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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 28.

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TUESDAY, 4TH MAY, 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.)

,, WILLIAM KESWICK.

,, WONG SHING.

ABSENT:

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

,, PHINEAS RYRIE.

,, THOMAS JACKSON, on leave.

,, FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON, on leave.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 30th ultimo, were read and confirmed.

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

The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the following sums:— W. H. MARSH.

For an Assistant in the Money Order Office at a salary of $40 per month, from 1st

June, ...........................................................................................................................$ 240.00 Increase to the salary of two Chinese Postmen at Amoy at $1 each per month, from

1st June, .................................................................................................................... 12.00 $ 252.00

On these two points the Postmaster General reports as follows:—

"It is my duty again to submit the item of $480 per annum for an Assistant in the Money Order Office, and to say that this is indispensably necessary in the present state of the Department. The only result of the rejection of this vote last year has been that the work has been performed gratuitously, but performed it has to be, and of course it will not be done gratis for ever.

"We are now carrying on Money Order relations practically with all the world. The work has enormously increased, and is more than one Officer can reasonably be expected to attend to. I have recently had my attention unpleasantly called by other Offices to arrears in our Money Order work, but I am satisfied that the Superintendent of the Office has been working even beyond his strength to keep everything up to date. Should his health break down there is absolutely nobody to carry on the duties. He cannot go away for a single day, hardly for an hour. This state of things will lead to a discreditable block and an outcry from the public unless proper assistance can be provided.

"The only other increase I have to suggest is that of $1 a month to each of two deserving Chinese at Amoy. Their present pay is only $6 a month and they are long-service men who cannot be done without. I know that the Agent at Amoy has been supplementing their salaries from his own funds, a state of things which speaks for itself."

Government House, Hongkong, 4th May, 1886.

The Acting Colonial Secretary moved that these votes be referred to the Finance Committee. 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 upon the table the following paper:—

Returns of Superior and Subordinate Courts, for 1885. (No. 29).

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

(a.) A Bill entitled The Board of Ship Liquor Sale Ordinance, 1886.

(b.) A Bill entitled The Reformatory Schools Ordinance, 1886.

(c.) A Bill entitled The Harbour Regulations Ordinance, 1886.

The Acting Attorney General gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that the Council go into Committee on these Bills.

BILLS COMMITTED.—On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, the Council went into Committee on the Bill entitled The Spirits Licence Ordinance, 1886.

Progress reported.

On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, the Council went into Committee on the Bill entitled The Opium Ordinance, 1886.

Bill reported with amendment.

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

BILLS READ A THIRD TIME AND PASSED.—On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, the Bill entitled The Peace Preservation Ordinance, 1886, was read a third time.

Question put—that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

On the motion of the Colonial Treasurer, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, the Bill entitled The Stamp Ordinance, 1886, was read a third time.

Question put—that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

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

W. H. MARSH,

Administering the Government.

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

ARATHOON SETH,

Clerk of Councils.