Sessional_Paper_1890 — Page 30

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 13.

FRIDAY, 16TH MAY, 1890.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT

(The Honourable FRANCIS FLEMING, C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (WALTER MEREDITH Deane).

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the Attorney General, (WILLIAM Meigh Goodman).

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.

ABSENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER), on account of sickness.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 9th instant, were read and confirmed.

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The Acting Colonial Secretary laid on the table a copy of a letter from Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking to His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government in reply to a telegram sent by His Excellency expressing regret at the news of the death of the Marquis TSENG.

Read the following Minute under the hand of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government :-

C.5.0. 589 of 1890.

F. FLEMING.

The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of Two thousand Three hundred and Thirty-four Dollars and One Cent, ($2,334.01), as an addi- tional sum to the vote of $12,000 passed by the Council on the 12th March, last, to meet expenses connected with the visit to the Colony of Their Royal Highnesses THE Duke and DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT.

Government House, Hongkong, 9th May, 1890.

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

His Excellency addressed the Council.

Question--put and agreed to.

His Excellency informed the Council that he had given instructions that in future, except in cases of emergency, a copy of every financial minute should be supplied to all Members of Council three days previous to the vote being asked for in order that they may have a reasonable opportunity of knowing the circumstances under which they are asked to vote the money.

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 9th instant, (No. 8), and moved that the following Votes referred to therein be passed, viz. :-

C.S.0. 2959 of 1889.

CO. De

5 of 1890.

2935 of 1899.

For the improvement of the piece of land known as the "Chinese Recreation

Ground," Possession Point, viz. :—For the clearing, levelling and surfacing of the ground, and constructing stalls and side channels, ...

.....$ 6,000.00

Furniture and fittings for the Local delivery branch of the General Post Office,.........$

Relaying of the lead roof over the Central Hall, and the two staircases of Victoria College, which was found in a very bad state, and constantly leaking in several places,....

300.00

..$ 3,670.00

120.00

C. O. Desp: Allowance for House Rent to the Compradore of the General Post Office,...$

38 of 1890,

The Attorney General seconded.

His Excellency addressed the Council in connection with the vote for the new lead roof over the Central Hall of the Victoria College.

Question-put and agreed to.

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