CO885-(7-8) — Page 255

Enclosure 1 in No. 9.

407

8

of £500 from Public Fands as a donation from this colony, a step which the members of Council cordially agreed to, and I accordingly sent you a telegram this morning, with this object, and suggesting if you approved of the vote that the Crown Agents should be instructed to pay the amount to the Fund.

I have, &c.,

R. B. LLEWELYN,

Administrator.

9

I trust that you will have no objection to undertake the distribution desired by the Colony,

The money was remitted to the Crown Agents on 20th instant.

I have, &c.,

J. A. SWETTENHAM.

Enclosure in No. 8.

PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

Reference :-

7

JLLLLICO.885

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||

The Honourable S. J. FORSTER, Unofficial Member, Legislative Council to His Excellency Sir R. B. LLEWELYN, K.C.M.G., Administrator.

SIR,

A

Government House, Bathurst, Gambia,

December 7, 1899.

As the Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council of this Colony I have the honour of addressing Your Excellency on a matter which is just now occupying the most serious attention of Her Majesty's Government, to wit, the War with the Dutch Republic in South Africa.

On behalf of myself and the other members of this Colony whom I have the distinguished privilege of representing at the Legislative Council, I beg most respectfully to lay before our Excellency an earnest suggestion which I need hardly say will meet the unanimous and most enthusiastic reception of Her Majesty's most loyal subjects of this Colony.

I, in conjunction with many others of this Colony, have read from time to time with feelings of the deepest concern, from telegrams and newspapers, the news of the many homes which have been thrown into deep distress by the loss of brave and dutiful men who have not hesitated to give their lives for the good of their flag and country. As the war goes on it is to be anticipated that many other homes will suffer likewise.

I beg most humbly therefore to propose that a substantial sum of money out of the Surplus Funds of the Colony be voted by Your Excellency in Council towards the War Relief Funds which have been initiated in England for the amelioration of the sufferings of the widows and orphans who have been rendered destitute by the severity of the war now being waged with the Dutch Republics in South Africa.

We have not the men to contribute to the war in South Africa as other more favoured possessions of the Crown, but we can at least give substantial proof in money of our loyalty, and thus demonstrate that the Queen and the flag are as much, venerated in our small Colony as in the more important possessions of the Empire.

In anticipation of Your Excellency's most favourable consideration of this, my humble suggestion,

No. 75.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

Paper to be laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Honour the Officer Administering the Government.

TELEGRAM from His Honour the OFFICER ADMINISTERING The Government to ACTING RESIDENT COUNCILLOR, Penang.

(Dated, December 16, 1899.)

"If you agree propose to vote dollars 50,000 for relief of those connected with Expeditionary Force in South Africa. Distribution at discretion of Secretary of State. You had better consult members of Legislative Council. Telegraph reply.”

TELEGRAM from the ACTING RESIDENT COUNCILLOR, Penang, to His Honour the OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT.

(Received, December 18, 1899.)

'Referring to your telegram South Africa agree unanimously.”

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

1859

No. 9.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

I have, &c., &c.,

S. J. FORSTER.

ACTING-GOVENOR SIR J. A. SWETTENHAM to MR. CHAMBERLAIN, (No. 463.)

(Received January 17, 1900.)

[Answered by No. 11.]

Singapore, December 21, 1899.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to report that, at the suggestion of several of the unofficial members of the Legislative Council, I consulted the members at Penang

as to the desirability of voting funds for the relief of those connected with Her Majesty's forces now resisting hostile invasions in South Africa, and, on receiving their assent, I requested the Colonial Secretary to propose a vote of $50,000 for this purpose.

The vote was carried unanimously in the Legislative Council on the 19th, and I enclose herewith copy of the correspondence laid on the table, copy of the motion carried and copy of the telegram which notified the result to you,

• No. 1.

Enclosure 2 in No. 9. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, December 19, 1899, 2.30 p.m. Supplementary Order of the Day.

The Colonial Secretary to move the following Resolution :——

"That a sum of fifty thousand dollars be charged to the general revenue of the Colony and remitted to the Secretary of State to be distributed at his discretion (by contributions to funds or otherwise) for the relief of those connected with Her Majesty's Expeditionary Forces in South Africa."

E. G., BROADRICK,

Council Chamber,

Singapore, December 16, 1899.

Enclosure 3 in No. 9.

TELEGRAM.

Clerk of Councils.

Legislative Council has agreed unanimously in vote of credit dollars 50,000 for relief

of those connected with Expeditionary Force in South Africa, distribution (among) at discretion of Secretary of State as a contribution to funds or otherwise.

1897

R

2135

10