VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG. No. 6 OF 1877.
THURSDAY, 21ST JUNE, 1877.
PRESENT:
His Excellency Governor POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G.
The Honourable the Chief Justice (Sir JOHN SMALE).
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary (JOHN GARDINER AUSTIN, C.M.G.). The Honourable the Attorney General (GEORGE PHILLIPPO).
The Honourable the Colonial Treasurer (CECIL CLEMENTI SMITH). The Honourable HENRY LOWCOCK.
The Honourable WILLIAM KESWICK.
The Honourable JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.
ABSENT:
The Honourable PHINEAS RYRIE, on leave of absence.
The Council meets this day at 2.30 P.M., by Special Summons.
The Minutes of the Meeting of Council held on the 23rd May, and those of the Meeting held on the 6th June, are read and confirmed.
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary reports that at a Meeting of the Finance Committee, held on Tuesday, the 12th June, the following votes were passed:─
PAYMENTS AUTHORISED IN EXCESS OF THE ESTIMATES OF 1876, REQURIING LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY.
ESTABLISHMENTS:─
Colonial Secretary.
Contingencies,─Excess, .......................................................... $ 346.86 SERVICES EXCLUSIVE OF ESTABLISHMENTS:─
Postmaster General.
Conveyance of Mails,─Excess, ............................................... $ 414.94 Police.
Bedding,─Excess, .................................................................... $ 3,158.15 Gaol.
Clothing, Shoes, &c.,─Excess, ................................................ $ 623.83 Fire Brigade.
Boiler Tubes, ..........................................£640.7.8 @ 4/0 = $ 3,201.91 Hand Fire Engine, ..................................£270.6.4 " = 1,351.58 $ 4,553.49 Military Contribution.
Excess caused by low Rate of Exchange, ................................. $ 5,855.53
PAYMENTS AUTHORISED IN EXCESS OF THE ESTIMATES OF 1877, REQURIING LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY.
ESTABLISHMENTS:─
Surveyor General.
Chinese Interpreter to Inspector of Nuisances, at $15 per
month, .................................................................................. $ 180.00 Temporary Salaries, for Additional Assistance in the Office
for 6 months, ........................................................................ 600.00 $ 780.00
Postmaster General.
Temporary Clerk at Shanghai Post Office, $30 per month,
from 1st February, 1877, ...................................................... $ 300.00 Harbour Master.
4 Extra Boatmen for Yau Má-Tí Harbour Station, to carry out
Ordinance No. 6 of 1866, at $6 per month each, ................. $ 168.00 Civil Hospital.
Additional Salaries to Civil Hospital Staff, in lieu of Rations,
$30 per month, ..................................................................... $ 360.00 SERVICES EXCLUSIVE OF ESTABLISHMENTS:─
Surveyor General.
House Rent for 3 Inspectors of Nuisances, at $15 per month
each, 6 months, .................................................................... $ 270.00 Police.
Stores for the Water Police, ordered from England, £125, ........ $ 600.00 Fire Brigade.
New Boiler for No. 2 Steam Fire Engine, ................................. $ 750.00 Charitable Allowances.
Cost of 50 Grey Blankets for the Reformatory, ........................ $ 71.25
Works and Buildings.
Yau Má-Tí,─Fair, including improved Road
Communication with other Villages in Kowloon, ............... $ 1,115.00 Roads, Streets, and Bridges.
Repairs to Damages caused by the Rain Storm of the 21st
April, 1877, .......................................................................... $ 5,401.55
Land and Houses Purchased.
Purchase of Section B, of Inland Lot No. 418, at Kennedy
Town, ................................................................................... $ 555.00 Compensation on resumption of Land in the Bamboo
Garden, whereon a Chinese Temple and a public Latrine
had been erected, .................................................................. 350.00 Compensation on resumption of Land for the purpose of
making a Road to the new Cattle Market, ............................ 100.00 $ 1,005.00
Miscellaneous Services.
Grant to Revd. Mr. Loercher to assist him to publish a Map
of the Canton Province, ........................................................ $ 500.00 For Repairs to Furniture in Council Room, .............................. 150.00 $ 650.00
By direction of His Excellency, the following Report of the Committee of the Legislative Council appointed to enquire into the state of the Engineering Department of the Fire Brigade, is read:-
"Your Committee appointed to enquire into the state of the Engineering "Department the Fire Brigade have the honour to submit the following Report: ─"
"Your Committee are of opinion, after hearing the evidence and opinions of "several gentlemen conversant with the state of the Fire Brigade, and competent "to form a judgment, that it is not expedient, at the present time, to make any change in the existing arrangement for the supervision of the Engineering Department."
"Your Committee would strongly recommend, however, that Boilers similar "to those now used in the Dock Yard Engines be substituted without delay for "those at present attached to the Government Engines."
"Your Committee are disposed to think that it might be possible to procure "these Boilers in Hongkong, and they would recommend the adoption of this "course, if feasible, in preference to sending to England for them, in order that "the change may be effected with the utmost expedition."
"This recommendation is based upon a consensus of opinion amongst all "those whom your Committee had the honour to examine, that the break-downs "which occasionally take place with the Government Engines are attributable "mainly, if not entirely, to the faulty principle upon which their Boilers are "constructed."
"Your Committee are not aware of any other change which it is necessary "to make in the Engineering Department of the Fire Brigade."
"Victoria, Hongkong, 23rd January, 1877."
"(Signed,) J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary." "( " ) C. MAY."
"( " ) H. LOWCOCK."
"( " ) W. KESWICK."
Read a first time a Bill to authorize the Appropriation of a Supplementary Sum not exceeding Seventy-four thousand Dollars to defray the Charges of the Year 1876.
His Excellency then moves the second reading of the Companies' Ordinance, 1877.
The Bill is read a second time, and the Council goes into Committee upon the clauses of the Bill.
At clause 37, His Excellency draws the attention of Honourable Members to the wide application which the wording of the Section adopted from that of the English Companies' Act permitted, and suggests the expediency of amending it.
After consideration, it is resolved to introduce no amendment at present until it be seen that course is adopted in England in regard to this point, which had already provoked comment there.
The Bill is then committed, read a third time, and passed, bearing the title of─"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to amend the Companies' Ordinance, 1865, and to repeal Ordinance No. 4 of 1876, "─being "No. 1 of 1877."
His Excellency adjourns the Council sine die at 3 P.M.d
J. POPE HENNESSY,
Governor.
Read and confirmed, this 17th day of September, 1877.
J. M. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,
Acting Clerk of Councils.
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