Sessional_Paper_1909 — Page 54

Is it not a fact that Mr. Carter was at home on leave for nearly a twelvemonth in the full belief that he was to return to this Colony and that within five weeks of the date of the expiring of his leave (as shown in the Civil Service List) and when he was on the point of leaving England to take up his appointment here he was for the first time informed by the Colonial Office that his services were no longer required?

Will the Government, taking into consideration the fact of Mr. Carter's good service, and that owing to his age he is now no longer eligible for obtaining fresh employment in a Government or municipal office, recommend to the Secretary of State that under the exceptional circumstances of the case Mr. Carter be granted a special pension of say £130 p.a.; or as an alternative an offer of re-employment here on similar conditions to those of his former post?

In the event of the Government being unable to agree to this will His Excellency

consent to refer the question as now raised to the Secretary of State?

The Colonial Secretary replied.

Mr. STEWART, pursuant to notice, asked the following question :-

To whom, for what public purpose, and for how long has the plot of Government

ground between the New Law Courts and the Praya been let?

The Director of Public Works replied.

SUBSIDIARY COINAGE.-Mr. STEWART gave notice that he would move the following Resolution at the next meeting of the Council :-

That in the opinion of this Council the issue of a new subsidiary coinage convertible at par would not be successful unless the use of all other subsidiary coins were prohibited in the Colony, and that, in the circumstances, it is undesirable to deal with the matter except as part of a comprehensive scheme of local currency reform.

APPROPRIATION BILL.- The Colonial Secretary certified that the Bill entitled An Ordin- ance to apply a sum not exceeding Five million six hundred and twenty-five thousand six hundred and eighty-three Dollars to the Public Service of the year 1910, was considered clause by clanse in the presence of all the Members of the Finance Committee and that in the opinion of the Committee the Bill may be dealt with by the Council in the same manner as a Bill reported on by a Committee of the whole Council, and moved that the Bill be read a third time.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

CHRISTIAN BURIAL GROUND BILL.-The Attorney General moved that the Council resolve itself into a Committee of the whole Council to consider the Bill entitled An Ordin- ance to set apart certain Crown Laud to be used as a burial ground for persons professing the Christian Religion, other than members of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported with amendments.

HARBOUR OF REFUGE BILL.-The Attorney General moved that the Bill entitled An Ordinance to authorize the Construction and Maintenance of a Harbour of Refuge upon and over certain portions of the Sea Bed and Foreshore situated upon the Harbour frontage at Taikoktsui, Mongkoktsui, and Yaumati, Kowloon, in this Colony, should be recommitted.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, the Bill being left in Committee.