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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
every way worthy of the occasion. That the option was not so exercised appears to have been the result of an unfortunate muddle, which seems to be all there is to be said about it. We are sure no one regrets the matter more than the high officials of the Government.
It should be mentioned that when it was found that the Government was not going to illuminate on Wednesday the Manager of the Electric Company had the Queen's statue illu. minated on his own responsibility, an act for
which Mr. Wickham merits the thanks of the community and his shareholders.
A GENEROUS GIFT BY A CHINESE LADY
The following letters have been forwarded to us for publication :-
Hongkong, 18th June, 1897. Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Secretary,
Diamond Jubilee Committee, &c., &., &c. | Sir, I am requested by Mrs. Aches, the proprietress of Achee & Co.'s Furniture Dealers, to supply for permission from the Jahiles Committee to be allowed to supply iron bedsteads and furniture to the extent of $500 for the Women's Hospital at her own cost as an offering to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. If the Committee accept her offer she will be pleased to receive directions as to the kind of bedstead most suitable so that she can import them direct from England.--I have, &c.,
CHAN LONG HIN.
Hongkong, 25th June, 1897. Sir,—On behalf of the Jubilee Committee I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, in which you inform me that Mrs. A Chee desires to present bedsteads to the value of $500 to the Hospital for Women and Children as an offering to Her Most Gracions Majesty the Queen.
Mrs. A Chee the thanks of the Committee for In reply I am to request you to convey to her very generous gift, which they accept with much pleasure.
A further communication will be addressed to you as to the kind of bedstead regarded as most suitable.-I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
J. H. STEWART-LOCKHART,
Hon. Secretary.
RELEASE OF PRISONERS. On the 19th June thirty-three prisoners were released from Victoria Gaol by order of His Excellency the Governor, this being an act of grace in honour of the Diamond Jubilee. The community is not likely to suffer in the least by the advantage gained by the released prisoners, as they were all in for short terms of imprison- ment inflicted for very trivial offences, and there is not a single thief amongst them,
HUMOURS OF THE JUBILEE. His Excellency the Governor seldom makes a slip whilst speaking, but he made an amusing one at Government House on Tuesday when thanking the Chinese community for present ing him with a tablet to be hung in Govern. ment the ouse. His Excellency, in speaking of feeling that existed between the Chinese residents and himself, expressed a hope that his predecessors would be as well treated as he had been. Whereat there were smiles that were almost loud.
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[July 1, 1897.
THE JUBILEE CELEBRATION AT | flock to-day the representatives of all peoples
CANTON.
The British community at Canton celebrated the Diamond Jubilee on Thursday, 24th June this day no doubt being chosen in order to give the residents there an opportunity of taking part in the rejoicings in Hongkong. A garden party was given on the tennis ground and practically the whole of the European residents attended. The ground was gaily decorated in the day time and at night streamers of lanterns made the place look very pretty. A shower of rain | fell at seven o'clock in the evening, but that did not interfere with the amusement of the community. The band of the West Yorkshire Regiment attended and played some very fine selections of music, while numerous rockets were also fired during the night. A large number of Chinese fireworks were let off from a stage in the river and the whole scene was ren- dered more effective by the presence of a large number of decorated flower boats,
THE JUBILEE CELEBRATION AT
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Macao, 25th June.
On Monday last, 21st June, the British com- munity celebrated Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee by a soiree at Santa Sancha. About one hundred guests were present, including H.E. Senhor Galhardo, Governor of Macao, und his family. A little after nine o'clock the band of the Macao Garrison played the Portuguese National Hymn, announcing the arrival of H.E. the Governor, who was received by all the Eng. lishmen present. Shortly afterwards fireworks commenced, for which two bamboo stands had been erected on the Praya in Bishop's Bay. The fireworks were mostly Chinese, but at intervals gardens of Santa Sancha were well illuminated, European rockets, bombs, etc., were fired. The the three arches at the entrance to the house being decorated with fairy lamps, and above the centre arch was the crown of England. During the two and a half hours that the soiree lasted refreshments were served con- tinuously, and the room opposite the supper room was set apart for dancing, where many now and then went for a few turns of a waltz or a set of lancers. At ten o'clock all the guests assembled together for the toasts. H.E. Senhor Galhardo proposed "The Queen" in felicitous terms, referring to the harmonious relations which existed between the two nations, Portuguese and English, which he sincerely hoped would long continue, and to the Queen's long, prosperous, and remarkable reign. The toast was drunk with three cheers, the band playing "God Save the Queen." Mr. Goffe, the British Vice-Consul, thanked His Excellency and proposed the health of Their Most Faithful Majesties the King and Queen of Portugal, The soirée was over about half-past eleven. The following was programme, which was printed on silk in göld by the well-known press of Messrs. N. T. Fernando e Filhos
and monarchs, from the most modest to the most powerful, to render sincere and respectful homage to the doyen of the sovereigns of the world. But the rejoicings for this extraordin- ary jubilee are not restricted to the noisy and brilliant feasts of London. In every part of the world where a colony, a community, or a group of Englishmen is to be found, there beats equally the heart of the great British land, full of joy for this happy anniversary of the exalted Queen. The noble English people gives to-day to the whole world a brilliant proof of harmony and a great lesson of patriotism. The English com- munity of Macao could not be an exception to this rule, and it assembles here radiant and justly proud, associating itself in the hymns which from every part are rising in honour of and warm demonstration of respectful esteem for its glorious sovereign. The Portuguese nation, as an old friend and ally of England, cannot be in- different to or refrain from participation in such manifestations; and this was fully under- stood by the worthy English community of Macao, which invited the Portuguese society of this colony to the brilliant entertainment at which we are at this moment assist- ing. The two societies, one by inviting and the other by accepting the invitation, give one proof more of confraternity between the two nations, and honour themselves mutually. The honour falls to me, as the head of this Portu- Majesty Queen Victoria. guese colony, to propose a toast to Her I regret that I extol the virtues, the wisdom, and the genius of this most noble Princess, who, in her long words sufficiently eloquent to
and happy reign, has succeeded in raising her country to the apogee of glory it now enjoys. been already written in letters of gold in the But the history of this powerful Queen has brilliant pages of her reign and I will limit
that the Almighty may preserve the precious myself, in my own name and in the name of my country, to an expression of the hope life of Her Majesty the Queen of England and Empress of India. Long live Her Majesty the Queen Victoria! Long live the English Royal Family!
have no
.9
;
The toast was drunk with enthusiasm and the hall rang with cheers for Her Majesty. cellency, ladies and gentlemen, there is one Mr. Goffe then spoke as follows: Your Ex-
evening and that is to propose the health of more pleasing duty which devolves on me this Their Most Faithful Majesties the King and Queen of Portugal. Great Britain and Portu gal are connected by many ties, by long years tionship of their respective sovereigns. The of peace and alliance, and by the personal rela- British community welcome this opportunity of acknowledging the courtesy and kindness which sidence in this colony, and we further take this they have invariably received during their re- occasion to offer to your Excellency our sincere wishes that health and prosperity may attend your tenure of office." the
[Royal Arms.] SOIREE GIVEN BY THE BRITISH COMMUNITY
OF MACAO. June 21st, 1897.
Celebration of the completion of the 60th year of the reign of HER MOST Gracious MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA, Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India. 9 P.M. Reception. Fireworks. Illuminations.
10 P.M.
TOASTE. "THE QUEEN."
Here is another slice of Jubilee humour which deserves to be placed on record. In dealing with the arrangements for the com memoration in St. John's Cathedral the China Mail gravely informed the public that His THE HEALTH OF THEIR MOST FAITHFUL MAJEƐTIES THE Excellency the Governor and His Excellency Major-General Black would occupy separate seats in the chancel of the Church. And they did.
At the naval and military review at the Happy Valley His Excellency Major-General Black caused much laughter by forgetting for the moment a most interesting feature of the display. When the feu de joie had been fired the gallant General in his well-known ringing voice shouted the order March past in column Take off your helmets. Three cheers for the Queen! It is hard to say what would have been the result if the General had not pulled himself up in time and called for those cheers.
KING AND QUEEN OF PORTUGAL.
Music by the Band of the Macao Garrison. The steamer Heungshan and Mr. Jordan's house were illuminated with Japanese lanterns.
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The toast was enthusiastically honoured by all present.
Mr. Currie afterwards proposed the health of H.E. Senhor Galhardo.
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE AT
SHANGHAI,
Shanghai, 24th June. Three times in recent years before 1897 Shanghai has been en fele; at Her Majesty's Jubilee in 1887, at the visit of the Duke of Connaught in 1890, and at the Jubilee of Shanghai in 1893. In all these three the decorations of Shanghai itself heve been of much the same character, nor was there much departure from the precedents this year. Venetian masts, flags, and paper lanterns are chiefly relied upon for the decoration of our streets; but the masts and lanterns serve a double purpose, for to them mainly is entrusted the illumination at night. Owing to the determination this year to divide the public subscription, and only devote to the cale- H.E. Senhor Galhardo, who spoke in bration of the day such a sum as should be Portuguese, said:Ladies and gentlemen, specially contributed for that purpose, the to-day is a day of universal festivity. The decoration of the
settlement this year great and noble England celebrates the was not so extensive as on former occasions; sixtieth anniversary of the reign of her over for ourselves we regard this division as a mis- eign, and to the capital of this great nation | take, and regret that a large sum was not đẹ-
The Echo Macaense publishes reports of the speeches made by the Governor of Macao and the British Vice-Consul at the Diamond Jubilee celebration at Macao.