was held on the 15th inst. The Hon. T. H. Whitehead and the Hon. J. Thurburn were sworn in on taking their seats, the former as member for the Chamber of Commerce, the latter on nomination by the Governor. The Colonial Secretary laid a number of papers on the table including Financial Minutes Nos. 26 to 43, which latter were referred to the Finance Committee. A Bill to. validate Crown leases heretofore made of foreshore and submerged lands for reclamation and other purposes, one to amend and consolidate the law relating to Reformatories, and one for naturalization of Sun Yat-sen were rend n first time. Mr. Chater then moved and Mr, Bell: Teving seconded the first reading of a Bill authorising construction of a tramway on the lower levels in Hongkong. This was carried, and Tunderstand the construction wil! recommenced forthwith, The Acting Attorney-General proposed the first reading of a Bill to amend the laws relating to stamps and stamp duty. I understand the intention of the framers to be to raise the Probate duties (now lower than the Bglish ties). This was read a first time as was a Bill for appropriation of a sum of $559,991.78 to defray charges for 1900. A of the Finazice Committee was held which a number of votes, mostly for Public Works, were taken, including yo.e" for the erection of new buildings at Cape Collinson and Green Island to supply better lights and to make provision for taking over and working Waglin Light. from the Chinese Custons.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.