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for your cordial. wishes, which I most heartily reciprocate, I would express a hope that a suc cessful and honorable career is in store for one and all of you. I need hardly add that if I can assist any of you towards that end I shall have much pleasure in doing so. (Applause.) I thank you for the kindly words you have made, and I can assure you that I shall value them most highly: I shall always recollect, the Service of Hongkong as a loyal and patriotic one, (Applause.)
Wine was then served and in response to Sir John Carrington the gentlemen present gave three hearty cheers and the " tiger" for His Excellency the Governor.
A photographic group was then taken in front of Government House.
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THE SCOTCH CONCERT,
44
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
|
"
THE NAVY LEAGUE.
[February 2, 1898.
God Save the Queen," brought a most, enjoy- | and so far were very well satisfied. Of course able concert to a close. The accompanyists sooner or later there would be trouble with the were Mr. A. G. Ward, Mr. G. Grimble, and home Unions. It was sorrowful to see. British Mrs. Saunders.
sailors replaced by Chinese, but it had to be admitted that it was the British sailors' own fault. The class that shipped in tramps would not behave and made the life of a shipmaster a misery. The Chinese did behave and gave no trouble, besides doing excellent work especially as firemen. Officers told him that the change in their lives since they began to ship Chinese was marvellous. They had peace and quietness now where before all was tumult. It was a moot point how far we could trust Chinese in war time. The question of merchant seamen was undoubtedly one for the earnest considera- tion of the nation and worth all the thought that could be bestowed upon it. We must bave trained respectable men, and not as at present, the failures and scum of the cities and slums.
ADDRESS BY G. U, ANDERSON. read a paper on
On 31st January Captain G. C. Anderson Some reasons why we should give our support to the Navy League" at a. meeting of the members of the Hongkong Branch of the Navy League held in the City Hall. Commander W, C. H. Hastings, R.N., presided over a large attendance. He mentioned that a chart of the necessary extensions of the British frontier at Kowloon had been sent to the Navy League in London and by the kind ness of Mr. D. Gillies, a copy of the chart had been made in the Dock Company's office and was now open for the inspection of members. the present area of the colony was some 3 square miles, and the necessary extensions com- prised about 450 miles. The extensions
square were necessary in order unmistakeably to. preclude, the possibility of any coaling station, harbour of refuge, or other pied a terre being ceded or seized in our vicinity by possible enemies and to end once and for all the dual control of the approaches to the colony. He emphasized the necessity the urgent need for an Association like this for an increased membership and pointed out
aim that, irrespective of party, kept one steadily in view, namely, that there shall be a continuity of policy with regard to our first line of defence the Navy-and to see that its growing needs were liberally supplied. It was as true now and in Hongkong as it was 1,800 he that is not for me years ago in Jadea that is against me.' (Applause.),
Mr. Gershom Stewart proposed and Mr. Granville Sharp seconded a hearty vote of thanks to Captain Anderson for bis highly in- teresting and instructive lecture.
HONGKONG ODD VOLUMÈS SOCIETY.
PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRESS
H.E. THE GOVERNOR.
taken of a meeting of the Hongkong Odd Volumes INTERESTING LECTURE BY MR. W. MACHELL. On Friday afternoon, 28th Jan., advantage was Society, held in the City Hall for the purpose of hearing a lecture by Mr. W. Machell, to present His Excellency the Governor, Sir William Robinson, G.C.M.G., with an address from the members of the Society. The pre- sentation was made by His Excellency Major- General Black, and there was, a very large attendance of members.
Mr Pollock, hon. Secretary, then read the following address :-
Mr. Pollock then read the address as follows:-
Hongkong, January 1898.
4 Scotch concert arranged by the St. An- drew's Society, in commemoration of the birth of Robert Burns, was given in St. George's Hall on Tuesday evening, 25th Jan. There was a large and enthusiastic audience, and the concert was in every respect a success. The programme included five part songs arranged for male voices by Mr. A. G. Ward, namely, "Hail to the Chief," "Ye Banks and Braes,' "Scots wha hae," "Duncan Gray," and "Auld Lang- gyue." there had evidently been careful rehearsal, the The voices were well-balanced and rendering of each of the part songs being admir- able and calling forth very warm applause The choir numbered about twenty and great praise is due to the conductor, Mr. Ward, and to each of the members for a very finished performance. After the opening part song Miss Murray Bain' appeared and gave a sweet and sympathetic rendering of the song "O Sing to me the Auld Scotch Sangs," for which Captain Anderson then delivered his address.
Major General Black-Your Excellency, it she received a well deserved encore, in response He said the League did not desire to dictate to
would be odd indeed if the Odd Volumes of to which she repeated the last verse. Mr. J. those in authority, but to ensure that the ex- Gilchrist followed with the song "Gao Bring perts, our Admirals, constructors, engineers, and Hongkong allowed you, their honoured Pre- tae me a pint d' Wine, for which he was others shall be supplied with the means of execut-sident and one of the Society's most industrious loudly applauded. Mrs. Vallings, who made ing what their united wisdom considered best members, to depart without a word of farewell, her first appearance since her return from home, for the safety and needs of the Empire, and in (Applause). We have therefore set down our met with a very enthusiastic reception as she educating the people in all the needs and re appreciation of you as a brother Odd Volume in- the plain and unvarnished tale which I now ask 'ike League ivas stepped on to the stage. She was down for two quirements of the Navy.
our hon. Secretary to read and you, Sir, to Bongs, Mary O' Argyle "in the first part and smoothing the way and making things easy ful
Bonnie Strathyre" in the second, and both the Government. Last year a statement went accept as a memento of many evenings passed were of course encored. Mrs. Vallings kindly the round of the papers that the naval expendi. under the auspices of this oddly named but
Lôch Lo- responded in both cases, singing
ture of great Britain for 1896 was at the rate well-assorted Society-evenings, Sir, to which mond" in reply to the first and Melville of 10/1 per head of the population, a statement you have added much pleasure and instruction Castle" in reply to the second. It is always calculated to make our eyes open wide. The by your presidency and your efforts. a treat to hear Mrs. Vallings sing; but though estimate was probably made on the basis of the good in both, we think she appears to better population of the United Kingdom, but the advantage in light and humorous sougs than in fact is that the expenditure was for a navy pathetic or sentimental ones, and of the four she which had to protect the whole of the British gave on Tuesday evening we liked her best in Empire with a population of over three hundred "Melville Castle." The fifth item in the first and sixty million souls, so. that the rate was part of the programme was one that had something like 1/2 per head-not a very ex- been looked forward to with a great amount orbitant rate to pay for a year's protection. of interest, namely, the recitation of "Tam We should construct our fleet of battleships o Shanter" by H.E. Major-General Wilsone Black, C.B. His Excellency gave the well. known piece with a considerable amount of dramatic power and humour and in the broadest Doric. Needless to say the audience signified its approval and enjoyment unmistakably. The next item was a song by Mrs. Gordon, Bonnie Prince Charlie." Mrs. Gordon, with her deep and rich contralto voice, is always a favourite with Hongkong audiences, and with each ap- pearance the desire to hear her again increases. As an encore on Tuesday night she sang "The Auld Hoose." In the second part of the programme, after the opening part song, Mrs. Hand, who possesses a stong mezzo-soprano voice of good quality, sáng Rothesay Bay," and received a warm encore, to which slio res- ponded by repeating the last verse. The next item was the trio Willie brewed a Peck o' Maut," by Messrs. E. F. Mackay, J. Gilchrist, and C. Smart, which was also encored. Mrs.
we have Vallings's second song
already Mr. M. mentioned.
Alsberg gave a violin solo, Mackenzie's "Benedictus," which he played with much feeling and perfect at its conclusion the execution, and audience signified its appreciation by very hearty applause. Mr. G. Balloch gave a spirited rendering of "Sound the Pibroch," and in response to the encore sang "She kilted her coats o' green satin." The part songs "Duncan Gray" and "Auld Lang Syne," followed by
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on
a scale that would let the world know that we meant to retain the sovereignty of the seas, no matter what the mere money cost might be. Another weak point was the want of men for both the Navy and the mer chant service, and this was a-matter on which some definite line of policy should be adopted, for at present we were only drifting. After pointing out the tremendous commercial in- terests that had to be safeguarded by the Navy Captain Anderson said that as abody the Navy League had no concern with details or debateable questions; its object was the safety of the country, and its business to instruct the public as to our position with regard to foreign nations, our commerce, our colonies, and our trade routes. Surely this was a programme which every Briton could and ought to support Speaking of the supply of merchant seamen and its bear Ing on the manning of the Navy he said that he was recently on board a steamer in this harbour which had come from Cardiff. Her crew, exclusive of officers, consisted of (deck) four Greeks, three Austrians, one Englishman; (engine room) three Norwegians, one Swede, one German, one Chilian, one Greek, and one Englishman. The manning question had reached a somewhat acute stage, all the good British born seamen were secured by the big lines, and there were not enough for them. Some of the regular liners from home to Chinese waters were solving the question by employing Chinese
To SIR WILLIAM ROBINSON, G.C.M.G. SIR,-Upon the near approach of your departure from this colony, we the undersigned, members of Hongkong- Odd Volumes desire to testify to you our warm apprecia- tion of the kiud assistance which you have invariably ac You have been our President almost ever since your corded to the promotion of the objects of this Society. arrival in this colony, but you have not rested content. with occupying a purely nominal and honorary position.
On the contrary, you have actively assisted both as a contributor to the Book Plate and as a lecturer in the furtherance of the aims of our Society, whilst your regular
attendance at our meetings has been a constant source of encouragement to us.
In conclusion we beg leave to assure you that, in what over sphere of public usefulness you may hereafter be employed, you will always carry with you the hearty good wishes of the Hongkong Odd Volumes for your pros
We are sit, yours faithfully, perity and happiness
(Here follow the signatures.) Mr. Pollock then handed the address to His Excellency.
His Excellency the Governor was received with applause, on rising to respond. He said- Your Excellency General Black, Mr. Pollock, members of the Hongkong Odd Volumes, I thank you most sincerely for the address which you have just presented to me. It has afforded me the utmost pleasure during the last five or six years to promote in any way the excellent ob- jects and aims of this most active Society. From the list of lectures to be given this season it is evident that the popularity of the Odd Volumes and its sphere of usefulness are. increasing. I heartily reciprocate your good wishes and trust that a prosperous and beneficent future is in. store for your admirable Society. (Applausė)
Major-General Black Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Machell was good