Mr, Lrrzix, the Chairman of the Municipal Council, opened the proceedings by proposing—
hair, J.—That Dr. Focke take the Mr. Beaus seconded the motion, and it was unanimously carried.
Dr. Fooxe, Consul-General for Germany, and Senior Consul, accordingly took the Chair.
Mr. Lirrux said that the next resolution was one it was customary at all their meetings to pass, namely—
Resolution I.—That Mr. J, A. Pond act as Sevretary to the meeting, Mr. Beaux seconded.
The motion was carried.
The Cuarmscay said the Ratepayers might take the notice convening the meeting as read,-and they would at once proceed to business.
Mr. Litre proposed—
Revolution I1f,—That the annexed Rules of Procedure ye adopted for use at this Meeting, and remain in force until the next Annual General Meeting.
Mr, Buxatay seconded the motion.
Mr. Lime stated that the Rules of Procedure had been printed, and he had no doubt the Ratepayers were very familiar with them. They were the same as had been in force at all their meetings.
The motion was adopted nem. con.
To make our report complete, we append the Rules of Procedure.
Rules of Procedure to be observed at Public Meetings of Ratepayers convened unier the provisions of the Land Regulations 1870.
L—Every Ratepayer attending a meeting shall before entering the meeting ravin register his name and the number of proxies for absent land owners hell by him, and each Voter when ssu registering shall' receive ticket certifying the number of votes to which he is entitle 2—Wheu a public meeting of Ratepayers shall have been assembled a chairman of the meeting shall Lo elected by the Katepayere 3.—Alter the Chair has been taken the Meeting shall proceed to the election of secretary.
4.—The Chairman shall then read the notice convening the meeting and the business of the meeting shall be proceeded with in the order mentioned in the notice, it arises directly out of any subject actually noder discussion, and which has been mon-tioued in the notice convening the meeting or unless a written moworandum of such proposition or question shall have been lodged with the Secretary of the Council three days before the date for which the meeting has been convened. In the latter case a copy of such memorandum shall be published by the Council in the North-China Daily News on the days before and of the meeting.
"Brery resolution or amendment must be in writing, and signed by the mover and secunder, before it can be put from the Chair, and no subject shall be considered as duly before the mesting unless it be put from the mode of procedure with regard to ments shall he as follows:—Any number of amendments to a resolution may be moved and seconded, after which, the Cuairman shall put the question for and against, beginning with the amendment last proposed until some one of the amendments be carried or all be rejected. 'The rejection of any amendment shall not import the passing of any preceding ove but exch' amendment shall then in ite turn be put to the meet In the event of all the amendments being rejected the original revolution shall then be put.
'$—Uyon a division being called for, the Secretary shall read the list of registered at the mesting and exch voter pr sout shall ay his name is rad declare whether no votes in the affirmative or negative and the namber of votes which he casts, When the number of votes on each side are equal the Chairmen shall have a second or casting vote. The result of the division shall be declared by the Chairman, whose decision shall be final unless a scrutiny shall be at once called for.
9.—If a soratiny be called for the Chairman shall appoint as sorutinevrs two Ratepayers who shall have voted on opposite sides of the question, Such acratineers shall proceed. the scrutiny forthwith and the result shall be declared by the Chairman before the dissolution of the nov shall be allowed to any or business already disposed of except ty of the Ri present or repr A resolution once passed can only be rescinded wr modified by a majority of not Jess than three+ fourths of the voters present or represented.
1L—All documents which come before a Ratepayers' meeting shall, if they have been previously exhibited for' three clear days {exclusive of holidays) at the Council Room, he accepted as read, unless specially requested to be read at t ting.
12.—Each speaker shall address himself to the Chair, Asarule, except it be in explana. tion of the subject under discussion, or final reply, Ratepayers shall address the meeting but once on each subject, Any departure from this rule to be permitted only at the discretion of the Chairman.
13.—Ou all questions of order the decision of the Chairman shall be final, ules over. ruled by three-fourths of the voters present or represented.
14.—No business shall be proceeded with ab any weeting convened under the provisions of Article XV of the Laud Regulations 1870 until the Chairman shall have declared that the requisite number of Ratepayers are present or represented and that their votes have been duly registered.
Mr, Lirme said he had now much pleasure in moving—Revolution IV.—That the Report and Accounts for the twelve months ended 31st December, 1880, be passed.
He said—The very voluminous report and. accounts have been in your hands for some time, and I have no doubt they have been duly digested by you, and this year they call for very little special remark. In bringing the Budget forward last year,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.