134
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 16TH APRIL, 1870.
entirely unprepared to mark his grateful sense of these kind expressions of feeling, especially, too, at a time when one's feelings were more than usually susceptible. He would be most heartily ashamed of himself, however, if he could not thank them--though not in adequate lan. guage, at least with manner, spirit and feeling adequate to the occasion. He deeply regretted that he had to leave without winding up affairs in so satisfactory a manner as he could have wished: but it was his intention to return. And, whether he returned or not, it would be found from the records, however misunderstood he may have occasionally been by parties who had not access to accurate information, that he had exhibited a laborious interest in the Colony's welfare. He had great satisfaction in thinking this would be so, though they had differed as t several points of policy--the Stamp Act and the Licenses, for instance. Nevertheless he believed the majority of the Community and the Council would now admit themselves in favor of these on the whole. He had always adopted a straight-forward course of action, and sought to conceal nothing. It had been said by some-for it happened to suit them to say so that the Council does not represent the public feeling of the Colony; but he denied the fact, and also that the public were not fairly represented. There were four unofficial members; and ther had been chosen partly because they were known to hold views on certain questions opposed to his own, as his correspondence with the Secretary of State would show. So little 'desirous was he to assume autocratic powers, that he had never influenced a member as to how he should vote; and he would say that none were better able than those now in the unofficial seats of the Council, to exercise a salutary influence. The influence of the Council was quite as great as that of any elective or non-elective assembly elsewhere; and the Estimates were always the estimates of the united Council, though as in every assembly there must at times necessarily be a few points on which they could not all agree. If the members had not interfered with his policy often, it was because they well knew there was no one actuated by a more thorough desire to advance the best interests of the Colony, than the Governor himself. He had again to thank them on his own behalf, and more especially on behalf of Lady MacDonnell, who would be much gratified by their kind allusions to her. He hoped they would meet again, and have as good results to show as they had had this day. He begged them to excuse these very imperfect remarks, as he had not his former strength.
His Excellency then adjourns the Council at 10 minutes past 6 o'clock.
H. W. WHITFEILD. Lieutenant-Governor.
Read and confirmed, this 13th Day of April, 1870.
L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,
Clerk of Councils.
SUPREME COURT OF HONGKONG.
REGULA GENERALIS.
ANNO TRICESIMO TERTIO,
VICTORIA REGINÆ.
13th April, 1870.
Whereas by Section XXIII of Ordinance No. 6 of 1845, it is enacted that it shall be lawful for the Supreme Court to make and prescribe Rules and Orders, among other things, touching the Place of holding the Court; And Whereas it is expedient that the Sittings of the Court should be held at the Building hereinafter mentioned, during the Period necessary for executing certain Repairs to the Supreme Court House of the Colony: It is therefore ordered, that the Sittings of the Supreme Cour? of Hongkong in its Common Law, Equitable, Bankruptcy, and Probate Jurisdictions, respectively, also in its Criminal Sessions and in Vice-Admiralty and in all other its Jurisdictions, shall be held from this Date and until further Order of this Court, at and in the Building situate and being Number Seven, Queen's Road Central, in the City of Victoria.
By the Court,
W. H. ALEXANDER,
Registrar.
Revised and Approved by the Legislative Council, this 13th Day of April, 1870.
L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,
Clerk of Councils.
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