and in the other corps which assisted. It was noble work and I think the men did their work most nobly. (Applause). Every man worked hard and gallantly; I never had to find fault with a single man. The pieces of plate which have been presented to us will be valuable mementoes to record the good work of the men in this Battalion and in the Royal Engineers and other corps who have done their duty and maintained the honourable names handed down to them by their predecessors in the different corps. (Applause). Whenever we look at these pieces of plate, it will be an incentive to all of us to do our duty and to work hard wherever duty calls, in whatever colony or in whatever place we may have to serve. The plague time was a trying period for the colony, and I hope the new year will bring success and happiness and prosperity to the colony and community and will also bring health and happiness to your Excellency. The silver shield will be much appreciated by the sergeants. Nothing better could have been given to the men than the football cup, which will encourage a love for healthy sports and recreations in the Regiment, That football cup will be played for every year, and I will see, so long as I am with the Regiment, that the men are not allowed to forget the reason why it was presented to us, and that the winning team shall have a dinner or something of that kind every year in memory of it. With reference to the piece of plate presented to the Royal Engineers, I am quite sure Colonel Mulloy and Lieut. Boys will write themselves to thank the Colony. I know personally that Lieut. Boys worked hard the whole time of the plague. But we must not forget that many others had to work hard who were not actually engaged in plague work in the city. The medical officers assisted me in every way, and if it had not been for their energy and kindness there would have been a great deal more sickness amongst the men, and to the Medical Staff of the Civil Hospital and the Sisters the Regiment owes a deep debt of gratitude for the care and attention they paid to the late Capt. Vesey and the other men who suffered from the plague. On behalf of Mrs. Vesey, I thank you for doing a very kind and thoughtful deed in sending this gold medal to her. Her son was beloved by her. He had a good property, but his love for his Regiment kept him out here when he might have gone home. I beg to thank you on behalf of Mrs. Vesey and the Regiment for perpetuating his memory by erecting a tablet in St. John's Cathedral, and also convey my thanks to the Colony for the kindness they have shown the men not only now but during the plague by coming forward to give the men the comforts which helped to keep them in good health and good spirits during their trying work. I thank you for presenting myself with a piece of plate, which I shall always treasure as a valuable relic. It will always be an honourable record of the kindly feeling of the Colony to my Regiment and of the good work done by the officers and men under my command. (Loud applause).
On the call of the Acting Chief Justice three cheers were heartily given by the spectators for the officers and men.
Colonel Robinson then called for three cheers for the Governor. He said they wished His Excellency all success and happiness, and for the colony success and good luck.
At 11.30 the troops filed away, the Engineers leading, and the Band playing "Till death,” thus ending this memorable and beautiful ceremony.
To the list of officers mentioned and thanked by the Governor should be added the name of Captain Murray, A.D.C. to the Major-General Commanding. The Committee have recognised the very laborious and useful work performed by Captain Murray, and will duly convey their thanks to him. We are authorized to state that had he been in the colony his name would have been included in his Excellency's list.
In connection with the medals to be presented we have gathered the following interesting details: There will be 695 silver medals and 46 gold ones. The Committee have offered a prize of £10 for the best design, and the details of the competition are to be arranged by Mr. Allan Wyon, the leading steel die-engraver at the London Mint. The determination of the successful design and the award for the same are to be made jointly by Mr. Wyon and Mr. J. M. Price, the late Surveyor General of Hongkong. The medal will be the size of an American gold dollar and will be stamped on the reverse side with the following inscription: "Presented by the Hongkong community to — (the name will here be engraved) for services rendered during the plague of 1894." The gold medals will be in cases and the silver ones punched with a hole and swung on a ribbon. The Committee have also applied to the home authorities for permission for the soldiers to wear these medals, and have reason to hope that such will be granted.
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and in the other corps which assisted. It was noble work and 1 think the men did their work most nobly. (Applause). Every man worked hard and gallantly; I never had to find fault with a single man. The pieces of plate which have ben presente i to ns will be valuablo mementoes to re- cord the good work of the men in this Battalion and in the Royal Engineers and other corps who have done their duty and maintained the honourable names handed down to them by their predecessors in the different corps. (Ap- plause). Whenever we look at these piro-s of plate, it will be an incentive to all of us to do our duty and to work hard wherever duty calls, in whatever colong er in whatever place we may have to servo. The plague time was a trying period for the colony, and I hope the new year will bring success and happiness and prosperity to the colony and com- munity and will also bring health and happiness to your Excellency. The silver shield will be much appreciated hy the sergeants. Nothing better could have been given to the men than the football oup, which will ensonrage a love for healthy sports and recreations in the Regiment, That fotball cup will be played for every year, and I will see, so long as I am with the Regiment, that the men are not allowed to forget the reason why it was presented to us, and that the winning team shall have a dinner or something of that kind every year in memory of it. With reference to the piece of plate pre- sented to the Royal Engineers, I am quite sure Colonel Mulloy and Lieut. Boys will write them- solves to thank the Colony. I know personally that Lient. Boys worked hard the whole time of the plague But we must not forget that many others had to work hard who were not actually engaged in plague work in the city. The medical officers assisted me in every way, and if it had not boon for their energy and kindness there would have been a great deal more sickness amongst the men, and to the Medical Staff of the Civil Hospital and the Sisters the Regiment owes a deep bebt of gratitude for the care and attention they paid to the late Capt Vesey and the other men who suffered from the plague. On ba- half of Mrs. Vesey, I thank you for doing a very kind and thoughtful deed in sending this gold medal to her. Her son was beloved by her. He had a good property, bat his love for his Regimout kept him out here when he might have gone home. I beg to thank you on behalf of Mrs. Vesey and the Regiment for perpetuating his memory by erecting a tablet in St. John's Cathedral, and also convey my thanks to the Colony for the kindness they have shown the men not only now but during the plague by coming forward to give the men the comforts which helped to keep them in good health and good spirits daring their trying work. I thank you for presenting myself with a piece of plats, which I shall always treasure as a valuable relic. It will always be an honourable record of the kindly feeling of the Colony to my Regiment and of the good work Joue by the offers aud men ander my command. Loud applause),
On the call of the Acting Chief Justion three cheers were beartily given by the spectators for the officers and men.
Colonel Robinson then oalled for three obvers for the Governor. He said they wished His Excellency all success and happiness, aud tor the colony success and good luck,
At 11.30 the troops filed away, the Engineers loading, and the Band playing "Trus till death,” thus eading this memorable and beautiful core- mony.
To the list of offloors mentioned and thanked by the Governor should be added the name of Captain Marray, A.DC, to the Major-General Commanding. The Committee have recognised the very laborious and useful work performed by Captain Marray, and will duly convey their thanks to him, We are authorized to state that had he been in the colony his name would have been included in his Excelleney's list.
In charection with the medals to be presented we have gathered the following interesting de tails:There will be 695 silver medals and 46- gold ores The Committee have offered a prize
of £10 for the best design, and the details of the competition are to be arranged by Mr. Allan Wyon, the leading steel die-angraver at the Lon- don Mint. The determination of the successful design and the award for the same are to be made jointly by Mr. Wyon aud Mr. J. M. Price, the late Surveyor General of Hongkong. The medal will be the size of an Ameriosa gold dollar and will be stamped on the reverse side with the fol lowing inscription: "Presented by the Hong- kong community to-(the name will here be en- graved for services rendered during the plague of 1894. The gold medals will be in cases and the silver onss punched with a hole and swang on a ribbon. The Committee have also applied to the home authorities for permission for the soldiers to wear these medals, and have reason to hope that such will be granted.
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