1920-03-10 — Page 7

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THE CHINA MAIL EXTRA.

HONGKONG, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1920.

MR SEVERN'S DEPARTURE.

MORE VALEDICTORY FUNCTION.

to express the feelings of the mem- A SINGULAR PROTEST.

bers with regard to Mr. Severn.

S LARY TOO HIGH.

Mr Belillios said that no better occasion could present itself for carrying their minds back to the; day Mr. Severn first assumed the! chairmanship of the Club.

That Yesterday afternoon the Hon. Mr.thought he was right in saying that

The minister of Oakfield-road was on 14th March. 1916. He Church, Clifton, Bristol, Dr. G. F. Claud Severn paid his farewell visit to the Fnstitution of Marine Engineers and Shipbuilder, meeting Mr. S. Gray, one of the Club's best players, in a billiards match of 250 up. Though Gray proved the winner by about seventy the game was always interest

ng. Soon after the start Grey com- piled a nice 21. Mr. Severn putting up

at that time the Club was in what he Beckh, has remains:rated with his might call not the most flourishing congregation. condition, but since Mr. Severn's stipend.

for increasing his chairmanship,

mainly due and he thought "I will let you into a secret," be

to:

the many good suggestions Mr. Severn and made, said..

Some time ago the friends

the Club was now going strong. of this church were, foolish enough was easily traceable in the balance has decreased in exact proportion. (Applause.) The improvement to raise my salary. My happiness a similar break at his next visit to sheets. The first thing that stood

consistently, Gray being

first

mark.

ul

the table. Both were playing fairly out in his (the speaker's) mind was I have been involved in extra ex- the the large increase in membership penses; I have had to fill up more reach the hundred and the greater enthusiasm displayed.papers than ever before; and I am The score then read' 108.74 Undoubtedly the enthusiasm was not one with the happier for having Mr. Severn's next visit was produc instilled by Mr. Severn. It must be more money." tive of a break of 22, he being appreciated that the Club was pecu especially deadly on the red. Gray liarly cosmopolitan, and it required a played strongly in the econd hundred and ran out the winner.

man with diplomacy, tact and bor At the conclusion of the game the ciation

homie, and that constant asso- greatest interest and very recently

which Mr. Colonial Secretary said that that had

-Severn indeed he felt that he was much given to was only his second visit to the success. Mr. Severn had been pre-enquiries as

bring about to blame for rot making Eleh and he was ashamed of the sent whenever possible and ever was not participating in the recent to why the Club Tact. He had long wished to have ready. with encouragement. His regatta got up by the Royal

He had

not in

liked

a game with his friend Mr. Gray many little kindnesses would never Hongkong Yacht Club. and now he had had it. Mr. Gray rad be forgotten. The members joined thought that is must be that the exhibited his usual skill with the in wishing him a pleasant holiday, a inevitable resült. The finish

members of pleasant voyage and a safe return training or had no boat to row in.

were probably the game had reminded him of an when he wished. If Mr. Severn did If he had only gone there he would incident which happened not long return no man would be more we have found out after he first came to the Far East come. He had been requested to mistake that took place owing to the unfortunate His first Chief, Sir Charles Mitchell, hand Mr. Severn a little souvenir of which had been playing a game of golf with the occasion.

at that very (Applause).

successful a friend at Singapore and, things Mr. Belilios gave Mr. Severn, a jed. He was exceedingly sorry 10 regatta the Club was not represent. were guing badly with him, he was pair of binoculars in leather case, frd but why afterwards." He was Constantly declaiming on his bad play with the recipient's initials engraved afraid the fault lay with the other as golfers do. An old friend of Mr. thereon, remarking jocularly that the Club, though Severn's a Mr. Crighion, rejoined object was that when Mr. Severn to say any Government department,

he har ly Come dron oftener and get ac reached the home shores he would even so well conducted a department quainted with the game". (Laughter.) be able to see them clearly and when as the Post Office.

Mr. R. M. Dyer, President of the he returned to the welcome they hoped that next year the Club would However, he Institution, asked the members pre-hoped to extend to him here he be well represented in the regatta, sent to join with him in a toast to would discern Hongkong before any because rowing was going to boom their hon. Vice-president. Mr. Severn, one else. (Applause). he said, had been entertainer at

again here in Hongkong he hoped, numerous parties, by the British and been particularly desirous of meeting thing if the oldest Club in the Colony-

Mr. Severn.in reply said he had and it would be a most unfortunate Chinese Chambers of Commerce and the members before his departure was not well represented. by many others. This Institute was and had been on the point of sugges. Club was in most capable hands. neither a commercial, athletic, or purely social club but it always might make an abject apology for very well and he hoped that they ing the gathering in order that he They ran the billiards championship endeavoured to live up to its motto his long absence from participation would be able to have boxing con- -of "Ubique."

The toast having been honoured, Mr. Mitchell's letter reached him the past. He was glad to hear that. the affairs of the Club. tests there again as they, had in Mr. Severn said he had thought to meanwhile, and when he heard the finances were flourishing and he stave off these farewell words by their kind wishes and received their could only hope that when he came saying a few words before Mr. Dyer handsome present he felt that coals back he might be able to resume an but it was not to be and they must of fire bad been heaped upon his active interest in the Club's affairs be said. It was with very great head. It was really most kind of (Applause.) regret that he was leaving the Colony them and whenever he used their with much regret, but it was aben- He was going away and he only hoped that he would exceedingly handsome gift he would lurely necessary and he could only come back soon to meet all his good remember the Club. During the hope to return as soon as possible. friends again.

years he had been Chairman, he had, (Applause.) He thanked them very Mr. Gray then led the singing of it was quite true, taken great interest much indeed for what Mr. Belilios "Will ye no come. Back again?" in the affairs of the Club, and said on their behalf and he thought and on. Mr. Severn assuring the when circumstances arose gathering in an improvised verse that expectedly and he had to ask that the health of the V.R.C. and wish un they could not do better than drink he would if possible, the company his chairmanship should be in abey it every success" and prosperity sang "For he's a jolly good fellow." ance he did not cease to take an, (Applause).

Leaving the Institute Mr. Severn went to the Victoria Recreation Club of which he is chairman. There the Hon. Secretary invited. Mr. Belilios

in

The

interest in the Club, but he could assure them that although he had and the singing of "For he's a jolly The toast was, heartily drunk. not been there he had watched the good fellow progress of the Club with the very proceedings.

terminated

the

W