203
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GOVERNOR. The CHAIRMAN said two items under this head- ing showed an increase. The first was with re- gard to the salary of the Aide-de-Camp which had boen increased to bring it up to the amount paid to the Private Secretary. This was necessary as Le was not allowed to draw any portion of bis military pay while serving as Aide-de-Camp. Although there had been a slight increase in his salary he was afraid it would not be sufficient. and that the Governor would have to supplement it from bis own pocket.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING said he thought the Private Secretary was hardly paid enough to huy elothes with.
The CHAIRMAN-There is no doubt the Pri vate Secretary has a great many private ex- penses. He has to pay his own passage to bere and from here.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING-I should suggest that à representation he made to the Government that the Privato Secretary should receive some remuneration more appropriate to the position he holds.
Hon. Byar-We have no power to in- grease the estimates. We can only cut them down.
The CHAIRM N--Certainly, but there can be no harm in making a note of Mr. Beli-Irving's suggestion.
The Estimate was approved.
Mr.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT. The CHAIRMAN said die increase under this beading was in the case of the first clerk. Alves had been a very long time in the Colony and it was thought proper to grant bim an increase.
Estimate approved.
THE AUDIT OFFICE.
The CHAIRMAN said in this department also the increase was in consequence of an addition to the salary of the first clerk. He had been in the service for some thirty-five years, and the Governor recommended that he should get an additional personal allowance.
Estimate approved.
THE TREASURY.
The CHAIRMAN said the first increase in this! department was two small additional sums of $10 per mouth for two of the clerks. Then there was the question of the salary of the Assessor. Mr. Lister had made very strong representations in favour of granting an increase to Mr. Hooper in consideration of how well and carefully be had done his work, and thus added to the revenue of the Colony. The Governor had taken this into consideration, and when Mr. Hooper's present. agreement was at an oud, the additional salary would come into forco. There were also some chargos for the collection of Taxes, the Treasury having now taken over the whole of this work.
The Estimate was agreed to.
THE SURVEYOR-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT. The CHAIRMAN said that there was a very large increase in the estimates for this depart- ment. The Surveyor-General was not present, and although he was not responsible for the whole of this increase he thought it would be better to allow this to stand over until he was able to attend.
The consideration of this Estimate was there- fore postponed.
POSTMASTER GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.
The CHAIRMAN sail that some time ago Mr. Lister had represented to the Council that ho was unable to do the work of the Post Office with the staff at his disposal, and the number of clerks was increased from 6 to 11. The intronso of salary of the clerk at Shanghai was according to agreement. There was another increase which should be mentioned. Mr. Travers had represented that it was absolutely necessary for to have a steam lanach for his department. At the present moment there was only a rickety old boat, which was certainly not sufficient for the work.
Hon P. RYRTE said the letters were always brought off in the steamship Company's launch. The CHAIRMAN said if the agent was ready to leave the steainer the mails were brought off at once, but it sometimes happened that the agent had to see the captain on business and the mails had to wait for him. If the cost of the launch were granted it would, of course, be
necessary to grant other incidental expenses such as stores, coal, &c. He did not think it was a proper position for the Postnaster to be in, that of having to ask as a favour from the agent that he would bring the mails off in bis launch.
The Estimate was approved.
THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT. The CHAIRMAN said there was a small increase in this department. The first item was a personal allowance to the first clerk, who had been in the de- partment for many years. Then there was au allowance fora Mandarin teacher for passed cadets. This has been omitted in last year's Estimates, but bad been restored now. It was absolutely necessary to employ this man. Two cadets were sent to Peking, and when they came back they had no opportunity of speaking the dialect, and unless they bad the assistance of a teacher for- got it altogether. He did not think that in fature any more cadets would be sent to Peking. Hon. J. BELL-LOVING asked if Mr. May was going to return to the colony.
The CHAIRMAN said he was at present in a very sad condition. The doctors bad boen ob- liged to break the bons of his leg after setting three times, and the bone seemed to absolutely refuse to mend. Mr. May, himself, however, seemed hopeful, and his last application was for two months' additional leave.
Estimate agreed to.
THE HARBOUR MASTER'S DEPARTMENT. The CHAIRMAN said there was a small increase under this heading in the shape of an increase in the salary of the Inspector of junks who had been a very long time in the service. There was also an increase in the salary of the signal- man at Victoria Peak, who had been there for some years and for whom there was no chance of promotion. Thore was also some expense incurred for the telephone at the Import and Export Office. It was decided by the Legisla- tive Council, at the suggestion of one of the members, that this office should be connected by telephone with the exchange, and it was found that the sum voted for that purpose was not sufficient,
Hon. W. M. DIANE asked if there was to be an Assistant Harbour Master.
The HAIRMAN said the matter wes being kept epen. The appointment had been offered by the Secretary of State to Mr. Hamilton, who was now at Labuan, noting as Governor, he bo- lieved, but whether Mr. Hamilton would accept it or not was not known.
Hon. B. LAYTON said he thought the office of Assistant Harbour Master have been done away with.
The CHAIRMAN said he did not see how the offloor could be done without. The work that i had to be done in connection with omigration was something enormous, and he thought there would now be more work. The Governor was looking into the subject of emigration and he (the Colonial Secretary) thought there would soon e legislation in regard to it.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING suggested that a cadet should be appointed to the office.
The CHAIRMAN said the Harbour Master's department would be a very good school for a cadet.
Hon. W. M. DEANE said he should have thought the Barbour Master's department was one where it was absolutely necessary to have an officer with a knowledge of Chinese. The late Mr Tonnochy and Mr. Lister had both filled the post of Assistant Harbour Master.
Hon. B. LAYTON said he thought a knowledge of Chinese would be very useful in the Harbour | Master's office.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-There is at the present moment some little difficulty in regard to the appointment. The emigration laws will have to be revised, and what share the Registrar- | General will take and what share the Emigra- tion Officer is not settled. If the whole
of the work is carried out at the Harbour Office it would be a very good place for a cadet. Much greater care will have to be taken in re- gard to the passing of emigrants. Scarcely a steamer passes Green Island but two or three! men jamp overboard and they say have been kid- napped.
Hou. B. LAYTONA great deal of roguery does go on, and that is why you want some one
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