June 12, 1895.]
to
fary Appropriation Bill for 1894 I wish to make one or two remarks on the state of the finances during that year. The actual expenditure for the year 1894, including public works not chargeable to the loan, amounted to $2,299,096 as compared with an estimate of $1.993,981, the difference iu excess being $300,115; but as credit cannot be taken for any surplus on votes for different Departments nor on any surplus on items in public works, which together amonnt $55,230.83, the total now to be authorized is $355,395.88. The excess expenditure due to fall of exchange was over $150,000; for plague about $152.000; building grant to the Po Leung Kuk 320,000, and for exchange compensation $22,000; these foar items together amount ing to about the whole of the excess now to be sanctioned. If there had been no plague. only $200,000 would have been required, of which sum three-fourths was due to fall in ex change, and there would have been a clear sur- plus of $140,000. The actual revenue for 1894 was $2,287,203. and as the expenditure was $2,299,036, the deficit was only $11.893, or, if pub- lio works extraordinary be excluded, there was an actual surplus of $600. I consider this is a very fortunate state of affairs, taking into account the heavy unforeseen expenditure which had to be incurred throughout the year. I ask the Council to give the Bill their favourable con- aideration, and I shall be ready to give fuller details in Finance Committee if they are con :sidered desirable.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to move The second reading of the Bill, and avail myself of the opportunity of stating that the Bill will be referred to the Finance Committee. I understand that your Excellency's intention is to wait, so that the third reading may be taken.
The Bill was then considered by the Finance Committee, under the presidency of Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Colonial Secretary.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-I should like to know
if any answer has been received from the Secre- tary of State to His Excellency's despatch with regard to the military contribution.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-No reply has yet been received from the Colonial Office. but I think I may inform the Committee that a reply is expected very shortly on the question of the military contribution.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-I hope it will be a favourable one.
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
WHARF ACCOMMODATION.
the P. & O. Company, writes us :-
Mr. Alf. Woolley, Acting Superintendent of
Enclosed herewith I beg to hand you copies of be of interest to the Public, more especially that some correspondence on this subject which may section whose business or pleasure takes them afloat in the waters of the colony, by whom the measures proposed to be adopted by the Govern- ment cannot fail to be generally appreciated,
(Enclosures.)
His Excellency the Governor to inform you that arrangements are being made to erect a temporary landing near Ice House Lane and to place the platform of the temporary Market Building in such a conditiou as to serve a similar purpose.
His Excellency regrets that the construction of the piers suggested in your letter above re- ferred to is at pres ut impracticable, owing to the interference such structures if they are to be of any use to the community, would cause with the progress of the reclamation work, but it is hoped that by the end of the typhoon sea- son such works will be sufficiently advanced todis pose of this objection, in which case a temporary jetty will be erected approximately to the west- erly position proposed by you, viz., in front of Messrs, Douglas Lapraik's office.
Hongkong, 13th May, 1895. Sir, With reference to the resolution passed at the Annual Meeting of the Chamber of Com. merce on the 19th ultimo, regarding the want of adequate facilities along the sea front for the numerous steam launches required by the com- I have further to inform you that, though munity in the transaction of the business of the everything will be done to push on with the con- colony afloat, and in view of the absolute danger struction of the new Pedder's Wharf, and pend- that exists to life and property in using the Newing the completion of this work to keep the ex- Peddar's Wharf owing to the congested state of isting wharf open to traffic as far as possible, it is the traffic at that point, a danger which will be impracticable to erect a temporary pier in this shortly greatly increased by the closing of old situation, owing to the extensive nature of the Pedder's Wharf, we, the undersigned members of foundations required for the new wharf.—I have the shipping and mercantile community, would the honour to be, sir, your most obedient ser- beg to draw the attention of the Government to vant, the inadequateness of the wharf accommodation on the Praya for steam launches, owing to the reclamation works now in progress, and as a means of surmounting the difficulty would ven- ture to suggest to His Excellency that one or mo e bamboo jetties should be erected at or near old Pedder's or the P. & O. Wharf, to enable launches to come alongside at any state of the tide until the Reclamation is so far advanced as to admit of permanent wharves being con- structed.
Attached for His Excellency's information is a sketch plau showing the positions suggested for two temporary bamboo jetties, which it is pro- posed should be constructed parallel with the new Praya Wall and in such manner as to interfere
very little indoed with the work now in pro gress thereon.
A footway of earth could readily be made from the old fraya wall to the new one, and connecting with the jetties to give access for
passengers.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I hope so; I cannot say whether it is to be favourable or ua- favourable, but I am sure it has received carefulsions and strength of the structures sanctioned consideration.
Hon. Ho KAI-It will convey the decision of the inter-Departmental Committee sitting on this question? :
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I believe it will convey the decision of that Committee.
The Committee having recommended the Bill, Council resumed.
Bill read the third time and passed.
“ADJOURNMENT.
We are of opinion that two jetties, say 100 ft. by 20 to 25 ft. each, could be put up and main- tained in repair by a bamboo contractor at a cost of $40 to $50 per month each, or thereabouts. (exclusive of typhoon damage), but the question of cost must necessarily depend upon the dimen-
by the proper authorities, but would after all be a small matter compared with the convenience that would acorue therefrom to the community at large. We have the honour to be, s'r, your obedient servants,
A. WOOLLEY, Superintendent P. & O.
S. N. Co. D. E. BROWN,
Per D. W. CRADDOCK, General
Agent C. P. R.
E. OSBORNE, Secretary Hongkong aud Kowloon Wharf and Godown Com
pany.
J. S. VAN BUREN, Agent P. M. S. S.
Co. and O. & O. Co. JARDINE, MATHESON & Co. For HONGKONG AND WHAMPOA Dock
Co., LIMITED;
R. COOKE, Acting General Manager. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE. For the HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI
BANKING CORPORATION. T. JACKSON, Chief Manager. LANE, CRAWFORD & Co. |
HIS EXCELLENCY-I have no more busiLess for the Legislative Council, and I have very great pleasure in releasing you from your labours and adjourning sine die. I am extremely obliged to the senior unofficial member and the other unofficial members for the adrice and assistance given to the Government during the ses- sion, assistance which has been much appreciated and advice which we have constantly adopted. I trust it may not be necessary to summon the Council regularly until late, very late, in the autumn. It is possible, how- ever, that we may have one or two meetings in the meantime. think when we consider what the colony was passing through at this time last year we have great reason to be thank- ful, when we recollect that, with the exception of three or four sporadic cases of plague in April, there has been no single case of that disease for upwards of one month. (Applause). The work of the Sanitary Board is going on vigorously, energetically, yet quietly and unostentatiously, and I have great hope The Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Colonial
p. pro. DOUGLAS LAPRAIK & Co.
W PARFITT
W. PARFITT, Chairman. Board
Directors, Hongkong Hotel Co. DODWELL, CARLILL & CO. SHEWAN & Co.
of
H. U. JEFFRIES, Manager, Nippon
Yusen Kaisha.
Secretary. Hongkong.
Colonial Secretary's Office, 1st June, 1895.
that we may be spared an outbreak of any disease during the coming year. Now that the China- Japan war is happily ended and exchange fairly steady. I think we may look forward to an in-
Sir, Adverting to your letter of the 13th crease in and expansion of our trade and con-ultimo submitting certain proposals for increas. sequent good results to the community generally, With these few remarks, I now state that this Council stands adjourned sine die,
ing the wharf accommodation in the vicinity of Pedder's Wharf during the construction of the Praya Reclamation Works, I am directed by
J. II. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary
A. Woolley, Esq., Superintendant, Peninsular
and Oriental S. N. Co.
Peninsular and Oriental Steam
Navigation Company, Hongkong, 4th June, 1895. Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 1,193, dated 1st June, and beg to thank you for your courteous reply to my letter of the 13th May submitting certain proposals for increasing the wharf accommoda- tion in the vicinity of Pedder's Wharf during the construction of the Praya Reclamation Works, and purpose publishing the letters horein referred to for general information and provid- ing you have no objection to this course, as think the shipping community more especially will be glad to learn what is proposed to be done in the matter.-I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
ALF. WOOLLEY. The Honourable J. II. Stewart Lockhart,
Colonial Secretary."
PRESENTATIONS TO MR. C. F. A. SANGSTER.
Wigwam, Kowloon, on Friday afternoon, when A pleasant little ceremony took place at the Mr. C. F. A. Sangster, who a few weeks ago re- signed the position of organist of St. John's Cathedral after thirty-five years' service, was presented with addresses and testimonials by the choir and congregation. Mr. W. M. Wood, one of the most active members of the choir, having the Wigwam at his disposal yesterday, it was arranged that the address from the choir should be presented there and invitations cordingly issued to the members of the choir and their friends to be present. Subsequently it was arranged that the presentation of the address from the congregation should be made at the same time and place and a notification to that effect was issued on Wednesday. There was accordingly a considerable gathering of ladies and gentlemen at the time appointed.
were ao-
The address from the choir was handsomely bound in blue velvet and bore a silver monogram of an ingenions and artistic design. The 8 was crossed by a musical bar with the notes C., F., A., Accom- those being Mr. Sangster's initials. panying the address was a silver claret cup, and in the chasing of this allusion was also made to the circumstances of the presentation, the principal feature in the design being Orpheus
袋
with his lute. The address was as follows:- Hongkong, Easter, 1895. "To
C. F. A. Sangster, Esq.
"On the occasion of your retirement after thirty-five years' service, we, the under- signed members of the choir of St. John's Cathedral, avail ourselves of the opportunity to present you with the accompanying piece of plate as a slight mark of our esteem and in high appreciation of the tact and musical ability
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