643690-1895-Legislative-Council-Minutes-No-13 — Page 3

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 14TH DECEMBER, 1895. 1253

(4)

Will the Government lay upon the table a statement of the number of convictions, the amount of fines imposed and paid, in respect of offences against Ordinance No. 13 of 1895, from the date it came into force until the end of last week, and a copy of the correspondence which has passed between the home authorities and the Colonial Government in connection with the Bill, and also inform the Council whether it has yet received the sanction of the Imperial Government, and if not, state the cause of delay?

(5)

Will the Government lay upon the table a copy of the despatch from the Secretary of State to the Colonies sanctioning the pension to be paid to the Honourable Mr. Justice Ackroyd on his retiring from the service?

(6)

Will the Government inform the Council on whose recommendation Mr. Matthews was requested to visit Hongkong, inspect professionally the Gap Rock lighthouse, and state the cost of his report?

(7)

Will the Government inform the Council as to the conditions on which the Golf Club have been granted authority to build their club house at the west end of the Wongneichong Valley, and the terms of the lease, if there is one?

(8)

Will the Government inform the Council whether it is proposed to proceed with the construction of the much needed and desirable new road between Plantation Road Station and Magazine Gap; the probable cost; if the work is not to be proceeded with at present, what causes the delay, and when will the work be taken in hand?

(9)

Will the Government lay upon the table a statement showing the total cost of the administration, or the expenditure of the Government under the head of salaries, including allowances if any, pensions, exchange compensation, &c., for the years 1892, 1893, 1894, and 1895, separately?

The Colonial Secretary replied.

Mr. WHITEHEAD, with the permission of His Excellency the Governor, withdrew the following question :-

Will the Government lay upon the table a copy of the reports or letters to the Government from the sub-Committee appointed by the General Committee elected at the public meeting held at the City Hall on 27th September, 1894, to consider and report upon the question of recognition of services rendered during the suppression of the plague last year, and a copy of all the correspondence which has passed between the Government and the home authorities in connection therewith?

RESOLUTION. Mr. WHITEHEAD gave notice that at the next Meeting he would move the follow- ing resolution:-

That His Honour Mr. Justice E. J. Ackroyd (recently retired after forty-one years of true and faithful work in the Colonial Service, of which he served in Hongkong for fourteen years as Registrar of the Supreme Court, Puisne Judge, and Acting Chief Justice) rendered very many and most valuable services to the Colony, outside and in addition to the duties of the various offices held by him. That from 1882 to 1890 he was a member of the Commission for the revision of the laws of the Colony; he was on the Crown Lands Commission; on the Squat- ters Commission; on the Board for adjusting the claims of the squatters; on the Commission of enquiry into the defalcations in the Post Office, and in the Treasury; on the enquiry into the working of the emigration laws; and on the enquiry into the difficulties in 1891 which arose between the Opium Farmer and the Government. He rendered services of great value as Chairman of the enquiry into the expenditure and the cost of the Administration, and as Chairman of the Committee appointed to enquire into the resumption of the Taipingshan district, he carried out a most difficult, arduous, and delicate work with promptitude, impartiality, and to the entire satisfaction of the Government and the claimants. The Council desire to tender to the Honourable Mr. Justice Ackroyd their hearty thanks for all his zealous labours, ever readily and cheerfully rendered, and for his devotion to promoting the welfare and the interests of the Colony, and to wish him every health and happiness, as well as a continued career of usefulness.