697078-1874-Proceedings-of-Council-November-13th- — Page 3

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 21st NOVEMBER, 1874.

Debate ensues.

The Council divides.

Ayes (3).

Mr. WHITTALL.

Mr. ROWETT.

Mr. RYRIE.

Motion Lost.

Gaol,

Fire Brigade,

Noes (4).

Mr. ALEXANDER.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

..$16,694.00 8,112.00

633

On this Vote being taken, the Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE moves that the Vote be post- poned until the Council should be informed as to what Officer actually commanded the Fire Brigade, in order that it might be known who was responsible when the Regulations were not carried out. It was advisable that a Commission should be appointed to manage the Brigade.

The Honorable RICHARD ROWETT seconds the motion.

Debate ensues.

The Council divides.

Ayes (3).

Mr. WHITTALL.

Mr. ROWETT.

Mr. RYRIE,

Motion lost.

Noes (4).

Mr. ALEXANDER.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

The Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE gives notice of Protest against the decision of the Council.

Government Gardens,.........

.......................$4,660.80

The following Protest, referred to above, was received on the 16th November:---

PROTEST.

Notice having been duly given I PHINEAS RYRIE a Member of the Legislative Council of Hongkong protest against a vote of said Council, sanctioning the Expenditure of a sum of $8,112.00 on the Fire Brigde for the following reasons:→→→

1st. That clause of Fire Brigade Ordinance No. 4 of 1868 has been contravened in as much as that on the report of a Fire being made at the Central Station on the morn- ing of the 23rd September, 1874, the Brigade was neither mustered or turned out with their Engines and all necessary implements as provided by said clause.

2nd. That the aforesaid clause provides also for the framing of regulations and that no

such regulations have been made.

3rd. That the President of the Council did not reply to a question put who was the

Officer in Command of the Fire Brigade.

4th. That the present management of the Brigade is faulty: a proper Fire Commission such as exists in Shanghai and other places should be appointed: it being most undesirable that one person only should have the control of the expenditure, as from mistaken economy on his part much damage may result, and I am informed that a valuable Engine the property of the public has been rendered almost useless in consequence of there not being a properly qualified and careful Engineer to attend to it constantly.

5th. That the Drill of the Brigade is not such as to make it an efficient one in event of a fire: much more being needed to that end than merely turning out the force once a

space of month and feebly pumping water out of and into the harbour for the quarter of an hour, such instruction can never fit men to cope successfully with the difficulties to be encountered at a serious fire.

Hongkong, 16th November, 1874.

P. RYRIE.

a

The Honorable the President adjourns the Council at 4.30 P.M. until Monday next, the 16th November

at 2.30 P.M.

Read and confirmed, this 16th Day of November, 1874.

CECIL C. SMITH,

for the Clerk of Councils.

JOHN SMALE, President.