Past I can only say the year terminating on the 29th of the present month will be the most paying year with regard to opium revenue the colony has yet experienced; but with regard to the future, if I had known that my hon. friend was going to ask the question, I would have endeavoured to persuade him not to ask it at this moment. I confess to a propensity, when a question is asked, to give it a full and frank answer; but in this case I really cannot go into particulars because negotiations are pending.
I, at this moment, and as are happy to say I have very little to do with them, I can assure my hon. friend they are in very good hands. Negotiations are pending at this moment, and I believe I may say our opium revenue for the ensuing year commencing March 1st may be looked upon as fairly safe. At the same time I may say that whatever uncertainty there may be attaching to the question arises, I think, from our having performed the somewhat unfortunate process of—if not exactly killing—endangering the existence of the goose which laid the golden eggs. On that point I will ask my hon. friend to be content with that somewhat meagre information; I am not in a position to add anything more to it.
There is one matter I should like also to refer to. In a paragraph in His Excellency's speech are these words: -
While every succeeding census has revealed a great increase in the population, there has not been a corresponding increase in the number of human habitations. Overcrowding in its worst form has consequently been the result; and the prevention of this evil will be dealt with in the proposed new Public Health Ordinance. However, as the true remedy is to be found in increased house accommodation for the labouring classes, it will be necessary to expand the city.
I propose only to detain the Council one moment in pointing out that it is not only the Chinese labouring classes who stand sorely in need of increased house accommodation. Some of us would be simply horrified if we saw the places in which our own clerks live. Some of the boys, perhaps, sir, they do not feel so much the sting and unwholesome nature of the dens in which they are compelled to reside. But there is a class, the class of English clerks of the poorer sort, and more especially the class of artisans and foremen of manufactories, an increasing class daily rising around us, who really can hardly obtain house accommodation they can afford to pay for at any price which gives; and when they do obtain it, it is of a most unsatisfactory character.
I do hope the expansion of the town His Excellency has alluded to will provide a reasonable amount of accommodation for people of that class, for my impression is that it is the worst provided class in the colony in this respect. The Chinese get the accommodation which pleases them, though it may be accommodation of a most repulsive character for us; but the European clerk or artisan is destitute almost of a place in which to lay his head.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—I may add a few words to what my hon. friend has said about the opium revenue. I do not anticipate any falling off from the revenue of last year, which has been the largest ever collected. The applications for the licences to commence on the 1st March are coming in, and we hope to obtain a larger amount this year than last year.
There is another point on which my hon. friend (Mr. Johnson) made a remark, the standing orders. I am happy to be able to assure him His Excellency the Governor intends to take a very early opportunity of asking the Council to appoint a committee to revise these orders. They are most incomplete and inconvenient, and the inconvenience has often been experienced. For instance, one rule says two days' notice shall be given of any meeting of Council, and another that no question can be asked without three days' notice being given. It may happen I give notice in the name of the Governor that a meeting of the Council will be held two days from this, and the hon. member cannot put a question because that would require three days' notice.
The CHAIRMAN—I believe all the hon. members have seen the address in reply which has been prepared, but if any member wishes to propose any addition or alteration we had better have it read, if not perhaps it would be as well to have it taken as read.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL—I have to suggest a verbal alteration in paragraph 15. It is of no great importance.
The CHAIRMAN—Perhaps the Clerk had better read the address.
The address was then read.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL—I beg to move a slight amendment to paragraph 15, which I think would more correctly read as follows:—“We learn with satisfaction the completion of the Breakwater and the Observatory, and the progress already made in such important and necessary works as the Taitam Harbour Works,” etc. The paragraph as it stands would infer we are glad to learn the progress made with works that have been already completed some time. The alteration is verbal merely, but we may as well have it correct. I think I would also add the Central Market, which is also a public matter, making the concluding portion of the paragraph read, “and that the new Central School and new Central Market will be commenced forthwith.”
Hon. P. Ryrie seconded, and the alteration was made.
The question was then put that the address do pass, and was carried nem. con.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—I have to move that the address be presented to His Excellency the Governor by the mover and seconder, and I have the honour to announce I have ascertained from the Governor he will be happy to receive these gentlemen to-morrow at one o'clock.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Carried nem. con.
The CHAIRMAN then adjourned the Council until four o'clock to-day for the purpose of passing the Jury List.
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past I can only say the year terminating on the 29th of the present month will be the most pay. ing year with regard to opium ravonus the colony has yet experienced; but with regard tes the future, if I had known that my hon. friend? was going to ask the question, I would have en- deavoured to persuade him not to ask it at this moment. I confess to a propensity, when a question is asked, to give it a fall and frank answer; but in this case I really cannot go into particulars because negociations are pendings
I at this moment, and as are happy tog say I have very little to do with them, I can assure my hon. friend they are in very f good bands. Negociations are pending at this mouent, and I botíove I may say our op'um revenue for the ensuing year com- mencing March 1st may be looked upon as fairly safe. At the same time I may say that whatever uncertainty there way be attaching to- the question arises, I think, from our having i performed the somewhat unfortunate proname": of-if not exactly killing-af endangering thej existon ecof the goose which laid the gelden eggs. On that point I will ask my bon, friend to be content with that somewint meagre in- formation; I am not in a position to add any thing more to it. There is oue matter I should like also to refer to. In a paragraph in His Excellener's speech are these words: -
While every succeeding cansue has revealed a' great increase in the population, thero has not been a corresponding increase in the number of human habitations. Overcrowding in its worst form has consequently been the rosult; and the prevention of thie evil will be dealt with in the proposed new Public Health Ordinance. However, as the true remedy is to be found in increased bouse accommodation for the labouring classes, it will be necessary to expand the city,"
N
I propose only to detain the Council ous moment in pointing out that it is not only the Chinese labouring classes who stand sorely in used of inoresed house accommodation. Somno of us would be simply horrified if we saw the places in which our own clerks live. Some of ge bays soon Perhaps, sir, they do not fast so much the sting and anwholesome nature of the dens in which they are compelled to reside, But there is class, the class of English olerks of the poorer sort, and more especially the class of artins and foremen of manufacto ies, an increasing class daily rising around us, who j really can har lly obtain house accommodation ther can afford to at any price which give; and when they do obtain it it is of a most unsatisfactory character. I do pops the expansion of the town His Excellency has) alluded to ill provide a reasonable amount of accommodation for people of that class, for my impression is that it is the worst provided class in the colony in this respect. The Chinese gat the accommodation which pleases them, though it may be accommodation of a most repulsive obarauter for us; but the European clerk or artizan is destitute almost of a place in which to lay his head.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I may add a few words to what my hon, frien i has said about the opium revenge. I do not anticipate any fall- ing off from the revenue of last year, which has been the largest ever collected The applications for the licences to comiuence on the 1st March are coming in, and we hope to obtain a larger amount this year than last year. There is an other point on which my hon. friend (MeS Johnson) made a remark, the standing orders I am happy to be able to assure him His Ex- celloney the Governor intends to take a very early opportunity of asking the Council to ap point a committee to revise these orders. They are most incomplete and inconvenient, and the inconvenisone has often been experienced. For instance, oue rale says two days notice shall be giveu of any meeting of Council, and another that no question cau be asked without three days' notice being given. It may happen I give notice in the name of the Governor that a peeting of the Council will be held two days from this, and the hon. member caunot put a question because that would require thren days' notice,
The UHAIRMAN-I believe all the hon. mem. hers have seen the address in reply which has been prepared, but if any member wishes to pro- pose any addition or alteration we had better havo it read, if not perhaps it would be as well to have it taken as read
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL-I have to sug- gest a verbal alteration in paragraph 15. It is of no great importance.
The CHAIRMAN Portaps the Clerk had bet- I ter read the address,
The
The address was then read.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL-I bag to move a slight amendment to paragraph 15, which I think... would.wore correctly raad as follows:-" Wə learn with satisfaction the completion of the
Breakwater and the Observatory, and the prai gress already mate in such important and danca- sary works as the Taitan War Works," eto. The paragraph as it stands would iuter we are glad to learn the progress male with works that have been already completed sofae time. The alteration is verbal merely, but we' may as well have it correst. I think I would also add the Central Market, which is alsó a public matter, making the concluding portion of the paragraph read, and that the new Central School and new Contral Market will be com menced forthwith."
flon. P. Bruia seconded, and the alteration was made.
The question was then put that the address do pass, and was carried nem, son.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY -I have to move i that the address be presented to His Excelloney the Governor by the mover and seconder, and I have the honour to announce I have ascertained from the Governor he will be happy to receive these gentlemen to-morrow at one o'clock. The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Carried nem. con.
The CHAIRMAN then adjourned the Council nutil four o'clock to-day for the purpose of pass- in the Jury List.
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