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most Eastern outpost of this our glorious Empire, but though we are far distant yet we yield in loyalty to noon. Indeed, in this matter I am able to speak on your behalf better than you can for yourselves, for I have had many opportunities and I can testify to the loyalty and devotion to Crown and country which is almost a shibboleth in Hongkong. Great Britain's Sovereign has many, many subjects under his sway-subjects of various race and creed aud nationality, but I have found that of all the many subjects of His Majesty King Edward | the Seventh this day all over the world there will be none who will offer with more heartfelt fervour than we here in Hongkong the prayer with, the two-fold signification,
God save-save our King.' (Applause.)
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4
This ended the formal proceedings, and the company afterwards dispersed. It should be mentioned that the plants and greenery with which the Ball Room was decorated were arranged by Mr. W. J. Tutcher of the Affores- tation Departments. The other arrangements for the accommodation of the guests were carried out by Sergeant W. G. Gerrard, the polic officer in charge of Government House.
THE UNVEILING OF THE STATUE.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Majesty has so greatly improved in health as to relieve our immediate anxiety and enable us with lighter hearts to carry out at least this item on the programme we had to abandon. A few words of explanation of how this statue came to be erected will, I think, not be out of place. The statue was intended by Sir Paul Chater to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Connaught to this Clony in 1894, on which occa siou His Royal Highness laid the foundation- stone of the reclamation works, which wrested the whole of the expanse before us from the sea, Tho Duke having graciously signified his acceptance of this compliment, the statne was ordered and executed, but there being at that time no suitable site ready, its erection was deferred until the reclamation was completed. The foundations of the Law Courts, in frout of which it stands, having been prepared, it was considered time to clear the site and expose the statue to the public. It now only remains for me, speaking on behalf of Sir Paul Chater, to ask your Excellency to be so good as to unveil the statne. (Applause.)
|
T
ta leare
men.
[July 14, 1902. Unfastening the retaining cord, His Excsi- LENCY allowed the screen slowly to drop and so revealed a splendid bronze statue, life-size, of His Royal Highness, attired in t euuform of the Guards. The s'atue is on a granits pedestal, où one sida of which is the inscription:- His Royal Highness Arthur, Duke of Con- Presented to the naught and Stratharn. Colony by Sir C. P. Chater, April, 1890." The unveiling of the statue was heralded by the playing of the Na ional Authem by the band of the Hongkong Regiment, the guard of honour of which gave the general salute.
His Excellency and Lady Gascoigne, who were escorted by Mr. Mody, then crossed over, and inspected the statue, for which they expressed gr.at admiration. The occupants of the stands and the other spectators also approached, and made such an examination of Sir Paul Chater's generous gift to Hongkong as the density of their numbers permitted.
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On the call of Mr. MODY, three cheers and one for luck were given for His Excellency, who said, "I thank you very much indeed," and then led those around him in three more cheers and a "tiger" for Sir Paul Chater.
This closed the ceremony, and the assembly dispersed.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 7th inst. in the Council Chamber. Present:-
PRESENT:-
Hon. F. H. MAY (Colónial Secretary). Hon. Sir HENRY SPENCER BARKELEY, KNT. (Attorney-General).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. Commander R. M. RUMSEY, R.N; (Harbour Master).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. F. J. BADELRY (Captain Superinten- dent of Police);
Hon. Dr. Ho Kai., CM,G.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Hon. C. S. SHARP.
Hon. C. W. DICKSON. Hon. G. W. F, PLAYFAIR. -, Hon. R. SHEWAN.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils).
FINANCIAL.
HIS EXCELLENCY in reply said-Mr. Mody, ladies and gentlemen, I take it as a very high compliment indeed that I should have been asked to unveil the status of His Royal | Highness the Duke of Connaught. You have The ceremony of unveiling the statue of heard from Mr. Mody how that this statue is H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught had been the gift of Mr.-now, I am glad to say, Sir announced to take place about half past five Paul-Chater, and while I am on this subject I o'clock, but for more than half-an-hour earlier may say I am empowered to make public a fact people were congregating in the vicinity. which has not been published before, and that The two large matsheds which had been is that there are two other statues in course of erected to meet the demands of the being made for presentation to this Colony. occasion filled rapidly as the procession of Applause,) One is the statue of the King
His EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINIS privileged ticket-holders found its way inside, himself and the other the statue of His Royal whilst large crowds of the general public Highness the Prince of Wales. (Renewed TERING THE GOVERNMENT, Major-General Sir occupied every bit of ground whence a view applause.) The statue of the Prince of Wales W. GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G. (Commanding the of the proceedings could be obtained. The is the gift of Mr. Bell-Irving. Mr. Bell-Irving | Troops). crowd, as has been said, was large, and the is well known to you all here in Hongkong. cosmopolitan element was as proucuuced as
He was a grand sportsman and a perfect gentle- ever; but there was no disorder, and the man, and though he has left the Colony, I staff of police under Mr. P. P. J. Widehouse believe, for good, yet one may say he has left had nothing to do beyond turning an occasional his mark behind him. (Applause.) Though unwitting trespasser from the imm diate somewhat retiring in disposition, he possess- locality of the place where H.E. the Officer ed a common sense and a judgment such as Administering the Government was to perform ere shared by few
I think it is the unveiling ceremony. Amateur photogra. a remarkably handsome gift from a man the phers, needless to say, were in evidence, and who has terminated his position in they had ample scope for the exercise of their. Colony,
this lasting memento of himself in this handsome gift to art in the gay scene before them, where flags and bunting vied in richness of co'our with the the Colony, and I am sure you will all so regard bright dresses of the ladios and the picturit. (Loud applause.) The statue of the King is esque uniforms of the officers, who chatted to the giftagain-another gift of Sir Paul Chater. gether in groups or promenaded up and down, (Applause.) Sir Paul Chator is perhaps the best awaiting the arrival of His Excellency.
known man in Hongkong; he has been pro- winent in all great publio works which have made Hongkong what it is. He has made Hong- kong his home, and, as he has often said to me -"What benefits Hongkong benefits me.' Its meu like him who make the places where they elect to dwell, and I am quite certain that you, one and all, will recognise the munificence of his second gift. (Prolouged applause.) Both of these gentlemen, with a diffidence which did them credit, refused to allow me to make public this matter until they had left the Colony, but they begged me to use the opportunity, when up- veiling the statue of the Duke of Connaught to take that opportunity to make this announce- ment. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, it is a peculiar happiness to me that I should have been empowered to unveil the statue of the Duke of Connaught, because he is the one member of the Royal Family with whom I may honestly say I am intimately acquainted. I The following question, given notice of by had the honour to serve with the Duke of Con- Hon. G. W. F. Playfair appeared on the agenda: naught when he and I were subalterns together-Will the Honourable Director of Public in, Canada in 1870, when he was going Works inform the Council what steps, if any, are through the mill as an ordinary subaltern being taken to carry out the recommendation in the Rifle Brigade. Later on I had the of Mr. Osbert Chadwick in his report on the honour of serving under him with the Brigade water supply of Hongkong dated 18th April, of Guards in the Egyptian Campaign of 1882, 1902, especially having reference to the question | culminating in the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir. of prompt action in enlarging the storage capa- (Applause.) Since that time the Duke of city, as emphasised by his following remarks: Connaught has held high military positions"It is evident that the water question is press-/ both at home and abroad. Wherever he has gone he has shown bimself to be a professional soldier, a man who has given up his whole time to the study of his profession; and it is not too much to say that the officers of the Army look forward with keen interest to the time when we hope to see him Commander-in-Chief, (Loud applause.) I shall have the honour now of unveiling the statue of His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught.
Naturally many curious and even impatient glances were cast in the direction of the statue, which was hidden from premature view behind a screen held in place by four poles draped in red, white and blus and surmounted by the Union Jack. In front of the principal stand was the platform where His Excellency was to perform the simple act that would reveal the statue, and running from this platform to the screen enveloping the figure of His Royal Highness was a strong cord, which, on being loosened by His Excellency, would cause the screen to fall down. This device was the inven- tion of Mr. H. G. C. Fisher, assistant engineer in the Public Works Department, and it says much for its success that not the slightest hitch occurred when it came to the actual unveiling of the statue.
His Excellency arrived shortly after half. past five, followed by Captain Trefusis, A.D.C., and Mr. R. F. Johnston, Private Secretary. Immediately the guard of honour furnished by the Hongkong Régiment carrying the colours and accompanied by the band, stood to attention, and after acknowledging the salute and bowing to those around His Excellency and Mr. H. N. Mody, who was to hand over the statue in the name of the giver, Sir Paul Chater, took their places on the platform.
Addressing His Excellency, Mr. H. N. MODY said Your Excellency, it is my pleasant duty, on behalf of my friend and partner, Sir Paul Chater, to respectfully request you now to take possession, of and to publicly unveil this statue of His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught. This ceremony, which formed part of the Coronation celebrations, was unfortunately and unavoidably postponed on account of the serious illness of King Edward, and I take this oppor- tunity of expressing my thankfulness that Hig'
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The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table. Financial Minutes Nos 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Report of the Finance Committee (No. 7), and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
REPORTS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY lid on the table the Report on the Government Brigade for the year 1901 and of the Botanical and Afforesta- tiou Department.
ing."-
WATER SUPPLY.
-“It is one which should take precedence of all other sanitary improvements such as those of sewerage and drainage."-" It is necessary to act with promptitude.'
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-The following is the reply, sir:-Mr. Chadwick did not limit his recommendations to increasing the storage capacity with a view to augmenting the water supply at an early date, as appears to be implied by the question. On the contrary he