652543-1891-Legislative-Council-No-6-25th-March-1891 — Page 2

244

2597 of 1890.

C.5.0.

638 of 1891.

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH APRIL, 1891.

A sum of Five hundred and Thirty-six Dollars and Eighty-four Cents, ($536.84), as the equivalent of £85, @ 3/2d. per $ for defraying the cost of analyzing the Observations and Readings of Tides of Hongkong for 1887-88,

A sum of Two thousand Five hundred and Seventy-seven Dollars, and Forty-two Cents, ($2,577.42), to cover payments for the undermentioned works not com- pleted before the 31st December last.

EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC WORKS.

Main Drainage and Sanitary.

Re-drainage of the Government Civil Hospital-balance due,... Construction of a Storm Water Drain in Jubilee Street--balance due,.............

536.84

.$ 119.82 2,457.60

$ 2,577.42

C.8.0.

453 of 1891.

0.8 0.

245 of 1891,

C.S.O.

of

A sum of Two thousand and Five hundred Dollars, ($2,500), to provide permanent

moorings for the new Hospital Ship Hygeia,

A sum of Twenty-nine thousand and Three hundred Dollars, ($29,300), being the

two last instalments to be paid for the building of the Hospital Hulk,.

14801880. A sum of One hundred and Eighty-eight Dollars, ($188), being undrawn salary of the 3rd Bailiff of the Supreme Court from 1st May to 22nd September, 1890, at $40 per month, lapsed into the Treasury,

C.S.0.

633 of 1891.

.$ 2,500.00

..$29,300.00

A sum of Three thousand Seven hundred and Forty Dollars, ($3,740), to cover payment of balance due for the construction of Pokfoolum Filter Beds and Reservoir, which was not completed before the 31st December last.

EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC WORKS.

.$ 188.00

Filter Bed, Pokfoolum Reservoir.

Unexpended balance in 1890,

Excess over estimated cost,

.$ 3,254.41 485.59

$ 3,740.00

C. S. O.

377 of 1891.

A sum of Eight hundred and Eighty-eight Dollars, ($888), as a compassionate allowance to the widow and children of the late H. L. MATHER, Second Light- house Keeper,

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

$ 888.00

The Council divided on the vote of $1,830 the increment to the salaries of the Masters of Victoria College, with the result that it was carried by a majority of six votes to four.

The other votes were agreed to without a division.

PAPER LAID ON THE TABLE.- -The Honourable P. RYRIE laid on the table the following protest against the vote of $123,870.96 the moiety of the Military Contribution for 1890:-

We, the undersigned, the Un-official Members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong, desire to place on record our emphatic protest against the Re-vote of the sum of $123,870.96 originally voted by this Council on the 26th day of March, 1890, as an addition to the Mili- tary

Contribution payable by the Colony for the year 1890, and which, not having been disbursed within the financial year, has necessarily been again submitted to the Council before payment can be constitutionally authorized or made.

We protest against this Re-vote on the following among other grounds:-

1. That this addition to the Military Contribution was originally demanded on the sole ground that the garrison of the Colony was about to be largely increased. No other grounds for the increase were even hinted at in the Secretary of State's despatch and he goes so far as to explain how the additional amount demanded had been arrived at, solely by a comparison of the numbers of the then existing and of the intended future garrison.

2. That the additional Military Contribution was proposed in this Council, discussed and voted solely on the ground that an increased military force was required for the efficient defence of the Colony, and that the amount asked for was reasonable in view of the proposed increase.