The Hon. W. M. Goodman will assume his appointment as Chief Justice of the Colony on the 1st April, and Mr. A. G. Wise, Puisne Judge, will act as Attorney General, Mr. Sercombe Smith, continuing to act as Puisne Judge. No intimation has yet been received as to the new Attorney General or the Colonial Secretary. of the year, and dwelt, at some length the Tariff question, more especially the proposal of Sir James Mackay that, in consideration of the complete abolition of likin and all other inland imports wha'- ever on trade, the imports should be subjected to a sur-tax of ten per cent, making with the five per cent nov levied, 15 per cent. Sir Thomas said he was per. sonally in favour of this proposal if proper guarantees for its effectual carrying out could be obtained. He was of opinion that the Chinese Imperial Government. could enforce their decrees if they chose, and he thought the present was a great. opportunity for getting rid of the incubus of these inland charges. He was careful to add, however, that he was not pledging the Chamber to this opinion. In conclud. ing, he said he had not, like the schoolboy. reserved the sweetest bite for the last! on the contrary it was the only bitter morsel of the feast, viz., the resignation of the Secretary. He then referred in eulogistic terms to the services of Mr. Wilcox, who said, deserved the heartiest thanks of every member of the Chamber. Mr. Slade, who' seconded the report and accounts, said he thought the idea of one duty on imports a sound one, but that it would be Well to be cautious in coming to any defi. nite conclusion. He then paid a tribute to the retiring Secretary and to the Chair. man, who shortly intends to leave the colony. The Hon. T. H. Whitehead then addressed the meeting at some length, and gave expression to the same opinion as the Chairman on the Tariff. The report and accounts were then adopted, and the election of new members was confirmed, The meeting then proceeded to ballot for a new Committee, Mr. Whitehead throwing out the suggestion that it would be a graceful compliment to Mr. Wilcox to lect him a member of the mittee, which remark was received with hearty applause. Tne ballot resulted in the election of the follow ing:—Sir Thomas Jackson, Chairman; Mr. C.S. Sharp Vice-chairman; Messrs. N. A. Siebs, J. J. Bell-Irving, R. C. Wilcox, A. Haupt, W. Poate, 1. A. Hewett, and H. E. Tomkins. Hon. T. H. Whitehead is ex-officio a member of the committee as Representative of the Chamber on the Legislative Council. Sir Thomas Jackson said, as they had elected him, he would continue to act as chairman during the rest of his stay in the Colony, and Mr. Wilcox having returned thanks for the honour done to him, the proceedings terminated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.