CO129-210 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [6-7] — Page 378

X

of my previous despatch on the M1390f

Jame

subject, should be sent to

Miss Kennedy, and also to Lady,

Clanwilliam, who is, (as it is

believed), the only

a

other surviving

member of Sir Arthur Kennedy's

family

I have the honour to be,

My Lord,

July 5, 1883.

Your Lordship's Most Obedient

A

Humble servant,

"Jowe

The Daily Press.

HONGKONG, JULY 16TH, 1888.

Enclosure

PROPOSED MEMORIAL TO SIR

ARTHUR KENNEDY.

A numerously attended public meeting was held at the City Hall on Saturday afternoon, to take into consideration a proposal for the erection of a memorial in honour of the late Sir Arthur Kennedy, and to discuss what steps should be taken to accomplish this object." The Hon. Sir George Phillippo, Chief Justice, presided, and was supported by the Hon. P. Ryrie, Hon. J. M. Price, Hon. F. B. Johnson, Messrs. T. Jackson, C. P. Chater, W. Reiners, A. G. Romano, W. H. Forbes, F. D. Sassoon, H. N. Mody, D. Ruttunjee, and Ho Kai. Among the other gentlemen present were the Hon. J. Russell, Hon. A. Lister, Hon. F. Stewart, Dr. Ph. B. C. Ayres, A. P. MacEwen, I. Poesnecker, A. Gultzow, J. Lapraik, C. D. Bottomley, H. L. Dalrymple, Douglas Jones, J. Thorburn, F. H. Arjuna, J. P. McEuen, R. Lyall, J. S. Cox, J. A. Mosely, H. J. H. Tripp, A. B. Johnson, J. J. Francis, E. C. Wilcox, J. Grant, J. G. Smith, D. E. Caldwell, A. K. Travers, A. E. Vaucher, H. A. Woolnough, W. Doulau, &c., &c. A large number of the most influential Chinese residents were also present, among whom we noticed Messrs. Leong On, Wei Yak, Lee Sing, Lee Tak Cheong, Ho Mei, Wong Shing, Chan Quan Ei, &c., &c.

The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings by saying-Gentlemen, I was asked by some of the leading members of the community a few days ago to take the chair upon this occasion; and I was only too happy to consent to do so, the objects of the meeting having my warmest sympathy. Before proceeding with the business of the meeting, however, I think it would be advisable that we should appoint a Secretary to take down the minutes of the proceedings, so that a proper record may be preserved, and that before we proceed with the business, we should ask him to read the notice calling the meeting. I would therefore suggest that Mr. MacEwen be appointed Secretary-(Applause)-and then we will ask him to read the notice and proceed to business.

Mr. A. P. MacEWEN-I shall have very much pleasure in acting as Secretary on this occasion; but I may mention that Mr. George had kindly consented to act as Secretary only unfortunately he has gone to Macao to-day, and will not be back till Monday.

Mr. MACEWEN then proceeded to read the notice convening the meeting.

The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, you have now heard the notice read convening the meeting and the objects for which it is to take place. It is called for the purpose, as you have heard, of discussing the question as to whether or not a memorial should be erected to the memory of the late Sir Arthur Kennedy, and to decide, if that be the general opinion of the meeting, what form that memorial shall assume. It will be within your recollection, gentlemen, that within the last few days we received the sad news of Sir Arthur's death-news which reached us under peculiarly affecting circumstances. Sir Arthur Kennedy, at the close of a long career spent in the public service, had at last retired in order to enjoy some period of rest at the close of his life; and you know, gentlemen, that after leaving Queensland and before arriving at Aden he died--about 100 miles this side of Aden-without ever reaching that rest to which he had looked forward. Those circumstances render his death a very touching one; and to us, who knew him so well, it is the more deeply so. We all of us, I believe, remember him with feelings of esteem and affection. It was shortly after I came up from the Straits Settlements I learned, much to my disappointment, that Sir Arthur Kennedy was then leaving. His parting with us occurred within these walls, and many of you were present on that occasion. Those who were present at the farewell banquet given to him will well remember the feelings with which we then parted with Sir Arthur Kennedy on his leaving us to assume the Government of Queensland. Those feelings, I believe, have not been lessened, but on the contrary, notwithstanding his absence, have remained firm; and I feel sure there are many still amongst us who feel for him the same feelings of attachment which were given vent to him. In my own experience, I know of many who were brought forward by Sir Arthur Kennedy simply for their devotion to the public service, and many of whom are now fulfilling important duties not only in the colonies, but even in the mother country itself. With regard to the general community I think I may safely say that Sir Arthur Kennedy endeared himself to all. He was always ready to see anybody and always ready to discuss any question of private or political importance. He was always ready to give an answer to any question that was laid before him, and when you got an answer from Sir Arthur Kennedy, you might rely upon it he meant what he said (Applause). Gentlemen, these qualities in a Governor are qualities which are, in my opinion, more to be desired than even the most brilliant intellect (Applause). In saying these few words with regard to Sir Arthur Kennedy, it is with no desire on my part to pronounce an eulogium upon his conduct or character. Gentlemen, in this Colony no eulogium is required. The presence of so numerous an assembly shows full well that you all appreciated him; and I must say this, that I think your presence here to-day reflects honour upon yourselves as well as upon the Governor whose death was so deeply lamented, because it shows that in this community at all events public and private virtues are appreciated. It is some years now since I first made the acquaintance of Sir Arthur Kennedy. I joined him first on the West Coast of Africa as Queen's Advocate, and for some time I was intimately connected with him in all concerns of a public nature. I cannot speak so much of his conduct here from personal experience, because I was with him for so short a time, but during the period I served with him as Queen's Advocate on the West Coast of Africa I will say this, that no man could have more conscientiously performed his public duties than Sir Arthur Kennedy did (Applause). I followed in his footsteps some time afterwards and went to the colony of British Columbia. There I heard on all sides the same account of Sir Arthur's services. Whilst he was Governor here, I once or twice met him as he was passing through the Straits Settlements; the last time I met him, I am sorry to say, was just after he had heard the news of Lady Kennedy's death, which, as you all know, occurred while he was Governor of this colony. Sir Arthur, I believe, was never the same man afterwards. I came up here only to find, as I said before, that he was leaving this colony for Queensland. Now, with regard to Sir Arthur's character and so forth, it is not for me to discuss it; questions of politics would be out of place so far as I am concerned, but nevertheless, gentlemen, I think you will all agree with me that Sir Arthur Kennedy was a fine old English or Irish gentleman of the old school-the terms are synonymous-and that he performed his duties to the best of his ability, and with a conscientious desire to do what he considered right to all sections of the community without favour or distinction (Applause). That is the character he has acquired in every part of the world where I have known anything of him. With regard to the members of the Civil Service, I can appeal to those present in this room, and I can say that with regard to them Sir Arthur Kennedy was invariably just and straightforward (Applause). He always gave every man the credit of doing what he considered best for the public good, if he (Sir Arthur Kennedy) believed that he did so. Otherwise, if he found that anybody was endeavouring to shirk his duty in the service, he had, as I myself know, sometimes rather a hard time of it. With regard to the civil servants of this colony, Sir Arthur Kennedy told me before I came up here that there was, he believed, as able a set of civil servants in Hongkong as there was in any part of Her Majesty's dominions (applause) and that he found from experience he was quite able to leave a great many things to them which would have been spoiled by his unnecessarily interfering. These same remarks Sir Arthur Kennedy repeated when he was leaving this Colony, at the banquet which I have referred to. You all remember what he then said-"If I have been able to effect any good in the public service, I owe it to the gentlemen by whom I was surrounded and who have so ably assisted me." Well, gentlemen, I think, speaking for the public service generally, that all those who performed their duty to the public invariably found a lead in Sir Arthur Kennedy, and that is one great reason why the members of the Civil Service were all so much attached to him.

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