CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890 — Page 718

312

The Government and Sunday Museums.

[Oct.,

Your Society has done, and is doing, a great and noble work with a view to the better and more holy observance of the Christian Day of Rest; we most earnestly commend to you the need of immediately grappling with the great and growing evil of incessant and often utterly unnecessary Sunday labour on board ship in harbours over which floats the British flag. We beg to remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully,

J. S. BURDON, Bishop of Victoria, Hong Kong,

HARVEY E. TAVERNER, Acting Colonial Chaplain, Hong Kong.

D. HAMILTON, Acting Military Chaplain, Hong Kong.

GEO. H. BONDFIELD, Minister of Union Church, Hong Kong,

FRED. A. BRAMSTON, Wharfinger, Hong Kong, Kowloon Wharf and Godown Coy., Ltd.

WILLIAM L. BROWN, Master, P. & O. S.S. "Thibet."

S. WHITNIS, Master, E. & A. S.S. "Aulic."

A. GURNEY GOLDSMITH, Seamen's Chaplain.

"SHOW-OUT SUNDAY" AT EPSOM.

For many years past the Committee have made efforts to expose and to correct the iniquities of the great Fair on Epsom Downs on the Lord's-day before the Epsom Races. They addressed themselves to the inhabitants, to the lessees of the course, to the Lord of the Manor, and to the Surrey Magistrates. They are thankful to record that this year the lessees gave notice that nothing in the nature of a show will be henceforth permitted on the Sunday. This resolution was carried out, and the Committee trust that one more great and crying evil has been removed.

GAS.

Since the record given in the Annual Report, the question has been kept before the minds of Gas Directors and Managers by visits to the works in the following places. The Committee record with thankfulness the uniform kindness with which the visits of their Secretary were received.

Newcastle, Harrogate, Kidsgrove, Shrewsbury, Leominster, Hereford, Tewkesbury, Ross, and Cheltenham,

THE GOVERNMENT AND SUNDAY MUSEUMS. The Council of the Sunday Society having, in April last, applied to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to provide funds for the expenses of the wished-for Sunday opening of the British Museum and other National Museums and Galleries in London, received the following reply from Mr. Goschen:

"The Government, seeing that up to the present time considerable majorities in the House of Commons have negatived motions for Sunday opening, can take no step in this direction until Parliament shall have reversed those decisions.

"Of the instances quoted in which Galleries or other Public Buildings and Grounds have been opened on Sunday without instructions from Parliament, the Sunday opening of all, except one, took place several, in some cases many, years before the above-mentioned decisions of Parliament. The one exception is that of the National Museum of Science and Art in Dublin, in which case there were special circumstances, the National Gallery in the same block of buildings having been open to the public on Sundays since 1866."

Draft

M. Johnen 22 Oct. h.

Mr. Bramster 227

for an

see further minute)

ust attached.

Sir,

M.O. Akry 20415 Straits

Downing Street,

23 Oct. 1889

714

I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 20th instant, regarding Sunday labour at Singapore & Hong Kong, with reference to which a further communication will be addressed to you as soon as practicable reports have been received on the subject from the Governments of the other than Settlements.

This letter will be referred to.

I am to request you to be good enough to forward further copies of the Report enclosed in your letter.

Your obedient Servant,

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT

Communication to the

of the two Tolmies

Dec. to the

Governors