To tHe Mustorrat Covsert.
Guytuxsex,—I beg to ask you to lay before the Landrenters my application for a Tease for about 800 feet of Bund frontage, of so much as is fronting Concession lots Nos. 16, 17 and 18 for a period of three years at Tls. 2 per foot, the same terms as I held a lease as agent for the owner of the Whaon which {ease expires on 3nd proximo. T understand on my giving up the front 0] site lots Now Va¥ib add 16 Mestre. Diysdale Ringer &Co,, have to build me a wooden jetty. Yours faithfully, W. Forses Swarr.
The Chairman said I think we shall save time in discussing the question of bund frontage for steamers if Tstate my position in the matter.
This is not a cosmopolitan settlement but a British Concession; the interests and comfort of British Land Renters and residents must be my first consideration; my government allows non-Britsh subjects to Land Renters by courtesy but that does not authorise me to sanction the lease of Bund frontage for steamers to any but British subjects.
Again, between British subjects who are Land Renters and those who are not I must draw a distinction. Leases or renewals of leases to the latter I am not prepared to sanction, unless mpler security than hitherto be taken that the comfort and convenience of British residents shall not be interfered with.
Mr. Ramsay proposed, and Mr. Pechatoff seconded, "That the tender for Bund Frontage of Mr. McBain's lease be granted."
This was for 5 years.
Mr. Whistler proposed san amendment. and Mr. Oxley seconded, "That no tender for Bund frontage be accepted for a longer period than one year."
Mr. Whistler gave as his reason that it was quite probable that there will be more independent steamers running to the port than there are at present, and the same will require Bund frontage, in which case in consequence of competition higher rates would be obtainable in future and add considerably to the revenue of the Council.
On this amendment being put to the meeting, 59 votes were cast against and 26 for. The original motion was then put and carried by a majority of 43 votes.
Mr. Smith proposed, and Mr. Wood seconded, "That Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co.'s tender for a tive years' lease be accepted."
Mr. Ramsay said he considered Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Cv., ought to pay much more—they had 3' steamers with aggregate tonnage than Mr, McBain's, which should entail " higher offer.
Mr. Wood considered it was ungracious on the part of Mr, Ramsay to bring forward such a proposition, seeing the land-renter had just freely granted Mr. McBain, his prinespal, the frontage he had applied for. Mr. Ramsay had mentioned the subject to him a day or two before the meeting and he had carefully gone into it. He now submitted @ schedule he had drawn up, showing how Mr, Ramsay's scheme would affect the different steamer companies occupying the bund frontage.
More, oF Tossacr oF Kivi SteaMens ron Bus Frosrace. it behaved the incoming Council to look to other sources of revenue" it was not to the steamers that they should look.
With regard to Mr. Ramsay's remarks as to the number of steamers Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Ca. employed, this was no affair of the landrenters. Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Ca. only occupied the same amount of frontage that Mr. McBain did, and his proposal was that they should pay just double for it, The land-rentera jet certain Bund frontage and placed no limit, so far as these two Conmpanies were concerned, upon the use they made of it. It was free to Mr. McBain to have as many steamers as he liked, and it was not the affair of the land-renters whether he had more or less than Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Ca. Extra tonnage did not necessarily mean extra business or extra profit, and it was quite possible, as far as land-renters knew, that Mr, McBain might make more out of his frontage than the other company.
Considering the whole matter it was unfair to further tax three steamer companies while one was to yet off scot free already steamers paid more than their share of the income of the port, and it had to be shown that their profits were greater than those of hanks, hongs, property, é&e.
Under the circumstances he' thought it was his duty to oppose Mr. Ramsay's scheme.
Mr. Ramsay replied that his steamers had been paying an excess, in the past, tonnage compared, The resolution being put to the meeting, was carried nem, cui.
Mr. Wood proposed, and Mr. Price seconded, "That Mr. Moore's application be granted for a renewal of the present lease of frontage for one year from date of expiry with the option to continue for two years more, provid ed due notice is given one month before expiry (i.e., on 19th May, 1891)."
Mr, Whistler said he would vote against 75 Propowed the granting of a renewal fur two years, Company Steamers. per PAY "per Tous pay Seuts increate Mr. Thyen said he would make hit Mat ES tation plication to read for three years" without Wee stay eon are Te any option. 'The Chairman stated he would not sanction a three years' lease, when it was agreed that the application should read "that Mr. Moore's application should be accepted for one year only", which was accordingly put and carried nem. con. Mr. Whistler enquired whether 260 feet of Bund frontage was enough to moor a steamer like the Pao-ching, to which Mr.
From this it would be seen that it was Thyen replied that it would be quite suf cient, as he was going to have a pontoon, proposed to make Messrs. Jardine, Muthe-'Mr. Sour proposed and Mr. Reynent son & Ca. pay an additional Tis. '987 per seconded, annum fur their frontage, Mr. Thyen "That Messrs. Drysdale, Ringer & Co.'s Tls. 673 and Mr. Sharp Tls. 206, total Tis. application for the "Anshin S. N. Ca.,! for a 1,868, while Mr. McBain, for' the same two years' lease be accepted." amount of frontage as applied for by Carried nem, con.
Messrs, Jardine, Matheson & Ca., was to Mr. Oxley proposed and Mr. Pechatnoff pay nothing at all extra, He' scarcely seconded. thought land-renters would agree to so That Mr. Sharp's application for a three unequal a method of increasing the taxes. years' lease be accepted.
Mr. Wood then referred to the published Carried nem, con, accounts. Aualysing the income, the figures Mr. Wood proposed and the Rev. Dr. showed that Land-tax was Tls. 1,225, which John seconded, for 74 lots represented Tls. 17 per lot, an: That the Municipal Council be authorised to House-tax, Tls. 311.43, would represent about Tls. 10 per house. keep the gate between the Bund and Messrs Butterfield & Swire's compound open during Import-dues had been already referred the ensuing year, and that the thanks of the toon the grounds of their insufficiency. d-renters be voted to Messrs. Butterfield to export-dues Mr. Wood estimated that last Swire for their kindness and courtesy in al-season there were about 18 hongs doin owing the community the use of their front-business at the port. The amount receive was Tls. 4,469.45, which would represent "Garried nem. con. age.
an average taxation on their business of a The next proceeding was to vote for the little under Tls. 250 per ong. raising of Ways and Means."
Bund frontage—nine steamers had used Mr. Ramsay proposed and Mr. Whistler the Bund frontage, for which they paid seconded, Tls. 3140.00, or an average of Tls. 350 "That House and Land Tax be levied as per steamer.
From these figures therefore it appeared that steamers were already taxed more heavily than any other branch of trade here, and he thought that if "in view of the anticipated falling off in Export Dues, before."
Mr. Foster wished to make an amendment, and he and Dr. John explained their views on the subject.
Mr. Foster proposed and Mr. Lay seconded,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.