Sessional_Paper_1894 — Page 7

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 2.

WEDNESDAY, 7TH MARCH, 1894.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (GEORGE THOMAS MICHAEL OBRIEN, C.M.G.).

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN).

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the Registrar General, (JAMES Haldane Stewart Lockhart).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.

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

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITehead.

EMANUEL RAPHAEL BELILIOS, C.M.G.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

The Council met pursuant to notice.

His Excellency informed the Council that the Treasurer was absent through indisposition. The Minutes of the Meeting held on the 21st December last, and of the Special Meeting held on the 20th ultimo, were read and confirmed.

PAPERS.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers :-

1. Report of Finance Committee, No. 6.

2. Widows' and Orphans' Fund Account for 1893.

3. Report of Head Master, Victoria College, for 1893.

4. Report of the Captain Superintendent of Police, for 1893.

5. Returns of the Superior and Subordinate Courts, for 1893.

6. Report of the Superintendent of Victoria Gaol, for 1893.

7. Report of the Sanitary Surveyor, for 1893.

8. Report of the Acting Registrar General, for 1893.

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9. Despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies respecting a conditional offer of a

non-pensionable allowance to certain Members of the Hongkong Civil Service. NOTICE OF MOTION.-The Colonial Secretary gave notice that at the next Meeting of Council he would move the following resolution :-

“That it is desirable to give effect to the suggestion of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that, in view of the fall in exchange, those of the Civil Servants who are domiciled in the United Kingdom or other countries having a Gold Currency, and are willing to draw their salaries when on leave at the rate of 3/- to the dollar, should be granted such a non-pensionable allowance as will make the half of their salaries while on active service equivalent to the half of their present salaries calculated at the rate of 3/- to the dollar."

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NOTICE OF QUESTIONS.-Mr. WHITEHEAD gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would ask the following questions :—

NEW DRAINAGE SEPARATE SYSTEM.

Will the Government furnish the Council with a return shewing—

(1) The extent to which the new drainage scheme on the separate system as designed

by Mr. Osbert Chadwick, C.M.G., has been carried out,

(2) The departures, if any, from Mr. Chadwick's designs,

(3) The total amount of moneys expended on the new scheme up to 31st December,

1893,

(4) The quantity of work remaining to be done,

(5) The estimated cost of completing the same,

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(6) The cost of the deep sewer, commencing at the Murray Barracks Nullah, running down Arsenal Street, and along the Praya to its outfall about Fenwick's Yard, and (7) What amount of the cost of this deep sewer, running through and draining pro- perty, nearly one half of which belongs to the Imperial Government, has been paid or will be refunded by the Military Authorities,

and further, will the Government state whether in the opinion of the responsible authorities the separate system has worked satisfactorily up to date, and if not, what are the reasons for its failure, and the remedial measures, if any, it is proposed to adopt.