1857-11-17 — Page 1

Tuesday, 17th November, 1857

Present:

His Excellency the Governor,

The Honorable the Acting Colonial Secretary,

The Honorable the Colonial Treasurer,

The Honorable the Surveyor General,

The Honorable the Chief Magistrate,

The Honorable J. Jardine, Esquire,

The Honorable George Lyall, Esquire.

The Council met today by special summons.

The Minutes of Council held on the 10th November, were read and approved.

The Draft Estimates of the Revenue and Expenditure of the Colony for the year 1858, as prepared by the Honorable the Colonial Treasurer, were laid on the Table, together with a Report by that Officer on the same; which Report was read by the Honorable Member on the motion of the Honorable the Chief Magistrate.

On laying the Draft before the Council, the Governor remarked that, to prevent any misapprehension on the subject, he would state that the duty of finally preparing the Estimates belonged to the Colonial Secretary, who alone was responsible to him for the proper drawing up thereof. His Excellency therefore did not wish the Council consider the Draft as prepared by the Colonial Treasurer as the Estimates finally adopted by the Government, but as a preliminary proceeding on which any observation of Honorable Members might be grounded. That he would postpone the consideration of the same till Saturday next the 21st Instant, when the Estimated might be remarked on seriatim, and that he would afterwards request their several opinions in writing, either as to their general character or any of the details, to be eventually transmitted to the Secretary of State when the Estimates are forwarded for his approval.

Council adjourned till Saturday the 21st Instant at Noon.

(Signed) John Bowring,

Governor.

Read and approved,

this 21th Day of November, 1857

(Signed) L. d'Almada e Castro,

for the Clerk of Councils.