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the old agreement would shortly have left the ser- vice. There were a great number still, however, in the colony who were under that agreement.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVINO advised the revision of salaries counted in sterling and appointments made on a sterling basis on a demand rate basis. The CHAIRMAN said there had been a revision ia Singapore, and salaries had been increased 25 per cent.
Hon. B. LAYTON said that the revenue of the colony was reckoned on the currency basis, and he thought salaries should be reckoned on s similar basis. He would be prepared to do as had been done in Singapore, and increase the salaries 20 per cent. It might possibly happeш that in a few years exchange might be still lower. This question was cropping up year after year, and he thought it would be better if they settled the matter once for all.
The ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE called attention to the fact that under Ordinancs 13 of 1880 in the Civil list, which was in sterling, the Govornor's salary was put down at £5,000, whereas in the Estimates it was put down as $24,000. Other officials in the Civil list were treated in the same manner. These salaries were fixed in sterling when the dollar averaged about 4s. 6d. or even tuore, and no change had since taken place. On the other hand in the military contribution the dollar was taken at 38. Od.
The CHAIRMAN said the clerk would take a note of the representations of Mr. Ryrie and Mr. Layton, and the matter would be brought to the notice of the Governor.
MILITARY EXPENDITURE AND INTEREST ON
LOAN AND SINKING FUND.
The votes from the Military Expenditure aud · Interest on Loan ond Sinking Funk were passod, The CHAIRMAN explained that the loan was paid at the rate of 3/2." This rate was stipulated. It was got at 4 per cent, and the terms were very advantageous.
EXTRAORDINARY EXPENDITURE.
On the item of $50,000 as the estimate re- quired for 1889 for the drainage on the separate system,
Hon. B. LATTON asked if the Surveyor- General could give any information about this scheme. He understood it was a matter upon which there were different opinions about. Before voting this sum they ought to know some- thing more,
been an elaborate report addressed to the Go- vernor, which explained the whole matter.
The COLONTAL SECRETARY promised it should be laid on the table.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING said the general opinion of the colony was that the separate system was not required here.
Hon. B. LAYTON said there was an idea that the Sanitary Surveyor had converted the autho- rities here on this question,
The CHAIRMAN promised that the report con- taining full information on the matter should
be laid on the table at the next meeting.
Hon. J. BELL-JRVING-Will the pail system
of dealing with night-soil be done away with when you have sepurate sowers?
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL-No, it will not affect the bucket system.
The CHAIRMAN-There will be one system for sewage and one for rain water.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING-What sewage have
we here if the night-soil is taken away?
The CHAIRMAN-There is sullage water. The SURVEYOR-GENENAL—When the report is laid on the table members will obtain detailed information on the whole matter.
The Estimate was agreed to.
With regard to the vote for the Central and Western markets, the SURVEYOR-GENERAL said the total cost of the New Central Market would be about $120,000 and the one in the West- ern district would cost about the same sum.
On the item for Police Stations at Aberdeen, Kennedy Town, and Quarry Bay,
Hon. W. M. DUANE, with reference to the vote for a station at the latter place, said he really thought the sum could have been better expend- el in providing suitable accommodation for the unfortunate married constables in the force. At
present they were only allowed $15 per month, and many of them were compelled to live on the first floor of Chinese houses.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL Said the Police Sta- tion at Quarry Bay bad been promised a very long time and was very necessary. The Colony was rapidly extending in that direction. At the same time this was no reason why these men should not be properly provided for.
The SURVETOR-GENERAL said an item which had appeared in the Estimates of former years, Police Building extension, was omitted this year.! At the direction of the Chairman the clerk took a note to insert this item in the estimates. With regard to the item of $13,626 for defence works, the CHAIRMAN said this was the balanco of the Colony's contribution to these works.
Hou J. BELL-IRVING asked who was going
to pay for the upkeep of these works.
The CHAIRMAN said that he understood that the Colony was not to contribute except to the building of these works. The Colony was not · to pay for the upkeep.
With rogard to the vote of $35,000 for a filter bed for Pokfuluru Reservoir, the Surveyor- General, in reply to a question from Hon. J. Boll-Irving, assured him that there was no truth in the stories which had been circulated about the growths in the reservoir.
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With regard to the vote of $40,000 for 12 pub- latrines, the Surveyor-General admitted that the cost appeared somewhat great, bu pointed out to members the expense incurred in preparing votes.
The Estimate was approved.
THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.
The CHAIRMAN said there was another point to bring before the Committee, and that was the question of a contribution to the Imperial In- stitute, alluded to by the Governor in his mes- sage. He would be pleased to hear the opinion of members on the matter.
Hon. B. LAYTON said he thought it was a de- serving object. If they were to believe all they heard it was going to do wonders. Even Heligoland subscribed, and he did not think it would do for Hongkong to make itself singular by standing out. He did not suppose they would be expected to give much. They could see what the other colonies were going to give before decid- ing. There had been a great deal of enthusiasm over the matter at home at first, but it seemed to have died away.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER-There was much dissension as to the site. Many thought it should be in the city and more central.
The ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE surgested that £2.000 might be a reasonable sum to subscribe.
Hon. B. LAYTON-Did yon say dollars ? The ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE-No, pounds. Hon. B. LAYTON-I think that is more than we can afford,
The CHAIRMAN-The object is that it would be a place where morchiants might come and see what is required by the different Colonies, what the price are, and whom they can do business with. Hon. B. LAYTON--That is not my experience
of how commercial affairs are conducted.
The CHAIRMAN-That is the object of the German institution-thata German manufacturer may see what is wanted in the various places, what is the quality and prics.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING-T think we might have such an institution in Hongkong as they propose having in Shanghai. It would be an advantage to the Chinese to see what we pro- duce. We do not care so much about home manufacturers. However, I would subscribe to the institution, as other colonies are doing so.
Hon. P. RYRIE said there was a great deal of clap-trap about this institution. If a manufac- turer in Manchester or Leeds wanted to know what goods were consumed in China, he would take a different means of gaining information than by going to such an institution. le ap- plied to some mercantile man in London or else- where who had relations with the country or to the agent of the firm he wished to deal with. No one would order goods on a sample he saw in an exhibition.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL Said there was dis- cussion at home about agricultural implements that were sent home by the Consul in Japan
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