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The Galatea, including Lord Charles Beresford, Lieutenant Fitz-George and E. Ponsonby, Esq., made an excursion to Victoria Peak which overhangs the City, and forms so striking a point of view to all visitors to Hongkong. The party were much struck by the position of Mountain Lodge, the Governor's summer residence, 1,750 feet above the level of the sea, and commanding a magnificent view extending far over the Mainland on the West, and upwards of fifty Islands from the West to the East. His Royal Highness expressed his surprise that the wealthy Merchant Princes of the Colony had not availed themselves of the vicinity to their City of a position offering so bracing a climate, in the hottest time of the year. It is certainly difficult to account for the comparative neglect of such a spot, as it takes only forty minutes to reach it, and less than thirty to return. The advantages of the site were, however, only recently demonstrated, and the security afforded there by a Telegraph and Police Station is quite a modern boon, not even yet completed. The future of the Peak, therefore, is still to be developed, though we are not so sanguine as to think that it will supersede trips to Europe!
Tuesday, November 16th.-It was officially announced that the Galatea would leave this afternoon; and, as a fitting termination to the Prince's visit, His Royal Highness had consented to lay the first Stone of a new Choir for S. John's Cathedral in the morning. At half past nine, the Clergy, in their canonicals, and the Choir, in their surplices, assembled in the Church, and a procession was formed to march to the Stone, for the purpose of receiving the Prince. About the same time, a guard of honour, provided by the 75th Regiment, was drawn up on the ground. Precisely at 10 o'clock, His Royal Highness arrived, accompanied by His Excellency the Governor and Lady MacDonnell, the Honorable E. C. Yorke, A. B. Haig, Esq., the Honorable C. C. Smith and Mrs. Smith. He was met at the foot of the Platform which had been erected, by the Clergy; the Honorable J. G. Austin, the Honorable W. Keswick, the Honorable E. H. Pollard, Q.C., and Messrs. Mitchell, Moorsom, and Pyke, Trustees; and several Officers of the Army and Navy. The Troops having presented arms, and played the National Anthem, the Prince ascended the Platform; and the Service was commenced with the 84th Psalm, "O how amiable are thy Dwellings, &c.," sung by the Cathedral Choir, and the Congregation which had assembled to take part in the solemn Ceremony. The Colonial Chaplain then read the first portion of the 'Form of Prayer,' which had been prepared and printed for the occasion; after which, the Reverend R. O'Callaghan, Chaplain, R.N., read the Lesson, taken from Hebrews, X. 19-26. The Lord Bishop being absent from the Colony, the Canon Residentiary then, on behalf of the Trustees and Churchmen of Hongkong, requested His Royal Highness to lay the Stone, which will form the centre plinth of the Eastern end of the new Chancel.
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A silver trowel having been handed to the Prince by the Surveyor General, His Royal Highness laid some mortar, and said:"In the Faith of Jesus Christ, we place this first Stone, in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, Amen." After this he struck the Stone gently three times, and declared it to be "well and truly laid." The Hymn, "O Lord of Hosts, whose glory fills, &c., &c.," (from 'Hymns Ancient and Modern,') was now sung, and the suffrages from the Litany, for the Queen and Royal Family, &c., and two Collects referring to the special uses of the Chancel were said; after which, the Reverend Canon Beach, M.A., spoke as follows:-" By permission
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( 42 )
the Galatea, including Lord Charles Beresford, Lieutenant Fitz-George and E. Ponsonby, Esq., made an excursion to Victoria Peak which overhangs the City, and forms so striking a point of view to all visitors to Hongkong. The party were much struck by the position of Mountain Lodge, the Governor's summer residence, 1,750 feet above the level of the sea, and commanding a magnificent view extending far over the Mainland on the West, and upwards of fifty Islands from the West to the East. His Royal Highness expressed his surprise that the wealthy Merchant Princes of the Colony had not availed themselves of the vicinity to their City of a position offering so bracing a climate, in the hottest time of the year. It is certainly difficult to account for the comparative neglect of such a spot, as it takes only forty minutes to reach it, and less than thirty to return. The advantages of the site were, however, only recently demonstrated, and the security afforded there by a Telegraph and Police Station is quite a modern boon, not even yet completed. The future of the Peak, therefore, is still to be developed, though we are not so sanguine as to think that it will supersede trips to Europe!
Tuesday, November 16th.-It was officially announced that the Galatea would leave this afternoon; and, as a fitting termination to the Prince's visit, His Royal High- ness had consented to lay the first Stone of a new Choir for S. John's Cathedral in the morning. At half past nine, the Clergy, in their canonicals, and the Choir, in their surplices, assembled in the Church, and a procession was formed to march to the Stone, for the purpose of receiving the Prince. About the same time, a guard of honour, provided by the 75th Regiment, was drawn up on the ground. Precisely at 10 o'clock, His Royal Highness arriv- ed, accompanied by His Excellency the Governor and Lady
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MacDonnell, the Honorable E. C. Yorke, A. B. Ilaig, Esq., the Honorable C. C. Smith and Mrs. Smith. He was met at the foot of the Platform which had been erected, by the Clergy; the Honorable J. G. Austin, the Honorable W. Keswick, the Honorable E. H. Pollard, Q.c., and Messrs. Mitchell, Moorsom, and Pyke, Trustees; and several Officers of the Army and Navy. The Troops having presented arms, and played the National Anthem, the Prince ascended the Platform; and the Service was commenced with the 84th Psalm, "O how amiable are thy Dwellings, &c.," sung by the Cathedral Choir, and the Congregation which had assembled to take part in the solemn Ceremony. The Colonial Chaplain then read the first portion of the 'Form of Prayer,' which had been prepared and printed for the occasion; after which, the Reverend R. O'Callaghan, Chaplain, R.N., read the Lesson, taken from Hebrews, X. 19-26. The Lord Bishop being absent from the Colony, the Canon Residentiary then, on behalf of the Trustees and Churchmen of Hongkong, requested His Royal Highness to lay the Stone, which will form the centre plinth of the Eastern end of the new Chancel.
A silver trowel having been handed to the Prince by the Surveyor General, His Royal Highness laid some mortar, and said:"In the Faith of Jesus Christ, we place this first Stone, in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, Amen." After this he struck the Stone gently three times, and declared it to be "well and truly laid."
The Hymn, "O Lord of Hosts, whose glory fills, &c., &c.," (from 'Hymns Ancient and Modern,') was now sung, and the suffrages from the Litany, for the Queen and Royal Family, &c., and two Collects referring to the special uses of the Chancel were said; after which, the Reverend Canon Beach, M.A., spoke as follows:-" By permission
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