188
intellectual gifts, for. after all, the great thing is to inspire confidence. Your Excellency and gentlemen, Sir Thomas Jackson had both com- bined, and when he left the Colony although happily still to be connected with us as Chair- man of our London Committee the shareholders of the Bank decided that it was only fitting that some monument should be erected to remind those who shall come after 118 of the man and of his work. They decided that it should take the form of a statue to be set up in the vicinity of the Head Office, so that it might come to be regarded as part and parcel of, and be permanently identi- fied with, the institution in the building of which he for so long took the leading part. Gentlemen, His Excellency Sir Matthew Nathan has kindly consented to unveil the statue, and I now, on behalf of all the share holders, have the honour of asking him to perform the ceremony.
of
[March 5, 1906-
THE HONGKON WEEKLY PRESS AND
in a prominent position before the public, and the extremely difficult climatic conditions. whose acts and thoughts and feelings have be- During 1905 considerable improvements come factors in the general welfare." The have been affected both in the museum keynotes of that "good report" were honesty and library, and that they are appreciated and ability. Sir Thomas Jackson's ability was by a large section of the public is shown apparent to all, and his superlative honesty was by an article of faith with all who had dealings of Another charge brought against the City Hall the figures quoted in the report. any kind with him, We get the impression, is that it is not now large enough for the indeed, that be is not merely an honest man- wants of the Colony. In so far as the library the noblest work of God "--but that his honour and museum are concerned this may be true, is of so scrupulous a sort that his fellow-men but the theatre easily accommodates the aver look up to him as a kind of commercial saint. age audience and is only really full on two or Bis unflagging energy went beyond banking, three evenings in each year, while the assembly beyond money-making; he did "good work for the general interest of the empire," and so set public meetings and entertainments that have rooms have proved amply sufficient for all the an example that might well be taken by some other Irishmen of these degenerate days. His | George's and St. Andrew's Balls. At each of been held in them with the exception of the St. ingenuous character was displayed in the manner with which be accepted the honour of ent, but it would surely be extravagant to build *
these balls the crowding is perhaps inconveni- knighthood. He named the colleagues whom an enormous new ball room for the purpose of he considered to have done nagrudging "ster-obviating this slight inconvenience during a HIS EXCELLENCY, who was received with ling service to the Empire," Messrs. Cameron few hours in each year.
If & applause, said Mr. Slade and Gentlemen,-I and Hillier. He was happy in his remark that building were provided elsewhere for the suitable amglad the directors have asked me to do this. he looked upon the Hongkong Bank as his museum In the three months that I spent in England"Number one wife," and the laughter and ap-
and library, the accommodation in 1904 between my return from the Gold plause did not obscure the recognition that ho all ordinary purposes. The committee will the City Hall would be ample for Coast and my departure for Hongkong, I had had for many years been a very devoted husband continue in their endeavour to effect all the good fortune to make the acquaintance of indeed. It is worth remembering that he then such improvements in the institution under three men whose powers of mind, strength of had "the greatest opinion of the future of their care as are consistent with its economical. character, and attractiveness of personality far Hongkong," and we may be pardoned the little transcended those which fall to the common superstitious touch of suggesting that the pre
management, having due regard to the various lot. And I recognised in these three men the sence of the mere effigy of such a man in regret very much to tell you that after to-day and many-sided wants of the community. I type that had maintained, during the last, Hongkong should be regarded as “good joss.” quarter of the nineteenth century, the great-
we lose the valuable services of our secretary, ness of the British
Mr. Bowley, who owing to the pressure of other Empire outside the metropolitan country. The first of the three
engagements finds it necessary to resign, and I was Sir George Dashwood Taubman Goldie,
take the opportunity of recording our high who, while guiding the affairs of the Royal Niger
appreciation of the interest he has taken in the Company, had secured the months of the Niger
whole term of office. I now propose that the work and the care he has giving it during his for Great Britain. The second was Sir Frank
annual report and accounts be passed. Swettenham, who, in a long connection with the Malay States, raised them to their preseut prosperous condition. The third was the man who, for 26 years, steered the Hougkong and Shanghai Bank through difficulties and dangers to opulence and security, who tempered wise caution with equally wise boldness, British earnestness with Irish joyfulness, and necessary strictness with genuine kindness. It is he whose features-done in bronze-by Mr. Raggi, we shall now see before us, and shall admire with the esteem and respect Sir Thomas Jackson so well deserves (hear, hear, and applauso).
His Excellency then pulled the necessary rope, the shroud which encircled the statue fell away and the well-known figure was revealed, being received with three ringing cheers.
THE CITY HALL.
The annual meeting of shareholders in and subscribers to the City Hall was held in the Hall on Feb. 28th. Hon. Mr. C. W. Dickson presided, and there were also present-Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, and Messrs. H. N. Mody, N. A. Siebs and F. B. L. Bowley (secretary).
The secretary having read the minu'es of the last annual meeting,
carried.
Mr. POLLOCK seconded, and the motion was
A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr. MODY, concluded the meeting.
REPORT FOR 1905.
The report submitted contained the following statements:-
Hon. Mr. J. W. Grasson resigned the position C. W. Dickson, on returning to the Colony, of chairman in May last, when the Hon. Mr. again became chairman.
$10,392,26, showing a decrease from last year's The total of theatre rents colleo'ed was
rents, which were exceptionally high.
The CHAIRMAN said :-Gentlemen, The year under review has been uneventful and the report and accounts now before us show clearly the present position of the institution. During the last four years been expended in structural repairs and internal over $20,000 have improvements, and the building may be said to be in fair condition. The ceilings of the bal rooms and under the ball rooms are now con-
In Maroh, 1905, Mr. A. G. Wood was added struoted of cement plaster on metal lathing, and chairman, Mr. B. Layton (Hou. Treasurer), to the committee, which now consists of the it is hoped that further expenditure in this Mr. H. N. Mody, Mr. N. A. Sieba, Hon. Mr. direction will be unnecessary for many years. The re-construction of the eastern verandah
H. E. Pollock, K.C., and Mr. A. G. Wood, is also a
The building has been maintained in a fair ment to the building. It will, however, be
valuable and permanent improve-sta'n of general repair, the usual annual inspeo- necessary to expend
tion being made by the architects, Mesara. a considerable Sum shortly in re-decorating the building internally
Palmer and Turner, in September. and externally. The accounts show a general diminution in revenue, particularly in theatre rents as compared with last year, still the substantial sum of $10,000 was collected from this source, which is peculiarly liable to fluctua- tion owing to the erratic movements of travel- ling theatrical companies upon whose visits the for additions to the free lending library and In the spring the committe voted $1,000 City Hall largely depends for its revenue. City Hall comes in for a large amount of ad- have been added to this collection, and 50 The 339 sinflard works, selected with great care. verse criticism, but it must be remembered that books have been renewed. its funds are limited and its revenue uncertain, the catalogue has been prepared but not A supplement t› so that it is necessary for the committee to printed, 160 new borrowers' tickets were issued carefully control the expenditure. In the during the year, and at its close 34) borrowers' course of the 36 years during which the building names The obeers were accorded, likewise a "tiger," has been open the shareholders of the City Hall increase on last year. The borrowers include were on the register-s considerable His Excellency's acknowledgment being have received no interest on their capital, and 74 ladies, 28 Government servants, 32 nayal “Thank you, gentlemen. You are very good
and 43 military men, 22 mercantile marine to me.'
officers and 105 clerks and mercantile assistants. Over 6,700 books were issued, of which 90 per cent. were fiction, 41 per cent. travel, 14 per cent, biography. per cent. poetry, and 34 per cent. miscellaneous.
Mr. J. R. M. SMITH-I have much pleasure in according a hearty vote of thanks to H. E. Sir Matthew Nathan for his kindness in coming here to-day to perform the ceremony of unveiling the statue of Sir Thomas Jackson. Also, on behalf of the staff I would like to take this opportunity of thanking shareholders and directors for such a signal mark of their appreciation of the services of our old chief (hear, hear). The bank staff will ever look upon Sir Thomas Jackson as a personal friend, for he was always full of kind thoughtfulness and consideration for those under his command. Gentlemen, we are all proud to have worked with him, and gratified to think that he has been so greatly honoured. I am sure you will all join me in the earnest hope that he may, long live to wear his laurels (applause). Gentle men, three cheers for H.E. the Governor,
"
REMINISCENT.
the object of the committee has always been to meet the requirements of the community of Hongkong as far as the means at their disposal Sir Thomas Jackson is one of those men permitted. During the early years of the justitu. whose memory does not need a monument to tion the secounts always showed a debit balance, keep it alive. In his case the words Si Monu-but under the careful management of Mr. H. L mentum, cireumspice are most aptly applicable. As Sir Henry Blake said in 1899, when Mr. Thomas Jackson was receiving the letters palent of knighthood, “Who does not know T.J.P. I believe, ladies and gentlemen, that if letters were dropped in the post in Ft. Petersburg, Berlin, Paris, London, Disco, Santa Fe, and the little post office of the Straits of Magellan addressed T. J., China, they would find their way into the Hongkong & Shanghai Bank in Queen's Road." In more serious vein, the Governor of that day referred to the tongue of good report, that crystallised estimate of a man who has been for many years
.46
Dennys, who was secretary for 23 years, this position was reversed and a small reserve fund of $15,000 was gradually built up. Last year the committee decided to limit the reserve to the sum named with the object of applying any surplus of revenue over expenditure toward- improvements. The library and museum have been freely criticised, but in view of the fact that (with the exception of a grant of $1,20 from the Government) there are no funds other than the surplus of revenue above-mentioned for the maintenance of these institutions, the committee consider that their condition is as good as can be expected, having regard to
sembly rooms amounted to $8,399.30, nearly The reats collected for the nse of the as-
$1,000 less than in 1904.
closing the accounts for 1905 was $2,334.63, The balance in the hands of the treasurer on
while $15,300 (including interest) is on fixed deposit with the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank.
The ordinary revenue amounted to $15,087,09, expenditure was $10,973.64, while $5,499.28 was a considerable falling off from 1904, the ordinary spent on special repairs and renewals, and liabilities to the extent of about $1,8 0 are outstanding on this account.
following figures Theatre income $10,400, A rough analysis of the accounts give the expenditure 85,400, surplus 35,000; Ball Rooms, etc., income $3,400, expenditure 84,100, deficit
&Page 11