July 1, 1897.]
A
launch hinted that refreshments, which the hard-working Committee now sorely felt the want of, had something to do with the delay. However, the steamer was at length sighted, but there was no unseemly hurry to get to the temporary jetty, for instead of proceeding straight to the spot she careered round Green Island and then stopped about fifty yards from the jetty. This little trip was no doubt well enjoyed by the numerous subscribers who took advantage of the Committee's thoughtful | hospitality and the Committee did not, we dare say, mind the rather tedious wait in the launch. On the arrival of the steamer the Committee left the launch and the ceremony of laying the stone was at once proceeded with. covered mat-shed, over which the Union Jack was flying, sheltered those present from the rays of the sun. The announcement | by the Governor of the receipt of the Queen's loving message was received with loud and prolonged applause, and when His Excellency had laid the stone ringing cheers
more cheers given for Her Majesty and
The trowel used for the Governor.
on this occasion was presented by the Jubilee Committee behalf of the community. It is of very finely carved silver, with an ebony, silver mounted handle. The following is the Presented to H. E -inscription upon it:
Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G., by the Jubilee Committee. on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone to mark the com- mencement of the Victoria Road, to be con- stracted in commemoration of the completion of the 60th year of the reign of Her Most Gracions Majesty Queen Victoria. Hongkong, 23 June, 1897."
The mallet is of ebony, silver mounted, and a small silver plate bears His Excellency the Governor's crest. The stone. bears the following inscription :--
on
"
were
VICTORIA ROAD. This Stone was laid by H.E. Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.,
Governor,
To Commemorate the Completion of the 60th Year of the Reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria.
23rd June, 1897.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
18
stood that the general illuminations on land and water were to be confined to the 22nd June.
In this connection I would refer you to the notice issued by the Jubilee Committee on the 17th May, a copy of which I attach, and to the The Jubilee Com. following paragraph which appeared in your issue of the 17th May:
you have made as to the commencement of the road at both ends, and I am very glad indeed that the suggestion has come from you, and I will give orders that that suggestion be carried out. (Applause.) It may interest you to know that last might I received a message from our beloved Queen in these very touching words:
"From my heart I thank my beloved people.mittee invite a general illumination of the City
and the Harbour on the 22nd June.” May God bless them." (Loud Applause.)
His Excellency then laid the stone and said-I pronounce this, the first stone of the Victoria Road, to be well and truly laid.
The whole company present then boarded the Heungshan, where most welcome refreshments were provided by Madar and Farmer, who well maintained their high reputation as first-class caterers. The steamer made a short and very pleasant trip in the waters of the colony and returned to the Canton Wharf in good time for tiffin.
THE JUBILEE GYMKHANA.
The Jubilee Gymkhana was the next event on the official programme, but unfortunately and to the disappointment of thousands of peeple who were present on the ground at a very early hour in the afternoon the meeting was postponed on account of the bad condition of the course.
In one
WEDNESDAY'S ILLUMINATIONS. Wednesday night's illuminations were excep- tionally grand, although, owing to an unfortunate misunderstanding, the Government buildings or two in- 'were not illuminated. stances alterations in devices were made, the most striking being at the P. and O. Company's Office, where the flag of the previous night was supplanted by the letters P. & 0.", while the strings of red lamps from the top of the flag staff to the roof made
Я
very pretty sight. The West Yorkshire Regiment Officers' Mess was really like a fairy's garden. Chinese lanterns outlined the building and they were also dotted about the garden. On this night the band played many excellent selections of music, which were listened to by throngs of people.
THE EXHIBITION OF CURIOS AT THE CITY HALL.
During the two days an exceptionally good We might bere mention that the stone for exhibition of Chinese curios was held at the the Hospital, as well as the one for the Victoria City Hall. It was a pleasant surprise to see the Road, were presented by Mr. Chan A Tong, great interest the swarms of Chinese took in the the well-known local contractor, The stones, large number of exhibits. The curios were ex- hibited in St. George's and St. Andrew's Halls which are of grauite, are very valuable and Mr.
and the small room adjoining, and the selling Chan A Tong spared no pains in elaborately pre-price or the estimated value was marked on each paring them. The stone for the road weighs one and a half tons and after it had been laid His Excellency shook hands with the donor and, on behalf of the Queen, thanked him for his gifts, As at the former ceremony, the Hon. W. Chat- ham placed a bottle containing the local papers and coins in the stone.
In asking His Excellency the Governor to lay the stone Hon. C. P. CHATER said-Your Excellency, I have now the pleasure, on behalf of the Committee, to beg your acceptance from the colony of this mallet and trowel, and to ask you to use them in laying the first stone of the Victoria Road. I have already, at another place, gone into the history of this road, which is to be one of the memorials of Her Majesty's Sixtieth year of Sovereignty over the British Empire, so I do not propose to detain you long, but simply to mention that the sum subscribed being so largely in excess of the amonnt expected, I would propose to your Excellency that, instead of making a com- mencement of the road at Kennedytown only, you should authorize its commencement at both ends, that is to say, simultaneouly at Kennedytown and at Sai Wan. (Applause). The money in hand will amply justify such a step, and by adopting this course there will be a prospect of most of the subscribers to the Road being enabled to make use of it within a reasonable time. (Applause). With these few remarks I will ask your Excellency to lay the stone. (Applause.)
His EXCELLENCY-Mr. President and gentle- men of the Jubilee Committee, I have great pleasure in accepting this trowel and mallet, and I shall add them to my interesting collection of momentoes, and I assure you I appreciate them very highly as they are connected with the great commemoration we celebrate to-day. (Applause.) I quite concur with the suggestion
article. The curios, which were kindly lent for the occasion by private Chinese residents and curio dealers, were for the most part very rare and valuable, some apparently insignificant ar- ticles being labelled at extraordinarily high prices. The holding of this exhibition was a very thoughtful step on the part of the Com- mittee, as it afforded much interest not only to thousands of Chinese but also to many
peans.
Euro-
THE FLOWER SHOW AT WEST POINT.
In the official programme published by the Jubilee Committee the illuminations are des- cribed as follows:
Tuesday, 22nd June-9 p.m. Fireworks and general illuminations including a proces- sion of illuminated boats and launches. Wednesday, 23rd June-9 p.m. Illuminations
and fireworks.
In conclusion I am to state that His Ex- cellency the Governor very much regrets that there should have been any misunderstanding with regard to this matter and that any dis. | appointment should have been caused.-I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary. [Enclosure.]
"The Jubilee Committee have the honour to invite a general illumination of the City and of the harbour and its shipping on the occasion of the celebrations to be held in commemoration of the completion of the 60th year of the reign of Her Most Gracions Majesty the Queen.
"The illuminations on land and water (includ- ing the procession of boats) will take place on the evening of the 22nd June, commencing at 9 p.m.
"J. H. STEWART-LOCKHART.
"Hon. Secretary.
· Hongkong, 17th May, 1897." With reference to the above, the non- illumination of the Government buildings feel con- was most unfortunate, and, we
celebration of the strained to say, blameworthy. When the arrangements for the Diamond Jubilee began to be discussed one of the leading ideas was that in the middle of the rainy season illuminations were altogether out of the question. Gradually this idea became modified and illuminations for one night were included in the programme, in the hope that the weather might perchance prove favourable, and, as time went on, the enthusiasm grew, and not
seen
com.
only did the general subscription list fill up to a quite unexpected amount, but the community determined to risk the weather and make arrangements for a good two days' show in the way of illuminations. Unfortunately the original resolution of the Jubilee Committee referred to by Mr. Lockhart was never formally reconsidered, and that the Government did not illuminate on Wednesday was simply a matter of red tape and want of consideration and knowledge of
going on amongst the what was munity. But even at the eleventh hour, when it was
that the illuminations on Wednesday were going to be fairly general, the Government might have given its co-opera- tion. Moreover, the expectation of the public that the illuminations would be as complete on Wednesday as on Tuesday was not without warrant. Official notifications published in the middle of May bad passed out of mind by the middle of June, when material developments had taken place, and in the official programme as printed and distributed to subscribers the entry for 9 p.m. on Tuesday was "Fireworks and general illuminations, including a procession of on Wednesday "Illuminations and fireworks;” illuminated boats and launches;" and for 9 p.m.
was made, after an interview one of our and in our issue of the 16th June the statement representatives had with Ms. Lockhart, that on Wednesday "At 9 o'clock at night the display of illuminations and fireworks will be repeated," a statement which, if it rested on a misapprehension on the part of the reporter, To an inquiry addressed to the Hon. J. H.
was at all events allowed to pass without cor- But the statement in the official Stewart Lockhart in his dual capacity of Colonial Secretary and Hon. Secretary of the rection.
"Illuminations and fireworks" seems in itself to imply that the lead- Jubilee Committee we have received the follow-programme
ing body in the colony, ing reply:-
Hongkong, Colonial Secretary's Office,
would
the illuminations 25th June, 1897.
were optional on the part of the community Sir, In reply to your letter of the 25th instant, I am directed to inform you that the they were equally optional on the part of the Government buildings were not illuminated Government, and the option should have been on Wednesday evening, because it was under-exercised in favour of making the celebration in
The large and most elaborately constructed mat-shed at West Point, where the Chinese flower show was held during the two days, was at all times crowded with interested visitors. The show was decidedly instructive and in many ways distinctly novel, the extraordinary devices formed by a large number of the plants being altogether unique and something which the ordinary English horticulturist would pro- bably not dream of. There were tree tigers, tree men, tree junks, tree serpents, tree animals, unknown to the zoological world, and other eccentric objects of questionable descent. The show was a great success and gave amusement
to thousands.
THE NON-ILLUMINATION OF
GOVERNMENT
BUILDINGS ON WEDNESDAY.
:
|
illuminate, the Government,