1884-12-24 — Page 1

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NO. 4.

WEDNESDAY, 24TH DECEMBER, 1884.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

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

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.)

,, WILLIAM KESWICK.

,, THOMAS JACKSON.

,, FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.

,, WONG SHING.

ABSENT:

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

The Honourable PHINEAS RYRIE.

The Council met in pursuance of adjournment.

Minutes read and confirmed.

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

Report on the Finances of the Colony by the Colonial Secretary and Auditor General.

MINUTE OF THE GOVERNOR REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.—Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Governor:—

G. F. BOWEN.

Referring to the previous minute of the 17th instant, the Governor now lays on the table a detail of the alterations proposed in the Estimates of Expenditure for 1885, in order to meet the anticipated reductions in the Revenue for that year.

The Estimates of Expenditure laid before Council in June last should be in the first place increased by the following items, some of which have been already sanctioned by the Council, whilst the rest appear to be necessary:—

(a.) Increases to Police Salaries already voted,............................................................................................. $ 5,500 (b.) Other increases shown in Schedule annexed, ....................................................................................... 780 (c.) Civil Hospital Extension, re-vote,........................................................................................................... 3,300

C.S.O.2995 (d.) Further vote recommended for additional story and extension of separate building, on account of necessity for increased accommodation in the Hospital,......................................................... 8,000 (e.) Repairs to public buildings, increase strongly recommended,............................................................. 2,000 (f.) Police Station Hunghom, new,............................................................................................................... 3,200 Total increase,................................................................ $ 22,780

Original Estimate,......................................................... 1,150,801

$1,173,581

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The Governor proposes that the following alterations be made in the Estimates of Expenditure for 1885 in order to bring this sum down to about $1,090,000:—

(a.) Opium Revenue Department to be abolished from 28th February next, 10 months salaries to be struck out,......................................................................................................................... $ 6,900 (b.) Tree planting, to be reduced by........................................................................................................ 4,000 (c.) New Central School (to be paid for out of balances), to be struck out ......................................... 50,000 (d.) Draining of Wongneichong, to be reduced by............................................................................... 20,000 (e.) Widening Kennedy Road, to be struck out..................................................................................... 2,000 $ 82,900

The result of making these alterations will be the reduction of the Estimates of Expenditure to $ 1,090,681 which will leave a margin to meet unforeseen Expenditure of............................................................... 44,319

Estimated Revenue,................................ $ 1,135,000

Government House, 24th December, 1884.

POSTPONEMENT OF THE ORDER OF THE DAY.—The Attorney General moved that the Order of the Day be postponed. The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question—put and passed.

The Council adjourned until Wednesday, the 31st instant, at 4 P.M.

G. F. BOWEN,

Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 31st day of December, 1884.

ARATHOON SETH,

Clerk of Councils.