1883-07-20 — Page 1

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 9.

FRIDAY, 20TH JULY, 1883.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(SIR GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, G.C.M.G.)

His Honour the Chief Justice, (SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO).

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (WILLIAM HENERY MARSH, C.M.G.) " the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY).

" the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).

" PHINEAS RYRIE.

" JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.

" FRANCIS BULKELEY JOHNSON.

" FREDERICK STEWART.

ABSENT:

The Honourable WILLIAM KESWICK, (on leave).

The Council meets this day according to Summons.

The Minutes of the last Meeting of Council, held on the 8th ultimo, are read and confirmed.

On the motion of the Colonial Secretary, seconded by the Colonial Treasurer, the following votes of the Finance Committee are passed unanimously:—

(Finance Committee, 14th June, 1883.)

ESTABLISHMENTS.

Registrar General.

1050 of 1883. Allowance to Mr. SHEPHERD, for Chinese Teacher, at $10 per

C.S.O.

month, from 1st May to 30th November, 1883, ..................... $ 70.00 ────

SERVICES EXCLUSIVE OF ESTABLISHMENTS.

Police.

Allowance for Quarters:—

1419 of 1883. Additional allowance of $3 each to Police Constables

C.S.O.

SIMMONS, GIDLEY, and JENKINS (in addition to the $12 to each sanctioned by the Finance Committee on 24th April),…………………………………………………………….. $ 72.00 1315 of 1883. Allowance to two Police Constables now quartered at No.

C.S.O.

8 Police Station, at $15 per month, from June to November,... 180.00 C.S.O.

1186 of 1883. Allowance to three Police Constables quartered at No. 4 Police Station during the repairs of the premises, at $15 each (4 months) ,…………………………………………………………. 180.00

$ 432.00

Works and Buildings.

C.S.O.

974 of 1883. Constructing a Retaining Wall to prevent land-slip behind the Tung-wa Hospital, being a moiety of the cost, not to exceed…$ 1,000.00

────

(Finance Committee, 21st June, 1883.)

ESTABLISHMENTS.

Government Gardens and Plantations.

C.O. Desp.

66 of 1883. Salary of Head Gardener (Mr. WESTLAND) from 13th April to 27th May, on half pay, and from 28th May to 30th

November, 1883, on full pay, at $800per annum,………………$ 457.61 ────

SERVICES EXCLUSIVEOF ESTABLISHMENTS.

Works and Buildings.

C.S.O.

4121 of 1882. Reclamation of Causeway Bay,………………………………….. $ 15,000.00 C.S.O.

1515 of 1883. Reclamation of a Swamp at Yau-má Ti, Public Dust-bins and Privies, Dust-carts, &c.,………………………………………… 43,158.00 C.S.O.

1513 of 1883. Improvements to drainage, &c.,………………………………….. 46,550.00 $ 104,708.00

Roads, Streets, and Bridges.

C.S.O.

1400 of 1883. Compensation to P. & O. S. N. Co. for removal of their Pier in 1878 when constructing the Praya Wall,…………………….. $ 800.00

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(Finance Committee, 16th July, 1883.)

ESTABLISHMENTS.

Treasury.

(Opium Revenue Service.)

C.S.O.

1585 of 1883. Conveyance allowance for an Excise Officer for 3 months at $12 per month.,…………………………………………..……….. $ 36.00

Harbour Master's Department.

C.O. Desp.

88 of 1883. Personal allowance to Captain THOMSETT from 1st January to 30th November, 1883, at $40 per month,..…………….......... $ 440.00

Increase of salary to Government Marine Surveyor at $50 per

month from 1st January to 30th November, 1883,………....... $ 550.00 Salary of an Assistant Marine Surveyor at $200 per month from

1st July to 30th November, 1883,.………………………........ $ 1,000.00 $ 1,990.00 Pensions and Gratuities.

C.S.O.

1582 of 1883. Gratuity to Nuisance Inspector ADAMS upon retirement from the service,………………………………………………….... $ 360.00

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SERVICES EXCLUSIVE OF ESTABLISHMENTS

Works and Buildings.

C.S.O.

1706 of 1883. Lazarette on Stone Cutters' Island,………………………………. $ 10,700.00

Roads, Streets, and Bridges.

C.S.O.

1604 of 1883. Road and street contingencies, being sundry repairs to different streets in the town,………………………………………........ $ 5,000.00 C.S.O.

1708 of 1883. Maintenance of Piers,………………………….…………………. $ 900.00 $ 5,900.00

Miscellaneous Services.

C.S.O.

1683 of 1883. Gratuity equal to 3 months' salary awarded to Foreman of Road repairs DIRRELL, on leaving the service through ill

health,……………………………………………………....... $ 75.00

In connection with some of the above votes, the Colonial Secretary, by direction of the Governor, lays upon the Table the following correspondence:—

(a.) Despatch of Secretary of State No. 66 of 1883, respecting the appointment of a Head Gardener.

(b.) Despatch of Secretary of State No. 88 of 1883, respecting increases of salaries in the Harbour Department.

(c.) Letter of the Surveyor General, C.S.O. No. 1513 of 1883, respecting drains and sewers.

(d.) Letter of the Surveyor General, C.S.O. No. 1515 of 1883, respecting scavenging.

(e.) Letter of the Surveyor General, C.S.O. No. 1559 of 1883, respecting Causeway Bay.

(f.) Letter of the Surveyor General, C.S.O. No. 1706 of 1883, respecting the Lazarette.

On the motion of the Colonial Secretary, seconded by the Colonial Treasurer, the following Resolutions of the Finance Committee regarding a further contribution in respect of the Postal Service of this Colony, are adopted.

(a.) That the Secretary of State be asked to reconsider the question of a further Postal Contribution from the Revenue of this Colony.

(b.) That the Colony is prepared to pay a fixed total annual sum of £4,000 from February 1st, 1880, towards the loss of the Imperial Government on the mail Contract, it being clearly understood that the former fluctuating payment of about £3,000 a year is to cease from the above date.

(c.) That the attention of the Secretary of State be especially called to the fact that the above proposed payment will absorb the whole annual profit

on working the Post Office, which profit is mainly derived from local postage and is unconnected with any subsidized mail line.

The Attorney General moves the first reading of a Bill entitled The Excise Ordinances (Opium) 1858-1879 Amendment Ordinance, 1883, (No. 2), and states the objects and reasons of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconds the motion.

The Bill is read a first time.

The Attorney General moves the first reading of a Bill entitled The Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, 1879, Amendment Ordinance, 1883, and states the objects and reasons of the Bill.

The Colonial Treasurer seconds the motion..

The Bill is read a first time.

The Attorney General moves the suspension of the Standing Orders. The Colonial Secretary seconds the motion, which is carried unanimously.

The Attorney General moves the second reading of the Bill entitled The Excise Ordinances (Opium), 1588-1879, Amendment Ordinance, 1883, (No.2).

The Colonial Secretary seconds the motion, which is carried unanimously. The Bill is read a second time, and the Council goes into Committee on the Bill. The Bill is reported without amendment.

The Bill is passed, and is numbered Ordinance 8 of 1883.

The Attorney General moves the second reading of the Bill entitled The Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, 1879, Amendment Ordinance, 1883.

The Colonial Secretary seconds the motion, which is carried unanimously. The Bill is read a second time, and the Council goes into Committee on the Bill. The Bill is reported without amendment.

The Bill is passed, and is numbered Ordinance 9 of 1883.

The Attorney General moves the first reading of the Bill entitled The French Mail Steamers Ordinance, Continuation Ordinance, 1883, and states the objects and reasons of the Bill.

The Colonial Treasurer seconds the motion.

The Bill is read a first time.

The Colonial Secretary moves the first reading of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill for 1882, and states the objects and reasons of the Bill.

The Colonial Treasurer seconds the motion.

The Bill is read a first time.

Read: A minute by the Governor, dated the 18th instant, submitting for the consideration of the Council the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 1884, together with a Report thereon from the Colonial Secretary and Auditor General.

By command of the Governor, the Colonial Secretary lays upon the Table the papers referred to in His Excellency's minute.

The Colonial Secretary then moves the first reading of the Appropriation Bill for 1884, and states the objects and reasons of the Bill.

The Colonial Treasurer seconds the motion.

The Bill is read a first time.

Mr. JOHNSON, pursuant to notice, makes the following motion, and addresses the Council:—

"That His Excellency the Governor be respectfully requested to cause to be laid "on the Table copies of correspondence between the Chamber of Commerce and the "Colonial Secretary relative to the application of the Canton-Hongkong Wa-Hop "Telegraph Company to lay a cable across the harbor."

His Excellency the Governor replies as follows:—

In reply to the Honourable Member, I beg to state that there is no objection whatever to lay on the table copies of the correspondence referred to. On the contrary, I have always been, throughout my long career as a Colonial Governor, in favour of the greatest degree of publicity respecting public affairs which may be compatible with the interests of the public service. With regard to the matter of the Wa-Hop Telegraph Company, I take this opportunity of stating that there is no objection on the part of the Colonial Government to that Company laying a cable from the present terminus at Kaulung to this City—a distance of about four miles. But the Imperial Government have given strict instructions that all applications in connection with the subject of telegraphic extension shall be referred for consideration to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Accordingly, the late Administrator of the Government (Mr. MARSH) so referred the first application of the Wa-Hop Telegraph Company. The reply was to this effect: "Her Majesty's Government have thought it well, in view of the present complicated condition of telegraphic arrangements in China, that the permission which has applied for should not be granted." I have recently forwarded, for favourable consideration, a second application from the Wa-Hop Telegraph Company. That is how the matter stands now.

The Colonial Secretary then, by command of the Governor, lays upon the table the following correspondence:—

(a.) Acting Colonial Secretary, to Secretary Chamber of Commerce, 11th October, 1882.

(b.) Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, to Acting Colonial Secretary, 14th October, 1882, with enclosure.

(c.) Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, to Acting Colonial Secretary, 28th October, 1882.

His Excellency the Governor adjourns the Council sine die.

G. F. BOWEN,

Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 3rd day of August, 1883.

ARATHOON SETH,

Clerk of Councils.