Council Meeting of 21st June, 1875.
Present:—Bfessrs. J. G, Purdon (Chairman), G. J. W. Cowie, J. Hart, A.
A. Krauss, F. W. Lemarchand, Mackenzie, 8. D, Webb, and the Secretary.
'The Minutes of the last meeting were read, confirmed, and signed by the Chairman' and Secretary, and the seal of the Municipality fixed thereto.
Appropriations.—The expenditure of Tls. 1,101 was sanctioned for compensation for land surrendered for widening Foochow Road between the Bund and Szechuen Road, and for moving back wall Bounding it.
Staff. Accountant.—Mr. George Hart was appointed to officiate as Accountant, during Mr. J. A. Pond's absence on leave.
Clert: of Worls.—It was resolved to renew Mr. C. B. Clark's agreement for three years, from expiry of existing one.—Also to conclude an agreement with Mr, J. D. Bishop, for maintenance of the Telezraph lines for three years, from the Ast July next, for Tls. 125 4 month.
Free ferry.—Clearing out Soochow Creek.—Read letter from the Senior Consul, acknowledging receipt of the resolutions passed at te last meeting of Ratepayers, and stating that they would be presented to the Consular Body at the earliest convenient moment.
Land Regulations.—Read letter from the U.S, Consul-General and Senior Member of the Consular Body, informing the Council that the whole number of Consuls resident at the port had approved the amendments passed at the last meeting. It was decided to send slips of the Ament ments to the several Consuls, with the request that they be laid before their superior officers.
Jelly, Honan Road.—The construction of a jetty on the Soochow Creek, at the end of the Honan Road, was ordered.
Extension, Tientsin Road.—Owing to the terms asked by the landowners in the line being too high, it was decided to abandon the improvement for the present.
Lekin tax.—An opinion by the Council's legal adviser on the legality of the action of the Chinese in levying lekin taxes in the Foreign Settlement, and the duty of the Municipality in the matter, was read.
Te was resolved that Mr. Drummond's opinion be forwarded to the Consular Body, accompanied with the views of the Council.
General Hospital.—Draft letter convey ing the Council's views with regard to ti and other points connected with the proposed new Hospital, was submitted, considered, and approved.
[Zranslation of a letter from French Council Of 2nd June.)
Shanghai, 22nd June, 1875.
Sir,—I have laid before the Council your letter of 14th instant, and have been directed to forward you their vie Without' re-opening the question as to is responsible for giving rise to the dispute, discussion on which would be only a repo jews already expressed, the Council lered the proposition made by you.
The Conseil agree to clauses 2,3, 4,5,6 and entirely. Clause 1, it is disposed to agree to with a single modification—viz., that the number of wheelbarrows shall be limited to 4,000.
The Conseil does not think it ought to slows ofan increase in the number of vehicles to a limit of 6,000, as that number
existing at present, which is not called for by the requirements of the community.
This number is contrary to the views of the Council, who are rather in favour of reduction and it would be in opposition to the ideas of the publi The average number of licences issued in March, April and May by the two Municipalitries was 3,923, and the round number of 4,000 for the two Settlements would appear to be so much the more in accordance with the wants of the place, as Jin-rik-shaws have come to augment the means of locomotion for a certain class of the population, while adding further to the crowding of the streets and the duties of surveillance on the part of the Police.
'Hoping, Sir, that you will soon be in a position to inform' me of the views of the Munici cipal Council.
Thave, PUL 950, Sane Sim,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant, in which you accept the ut regard ing wheelbarrows as set forth in my letter of the 14th instant, with the exception of the number 6,000, as stated in the first clause, but the Council cannot doubt but that on a reconsideration of the subject you will agree with them on that point also.
There was a strong feeling in the Council at first, that the number should be even larger than stated, as the half of that would give them very few more than they now actually license, but they finally decided upon 6,000 a8 the lowest they could agree to. licenses ieeued by. the two Afunieipalities You mention that the average number
in March, April and May was 3,923, and you deduce from that that 4,000 is eufiicient for the requirements of both Settlements, but you overlook the fact that of that number this Council issued 2,614, and that, therefore, 2,000 which is all they would be entitled to if 4,000 was decided upon, would actually deprive them of neatly a fourth part of what they now have, The Council do not apprehend that limiting the number to 6,000 would be likely to 1 to an increase of the vehicles. At present the licenses are unlimited, and yet there are only about 4,000 taken out. The Council fail to see how putting a limit to them would tend to increase the number; in fact, it would appear rather to be Wien the very great extent of roads and imncaution against too great an_ increas
mense Chiness population of this Settlement are considered, the number in the opinion of the Council is not at all too large for the requirements; and spread as they are over such a large district, the roads are not overcrowded by them.
Trusting that a consideration of these points, to which perhaps you have not before sufficiently directed your attention, will lead to concurrence with the views of this Council, and remove the only remaining point of difference between the two Municipalities, T have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, Jous G. Purnox, Chairman, RACKETS, The following challenge matches have been played between members of the A and B class Forbes (A.) 12 15 16 7 15 Robinson (B.)...15 13 8 18-0 Forbes therefore retains his posil ion.
Scott, (A.) 446 Maitland, (B. 16 16 15 Maitland therefore supplants Scott.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.