CO129-168 - Sir Kennedy - 1874 [9-12] — Page 453

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VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG.

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No. 14 or 1874.

FRIDAY, 13TH NOVEMBER, 1874.

PRESENT: ann

Hesoralle the Colonial Secrets our Che Ah 3

e Honorable the Attorney General (Jon Bramston).

The Honorable the Colonial Treasurer (CECIL CLEMENTI SMITH).

he Honorable Pineas Ryrie.

he Honorable RICHARD ROWETT.

e Honorable WILLIAM HASTINGS ALEXANDER.

The Honorable JAMES WHITTALL.

ABSENT:

Excellency the Governor (SIR ARTHUR Edward KENNEDY, K.C.M.G., C.B.)

The Honorable the Chief Justice (SIR Joun Smale),—absent on leave.

The Council incets this day at 2.30 PM, by Special Summons.

448

The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, in taking the Chair, reads a letter from His Excellency the

Governor stating his inability to attend the Council.

Honorable JAMES WHITTALL begs, on behalf of the Council, to express the sympathy which the Members feel for the cause which has prevented Ilis Excellency from being present at the meeting.

The Minutes of the Council held on the 26th October, are read, corrected, and confirmed.

The Appropriation Bill for 1875 is read a second time.

The Honorable the Colonial Treasurer brings up the Report of the Sub-Committee appointed to

consider and report upon the Estimates for the ensuing year, which is as follows:-

REPORT.

Having examined the proposed Estimates for 1875, we beg to recommend the following few alterations in the Votes for the Establishments:--

Harbor Department.

Gunpowder Dépôt,-Two additional Chinese Sailors at $96 each,.........$192.00

Educational Department.

Personal Allowance to Chiu-chi-Yeung, Teacher of English,......................

Medical Department.

One additional Inspector of Nuisances,...........

.$240.00

.$600.00

We understand that the salary of the "Official Trustee is fixed by the Governor in Council at £50, subject, however, to reconsideration if the duties of the Office increase during the ensuing Twelve months.

We have not deemed it expedient to suggest any alteration in the Estimates for the Police Establishment, but while acknowledging the happy hamunity which the Colony enjoys from serious crime, we think that having regard to the size, population, and Revenue of the Colony, the Expenditure on the Police Force is still much too great. In what way, however, retrenchment can best be carried out must be left to the Executive, to whom the consideration of the subject is earnestly recommended.

Among the Votes for Public Works, we are of opinion, that the amount proposed to be expended on the Public Gardens and Plantations should be reduced to $2,000.

The Members of the Sub-Committee hare confined their enquiries to the details of the Estimates, as laid before the Council at its last accting, which, with the exceptions and alter- ations referred to, meets with their approval."

Note.

CECIL C. SMITH, CHAS. MAY. PHINEAS RYRIE. JAS. WHITTALL.

With reference to several of the items of the Estimates I approve only of the amounts;

it is

my

intention to object to them in Council upon other grounds.

Conncil Chamber, 5th November, 1874.

PHINEAS RYRIE.