1903-04-20 — Page 1

PRESENT:―

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20TH APRIL, 1903.

W. Committee in place of Mr. G. W. F. Playfair.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, Sir HENRY A. BLAKE, G..C.M.G.

HIS EXCELLENCY Sir W. GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).

Hon. F. H. MAY (Colonial Secretary).

Hon. Sir HENRY SPENCER BERKELEY, KT. (Attorney-General).

Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. Commander R. M. RUMSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).

Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).

Hon. J. M. ATKINSON (Principal Civil Medical Officer).

Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.

Hon. Dr. HO KAI, C.M.G.

Hon. WEI YUK.

Hon. C. W. DICKSON.

Hon. R. SHEWAN.

Hon. GERSHOM STEWART.

Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Council). FINANCIAL.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 4 to 10, 12 and 13, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.

The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 2) and moved its adoption.

The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.

NEW MEMBERS.

Hon. Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer, and Hon. Gershom Stewart took the formal oath as new members and assumed their seats.

H.E. the GOVERNOR notified the appointment of Sir C. P. Chater, C.M.G., as a member of the P.

SANITARY BOARD BYE-LAWS.

The PRINCIPAL CIVIL MEDICAL OFFICER moved the adoption of the Bye-laws made by the Sanitary Board as to cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. He said―These Bye-laws were made by the Sanitary Board on 27th March. These alterations in the Bye-laws are consequent on the Sanitary Board having taken over the cattle depôts at Kennedytown and are necessitated by the fact that no alteration in the method of collecting fees at Hunghom is intended. The slaughter-house contractor at Kennedytown collects the slaughter-house fees there and the Government collects the depôt fees and at Hunghom the fees for both the slaughter-house and the depôts are collected by the Government.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.

PAPERS.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the Report of the Inspector of Schools for 1902, the Returns of the Subordinate Court for 1902, the Report of the Director of the Observatory for 1902, the Report of the Superintendent of Victoria Gaol for 1902, the Report of the Examiners of Queen's College, the Report of the Captain Superintendent of Police for 1902, the Statement of Water Account for 1902, the Supreme Court Reports for 1902, the Reports of the Medical Officer of Health, the Sanitary Surveyor and the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon for 1902, and the Financial Returns for 1902.

QUESTIONS.

Hon. R. SHEWAN put the following questions: ―

1. Will the Colonial Secretary inform the Council when the Land Settlement in the New Territory was commenced, and when it is now expected to be completed?

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2. Will the Colonial Secretary give an explanation of the delay in settling this matter, almost four years having elapsed since the date of the concession?

3. What is being done towards carrying out the scheme for augmenting the water supply by pumping from Tytam Tuk?

4. As the permanent Works must occupy some time to construct, are any steps being taken, of a temporary nature, to afford an increased supply, and if so, what? ANSWERS.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY―Sir, the replies to the first two questions are:―The land settlement of the New Territory commenced with the establishment of the Land Court on 1st June, 1900. The settlement will be complete when (a) all Crown Lands have been delimited and marked off from land in private ownership; (b) all genuine disputes as to the ownership of land, whether existing before the Convention, or originating with it, have been decided; (c) a uniform system of land tenure has been devised and put into working order; (d) a rent roll based upon the maps is available for revenue collection. The rent roll will be ready this year and the Titles Ordinance has been passed by the Council. The survey and demarcation of the mainland is completed. But the whole of the work of land settlement will probably not be completed before 1906. The chief difficulties have been:― (a) The enormous number of very small holdings of which there must be over a quarter of a million in the Territory. This has necessitated an elaborate scheme of demarcation, that is of marking out holdings, which is only just completed. (b) The want of any system in dealing with land under Chinese rule. There was no survey and the so-called Registry of the District Magistrate is a Registry of Deeds and not a Land Registry at all. (c) There were numerous lawsuits pending in the Chinese Courts which having languished for years through lack of funds shot up into activity with the enormous increase of the value of the land consequent upon the Convention. Expropriation being out of the question a patient sifting of the evidence has been the only procedure open to the Land Court.

The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS―Sir, the reply to the third question is:―Trial works are in progress at the head of Tytam Bay for the purpose of ascertaining the nature and level of the solid bottom with a view to constructing a storage reservoir there. The site tentatively selected for the dam is, at low water mark, about 700 yards S. E. of Tytam Tuk village. Three brick wells are being sunk which show the nature of the strata overlying the rock, and will permit of the rock itself being examined. The wells are supplemented by numerous borings, from which a chart of the rock bottom can be prepared. The furthest advanced well extends from 12 feet above to 40 feet below, low water, and it is believed to be within 6 feet of the rock. It is only settling about an inch per day at the present time, although it weighs, together with the load on top of it, 115 tons, and is kept

undermined by constant pumping and excavating. The external load is already somewhat in the way of the work, but steps are being taken to increase it, as the best means of overcoming the retarding friction due to the lateral pressure of the surrounding earth. So far, indications are not unfavourable to the ultimate adoption of this site for the dam. A dam 900 feet in length, on this site, with an overflow at a height of 60 feet above low water, would impound about 1,200,000,000 gallons, or about two and a half times the aggregate capacity of all the present storage reservoirs. It would intercept the rainfall from a direct catchment area of about 2,300 acres. This includes 700 acres the rainfall of which is intercepted by the Tytam reservoir as long as it is not overflowing. The available catchment area would be very much increased by the inclusion and extension of the present catchwater system. The lower part of the Tytam Valley has been minutely surveyed, and a chart has been prepared (laid on the table) from which the capacity of any proposed reservoir situated anywhere between low water level and the 200 feet contour can be calculated. By means of this chart the line of a proposed road, to connect the new reservoir with the Tytam Reservoir, has been marked out, and a trace is now being cut with a view to preparing working drawings for the construction of the road. The rising mains from the pumps at Tytam Tuk to the Tytam tunnel will be laid along this road. A contract has been entered into for the supply of duplicate pumping engines, each capable of delivering, 1,250,000 gallons daily from the new reservoir into the Tytam Tunnel. I might mention, sir, that the construction of a new reservoir, in the bye-wash channel of the Tytam Reservoir, was commenced 15 months ago, and is now well advanced. It will be partly available this season. When completed it will hold about 30,000,000 gallons and it may be filled more than once in a year.

The reply to the fourth question is:―A small reservoir has been commenced, in the bed of a perennial stream about half way between Tytam Tuk and the Tytam Reservoir. A temporary pump will be erected at this point, capable of delivering 500,000 gallons per day into the Tytam Tunnel. Should the Tytam Reservoir cease to overflow by the 1st of September this year, the pump may be depended upon to deliver about 100,000,000 gallons during the ensuing dry season. The permanent pumping engines at Tytam Tuk will afterwards be connected with this reservoir, and will pump from it until the large reservoir has been partly erected. A

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temporary main is now being laid from the reservoir to the Tytam Tunnel.

NEW RULES FOR SUPREME COURT.

New rules for the Supreme Court prepared by the Chief Justice were laid on the table by the ATTORNEY - GENERAL. Their approval was moved by the ATTORNEY -GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECRETARY and carried.

STOWAWAYS.

The ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to provide for the more effectual prevention of frauds on owners and charterers of ships by stowaways, their aiders and abettors.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.

The Council adjourned sine die.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council, the Colonial Secretary (Hon. F. H, May, C.M.G.) presiding.

THE GOVERNMENT LAUNCH.

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $4,500 in aid of the Harbour Master's Department vote―steam-launches, other charges―to provide for a new boiler for Government launch Victoria.

The CHAIRMAN―It was found after inspection that the boiler of this launch is practically unfit for further use, and the matter being urgent we are asked to vote this sum.

The recommendation was approved.

LAND COURT EXPENSES.

The Governor recommended the Council to vote the sum of $1,600 in aid of the vote of $3,000 "Personal Emolument for Member, Land Court, New Territory."

The CHAIRMAN―It was hoped that $3,000 would have sufficed for remuneration for the member of the Land Court this year, but owing to the abnormal number of sittings it is found that that sum is not sufficient. So far as we can see at present the sum of $1,600 in addition will be required.

Hon. R. SHEWAN―This is not a Government official? The CHAIRMAN―No.

The recommendation was approved.

PLAGUE PREVENTION.

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $8,000 in aid of the vote of $2,000 "Bonus for Rats," other charges (plague), Sanitary Department.

The CHAIRMAN―The increased expenditure under this vote is caused principally by the increased fees instituted at the end of last year, when it was decided to pay five cents per rat instead of three cents, as formerly.

The vote was agreed to.

POST OFFICE EMOLUMENTS.

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $300 in aid of the vote for Personal Emoluments, Post Office, made up as follows:―

Salary of Deputy Superintendent, Money Order Office, increased from $1,680 to $1,800 per annum as from the 1st January, 1903................................................................. $120.00

Salary of Post Office Agent, Hankow, Subhead (Agencies in China) increased from $540 to $720 per annum as from the 1st January, 1903............................................ $180.00

Total,...................................................... $300.00

The CHAIRMAN―In connection with the vote, I may mention that the salary of the Deputy Superintendent was $1,200, rising to $1,500, but in view of the increased work in this department, and the responsibility of it, it was recommended that the vote be made $1,800, rising to $2,100. The assistant at Hankow, who has had six years' service and no increase, was also recommend for an increase from $540 to $720.

The vote was carried.

STAMP OFFICE EMOLUMENTS.

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $441 in aid of the vote for Personal Emoluments, Stamp Office, Sub-Department to Treasury, made up as follows:―

Salary of additional shroff at $480 per annum from 1st April to 31st December, 1903, . $360.00 Salary of additional pressman at $108 per annum from 1st April to 31st December,

1903,........................................................... $81.00

Total......................... $441.00

The CHAIRMAN―These increases are due to the new system of stamping about to be introduced, necessitating extra assistants.

This vote was also agreed to.

TRAINING A NULLAH.

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $2,400 (Public Works Extraordinary) to meet the cost of training the nullah above Ripon Terrace.

The CHAIRMAN―This vote has arisen in connection with the suppression of malaria. It has not been provided for in this year's Estimates, and the Council is asked to vote this sum in order to enable the work to be carried out this year.

The vote was agreed to.

EDUCATION VOTE.

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $7,538.16 in aid of the vote for Education, Personal Emoluments, made up as follows:― Half salary of master and supervisor, Saiyingpun School, from 25th December,

1902, to 31st January, 1903, and full

salary from 1st February to 31st

December, 1903, at £270 per annum $3,342.16

Salary of master and supervisor, Yaumati School, at £270 per annum, from 1st March to 31st

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have a foreign master at each of these schools― Saiyingpun, Wanchai, and Yaumati. I may mention, however, that the master at Yaumati is not an European; he is a Chinese educated in

December, 1903............................... $2,880.00 Difference of salary for master and supervisor, Wanchai School,

between $1,800 in Estimates and

£180 per annum............................... 504.00 Difference of salary for master, Yaumati School, between $438 in

Estimates and rate of $720 per

annum for 101/2 months................. 192.00 Salary of assistant master, Yaumati School, for 10 months at $420........ 350.00 Salary of teacher, Yaumati School, for 10 months at $240 per annum..

Wages of coolie, Yaumati School, for 10 months at $84 per annum.......... 70.00

Total......................... $7,538.15

The CHAIRMAN―Members will recollect there was a lump sum voted in the Estimates, nearly $20,000, for improvements in education, and the only reason this $7,000 odd is asked for is because of certain technical objections with regard to the first open vote. So this separate vote is taken, and an equivalent sum will be saved from the vote of $20,000 already granted.

Hon. R. SHEWAN―Are these schools Chinese schools?

The CHAIRMAN―Yes. These are schools for Chinese learning English, called Anglo-Chinese schools.

Hon. R. SHEWAN―Are they in charge of foreign masters?

The CHAIRMAN―Yes. The new system is to

America and has a good knowledge of English, so that he is able to do the work of an English master.

The vote was agreed to.

PILLAR-POST SERVICE.

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $540 in aid of the vote for Personal Emoluments, Post Office:―

Salaries of men to clear pillar-boxes at $120 per annum from 1st April

to 31st December,............................ $540.000

The CHAIRMAN―This sum is for the salaries of six men to clear the pillar-boxes. The work was formerly done by postmen, but it delayed them in their rounds and caused delay in the delivery of letters.

The vote was agreed to.

GAOL EXPENSES.

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $135 in aid of the vote under Personal Emoluments, Gaol Department:― House allowance in lieu of married

quarters to Warder Sunder Singh at $180 per annum from 1st April to 31st December, 1903,....................................... $135

The CHAIRMAN―The system of granting Indian warders, or a certain proportion of them, married quarters was instituted some few years ago, and this is the first married man who has made application for them.

The vote was agreed to.

This was all the business.