A lengthy meeting of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council was held on the 22nd instant when the unofficial members presented their memorandum on the estimates, which was laid on the table. Mr. Whitehesd, who had not signed it because in his opinion it didn't go lar enough though he agreed with it as far as it went, moved some amendments to the estimates, in doing which he expressed his opinions thereon at some length, insisted on the necessity of a silver loan for works in the New Territory, for giving precedence to the chair shelter for coolies at the Peak over the new Gubernatorial residence at the Peak, of the new Post Office over the new Law Courts, and of the desirability of strengthening the staff of the P.W.D, Mr. Ho Kai also made a deliverance, in which he expressed the opinion that while the unofficial members had felt it imperative to embody their views in a memorandum, they believed the Gov ernor was quite as anxious to proceed witl: the works as they were, and he therefore could not support the amendment of Mr, Whitehead. The amendment and some others subsequently proposed by the mem-for the Chamber were negatived, and the various votes agreed to after explanations and discussion.
At the meeting of Council held the following day, H.E. the Governor made quite a long speech on the memorandum by the unofficial members, and said he was as much in favour of carrying out a great number of the public works mentioned as any member of the Council. He then explained that the government were restricted from placing on the estimates more works than they had money to proceed with, but he intended to proceed with the works mentioned and get sanction to go on with the others desired. His Excellency added that the chair shelter should be erected next year, With regard to the Post Office he quite admitted its urgency, but said it was dependent upon the progress of the new Law Courts, as it was proposed to erect the new Post Office on the site of the old one and part of Lie ground now occupied by the Supreme Court. It was proposed to commence the foundations of the new Law Courts (which would take a year) almost immediately, and he thought it possible that some arrangement for the accommodation of the Post Office might be made while the new building was in course of erection. The Council subsequently went into Committee on the estimates, and after several amendments proposed by Mr. Whitehend and negatived the third reading of the Bill was proposed and agreed to. At the close of the proceedings the Governor announced that be proposed to call a meeting of British residents on the 27th instant at the City Hall for the purpose of considering more fully the question of making a collection in aid of the widows and orphans of soldiers and sailors who may fall in the War. Lists have already been sent out, but the meeting will undoubtedly greatly assist the Patriotic Fund as it is called.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.