CO129-128 - Public Offices & Others - 1867 — Page 713

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THE NEW ORDINANCES.

time

The New Ordinances were then read a first time They were:

The Estimate for 1867.

The Harbour and Coasts Ordinance,

The Registration Ordinance.

The Piracy Court Ordinance.

nance.

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710

It does not appear that the Governor gave any ex- planation of the intent of this clause or that it attract.

ttention in the Council, or elsewhere, at this time. The following extract from the leading article of the Evening Mail of 28th July, 1866 will show that there was no suspicion in the Colony that the clause was trained to confer upon the Governor power to introduce so remarkable an innovation as licensing gambling in this colony.

The Order and Cleanliness Ordinance. The Vacation of the Supreme Court Ordi. ¿

"It hus seldom happened that any Ordinances have (See "Evening Mail" July 26, 1867) been promulgated in this Colony which have given such universal satisfaction as those read on Wednes- The Ordinance for the Maintainance of Order and day last at the meeting of the Legislative Council. Cleanliness, was of a miscellaneous character; giving The Colony at large and the local press, as ochoing power to the Governor to pay Rewards to the Police its opinious are unanimous in praising the compre and to Informers; providing that Juvenile Offenders hensiveness of the scheme embodied in the new regu should be privately whipped in certain cases; prolations respecting piracy (Harbour and Coasts Ordi- hibiting the keeping of Pigs within the city of Vitomance) and the Registration of native vessels; while ria, &c., &c., &c. Towards its close the following very it may be confidently supposed that the texts of the important clause relative to Gambling is found, viz: other Crdinances respecting the "Registration" and "And whereas the Evils of Gambling in the Colony Order and cleanliness of the native section of the in- are found to be on the increase notwithstanding the habitants will prove equally satisfactory."

At this time (and until Dec. 3 when one ceased to application of the Penal Laws in force for their Pra vention, and it is expedient to devise and adopt further exist) there were three daily newspapers in Hong- measures for the gradual Control and ultimate Sukong, all of which were represented by Reporters in pression thereof; Be it therefore enacted that it shalt the Legislative Council room. be lawful for the Governor in Council from time to time to frame and pass such Rulos, Regulations and Conditions as may be deemed expedient for the to Suppression or in the meanwhile for the better Limur tation and Control of Gambling in this Colony, wit Power from time to time to alter and amend s Rules and Regulations or repeal the same or any pa

thereof."

But after careful

search no trace can be found of any reference having been inade to the government intention to license gambling, either in reports of the meetings of Conncil outside of it, during the whole of 1866 and up to a late date in 1867.

In the spring of this year, a rumour was abroad that the government meant to introduce some new legislation respecting gambling: as appears by the