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tions. I comfort myself with the thought that all purposes and all actions, though they fail of fruition, do help to swell the man's account. The enumeration you have made of the various public, civic and social matters in which I have taken interest shows me that you are likely to rémember. this interest and I may conat on my projects, in so far as they may be approved by my sure ssar, reciting your continued assistance though I shall no longer be here to watch orer them Among the schemes with which I leave with the most regret in an unfinished state is the placing of all civil servants emoluments on a logical and Batisfactory basis-a scheme which was menced on the new grades of the clerical staff to which reference is made in your address and is being continued in A revised scale of sterling salaries for the subordinate officers in various departments. The questions of the emoluments of these officials of th Colony who are domiciled in England, is as you are aware, ever fraught with the gr atest difficulty owing to the constant ratis ion in the exchange value of the local currener. I trust to have an opportunity when in England of backing up verbally the recommendations I made to the Secretary of State when forwarding your memorial in this matter.
com-
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In saying farewell I tender to all ranks of the Civil Service my best thanks for the hard and good work they have done for the Colony since I have been their chief. The machine of Government has on the whole worked smoothly due to the small pinions and connecting rods fulfilling their parts as well as the big wheels and oylinders. While it is of importince that the Treasurer should keep the Colony's accounts correctly it is also important that the clerk should properly prepare the letters drafted by the head of his department, that the postman should make his deliveries with regularity, that the overseer should not allow the contractor to put bad work into the wall and that the hospital nurse should look to the comfort of ach individual patient. I think that this service appreciates this vital fact that everything
which each one of them does matters and has its effect on the credit of the whole body.
Gent'emen, I thank you heartily for your address. I wish you prosperity and that you may long labour to the advancement of your own good name and for the tenefit of the Colony
which we all hold in affection.
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(April 29, 1907. to enquire into the working of the Public *rdinano-s has bat Health and Bailding receatly ben placed in you“ handɩ with great interest its pabliostion.
We await
With e suspicaons ability and unsparing energy you have devoted yours if to thể mang other important problems and duti's which necessarily arim for the consideration and performance of the Governor of this Colony.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND them stood crowds of poople. The throng was densest opposite the City Hall and along the | Praya near Blake Pier. Shortly after twelve o'clock His Excellency, accompanie I by Mr. R.¦ A. D. Ponsonby. Captains Coleman and Og'a, A.D.c.'s, Captain Armstrong. Honorary A.DC., and Jemadar Muhammad Khan, 129th Baluchis, Honorary a n.c.. left Government Hanse, and was escorted by the Hongkong Volunteer Troop H. Ross to under the command of Lient, the City Hall, where in St. George's Hall, the ceremony of presenting the Citizens' Address to Sir Matthew took place. The interior had been specially decorated for the occasion end
atlained. very beautiful effect Plants and ferns adorned the carpetted staircase, the pillars ware entwined with leavUS, while flags covered the walls. A pret's floral
Stimulated by you the Volunteer movemsni arch WAS formed at the top of the stairs. St. George's Hill however had been trasted received a new impetus resulting in the exist- more elaboratels. Banting was lavishly employ-ence to-day of a far greater number of civilians well accustomed to the a‹e of the rif + than over ed and the use of greenery produced a very picturesque
about ensemble. Here
three | bafore. hundred ladies and gentlemen had assembled. They were representative of all the nations in the cosmopolitan community. When gubernatorial party arrived at the entrancs they
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were
Was
the
met by Sir Paul Chater and the other gentlemen assocciated with him in the com- Hin mittee responsible for the arrangements. Excellency was escorted by Sir Paul upstairs. As they entered the hall the company rose tu greet His Excellency who was conducted by Sir Paul to the special platform, where two lines of were arranged to coorey the signal flags
Governor of Hongkong. following message good bye."
f
¦
The extension of the reservoir system; the Progress of the public buildings under erection; the improvements in the system of storm signalling: the control of the Colony's finances ! and expenditure and the steps taken by you to provide additi nal shelter for the boating popula tion all show eridence of your careful and attentive rule.
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In our schools, to, you have constantly inculcated those scientific principles of education on which all true systems of youthful training must necessarily bi bised,
We would refer
Excellency's desire your
advancement of
the
to further evid•nos of to assist the industrial works of
the Colony as shown by the inauguration of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition, an Exbibi- tion, which we trust will become an annual event.
We wish you had been permitted to re- ma a longer with us to guide and encourage towards completion the many interests which bare developed or progressed under your osre.
Besides Sir Paul Chafer the Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, there were present the other members, who were the Hon. Mr. F A Howeit, the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, the Hon Mr. Wei Yuk, the Hon. Mr. H. E Pollock, K.C. the Hon. Mr. E. Osborne, the Hon Mr. W. J. Gregson, Meaars. D. R. Law, J. R. M. Smith,
These qualities, combined with your A. G. Wood, H. E. Tomking, G. Balloch, E.
failing courtesy and unbounded hospitality. shellim, A. J. Raymond, T. F. Hough, H. N
have created a high regard for Your Ex. Mody. W. Armstrong F. Ormiston, H. Humpcellency in all sections of the Community to which is added, now that you are going, a sense of actire lo«.
Your singleness of purpos”, your impartiality, your strength and ability, your unflagging industry, and the dignity with which you ¦ have maintained your office, have commanded
both our adoration sud esteem.
hrers. D. Clark, G. H. Medhurst, R. Shewan, R. P. White, Murray Stewart, H. W. Looker, Ho Fook, Fung Wa Chun, Laa Chu Pak, Ho Kom Tong and I'n Lai Chun.
After a slight hesitation, Sir ('hater sf pping forward addressed His Excellency who stood to receive the address, Sir Paul said-Your
Exellency. We have asked you to be present this morning in order that at the last moment we might have an opportunity of pu liely bidd:ag you farewell and also have the honour on presenting to yon this address which I have the honour to now read to yon,
PUBLIC ADDRESA,
The last valedictories having en said, speech giving way to signals, His Excellency Sir Matthew Natban standing on the bridge of the P. and O. steamship “ Delta “waved farewell to the friends who lingered in the launches encircling the big ship and bade good bye to the place that has known him so well for three years. As the steamer gathered way his frock- coated figure became less distinct but still the movement of his hat was seen in response to the greetings which were b-coming less audible and less visible. Soon the steamer's bridge becams a blur and then the hundreds who had shown bow loth they were to part with him realised that they had seen the last of the Governor, at any rate so far as Hongkong is concerned. The demonstration on the occasion of the departure of His Excellency was worthy of the man. In doing honour to him the community It is with sincere regret that we com» here certainly honoured itself. It was indeed im-to-day on behalf of the Community of Hong. possible to contemplate the departure of Sir ↑ kong to present you with a farewell address Pre
legra the Colony to take Matthew without more than ordinary feelings | you
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The tex of the address signed by almost every adult in the Colony, was as follows:
To His EXCELLENCY SIR MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M G., GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE COL NY P HONGKONG AND ITS DependenNCIRA AND THE NEW TERRITORIES THEREOF AND VICE-ADDAL OP THE SAME. YOUR EXCELLENCY.
up
new
We hara remembered the aspir- atious and the hopes you then expressed and have marked with appreciation throughout your tenure of officn your study progress towards their achievement
the
the of regret. As a matter of fact so sbort has appointment to which you have been called. been the time between the announcement of his
It seems only the other day that you came departure and his actual going that people hare
amongst us, and we have not yet forgotten scarcely been able to realise the loss which his the speech you mad on taking the Oath of
Allegiance. transfer means to the community, and ereo yet it is not easy to realise that he is no longer the occupant of Government House, the courteous dignified representative of the King, and the able administrator who has so stamped his personality on the government of Hougkong that future generations will rise and bless his memory.
The
the departure, scenes witnessed at indicating the affection of the populaces for the man and the regret which all felt at his with- drawal from the colony, must have impressed His Excellency. It was indeed a memorable occasion. The garrison troops, with all their picturesque variety of uniform, and the Volun- teers lined the route from Government House to the City Hall and to Blake Pier, and behind
u◄
Paramount amongst these stands out Kowloon Railway which IA to eun-et with Canton and the Railway system of China Through your energy and perse- vorapes it assumed de finite beginning and shape and we trust the time for its completion is not far off.
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It only remains in the name of the Colony, to bid you farewell and to wish you every success in the new
career now opening out before you, well knowing that, in whatever part of the Empire you may be called upon în serve, its interests and traditions, in your hands, will always be scourely guarded and maintained.
Sir Paul afterwards handed the address to His Excellency with the explanation that the signatures would be seat to him later in bound form, and when the applaus; had subsided, HIS EXCELLINEY op ied as follows: Sir Paul (ater and Gentlemen,
I had hoped to stay among you for another three years and I had expected that by that time the Hongkong Ssation of the Cinton-Kowloon Railway would be completed. Though my hope to see this is not to bɔ ramlised, I know no reason why the rails should not be laid to the froatier by March, 1910 (applause) nor why the Chinese Section of the Railway, which presents fewer difficßlties thau our Section, should not
finished soon after that date. (Applause.) The constraction of the Chinese Railway from Caton to Hinkow will, I fear, be a longer maltor. Should at any time the aid of this Gorernmeal be invoked to hasten this construction it will.
RO sure, bu given in a generous and effective manner.
The (Applause.)
of completion
this communication large scheme of Railway with the North will doubtless enhance the toportance of Kowloon and the transfer of population to that city from the overcrowded districts of Victoria will continge to the benefit of the Sanitary condition of the Colony as a whol», The Report of the Pablio Health and Building Ordinanes Commission ref-rred to in your address is by my direction to be laid ou the Table of the Legislativo meeting. (Applause.)
Council at its next
To be fruitful of good it will require The sanitation of Hongkong, always a Tory careful and dispassionate considera. momentous question, Las at all times received {tion by the Council. That body will shortly Your Excellency's earnest consideration and be
to vote &
for the
the report of the Commission appointed by you `mencement this year of the Mong Kok Twai