We were also large number of lanterns with the Union Jack painted on them. On the Pedder's Street frontage of this hong we noticed a huge transparency representing a steam-launch. The house next door, where Messrs. Stolterfoht and Hirst, Messrs. Danby and Leigh, and Mr. Lamke have their offices, had lanterns outlining the arches of the verandahs with larger lanterns hanging in the centre, and flags at the top of the house. The Hongkong & Whampoa Dock Company displayed a gas illumination of a steamer, with a crown below, the letters V. R. on either side, and their flag on one side and on the other a monogram with the letters H. W. D. C. The building occupied by the Union Insurance Society of Canton, Limited, and the Co. had a large crown in lanterns standing up from the top of the building, and below it a transparency with "50" in large figures, with lanterns running along the outlines of the building. Messrs. Douglas Lapraik and Co. had their flagstaff rigged with coloured lanterns, and had the face of the building illuminated with similar lanterns, with sidelights standing at the balustrading of the verandah bearing the British Lion and the firm's house flag. Messrs. Wieler and Co. had their verandah arches filled in with masses of lanterns, and Messrs. Nam Hing Loong's godowns next door had a bamboo scaffolding erected in front, on which were hung lanterns and "V. R." in a transparency.
We next come to the Victoria Hotel, which made an exceedingly fine display both on the Praya and Queen's-road frontage. On the Praya there was a brilliant 6 feet star in gas, two small transparencies of the Queen, framed with lanterns, with a "V. R." on each side, with rows of lanterns filling up the centre opening of the verandah. In Pottinger-street Mr. Dorabjee had bamboos thrown across from the hotel to the opposite houses at short intervals, and each bamboo was closely hung with lanterns, forming an illuminated arcade. On the Queen's-road side there was the motto in gas, in large letters, "God Bless the Empress of India" with "V. R." in monogram on either side; above the motto, in the centre, was an oil portrait of Her Majesty illuminated with a frame of gas jets burning in opaque globes. The interior and main entrance of the hotel were decorated and illuminated with handsome Japanese lanterns.
Returning to the Praya and still proceeding westward we come to Mr. Kiley's, sailmaker, who had a large American flag floating from the top of the building, with another flag with a humorous device beneath it. On the front of the building were American flags in great profusion, a transparency of the American eagle, a portrait of Her Majesty, with Union Jacks draped at the sides, and a number of lanterns. Mr. Kiley seemed, however, to have paid more attention to the day than to the night effect. Ying Lok and Co., next door, had a mat erection extending the whole height of the house, containing figures and illuminated with glass lamps. On the opposite side of the roadway was a shed for one of the numerous Chinese entertainments. Wing Tai had a transparency over the arch of the verandah with the words "Her Most Gracious Majesty's Jubilee. Wing Tai and Co." There was also a good display of lamps. The Peninsular and Oriental S. N. Co.'s temporary offices had a 20 feet gas star with the figures "50" in the centre. This had a diamond frame of red lanterns, and there were red and white lanterns following the lines of the building, and strings of lanterns led down from the flagstaff. The design was an excellent one and looked well from whatever point of view it was visible. At the doorway were cylindrical lanterns, with "Jubilee," "V.R.," and the Royal Arms painted on them. Messrs. Wing Kee & Co., the shipchandlers, had a large matshed erected in front of their premises, with figures, and decorated with flags and illuminated by kerosine chandeliers, and a very fine and large transparency displaying the Royal Arms. A number of the Chinese hongs further westward were illuminated more or less, amongst which we noticed Tuck Lee's and Fook Kee's. At the Hankow wharf we noticed an oil painting of the steamer fixed at the top of the gate. The Hongkong, Canton, and Macao Steamboat Co.'s wharf had lanterns over the entrance, and the flagstaff at the end of the wharf was also decorated. The steamer lying alongside presented a gay appearance covered as it was with white and coloured lanterns.
The Harbour Master's Office had a large display of flags, rows of lanterns running along the face of the building, and in front the motto "Vivat Regina" in red letters on a blue ground and several anchors covered with gold paper.
It may be remarked here that the junk anchorage presented quite a gay appearance during the day, most of the craft having bright red flags flying, and at night some of them made a show of lanterns. The cargo boats lying along Praya Central east of Pedder's Wharf also made a notable contribution to the illuminations by the strings of lanterns they displayed.
The On Tai Insurance Office, of which Mr. Ho Amei is Secretary, had a fancy mat erection over the doorway with a portrait of the Queen, and a display of flags and lanterns. He also showed the V.R. monogram in gas.
Bonham Strand and Bonham Strand West were covered in with open matting and brilliantly illuminated with chandeliers carrying kerosine lamps, forming a handsome arcade. Under the arcade a good number of groups of Chinese figures were hung, and along the sides of the street pots of choice plants were placed. Amongst the numerous Chinese entertainments which afforded amusement to crowds of Chinese in the Western district we noticed one at this point in which a clumsy looking and muscular Chinaman performed quite surprising tricks with a pair of heavy cymbals, requiring both strength and dexterity, accompanied by a band of other instrumentalists.
St. Peter's Church had a 12 ft. cross on the tower, and lines of lanterns along the body of the building. The Sailors Home, in the same compound, had a line of gas along the top cornice and a 10 ft. anchor, also in gas, while the gateway was illuminated with lanterns with the V. R. and Union Jack. No. 7 Police Station, close by, was also elaborately decorated. "God save the Queen" was worked in flowers on a green ground over the doorway, surmounted by a crown, the whole face of the building being lit up at night by numerous lanterns of various descriptions.
Along the Praya from the Recreation Club's premises (where a row of lanterns on the bridge to the bath-house added not a little to the illuminations at night) Venetian masts had been erected at intervals of 35 feet as far as the Harbour Office, and a string of flags ran from one to the other the whole way, each mast being further decorated with a shield and group of flags and a banner. These masts were painted different colours, some red, blue, black, etc.
At Murray Wharf there was a gay display of bunting, and it was illuminated with lanterns.
At Pedder's Wharf a magnificent triumphal arch had been erected. The structure was covered with blue cloth, which formed a good groundwork for the decorations. From the top of the arch floated the Royal Standard, flanked by the white ensign. Over the arch was the motto "God save the Queen" in red letters on a blue ground, with shields bearing the figures "1837" and "1887" Below these were larger shields with "V. R." on them and flags draped above. Numerous silver stars were fixed on the blue ground, and the whole was illuminated by rows of gas jets in white globes running along the top and round the arch. The side facing the sea was decorated in similar style and the whole effect was very fine. The wharf itself was gaily decorated with flags suspended from Venetian masts.
The illuminations and decorations along Queen's-road had received no less care than those on the Praya. We have already described the City Hall and the Bank. Spanning the road at the latter building was a triumphal arch similar to that at Pedder's Wharf, except that it was covered with red cloth with the mottoes in large red letters on a gold ground "She has lived in our hearts," "The People to their Queen." Great care and expense had been bestowed on these arches, of which altogether there were three of similar design, the other spanning the road at Murray Barracks, and they formed a conspicuous feature in the decorations.
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