The Daily Press.
Hongkong, June 23rd, 1887.
CELEBRATION OF THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE IN HONGKONG.
The fiftieth anniversary of Her Most Gracious Majesty's accession to the throne was celebrated in Hongkong yesterday. The principal festivities have been reserved for November, but it was impossible to let the day itself pass without suitable observance. It was accordingly declared a general holiday by His Excellency the Acting Governor under the powers conferred upon him by the Public Holidays Ordinance, and the Government Offices, the Banks, insurance offices, stores, newspaper offices, and most of the mercantile offices suspended business. The weather, although hot, was fine, and, for the time of year, pleasant.
In the morning a meeting of the Legislative Council was held to despatch a message of congratulation to Her Majesty, after which the Acting Governor and Council attended divine service in St. John's Cathedral. The sacred edifice was handsomely decorated with flags and foliage, and the new organ was used for the first time publicly on this occasion. The attendance was, we believe, the largest ever seen in the cathedral, and the service throughout was most impressive.
In the afternoon there was a parade of the troops, and in the evening there were a display of blue lights, rockets, and the electric light from the men-of-war in harbour, and open air rejoicings by the Northamptonshire Regiment at Murray Barracks. Everything throughout the day passed off most successfully and the whole community seemed bent on holiday making.
THE MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
The meeting of the Legislative Council was summoned for ten o'clock, and all the members being in their places at that hour, His Excellency the Acting Governor, Major-General Cameron, attended by his Aide-de-Camp and Private Secretary, entered.
HIS EXCELLENCY said—Honourable members of the Council, I have the honour to move a resolution that a telegram be sent to Her Majesty on behalf of this Council to the following effect, to be submitted through the Secretary of State :-
“We, the Governor and Legislature of the colony of Hongkong in Council assembled, desire on this auspicious day to convey to Your Majesty from this distant outpost of Your Empire on behalf of this Council and all Your Majesty's loving subjects here our most loyal and devoted attachment to Your Majesty's throne and person and to Your Majesty's glorious reign and of our fervid hope that Your Majesty's reign may be long continued and prosperous and peaceful. Thanksgiving services to-day at various places of worship. The Governor and members of Legislative Council will attend officially at the Cathedral. An influential committee of inhabitants have decided to commemorate the Jubilee by erecting a statue of Her Majesty and are collecting funds for that purpose and for fêtes and general rejoicings in November.
“We have very few minutes to spare before we adjourn to the Cathedral to render thanks for the great blessings we have received during Her Majesty's reign and to offer up prayers for its long continuance. I feel that amongst all the messages Her Majesty will receive on this auspicious occasion there will be no message more genuine, more full of love, devotion, and loyalty, than the one from the Legislature of this colony sent on behalf of as warm-hearted and impressionable a community as exists in any of Her Majesty's dominions.
“We have reason to be particularly thankful for this long and prosperous reign. During no other portion of our history, I suppose, have the colonies been drawn so closely to the mother country as during Her Majesty's reign, and I fully believe that it is chiefly due to the way that the throne has been filled during these fifty years that that strong wish for a grand federation of the British empire which now exists has taken root. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Her Majesty has endeared herself to all Her subjects, and we all know—those who have spent a great portion of their time in the old country all know—that Her Majesty's name is a household word in every cottage in the land. It is that deep feeling of love and attachment that exists between all sections of the community and our Sovereign Lady that has tended, I believe, as I said before, more towards the federation of this grand, vast empire that we all look forward to than anything else.
“We have but very little time to spare and I need say no more to commend this resolution to your cordial acceptance.” (Applause.)
Hon. P. RYRIE—Your Excellency, I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution. Your Excellency has so ably dealt with the subject that there is little left for me to say. I can only say on behalf of the residents of the chief city of the colony of Hongkong, called after Her Majesty, that they have on previous occasions not been backward in loyalty, and on this occasion I think they will sustain their character. Hongkong owes a great deal to Her Majesty. She has given it the protection of Her land and sea forces, she has given it a charter, and she has made it a free port, and to all these things combined I think we may trace the prosperity of the colony. From a barren rock some forty years ago we now see it transformed into a handsome city of 160,000 inhabitants and with docks, wharves, warehouses, and everything necessary to accommodate a large commerce, a commerce which does exist and which I hope will go on increasing. For that we have to thank Her Majesty and Her Government, and I hope to-day and on the 9th November Hongkong will not be behindhand.” (Applause.)
The question that the resolution do pass was then formally put and carried.
His Excellency and the members of Council then proceeded to the Cathedral, the Acting Chief Justice, Hon. J. Russell, C.M.G., walking with His Excellency and the other members following two by two according to seniority, as follows: —Hon. F. STEWART, Acting Colonial Secretary; Hon. E. J. ACKROYD, Acting Attorney-General; Hon. A. LISTER, Colonial Treasurer; Hon. J. M. PRICE, Surveyor-General; Hon. H. G. THOMSETT, Harbour Master; Hon. P. RYRIE, Hon. WONG SHING, Hon. A. P. MACEWEN, Hon. J. BELL-IRVING, and Hon. C. P. CHATER; Mr. A. SETH, Clerk of Councils, bringing up the rear. An escort of two officers and fifty rank and file, of the Northamptonshire Regiment with the Queen's and Regimental colours and band, accompanied the procession, and the road from the Government Offices to the Cathedral was lined by Gun Lascar...
THE SERVICE AT THE CATHEDRAL.
The general arrangements for the service at Cathedral were entrusted to a Committee composed as follows:—The Right Revd. Bishop Burdon (Chairman), Revd. F. GACE, Hon. E. J. ACKROYD, Hon. H. G. THOMSETT, R.N., Hon. A. LISTER, Mr. C. FORD, Mr. J. ORANGE, Dr. PRESTON, R.N., and Mr. C. F. A. SANGSTER. A sub-committee for decorations was also formed composed of Hon. H. G. THOMSETT, R.N., Dr. PRESTON, R.N., Mr. C. FORD, and Mr. J. ORANGE. These gentlemen had carried out their duties in a most satisfactory and praiseworthy manner, the Cathedral presenting a very pretty and artistic appearance.
The walls of the nave and chancel were hung with flags of all nations, while over the chancel steps the Royal Standard was displayed, the Union Jack being conspicuous above the communion table. On either side of the Chancel were placed a number of flowers and ferns, and the pulpit, reading desk...