Sessional_Paper_1891 — Page 23

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 7.

FRIDAY, 10TH APRIL, 1891.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (WALTER MEREDITH DEANE, C.M.G.). the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN).

the Colonial Treasurer, (NORMAN GILBERT MITCHELL-INNES).

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PHINEAS RYRIE.

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the Registrar General, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART Lockhart).

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the Surveyor General, (SAMUEL Brown).

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

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ABSENT:

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

His Excellency the Governor (SIR G. WILLIAM DES VEUX, K.C.M.G.).

The Honourable CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Acting Colonial Secretary presided as Senior Member present in the absence of His Excellency through indisposition.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 25th March, 1891, were read and confirmed. PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE.-The Acting Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Sessional Papers, viz. :--

Despatches from the Secretary of State respecting Prison accommodation. (No. 1 of 1891). The Postmaster General's Report for 1890. (No. 6 of 1891).

Report of the Government Central School for Girls for 1890. (No. 7 of 1891).

- Annual Report of the Acting Head Master of the Victoria College for 1890. (No. 8 of 1891).

Colonial Veterinary Surgeon's Report for the year 1890. (No. 9 of 1891).

Report of the Superintendent of Victoria Gaol for 1890. (No. 10 of 1891).

The Sanitary Superintendent's Report for 1890. (No. 11 of 1891).

Statement of the Revenue and Expenditure of the Colony for 1890. (No. 12 of 1891.) Crown Agents' Account:-Payments on Account of Public Works during 1890.

The Honourable P. RYRIE gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would ask the following questions:-

1. To ask the President, if, when he asked me at the meeting of Council on the 25th March last, if the Protest I then laid on the table was a perfectly respectful protest, he meant to imply that I was likely to present or the Un-official Members to concur in a protest that was not perfectly respectful.

2. To ask the Honourable the Colonial Treasurer, if the arrears of the Military Contribution for the year 1890, payment of which was authorized by this Council on the 19th March last,

has been paid, and if paid on what date, or dates, it, or any portion of it, was paid, and if so upon what authority.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD asked the following questions:--

1. What was the total expenditure of the Government under the head of salaries for the years 1887, 1888, 1889, and 1890, and what is the estimated total expenditure for the current year under the same heading on the basis of the increased pay and allowances recommended by this Council?

2. What was the total expenditure on the Public Works Department in the years 1887, 1888, 1889, and 1890, for salaries and wages, and what is the estimated expenditure under the same heading for the current year on the Public Works Department and Water and Drainage Department combined?

3. How is it that there has been no meeting of the Public Works Committee appointed in October

last?

4. Does the Government intend to give effect to the recommendation of the Un-official Members in their addendum of the 20th December, 1890, to submit to the Public Works Committee full details and estimates of all Public Works?