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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
May 6, 1900.
yon havo fostered hero liavo beon a grent factor | PRESENTATIONS TO MR. in the scholastic life of the Colony...
ARTHUR JP -To your subordinates in the College you have been over been helpful and polite, and to
have On the 2nd inst, another gen
them also, as well as sportor and a learned been a familiar figure in the
not only a dignifiel
master, but the kindest and most sympathetic of friends.
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home, namely, Mr. W. M.B. Arthur, Clerk at the Magistracy. On in view of his approaching departur sent Chinese members of the staff tracy, together with some who forme under him, entertained Mr. and at the Magistracy on the received a further proof of the good will felt towards him, þoing presented with a hand gold watch and chain.
Mr.
don
in the Treaty Ports, the Imperial Maritime | Customs, and the Chinese Government itself, would experience if the supply of educated boys from the Collego wore suddenly stopp d. The magnitude and importance of your Inbours are immense, aud that you have worked with un varying success from year to year, notwith standing the many difficulties that wore in your way, must be a mattor for c congratulation, and ⠀⠀⠀⠀ You are now about to proceed to England to compels the admiration and respect of all who enjoy a well-carned holding, and we trust that have any acquaintance with the working of this | Mrs. Wright and yourself will return to us College. When you first came out in 1882 to with renewed houlth and vigour, and that you take charge of the Government Contral School will long be spared to preside over Queen's you had no easy task before you, as you had to College, which for the last eighteen yours yon carry on the work of one whose high moral | have directed so wisely and so well.—Wo have charaster, whose great abilitios and learning and the honour to be sir, Your most obedient, sor- whoso indefatigable labour had already placed vauts.
* Mr. WILLIAM Nd Kwai SHANG said the school in a very high standard of efficiency. Dr. WRIGHT, in replying, said :—I am deeply Arthur, your numerous friends, both Chinese We are happy to bear witness however, that grateful for the honour you have conferred up, and Indian, and the past and present staff at through your unremitted care and exertion, on me in presenting me with this handsome the Magistracy, have asked me to be their that high standard has been maintained and in address. I am fully aware that in the first spokesman on this occasion, and I have the gron- several respects has even been improved upon instance you were notnated by that high test pleasure in acceding to their request; ← You This address, Sir, contains our written testi-estimate in which you hold the profession of
came into the colony in 1868 as school mony, and we venture to ask you to accept it as education and by the great love and affection the 75th regiment, now the famous a
token of our high esteem and respect. In that you bear to the memory of the old Central Highlanders. You and Mrs. Arthur subsequent presenting this address. I wish to thank you School and this Queen's College. But Dr. Ly became master and matron of the Diocesan on behalf of the Chinese assistant musters for Ho Kai and the address are kind enough to Home and Orphanage, and after this you the great kindness and courtesy you have cou. employ very kind expressions concerning
were appointed master in charge of the stantly shown to them, and also ou behalf of the myself which I must honestly admit are
Police School, which position you have ocon- boys for your extreme kindness to and sym-boyond my morits. It must be remembered pied until now, In 1887 you were appoint- pathy with them in their daily work and study. that although I have the honour to be ined first clerk at the Magistracy, and this post In fact, Sir, we all regard you as a friend more oharge of this largo and important__in- than as a severe task-inaster, and your kindness, stitution I am a public servant and that I am supported by that of your good lady. Mrs. expected to do my duty. It is, however, highly Wright, has made many friends, not only gratifying to me to be assured that the leading amongst the pupils immediately under your Chinese in the colony appreciate my efforts to care, but among all classes of Chinese residents endeavour to perform those duties; bat it must in this colony. We present you with this ad- also be remembered that no head-master can dress, Sir, meaning to accompany it with a enable a school to flourish by his own unassisted piece of embroidered silk, but, as a work of art efforts. You might just as well expect a General of that kind takes some little time to finish, we to win a battlo without the assistance of Co- will when it is finished forward it to you in lonels and other officers, and I have rightly England for your acceptance. Now, Sir, I stated in the annual reports, and it gives world conclude my short remarks by wishing me great pleasure to report the state that you and Mrs. Wright will have a very mont to-day, that it has always been pleasant voyage home and a very pleasant holi- my good fortune while in the colony to be day. We hope that you will acquire now supported by particularly good masters, both health and vigour and return to us soon and English and Chinese. With regard to the work amongst us with renewed energy, and con-Chinese masterss I think it must strike every tinus the good work which you have carried on before, with even more success than you have ever attained. I will now call upon Mr. Cheung Choi to read the address of the Chinese masters and pupils, past and present.
Mr. CHEUNG CHOI read the address as follows:-
To G. H. Bateson Wright, Esq., D.D.
Queen's College, Hongkong. Sir,-On occasion of your approaching depar- turo from the colony, wo, the Chinese Masters and Pupils, past and present, of the old Govern- ment Central School and Queen's College, feel that we cannot allow you to leave us without ex- pressing to you our great appreciation of your indefatigable labours in Hongkong in the cause of Education.
Briefly reviewing your career in this Island of Hongkong, we remember that on your arrival 1882 you were Acting Inspector of Schools, as in well as Head Master of the old Central School..
The Central School was found to be too small to accommodate the increasing number of stud- ents, and in its stead was reared its palatial successor the Queen's College, where the good work begun and carried on in the old building has been continued with distinguished success; The number of pupils has more than doubled during the period of your Head Mastership, and every near large numbers of Chinese youths leave the College woll equipped for the battle
of life.
The Honourable J. II, Stewart Lockhart, Colonial Secretary, has publicly stated that had it not been for the educated Chinese whom he was able to employ when the New Territory was taken over last near, the Government would have found itself in serious difficulties; and in every part of China, but especially in this Colony of Hongkong and in Canton, is spread an army of well-educated and flourishing basi- ness' men who owe their success life to the training they received at your lands. In order to assist the pupils in their studies, you prepar ed a number of books which have been welcomed near and far for their sound educational value, and the Oxford Local Examinations which
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you have also occupied until now. You are now going home on four months leave, and on ita expiration you will retire on pension, a pension which you so well deserve, after having faith- fully and honestly served Her Majesty's Government for a period of 23} years. During your long residence in the colony you have made many Chinese and Indian friends. They regret exceedingly that yon are going away, and I have been requested to thank you sincerely for the kindness and courtesy you have shown to them whenever they have come in contact with you either in public or private life. The success of your exertions in imparting a know- ledge of English to the Chinese Inds - who hare heen under you is shown by those present on this occasion, many of whom are now holding responsible positions either in the body as extraordinary that we can keep up the Government, mercantile, or Customs service. supply. In England yon have large training As for the staff—both post and present of the colleges where hundreds of pupils are turned Magistracy I have been requested to thank you out annually fit to assist and finally take charge from the bottom of our hearts for the kindness of schools. Here, unfortunately, we are not you have shown to us during the time you- able to afford the expense of a proper training have been with us. We know you are deeply college, and we have to do our best in this sorry to leave your numerous friends behind in school not only to train masters for ourselves but the colony where you have spent the best part for Government schools, and it is astonishing of your life, but we hope you will be consoled to me how year after year I might almost say by your wife and children in the old country, month after month -Chinese boys from the first The souvenir which I about to present to you class are ready to step into the gaps and under-shows the respect and esteem in which you are take, the duties of master. I think I should mention on behalf of my wife how pleased she would have been had she been here at the kind references to herself made by Dr. Ho Kai and the address. She has always taken a great deal of interest in the College and has been a great help and stimulus to me in the various dif- ficulties I have had to cope with. will not take up more of your time, but will once again thank you most heartily for your kind wishes. I echo the sentiment expressed by Dr. Ho Kai that I may be per- mitted to return to the colony at the end of my leave with greater strength and renewed vigour and that you boys and masters will assist me in achieving in the future a higher degree of success than we have managed to achieve in the past. I thank you most sincerley, Dr. Ho Hai, and the Chinese gentlemen whom you represent, for your very third expressions and for the very handsome address with which you have presented me. (Applause.) def
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Hearty cheers for Dr. and Mrs. Wright concluded the proceedings.
The Kobe Chronicle says that in order to witness the naval manoeuvres the Emperor of Kapan was to leave Tokyo on or about the 28th inst,, the battleship Fuji having been selected to convey His Majesty to the scene. Owing to the occurrence of a case of plague at Osaka recently, care was taken to aroid Osaka. His Majesty was to witness the final operation of the manœuvres in the Kii-Awaji Chanuel on or about the 20th inst., and afterwards visit Kobe, when a review of all the vessels engaged in the manoeuvres was to be held in the bay.
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held by us. We hope you will reach your native land in safety, and that spared by Almighty God for many years to enjoy your pension, and that you and Mrs. Arthur will have long life, health, wealth and prosperity. On behalf of the subscribers, I have the greatest pleasure in presenting to you this souvenir, which bears the following inscription: Presented to W. M. B. Arthur, Esq., J.P., by officers of the Magistracy and friends in taken of their esteem, 1st May, 1900, Hongkong."
Mr. CHEUNG CHOI read out the names of the subscribers, which included many holding important positions in the different mercantile and other houses in the colony..
Mr. AETHUE, in acknowledging the gift, said Mr. Ng Kwai Shang, fellow-workers under the Government, old pupils, and all friends - I thank you very very much. I think I'am old enough at times to know some of my own short- comings, and knowing them so well as I do, I must say that the contemplation of such a meoting as this for I had some slight intimation before hand that it was to tak place took me by surprise. I did not that my conduct and what I had daring the many years I have colony would have resulted in a mee the very very warm feelings you in your address, Mr. Ng Kwi the presentation of a souvenir necessary for me to say I should highly, and as highly shall I p names now lying before me, all Shang has truly briefly, sketched the colony. With reference to the part