place. (Applause).
Mr. FRANCIS thought the resolutions embraced too much. It was estimated that the public would subscribe $50,000 and the Government would offer $50,000 more. The estimated cost of the construction of the hospital for women and children was $50,000; there was nothing in the report about the cost of upkeep. It was further estimated that the cost of the training institute would be $82,000, and the cost of maintenance about $8,000 or $9,000. Those two schemes would swallow the whole of the Committee's funds, as the estimates were sure to be exceeded and there would be nothing left for the road. He certainly thought the Committee had no authority for making proposals which involved the future taxation of this colony, and the Committee were practically pledging the community to future taxation. The whole cost of the road would fall upon the Government and it would have to be provided for by increased taxation.
The HON. SECRETARY—Not necessarily.
Mr. FRANCIS said it was not necessarily the case, but everyone knew sufficiently about how things were managed to know that it would be made the object of additional taxation. There would be an increased expenditure of about $20,000 a year and that would be subjected to 17 per cent. for the Military Contribution. The total cost of the road would be about $225,000 and it would be constructed bit by bit; so that those who had contributed towards its construction would not have an opportunity of enjoying it. He thought it was better that the $100,000 should be devoted to one particular object. He also thought that before the public were asked to subscribe towards the hospital and the nursing institute a definite plan should be submitted to them. He moved the following amendment: "That the amount subscribed by the community and the money to be granted by the Government be applied exclusively towards the construction of the hospital for women and children and for the erection of an institute for the training of nurses, the Government pledging themselves for the maintenance of both."
Hon. F. R. BELILIOS suggested that the subscribers should give to what object they preferred—either the hospital or the road.
Mr. THURBURN said the difficulty could be easily got over. The road was mainly a public work, and it was not yet even known how much the public would subscribe. He suggested that the hospital and the nursing institute be first paid for and if there was any money left it could be handed over to the Government to go towards the cost of the road. If there was no money left the Government would no doubt begin the road.
Hon. F. H. MAY thought some confusion had arisen. Did the Chairman mean to limit the memorial to two proposals—one the hospital and the other the first section of the road?
The CHAIRMAN—In my opening remarks what I meant was that out of the total sum we collect, including the amount contributed by the Government, we shall devote one half, whatever that half may be, to the building of a hospital and the nursing institute is to be worked in conjunction with this hospital.
Mr. FRANCIS—That has nothing to do with the hospital.
The CHAIRMAN—It has a very important bearing as I shall show you. The other half will go towards the commencement of the new road, the Government undertaking to finish the road by degrees. With regard to the nursing institute, probably you may all have observed in the papers which were printed that the Government have as far back as October taken this matter of nursing in hand; in fact they have already started in a small way a nursing institute and at the present moment—we have it in Dr. Atkinson's evidence. He says "We have probationers in the nursing institute and they are trained in the Civil Hospital." What I pointed out to Excellency was that the Government had seen the necessity for the Institute and had taken the matter in hand by having probationers in the Hospital, and by having more nurses from home those ladies would help to educate more probationers to carry on nursing in the colony. That is as far as the Hospital and the Nursing Institute is concerned. When this Hospital is ready we can take in more probationers and those probationers would be educated in this new Hospital. The balance of $50,000 would go a long way towards carrying on the road from Belcher's Bay to Aberdeen and the Governor says in his letter that by degrees that road would be completed by the Government. If you attempt to separate the two schemes I fear you will cause a schism in the whole community. There are gentlemen who are very strongly of opinion that the road should be taken in hand at once in celebration of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign, and there are others who are equally as strong in the opinion that the hospital should be taken in hand. By doing what we propose we shall not only please Her Majesty, but we satisfy the community and we do honour to the colony. If you divide the schemes I fear your subscriptions will be small, and probably not one of the projects will come to anything.
Hon. T. H. WARREN said perhaps it would be as well, with a view to obtaining unanimity, if the consideration of the resolutions were deferred for eight days.
Mr. FRANCIS again read his amendment and said that when the Chairman referred to the hospital and the nursing institute he thought the two institutions mentioned in the report were meant.
The CHAIRMAN—What I meant is that whether the two institutions are going to cost $100,000 or $180,000, we only pledge ourselves to give half of what we get, including the sum from the Government.
Mr. FRANCIS said there was no security in that. Let the money be applied to completion of something and do not let it depend upon the whims of future Governors or future Directors of Public Works.
The CHAIRMAN thought the letter of His Excellency the Governor was a sufficient security.
Mr. CRAWFORD seconded Mr. Francis's amendment on the ground that the project Mr. Francis had mentioned would be more pleasing to Her Majesty.
The amendment was then put and lost by 13 votes to 8.
Mr. SMITH then proposed an amendment that the road scheme only be adopted.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS recorded.
The amendment was lost, only four voting in favour of it.
Hon. H. WHITEHEAD's resolutions were then put and carried; only two—Mr. Francis and Mr. Mehta—voted against them.
The CHAIRMAN then read the following letters he had received from various sections of the community:
Dear Sir, I have the authority of all German firms residing in this colony to inform you of their desire to offer their heartiest co-operation in any scheme to be decided upon to celebrate the 60th year of Her Majesty's reign, and I beg to request you kindly to communicate this to your Committee.—I am, &c.,
M. GROTE,
Hongkong, 17th April, 1897.
Dear Sir,—Permit me, on behalf of myself and the greater number of the seniors among the Portuguese residents in this colony, whom I have had the opportunity of consulting, to assure you that they are prepared to co-operate with your Committee and with the community generally in celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen Empress. We entertain for Her Majesty the highest admiration and respect and most fully appreciate the beneficent rule under which we live.
I consider the Portuguese community would be failing in their duty if they should allow this opportunity to pass by without tendering their warmest congratulations on this occasion, as their interests are, in many ways, closely connected with the prosperity of this colony, and without acknowledging with gratitude the many benefits and blessings derived from a good and peaceful government.—I am, &c.,
A. G. ROWANO.
Hongkong, 10th April, 1897.
Sir, In the public rejoicings in celebration of the 60th year of the reign of Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, shortly to take place in this colony, we, the undersigned, citizens of the United States of America and residents in the colony, would request to be permitted to join and to contribute a share towards the necessary expenditure.
We would wish to do so because as residents we cannot fail to appreciate the blessings of Her Majesty's Government and acknowledge that we and our predecessors have shared in the prosperity which has attended the growth of the colony.
Page 472
[
place. (Applause).
Mr. FRANCIS thongbt the resolutions ent braced too much. It was estimated that thạ public would subscribe $50,000 and the Govern went would offer $50,000 more. The estimated cost of the constraction of the hospital for wo men and children was $50,000; there was now tbing in the report about the cost of upkeep. It was further estimated that the cost of the training institute would be $82,000, and the cost of maintenance about $8,000 or $9,000. Those two acherdes would swallow the whole of the Committee's funds, as the i estimates were sure to be exceeded and there would be nothing loft for the road. He cer tainly thought the Committee had no authority for making proposals which involved the future taxation of this colony, and the Committee were practically pledging the community to future taxation. The whole cost of the road would fall upon the Government and it would have to be provided for by increased taxation. The HON. SECRETARY-Not necessarily. Mr FRANCIS said it was not necessarily the case, but everyone knew sufficiently about how things were managed to know that it would be made the object of additional taxation. There would be an increased expenditure of about $20,000 a year and that would be subjected to 17 per cent. for the Military Contribution. The total cost of the road would be about $225,000 and it would be constracted bit by bit; so that those who had contributed towards its construction would not have an opportunity of enjoying it. He thought it was better that the $100,000 should be devoted to one particular object. He also thought that before the public were asked to subscribe towards the hospital and the nursing institute a definite plan should be submitted to them. He moved the following amendment That the amount subscribed by the community and the money to be granted by the Government be applied exclusively toward the construction of the hospital for women and children and for the erection of an institute for the training of nurses, the Government pledg- ing themselves for the maintenance of both."
Hon. F. R. BELILIOS suggested that the subscribers should give to what object they preferred-either the bospital or the road.
Mr. THUKBURN said the difficulty could be easily got over. The road was mainly a publie work, and it was not yet even known how much the public would subscribe.
He sug gested that the hospital and the nursing in- stilute be first paid for and if there was any money left it could be handed over to the Government to go towards the cost of the road. If there was no money left the Government would no doubt begin the road,
Hon. F. H. May thought some confusion had arisen. Did the Chairman mean to limit the memorial to two proposals-one the hospital and the other the first section of the road?
The CHAIRMAN--In my opening remarks what I meant was that out of the total sum we collect, including the amount contributed by the Government, we shall devote one half, what! jever that half may be, to the building of a hospital and the nursing institute is to be worked in conjunction with this hospital.
Mr. FRANCIS-That has nothing to do with the hospital.
The CHAIRMAN-It has a very important bearing as I shall show you. The other half will go towards the commencement of the new road, the Government undertaking to finish the road by degrees. With regard to the nurs- ing institute, probably you may all have ob- served in the papers which were printed that the Government have as far back as Octobor Inst taken this matter of nursing in hand; in fact they have already started in a small way a nursing institute and at the present moment-- we have it in Dr. Atkinson's evidence. He says "We have probationers in the nursing institute and they are trained in the Civil Hospital." What
his I pointed out to Excellency was that the Goverument had seen the necessity for the Institute and had taken the matter in hand by having probationers in the Hospital, and by having more nurses from home those ladies would help to educate more probationers to carry on nursing in the colony. That is as far as the Hospital and the Nursing Institute is co- verned, When this Hospital is ready we can take in more probatiouers and those proba- tiouers would be educated in this new Hospital. The balance of $50,000 would go a long way towards carrying on the road from Belcher's
Bay to Aberdeen and the Governor says in his letter that by degrees that road would be com. pleted by the Government. If you attempt to separate the two schemes I fear you will cause a schism in the whole community. There are gentlemen who are very strongly of opinion that the road should be taken in hand at once in celebration of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign, and there are others who are equally us strong in the opinion that the hospital should be taken in hand, By doing what we propose w shall not only please Her Majesty, but we satisfy the comma- nity and we do honour to the colony. If you divide the schemes I tear your subscriptious will be small, and probably not one of the pro- jects will come to anything.
Hon. T. H. WarrenBAD said perhaps it would be as well, with a view to obtaining unanimity, if the consideration of the resolu tions were deferred for eight days.
Mr FRANCIS again read his amendment and said that when the Chairman roferred to the hospital and the nursing institute he thought the two institutions mentioned in the report were meant.
The CHAIRMAN-What I meant is that whe- ther the two institutions are going to cost $100,000 or $180,000, we only pledge ourselves to give half of what we get, including the sum from the Government.
Mr. FRANCIS said there was no security in that. Ist the money be applied to completion of something and do not let it depend upon the whims of future Governors or future Directors of Public Works.
The CHAIRMAN thought the letter of His Ex- cellency the Governor was a sufficient security.
Mr. CRAWFORD seconded Mr. Francis's! amendment on the grond that the project Mr. Fraucis had mentioned would be more pleasing to Her Majesty.
The amendment was then put and lost by 13 votes to k
Mr. SMITH then proposed an amendment that the road scheme only be adopted.
Hou. E. R. BELILIOS Recorded.
The amendment was lost, only four voting in favour of it,
Hon 4 H WHITEHEAD's resolutions were then put and carried; only two-Mr. Francis and Mr. Mehta-voted against thero. The CHAIRMAN then read the following letters he had received from various sections of the community -
Dear Sir, I have the authority of all Ger- man firms residing in this colony to inform you of their desire to offer their heartiest co-opera- tion in any scheme to be decided upon to cele- brate the 60th year of Her Majesty's reign, and I beg to request you kindly to communicate this to your Committee.-I am, &c.,
M. GROTE,
Hongkong, 17th April. 1897.
Dear Sir,--Permit me, on behalf of myself and the greater number of the seniors among
the Portuguese residents in this colony, whom I have had the opportunity of conaniting, to assure you that they are prepared to co-operate with your Committee and with the corninnity generally in celebrating the Diamond Jubilee We of Her Majesty the Queen Empress. entertain for Her Majesty the highest admira tion and respect and most fully appreciate the beneficent rule under which we live.
I consider the Portuguese community would he failing in their duty if they should allow this opportunity to pass by without toudering their warmest congratulations on this occasion. as their interests are, in many ways, closely connected with the prosperity of this colony, and without acknowledging with gratitude the many benefits and blessings derived from a good and peaceful government.—I am, &c.,
A.. G. RowANO. Hongkong, 10th April, 1897.
Sir, In the public rejoicings in celebration. of the 60th year of the reign of Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, shortly to take place in this colony, we, the undersigned, citizens of the United States of America and residents in the colony, would request to be permitted to join and to contribute a share towards tho necessary expenditure.
We would wish to do so because as residents we cannot fail to appreciate the blessings of Her Majesty's Government and acknowledge that we and our predecessors have shared in the prosperity which has attended the growth of the colony.
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