for the requirements, and they have the ad- vantage of being able to communicate with foreign patients.
The CHAIRMAN explained that the vote for the Lock Hospital used to be provided for under miscellaneous services and kept as a special item, but the Secretary of State had given orders that it was now to be part and par- cel of the Medical Department. The colony had now to pay the whole of the expenses, all fees under the Ordinance having been anoulled.
The vote was approved.
POLICE MAGISTRATES.
This vote was approved.
POLICE.
The CHAIRMAN explained the increases undor this heading, including eight additional Euro- pean constables, ten Tudian, and eight Chinese. Hon. W. M. DEANE said that most of this increase was nominal. Eight of the men employed by the Registrar-General, but had now been transferred to the police.
were
Hon. P. RYRIB-Certainly the police want
a much larger addition than that.
Hon. W. M. DEANE-We have no room to put them at present.
The CHAIRMAN said there was an item under the head of police which was another rosult of the Interpretation Committee's recommnenda- tions. $1,000 additional was put down for special knowledge of Chinese to give greater encourage- ment to the meu to learn the language, and there was a similar sum set down in connection with the gaol.
The vote was approved.
GAOL.
The CHAIRMAN said there was an increase bere of $720 in the salary of the Superintendent. The reason given by the Superintendent was that when he came out here he was informed he would have a house, He had not a bouse of the size he expected, and he cannot keep his family hero. The result is that he has to keep up two houses. The other increases had been seriously called for for a long time.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING-Yes, 1 think the men ware underpaid.
The CHAIRMAN-There is no doubt that now we shall be able to get better men. Sometimes now we get very good men.
Ion. J. BELL-IRVING-Do you get them here? The CHAIRMAN—Yes.
Hon. J. BALL-IRVING-Discharged sailors ? The CHAIRMAN-Yes, and sometimes they are very good men, but with the improved salaries we shall be able to get better men all round.
Hon. W. M. DEANE remarked, in connection with the Superintendent's salary, that the Police
Magistrates were rather overlooked in compari- son with the Superintendent of the Gaol. The former got only $3,840, and the latter $4,080.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING asked if the $180 ad- ditional was in lieu of the present house.
The CHAIRMAN said it was not in lieu of any. thing. It was additional.
Hon. P. RYRIE asked if the inquiry about the late attempted escape of convicts was satisfactory, The CHAIRMAN said there had been an inquiry, Hon. W. M. DEANE said the matter was not finished yet. It would come before the Supreme Court, bat some of the men were still too ill to allow of the case being gone on with as yet.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL remarked that the proceedings in the Supreme Court would be with reference to the conduct of the accused, not that of the accusers.
Hon. P. RYBIE said he understood an inquiry had been held into the matter.
The CHAIRMAN said the whole thing seemed to have been about the ammunition. As far as everything else was concerned everyone seemed to have done bis duty.
The vote was approved.
FIRE BRIGADE.
The CHAIRMAN-The next is the vote for the Fire Brigade.
Hon. P. RYRIE-Now we are coming to the important part. A good deal has been done in raising the pay of the men, but you also want more meu, I don't know what Mr. Bell-Irving may say about it, but there has been some talk about the private brigade being abandoned.
The CHAIRMAN-The Government would be only too glad to hear any suggestion.
Hon. P. KYRIE-Up to the other day the brigade was not up to what it ought to have been for want of men.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING-It depends a good deal on when the new water supply comes, si that you will be able to fix the hose on the plugs. When will that be ready?
The CHAIRMAN-In November.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-It will make no difference to the Fire Brigade, because of the present distribution. Until we have a distribu- tion in view of Fire Brigade purposes it will make no difference. I noderstand there is to br no new distribution, but that the Tytam suppl is to be added on to the Pokfolum distribution.
The CHAIRMAN-But that distribution will be supplemented.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-How much P The CHAIRMAN-If Mr. Price had been here he could have explained it.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-With the pre- sent distribution you cannot make arrangements counting on fresh water, because there are many houses out of reach of the present distribution. Therefore all our arrangements are based on sea water; if there is frosh water too, so much the better, but we cannot count on it.
The CHAIRMAN-Shall we postpone this until Mr. Price is here?
Postponed.
SANITARY DEPARTMENT.
The CHAIRMAN said there was a large increase in this department caused by many items from miscellaneous services being transferred to it.
Hon. B. LAYTON pointed out that there was an item of salary for two watchmen at the Peak in regard to the conservancy contract. He did not think half-a-dozen would be sufficient.
After some discussion on this point it was de- cided to refer the matter to the Sanitary Board, by whom the appointment had been made.
The Committee then adjourned till Saturday, the 27th inst., at 3 p.m.
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