1856-07-31 — Page 1

31st July 1856.

Present:

His Excellency The Governor,

The Honorable The Lieutenant Governor,

The Honorable The Chief Justice,

The Honorable The Colonial Secretary,

The Honorable The Attorney General,

The Honorable J. F. Edger, Esquire.

The Council met today pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Council were read and approved.

Read a second time, amended, and passed, the Ordinance "for Fees and Costs," being No.14 of 1856, which was ordered to be published in the next Government Gazette.

The Chief Justice, the Colonial Secretary, and Mr. Edger voted against the following words at the end of Section IV; namely: "and the costs of Interlocutory Proceedings shall in all cases be forthwith paid, and shall in no case be made to abide the event of the cause wherein such Proceedings shall have been taken."

Section XII was objected to by The Chief Justice and Mr. Edger, who desired an insertion therein of words to the effect that Costs should also be payable by the Crown.

The Governor considering it advisable to postpone the 2nd reading of the Ordinance for Seamen, did not object to a discussion of its Provisions. Several amendments were proposed, and the amended Ordinance was directed to be published for general information.

Read a first time, and ordered to be published for general information, a Draft Ordinance for amending the Law of Evidence and Trial by Jury.

It was agreed, that this Ordinance, and the Ordinance for Seamen should be laid on the Table for the 2nd reading on Monday, the 11th Instant.

The Attorney General was requested by His Excellency to consider the propriety of preparing an Ordinance to provide for a Sailor's Home in Hongkong; and the Council adjourned till Monday the 11th Instant at one o'clock.

(Singed) John Bowring,

Governor.

Read and approved

this 11 day of August 1856,

(Signed) L. d'Almada e Castro,

Clerk of Councils.