1884-12-17 — Page 1

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NO. 3.

WEDNESDAY, 17TH DECEMBER, 1884.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

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

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

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (WILLIAM HENRY MARSH, C.M.G.)

,, the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY.)

,, the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)

,, the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.)

,, the Registrar General (FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D.)

,, PHINEAS RYRIE.

,, WILLIAM KESWICK.

,, THOMAS JACKSON.

,, FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.

,, WONG SHING.

The Council met in pursuance of adjournment.

Minutes read and confirmed.

PAPERS.—The Honourable the Colonial Secretary laid on the table the following Paper:—

Despatches respecting the payment of a Roman Catholic Chaplain for the Gaol and Civil Hospital. MINUTES OF THE GOVERNOR REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.—Read the following Minutes by His Excellency the Governor:—

G. F. BOWEN.

(1.) In the speech at the opening of the Session of the Legislative Council on the 3rd instant, the Governor informed the Council that it might become expedient to revise the Estimates for 1885.

Such revision has now been made, and a revised copy of the Estimates is now ready for consideration by the Council.

It has been deemed prudent to reduce the Estimates of Revenue from the amount originally stated,............................................................................................................................................................ $1,212,188 to ................................................................................................................................................... 1,135,000 that is to say, $77,188 lower than what was estimated in June last.

As regards the expenditure, it is necessary in the first place to increase the amount by certain items, some of which have been already voted by this Council, whilst the necessity of others has become apparent since the Estimates were framed.

These items added to the original Estimates will bring the total amount up from $1,150,801 to $1,173,521. On the other hand the Council will be invited to consider certain reductions in expenditure, amounting in all to $82,900, the details of which will be laid before them.

The total amount of expenditure will then be reduced from $1,173,521 to $1,085,600 leaving a margin of Revenue to meet unforeseen expenses of about $45,000.

17th December, 1884.

(2.) On laying the Estimates before the Council in June last, it was stated that the Estimate of Extraordinary Public Works to be defrayed from accumulated balances would be postponed till the present Session of Council. This Estimate is now laid on the table, and the Council is requested to vote the different items amounting altogether to $594,700 as shewn in the annexed Schedule.

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It is estimated that the amount of accumulated balances on 1st January, 1885 will be $657,500. The balances will therefore be nearly exhausted by the end of next year. But, before that time, it is proposed that a loan of $1,000,000 should be sanctioned to continue the Public Works of an extraordinary nature during the following years.

SCHEDULE.

a. Tytam Water-works.—The sooner this work is completed the better; a large sum is therefore set down,................................................................................................................................. $200,000 b. Military Defences,........................................................................................................................... 200,000 c. Central School transferred from Estimates of ordinary expenditure,.......................................... 50,000

d. Drains and Sea-wall at Lápsápwán, which Government is bound to make, in fulfilment of the agreement with the purchasers of land in that District,....................................................... 75,000

e. Completion of Steam Dredger and cost of dredging operations,................................................ 10,000 f. Unspent balance of vote for repairs of Typhoon damages of 1884, re-vote,.............................. 9,700

g. Sanitary Works, the detail of which will be laid before the Public Works Committee before their execution is sanctioned, ................................................................................................ 50,000

$594,700

17th December, 1884.

The Colonial Secretary moved that these Minutes be referred to the Finance Committee.

Seconded by the Colonial Treasurer.

Question—put and passed.

VOTES PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.—The Colonial Secretary moved the following Votes passed by the Finance Committee:—

ESTABLISHMENTS.

Colonial Secretary.

C.S.O.

1561 of 1884. Travelling expenses of Cadet (Mr. SERCOMBE SMITH) to Peking,......................................... $ 159.70 Treasurer.

Opium Revenue Service,—

C.S.O.

1712 of 1884. C.S.O.

Fitting the premises No. 223, Praya West, as an Opium boiling establishment, Rent, &c., $ 508.10

2644 of 1884. Storm damages and other expenses,....................................................................................... 500.00 $ 1,008.10

Postmaster General.

C.S.O.

1983 of 1884. Contingencies at the Ports, excess,.......................................................................................... $ 300.00 Registrar General.

C.S.O.

2164 of 1884. C.S.O.

Salary of 2 Scavengers for Yaumáti Market, at $5 per month each, from 1st September to 30th November, 1884,.......................................................................................................... $ 30.00 Medical.

2581 of 1884. Apothecary and Analyst, annual increase of $96 per annum, from 12th September to

30th November, 1884,.............................................................................................................. $ 21.06 C.S.O.

2934 of 1884. Care-taker of the Mortuary, salary at $10 per month, 6 months,........................................... 60.00 $ 81.06

Police.

C.S.O.

2853 of 1884. Allowance to Adjutant for 4 Chair Coolies, at $24 per month, 1 month,..............................$ 24.00

SERVICES EXCLUSIVE OF ESTABLISHMENTS.

Postmaster General.

C.S.O.

1983 of 1884. Gratuities to Ship Masters for carrying Mails, excess,........................................................... $ 1,000.00

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Ecclesiastical.

C. O. Desp.

150 of 1884. Grant for the Services of a Roman Catholic Chaplain in the Gaol and the Civil Hospital, $ 720.00 Police.

C.S.O.

2144 of 1884. Repairs to Police Launch, No. 3,.............................................................................................. $ 550.00 Works and Buildings.

C.S.O.

1706 of 1884. Lazaretto, on Stone Cutters' Island, re-vote,............................................................................. $ 1,805.00 Observatory and Time Ball,...................................................................................................... 3,000.00 C.S.O.

1518 of 1884. Observatory, Turfing the Platform,........................................................................................... 240.00 $ 5,045.00

Roads, Streets and Bridges.

C.S.O.

1414 of 1884. New Roads near the old Mahomedan Cemetery, (1st instalment),....................................... $ 5,000.00 Miscellaneous Services.

C. O. Desp.

188 of 1884. Grant to the City Hall,............................................................................................................... $ 1,200.00 C.S.O.

1860 of 1884. Furniture for Government House,............................................................................................ 293.60 $ 1,493.60

EXTRAORDINARY WORKS.

C.S.O.

2997 of 1884. Tytam Water Works, supplementary,....................................................................................... $ 700.00 C.S.O.

1835 of 1884. Sanitary Works, supplementary,............................................................................................... 7,000.00 $ 7,700.00

Seconded by the Colonial Treasurer.

Question—put and passed.

BILLS READ A SECOND TIME.—On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary the following Bills were read a second time:—

(1.) A Bill to amend The Stamp Ordinance, 1884.

(2.) A Bill entitled The Bankers' Books Evidence Ordinance, 1884.

(3.) A Bill entitled The Weights and Measures Ordinance, 1884.

(4.) A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend Ordinance 7 of 1873.

(5.) A Bill entitled The Unclaimed Balances Ordinance, 1884.

BILLS REFERRED TO LAW COMMITTEE.—The Attorney General moved that Bills (1), (2), (3), and (5) be referred to the Law Committee.

Seconded by the Colonial Secretary.

Question—put and passed.

The Council adjourned until Wednesday, the 24th instant, at 4 P.M.

G. F. BOWEN,

Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 24th day of December, 1884.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Acting Clerk of Councils.