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COMPLIMENTARY FAREWELL BAN- QUET TO SIR GEORGE BOWEN, GOVERNOR OF HONGKONG,
Last night a complimentary farewell banquet was given to His Excellency Sir George Fergu- son Bowen, G.C.M.G., Governor of Hongkong, in St. Andrew's Hall, City Hall. There was a : numerous attendance, the banquet being the largest that has ever taken place in this colony, no less than 160 gentlemen sitting down to dinner. The chair was occupied by His Honour Chief Justice Sir George Phillippo, and the Vice- Chairmen were the Hon. T. Jackson, Hon. F. D. Sassoon, Messrs. A. P. MoEwen, C. P. Chater and J. Melville Matson. The Governor sat on the right of the Chairman, and Vico-Admiral Vesey Hamilton, C.B., on his left.
The following gentlemen formed the General Committee :-
His Honour Sir George Phillippo, Chairman; the Hon. W. H. Marsh, C.M.G.; the Hon. Fre derick Stewart; the Hon. E. L. O'Malley; the Hon. A. Lister; the Hon. J.M. Price; His Honour Mr. Justice Russell; His Honour Mr. Justice Ackroyd; the Hon. W. Keswick; the Hon. T. Jackson; the Hon. F. D. Sassoon; the Hon. Wong Shing; the Right Rev. Bishop Raimondi Monsieur Leon Dejardin. Consul for France; Dr. O: F. von Mollendorff, Consul for Germany; Colonel Withers, Consul for the United States; Dr. P. B. C. Ayres; Messes. C. D. Bottomley, E. R. Belilios, A. Coxon, C. P. Chater, G. de Champeaux, W. H. F. Darby, W. M. Deane, W. Durran; Major-General Gordon; Messrs. M. Grote, David Gillies, H. Hoppins, E. H. Hun- tingdon; Rev. W. Jennings; Messrs. John Mac- gregor, A. McConachie, A. P. McEwen, J. Melville Matson, Mortimer E. Murray, H. N. Mody, G. E. Noble, L. Poesnecker A. G. Ro- mano (Consul for Portugal),C. Stiebel, J. Thur- burn, A. G. Wise, and H. E. Wodehouse.
The Working Committee consisted of the fol- |lowing gentlemen:-
The Hon. J. M. Price; the Hon. T. Jackson; the Hon. F. D. Sassoon; Messrs. C. D. Bottom-
ley, A. Coxon, C. P. Chater, W. M. Deane, H. ·
| Hoppius, A. P. McEwen, and J. Melville Mat
son, Hon. Secretary,
Subjoined are the names of the other subscri- bors to the banquet in the order of signature --
Vice-Admiral Hamilton, Major-General Cam- ! eron, Major Brooke, R.E,; Messrs. A. Findlay Smith, H. M. Bevis, D. H. Mackintosh, W. Gaskell, S. Barff, D. Noronha, J. Dyer Ball, H.C. Setna, E. E. Pallanjee Setna, S. D. Sotne, J. Jamasjee, H. St. Clair Greeley, H. F. Hayllar, D. Musso (Consul for Italy), A. Seth, L. P. Marques, J. A. Carvalho; Colonel Crawford, R.A.; Messrs. A. G. Stokes, A. K. Travers; Captain Long. R.N.; Major Riddell, R.A.; Commodore Morant, R.N.; Captain Pearson, R.N.; Messrs. H. H. Jukes, N. A. Sieba; Captain Rumsey, R.N Major Dempster, A.P.D.; Lient-Colonai Murray, 0.8.D.; Dr. Manson; Messrs. S. E. Shellim, J. T. Chater, E. C. Ray, G. T. Jordan, C. C. Cohen, V. H. Deacon, C. E. Bowles, D. E. Sassoon, Sidney Hancock, E. Jones Haghes, W. Hartigan, B. Byramjee, W. G. Humphreys; Major Tripp, Captain Francis, Lients. McCallum, Mossley, Woolley, and Holmes, Hongkong Volunteer Artillery; Mr. H. Poate; Dr. Hungerford, Army Medical Department; Messrs. A. Falconer,
Speach of the Chief Justred ऋ
R. C. Wilcox, T. I. Rose (Consul for Siam), Granville Sharp, Teiske Minami (Consul for Japan), H. Z. Just, J. H. Stewart-Lockhart; Lieut. Colonel Le Masurier, C. and T.D.; L'É. Farquhar, R.N.; Messrs. E. Bebre, G. T. hop- kine; Lieut. A. K. Knapton, R.N., Flag Lieut. ¡ Messrs. N. G. Mitchell-Innes, C. Heyman, D.
B. Tata, J. M. E. Machado, F. Machado, A. F. Alves, A. J. Rozario, A. P. Guterrez, J. G. T. Hassell, A. P. Stokes; the Very Rev. G. Burg- hignoli, Mr. C. A. Tomes; Captain Maturio, R.A.; Messrs. Samuel Hughes, Dinshaw Now. rojee, J. K. Dealy, and John D. Humphreys.
The following were invited guests, in addition to the guest of the evening-Rear-Admiral Rieunier, Captain Dupuis, Captain Blanc, French Navy; Colonel Walker, R.E.; Dr. Fisher. R.N.; Major Davies, Assistant Military Secretary; Colonel Foster, Captains Power and Bolton, Lients. Parkin, Little, Metcalfe, Bram. well, Drew, Lowther, Podler, and Quarter-master Wallace, Northamptonshire Regiment; Captain Hoffmier, H.I.G.M. Navy; Commanders Alleyne, Davis, Hill, Moore, and Hotham, R.N.; Lients. Breeks, Bowen, and Somerville, A.D.C.s; Mosers. Dent and Keey, R.N.; Messrs. Clement Allen and E. E. Porter.
St. Andrew's Hall was decorated with festoons of green leaves, flags and pot plants, and made
to look bright and pretty, and three long tables were set out, taking almost the entire length of the room, with a cross table at the head, in the centre of which sat the Chairman, with a Vice- Chairman at the bead of each side table, on either hand, and another at the foot of each of the three tables.
St. George's Hall was also neatly decorated, the doors being curtained with flags, and ferns, moss, and pot plants being used with good effect. A capital dancing floor was prepared. The ants- room was decorated in the same way, and a por tion of the Chamber of Commerce room was partitioned off and a refreshment buffet estab.. lished thore.
The entrance hall and staircase were also very effectively decorated with pot plants and wreaths of green leaves, presenting a very pleasing ap pearance.
The banquet commenced at 7.15 o'clock p.m., the Band playing "The Roast Beef of Old Eugland." The following were the after dinner speeches :---
The CHAIRMAN-The first toast on the list for this evening is the usual loyal toast, the health of Her Majesty the Queen. I ask you to join me in drinking that toast.
The toast was drank upstanding, with three cheers.
The Band" God Save the Queen."
The CHAIRMAN-The next toast on the list is the health of the Prince and Princess of Walos, and the rest of the Royal Family.
The toast was drunk with similar honours. The Band-"God Bless the Prince of Wales." The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, the next toast I have to propose is the health of His Excellency the Governor. (Applause). We are met together ou this occasion, as you all know, in compliment to his Excellency the Governor, and for the pur- pose of bidding him farewell publicly, as he is shortly about to depart from us, in all probability never to return. It is now nearly three years since he first assumed the government of this Colony. He came to us at a somewhat critical period of our history, no novic in the manage- ment of affairs, but as an old and tried Governor, with great experience in the conduct of business,
having successfully governed some of the most important colonies in the British empire-00- lonies which have already made a place in history and which are undoubtedly destined to take a foremost place among the nations of the world. (Cheers). For his services before he came amongst us he had already received from the hands of Her Majesty one of the highest rewards that it is usual to bestow for distin- guished public service, viz., the Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St George. (Applause). His services to this community have been recognized on more than one occasion, and only recently in their farewell address by the Legislative Council-(applause)- body which, comprising as it does nearly all the members of the Executive Council in addition to some of the leading members of the general community, has naturally been brought into more intimate relationships with the Governor than any other portion of the public and is best able to judge of their value. (Hear, hear). It would ill become me on the present occasion and in the present assembly, which is not met to- gether for political purposes, and especially in my position to enter into any question having any bearing upon politics. (Hear, hear.) This I can say for myself that I know that His Ex- cellency has always taken a very great interest in every thing that be considered was for the best interest of the community-(applause)-—and I think I can take it upon myself in the name of all who are present to assure the Governor in similar language to that used by the Legislative Council in its farewell address, that his administration will always be associated in our minds with much personal kindness, consideration, and hospitality (cheers)-a hospitality which I may observe owed a great portion of its charm to the deserved popularity of Lady Bowen and her daughters in the first portion of His Excellency's administra- tion, a hospitality which was not slackened during their necessary but regretted absence, and which has again during the last few months been brightened by the presence of one of His Ex- cellency's daughters and of his only son. (Renewed and prolonged applause.) I am sure also that we all sympathize with the Governor in the prospect of his approaching retirement from public life. It will undoubtedly be a trial to him to give up the active parsaits in which he has been hitherto engaged, the ploa- sures as well as the anxieties of public life, and the degree of state to which he has boon acons tomed, for the comparative simplicity and retire- ment of private life. We have all of us, how. ever, to look forward to relinquishing the aotive pursuits of life, but there is some con- solation for us all if we are able to carry with as in our retirement the assurance that in the days of our activity wa faithfully endea- voured to perform our various duties to the boat of our ability. (Applause.) But the Governor, with his experience, need not, unless he pleases, livo merely a life of lettered oase, and there are more useful services in which he cau be engaged than even in administering the Av affairs of an important Colony such as this. There has been of late a growing tendency both in the mother country and in the Colonies to tighten and strengthen the bonds of union now existing between them-(applause--and there has also been a growing and strong desire to enter into closer relationship between ourselves and onr grent kindred nation. (Hear, hear.) Next year will. be an eventful year in this respect. The new buildings of The Royal Colonial In- stitute will be opened--a Society of which Sir George Bowen has long been a mem- bor-applause)-end which, together with its off-shoot, the Empire Club, has done so much to bring Colonial questions prominently forward. before the public at home. Leading colonists from all parts of the Empire will take part in the Colonial Exhibition, to which we are about sending our modest contribution, including many from Colonies over which Sir George Bowen has had the honour during his long career of having been appointed Governor. There will also be the American Exhibition of Inventions, which will attract to London many of the load-
Speech & You für
Bry
able
of
ing citizens of the United States, and to wal- come whom & Council consisting of most of the leading men in the British possessions, and amongst whom I have no doubt Sir George Bowen's name is already to be found, has been formed by American residents in Loudon and promoters of the Exhibition, avowedly for the purpose of strengthening the friendly relation- ships between the great English speaking ua- tions who have one language and oue literature in common, whose great men and our great men, and whose uoble women and our noble women are the same-(applause)-and who all inherit the glorious deeds and love of liberty of unr an- cestors. (Renewed applause). And to crowu all, it will be the jubilee year of our Most Gracious So- vereign Her Majesty the Queen. (Loud cheers), The movements which have commenced cannot fail to be accelerated by these events, and His Excellency will no doubt be called upon to take an active part in them, and if as the result of the consultations and deliberations which are even now taking place any satisfactory measures can be discovered which will have theef- fect of bringing Great Britain and Ireland, their colonies and dependencies into closer union, espe- cially if in addition we and our kindred nation, the Great Republic of the United States of America (loud applause)-the citizens whom I believe venerate and respect our Queen in almost if not in quite the same degree as we do ourselves (applause)-could be brought closer and more unitedly together it would be of so greata service to the world at large as to reflect! the highest amount of credit and honor on all concerned in bringing it ahont. Hear, hear). Such & union would hold out no menace to foreign powers but would, I should hope, have a tendency to hasten the period when reason and not force, right and not might, shall prevail among all the nations of the earth. (Cheers). In conclusion I may say I know that I can safely assure the! Governor of the best wishes of you all hear. hear and cheers)-that he may have a safe and pleasant voyage home-that he may thoroughly enjoy himself during his stay in that old and interesting country which he purposes visiting on his way-(bear, hearthat he may have a happy meeting with the remainder of his family in England (applause)--and, if so be that he never returns to us again, we trust that he will continue to take the same kindly interest in the welfare of the Colony that he has taken since the first day he came among us-hear, hear) and that again using similar language to that contained in the address before referred to, we hope that he may long enjoy the rest earned by more than a quarter of a century's service and that his unequalled experience may be found of service in the Councils of the Empire. (Cheers). I have now the great pleasure of pro-
posing the health of His Excellency the Gov.
ernor Sir George Ferguson and to ask you to unite with me in wishing him all happi- ness, prosperity and success in his future career.
(Load cheers).
The Band-" God Save the Queen."
The toast was drunk with musical honoura and three times three.
His EXCELLENCY, who was received with pro- longed and most enthusiastic applause, said-
Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I thank His Honour the Chief Justice for the Battering and eloquent speech in which he has just proposed my health-a speech, I may add, which derives additional weight and significance from his own high office and character, which are most fully appreciated throughout this Colony, (Applause. i And I thank for the hearty, unanimous, and entun- siastic manner in which they have responded to: the toast this large and trnly representation i assemblage of all that is eminent and distinguished in the society of this Colony. (Applause). I see around 116 the Ad- miral and General Commanding Her Majesty's Forces on this Station, from whom I have al- ways received the most loyal and cordial co-ope- ration and support; together with the French Admiral and many other distinguished foreign officers, with whom I have always boon in en
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