May 5, 1900.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
ANNUAL DINNER OF THE
GUN COMPANY.
{
MACHINE
HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS. || pany was fully formed, and "hen -】
two and a half months ago he found
Heh pany going very strong indeed. the Sergeant Major for the figures rela of the company was three officers and the company. He found that the establi commissioned officers and men. The strength of the company was four 37 non-commissioned officers and year, so that really they were not yet 19 company was formed in May or June
old, and yet as the result of the drill which had just expired it appeared the were four officers efficient and 35 of commissioned officers and men, He thought Captain Bland, the Laji Corps, whom they all respected and whom they all'admired—(applauko) agree with him that that was an excellen report. He would remind them that thi record to live up to. It was a record not to fall back from. They had their work cit out in the future to maintain the efficiency which they had attained during the Tast drill season. (Hear, hear.) The company was not quite ap
The first annual dinner in connection with the "C" Machine Gun Company of the Hong Volunteer Corps took place at the Hongkong Hotel on Saturday night, the 28th ult., and was a great success. Captain G. H. Potts, officer commanding the unit, occupied the chair, and Lieut. Col. Bir John Carring ton, Kt.. C.M.G. (Commandant of the Corps), Captain Bland, RA. (Adjutant to the Corps), and the Hon. R. D. Ormsby (Direc- tor of Public Works) attended as guests, to gether with Mr. A. Rodger, of East Point, Mr. A M. Farr, Sergeant Milligan, R.A., and Sergeant Keeting R.W F. There were also present Lieute. Underwood, Stewart, and Duncan, Sergeant Major Watling, Sergeant Major Rodger, Sergeants King, Smillie, and Bevan, and about 24 gunners, etc.
After dinner the programme opened with the toast of "The Queer,'
played as a teacher, I can only say that I have experienced what other teachers have experi anced. We know that at times it is a very disappointing profession. It is not always that you can see the seed you have sown come to fruition, but if there is one thing more than another that is a satisfaction to a teacher it is to look around and see those who have been placed under his charge attain to the positions which many of you and others who are not here to day have attained to. I has taken some little part in your education, and the fact that you are occupying, respectable and some of you very high positions is a satis- fastion for anyone who has had anything to do with your education. As for the Magistracy, I suppose it is one of the most trying depart ments in the Government service. We get crowds of all sorts and conditions of men and they some up here on various kinds of business, but the unfortunate part of the whole affair is that everybody expects to be served first, and many of them do not understand the importance of waiting, and there is sometimes dissatisfaction. A great deal of that think is owing to the wholly inadequate Captain POTTS then said he had got a very building which exists in this colony for the pleasant duty to perform that night, and that discharge of the duties attached to the Magiswas to make a small presentation to Sergeant tracy. We have small rooms and those rooms Keeting, who was with them when the com. are orowded with applicants, and in summer pany was first formed. (Hear hear.) They time, as many of those applicants do not observe were practically his handiwork. Sergeant a great amount of personal cleanliness, it is Keeting started them and put them to very very trying, But still we have managed the right about, and they all very much regretted to get along for a number of years, and I that it was really through ill-health that he do not know that I have known any very had to give up being their instructor. (Hear, seriona case of discontent. Notwithstanding | hear). To show their esteem for him the men the high pressure at which we are kept at times without any pushing at all, all having come I do not think there has been any very grave forward spontaneously, had made up a small error or any grave miscarriage of justice. I token in the way of a gold chain and pendant, have made these remarks because I want to the latter having Sergeant Keeting's name on justify myself for little ebulitions of temper it. He hoped that when Sergeant Keeting that I have at times shown. At the meeting left the colony he would always wear it and the other night I remarked that I thought remember the formation of “C” company. of my bark was worne than my bite, and the Hongkong Volunteer Corps. They were I consider this meeting a convincing proof that really only recruits and wanted a lot more drilling. you are of that opinion. I thank you very much (Hear, hear.) Every man in the company was for your gift, which I shall prize most highly, very keen on the work, and there was no ques- It is true I am going on pension, but not, as tion about it that if they went on as they were was reported in the paper the other night a doing they would soon be at the top. (Applause.) pound per day a colonel's pay. I would give Sergeant KEETING was loudly applauded on $1000 at the present moment if I could make rising to acknowledge the gift. He said he the gentleman who made that assertion prove wished to thank them sincerely for the present 1 There was another little error which they had made him, a present which he could crept into the paragraph, and that was not say he was entitled to, but which he knew with reference to the Diocesan Home. had been given spontaneously by the company. Mra. Arthur and I started that home. We He could only thank every member of the first master and matron there, company for what he had done towards it. He and we remained there, I think, for nearly was the first instructor to the company, and he ten years. It was not a Government institu- was glad to think they were getting on so well, tions. I wished it had been. If it had been I He had not the least doubt that if they made should have had ten years more serviss, and the same progress in the future which they had, should have drawn a pension larger in propor-
made in the past the company would become the tion, than I shall do now, and then possibly I best in the Corps. (Hear, hear.) I might have come up to one pound a day- Captain POTTS, in proposing The Visitors," colonel's pay. I thank you, gentlemen, said they did not count Sir John Carrington again. It is unnecessary for me to tell for Captain Bland as visitors, but they counted you you will all live in my memory. As Mr. Ng Kwai Shang truly said, it was not my desire to leave the colony. I thought I was a fixture here until I went the way of all. However, circumstances have hap- pened we cannot control events-and I find myself for varrious reasons leaving the colony to go on pension. There is a certain amount "of superstition, among some people that as soon as they go on pension they are going to per ont. I hope it will not be so in my case. As to my services I do not profess to be a brilliant man, but I have done my level best, I when a man has done that and has nothing what is fair and honourable to look back upon he goes away very contented in his mind. Gen. tlemen, I thank you very much. (Applause).
Thres cheers were given for Mr. and Mrs. rikur and the proceedings còneluded.
were the
<"
A Pahang correspondent of The Straits Times saya" It is reported that Mr Bibby, the Raub manager, is negotiating with the late Balensing Company to re-commence mining ations on the latter's property, which, erwise, runs the risk of reverting to Govern- for non-compliance with the conditions lease. I understand that the Raub
Mr. Ormsby as one, Mr. Ormsby was a Volunteer in Ceylon a good many years and retired as a Captain-more honour to him. (Hear, hear,) At the same time they were trying to get at him for a grant of land for shooting. (Applause.)
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strength, being сопе man short. It Was
good thin not only to be up to strength" but to a little over, because, as they know, in the of a Volunteer unit such as theirs there were always claims on men w prevented them from attending drills now and then, and it was desirable to have some supernumeraries. He would urge them to endeavour to get 15 or 20 more men to join them. It would be in every way a good thing if they could do so. He hoped they would boar that in mind. “The drain on a Volunteer unit in Hongkong was very considerable. There were always a good number of men leaving the colony, whether on leave of absence or permanently. Mr Ormsby said all teers. This was not so. There were a good the young men in the colony were Volun.
come and join them and theyɑ must ɔen- many young men in the colony who might deavour to induce them to do so, a He hoped that 12 months hence when they had their annual dinner they would invite Hr. Ormsby, and that they would them have the great satisfaction of being able to congra him on the admirable hond-quarters he have provided for the Corps. (Applause.) to
ald
Captain BLAND, in responding toast of "The Army and Navy,” said in regard to "C" Company he was never more surprised than to see the way the company
osme out in the last examination of non-commi- saioned officers for efficiency and the way in which the corporals and bombardiers acquitted themselves. (Hear, hear.)
Subsequently the prizes which have been com. peted for during the season were presented, Bergeant Bevan getting the volley-fring prize presented by Lieut. Stewart and Gunner Baldwin the medal to which he was entitled the winner of the "Gubbay" Cup. "UL
Several member of the company confributed songs during the evening, Mr. A. M. Farr accompanying.
INDIAN FAMINE RELIEF FUND.
The Hoa, R. D. ORMSBY, in responding, said that if they would only point out where the land was which they wanted he would give them his strongest support in their endeavour to secure it. (Hear, hear.) Captain Potts had told them he had served as a Volunteer. Heceived. was proud to say he had done so. Volunteering Already Acknowledged was a thing every young man should go in for. Subscribed by the Canton Community When he saw them drilling in front of his office R. Cooke it reminded him of the time he spent with the M. H. Houston Volunteers in Ceylon. He began as a private, | Capt. Rolfe ** and then rather unfortunately for himself Dr. & Mrs. Gibson ho was pitchforked into the position of Lieuten- ant without having gone through all the courses. It was pleasant to find that all the young men in the colony had come forward as Volunteers. It gave one a sense of security in this far distant colony of the British Crown to find so many of the flower of the colony ready to defend the colony against attack, (Applause). Sir JOHN CABBINGTON, who was loudly ap. plauded on
The Honorary Treasurer (Mr. R.T. Wright) begs to acknowledge with thanks receipt of the following contributions to the above Fund.
Further contributions will be thankfully re-
Total
$34,208.35 557.68
203
10
10 $34,831.03
A second remittance of Rs. 20,000 has been
forwarded to day to the Chairman, Central Committee Indian Famine Relief Frud, Cal- outta.
A Committee repressulative of Chinese in Siam have sent a Tsung-li Yamen
80000
ralian Gold Mining Co, has formed a sub- | in ¡April, 50g, sail that when he went away against the crimas that werk being done by
syndicate, under the name of the Sungei Gold Mining Co., to work certain parts
little over 12 months ago,
there was no "C" Machine Gun Company in connection with the Hongkong Volunteers. few months after he left the oslong the
those aroh-traitors. Prifte Yi, having for their objec he destruction of our beloved Emperor Kuang Hu?