2. 701
And Whereas it has not been shown to this Council that any adequate or any urgent necessity existed for the payment of the said monies on that date without the authority of this Council, and no sufficient reason has been assigned or explanation given for not calling together this Council and obtaining a vote of the money.
Now, therefore, we, the under-signed official members of Council, in our places in Council, as the Representatives of the public interest and as the lawfully constituted Guardians of the public purse, and for the preservation of the rights of this Honorable Council, solemnly protest against the action of His Excellency the Governor in issuing his Warrant, without the authority of this Council, for the payment of the said sum of Twenty thousand Pounds Sterling additional Military Contribution, and against the payment of the said monies.
We have further most earnestly to protest against the action of His Excellency the Governor in concealing from this Council until its meeting on the 30th April last, and until a question had been put on the subject, the fact that this money had been paid, on his authority, on the 21st of February last; in laying on the Council Table, on the 25th February last, a Minute recommending the vote by the Council, of this additional Military Contribution for 1890, being silent as to the payment, the Minute being...