1887-11-16 — Page 1

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 2.

WEDNESDAY, 16TH NOVEMBER, 1887.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(SIR G. WILLIAM DES VOEUX, K.C.M.G.)

His Honour the Acting Chief Justice (JAMES RUSSELL), vice His Honour SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt., on leave.

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART).

,, the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD) vice the Honourable EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY, on leave.

,, the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).

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

,, HENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N.

,, WONG SHING.

,, CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, (vice the Honourable FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON, on leave). ,, ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN.

,, JOHN BELL-IRVING.

ABSENT:

The Honourable PHINEAS RYRIE, (by leave).

The Council met pursuant to notice.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 2nd instant, were read and confirmed.

MESSAGE FROM HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.―Read the following message from His Excellency the Governor:―

16th November, 1887.

HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,―I have had the honour to cause to be laid on the table of the Legislative Council the Estimates of revenue and expenditure for 1888, and I would request your special attention to them, inasmuch as after so short a residence in the Colony, my views as to the items appearing therein, and as to the omission of others, which have been proposed, may very possibly be modified under the light of your local experience.

The report of the Honourable the Colonial Secretary and Auditor General on these Estimates deals generally with their contents. More specific explanation will be given orally in Council to those Members who desire it.

I deem it well, however, to note here that there has, by an oversight, been omitted from the Estimates of expenditure an item for a lighthouse to be situated either at the Gap Rock or on some other spot, as may be settled with the Imperial Government of China; and I take the opportunity of saying that this important subject is engaging my earnest attention.

The amount of $30,000 set down for this item is as large a sum as can probably be expended on the object in question during the coming year.

I am glad to be able to congratulate you on the satisfactory financial position of the Colony. Though the balance to credit which is expected at the end of the year 1888 is not a large one, owing to the heavy demands for works involving extraordinary expenditure, the revenue is steadily increasing, with good promise of still further increase; while it will probably receive a large accession in 1889 on the conclusion of the present opium contract. Several important works, such as a New Sheep Market, Slaughter Houses both in Victoria and Kowloon, and Public Laundries which are required to meet the increasing needs of the Colony, will have to be undertaken, as soon as these expectations approach somewhat nearest to realisation.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM COAST PORTS.―DELAY IN DELIVERY OF―Mr. MACEWEN, in accordance with notice, asked the Postmaster General, Whether it is correct that Correspondence from Coast Ports arriving unpaid is subjected to a delay of many hours before delivery ensues, in addition to being charged with double postage rates.

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The Honourable the Treasurer replied, That correspondence which, by some inadvertance of the sender is insufficiently prepaid, is delivered with as little delay as possible; but that which in contravention of postal regulations, is despatched by the sender without any attempt at prepayment, is allowed to stand over until it can be dealt with without unduly delaying the paid contents of the Mails. Insufficient postage is doubled under all circumstances. Instead of many hours it would be more correct to say some hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL, 1886.―The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of this Bill, and laid on the table the Supplementary Estimates for 1886. The Treasurer seconded.

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a second time.

The Colonial Secretary then moved that the Bill be referred to the Finance Committee. The Treasurer seconded.

Question―put and passed.

APPROPRIATION BILL FOR 1888.―The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of this Bill, and laid upon the table the draft Estimates for 1888.

Captain THOMSETT, seconded.

Mr. MACEWEN addressed the Council.

The Treasurer addressed the Council.

The Governor addressed the Council.

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a second time.

The Colonial Secretary then moved that the Bill be referred to the Finance Committee. Captain THOMSETT seconded.

Question―put and passed.

ADJOURNMENT.―The Council then adjourned sine die.

G. WILLIAM DES VOEUX,

Governor.

Read and contirmed, this 30th day of November, 1887.

ARATHOON SETH,

Clerk of Councils.

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