43
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lower classes of Chinese and Europeans, the Committee deemed it expedient to frame certain rules as to the admission of visitors to the Museum and set apart the mornings of the week days for the Chinese and the afternoons for the Europeans and other non-Chinese inhabitants.
On the 19th September 1879, His Excellency the Governor called the attention of the Committee to the existing rules for admission to the Museum. In reply they pointed out that the rules were made after consulting with many of the leading Chinese of the Colony, that they had never known them complained of in any way by the Chinese themselves and that they had been framed in the interests of all parties, Chinese and non-Chinese alike. They further pointed out to His Excellency that the regulation as to admission was not a hard and inflexible rule but was intended to be one that could be appealed to and enforced should occasion require.
A basis of settlement of the dispute between the Committee and His Excellency was then privately submitted to the Committee, which ran in the following words:-
"The Committee will be ready to meet and associate with them the Bishop and the Chief Justice in order to discuss the questions,
(1.) Of amending the existing rules for admission to the museum if after full discussion amendment is thought necessary,
(2.) Whether any departure from the original understanding with the Government as to the conditions of admission to the public has taken place,
The common basis being that everything will be done that can be done for the common interest of all classes of the community."
This proposition was laid before His Excellency the Governor who stated his readiness to accept the same but suggested as an addition the words "ask Governor to reconsider his avowed intention of not putting the vote upon the estimates for 1880."
The Committee did not consider the addition advisable but agreed to the original basis of settlement, and on the 1st December 1879 a special Meeting was called at which all the members of the Committee, together with His Honor the Chief Justice and the Right Reverend Bishop Burdon, attended.
( 15 )
At this meeting the question was discussed in all its bearings, and new rules were decided upon by the majority of those present, the Bishop, who has resided for many years amongst the Chinese and has a thorough knowledge of their language, customs and feelings, being one of those who supported the new regulations.
After deciding upon these new rules it was unanimously decided by those present at the meeting that it was unnecessary to consider the second article of the basis of settlement.
A copy of the new regulations agreed upon at the meeting is enclosed for your information.
A copy of these new rules was forwarded to His Excellency the Governor through the Colonial Secretary, a copy of the covering letter dated the 27th December 1879, being also enclosed herein.
On the 10th January 1880, a letter was received from the Honorable the Colonial Secretary stating that His Excellency could not approve of the new rules for admission and stating that in future the Government Grant to the City Hall would be paid to Mr. Ryrie. A copy of this letter is also enclosed herewith.
It having been the custom to apply for the Government Grant every six months, and the amount due up to the 31st December having not yet been paid, on the 30th January last the Secretary of the City Hall wrote to the Colonial Secretary asking that the amount already due should be paid over to Mr. F. D. Sassoon, the Honorary Treasurer of the City Hall.
The only reply to this last letter was one received from the Colonial Secretary on the 12th March last, a copy of which is sent herewith.
The Committee have never authorised Mr. Ryrie to receive the Government Grant, nor do they consider that his position of Trustee entitles him to do so. They have not been informed whether any money has actually been paid by the Government to Mr. Ryrie but the latter has not communicated with the Treasurer or in any way placed the money at the disposal of the Committee; on the other hand he has stated that he cannot pay over the Government Grant unless the rules as to admission and other matters connected with the management of the building meet with the approval of the Governor. The last sum of $600 received by the Honorary Treasurer was for the six months ending the 30th June 1879, and as far as the Committee are aware no money has been paid to any one authorised by them to receive it since that time.
In agreeing to the basis of settlement referred to above, the Committee did so with the distinct understanding that His Excellency the Governor...
Dec.
43
( 14 )
lower classes of Chinese and Europeans, the Committee deemed it ex- pedient to frame certain rules as to the admission of visitors to the Museum and set apart the mornings of the week days for the Chinese and the afternoons for the Europeans and other non-Chinese inhabit-
ants.
On the 19th September 1879, His Excellency the Governor called the attention of the Committee to the existing rules for admission to the Museum. In reply they pointed out that the rules were made after consulting with many of the leading Chinese of the Colony, that they had never known them complained of in any way by the Chinese them- selves and that they had been framed in the interests of all parties, Chinese and non-Chinese alike. They further pointed out to His Ex- celloney that the regulation as to ndraission was not a hard and inflexi- ble rule but was intended to be one that could be appealed to and enforced should occasion require.
A basis of settlement of the dispute between the Committee and His Excellency was then privately submitted to the Committee, which ran in the following words:-
"The Committee will be ready to meet and associate with them the Bishop and the Chief Justice in order to discuss the questions,
(1.) Of amending the existing rules for admission to the museum if after full discussion amendment is thought necessary,
(2.) Whether any departure from the original understanding with the Government as to the conditions of admission to the public has taken place,
The common basis being that everything will be done that can be done for the common interest of all classes of the community."
This proposition was laid before His Excellency the Governor who stated his readiness to accept the same but suggested as an addition the words "ask Governor to reconsider his avowed intention of not putting the vote upon the estimates for 1880."
The Committee did not consider the addition advisable bat agreed to the original basis of settlement, and on the 1st December 1870 a special Meeting was called at which all the members of the Committee, together with His Honor the Chief Justice and the Right Reverend Bishop Burdon, attended.
At this meeting the question was discussed in all its bearings, and new rules were decided upon by the majority of those present, the
( 15 )
Bishop, who has resided for many years amongst the Chinese and has a thorough knowledge of their language, customs and feelings, being one of those who supported the new regulations.
After deciding upon these new rules it was unanimously decided by those present at the meeting that it was unnecessary to consider the second article of the basis of settlement.
A copy of the new regulations agreed upon at the meeting is en- closed for your information.
A copy of these now rules was forwarded to His Excellency the Governor through the Colonial Secretary, a copy of the covering letter dated the 27th December 1879, being also enclosed herein.
On the 10th January 1880, a letter was received from the Honorable the Colonial Secretary stating that His Excellency could not approve of the new rules for admission and stating that in future the Government Grant to the City Hall would be paid to Mr. Ryrie. A copy of this letter is also enclosed herewith.
It having been the custom to apply for the Government Grant every six months, and the amount due up to the 31st December having not yet been paid, on the 30th January last the Secretary of the City Hall wrote to the Colonial Secretary asking that the amount already due should be paid over to Mr. F. D. Sassoon, the Honorary Treasurer of the City Hall.
The only reply to this last letter was one received from the Colonial Secretary on the 12th March last, a copy of which is sent herewith,
The Committee have never authorised Mr. Ryrie to receive the Go- vernment Grant, nor do they consider that his position of Trustee entilles him to do so. They have not been informed whether any money has actually been paid by the Government to Mr. Ryrie but the latter has not communicated with the Treasurer or in any way placed the money at the disposal of the Committee; on the other hand he has stated that he cannot pay over the Government Grant unless the rules as to admission and other matters connected with the management of the building meet with the approval of the Governor. The last sum of $600 received by the Honorary Treasurer was for the six months ending the 30th June 1879, and as far as the Committee are aware no money has been paid to any one authorised by them to receive it since that time.
In agreeing to the basis of settlement referred to above, the Com- mittee did so with the distinct understanding that His Excellency the
Dec.
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