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I'd subjects in every part of the world;—I mean the health of our gracious and beloved sovereign, the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India, in Chinese phrase, the Ta Hwang Ti of the British Empire. The crown has been likened by a great English writer to "a halo round the sacred head of liberty," and it is revered as the golden link binding together the scattered communities of British subjects all over the globe, the scattered communities of that great English race which is overrunning the world from one end to the other, bearing with it to all races under its sway or influence, the blessings of its own well-ordered freedom, its glorious memories of the past, and its still more glorious hopes for the future. (Applause). Without further preface, gentlemen, I give you the Queen, God bless her. (Prolonged applause).
Dr. Ho KAI proposed the next toast. He said—Gentlemen, I have great honour and pleasure in rising to propose the health of our much-respected Governor, Sir George Bowen, who so kindly honoured with his presence to-day. Nothing need be said by me to ensure your cordial and enthusiastic reception of this toast, for although His Excellency has not long been with us, he has already endeared himself to all classes of Her Majesty's subjects in this Colony by his liberal policy, his great kindness and courtesy. In him our Sovereign the Queen finds a most worthy representative, and his long and distinguished career as Governor has won him universal respect and esteem. To-day we are especially beholden to him for coming amongst us, thus showing himself, as he always has done wherever he has been, a warm sympathizer with and promoter of education. (Applause). With much pleasure therefore I give you "The Governor."
The toast was enthusiastically received.
HIS EXCELLENCY, in replying to the toast, said—Gentlemen, I thank my friend Dr. Ho Kai most sincerely for the very flattering way in which he has just proposed my health, and I thank you all from my heart for the enthusiastic manner in which you have honoured the toast. (Cheers). I am sure I am always glad to meet such Chinese gentlemen as I see around me to-day, not only on such a festive occasion as this but for every good object and for every public purpose. Governors, gentlemen, should speak by their acts, and I will only say on the present occasion that I intend to continue to devote all my efforts to secure the general prosperity and welfare of all races in this important and interesting colony. (Applause).
HIS EXCELLENCY continued—I see I am expected to propose the next toast on the list, so without sitting down, I will at once give you what may be well called the toast of the day, the health of my distinguished friend Dr. Stewart, (Loud applause). As you all know, his former Chinese pupils have in the most generous manner subscribed to found a Stewart Scholarship, thus to connect his name for ever with the institution over which he so long presided and to give him an enduring mark of their esteem and affection. (Applause). I am sure you will all agree with me the connection thus established is honourable alike to the Chinese gentlemen who have made this gift and to the English gentleman who has received it. (Applause).
Some years ago a banquet was given to me in London by the representatives of those great Australian Colonies over which I presided for nearly twenty years. Next morning a leading article appeared in the Times in which it was said that after such a supreme day of honour Sir George Bowen ought no longer to tempt fortune but ought to die at once. (Laughter). Well, gentlemen, you see I have preferred to survive, and I hope to be for a considerable time a link between this colony and Great Britain. (Applause).
I recollect once at a banquet given to me in Melbourne the Mayor in proposing my health said—"We revere our governors because they are the links that connect us with Great Britain." In responding I said, I am sure, Mr. Mayor, you will rejoice that in my case the link is so stout—(laughter)—and likely to be so long preserved." (Applause). I was disinclined to take the advice given me by the Times of dying the day after the banquet in London; I have preferred to survive, and you see I have been rewarded for my virtue in surviving by becoming Governor of Hongkong and having the great pleasure of addressing you to-day.
Now the moral of what I have been saying is obvious. I am sure you will see that my hon. friend Dr. Stewart, after receiving such honour as he has been the recipient of to-day, should feel it his duty, after the advice of the Times, to die—(laughter)—but I am sure you will all agree with me in the hope that our honourable and distinguished friend will live for many a long year—(applause)—to confer on this colony as Registrar-General benefits equal to those he conferred on it as Head Master of the Central School.
I am sure you will feel with me that he will continue to show in both offices the same calm and sound judgment, the same impartiality, the same devotion to duty. I must not say more, for our honourable friend is distinguished by that modesty which is inseparable from true merit. Without more preface I will give you "Dr. Stewart and long life to him." (Prolonged applause).
The toast was received with musical honours and hearty cheers.
Dr. STEWART, in reply, said—Your Excellency and gentlemen, I offer you my heartfelt thanks for the reception you have given to the toast of my health. I knew when I left the Central School that master and scholars parted with much mutual esteem and regret, but I could never have anticipated this day's kindly demonstration. I sincerely trust that the present Head Master may have as much pleasure in his work during the whole of his connection with the school, as I had, and that he and his colleagues may meet with the same kindly appreciation of his and their efforts. Gentlemen, I thank you again most cordially and most gratefully, (Applause).
Hon. F. S. JOHNSON proposed the next toast, "The Central School." He said—Your Excellency and gentlemen, I should at any time have had great pleasure in proposing the toast which has been committed to my charge if I could have felt that my ability to do justice to it were in any way equal to my good will. But, sir, I could not have a more appropriate occasion for asking all who are present to join me in expressing our good wishes for the prosperity of the Central School than the present one, which has been so felicitously chosen by the old pupils to pay a most graceful compliment to their former Head Master and our most esteemed friend Dr. Stewart. (Applause).
As we heard this morning expressed in very feeling terms by Dr. Ho Kai, a former pupil of the school, Dr. Stewart has been during a period of more than 20 years the warm friend, the consistent advocate, and the steady supporter of the Central School. It owes to him its primary organization, its main success, and, more than that, the promise of the still greater success which it would have achieved if we in this Colony had done our duty.
It cannot, sir, be denied that the Central School has had very chequered fortunes. I have been looking over the earlier Reports, and it is evident that when the Government first established educational establishments in this Colony the Chinese regarded them with some suspicion, but it soon became known to them that the character of the education supplied to them by this institution was very practical and valuable to them.
They found out that Chinese youths educated here qualified themselves for positions of trust in the colony, and in a very short time the class rooms were filled and in a few years, I may almost say in a few months, the accommodation provided in this school became too small and the staff of masters too few.
I have said that the colony failed in its duty to the school. I should rather have said that its failure to discharge that duty has been a colonial disgrace. In the early days of the school, as we all know, the revenue of the colony was unequal to the demands upon it, but of late years no such reason can be alleged for our neglect to provide adequate accommodation for the Treasury has been full to overflowing.
Sir, I have to express my fear that the School has suffered less from the avowed hostility of its open foes than from the insidious enmity of its professed friends. (Applause) It has been damaged by faint praise, it has been harshly criticised for administrative deficiencies by critics who alone had the power to remedy those deficiencies, its progress has been impeded by proposals for its reorganization which if adopted would have destroyed it—(applause)—and, finally, the question of its very existence was referred to a Commission on Education.
It is almost incredible but nevertheless the fact that although popular opinion has been for years past in favour of the rebuilding of this school, and although the plans and estimates were prepared and passed by the Government of Sir Arthur Kennedy and approved by the Secretary of State, yet on one plea after another for five years preceding the administration of my hon. friend the present Colonial Secretary those plans and proposals were not carried into effect by the Executive Government of the Colony, and it has now been reserved for your Excellency at this late period to carry into effect...
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į subjects in overy part of the world;-I mean the health of our gracious and beloved sovereign, the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Em- press of India, in Chinese phrase, the Ta Hwang Ti of the British Empire. The crown has been likened by a great English writer to "a balo round the sacred head of liberty," and it is revered as the golden link binding together the scattered communities of British subjects all over the globe, the scattered communities of that great English race which is overrunning the world from one and to the other, bearing with it to all races under its sway or influence, the blessings of its own well ordered freedom, its glorious memories of the past, and its stili more glorious hopes for the future. (Applause). Without further preface, gentlemen, I give you the Queen, God bless her. (Prolonged applause). Dr. Ho KAI proposed the next toast. He said-Gentlemen, I have great honour and pleasure in rising to propose the health of our much respected Governor, Sir George
bas Bowen, who Bo kindly honoured with his presence to-day. Nothing read be said by me to insure your cordial and enthusiastic re- ception of this toast, for although His Excellensy has not long been with us, he has already on- deared himself to all classes of Her Majesty's subjects in this Colony by his liberal policy, his great kindness and courtesy. In him our Sovereign the Queen finds a most worthy re- presentative, and his long and distinguished career 38 8 Governor has won him universal respect and esteem. To-day we are especially beholden to him for coming amongst ns, thus showing himself, as he always has done wherever he has been, a warm sympathizer with and pro. moter of education. (Applanso.) With much pleasure therefore I give you The Governor.”
The toast was entbusiastically received. HIS EXCELLENCY, iu replying to the toast, said-Gentlemen, I thank my friend Dr. Ho Kai most sincerely for the very Hattering way in which he has just proposed my health, and I thank you all from my heart for the enthusiastic manner in which you have honoured the toast. (Cheers). I am sure I am always glad to most Buch Chinese gentlemen as I see around mo to. day, not only on such a festive occasion as this but for every good object and for every public purpose. Governors, gentlemen, should speak by their acts, and I will only say on the present occasion that I intend to continue to devote all my efforts to secure the general prosperity and welfare of all races in this im- portant and interesting colony. (Applauso).
HIS EXCELLENCY continued-I see I am ex- pected to propose the next toast on the list, 80 without sitting down, I will at once give you what may be well called the toast of the day, the health of my distinguished friend Dr. Stewart, (Lond applause). As you all know, his former Chinese pupils bare in the most generous manner subscribed to found a Stewart Scholarship, thus to connect his dame for ever with the institution over which he so long pre- sided and to give him an enduring mark of their esteem and affection. (Applause). I am sure you will all agree with me the connection thus established is honourable slike to the Chinese gentlemen who hars made this gift and to the English gentleman who has received it. (Applause). Some years ago a banquet was viven to me in London by the representatives of those great Australian Colonies over which I presided for nearly twenty
years. Next morning a leading article appeared in the Times in which it was said that after such a supreme day of honour Sir George Bowca ought no longer to tempt fortune but ought to die at once. (Laughter). Well, gentleman, you 899 I bave preferred to survive, and I hope to be for a considerable time a link between this eo. lony and Great Britain. (Applause). I recollect once at a banquet given to me in Melbourne the Mayor in proposing my health said—“We revere our governors because they are the links that con- nect us with Great Britain." In responding said, I am sure, Mr. Mayor, you will rejoice that in my case the link is so atout-(laughter)-and likely to be so long preserved.” (Applause), I was disinclined to take the advice given me by the Times of dying the day after the banquet in London; I have preferred to survive, and you 809 I have been rewarded for my virtue in aur viving by becoming Governor of Hongkong and having the great pleasure of addressing to day. Now the moral of what I have been saying is obvious. I am sure you will see that my hon. friend Dr. Stewart, after receiving such honoar as he has been the recipient of to-day, should fel it his duty, after the advice of the Times, to dia-laughter)-but I am sure you will all agree with me in the hope that our
honourable
honourable and distinguished friend wili live for many a long year-applauso)-to confar on this colony as Registrar-General benefits equal to those be conferred on it as Head Master of the Central School. I am sure you will feel with me that he will continue to show in both fices the same calm and sound judgmont, the same impartiality, the same devotion to duty. I must not say more, for our honourable frioad is distinguished by that modesty which is inseparable from true merit. Without more preface I will give you" Dr. Stewart and long life to him." (Prolonged applause).
The toast was ropcived with tuusical honours and hearty cheers.
Dr. STEWART, in reply, said --Your Exuellency and gentlemen, I offer you my heartfelt thanks for the reception you have given to the toast of my health. I knew when I left the Central School that master and scholars parted with much mutual esteem and regret, but I could never have anticipated this day's kindly demonstration. I sincerely trust that the present Head Master may have as much pleasure in his work during the whole of his nonnection with the school, as I bad, and that he and bis colleagues may meet with the same kindly appreciation of his and their sfforts. Gentlemen. I thank you again most pordially and most gratefully, ¡Applause).
Hon. F. 8. JOHNSON proposei the next toast. "The Central School." Ho said-Your Excel. lenoy and gentlemen I should at any time have had great pleasure in proposing the toast which has been oommitted to my charge if I could have felt that my ability to do justice to it were in any way equal to my good will. But, sir. I could not have a more appropriate occasion for asking all who are present to join me is expres- sing our good wishes for the prosperity of the Contral School than the present one, which has been so folicitously chosen by the old pupila to pay a most gracefal compliment to their for- mer Head Master and our most esteemed friend Dr. Stewart. (Applause). As we beard this morning expressed in very feeling terms by Dr. Ho Kai, a formor pupil of the school, Dr. Ste- wart has beon during a period of more than 20 years the warm friend, the consistent advocate, and the steady supporter of the Central School. į It owes to him its primary organization, its main suneess, and, more than that, the promise of the still greater success which it would have achieved if we in this Colony had done our duty. It cannot, sir, be denied that the Central School has had very chequerad fortunes. I have hoen looking over the earlier Reports, and it is evident! that when the Government first established educational establishments in this Colony the Chinese regarded them with sorce suspicion,
but
it soon became known to them that the character of the education supplied to them by this institution was very practical and valuable to thom. They found ont that Chinese youths educated here qualified them- selves for positions of trust in the colour, and in a very short time the class rooms were filled and in a few years, I may almost say in a few months, the accommodation provided in this school became too small and the staff of master too few. I have said that the colony failed in its duty to the school. I should rather have said that its failure to discharge that duty has been a colonial disgrace. In the early daya of the school, as we all know, the revenue of the colony was unequal to the demands upon it, but of late years nosach reason can be alleged for our neglect to provide adequate accommodation for the Treasury has been fall to overflowing. Sir, I have to express my fear that the School has suffered less from the avowod bostility of its open foes than from the insidious anmity of its professed friends. (Applause) It has basu damaged by faint praise, it has been barshly oriticised for administrative deficiencies by orities. who alone had the power to remedy those defi. ciencies, its progress has been impeded by pro. posals for its reorganization which if adopted would have destroyed it-(applanso)-and, fual- ly, the question of its very existence was referred to a Commission on Education. It is almost incredible but nevertheless the fact that although popular opinion has been for years past in favour of the rebuilding of this school, and although the plans and estimates were prepared and passed by the Government of Sir Arthur Kon- nedy and approved by the Secretary of State, vet on one plea after aunther for five years preceding the administration of my hon. friend the present Colonial Secretary those plans and proposals were not aside by the Exeontive Government of the Colony, and it has now been reserved for your Excellency at this late period to carry into
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