1890-06-23 — Page 1

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 17.

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MONDAY, 23RD JUNE, 1890.

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PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT (The Honourable FRANCIS FLEMING, C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (WALTER MEREDITH DEANE, C.M.G.).

,, the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN).

,, the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (HENRY ERNEST WODEHOUSE, C.M.G.).

,, the Surveyor General, (SAMUEL BROWN).

,, the Acting Registrar General, (NORMAN GILBERT MITCHELL-INNES).

,, PHINEAS RYRIE.

,, ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN.

,, CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.

,, JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

,, HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 16th June, were read and confirmed.

Hon. HENRY ERNEST WODEHOUSE, C.M.G., having been appointed Acting Colonial Treasurer during the absence on sick leave of the Hon. A. LISTER, took the usual oath and his seat as a Member of the Council. PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE.—The Acting Colonial Secretary laid on the table the report of the Director of the Observatory for 1889 and a report by the Hon. O. CHADWICK on the drainage of the Lower Western and Central District of Victoria.

Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:— (1.)

F. FLEMING.

C.S.O.

1366 and 173 of 1890.

C.S.O.

The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote a sum of Five thousand Eight hundred and Forty-four Dollars and Twelve Cents, ($5,844.12), for the construction of a telegraph line between the Observatory at Kowloon and the Office of the Telegraph Company at Hongkong.

Also a separate line from Victoria Peak to Central Police Station to transmit meteorological telegrams six times a day.

Cost of line, including submarine cable to Kowloon, (£900), .................................. $ 5,383.18 Cost of Instruments for Kowloon, ................................................................................... 260.94 $ 5,644.12

Line from Peak to Police Station, .................................................................................... 200.00 $ 5,844.12

Government House, Hongkong, 14th June, 1890.

(2.)

F. FLEMING.

1165 of 1890. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote a sum of Eighty-two Dollars and Sixty-six cents, ($82.66), for rent of 1st floor of a Chinese house occupied by Scavengers of the Central Market.

From 23rd March to 30th November, 1890, at $10 per month.

Government House, Hongkong, 19th June, 1890.

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

Question—put and agreed to.

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VOTES PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.—The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee, dated the 16th June, (No. 12), and moved that the following Votes referred to therein be passed, viz.:— C. O. Desp.

31 of 1890. Probable expenses of this year in connection with the proposed trigonometrical survey of Hongkong by Officers of the Royal Engineers, ................................................................. $ 3,000.00 C.S.O.

1306 of 1890. Amount required to be expended in this year for the printing and binding of 200 copies of the new edition of Ordinances of Hongkong, .................................................................... $ 3,000.00

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question—put and agreed to.

Hon. P. RYRIE, pursuant to notice, moved for the following:—

(a.) A return of the cost of the completed Lighthouses of the Colony.

(b.) The yearly expenditure for upkeep, wages and material, from the date of their completion to the 31st December, 1889.

(c.) A return showing the receipts, yearly, from "Light dues" from the time of their imposition to the 31st December, 1889.

Hon. A. P. MACEWEN seconded.

His Excellency addressed the Council.

The Acting Colonial Secretary then laid on the table returns giving the required information. BILL ENTITLED THE MAGISTRATES' ORDINANCE, 1890.—Council in Committee on the Bill.

Bill reported with amendments.

Council resumed.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND CONSOLIDATE THE LAW RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.—The Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

After debate, question put.

Council divided.

Ayes. Noes.

Hon. J. J. KESWICK. Hon. HO KAI.

Hon. C. P. CHATER. Hon. A. P. MACEWEN.

Hon. THE ACTING REGISTRAR GENERAL. Hon. P. RYRIE.

Hon. THE SURVEYOR GENERAL.

Hon. THE ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER.

Hon. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Hon. THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.

Motion carried by a majority of four.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Progress reported.

Council resumed.

ADJOURNMENT.—The Council then adjourned till Monday, the 30th instant, at 3 P.M.

F. FLEMING,

Officer Administering the Government.

Read and confirmed, this 30th day of June, 1890.

F. A. HAZELAND,

Acting Clerk of Councils.