way can be found? I respectfully submit that the answer should be, "No; for we know no other way to prevent waste but the way recom- mended by Mr. Chadwick, the expert you yourself sent out. Ask his opinion, and we are prepared to abide by his opinion." If I may move a resolution, I move that the Bill be not read a first time.
The GOVERNOR-I venture to point out that before we can go farther in this discussion these observatious of His Excelìoney the Major-General would mere properly be made on the second reading. The Bill is really not before the Council at all until it is read a first time and it is impossible for the Council to know what is the mesuing of the Bill until it is brought before them and read a first time. When the Bill comes on for second reading, then, I venture to suggest to His Excellency, would be the time for the observations that have now been offered. The Bill is not yet before the Council at all. The first reading is always matter of pro forma. When the Bill is brought on for se ond reading hon. members will have an opportunity of seeing and discussing the Bill as brought before them.
Hon. R. SHEWAN-Sir, I would be willing to give way in this matter, but as I shall not be present at the next meeting of the Council I would ask your indulgence.
HIS EXCELLENCY signified his consent, and, Hon. Mr. SHEWAN proceeded-I was very pleased to hear the remarks that have fallen from your Excellency with regard to the position of matters and our being given time to consider the Bill in the second reading. At the last meeting of the Council I strongly objected to a Bill being rushed through the second reading without printing the amendments or giving the public time to read the Bill and con- sider it. I do not know, but I suppose that the intention in deciding that a Bill should be read three times was that the Bill shonld be discussed and considered three separate times. However, we will come to that part later on, With regard to this Bill, if you will allow me I should like to second the motion of His Excellency Major-General Gascoigue, with whose re- marks in making that motion I entirely agree. The Bill we had before us last year was very carefully considered, but we have not tried it. I do not think it is right that, after we had carefully considered und discussed and thoroughly threshed out the question of the water supply of this Colony, which was certainly a very great evil last year, we should have all our work undone on account of & few Chinese agitators who, after all, are only led by the nose by a lot of clerks from architects' offices, in whom is exempitied the old saying, A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." I think it is possible that better ways may be found, but why not let us first try the hydrant system?
We know that Chinese coolies and other people like that will waste the water, while we who pay by the meter have to suffer. Government first try that system; if it will Let the not work in a certain district, then it will be time to consider other measures. Major-General Gascoigne that the matter was I agree with
before we do anything more we ought to consider very carefully considered and threshed out, and this scheme, especially as it is endorsed by the experts. I think we could have got saore impar- tial experts, but still, they were on the Govern- back on them now. ment side, and the Government ought not to yo
be allowed to say so, with all respect to His The COLONIAL SECRETARY-Sir, if I may Excellency and the hon. member who seconded bis amendment, I think the object of this Bill has been misapprehended; it is quite as much to stop waste as was that of the Bill which was introduced last year. The rider-main system was first proposed by Mr. Chadwick himself with a view to
Secretary is out of order,
Hou, R. SHEWAN-Sir, I think the Colonial
Secretary is quite in order.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL- The Colonial
and cannot speak again.
Hon. Mr. SHEWAN-He seconded the motion
ou the subsequent motion. I made a motion, The ATTORNEY-GENDRAL-But he can speak and the Colonial Secretary seconded; the hon. member oppo ite, H.E. Major-General Gascoigne, then made a subsequent motion, and that Colonial Secretary is entitled to speak on also has been seconded. The that distinct one from the original motion.
motion, which is
Σ separate and His EXCELLENCY ruled that the Colonial Secretary was in order, and, rider-main system was
The COLONIAL SECRETARY proceeded-The Mr.
first proposed by facilitating the distribution of water during the
Chadwick himself
with & view to operation of the intermittent system. The rider- prevention of waste, and it is for that purpose main system can be equally well adapted to the
prevention of waste. It is simply, if I may go that it is now sought to be introduced-for the describe it in a few short words, a system of huge meters for blocks of buildings instead of separate meters for separate houses. The principle of the Bill was carefully considered by both Mr. Chadwick and Professor Simpson, who was here at the same time as Mr. Chadwick, and it has been adopted and endorsed by both of these experts. I do not think, sir, that the suggestion of the hon. member who seconded the motion that this Colony should go to the expense of first introducing a street fountain system, will commend itself to this Council. It will cost a great deal of money, and if as he suggests it is to be in the nature of an experiment, I fear the experiment would be a very expensive one, I repeat again, the
object of the Bill, the object we all have before the motion and of the hon. Colonial Secretary us, is the prevention of wast”. especially Mr. Chadwick, are of opinion that the motion, which was a respectful request to 18
The experts, on this Bill have been directed not to t waste could be stopped by this system, the Council for leave to introduce a Bill, but to Government are strongly of that opinion, and what may be called the principle of the Bill. our local advisers hore are also of the same Now, sir, this is not the time to discuss the opinion, and we trust that the hopes of His principle of the Bill. The house is pledged to Excellency the General Officer Commanding, nothing; I ask un more than leave to introduce that waste will be prevented, will be realised by this Bill. this Bill as much as by the Bill which he gentlemen who sit opposite this is not the time Despite the remarks of the hon. fathered.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I hope the reached that stage yet. All I ask is that the lo either accept or refuse it It has not Council will at once reject this motion, which Council give me leave to bring in the Bill and I is one which, whatever it may be designed to do, will afterwards, I think, be able to bring homo will have the effect of stifling the discussion of to their knowledge facts which I believe after a matter of the greatest interest to the Chinese they hear and digest they will find worthy of in this Colony. The Chinese in this community consideration. I appeal to the hon. Major- are as a hundred to one or more, and they by General to withdraw this motion, because I am an immense majority in a petition to the sure be had no conception of the effect it Secretary of State laid before him certain would have; but if it is not withdrawn I ask reasons which they believed ought to be that it be rejected. laid before him to allow this Govern- The GOVERNOR-There is no necessity for a ment to introduce a measure which would motion such as this. A negative will be quite alter in some particulars the Water Bill we sufficient. passed last year. I say at once that neither the hon member who moved the rejection of the result-For the first reading-Mr. Dickson, The Council divided with the following Bill nor the hon. member who seconded intended Mr. Stewart, Mr. Wei Yuk, Dr. Ho Kai, or wished for an amendment to prevent the Cbi Sir C. P. Chater, Dr. Atkinson, Mr. Chatham, nese members of this community from being Commander Ramsey, Mr. Thomson, Sir Henry heard in this Council and advocating anything Berkeley and Mr. May; against - Major- that they believe to be for their good. General Gascoigne and Mr. Shewan. Whatever the hon. mover and the hou. seconder may desire, the effect of their motion if enter- tained by this Council would be to impose upon The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second the Chinese a measure which they believe to be reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance against their interests and to prevent this to amend the Foreshores and Sea-Bed Ordinance Council from having an opportunity of hearing No. 21 of 1901, and to repeal sub-section (1.) of anything that can be said on their part. I section 1 of Ordinance No. 11 of 1902. He said would ask the hon. mover and seconder to The reasons for the introduction of this Bill withdraw the motion, which I am sure most are set out in the objects and reason attached to have been made under a misapprehension. It the Bill, which are as follows:-To reduce is one of the most unusual motions ever made the period of notice required by the first proviso in any legislative or deliberative body that leave to section 3 of Ordinanco No. 2 of 1901 be not granted to introduce a Bill. That from three months to one month. The reduc- is to say, "I won't hear you; I do not care tion is desired because it has been found whether you have reason or no reason to put unnecessary and inconvenient in practice to forward for the proposal you are going to require such a long period of notice as three advance; I won't bear you."
FORESHORES AND SEA-BED ORDINANCE.
months to be given before the Governor can grant Crown leases of foreshore or sea-bed, now move, sir, that this Bill be read a second time. I
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Theonneil then went into committee on the Bill, and a new elause baving been added the third reading was not taken when the Council resumed.
Hon. Mr. SHEWAN-Hear, hear. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-It is not a case of "Hear, hear" but of "Not hear, not hear, won't hear," What I say is, I want you to hear. I have reason to believe that the Council will hear, and I am sure the Council will bear and, when they have heard, approve of the Bill t at I am instructed to introduce for your con- sideration. Now, to come back to the spot LAND CLAIMS IN THE NEW TERRITORY. where the hou, member interjected his remark. The Council went into committee on the Bill This is an almost unprecedented motion. If entitled an Ordinance to facilitate the hearing, you look through the records of this Council I determination, and settlement of land claims in think it will be very difficult to fad any case; the New Territories, to establish a Land Court, in which leave has been refused to introduce a and for other purposes. Bill for the consideration of the Conncil. All! Section 2 as printed was the subject of a series the remarks of the hon. mover and seconder of of amendments proposed by the Hon. Dr. Ho
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