Page
September 24, 1898.]
The CHAIRMAN said-On behalf of the Com- mittee which I hope will be elected at this meet. ing to take further steps in this matter, I have received from the honorary treasurer a memor. andum showing that the sum of $2,536 has been subscribed by the commuuity for this purpose. / I think the only other business we have before us is to elect a committee, which I would suggest should be a small one, for the purpose of carrying out the object in view. I believe the wishes of the friends of the deceased ladies have been consulted, and that they have stated that they hope a committee will be formed and that they will entirely trust the committee to carry this matter out to the best possible eud. I would ask you, then, to consider the proposal that a committee be formed to carry this out. I do not wish to propose the names of the committee myself. I think if
you have anyone to suggest it will come hest from you as a body of subscribers,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
should get along with you; how you would per- form your duties. Well, you came. You hare been with 118 nearly A year, and the handsome presents before me clearly show the verdict which the European members of the force arrived it. (Applause.) I may safely say, sir, that before you had been here two months you were quite popular with the whole force, the lady members included. (Hear, hear), and laughter.) Our drill season will soon be upon us, and we shall very much miss your word of command on parade and the nice and unassuming manner in which you instructed the inspectors and sergeants in drilling meu. Coming as you did, sir, from such a well drilled force as the Royal Irish Coustabulary, I am afraid you found drill to be one of our weak points as compared with that of the R.1.C. You, therefore, took a great deal of trouble and pains with us, compiling a neat and handy drill book, the ran upon which clearly showed how much it has been appreciated. You have always been kind and courteous towards us, and in all your dealings with us have clearly shown you have studied the ways of policemen and that you were an officer and a gentleman well suited to com- maud them and to earn their respect. We, therefore, heard with very great regret that you were leaving us. (Hear hear.) The most pleasant Mr. JACKSON-I would suggest that von sub-part of my duty now begins, and that is to pre- stitute Mr. Ormsby's name for mine. I should sent to you these handsome pieces of plate. We be of no use whilst Mr. Ormsby would be of use. wish you a pleasant voyage to the old country, Dr. WRIGHT-I can add Mr. Ormsby's name a happy re-union with your old comrades, that to the others.
you may rise to the rank of Luspector-General | of the R. I. C.—(applause)—retire on a well- earned pension, and live long to enjoy it. (Applause).
Dr. BATESON WRIGHT-I beg to propose that Mr. Jackson, Mr. Cabhold, the Chief Jus- tice, Mr. Chater, and Dr. Atkinson form the committee, that the decision of the committee should be final, and that we should not have an- other meeting of the subscribers. We have full trust in the committee and do not wish to meet again.
This was done, and the resolution, having been seconded by Mr. R. C. WILCOX, was carried.
The CHAIRMAN-I think_in_all probability whatever the Committee decide to do, they will probably have some plans of whatever memorial is proposed, and give an opportunity to the public to see them, but we should not feel bound to call a meeting.
The proceedings then terminated.
INTERESTING CEREMONY AT THE CENTRAL POLICE STATION,
PRESENTATION TO DEPUTY-SUPERIN-
TENDENT HOWE
the
At noon on 20th S-pt. the European mombers of the Hongkong Police Force were assembled in the billiard room at the Central Police Station, under the chairmanship of the Hou. F. H. May (Captain Superintendent of Police), for purpose of witnessing a presentation on their behalf to Mr. T, A. Howe, who after acting as Deputy Superintendent for the past 12 months, left for home on the 21st in the Dorie. Prévious to coming to Hongkong Mr. Howe was connected with the Royal Irish Constabul-
ary, which body he again joins. Mr. Howe has not been long in Hongkong, but his stay has been long enough for the men to fully up- preciate his worth, and they accordingly de. termined that he should not go away with. out taking with him some tangible token of their esteem. They, therefore, clubbed together and purchased a silver bowl, a claret jug with silver handle and lid, a silver cigarette case, and a miniature ricksha and coole in silver. The bowl, which is on an elaborately carved stand of ebouy, is beautifully chased in charac. teristic Chinese fashion, and on it are inscribed the words, Presented to T. A. Howe. Esq., Royal Irish Constabulary, by the European members of the Hongkong Police Force in remembrance of his service as Deputy Superin tendent of Police in Hongkong, 1897-98. The claret jug is similarly inscribed on the lid, and the cigarette case bears Mr. Howe's monogram. Chief-Inspector Mackie, in making the pre- sentation said-Mr. Howe, the European mem- bers of the force have asked you to meet them to-day for the purpose of bidding you good- bye, but before doing so they have asked me on their behalf to present to you this handsome bowl and claret jug. ect.. as a mark of the esteem and respect in which you have been held by them, and as mementoes of your connection with the Hongkong Station. When we first heard that you, Mr. T. A. Howe, district su perintendent in the Royal Irish Constabulary, said to be the finest force in the world, were coming out to Hongkong to take over the duties of Deputy Superintendent, we were very anxious to know what sort of man you were-how we
|
Three ringing cheers and a "tiger" were given for Mr. Howe.
Mr. Howe, in reply, said—Mr. Chairman, Mr. Mackie, inspectors, and men of the European branch of the Hongkong Police Force. I think this is the proudest and the bappiest moment of my life, when I find myself the recipient of such a | splendid present--such a splendid testimonial to my unworthy merits. But what I value even more are the very kind words used by Mr. Mackie in making the presentation on your behalf in which he expressed the good wishes of the force regarding myself. As he said. I have only been with you a short time, but during tha time I have learned to respect and esteem you and I think you have a certain amount of confidence in myself-at least it would appear so from your condnet at the end of my service. (Hear, hear.) I do not know what I have done to deserve such a very handsome present. I required nothing to keep your memory green. There is one thing, and that is that on the first festive occasion' on which I fill this bowl the very first toast will be "The European members of the Hongkong Police Force, (Applause.)
|
I shall take occasion to have that done within a very short period of my arrival at home. (Hear, hear.) I hope sincerely you will con tiune to go on as you have done since I first knew you. As Mr. Mackie has remarked. I have come from a force which has a high reputa tion. I have mingled with other forces at home officially and otherwise, and I can assure you that you will bear favourable comparison with them. (Applause.) In Mr. May, our chairman to-day, you have a chief in whom you may have the fullest confidence to do everything which can be of service to you.
It is not for me to speak of his merits. I would only personally thank him for the pleasant time I have had while serving ander him, and regret it has been so short. (Hear, hear.) I say! good-bye with feelings of the deepest regret. I wish you all good luck and prosperity in the future in the honourable carver you have chosen, for I think the career of a policeman is one of the most honourable careers a man can pursue. (Applause.)
253
and sent out some of her best men to fill acting. appointments in the colonies and give the colonial officials a chance to do the same at home it would do a great deal to join the empire to- gether. (Applause.)
Mr. Howe having shaken hands with all pre- sent the proceedings terminated with three cheers for the R.I.C.
POST OFFICE PROSECUTIONS,
At the Magistracy on Saturday a postman was sentenced to four months' hard labour for fraudulently detaining a letter. the property of the Postmaster General, the previous day, and was sentenced to a futher period of four months for removing a postage stamp from the same letter,
On the 20th September. before Com. mander Hastings, Tsang Tso, a messenger in the Hongkong Post Office, was charged with un- lawfully attempting to remove postage stamps from a parcel while the same was in the custody of the Postipaster-General.
S. Moosa, a clerk in the Post Office, said that at eleven o'clock that morning he was in the parcel office when he saw defendant with the parcel produced in his hand trying to pull off the stamps. It was his duty to obliterate them. He called defendant and took him to Mr. Thom- son, who directed him to charge him. He hand- ed him over to the police.
Defendant, who said, "I did not try to remove the stamps," was sentenced to six months' hard
labour.
On the 21st September Commander Has- tings had two more Chinese letter-carriers before him. They were charged with detaining letters and were each sentenced to six months'
hard labour. They both pleaded guilty.
THE WEIHAIWEI CONVENTION.
We have received (states The Times) from one of our correspondents in China the follow- ing, which he believes to be the full text of the Convention signed at Peking for the lease of Weihaiwel to Great Britain
In order to provide Great Britain with a suitable naval harbour in North Chinn, and for the better protection of British commerce in the neighbouring seas, the Government of his Majesty the Emperor of China agrees to lease to the Government of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland Weihaiwai,in the province of Shantung, aud the adjacent waters for so long a period as Port Arthur shall re- main in the occupation of Russia.
The territory leased shall comprise the island of Liukung and all other islands in the Bay of Weihaiwei, and a belt of land ten English miles wide along the entire coast line of the Bay of Woihaiwei. Within the above-mentioned ter- ritory leased Great Britain shall hare sole jurisdiction.
Great Britain shall have, in addition, the right to erect fortifications, station troops,
other
or take
any
for defensive purposes.
near or
measures necessary at any points on the coast of the region east of the meridian 120 degrees 40 min. E. of Greenwich, and to acquire on equitable com- pensation within that territory such sites as may be necessary for water supply, communica- tions, and hospitals. Within that zone Chinese administration will not be interfered with, but he allowed therein. no troops other than Chinese or British shall
It is also agreed that within the walled city of Weihaiwei Chinese officials shall continue to exercise jurisdiction, except so far as may be inconsistent with naval and military require. ments for the defence of the territory leased.
It is further agreed that Chinese vessels of war, whether neutral or otherwise, shall retain. the right to use the waters herein leased to Great Britain.
It is further understood that there will be no expropriation or expulsion of the inhabitants of the territory herein specified, and that, if land is required for fortifications, public offices, or any official or public purpose, it shall be bought at a fair price.
The Hon. F. H. May observed –Mr Howe allusion to me, for which I made some have to thank him very much. Not only has the Force been benefited by Mr. Howe's service, but it has done a good deal in a small way towards forming a link between the old country and her most distant colony. I like to think, and no doubt you all do. of the British This Convention shall come into force on I believe if Her signature. It shall be ratified by the Sovereigns | empire as oue compact whole.
Majesty's Government were to pursue the policy of the two countries, and the ratifications shall which has been pursued in respect to Hongkong i be exchanged in London as soon as possible.