made, and all that was asked for with a view of improving the position of the corps would be granted. They were all very well aware, how. ever, that nothing of the sort was done, not ona of the promises then made to them was fulfilled, and not only were they left as they had been, but they were put into a much worse position, and before the end of that year they had to return to the store all their arms and accoutrements. Left without arms and accontrements, there were naturally no parades of the volunteers, and neither be (Mr. Francis) nor Mr. Grant thought it right to call the men together for drill under such circumstances. The corps remained in abeyance, but it still remained in existence, and some 50 or 60 men kept their names on the list. and were ready and anxious to do all they could to revive the corps, and numerous suggestions were made to him and to Mr. Grant for that purpose. But it was not until recently that any. thing could be done, and when the Egyptian War broke out, it seemed to be a fitting op. portunity of doing so, and he communicated with His Excellency the Administrator as to whether the Government desired to see the move. ment revived. His Excellency expressed bis willingness that this should be done, and desired that the corps should be put upon a sund basis. At His Excellency's sng- gestion they consulted together, and laid before him their desires and propositions-the same as were put forward by Captain Coxon on a previous occasion, and practically the same as had now been accepted by His Excellency. As they had heard, those suggestions were submitted to Major Moore Lane, the Commandant, and they were approved by His Excellency the Adminis trator, and, he believed, the Executive Council, He (Mr. Francis) wished to point out that it was not thefault of the officers, non-commissioned offi cers and men that it had been found advisable to disband the old corps and to start a new one, and he had been assured by His Excellency the Ad- ministrator, in answer to a dispatch, that it was! not because in his opinion any blame attached to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the old corps that this had been done, but because it was deemed advisable to take this step in the interest of the new movement. He (Mr. Francis) ventured to write to His Excel. lency in answer to that despatch that he regret. ted His Excellency bad come to such a concla. sion, and he did not see how such a step would assist the new corps. If the old corps bad been reduced to a state of helplessness, it was not their fault, and he was afraid that this dis- baudment would be looked upon as a reproach to the officers, "non-commissioned officers, and men, who had held together for the past three years in the face of every discouragement. He (Mr. Francis) had an answer to that letter from the Colonial Becretary. His Excellency did not attach any blame whatever to the officers and men for the state of affairs to which the old corps was reduced. He (Mr. Franois) thought it right that he should make these statements for his own sake, in one sense, and for the sake of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the old corps, that it might be known how matters sto d with those men, who bad held to the corps, and done all they could to revive it, and this movement was being as it were initiated by the members of the old corps, and they were now being disbanded for no fault of their own. Mr. Franois urged all present, whether members of the old corps or only intending to join the new one, to assist in reviving this volunteer movement-a most excellent movement. He call- ed upon them to join heart and hand with Mr. Tripp and get up a really good sound corps to consist of a couple of companies of artillerymen, the force most suitable to the requirements of this colony, the most suited to themselves to develop their musoles, for their own amusement, and for the benefit of the colony. (Loud applause), Mr. Erancis proposed that the proposition of His Excellency the Administrator should be accepted, and a volunteer corps, consisting of two companies of artillery should be formed in Hongkong.
Mr. J. R. WRAITE seconded the proposal, which was unanimously agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN said he thought the next thing they had to do was this: they had heard the wish of His Excellency-and he thought a very right one-that every member of the corps should be examined surgically as to his fitness to go through the duties, and he (Mr. Tripp) |
thought therefore as a preliminary thing, that they ought to elect their honorary surgeon. If any gentlemen were willing to propose and se. cond it, he should recommend Dr. Stockwell, who was an old volunteer, and who would no doubt be ready to accept that office. (Applause). Mr. FRANCIS said he had much pleasure in making that proposition. Dr. Stockwell was suggested two or three years ago as surgeon to the corps, when the propositions were laid before Governor Hennessy.
Mr. J. ADAMS seconded the resolution, which was agreed to nem, con.
A gentleman inquired who was surgeon of the late corps.
Mr. FRANCIS said there was no surgeon. The suggestion as to Dr. Stockwell was never noted apon, though his name had been sent in re- peatedly.
The CHAIRMAN said of course the prelimi naries as to drill and uniform would have to be gone into with Major Moore-Laas, who had so. cepted the post of Commandant; and he thought the election of officers ought to stand over for the present,
Mr. FRANCIS thought there was something else which it was necessary should be done under His Excellency's statement, namely, to compile a code of rules and regulatious for the new corps, to be submitted to the general body of members. He recommended that a committee should he ap. pointed by a meeting to draw up, in conjune- tion with Major Moore-Lane, and the Govern. ment, a code of rules and regulations of the new corps, to be afterwards submitted to the corps at a future meeting.
The following five gentlemen were ananimons. ly elected as committee, three to constitute a quorum-Messrs. J. J. Francis, G. G. Noble, H. J. H. Tripp, J. McCallum, and A. Woolley, Mr. FRANCIS proposed a vote of thanks to His Excellency the Administrator, on the part of the old corps, and on the part of the new, for the interest he had taken in the movement, and the encouragement he had given them. (Ap- planse).
On the proposition of the CHAIRMAN, a simi- lar vote was passed by acclamation to Major Hamilton and Dr. Stewart for the part they bad taken in the matter, and the meating then ter- minated.
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