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considered a satisfactory one. But it is obviously impossible for as to way what items are to be included in the Estimates for extraordinary public works until we have an approximate idea what the revenue for the year will be, and it is impossible to get this approximate ides of the Opium Farm for which, as the honour able member no doubt is aware, tenders have been invited the present farm expires on February 28th, 1907. We do, however, know something with regard to our probable revenue for next year, and I am sorry to say that what we know is not very satisfactory. For instance, we are aware we shall be unable to include in our revenue estimates for 1907 the sum which appears in this year's estimates of $120.000 on account of profit on subsidiary coins. We can fairly assume also that land sales, unless there is a great improve. ment in trade, will not amonat in 1907 to the sum of $400,000, which appears in the Estimates for the current year. And we can also assume that unless trade improves there will be a falling off in other receipts. Turning next to expenditure, it is on the face of it a little difficult to say how we are
until we know what we shall receive on account
going to meetthe decline of revenue I have referred to. We know we shall bare to provide some amountas interest on the loan for the Kow. loon-Canton railway: as far as we see at present this intertest will come to 8138,500. We
know also there will be some increase in expenditure involved by extending the grad. ing scheme of salaries to all subord nate officers Further, the Gorernment has committed itself to
We
THE HONGKONg weekly prESS AND
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this Council in an expenditure for additional fire-extinguishing appliances estimated to cost some $50,000. Again, I have promised as the result of earnest representations of public opinion made to me in this Council on the 21st September last year, not further to delay the commencement of the Tytamtuk (second section) water supply scheme, a scheme estimated to cost three million of dollars, and for which, as soon as we are once embarked on it, it will be necessary to make a large appropriation each year. Again, the expenditure on the new Law Courts and Public Offices must next year be at least what it has been this year, if we are to fulfil our promise made to this Council to complete these two important public buildings by the end of the year 1909. So even if we do not start any public works of great magnitude in addition to the water supply scheme I have referred to, I am doub ful whether
OB shall be able to carry
with out some additional taxation. When we do start a public work of the first magnitude I am strongly of opinion that works ould be the junk typhoon shelter which is required in the interest of shipping in the Colony and for the safety of the Chinese boat population (applause). Apart from those public works, which once put in hand definitely commit us to a large annual expenditure, we are very desirous to do something to improve the approaches of the harbour to the city which at present are rightly termed reproaches to it. We also desire to go ahead with the main thoroughfares at Kowloon, with regard to which, this Council will remember, the gentleman lately representing the Chamber of We Commerce on it was so very insistent. are further anxious to improve the road com. inunications in the New Territories. Moreover. we do not intend to decrease the amounts; annually included in the estimates for the resumption of insanitary properties, the training of nullahs and the provision of flushing tanks, with which services it is to my mind absolutely indispensable to proceed if the sanitary condition of the Colony is not to be worse in the future than it has been in the past (applause). It is not with any desire to discourage such questions as have been put by the hon. member, containing as they do valuable and useful suggestions, that i have made these remarks, but I want to make clear that it is recessary for us to proceed in a business manner aud, in view of falling receipts, not to commit ourselves to new and heavy items of expenditure (applause).
ASYLUMS ORDINANCE.
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(June 11, 1806.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and ¦ INTERPORT SHOOTING CONTESTS. this was agreed to.
APPROPRIATION BILL.
The ATTORNEt-General moved the second reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to authorize the appropriation of a supplementary sum of two hundred and seventy-eight thou sand four hundred and twelve dollars and eight cents, to defray the charges of the year 1905. He said-It is unnecessary for me to say anything to the Council in support of the Bill. It is a cessary to authorise the payment of various sums stated in the Bill for the various public services to which these SOMA are appropriated.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.
the
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that Bill be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.
HIS EXCELLENCY-The Council stands ad journed till Thursday, June 14th.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council-the Colonial Secretary presiding.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-- His Excellency, at the last meeting of the Council, referred at length to the Appropriation Bill, and honourable
If
members bare before them full details. there are no questions to he asked I propose that the various rotas be approved.
The various items were read and approved. The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I also wish the
Committee to empower nio to express the apnion of the Committee that the said Bill Bill my bed alt with by the Council as a reported by the whole of the Council in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Council. That will sare us sitting as a com. miles of the whole Council at the next meeting.
greed to.
This was
LAW COMMITTEE.
A uanseting of the Law Committee was held af erwards the Attorney-General presiding.
The Married Women's Property Bill was considered clause by clause, and passed through committee with two verbal amendment‹.
The 13:11 to regulate the qualifications and provide for the registration of "dentists was cousidered clause by clause.
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On the motion Dr. Ho KAI clause eight, referring to the composition of the Dentist Bard was Itered by the addition, acter the words 're-ident dentists," of the following .* aud any two other fit persons will ug to accept the appointment who may be from time to time aj poisted by the Governor."
un the motion of the ATTORNEY GENERAL sub section of the same clause; was r. cast and read An appointed member shall hold office for three years.
•
lause 7. rtion was altered to read, no person shal. be entitled to recover in any action
any charge for dental aid rendered after the commenc ment of this Ordinance by any person not registered under this. Ord nauce unless and until such person is registered under the Ordinance."
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Clause section was altered to read If a person shall prove to the satisfaction of the Dentist Board that he was within three years prior to the parsing of the ('rdinance a bona- fide practitioner of dentistry and a dental surgeon in this Colony and shall make appli.. cation in writing to the Dentist Board within six weeks after the commencement of the Ordinance for registration or in the case of persons absent from the Colony at the date of the commencement of the Ordinance shall make such application within six months after the passing of the Ordinance he shall be entitled to be registered.”
On the motion of the ATTORNEY GENERAL it was agreed that the the Bill be reprinted and discussed again.
As the result of the inqury held at the magistracy into the circumstances of the collision between the Kowloon Deck Company's The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first launch No. 7 and a sampan, the jury found that reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinacce to the sampen woman, who was drowned, met her provide for the establishment of Asylums for death by misadventure. Mr. Hazeland accord The custody and care of persons of unsoundingly ordered the discharge of the coxswain who
mind and others.
was charged with manslaughter.
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THE SUGGESTED TROPHY.
Mr. M. 8. Northoote informed our repre- sentative on June 5 that the committee appointed. to apply to the Interport rifle shooting trophy to consider the conditions which it is proposed
will probably held a meeting during the next fortnight. To stimulate riflemen to better re salts trophy, which is to be shot for by British ports in the East, has been suggested, and subscriptions are being raised to defray the coat. To date, however, the returns have not been encouraging, an unusual thing in Hong- kong when money is needed for a desirable object. It is suggested that the trophy should take the form of a vase which will be mounted on a large ebony plinth capable of accommo- dating thirty silver shields; these will be the record of every year's engraved with match since 1889. The trophy is to be of European design and workmanship and will cost about £20, which amount will be borne by the competing ports in equal shares.
t
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i
Shangbai for the maintenance of the trophy are The conditions ruggested at Singapore and
as under :--
I.-The trophy shall be named the Interport Challenge Trophy.
II. From 1907 onwards each winning team shields properly engraved before handing the shall be responsible for having its shield or
trophy on to the next winner.
III-The engraving on shields subsequent to 1906 shall be as far as possible exactly similar to that on shields already engraved.
IV. The trophy shall be the property of the port winning the Interport Rifle Match each year. such port to be responsible for the afe keeping of the trophy until it is handed over to some other port. It shall be binding on the winners of this trophy to have it insured against loss by barglary or fire whilst in their possersion and also to cover it against loss by whatever means whilst in transit to the next winners. Any damage done to the trophy shall be made good by the then ho'ders, and if such damage shall have occurred whilst in tran- sit, the senders shall be liable unless the damage shall be proved to have taken place after the arrival at the port of destination, in which case there cipients shall make good the damage done. The trophy shall always be met and taken charge of at the various ports to which it may be sent, by som responsible person or persons detailed off to de so y the respective ports.
V-The Interport Challenge Trophy sball be handed over at the respective ports for safe keeping to-
Shanghai: The Chairman of the Municipal Council.
Hongkong H. E. The Governor. Singapore
Penang: The R aident Councillor. VI. The above noted rules in relation to the Interport Challenge Trophy having been duly considered and agreed to by Hongkong, Shang- hai. Sing pore, and Penang, shall be binding and shall only be altered by the unanimous con
sent of all.
THE MURDER IN GAOL.
PRISONER EXECUTED.
A nother execution took place in Victoria Gaol on the 6th June when Wong Tai, the prisoner who was condemned to death at the last Criminal Sessions for the murder of another prisoner on May 11th, was hanged. It will be remembered that the prisoner was undergoing a sentence of eight years' imprisonment for an act of piracy.
Before Mr. F. A. Hassland and Messrs. H. B. Davidson, B. Hunter and N. H. Harms, jurors, an inquiry was held at the Magistracy the same afternoon into the osuse of death. After hearing the evidence the jury found that d-ceased met his death by hanging which was carried out in the due course of law.
The Kokumin learns that Viceroy Yuan's
proposals for dealing with the opiam problem la Chins are bised in the main on the regula tions applied by Japan in Formosa.
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