Page 488
MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
It occurs to me that before the Estimates are finally closed it might be possible to grant a sum in aid of the Institution, so far as the latter, by its Museum and Library, may be held to offer advantages of a valuable kind to the public.
It is very desirable that a person acquainted with such things should be early appointed as Librarian and Curator of the Museum, which latter, if well fitted up, would soon attract to it a large collection of interesting objects.
The fittings for a Museum are not, however, an easy, whilst they are certainly a costly matter. Things will require time, which is passing rapidly.
I am anxious to help any scheme likely to secure a Museum and Library at the City Hall, on liberal terms and such as may fairly entitle the Institution to a grant from the Colony.
... has quite a sufficient tendency already towards the almighty dollar. It would do the Community good to give them a slight "list over" the other way.
R. G. MACDONNELL.
30th September, 1868.
MINUTE BY COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Referred to Mr. RENNIE.
J. G. AUSTIN.
3rd October, 1868.
MINUTE BY MR. RENNIE.
Returned with answer. See C.S.O. No. 2669/68.
W. H. RENNIE, On behalf of the City Hall Committee.
LETTER OF MR. RENNIE, CHAIRMAN OF THE CITY HALL COMMITTEE, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
HONGKONG, 2nd October, 1868.
SIR,-His Excellency the Governor having been pleased to make enquiries as to the public Institutions comprised in the City Hall, I have the honour to state on behalf of the City Hall Committee, that the building, which is now nearly completed, has been erected at great cost by means of funds raised by public subscription, and that its sole object is to provide accommodation for various purposes which have hitherto been neglected.
As His Excellency is doubtless aware, the scheme was originated, in 1861, for supplying a want long felt here, of some large room or hall in which the public could come together and discuss questions of general interest. This scheme then became enlarged, and a Library and Museum were agreed to be added; for the former of which some valuable collections of books already existed in the Morrison Library and Asiatic Society's Library. These books were being destroyed for want of proper accommodation, and when re-bound and put in order will form a good nucleus around which, it is hoped, a comprehensive library will, ere long, be grouped.
The Museum is an institution urgently required in every large civilized town, and with the resources of China and Japan, about which so little is yet known, so close to us, we think such an institution here likely to be of great public benefit.
The remainder of the edifice consists of assembly rooms, a room for meetings of the Chamber of Commerce, and a hall for dramatic representations; in fact, the building is just such a one as, if a Municipality had been in existence here, would have been erected for Municipal purposes.
The management of the Institution is intended to be conducted on the most liberal footing. The public benefit was the object with which the money was subscribed, and that is the object it is intended to keep in view.
The very munificent subscriptions by which the undertaking has been forwarded will be exhausted on the completion of the building, and considering the depressed state of trade, and that nearly all those here are already contributors, we foresee much difficulty in providing for the fittings requisite to enable the Institution at once to enter on the sphere of its usefulness.
Examined and Certified to be correct.
W. WILSON,
Surveyor General.
Signed, sealed and delivered at Victoria, Hongkong, in the presence of
FRANCISCO DAS CHAGAS.
ALEX. TURING.
J. McDODALL.
P. RYRIE.
FRANCISCO DAS CHAGAS.
Registered.
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Page 489
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488
MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
and all other usual or necessary appurtenances, or in case they the said Lessees, their Exed Administrators or Assigns shall not have, within such first year as aforesaid, laid out and expR. AUST,It occurs to me that before the Estimates are finally closed it might be possible thereon the sum of Ten thousand Dollars, or in case the whole of such erections and buildings, RENNIE and the gentlemen having the management of the City Hall to shew cause for granting not be done and made to the satisfaction of the Surveyor of Her said Majesty, Her Heirs, Succ or Assigns or of such other person as the Governor shall in that behalf appoint, or in case thdvantages of a valuable kind to the public.
sum in aid of the Institution, so far as the latter, by its Museum and Library, may be held to messuage or tenement shall not have so as aforesaid been built and completely finished with
additions and appartenances as aforesaid, before the expiration of the said first year of the term he is very desirable that a person acquainted with such things should be early appointed as Li- granted according to the covenant herein before contained, and in case they the said Lessees and Curator of the Museum, which latter, if well fitted up, would soon attract to it a large Executors, Administrators or Assigns shall not, before the expiration of Six Calendar Monthstion of interesting objects.
R. G. MACDONNELL.
30th September, 1868.
after the said Surveyor of Her Majesty, Her Heirs, Successors or Assigns or such other person the fittings for a Museum are not, however, an easy whilst they are certainly a costly matter. Governor shall in that behalf appoint, shall have requested him so to do, at his and their own costs and charges in a good, substantial and workman-like manner have erected, built and comp am anxious to help any scheme likely to secure a Museum and Library at the City Hall,
things will require time, which is passing rapidly. finished fit for use, one or more such good, substantial and safe brick or stone messuage or tened on liberal terms and such as may fairly entitle the Institution to a grant from the Colony. messuages or tenements, as hereinbefore in that behalf mentioned, upon some part of the hereby demised, with proper fences, walls, sewers, drains and all other usual necessary appurte ong has quite a sufficient tendency already towards the almighty dollar. It would do the Com- or in case they the said Lessees, their Executors, Administrators or Assigns, shall not have,
y good to give them a slight "list over" the other way. such Six Calendar Months as aforesaid, laid out and expended thereon the sum of Ten tho Dollars, or in case the whole of such last mentioned erections and buildings shall not be don made to the satisfaction of the Surveyor of Her said Majesty, Her Heirs, Successors or Assigns, such other person as the Governor shall in that behalf appoint within such Six Calendar Mont last aforesaid, or in case of breach or non-performance of any or either of the other covenants, cla conditions, agreements or provisions herein contained, and by or on the part and behalf of the Lessees, their Executors, Administrators or Assigns to be kept, done and performed, then, a either of the said cases, from thenceforth, and at all times thereafter, it shall and may be lawful to for Her Majesty, Her Heirs, Successors or Assigns, by the Governor of Hongkong or other past October, 1868. duly authorized in that behalf, into and upon the said hereby demised premises, or any part the in the name of the whole, to re-enter, and the same to have again, retain, repossess and enjoy, Her or their first or former estate, as if these presents had not been made; and the said Lessees, Executors, Administrators and Assigns, and all other occupiers of the said premises, thereout thence utterly to expel, put out and amove, this Indenture or anything contained herein to the trary notwithstanding.
AND WHEREAS the demise herein before contained has been made by Her said Majest order that a fit and proper site may be had solely for the purposes of the said City Hall, and alth 3rd October, 1868. the value of the said site is considerable, the said demise has been made (of Her said Majesty's fav without pecuniary consideration, but upon the condition next hereinafter expressed, that is to say
MINUTE DY COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Referred to Mr. RENNIE.
J. G. AUSTIN.
MINUTE BY MR. HENNIE.
Returned with answer. See C.S.O. No. 2669/68.
W. H. RENNIE, On behalf of the City Hall Committee.
PROVIDED LASTLY that the said demised premises shall not nor shall any part thereTER OF MR. RENNIE, CHAIRMAN OF THE CITY HALL COMMITTEE, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. used for any other purpose than for a City Hall, and that in case the said demised premises or part thereof, shall hereafter be used for any purpose other than for a
HONGKONG, 2nd October, 1868. City Hall, then in every any such case the term, estate and interest hereby demised in the said premises shall there SIR,-His Excellency the Governor having been pleased to make enquiries as to the public nature absolutely cease and determine, and it shall and may be lawful for Her said Majesty, Her I Institutions comprised in the City Hall, I have the honour to state on behalf of the City Hall Successors and Assigns, by the Governor of Hongkong for the time being or other personmittee, that the building, which is now nearly completed, has been erected at great cost by means authorized in that behalf, into and upon the said demised premises or any part thereof in the nands raised by public subscription, and that its sole object is to provide accommodation for various the whole to re-enter, and the same to have again, retain, repossess and enjoy, as in Her or their purposes which have hitherto been neglected. or former estate, and as if these presents had not been made, and the said Lessees, their Execut As His Excellency is doubtless aware, the scheme was originated, in 1861, for the Administrators and Assigns, and all other occupiers of the said premises, thereout and thence utt to expel, put out and amove, this Indenture or anything contained herein to the contrary not
lying a want long felt here, of some large room or hall in which the public could come together standing.
iscussing questions of general interest. This scheme then became enlarged, and a Library and eum were agreed to be added; for the former of which some valuable collections of books already
purpose
of
IN WITNESS whereof the said Lessees have hereunto set their hands and seals, the dayed in the Morrison Library and Asiatic Society's Library. These books were being destroyed for year first above written.
Examined and Certified to be correct.
W. WILSON,
Surveyor General.
Signed, sealed and delivered at Victoria, Hongkong, in the presence of
Registered.
FRANCISCO DAS CHAGAS.
ALEX. TURING.
J. McDODALL.
P. RYRIE.
FRANCISCO DAS (HAGAS.
of proper accommodation, and when re-bound and put in order will form a good nucleus around th, it is hoped, a comprehensive library will, ere long, be grouped.
The Museum is an institution urgently required in every large civilized town, and with the res of China and Japan, about which so little is yet'known, so close to us, we think such an tution here likely to be of great public benefit.
The remainder of the edifice consists of assembly rooms, a room for meetings of the Chamber ommerce, and a hall for dramatic representations; in fact, the building is just such a one as, if a icipality had been in existence here, would have been erected for Municipal purposes.
The management of the Institution is intended to be conducted on the most liberal footing. The ic benefit was the object with which the money was subscribed, and that is the object it is intended Rep in view.
The very munificent subscriptions by which the undertaking has been forwarded will be exhausted he completion of the building, and considering the depressed state of trade, and that nearly all those
here are already contributors, we foresee much difficulty in providing for the fittings requisite to at the Institution at once to enter on the sphere of its usefulness.
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