Sessional_Paper_1891 — Page 49

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 16.

FRIDAY, 31ST JULY, 1891.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT Major-General G. DIGBY BARKER, C.B.

The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN).

the Acting Attorney General, (ANDREW JOHN LEACH).

the Registrar General, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART).

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the Colonial Treasurer, (NORMAN GILBERT MITCHELL-INNES). the Surveyor General, (SAMUEL BROWN).

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JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK,

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

The Honourable PHINEAS RYRIE.

ABSENT:

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 24th July, 1891, were read and confirmed. The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD asked the following questions :—-

Will the Government lay upon the table copies of Lord Knutsford's despatch, dated 16th October last, to the Officer Administering the Government on the subject of inserting in all Govern- ment contracts a provision that work under such contracts shall not be carried out on Sundays except in very urgent cases, copies of the Honourable F. Fleming's despatch in reply, and copies of Sir Wm. Des Voeux's despatch to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State, dated 20th February last, on the same question?

His Excellency replied and laid on the table Secretary of State's Despatch No. 234 of the 16th October, 1890.

The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD moved the following resolution :-

That in view of His Excellency Governor Des Voeux's Minutes, dated the 3rd and 14th April, 1891, and of the opinions expressed therein, and as it is impossible for non-professional men to decide between the designs of the Honourable the Surveyor General and the designs of Mr. H. W. Wills, or to determine as to the best method of dealing with a work of such im- portance as the proposed New Central Market, a Commission be appointed with full power to call for papers, to examine professional and other witnesses, and to report to the Council on the whole subject.

The resolution was not seconded.

BILL ENTITLED "THE ARMS CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE, 1891."-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of the Bill.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

BILL ENTITLED "THE MERCHANT SHIPPING CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE, 1891."-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of the Bill.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

BILL ENTITLED "AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' PENSIONS ORDINANCE, 1890." The Council agreed to postpone further consideration of the Bill till next meeting.

BILL ENTITLED "THE OPIUM ORDINANCE, 1891."-The Council agreed to postpone further con- sideration of the Bill till next meeting.

BILL ENTITLED

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE SUNDAY CARGO-Working Ordinance, 1891.". The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD moved the second reading of the Bill.

The Honourable Ho KAI seconded.

The Council divided when the motion was rejected by seven to two votes. ADJOURNMENT.-The Council then adjourned till Monday, the 17th August, at 3 P.M.

Read and confirmed, this 17th day of August, 1891.

A. M. THOMSON, Acting Clerk of Councils.

G. DIGBY BARKER, Officer Administering the Government.