30
8th. That the Governor or Officer administering the Government of the Colony shall direct a Board of Government of not less than three in number, to assemble at the Mint at the expiration of each quarter for the inspection of the Star Bullion and Coin in the Mint, and report on the same to him, stating the exact amounts of the balance of each description verified by them.
9th. That the salaries specified as under shall be added to the Civil List
The Master of the Mint per annum.-$6,720. £1,400.
The Superintendent of the Bullion Office.-$3,840. £800.
The Assayer. $3,840. £800.
The Superintendent of the Coining Department.-$3,840. £800.
The Superintendent of the Melting Department.-$3,840. £800.
10th. That such other Officers and Servants of the Mint as may be appointed shall be paid such Salaries as may be approved by the Governor with the approval of the Secretary of State, and that such Salaries shall be borne on the annual estimates
(Copy.)
From Sir Frederick Rogers to Mr. Hamilton.
DOWNING STREET, 6th June, 1863.
SIR,-I am directed by the Duke of Newcastle to transmit to you for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury the Draft of an Ordinance for establishing a Mint in Hongkong, which has been drawn up by Sir Hercules Robinson after communication with the Master of the Imperial Mint.
I am also to annex a copy of the letter submitting the Ordinance to the Duke of Newcastle, and I am to state that his Grace would wish to be informed whether their Lordships approve of the appointments which Sir H. Robinson proposes to make, as well as of the Salaries which he recommends should be assigned to the several Officers.--I am, &c.,
G. A. HAMILTON, ESQ.,
&c., &c., &c.
(Signed) F. ROGERS.
The Right Hon'ble F. Peel, M.P., to Sir F. Rogers.
TREASURY CHAMBERS, 23rd June, 1863.
SIR, With reference to your letter of the 6th instant I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of the Duke of Newcastle, that my Lords approve of the provisions of the proposed Ordinance for establishing a Mint at Hongkong.
Their Lordships also approve of the proposed appointments of Superintending Officers and of the Salaries proposed to be assigned to them, which my Lords are assured are as low as will be required to command the services of efficient persons for the technical duties which they will be required to discharge.
My Lords concur in the suggestion of the Master of the Mint communicated by Sir Hercules Robinson that a Master of the Mint should be appointed at once in order that the arrangements to be made in this Country preliminary to the establishment of a Mint should be carried out under his immediate supervision.
My Lords consider that the success of the measure will greatly depend on the efficiency of the person selected for this important post, and they suggest that practical acquaintance with the sciences of chemistry, metallurgy and mechanics should be regarded as essential qualifications for the post, in order that the Master may not only be able to control the operations of the other Principal Officers, but be able to assume the immediate direction of those operations in cases of leave of absence, illness or other causes.
I am further to suggest that in engaging the Services of the Master and other Officers some understanding should be come to regarding their return to England in the possible event of the Mint being closed after a sufficient trial. I am, &c.,
(Signed) F. PEEL.
SIR F. ROGERS, BART,
&c., &c., &c.
No. 160-Financial.
HONGKONG, 25th August, 1863.
MY LORD DUKE.--I have the honor to acknowledge your Grace's despatch No. 88 of 8th July last, in continuation of "Confidential" 19th April, 1863, on the subject of the establishment of a Mint in this Colony.
2. I shall of course see that your Grace's instructions are carried out, and the correspondence shall be duly placed before the Legislative Council, when the Draft Ordinance shall also be submitted for adoption by that body.
3. But as this Ordinance can be passed at any time and there is no immediate occasion for it, your Grace's instructions being that nothing is to be done under it until receipt of further directions, I trust your Grace will approve my delaying for the time the application to the Council.
4. No inconvenience, so far as I see, can arise from this, as care shall be taken that the Council and the public have a sufficiently early opportunity of considering the question, and in the meantime our information on the subject (at present but scanty) will possibly be increased from various quarters.
5. I take occasion to ask if it be necessary to retain the word "Silver" in the first paragraph of the Draft Ordinance. It seems to me that if a regular Mint be established here, it would be well to have out the dies already made for the Coin, and thus do away with the inconsistency of manufacturing one silver Coin in Hongkong and one copper in England.
I have the honor to be, My Lord Duke, your Grace's most obedient Servant,
W. T. MERCER,
His Grace THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, K.G.,
&c.,
&c.,
Hongkong-No. 148.
&c.
DOWNING STREET, 8th November, 1863.
SIR,-I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 160 of the 25th August, respecting the Draft Ordinance for the establishment of a Mint in Hongkong. I have to instruct you to lay the correspondence which has passed on the subject before your Council, and to submit the Ordinance for their approval.
Mr. Hamilton to Sir F. Rogers.
TREASURY CHAMBERS, 2nd November, 1863.
With reference to your letter of the 28th ultimo, transmitting copy of a communication from the Acting Governor of Hongkong on the subject of the Draft Ordinance proposed to be submitted to the Legislature of that Colony for the establishment of a Mint at Hongkong, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to request that you will observe to the Duke of Newcastle that the object of the proposed Ordinance is to regulate the issue of silver Coins from the Mint at Hongkong, and that the enacting clauses depend on the recital in the first clause regarding the purpose for which the Master of that Mint is to be appointed.
It would not be proper therefore to omit the word "Silver" from the first clause as proposed in the despatch of the Acting Governor Mercer, but there would be no objection to the insertion of an additional clause, or to the passing hereafter of a further Ordinance authorising the Coinage at the Mint of silver or copper Token Coins according to the terms of the last Proclamation For the regulation of the currency of Hongkong.--I am, &c.,
(Signed) GEO. A. HAMILTON.
SIR F. ROGERS, BART.
&c., &c., &c.
The Officer administering the Government of Hongkong,
With regard to the alteration which you suggest in the first paragraph of the Ordinance, I transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Treasury, to whom your despatch was referred, from which you will observe that it would not be proper to omit the word "Silver" from the first clause, although there would be no objection to the insertion of an additional clause, or to the passing of a further Ordinance to authorize the coinage of silver or copper Token Coins in Hongkong--I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient humble Servant,
NEWCASTLE.
30
Sth. That the Governor or Officer administering the Government of the Colony shall direct a Board of Government Of not less than three in number, to assemble at the Mint at the expiration of each quarter for the inspection of the star Bullion and Coin in the Mint, and report on the same to him, stating the exact amounts of the balance of each descri verified by them.
9th. That the salaries specified as under shall be added to the Civil List
The Master of the Mint per annum.-$0,720. £1,400.
The Superintendent of the Bullion Office.-$3,840. £800.
The Assayer. 83,840. £800.
The Superintendent of the Coining Department.-$3,840. £800. The Superintendent of the Melting Department.-$3,840. £800.
10th. That such other Officers and Servants of the Mint as may be appointed shall be paid such Salaries as may be by the Governor with the approval of the Secretary of State, and that such Salaries shall be borne on the annual estimates
(Copy.)
From Sir Frederick Rogers to Mr. Hamilton.
DOWNING STREET, 6th June, 1863. SIR-I am directed by the Duke of Newcastle to transmit to you for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners Treasury the Draft of an Ordinance for establishing a Mint in Hongkong, which has been drawn up by Sir Hercules Robi after communication with the Master of the Imperial Mint.
I am also to annex a copy of the letter submitting the Ordinance to the Duke of Newcastle, and I am to state: his Grace would wish to be informed whether their Lordships approve of the appointments which Sir II. Robinson prop to make, as well as of the Salaries which he recommends should be assigned to the several Officers.--I am, &c.,
G. A. HAMILTON, ESQ.,
&c., &c., &c.
(Copy.)
(Signed) F. ROGERS.
The Right Hon'ble F. Peel, M. P., to Sir F. Rogers.
TREASURY CHAMBERS, 23rd June, 1803 SIR, With reference to your letter of the 6th instant I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Maje Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of the Duke of Newcastle, that my Lords approve of the provisions of the prop Ordinance for establishing a Mint at Hongkong.
Their Lordships also approve of the proposed appointments of Superintending Officers and of the Salaries proposed assigned to them which my Lords are assured are as low as will be required to command the services of efficient persons for techinical duties which they will be required to discharge.
My Lords concur in the suggestion of the Master of the Mint communicated by Sir Hercules Robinson that a Maste the Mint should be appointed at once in order that the arrangements to be made in this Country preliminary to the estab ment of a Mint should be carried out under his immediate supervision.
My Lords consider that the success of the measure will greatly depend on the efficiency of the person selected for this, portant post, and they suggest that practical acquaintance with the sciences of chemistry, metallurgy and mechanics shoul regarded as essential qualifications for the post, in order that the Master may not only be able to control the operation the other Principal Officers, but be able to assume the immediate direction of those operations in cases of leave of absencei illness or other causes.
I am further to suggest that in engaging the Services of the Master and other Officers some understanding should be to regarding their return to England in the possible event of the Mint being closed after a sufficient trial. I am, &c., (Signed) F. PEEL.
SIR F. ROGERS, BART,
&c., &c., &c.
No. 160-Financial.
HONGKONG, 25th August, 1803.
MY LORD DUKE.--I have the honor to acknowledge your Grace's despatch No. 88 of 8th July last, in continuatio "Confidential" 19th April, 1863, on the subject of the establishment of a Mint in this Colony.
2. I shall of course see that your Grace's instructions are carried out, and the correspondence shall be duly pl before the Legislative Council, when the Draft Ordinance shall also be submitted for adoption by that body.
3. But as this Ordinance can be passed at any time and there is no immediate occasion for it, your Grace's instruc being that nothing is to be done under it until receipt of further directions, I trust your Grace will approve my delaying time the application to the Council.
4. No inconvenience, so far as I see, can arise from this, as care shall be taken that the Council and the public have and sufficiently early opportunity of considering the question, and in the meantime our information on the subject (at sent but scanty) will possibly be increased from various quarters.
5. I take occasion to ask if it be necessary to retain the word "Silver" in the first paragraph of the Draft Ordinanc it seems to me that if a regular Mint be established here, it would be well to have out the dies already made for the Coin, and thus do away with the inconsistency of manufacturing one silver Coin in Hongkong and one copper in England, have the honor to be, My Lord Duke, your Grace's, most obedient Servant,
His Grace THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, K. G.,
&c.,
&c.,
Hongkong-No. 148.
&c.
W. T. MERCER,
DOWNING STREET, 8th November, 1863
SIR,I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 160 of the 25th August, respecting the Draft Ordits for the establishment of a Mint in Hongkong. I have to instruct you to lay the correspondence which has passed on the sub before your Council, and to submit the Ordinance for their approval.
Mr. Hamilton to Sir F. Rogers.
TREASURY CHAMBERS, 2nd November, 1863. R-With reference to your letter of the 28th ultimo, transmitting copy of a communication from the Acting Governor Songkong on the subject of the Draft Ordinance proposed to be submitted to the Legislature of that Colony for the estab- ent of a Mint at Hongkong, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to request that you will oferve to the Duke of Newcastle that the object of the proposed Ordinance is to regulate the issue of silver Coins from the M at Hongkong, and that the enacting clauses depend on the recital in the first clause regarding the purpose for which the Master of that Mint is to be appointed.
It would not be proper therefore to omit the word "Silver" from the first clause as proposed in the despatch of Acting vernor Mercer, but there would be no objection to the insertion of an additional clause, or to the passing hereafter of a further hance authorising the Coinage at the Mint of silver or copper Token Coins according to the terms of the last Proclamation For the regulation of the currency of Hongkong.--I am, &c.,
GEO. A. HAMILTON.
SIR F. ROGERS, BART.
&c., &c., &c.
(Signed)
The Officer administering the Government of Hongkong,
With regard to the alteration which you suggest in the first paragraph of the Ordinance, I transmit to you a copf letter from the Treasury, to whom your depatch was referred, from which you will observe that it would not be proper the word "Silver" from the first clause, although there would be no objection to the insertion of an additional clause, passing of a further Ordinance to authorize the coinage of silver or copper Token Coins in Hongkong—I have the honor to Sir, your most obedient humble Servant,
to
or tai
NEWCASTLE.
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