1870-10-14 — Page 1

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG. No.10 OF 1870.

FRIDAY, 14TH OCTOBER, 1870.

PRESENT:

His Excellency Major-General WHITFEILD, Lieutenant-Governor. The Honorable the Chief Justice, (JOHN SMALE.)

The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, (JOHN GARDINER AUSTIN.) The Honorable the Attorney General, (JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.)

The Honorable the Colonial Treasurer, (FREDERICK H. A. FORTH.) The Honorable HENRY JOHN BALL.

The Honorable HUGH BOLD GIBB.

The Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE.

ABSENT:

The Honorable the Auditor General, (WILLIAM HEPBURN RENNIE.) The Honorable WILLIAM KESWICK.

The Council meets this day at 3 P.M., by Special Summons.

The Minutes of the Council held on the 9th of September, are read and confirmed.

His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor lays on the Table the Appropriation Bill for 1870, and states that little changed as is the financial position of the Colony since he addressed the Council on the 28th of July when submitting the Revised Estimates for 1871, he considers it unnecessary to make any detailed statement upon the Estimates for 1871, as they are based chiefly in respect of the Expenditure of Departments upon those of the preceding year, and especially because any explanations which the Council may require will be given in Committee by the Colonial Secretary.

His Excellency then moves that the Bill on the Table to apply a Sum not exceeding Six hundred and Eighty-eight thousand Dollars to the Public Service of the Year 1871, be read a first time.

Question put and carried, and Bill read a first time.

Read a first time a Bill to provide for the Trial and Punishment of Offenders, not being Subjects of China, to whom a Pardon has been granted under Ordinance No.1 of 1860, and who may be found at large within the Colony, in Violation of the Condition of such Pardon.

Read a first time, a Bill to empower the Governor in Council to reduce, vary, and in certain cases, to remit and refund the amount of Fees payable for the Use of the Government of the Colony.

Read a first time, a Bill to amend the Laws relating to the Admission by the Supreme Court of Barristers, Attornies, Solicitors, and Proctors to practise in the Colony, and to the Examination of Articled Clerks, and to provide for the Registration of Public Notaries, and for other matters:

The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, by command from His Excellency, submits a Letter from the Surveyor General, of the 13th instant, representing that the Sum of $3,500 placed upon the Estimates for 1870, for the completion of the Line of Telegraph round the Island, and for its maintenance and working when completed, has proved inadequate,－and that a further sum will be required during the year to meet the expenditure on construction which he estimates at $1,500, and on working expenses $300, making in all $1,800.

Whereupon, it is resolved that a further expenditure of $1,800 be authorized for the maintenance and working of the Telegraph during the remainder of the current year.

The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency, next submits a Special Estimates from the Harbor Master, of the 5th instant, showing the expenditure to be incurred for the repair of the damage done, by the Typhoon of the 26th September last, to the Colonial Steam Schooner Victoria, the Flag Staff at Victoria Peak, the Police Chop at Aberdeen, and the Steam Launch.

Whereupon, authority is given to incur expenditure under the following heads:－

For the repair of the Colonial Steam Schooner Victoria, a sum not exceeding $500.

For the repair of the Flag Staff at Victoria Peak, a sum not exceeding $220.

For the repair of the Police Chop at Aberdeen, a sum not exceeding $60.

For the repair of the Steam Launch, a sum not exceeding $50.

His Excellency then adjourns the Council at 35 minutes past 3 o'clock, till Thursday, the 27th instant, at 2 P.M.

HENRY WASE WHITFEILD, Major-General, and Lieutenant-Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 11th Day of November, 1870.

L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

Clerk of Councils.