was 814. Looking westward from under the arch the avenue extending to Ice House street formed a perfect picture in the day time with its strings of flags spanning the road at short intervals. If the flags could have been replaced by lamps at sundown the night effect would have been much enhanced, as there was a want of over-head light to complete the thing, notwithstanding the brilliancy of the house illuminations.
Messrs. Siemssen and Co., next door to the Bank, had a large display of Japanese lanterns of a unique description in lines and curves. Victoria Building (occupied by Mr. Chater's office, and those of brokers, merchants, &c.) had a brilliant gas illumination over the front of the porch showing the Queen's head in a wreath, with "1837" and "1887" to the left and right, and a 4ft. star on each side of the porch. The whole portion and the cornices of the building were also completely outlined with gas jets. Underneath the cornices were lines of red, white, and blue cloth inter-woven and looped up with rosettes, and there were masses of green foliage under the windows. On the porch was also a trophy of flags with a shield bearing the British Lion and on two other shields were the Prince of Wales's coat of arms. The street decorations of this section converged at this point, a large lantern hanging from a convenient branch of the tree opposite, and strings of smaller lanterns running from it to the posts from which the flags were stretched across the road. Messrs. E. D. Sassoon and Co. had their hong illuminated with a large number of white and red lanterns tastefully arranged. Messrs. Pustan and Co., at the corner house, had rows of various coloured lanterns running the whole length of the building and coloured glass lamps along the parapet.
The New Oriental Bank at the corner of Queen's-road and Duddell-street had a profuse display of coloured lanterns hanging from bamboos at the top. The Chartered Bank, at the opposite corner, was illuminated with lanterns and glass lamps on the first and second floor, and the ground floor had lamps hung round the arches of the building. The Chartered Mercantile Bank, on the opposite side of Queen's-road, had lanterns following the lines of the building, with "V. R." in small glass lamps in the centre. Along the remains of the adjoining house, now in course of demolition, rows of lanterns were hung. The Telegraph Companies' offices had a large display of lanterns. Messrs. Kelly and Walsh had a "V. R." in red lanterns, and a large number of variegated lanterns.
The Hongkong Hotel made a large use of gas in its illumination. On the Queen's-road side it had 6 ft. Crown, and the letter "V" on one side and "R" on the other, each 4 feet high. On the Pedder's street frontage there was a 7 ft. star with the "V" and "R" the same as in Queen's Road. On the Queen's-road side were the words "God bless our Queen" in English and Chinese, and "Victoria's Jubilee," and the arches on the ground floor had lanterns running round them. In Pedder's-street the verandah arches were filled up in the same way on the ground and first floors, with a lamp at the entrance bearing the words "The Jubilee Year, 1887." There were also shields and trophies of flags. The hall of the Hotel was brilliantly illuminated with lanterns, some with mottos, one of them very practically conveying the recommendation "Let us drink to the health, long life, and happiness of our gracious Queen Victoria."
The Victoria Dispensary, on the opposite side of the street was decorated with flags and the chambers above were illuminated with Japanese lanterns. Mr. Piron's, Mr. Kahn's, Mr. Henerfanth's, and Mr. Lang's establishments were also illuminated with lanterns. The large house jointly occupied by Messrs. Adamson, Bell & Co., Messrs. W. G. Humphreys and Co., and the Chinese Insurance Co. had an elaborate design carried out in lanterns. On the top floor was the word "Victoria," each letter occupying one arch, with a frame of coloured lanterns. On the second floor was "Regina," with the end arches filled in with a cross, and on the ground floor were the figures "1837-1887.” Messrs. Heuermann, Herbst and Co. had the British and German flags flying from the top floor with the red and white ensigns and the Union Jack hung together in the centre, and the arches of the building filled in with lanterns. Lock Hing had a fine show of expensive Japanese lanterns on the front of his house, and strings of lanterns from a flagstaff at the top.
Messrs. Kruse and Co. illuminated their building with lanterns of various descriptions, and on the first floor had large ones with "V. R." and ensigns painted on them. The hong of Mr. A. R. Marty, the ground floor of which is occupied by the store of Gaieu Frères, had the arches of the first and second floor outlined with small colored glass lamps, with clusters of the same hanging from the centre of each. There was also a wedge-shaped transparency projecting into the street with "V. R." on each face, and the building had flags running up at each side. Atack's store was illuminated with lanterns with the Union Jack painted on them.
Turning back along Queen's-road to the westward, passing the houses already described, we arrive at the Clock Tower, the central point and most striking feature of the illuminations, being conspicuous at once for the beauty and boldness of the design on which it was treated. The whole of the four sides were covered with small glass lamps, with paper lanterns running down the corners, and a little relief work at the top. Craning the neck upwards for a close view gave little idea of the splendid effect when the Tower was seen from a distance, either from the water or from the higher levels. One is tempted to regret that such a thing of beauty should have to fade so soon into its natural sombreness and resume its position as the antithesis of "a joy for ever." The design for this illumination was by the Surveyor-General, and it was carried out by Mr. Andrew Millar. The Post Office had a gas 4-feet crown with two "V. Rs." in monogram, two Masonic stars, and the building outlined above the first cornice with jets. Both on the front and the Pedder's-street side there were a large number of cylindrical lamps of various colours closely packed along the horizontal lines of the building. The Supreme Court also had gas illuminations-the Scales of Justice as the centre piece with a 24 feet star above and “V. R." in monogram on either side, and the side pillars and top cornices outlined with jets. The Hongkong Club, on the opposite side of the road, had a 9 ft. star and two 2 ft. stars in gas, with red and white lanterns outlining the building, and large lanterns hung along the verandah.
Mr. Humphreys had devoted great attention to the illumination of the Hongkong Dispensary, which looked remarkably well with its numerous transparencies. In the centre of the first floor verandah was a pagoda, the other openings on each side being filled up with large portraits of Her Majesty in youth and in 1887, painted by a Canton artist from engravings; On the top storey were great masses of ordinary sized Japanese lanterns, and on ground floor were lanterns with transparencies at the doorway. The d'Aguilar-street and Stanley-street frontages were decorated with lanterns in rows. Ching Choong's cigar store, next door to the Dispensary in Queen's-road, had an effective display of transparencies and lanterns, and Tarachand Thawardas & Co.'s Indian store was decorated with small oil lamps. Wassiamull Assumall's curio shop was illuminated with Japanese lanterns and a large number of small coloured lamps. Achoo's cigar store had also a good display of lanterns. Messrs. W. Powell and Co., occupying the Victoria Exchange jointly with Messrs. McEwen, Frickel and Co., had filled in the upper verandah with an elaborate design of which the centre piece was a portrait of Her Majesty. The verandah railing was covered with foliage on which were shields, "England's Queen" on one and "India's Empress" on the other. There was also a trophy of flags, and a number of lanterns. On the ground floor there were lanterns with the various ensigns painted on them. Messrs. N. Mody and Co.'s illumination attracted general admiration. Along the arches of the verandah in bold letters ran the scroll "God bless our Empress" worked in small gold coloured oil lamps on white ground. There was also a small portrait of the Queen and stars. On the floor above was a crown with the letters "V. R.", and lanterns hung between the pillars of the verandah. Over the entrance on the ground floor was a star of coloured oil lamps, and the gate was covered with foliage. Messrs. Gaupp & Co.'s store, under Messrs. N. Mody & Co.'s offices, had lanterns hung round the arches of the verandah with the Union Jack painted on them. Yee Chun, Loong Shing, Cheong Wo, and Ahoy, occupying adjoining shops, all contributed to the general display. Messrs. Falconer and Co.'s establishment, part of which is occupied on the upper floors by the China Traders' Insurance Company and the North China Insurance Company, had long rows of lanterns with the Union Jack painted on them, running along the top cornice and the verandahs, and up the sides. Messrs. Fournier and Co. had the arches of their verandah hung with lanterns.
Page 540
Page 541