No. 6.
147
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
PRESENT:
COUNCIL CHAMBER,
HONGKONG, 17th February, 1886.
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D.), Chairman.
His Honour the Chief Justice, (Sir GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt.).
The Honourable the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).
PHINEAS RYRIE.
WILLIAM KESWICK.
THOMAS JACKSON.
FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.
WONG SHING.
ABSENT:
The Honourable the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY).
The Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE).
The Committee meet this day at the request of the Chairman.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 27th ultimo, are read and confirmed.
(1.) Read a Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government recommending the Legislative Council to re-vote the following sums :-
For re-building the retaining wall below the Civil Hospital, damaged by the recent fire, $8,000.00 C.S.O. $389 of 1885.
For building a retaining wall to prevent land slips at the rear of Inland Lot 696, East of the Government Civil Hospital, $945.00 C.S.O. 353 of 1885. C.O. Desp. 2 of 1886.
The Committee find that owing to the late period of the year at which these votes were passed (November, 1885), it was not possible to complete the works; they recommend, therefore, that these sums be re-voted.
(2.) Read a Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government recommending a re-vote of a sum of $296 being the amount due to the late Contractor for scavenging the City during the first 6 days of November last.
The Committee find that the Contractor omitted to send in his bill for payment before the expiration of the last Financial year, and hence the vote had lapsed; they recommend, therefore, that the amount be re-voted.
(3.) Read a Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government recommending an additional vote of £60,375 towards the Defences of the Colony.
Read also the Secretary of State's Despatch and its enclosure on the subject.
The Committee, after deliberation, recommend that, before considering the matter further, it would be desirable to obtain the following information from the Military Authorities :—
(1.) How they have arrived at the Estimate now submitted, and whether it is likely to be final.
(2.) Whether it is possible to get a statement shewing the total expenditure annually, on fortifications, since the commencement of the Colony.
(3.) Whether the work is done by contract, or by hired labour, or by both combined.
The Committee desire it to be clearly explained to the Military Authorities that these particulars are not asked for with a view to finding fault with the expenditure under this head, but that as representing the tax-payers, the Committee consider it necessary to obtain all the information procurable; which information will be treated as confidential.
The Committee adjourn sine die.
Read and confirmed this 3rd day of March, 1886.
ARATHOON SETU,
Clerk of Councils.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Chairman.
Page 150
Page 151
1
No. 6.
147
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
PRESENT:
COUNCIL CHAMBER,
HONGKONG, 17th February, 1886.
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D.), Chairman. His Honour the Chief Justice, (Sir GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt.).
The Honourable the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).
"
PHINEAS RYRIE.
WILLIAM KESWICK.
"
THOMAS JACKSON.
FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.
14
WONG SHING.
33
ABSENT:
C.8.0.
2582 of 1885.
The Honourable the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY).
"
the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE).
The Committee meet this day at the request of the Chairman.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 27th ultimo, are read and confirmed. (1.) Read a Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government recom- mending the Legislative Council to re-vote the following sums :-
For re-building the retaining wall below the Civil Hospital, damaged by the
recent fire,
.$ 8,000.00
C.S.0.
$389 of 1885.
For building of a retaining wall to prevent land slips at the rear of Inland
Lot 696, East of the Government Civil Hospital,
.$ 945.00
C.8.0.
353 of 1685.
C.O. Desp.
2 of 1856,
The Committee find that owing to the late period of the year at which these votes were passed (November, 1885), it was not possible to complete the works; they recommend, there- fore, that these sums be re-voted.
(2.) Read a Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government recom- mending a re-vote of a sum of $296 being the amount due to the late Contractor for scavenging the City during the first 6 days of November last,
The Committee find that the Contractor omitted to send in his bill for payment before the expiration of the last Financial year, and hence the vote had lapsed; they recommend, there- fore, that the amount be re-voted.
(3.) Read a Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government recom- mending an additional vote of £60,375 towards the Defences of the Colony.
Read also the Secretary of State's Despatch and its enclosure on the subject.
The Committee, after deliberation, recommend that, before considering the matter further, it would be desirable to obtain the following information from the Military Authorities :—
(1.) How they have arrived at the Estimate now submitted, and whether it is likely to be final.
(2.) Whether it is possible to get a statement shewing the total expenditure annually, on fortifications, since the commencement of the Colony.
(3.) Whether the work is done by contract, or by hired labour, or by both combined. The Committee desire it to be clearly explained to the Military Authorities that these particulars are not asked for with a view to finding fault with the expenditure under this head, but that as representing the tax-payers, the Committee consider it necessary to obtain all the information procurable; which information will be treated as confidential.
The Committee adjourn sine die.
Read and confirmed this 3rd day of March, 1886.
ARATHOON SETU,
Clerk of Councils.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Chairman.
Page 150Page 151
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