360
correct.
CHINESE COAL.
The announcement made by our Shanghai morning contemporary of the excellence of the coal produced from the newly opened mines of the Chin Yung Ho Mining Co.'s property in the South Taiwu range of hills not far from Amoy is most important if It is stated that a quantity of the mineral has been tried by consting steamers and Chinese gunboats, the masters of which declare it to be equal if not superior to Moji eon. In consequence of these reports the Foochow Arsenal Authorities have placed large orders with the Chin Yung Ho Company, to be delivered within three months from date of contract.. The coin- parative scarcity and high price of Japa- nese coal will make the advent of a new competitor on the coal market most wel- come. The cost of carriage would also for this market and Singapore be less than that of Japanese coal, a matter of some con- sideration. It will, however, be unwise to hope too much from any Chinese mine. The chances are that, granted the excellence of quality claimed, the output will be so limited and uncertain on account of want of energy in the direction and official restric- tions that it will be an unreliable source of supply. That there are good coal seams in Fukien has long been known, and the existence of great mines of hematite is also well known, but hitherto the obstacles in the way of working them have been in- surmountable. Possibly now that China's
much 30
financial needs are
more ac-
centuated, the Central Government will be more enger to gain revenue from mines, and will encourage enterprise in this direction. The working of the Kelung Collieries, however, under Chinese direction was a sufficient indication of the limited success such ventures are likely to attain when under official control.
HONGKONG LI GISLATIVE COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held at the Conncil Chamber on the 8th November. Present:-
His EXCELLENCY the Governor, Sir WIL LIAM ROBINSON, G.C.M.G.
His EXCELLENCY Major-General. BLACK, C.B. (Officer Commanding the Forces.)
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART (Colonial Secretary).
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
and 1 understand the hon. member who re- presents the Chamber of Commerce desires that the report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the question of increase of salaries
be submitted.
His EXCELLENCY-I bave instructed the Water Authority not to make any charge in respect of water supplied to Government establishments. (Applause). With regard to
have matter mentioned, I the objection at all to the correspondence being submitted in due course.
other
SANITARY BY-LAW.
no
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved that a by-law made by the Sanitary Board be approved. He said it would be remembered that at the last meeting of Council he stated that this by-law bad been referred back to the Sani- tary Board with a view to a reconsideration of the definition of the word street." The Sanitary Board had accepted the suggestion made on that point and the by-law was now brought forward for approval.
By-law approved.
+4
[November 10, 1897.
THE APPROPRIATION BILI The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I have the honour to more that the Council go into com- mittee on the Bill entitled "An Ordinance to apply a sum of not exceeding two millions three hundred and forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty dollars to the public service of the year 1898."
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Before proceeding to consider this Bill in committee I would like to make a few remarks if I am in order in doing so. I have very carefully considered the Estimates LAW COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
now before the Council together with the very The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I be to submit ably constructed address your Excellency de- the report of the Law Committee on the In-livered two weeks ago, and I beg to offer your terpretation Bill. The Committee held a meet- Excellency my hearty congratulations on your ing after the last Council and the Bill was wise decision not to increase the municipal taxa- passed without amendment.
tion of the colony. At this time, when there bas been a substantial general increase in the cost of living and in the necessaries of life owing to the serious fall in exchange with gold countries and other causes, the burden of any addition to the taxes would have been very severely felt by the middle classes, as it is cus- tomary here for the tenant and not the house- owner to pay the assessed rates. The working classes among the Chinese would have also been severely bit by the consequences, as Chi- nese tenement houses are let at a lump sum, taxes included, and again sublet to tenants who let out the individual floors and rooms. Your Excellency is also to be warmly congratulated in that it has been possible to balance the Bud- get without taxing shipping, the life blood of the colony, beyoud what is required to pay for upkeep of the lighthouses and the regulation of the harbour. The perusal of your Excel- lency's address leads to the conclusion that the colony's financial position is eminently satis- factory, bat, sir, after thoroughly examining into matters, cannot find any cause for jubilation. On the contrary, I consider that the necessity for economy and retrenchment in
AMENDMENT OF THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-1 would ask your Excellency's permission to more a resolution amending the Code of Civil Procedure, which is made on the recommendation of the Judges. the Chief Justice and the Puisne Judge. It would be open to me to give notice to-day and move the resolution at the next meeting, but I see by the standing orders a motion may be Lade without notice the urgency of which is admitted by the President and two-thirds of the members present. I would therefore ask
every direction is as urgent now as ever, if not your Excellency's permission to mention the
more so. The Government is in debt to the matter and ask the Council to say this resolu. extent of £340,000, or the balance due in respect tion may be moved at this meeting. It is of two gold loans of £200,000 each, one raised in 1887, when the dollar was 3/2, and the other simply a resolution making a slight alteration in the Code of Civil Procedure which I will explain in 1893 at 2/74. as appears from the Treasurer's when I move the resolution, In a case which oc- statement dated 16th August last. The amount curred the other day, upon the affidavit being of dollars received in respect of the 1887 loan tendered which it is necessary for a plaintiff was $1.263,157.99, and the 1893 loan $1,536,000, to make in order to obtain judgment, the or in all 2,799,000. The dollar cost of repay- plaintiff happened to be a corporation and one ing the £60,000 of the first loan appears to of the learned members of the legal pro- have been about $434.000, and to repay the fession took the objection that a corporation balance of £310.000 at the present rate of could not make an affidavit. It was found that exchange would cost about $3,568,000, which was so, and that the law in England was up shows a prospective loss on the colony's gold to a few years ago the same as our law but loans of upwards of $1,000,000. Whether the when a case was decided on the point an alter-present rate of exchange may ultimately be ation was made in the rules and orders un 'er the Judicature Act. The resolution I wish to more brings our law into precisely the same state as the English law. It is purely a tech. nical matter or legal point to bring our law into conformity with the English law and as it is brought forward at the request of both Judges
take it hon. members will say it is urgent. Urgency granted.
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN (Attorney-General). Hou. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master).
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Super-I intendent of Police).
Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Ho KAI.
Hon. T H. WHITEHEAD.
Hon. E, R. BELILIOS, C.M.G. Hou. J. J. BELL-IRVING.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES,
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table a financial minute and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee.
Carried.
THE CHARGE FOR WATER SUPPLIED TO GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMENTS. The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee, No. 9, referring to the Appropriation Bill, and in do- ing so said-It will be observed that the Com- mittee unanimously recommended all the items with the exception of that for water supplied to Government House and similar items in the éstimated expenditure of other departments.; I understand your Excellency is about to make a statement with reference to the charge for water supplied to Government establishments;
|
|
obtained is very doubtful. No one can begin to predict the depth to which silver may descend, as England continues hostile to the white metal and one country after another continues to legislate against it. Even Bulgaria has taken. to the yellow metal and is selling off her silver. For any Government whose revenue is raised in silver to contract loans in gold is a most hazardous experiment, in this instance a colossal blunder, and should the dollar fall to 1/6 the loss to the ratepayers of Hong- to $2,000.000, through kong may amount the Government having borrowed in gold in opposition to the views of several of the unofficial members. It is true that if the colony had borrowed locally we would have had to pay two per cent. more interest, but that would have been an infinitesimal item as com-
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the following resolution:-" Be it resolved that sub- section 2 of section 13 of the Hongkong Code of Civil Procedure shall be and the same is hereby amended by the addition after the words 'upon filing an affidavit' of the words made by him- self or by any other person who can swear posi- tively to the facts."' If I may repeat myself, where the plaintiff is a corporation or is absent from the colony the affidavit required by sub-sec-pared with the enormous loss the appreciation tion 2 of section 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure before the plaintiff can proceed to judgment cannot be made. The same difficulty arose in England, and some years ago the amendment in the procedure was made there which it is now proposed to make in our Code. The only effeot of the resolution will be to assimilate the law in this colony to that of England. In so com- plicated a matter as a Civil Code time and experience are certain to bring to light some cosus omissus, and accordingly section 99 of the Code provided for necessary amendments, by resolution of the Legislative Council.
The wording of the published in the Gazette. resolution follows the wording of order 14 rule 1 made under the English Judicature Acts. The OLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Carried.
to be
of gold is likely to entail on the colony. It is no doubt satisfactory that the opium monopoly will bring in a largely increased rental during the next three years, but the antiquated system of farming out the tax on opium is unfortunately attended with grave abuses and a good deal of state created crime. Some other less objection. able means of collecting the revenue should be found, The Imperial Government continues to impose a tax of 17 per cent. on the city's purely municipal revenue for military purposes, which is unfair and unreasonable and delays the erection of a suitable Post Office, Court house, Harbour Master's Office, and other public buildings which are urgently needed. military contribution exacted from Hongkong is heavier and higher in proportion to revenue than that levied upon any other Crown colony
The
3
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.