authority on the paramount subject of finance and trade. (Cheers). We know also that he is admirably qualified to speak about that pros perity of Hongkong which he has himself done so much to promote. (Loud cheers). I will remark only that, as we all know, little! » more than forty years have passed since the British flag was first hoisted on this island, then a barren and desolate rock, but which already, through the blessing of Providence on the energy and enterprise of our race, has arisen to be the third greatest mart of shipping in the world. (cheers). And lot it never be forgotten į that in this colony the victorious industry of our countrymen has made a conquest, not only over man, but over Nature; not for this generation only, but for all posterity-(cheers); not for England only, but for all mankind; for we admit all nations alike to the privileges of our free port, and to the protection of our equal laws. (Cheers). Gentlemen, I second the toast proposed by my gallant friend the French Admiral--" Prosperi. ty to Hongkong." (Loud cheers).
to
The Band-" Jolly good luck to na all."
me
Hon. T. JACKSON, who was received with loud! and long continued cheering, in responding to į the toast, said Mr. Chairman, I thank His Ex- cellency the Governor and the French Admiral for the very nice way in which they have alluded to the prosperity of Hongkong. I would like to join with them in wishing for Hongkong a little more prosperity than we
now posses". (Laughter and cheers.) I have always been a very firm believer in the prosperity of Hong- kong, and I am more so now than ever. (Loud cheers.) A very distinguished officer recent- ly said at the Mansion House, India
everything." is
That was Sir Frederick Roberts, and I may say like Sir Frederick Roberts, "Hongkong to me is every- thing." (Loud and long continued cheering.) Situated as we are here, on the confines of per- haps one of the greatest empires in the world, I don't see the end of the prosperity yet in store for Hongkong. (Renewed cheers). I remember when Cyprus was added to the do-i minions of the Birtish Crown there was a great deal of excitement in England about it, and the reason was that it was adjacent- to Asia Minor. But here we are in our tight little island adjacent to Asia Major-(cheers)- which is a thousand times more important than Asia Miner, with all its Turks and over `- body else. (Laughter and cheers). Gentlemen, we have reason to be proud of Hongkong-Hong- kong is the mother of so many little companies -langhter and cheers)—and of so many little industries. We have our sugar refinerios-- (laughter-glass manufactory, ropa works, which will spin us many a good yarn in time to come- (laughter and applause)-and the last little bantling is the saké manfactory. (Laughter.) As I have said elsewhere, the freedom of the port is our birthright; and I remember in this very ball, when the late Sir Arthur Kennedy was sitting where Bir George Bowen is sitting now, he said, "Whatever may come or go stand up for your rights and privileges." (Cheers). I say, Sir, that of our rights and privileges the first and foremost is our being a free port, and nothing must interfere with that. (Long con- tinued chaors). Gentlemen, if you will bear with me for a little while I would say that instead of hatching legislation which is likely to interfere with the shipping of Hong- kong, which is the life and soul of our pros- pority (cheers)—instead of constituting & Seylla and Charybdis here, we should do all we can to draw shipping here by every possible means. (Cheers,) Sie, it only requires a little of the prophetic eye to look forward to the time. and only a little time-long before my young friends present will have entered the ranks of old bufferdom-when perhaps we shall be taking ap a Hongkong Daily Press some morning and reading of the launch in Hongkong of the latest addition to the Navy from the shipbuilding and engineering works of the Hongkong and Wham- pos Dock Company, Limited, and that the vessel as she glided down into the water was named by Miss Morant the Dowell-loud cheers,)--and
after the ceremony was over Sir Digby Morant and all the assembled company repaired to the residence of our colonial peer, Lord Chater of Kowloon (loud cheers and laughter)-where success to the new rassel was drank. Grantle- men, I have grast pleasure in responding to this toast. I am enra we all feel it very keenly.
Laughter and cheers.)
Hoa. W. KESWICK-Mr. Chairman, Your Excellency, and gentlemen, I have the honour to propose the health of the representatives of for eirn countries in this colony. The Consuls- General and Consuls in this colony represent, I believe, seventeen governments, and the official duties of these gentlemen are fro quently of an important and of a delicate character. We know that these delicate and im- portant daties have been performed by these re- presentatives with distinguished ability and dis- tinguished courtesy. (Applause). It is too late now for me to make many remarks in introdus. ing this toast to your hearty approval, for the speeches to which we have already listened with so much attention, and I trust benefit, have already occupied a considerable time, and I know that the toast which I have to propose is one which requires few words to ask you to re- spond to. (Cheers.) Gentleman, I beg to propose the toast of the Foreign Representatives and to couple with it the name of the distinguished American citizen who represents America amongst us. (Cheers.)
Colonel WETHERS- Ar Chairman and gentle- men, I would preface what I have to say by stating that I do not propose to occupy more than five minutes of your valuable time, because hap- pening to meet with a very charming lady this evening she remarked, "I understand you are going to spank to-night. Please make it short because we want to dance.” (Applause.) Recognis- ing that request as a command I shall not occupy much of your time. I must return my thanks to the Committee for having done me honour to select me to respond to this toast. It is not remarkable that the Consular Service should have received recogni tion at the hands of a community so commercial as this, for to the Consula is due to some extent, and to an inconsiderable extent, that phenomenal growth and prosperity of which we have heard so many boasts made to-night. For more than two thousand years this consular office has been recognised amongst all civilized nations as indispensable to commercial prosperity and progress; and the vast strides which com- merce has made during the last century has drawn the attention of every civilized Gov- ernment to the importance of selecting the men who can best discharge those duties in such shape as to further that prosperity. (Applause.) I would gladly occupy a portion of your time in drawing an ideal picture of what a cousul should be, but I cannot do it when I recognise the no- cessities of my surrounding. I can only say that while prudence and politeness are indispensable to a consul and are found invaluable in the proper discharge of his duties, there are other qualities equally necessary. Although I find myself sur- rounded by the representatives of the army and navy I dare to assert that while a clear, wise and unbiassed mind is essential to the dis- charge of consular duties, to that clear, wise and unbiassed intellect should be added the brave heart that shrinks from no danger. (Ap- plause) I say this because the consul has fre- quently occasion to call these attributes into active service in times of revolution, of anarchy, or of war. The Consul is also frequently called upon to meet danger when others can es- cape from it, in times of pestilence, when infec- tion is abroad. When the promptings of self- preservation demand that all others shall flee, the Consul, devoted to the interests of the Government he represents, must stand at his post. This, I say, requires a degree of bra- very and firmness which if exhibited in the fury of battle would win reputation and renown. (Applause). In conclusion I can only say, as the representative of the Consular Service on this occasion, I return my cordial thanks to the gentleman whom we have met especially to honour for the uniform kindness.
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