At the meeting of the Legislative Council held on the 20th inst. there was considerable discussion of the estimates. The unofficial members criticised the principle on which the accounts were based and contended that the proceeds of jand sales should go to capital account and should not be included in revenue. They also suggested "hat a loan should be rected te yoy far extraordinary pro-ive public works. Mr. Shewan also ception to ths proposal to pay the salaries of oficiels in sterling unless, he said, the currency wes made a gold one. Fo also objected to the practice of putting works on the estimates and then not carrying them cut. His Excellency the Governer seid the Colonial office were averse, in principle, to this Colony contracting a large debt, but he hoped the Secretary of State would sanction a loan for the construc-ion of new water: With re gard to the public works, ko hoped they would be able to get the admit out and that thea the merey vote be spent. He hoped it spent, and would be very much Gsappointed if if were not spent. It is to be feared, how-all the seme that the progress of works will te dreadfully and peine low. At a further meeting of the gislative Council held on the 23rd inst. the report of the Finance Committee on the Estimates was brought up and adopted after some remarks, in the course of which the Governor said that while he was as anxious as anyone that the shelter for Blake Pier should be provided, he did not see his way to leaving that on the estimates for this year, but if the next year's revenue appeared to justify it, he would, with the assent of the Secretary of State, put a vote for the work at the first possible moment before the Council. He fully recognised its importance, but there were other public works of still greater importance.
Increased Taxation, At the abore meeting Bills for increasing the fees for ligner licences and those under the Stamp Ordinance were passed through all their stages, after some amendments had been made. The Bills were hurrie@ through in order to refer them home to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. His Excellency assured the members that care would be taken that the amendments accepted in the Bills would be reproduced in them as finally drawn up.
Cantona Insurance Office, Ld.
The annual general meeting of the shareholders in the above Company was held ea the 23rd inst. The Chairman stated, after reference to the increase in the dividend of 2 per cent and the addition of 250,000 to Reserve Fund, which he hoped would be satisfactory to shareholders, that competition kad been as keen as ever, but their premia showed a satisfactory increase. The present year's working shows an estimated credit balance of $579,514, but he regretted to have to announce that this sum has been reduced by about " lakh of dollars through recent losses, a circumstance illustrating the prudence of carrying forward liberally from year to year. The report and accounts were adopted unanimously and the retiring members of the consulting committee and the auditors were re-elected.
The Penjom Mining Ca., Ld.
At a private mesting of shareholders held on the zard inst., it was unanimously decided, after hearing a lengthy statement of the condition of its affairs from the Chairmen, to raise an addition to the capital of $60,000, and an extraordinary general risering of the Company has accordingly been summoned for the purpose of considering and, if sanctioned, to pass a special resolution authorising this increase of capital. A call of 50 cents on the Ist January next and subsequent calls of 25 cents if and as needed will be made in that case.
The Yeluntesr Camp.
The Volunteers' annual camp of instruction ras broken up on the 29th, after ten days' hard work, which was greatly enjoyed by oticers cud men. The inspection by the officer commanding the Royal Artillery took place on the 18th, and was most satisfactory, Lieut-Colonel Johnson expressing his appreciation of the work done, which vas excellent, especially shen it wes taken into consideration how short was the time since they first manipulated the guns. Durirg the night of the 18th the alarm bugle rung out, and the sight of the diferent get-up or want of getup was truly comical, all rushing to parade in what they happened to have lone Brown, R-E., the troops in the jo7-General Gascoigne, held and addressed the Ta the afternoon many visitors went over to the camp, an:
<8, cousins, and aunts" were thie' The Band of the 3rd Burma Regiment wes present and played during the afternoon. Expressions of regret were frequent from non-commissioned officers and men that the camp could not be prolonged at least another week.
Departure of the Hongkong Regiment, The Colony has now seen the last of its own territorial regiment, the Henzkoag Regiment having sailed on the 23rd inst. in the steamer Arratoon Apcar for Cal-cutty. The regiment will proceed to Jhe-lum soon after landing, and will there be disbanded. No doubt most of the men will be drafted into other regiments, unless it be resolved to constitute them into an additional battalion of the Indian army under some other territorial title.
Three Men Sentenced to Death.
At the Supreme Court on the 2st inst. the Chief Justice, His Honour W. Meigh Goodman, passed sentence of death on three Chinamen for having murdered one of their own countrymen on the Slst August last. The condemned men appeared quite indifferent to their fate.
Two Horses Gored by a Buffalo, As two China ponies, each attached to a milk van were being driven along the Praya East they were attacked by one of two buffaloes being taken in the opposite direction. The boy in charge had not the east control over the buffalo, which dragged him along wherever it listed. The infuriated animal gored the nearest pony terribly upon the chest and leg and then turned upon the other, which was lucky enough to escape with a wound in the fore leg. As soon as the ponies were led away the buffalo became quiet and manageable.
Naval Intelligence.
There is nothing under this heeding to record of any interest. The only arrival during the week (if I except the local movements of the British men-of-war, which are in and out from Mirs, Bay) was that of the German gunboat Tiger, which came in on the 18th inst. from Pakhoi. There are five large British warships in the anchorage.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.