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March 16, 1908.]
on in Hongkong, he is justly admired and held
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the highest respect. Mr. France is determined to have this institution cut of us by hcok or by crook, and he is a difficult man to thwart in this praiseworthy effort on behalf of the men to whom bo has devoted his life. I am sure he will regard it as great personal compliment and # better souvenir of his services than anything else we can offer, if we enable him to obtain his heart's desires for our sail. rs. It is a noble work he is engaged in and we cannot show our appreciation of it better than by uranimously resolving to assist by every means in our power to obtain the fu ds necessary for carrying through the scheme with credit to the Colony. Ladies and gentlemen. I have very much pleasure in seconding the resolution proposed by lis Excellency the Governor. ( pplause.)
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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uld do the same. I have seen the work of these institures in all parts of the world and can assure you it is a thoroughly good work and worthy of your support. (Applause.)
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The BISHOP OF VICTORIA in recouding the resolution remarked that a good deal bad been said about the work of Mr. France, and he felt that the cuthusiasm of that meeting was a testimony to the splendid work of that gentle tu. He had been told by the Mission to Samen in London that he should send Mr. France home at ouce. (Laughter.) He told Mr. Francs of that as soou as he arrived, but Mr. rance would not go (laughter) but said he was going to stay another twelve month. Well he was sure that they were all glad of that-- iu spite of Mr. France's disob.dience to his Bishop (laughter and applause). I had beeu re- minded by Mr. France that his duty at that meeting was to draw the money (laughter). | If there was one man in the hall ho would give a good subscription that would cheer others he was sure the Committee would work thoroughly and get in all the money desired (applause).
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take a deep interest in the welfare of the Colony and its institutions. Speaking does not come easy to me, but I should like if I may be allowed, to do so, to do smething to help this cause, and
to say that, should the amount necessary for the purchase of the site te forth- coming, it will afford me infinite pleasure to erect and present to the Mission a suitable building thereon at A cost of $35,000. (Applause.)
The BISHOP of VICTORI said he could not sit still (laughter), but he wished to move that, after Mr. Mody's generous offer, he be asked to join the Committee that had already been appointed (applause).
Rev. Mr. FRANCE second-d. He wished to express his gratitude for Mr. Mody's generous offer but could not find words. They knew how be felt, and he would just leave it at that
VICTORIA BRITISH SCHOOL.
The distribution of prizes took place at this school yesterday when a large number of parents and others interested attended to participate in the ceremony. Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe presided, and H E. the Governor, who presented the prizes, was accompanied by Mr. Brackenbury.
In 80 interval of the programme, the Headmaster, Mr. W. II. Williams, read his report for the year 1907. At the outset be referred to the attendance, stating that the school had been opened 177 times during the year and that the low figure was due to the school having been closed for structural alterations and that the low attendance in gamer made it advisable to cluse the school. The highest number on the roll at any one time was 59. The total expenditure under salaries and other charges amounted to $6165 and the total amount received in fees was $1167.50 the nott cost for mainten. ance being $4997.5" and as the average
in a place and the sailors have once had a bed there they come back whenever they have the opportunity, and, I think Mr. France will en dorse my statement, when I say that there are not always beds enough as the men are so anrious to get some quiet place to which they can go. It seems to me wrong that Mr. Frauco and other mission people should go round seeking for aid in this work. I think we should run after them. If I were shipowner and realised that the success of the voyage depended on the personnel of the men I should be niest thankful for some one to look after the men when they are in port. Some people misunderstand the mission. It is nuder the direction and influence of our church and there is one room in the institute at apart for a religious service which those who wish may alteud. I think I am right in saying that the Institute is open to all seafaring men without The Hon. Mr. KESWICK moved and Hon. The resolutions was carried unanimously. respect of creed or race. There is no obligation Mr. C'SHORNE, seconded a vote of thanks to Admiral MoORE said-I have much pleasure to attend the service. The men are all welcomed. E. the Governor which was carried un. in moving the second resolution which I will I attended a board of the Admiralty when they animously. This concluded the procedings, read "That the members of the existing wauted to get an institute in a certain port Committee of the Mission to Seamen together They wanted money. We came to the conclusion with Commodore Stokes, the Hon. Mr. Keswick, that at that port which had a bad name and Sir Paul Chater form & Building Communittes, that it was a desirable thing. It was and that Sir Paul Chater be requested to the policy of the Admiralty to assist such sot as Hon. Treasurer, to collect subscriptious." institutes in the interest of discipline and (Applause). The in. Treasurer is a very efficiency and so they said they would put down important post and if Sir Paul consouts to act pound for pound with that subscribed. It would he will be a tower of strength. There is as a good thing if some of the shipping firms twinkle in Sir Paul seye which I think pro- mises well. Having seen the work of these institutes in other parts of the world I would like to say a few words about them, This pamphlet tells very well what ar its objec s. Surely they ought to appeal to all of us? We know how much We are indebted to seamen. That has already been pointed out. It has been said that the prosperity of this country depends on our over sea trada and the prosperity of Hongkong c-rtainly dees. This work has to do with the men who man the ships. Now in these days people travel all over the world. They think nothing of taking a ticket at London for Yokohama and running re und the world. They never have a y misgivings that they will arrive at their destination. No, They have perfect confidence in the men who man the ships, aud they ought to he grateful to the personnel to whom they are indebted for such a passage. These ships do not travel with. out men to drive them. Your safe passage depends upon the skill of the fficer in nariga tion, of the lookout kept in thick and forgy weather, in the hard work of the stokers down below and when they come to port surely there is something due to these men who bave been working for you. This is what I think should appeal Lo all of us. 1 would say ä word to thoso directly interested in shipping. The shipowners depend for their profits on the safe conduct of their ships to carry produce from over the sus, It is their own people in the ships to whom they look to bring the ships and what i have Mr. Moby said: Your Excellency. My Lor} said about passengers on ships applies also ta Bishop, Admiral Moore and Gentlemen, before we the owners. I am speaking now of the merean- leave the hall 1 crave permission to say a few tile marine to which this work is mainly dir-words. I have listened with great interest to all ected but I do not forget His Excellency has that has been said at this meeting on behalf of the already fold us and I am most grateful for the Missious to Samen, an object which I hold kind welcome which the Institute has given to to be worthy of our deepest sympath and our men in the Navy and the untiring efforts liberal support, sincs to the merchant seam-u of the chaplains to get up entertainments and
our Empire ofes BO much-brating generally look after them. Take the other they do in the interests of our Empire's When these men come into port maius'ay, its commerce- the perils and after a long voyage-and many of the ports dangers of the mighty deep. Shall WA not are not desirable places-they have practi- then in this Colony do all we can to acknow. cally nowhere to go.
They see certain ledge our debt of gratitude to them, show then houses. They see a bar, a bar with an array that their services are understood and appro of bottles. We have all seen it. The bottles ciate in this the secund shipping port of the on the top shelf has a particular brand which world? Assuredly we must and will. (applause). will send a man into oblivion in a short time. I had the pleasure yesterday to meet the Rev. 1 daresy before he arrives at that state Mr. France who as Chaplain to the Mission here he will make himself unpleasant and
has done such splendid work, and I learned a wish to paint the town red, but he great deal from Lim of the work and needs will arrive at it before long. I have been in of the Mission. He told me, as we bay. many ports myself and have been struck with heard this afternoon, that it was proposed the fact that men on landing did not know to purchase a site and to erect thereon & where to go. Some people look upon the sailor, Seamen's Home, at a cust of about some $xojno as a man who likes a glass and tak s there if the ure ssary funds could be raised. That than he cau stand. That is not so. You will find | the money will be raised I have no doubt, this the large majority of seamen are culy 100 meeting is a guarantee thereof. (applause) Your thankful if they can get a good bed and a quiet¦ Excellency I am but a bumble member of this place where they can read. That is what the Community, though the oldest resident of the institute provides. My experience of the work | Colony to-day. It is here that I have made my of the institutes is this. When one is established home for many years past, and I naturally
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The solution was carried unanimously,
SIR PAUG CHATER said he would have great pleasure in accepting the post of Hon. Treasurer to the fun which it was proposed to raise. He would be delighted to help in so good a cause aul felt coufi-l-ut, knowing as bo did the generosity of the people of Hongkong that there will be little difficulty in raising a satisfactory sum (applause)
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attendance was 50 the nett cost to the Govern. ment per child per autum was $11, which was a high figure compared with 83139 for each scholar at Queen's College. The headmaster dwelt on the importance of boys in the upper forms remaining longer at Bohool, and went on to justify the location of the school, the site being healthy and the position central in view of the fact that the children came from a very extensive area. H- proceeded to indicate the progress which examinations had disclosed in most subjects in the curriculum, and mentioned that the school games had been well patronised. He also read the report of Caplain Thomson on the attendance of the cadets at the Volunteer Camp last year and conclu led with au acknow. ledgement of the good work done by the teaching staff.
HIS EXCELA ENCY then addressed the gathering I said -- Before I distribute the prizes I should like to say a word or two, but I will not keep you long, as the exhaustive and interesting res port of the headmaster covers, I think, almost every poiut to be touched upon. During the last few months it has been my privilege to distribute the prizes at a couriderable number of schools in this Colony and it has been an invaluable and most interes ing task to me inasmuch as it has enabled me to get in touch with the system of education in the Colony and with the special functions of the different schools. Today I find mys. f present in this school for British boys and girls, the only British one in Hougkoug, always remembering of course the correspondiag one at Kowloon, and though it comes last on my list I think you will agres with
it in one of the
most important in the Colony, the school which is devoted to the education of the children of our own race and blond, Id not nadervalue schools for infants but it is manifestly much more important that adequate educati›u should be afforded to boys of more advanced years and therefore I listened with great interest to what the headmaster just read to us. I endorse most fully all that he said regarding the argent necessity for parents, if they possibly can, allowing their boys to remain a little longer at 'school. "The advantage of a boy remaining at