Mr. Kyshe then shook hands with the Chin- ! ese gentlemen forming the deputation.
The members of the Registry staff then en- tered the room, and Mr. SETH said-Sir, the pleasing duty of presenting an address to you, signed by the officere of this Court, has been imposed upon me, but as time is pressing and I know you have only a few hours within which to get ready for your voyage, I will not detain you by prefacing this address, but will simply proceed to read it with your permissica :--
"Supreme Courts, "18th December, 1898. "JAMES WILLIAM NORTON-YSHE, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, Registrar of the Supreme Court of Hongkong, etc., etc. "SIN,We are sorry, to learn that you are about to leave us, but we shall be glad to know, and trust that you will enjoy your well-earned Iand deserved holiday, Bafore you take peti departure, will you allow us to express our sin- care gratitude for the very kind treatment we have received at your hands since your assump. tion of the duties of the office of Registrar of the Supreme Court of this colony.
"2-Having regard to your abilities and your long and meritorious service, you may be selected for promotion to a higher appointment either in this or some other of Her Majesty's possessions, in which case you will have our best wishes.
"3.-Your abilities, tact, and sense of justice, as well as your gentlemanly feelings towards ourselves, are too well known for us to dilate upon those points.
44-Your latest work, The History of the Laws and Courts of Hongkong includ ing Consular Jurisdiction in China and Japan,' is greatly appreciated by ourselves, and as we have been informed has met with that reception which it deserved at the hands of the community.
"5.-We, as officers of this Department, know the energy, time, and trouble you have ex- pended, and the enormous difficulties you have encountered in producing this valuable, useful, and interesting work.
"6.-It now only remains for us to wish you and Mrs. Norton-Kyshe bon voyage; that you may both have a pleasant holiday at home with health to enjoy the same; and with the best compliments of the season. We remain, Sir, Yours obediently,
(Here follow signatures of the offers of the Registry, including those of the Land Office.)
Mr. KYSUE said-Mr. Seth and other officers constituting the staff of my Department, I feel highly honoured at the various demon- strations of feeling which have been shown me, and flattered at the address which you have done me the honour of presenting to me. You will remember that on my as- sumption of duty in Hongkong I assembled every one of you, including the interpretation staff, and told you that if you wished me to be a friend of yours that you were first to show me that you were friends of mine. Gentle men, I have not been desivad. As fellow workers I believe we have all done well and if I have personally been at all successful and been able to win the confidence of the suitors of all nationalities in this colony, it is dus greatly to the assistance which I have received from you. As the head of one of the most important departments of the service in Hongkong I could not have wished for a better staff, To Mr. Seth and to Mr. Hazeland, the Deputy Registrars, as to Mr. Jones, who is now doing duty for Mr. Hazeland, I have nothing to say but the highest praise. And this applies as well to Mr. Bruce Shepherd, the Deputy Land Officer. If I have been successful it is due sa I have said, gentlemen, to you whose names I have men- tioned, as well as to Messrs. Xavier and D'Almada e Castro, clerks to the judges and to myself, and to Mr. Sofiad, assistant clerk and interpreter, another recent acquisition in my office, and I may add also to the great assistance I have also received from the bailiffs and though by no means least, to the interpreters who have one and all done their duty well. I wish to place on record, gentle- man, the assistance which I have received from yon. It may prove of little use but to me it is a duty and a pleasing one. Believe me that the
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secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes; that is and has been my guiding principle. Honesty is the best policy-stick to that and go forward. fearlessly. Mr. Seth, as you are aware, has been appointed to act as my locum tenens during my absence. This ought, gentlemen. to be an encouragement to Mr. Seth and you all. I am pleased to think that I carry away your best wishes, shewing the public the friendly spirit which has guided you towards myself, I leave Hongkong perfectly satisfied that my office could not be in better hands than yourselves, with my friend and fellow barrister, Mr: Seth, at the helm.
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