684754-1880-Meeting-of-Council-of-10th-September-Subjects--Estimates-City-Hall- — Page 10

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11 SEPTEMBER. 1880. 699

HIS EXCELLENCY--Now I find the vote for Miscellaneous Services in 1880 was $4,000. In These Estimates for 1881, we have the same sum. One might have imagined that the question of the City Hall would have attracted the attention of my honourable friend. However, perhaps he thinks the subject is not one of importance; at all events, not of sufficient importance to bring to the notice of the Governor in the Legislative Council. But still, somehow or other, my attention has been called to it by my honourable friend, for he favoured me with the recent report of the Commirree of which he was the Chairman. in which the vote is referred to. I read it with interest, and I find introduced into it some reference to the proceedings of the Governor with respect to this sum of $1,200, In addition to reading this report, to which is appended a good many documents, I took a glance at the proceedings of the meeting itself, and there I saw what my honourable friend had remarked. He -aid-

"With regard to the Museum you will doubtless have perceived that a serious misunderstanding exists between the Committee and the Executive-the Governor. The origin of the difference is seen in the first letter which was addressed to the City Hall Committee. It is unique in the way in which it assumes that the Committee must obey the behests of the Governor in matters connected with the City Hall. It is the first time that the Committee has been so addressed. On all previous occasions when we have had communication with the Governors of this Colony we have received from them from the first until the last and the last is the exception--every support and assistance -in making this public institution as beneficial to the community as possible.

Now, I observe that this meeting was a meeting of what one may call business men, and such was the statement to which they listened. There were apparently laid before them the various documents which the City Hall Committee had in their possession on this subject. At least, the gentlemen went away from the meeting under that impression. But after all, what is the fact? I have no hesi- ration in saying that there never was a case in this Colony put either before politicians or men of business in which more serious omissions occurred than in the case as laid before the public in this report and appendix. To begin with, not one word is said as to the Trust Deed under which the City Hall is held, not one word is said as to the conditions upon which Her Majesty's Government gave the Crown land to the public of this Colony. Not one word is said as to the specific and clear conditions of Governor Sjy KichaRD MACDONNELL in his various minutes on this subject, all of these minutes being in the hands of the Committee of the City Hall, and being all concealed from the public of the Colony. At that City Hall meeting there were twenty or thirty men of business, bank inana- gers, leading mercliants, sensible men, who thoroughly understand their own business arrangements. Suppose them to be told they were to consider something with respect to which the essential condi- tions were to be concealed from them, and they were to receive only a certain portion of documentary evidence, the carlier and more important part being kept in the dark. Well, on learning, as they now will do, the actuals facts, I think my friends who attended that meeting will be surprised to see that this grant of land was given by the Crown on specific conditions; that the Governor who sanctioned the first vote from the ratepayers' money of $1,200 a year for the pay of the Curator, did so on specific conditions, which were violated by the Committee without the sanction or knowledge of the Executive. Now, to begin with. here is the deed. I may mention that this very deed which I hold in my hand- it is not the first time that my honourable friend has seen it--was before him as a member of the City Hall Committee. These minutes of Sir Richard MacDoNNELL were all before him. They were Considered by him and read at Committee meetings. All this was carefully gone into, but not one word was said at the recent public meeting about these minutes and the deed, which are essential in eciding the question whether the Committee kept good faith with the Government. Now, what say le deed and ainutes? His Excellency then read portions of the deed, which vested the land in the rustees thereon to erect a building to be used as a City Hall; violation of the conditions to entail forfeiture of the property and expulsion of the occupiers.Such is the deed. Under that deed the Property, the legal estate, vested in Messrs. TURING, MCDOUALL and RYRIE. Now, I find, on referring to the papers, of which all notice was omitted by my honourable friend at this public meeting, that for a considerable period my honourable friend Mr. RYRIE was in fact the leading man, the chief manager, the person upon whom the whole responsibility was thrown. I find that he alone repre- nted the City Hall for a long, time, and he and Mr. RENNIE did so for a considerable period. Now, what were the conditions imposed by Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL, and under what circumstances? His first minute is addressed to Mr. AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary. He said--

“MR. AUSTIN, --It occurs to me that before the Estimates are finally closed it might be possible for Mr. RENNIE and the gentlemen having the management of the City Hall to show cause for grant- ing a small sum in aid of the Institution, so far as the latter, by its Museun and Library, may be held to offer advantages of a valuable kind to the public.

It is very desirable that a person acquainted with such things should be early appointed as Librarian and Curator of the Museum, which latter, if well fitted up, would soou attract to it a large collection of interesting objects.

The fittings for a Museum are not, however, an easy whilst they are certainly a costly matter. These things will require time, which is passing rapidly.