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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND us to-day to whose untiring zeal the Mission to stitute on this side. These figures show a very | Seamen owes a very great debt and he is the remarkable increase over the figures of the Reverend Mr. France-(applause). Mr. France, previous year, indicating the continued usefulness I venture to say without fear of contradiction, and progress of this institution, and the noble has done a great work in the Colony and to him work which is being done by the Seamen's more than any man is due the credit of this In- Mission. You will remember, the Bishop has stitution we are founding here to-day. (applause) just reminded me, that it is just a year ago that He leaves us shortly for the Homeland and a meeting was convened in the City Hall at that he will be missed, not only by his sailor which I had the privilege to preside when friends, but by all who know him, cannot be Admiral Moors made a characteristic speech, questioned (applause). In losing him we lose and told us from his large experience of the one whom it will be hard to equal, impossible to invaluable work which is being done in all parts better, (applause) and we shall esteem ourselves of the world by institutes such as this. At lucky if we ever have the good fortune to wel- that meeting Mr. Mody announced that he come him back to Hongkong (applause). On would give 835,000 for a new building, and we the completion of this building I shall have have just heard that he has now increased it realized in part my ambition to do something of to $50,000 (Applause). At that time the com- lasting good to the Colony of Hongkong where mittee had in hand some $12,700, and during the I have lived and prospered so many happy past year a further sum of $27,285 has been years and I hope that before my end comes to collected, making altogether a sum of close on realize also the completion of that other wish so $90, 00. It was estimated that the site dear to my heart and to see the University of and the building here would cost about Hongkong an accomplished fact (applause). I $88,000, which leaves somewhere near will no ask Your Excellency to receive at the $2,000 towards furnishing and equipment, and hands of the Architect a silver trowel and there- we have just heard from His Lordship the with to well and truly lay the Foundation Bishop that a sum of at least $10,000, will be Stone of this Institution and, if it may required. Therefore there remains something please Your Excellency to do so, to retain the upwr ds of $8,00 to be collected before we can tool as a memento of this occasion (applause). say the whole task has been completed. HIS EXCELLENCY then descended from the Ladies and gentlemen, the success of this platform and walked to the front of the stone, project is primarily due to Mr. Mody the spectators pressing forward as he proceeded (pplause), and I find that words fail with his task. The Governor said, "In the
of the admiration faith of Jesus Christ we place the Founda. wonderful generosity which he has shown tion Stone in the Name of God the Father, towards this Colony in which he has spent God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Amen some fifty years of irreproachable charac. When the stone was lowered and properly ter and strenuous work. Indeed, happy is the placed, His Excellency tapped it several times Colony which possesses such a man as Mr. with a mallet, after which he declared it well Mody amongst its citizens (Applause) Long- and truly laid amid much applause.
fellow has told us in words which are familiar The stone bore the following inscription: to every English speaking child, that those "This foundation stone was laid by H.E. Sir who aspire to rise above the sordid objects of Frederick J. D. Lagard, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.gratifying their ambitions and their desires, This building is erected and presented to the should endeavour to leave behind them footprints colony by H. N. Mody, a Parsi gentleman 50 in the sands of time to inspire the ideals of years resident in Hongkong."
those who follow after. Mr. Mody's foot- prints will be writ large in the Colony of Hongkong in landmarks which will dure for generations, and in future those who come after him
can speak of him in the epitaph of Sir Christopher Wren Si monumentum requiris circumspice. In the name of the Colony, and in the name of the thousands of sailors who will in future years benefit by your generosity, and will have cause to hold your name in reverence, I thank you, Sir, for your generosity which has ena- bled this project to be fulfilled (Applause). This is a day of happy augury for the the Seamen's Institute, and there is only one note of regret amongst us to-day. We know that we are about to lose the services of Mr. France who, for over ten years, with absolute self-abnegation and devotion to his work, has devoted himself to the cause of the Seamen's Mission. I suppose that there is not one man amongst the 15,000 who have used this institute dur ing the past year, or amongst the thousands who used it in the years before who will not regard his departure as a personal loss to himself (Applause). But he is leaving behind him footprints in the sands of time, footprints which I trust will stimulate his successor to follow his worthy example. Sir, to you too, in the name of the Colony I tender most hearty thanks for the work you have done while you have been here, and I hope that you and Mrs. France may continue to enjoy many years of extended usefulness in England (Applause): My Lord Bishop, it has been a great pleasure to me that the task of laying this foundation stone should have fallen to my lot. I thank you, Sir, for this charming memento, which I shall always value and prize, and retain as a memento of this day. The building has been dedicated in the solemn words I have read from the office to-day, and it only remains for me to express the hearty wish and entire conviction that this building will be a great blessing to thousands and thousands of sailors; that this institute may never lack funds to support it in a worthy style, and that the noble and useful work which has been done by the Seamen's Missions may continue to prosper as it has prospered in the past (Applause).
HIS EXCELLENCY said-My Lord Bishop, Ladies and Gentlemen: The solemn service in which we have all just participated reminds us that the building of which we have just laid the foundation stone is a building for a very high and lofty purpose. It is always a great pleasure to open any new public works and public buildings, which denote the development and progress of the Colony, and to me it is 8. very special pleasure and privilege to be connected with the inception of a building, the aim and object of which is to better the lot of the British seaman (Applause). We all know that we owe our position among the nations of the world to our supremacy on the sea (Applause); that is, that our empire would cease to exist if we forfeited that predominant position alike in the ships of war and in the fleets of commerce. These two
are really inter-dependent. Our commerce could not exist if it were not that it was protected during times of war by our navy; our colonies could no longer belong to our empire unless they were protected also by our men-of-war. On the other hand, the United Kingdom could not afford to maintain the heavy burden of a great and powerful navy if it were not for the wealth which is brought by our oversea commerce and mercantile marine. We are all proud to assert that Hongkong is the premier port in the world; that the tonnage which enters this harbour, including junk traffic, is larger than that which enters any other port in the world (Applause). It behoves us therefore to place in the front rank of our duties as well as our interests, the care of the seamen who come to this port. We have several institutions here devoted to this service. There is the Sai- lors' Home, and there is the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home for which a special effort is to be made in the next few days. There is the Seamen's Mission which supports this institution and a corresponding one on the other side at Kowloon, in addition to a most useful service afloat. During the past year the launch Day. spring, the launch of the Mission, has made over 2,300 visits in the harbour. There were over 10,500 men who have made use of the institute at Wanchai which this new building will replace. Over 4,500 have used the institute at Kowloon, and I am told that some
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on.
The Rev J. H. FRANCE had much pleasure in 7,000 men have gocupied beds in the proposing a very hearty vote of thanks to His
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May 1, 1909. Excellency the Governor. He did not propose t inflict a speech upon them, but he did wish t express their deep sense of the kindness of Hi Excellency. They know that His Excellency had ever been forward in taking a deep interest in all good works in this Colony. They remem- bered how readily he had come forward when the meeting was proposed last year, and had gone into the details of what they proposed to do. Personally he felt a debt of gratitude to His Excellency, and he wished to thank him for the kindly words he had spoken that afternoon. He felt they were altogether too kindly in reference to himself, but at the same time human nature was such that he apprecia- ted them, though he felt that he did not deserve them. Не wished those present to accord a very hearty vote of thanks to His Excellency with enthusiasm worthy of the occasion.
On the vote being heartily sccorded, Mr. Mody called for three cheers for His Excellency the Governor, and following this the Bishop called for three cheers for Mr. Mody.
Three cheers and a "tiger" succeeded in each instance, and the proceedings closed with the National Anthem.
LIST OF SUBSCRIPTIONS.
The subscriptions received towards the New Seamen's Institute, the foundation stone of which H. E. the Governor will lay to-morrow are as follows:
Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ld. Butterfield & Swire David Sassoon & Co., Ltd. E. D. Sassoon & Co. Hongkong & Shanghai Bank Standard Oil Co. Chater & Mody Chartered Bank Siemssen & Co. Melchers & Co. Carlowitz & Co. Jebsen & Co..... Arnold Karberg & Co., Mercantile Bank ... Canadian Pacific R.M.S. Line Shewan Tomes & Co., .. Norddeutscher Lloyd Hamburg Amerika Linie J. Orange
$2,500.00 ... 2,500.00 2,500.00
2,500.00
2,500.00
2,500.00
2,500.00
1,000.00
500.00
500.00
500.00
500.00
500.00
500.00
500.00
500.00
250.00
250.00
250.00
250.00
...
250.00
Union Insurance Society of Canton China Traders Insurance Co., E. C. Blanchflower R.N. for the
Seamen and Marines of the China Squadron dmiral Sir Arthur W. Moore ... Lieut. Scriven fr H.M.S. Astræas
Ship's Company... Marcus Slade,
444
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The Rt. Rev. The Bishop of Victoria L. Gibbs....
250.00 200,00
100.00
100.00
100.00
50.00
51.00
20.00
117.00
10.00
.65.75
76,15
50.00
.
10s. 6d.
5.88
£1:
11.20
£25
280.29
J V. Crowle, R.N. H.M.S. Bedford... Lieut. W. H. Darwell H.M.S. Handy Officers and Men H.M.S. Kent A.H.M.
Officers and Wardroom Men H.M.S.
King Alfred Officers and Men H.M.S. Monmouth... Mrs. Stokes Rev. J. S. Ladds Lady Maria Brodie... Mrs. R. G. Hoare Per Bishop of Victoria.
£ s. d. Miss C. Cottrell 1 1 0 Anonymous
10 0
G. R. Burners 5 5 0 Miss C. Austin... 1 1 0 Miss Frere
15 0 Miss Mews
10
A Friend per Rev. J.
France
Per Bishop of Victoria Per Rev. Č. E. Thompsom... Mr. D. R. Law's List
s. d.
9 130 111.28
1 0 0-
11.40 300.0
1,000,00
626,00
$27,285.95
The Statement of Accounts is as follows :- RECEIPTS. To subscription as per list
To balance of monies collected
the late Bishop Hoare,
$27,285,95
by
Goldsmith and Rev. J. H. France 11,586.30