1886-03-31 — Page 1

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 22.

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WEDNESDAY, 31ST MARCH, 1886.

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PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM HENRY MARSH, C.M.G.,

Administering the Government in the absence of His Excellency SIR GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, G.C.M.G. His Honour the Chief Justice, (SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt.)

The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D.)

,, the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD.)

,, the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)

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

,, PHINEAS RYRIE.

,, WILLIAM KESWICK.

,, THOMAS JACKSON.

,, WONG SHING.

ABSENT:

The Honourable the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY,) on leave.

,, FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON (on leave).

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 24th instant, were read and confirmed.

VOTE OF MONEY REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.—Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:—

W. H. MARSH.

C.S.O.

678 of 1886. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $1,386 for general repairs to Mountain Lodge at Victoria Peak.

This building, which for eight months in the year is submerged in fog, was, as far back as 1884, reported as shewing traces of decay from wet-rot, and again in 1885 the floors were reported as having still further decayed. Nothing has however been done in the shape of reconstruction during the last 2 years.

The Surveyor General reports that it is not prudent to defer any longer the work of restoration, the structure having now become positively unsafe.

Government House, Hongkong, 30th March, 1886.

The Acting Colonial Secretary moved that this Minute be referred to the Finance Committee. The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question—put and passed.

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

PAYMENTS IN EXCESS OF THE ESTIMATES FOR 1886.

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(Finance Committee, 22nd March, 1886.)

SERVICES EXCLUSIVE OF ESTABLISHMENTS.

Sanitary.

C.S.O.

168 of 1886. Special periodical cleansing of the City of Victoria, during the year, ................................................ $ 450.00

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(Finance Committee, 24th March, 1886.)

ESTABLISHMENTS.

Gaol.

C.S.O.

666 of 1886. Allowance:—To provide a Chinese Teacher to give instruction in Chinese colloquial to Officers of the Gaol.

From 1st April to 31st December, 1886, 9 months, at $10 per month .......................... $ 90.00

SERVICES EXCLUSIVE OF ESTABLISHMENTS.

Sanitary.

C.S.O.

649 of 1886. Expenses incurred in suppressing the recent Cattle Epidemic, .......................................................... $ 950.00

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question—put and passed.

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PAPERS.—The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the following papers:—

(a.) Report of the Superintendent of Victoria Gaol, for 1885. (No. 19.)

(b.) Minute by the Collector of Stamp Duty on a proposed increase of the duties by 50 per cent. (No. 20.)

(c.) Statement showing the Total Receipts and Payments in the year 1885. (No. 21.)

(d.) Comparative Statement of Revenues received during the last 10 years, 1876 to 1885. (No. 22.) (e.) Comparative Statement of Expenditure, during the last 10 years, 1876 to 1885. (No. 23.) (f.) Statement of Assets and Liabilities on the 31st December, 1885. (No. 24.)

BILL ENTITLED THE STAMP ORDINANCE, 1886.—FIRST READING.—REFERENCE TO SPECIAL COMMITTEE.—On the motion of the Colonial Treasurer, seconded by the Honourable P. RYRIE, this Bill was read a first time. The Honourable T. JACKSON, and the Honourable W. KESWICK, respectively, addressed the Council. The Treasurer then addressed the Council, and moved that the Bill be referred to a Special Committee consisting of:—

The Honourable THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL.

,, P. RYRIE.

,, W. KESWICK.

,, T. JACKSON.

,, WONG SHING, and

THE MOVER.

His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government addressed the Council.

Question—put and passed.

BILL ENTITLED THE SPIRIT LICENCE ORDINANCE, 1886.—FIRST READING.—On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, this Bill was read a first time.

The Acting Attorney General gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move the second reading of this Bill.

PRIVATE BILL.—On the motion of the Surveyor General, seconded by the Honourable P. RYRIE, a Bill entitled An Ordinance for the Incorporation of the Procurator for the Dominican Missions in the Far East, in Hongkong, was read a first time.

The Surveyor General gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move the second reading of this Bill.

BILL ENTITLED THE CATHEDRAL ORDINANCE, 1886.—MOTION FOR SECOND READING WITHDRAWN.—The Honourable T. JACKSON withdrew the motion for the second reading of this Bill, pending its reference to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

BILL ENTITLED THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AND FESTIVALS ORDINANCE, 1886.—THIRD READING. —PASSED.—On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Honourable W. KESWICK, this Bill was read a third time. Question put—that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO VAGRANTS.—ADDITIONAL CLAUSE.—The Acting Attorney General gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move an additional clause to this Bill. POSTPONEMENT OF THE OTHER ORDERS OF THE DAY.—The Acting Attorney General moved that the other Orders of the Day be postponed.

ADJOURNMENT.—The Council then adjourned to Wednesday, the 7th proximo, at 4 P.M.

W. H. MARSH,

Administering the Government.

Read and confirmed, this 7th day of April, 1886.

ARATHOON SETH,

Clerk of Councils.