27B
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
H. E. COLONEL DARLING, R.E. Officer Commanding).
Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G., Secretary).
Sir HENRY BERKELEY, K.C., (Acting torney-General).
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Hon. Mr. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Trea- surer).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G., (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. E. A. IRVING (Registrar-General). Hon. Mr. F. J. BADELEY, (Capt. Superinten- dent of Police).
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK, C.M.G. Hon. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C. Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT. Hon. Mr. H. A. W. SLADE. Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
FINANCIAL
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I have the honour to lay on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 10, 11 and 12, and to move that they be referred to the Finance Committe.
The COLONIAL TREASERER seconded.
THE OBSERVATORY.
is
and
Observatory, the Manila Government defraying the cost of transmission. He also promised to send all typhoon warnings, which had hitherto not been done, at the request of Father Algué A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative that is to say whether they arise in the neigh Council was held on the 1st inst. in the Council | bourhood of the Philippine Islands or not. With Chamber.
regard to the instruments for forecasting storms, the The following were present-
Manila Observatory has two HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR seismographs and a chronometer. The seis- FREDERICK JOHN DEALTRY LUGARD nographs, Father Algue said, were of some K.C.M.G., C.B,, D.S.O.
indirect use in the Philippines but he had con- (General siderable doubts as to whether they would be of any use to us as we fortunately are not subject to (Colonial earthquakes. It is not considered they are likely to be of any value, and as they are very costly At-instruments, having to be mounted on stone pillars, we do not propose to adopt them. In regard to the instruments for registration the Manila anemograph registers in the office whereas ours can only be consulted by going on the roof which always difficult often impossible. It was moreover damaged during the last typhoon. The Director strongly recommends the purchase of a pressure tube anemograph of the Dines-Baxendall type with a recording apparatus mounted on the lower floor. We propose to purchase this and the vote before the Council now is concerning this. As this is primarily & pressure instrument he is of the opinion that it may be very valu- able to the Building Authority and the civil engineers in the colony, since the instrument registers the wind pressure momentarily, the pressure of each gust of wind, and is of course of more value for gauging the resistance of any building than our Beckley which only registers These the average velocity of the wind. pressure tube instruments are adopted by many of the British observatories. The cost is estimated, including some alterations to the His EXCELLENCY said-Gentlemen, with building, at about $1100. It is also said that regard to Financial Minute No. 12, you will see
our instrument could be very greatly improved a cheap that it embodies a resolution by the Council to by fitting to its velocity gear spend a certain sum for the Observatory. You chronograph in order to measure the wind will recollect that in September last when the velocity at short intervals by the aid of an Estimates were introduced I promised the electric current. We propose to adapt that to This suggestion Council that I would instruct the Director of the our existing instrument. Observatory to visit Manila with a view to com- was made by Mr. Hunt, who is the meterological paring our instruments with theirs and in order expert of the Commonwealth Government, and to get into touch with the Director of the Manila has been visiting during the last eight months Observatory. Since that date I have been able the principal observatories of America, Europe to inform the Council that by the courtesy of and India in order to see their instruments and, the American Government in the Philippine if possible, to see whether the instruments in Islands we hope that a wireless telegraphy Australia could in any way be improved. He station will be established at Santo Domingo da spent a day in Hongkong at the end of January Basco which will be of great value to and Mr. Figge was able to obtain valuable in- us, and also that the Admiral commanding the formation of exactly the nature we were seeking. Fleet in these waters has promised that men-of- The Manila Observatory has a Spring-Fuers war cruising in the neighbouring waters shall barograph which registers mechanically instead ours does. It is of communicate any observations that may be of of photographically as use in forecasting storms! I propose to say in advantage as the mechanical register records connection with this financial minute in explana. are immediately available. Mr. Figg tells me tion to the Council of the visit which has been it would be a convenience but would add paid by the Director of our Observatory to nothing to our ability to forecast storms and Manila that on February 16th, as soon as his since it costs about $2,000 it is not proposed to annual returns were completed, he started for adopt it. On the main principle of forecasting Manila and remained there until the 23rd typhoons I am glad to say that Mr. Figge finds February. Every day during his stay he visited himself in complete agreement with Father the Observatory. I need hardly say that he Igue that the chief reliance for the early was received with the utmost courtesy by prediction of storms must be placed on observa. Father Algué who placed his entire time tions of barometer, wind and weather telegraph, Manila at his disposal during his residence in the ed promptly from surrounding areas." Islands. The Manila Observatory, Mr. Figge Observatory has a barocyclometer, but Father He said he informs me, costs about. $145,000 per annum Algue did not recommend it. to maintain, and the staff consists of possessed one but did not consult it frequently one director, three assistant directors, a He considered it useful for isolated observers but secretary and librarian, and ten native obser- not for bbservatories connected with other vers, calculators, draughtsmen, and mechanics. stations. There are some forty out stations in the The motion was agreed to. archipelago connected with headquarters. Some of them report three times a day, some twice a day, in the ordinary observation hours between six a.m. and seven p.m. Father Algué agreed that the primary object in view for improving ing resolution:" the information regarding typhoon warnings is Resolved by the Legislative Council that the that there should be as many stations as possible precentage on the valuation of tenements and the creation, if possible, of more stations payable as rates in the undermentioned places and the more frequent despatch of observations be altered from the 1st day of July, 1909, as from existing stations. In this connection he follows:- promised to send extra observations from other stations in the Philippines whenever the Tokwawan station at Aparri should be interrupted, which | Hok Un... unfortunately frequently occurs. He also said | faikoktsui
RESOLUTION UNDER THE RATING ORDINANCE.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the follow-
he would send any information which might Hunghom
be useful in the determination of the position of Tsimtsatsui (Kowloon typhoon centres. Mr. Figge, on his part, pro-
Point
mised to send extra observations from here Yaumati... whenever they might be required by the Manila Monkoktsui...
101 103
per cent. per cent. From 9 to 93
11
39
11
**
"
11
121
13
12
13
121
13
11
21
121
13
NNN
*.**
33K
[April 3, 1909
He said-In these districts fire hydrants have now been fixed and fire appliances are available Therefore it seems for use in case of fire." reasonable that the rates be increased by the usual three-quarter per cent.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the motion was agreed to. PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILDINGS AMENDMENT ORDINANCE.
The ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the motion was agreed to.
LIFE INSURANCE CO'S ORDINANCE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Life Insurance Companies Ordin-
ance, 1907.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Code of Civil Procedure.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and * the motion was agreed to.
THE EVIDENCE ORDINANCE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Evidence Ordinance, 1899.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the motion was agreed to.
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ORDINANCE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Wireless Telegraphy Ordinance, 1903.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the motion was agreed to.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Council stands adjourned until Thursday next.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held, the COLONIAL SECRET BY presiding. The following votes were passed,
COMPENSATION FOR OPIUM DIVANS. The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of eleven thousand six hundred and thirteen dollars ($11,613) in aid of the vote,
Services, Compensation Miscellaneous Licensees for closure of Opium Divans.
to
The CHAIRMAN-This is for compensation to the licencees of twenty-six opium divans which have been closed as from the 1st March.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-
-In connection with this is there any intention on the part of the Imperial Government to carry out their abstract resolution for paying compensation for loss?
The CHAIRMAN-No, those terms do not come into operation until the beginning of the next farm. This is a matter of small compensation.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-It is the direct result of the action taken by the Home Govern- ment.
The CHAIRMAN-I don't think we will squabble over an item of $11,000. We are not so hard up as all that yet.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI--It might be noted, how- ever. By and bye we shall be presenting our bill.
The CHAIRMAN-That does not come until we let the new farm. This obligation will be discharged by the Colony.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI-It would be included as part of the loss.
The CHAIRMAN-I have tried to explain to members that the loss will be calculated as from March 1st, 1910, on the letting of the new con- tract.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-That is the difficulty. How is the loss to be calculated P You can only tell what the new farm may bring. This is a definite loss.
The CHAIRMAN-Yes.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI-There is no harm in noting it down.
The CHAIRMAN-We know it is an actual loss. Still it is a very small thing.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-The principle is a very important one, and the loss before we are finished will be very serious. I think the Colonial Treasurer is quite right in raising tho question at this time. There ought to be a
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