As regards the future, several miles of new streets in Hongkew are still unmetalled, or not made up, and hardly a week passes without the Council having to consider some extension question. The bunding of the Soochow and Hongkew creeks should be completed where Municipal roads run alongside; a new road and culvert is wanted along Pokchuen-hong from the west of Honan Road; rebuilding ptt of the Municipal compound will soon become a necessity; the erection of a new Laboratory, Pasteur Institute, and Health Otticer's quarters is wanted in the near future; an Isolation Hospital for Chinese is required; the reconstruction of the Garden Bridge is not very far distant; the draining of the Bubbling Well and outside roads; there.are arrears. of sanitary work "to be done in certain portions of Hongkew; additional fire hydrants up and draining of the Sinza Road are requited in many districts; the makin only will have to be dealt with before a few of the undertakings which jong. Gentlemen, expenditure can be curtailed by reducing public wants, and standing: still as regards public works; there appears to be no sign or tendency of the former, and the latter would probably prove to be a shortsighted policy. I have endeavoured to put, the financial position of ati clearly before you, and thanking you the eottesy and patience with which you have listened to me, I beg to conclude by moving Resolution VIL, which has already been rt to you.
seconding the resolution.
Mr. Weucr—I tare much pleasure in seconding th Oeeno-—fr. Chairman and gentlemen, during the years T have beet Rttending these annual meetings T have Gften fel T had something to say on the Subject under discussion, but, thinking perhaps that it might not be of sufficient Tnportanee to compensate you for your lowe of time in listening to me, has alw made me hesitate. Last yeat, however, for the first time, ® subject oime up for discussion of which I had a special know-ede and which I thought it was my duty to lay before you and endeavour to show ted ko in fainly treated by one of our publi ws. T thought I could rouse your indignation asinine had been roused, times out of number, by the inefficiency of the well paid s I was, however, mistaken and the next day in of the morning papers I found 1 had made a most amusing speech. I suppose the reason for this must be partly looked for in the fet that Tam not speaking my own language, but Twill take better care to-day and to explain. myself so that no such mis= understanding can arise. But you must knowledge that we cary out our duties ratepayers very lightly and as quickly as possible. When we come down, here vote for the incoming Council we find just the number of names down on the st and noanore. That. of scratching out " well-known and rse, saves the
when we come down with desire that no: sonal may mix with that hia jas report which our Councillors ed to p ry funds of the 5 s ud plant will then stand in the Council's books at Tls. 180,000, In five years we have been able to pay off the whole of the mid to the Electric Compa Tls. 30,000 of the expenditure incurred ince, which isa most satisfactory fi position.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.