CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6] — Page 44

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rapid increase in the extent and virulence of the plague had disorganised all labour, and rendered it difficult for the Committee to get the dead removed from the hospitals and properly disposed of with the means at their disposal. You succeeded in at once introducing order and regularity into the service, and in affecting very considerable economies, and from that time forward the Committee were relieved from all troubles and under no auxiety as to the dead.

The Permanent Committee have further to thank you for undertaking, at their request, the general supervision of the men of the Royal Navy and others employed in the launches and at the fires along the Praya, established for the destruction of rubbish removed from the houses in the city.

The Permanent Committee are sending a copy of this letter to the Colonial Secretary for submission to His Excellency the Governor.

I have, &c.,

(Signed),

JNO. J. FRANCIS, Chairman.

Commander William C. II. Hastings, R,N., &c., &c., &c.

HONG KONG

sir,

Enclosure 2.

Hong Kong,

41

12703

Colonial Secretary's Office.

adfiel 2th May, 1898.

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Dear Sin.—On behalf of the Plague Recognition Committee, we have great pleasure in asking

25th September, 1893. you to accept the accompanying Medal as a slight token of the gratitude of the people of Hong Kong for the services rendered by you during the plague of 1891.

We are,

Yours faithfully,

A. COXON, Chairman,

VICTOR H. DEACON, T. SERCOMBE SMITH,

Secretaries. Honorary

To Honourable Captain Hastings, R.N.

I have the honour to ask Your Excellency to

recommend me to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State

for the Colonies for appointment as Police Magistrate in

the event of that office being vacated by the retirement of

Mr. H. E. Wodehouse, C. M. G.,on pension.

HONG KONG, January, 1895.

2. I enclose two memoranda, the one contain- ing a statement of my services, the other dealing with the question of the salary of the post.

To Commander WILLIAM CHARLES HOLLAND HASTINGS, R.N. SIR--At a Public Meeting, presided over by His Excellency Sir William Robinson, Governor of Hong Kong, held on the 27th September last, at the City Hall, it was unanimously resolved that the services rendered to the community during the recent visitation of plague by those who assisted in its repression were worthy of public recognition, and a large and influential Committee, representing all sections of our community, was appointed to give effect to that resolution.

On behalf, therefore, of that Committee, and in the name of the community, we beg to tender to you the community's deep and heartfelt thanks for the services which you rendered to the Colony in her hour of trial, by your constant presence in the stricken district whilst the plague was raging there, to superintend and carry out the arduous duties relating to the removal and interment of the dead, and by assisting the local authorities by every means in your power to arrest the fatal progress of the disease.

We have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient servants,

EDW. J. ACKROYD, Chairman.

VICTOR H. DEACON,

T. SERCOMBE SMITH,

DUBLIN: Printed by ALEX. TUOM & CO. (Limit 1), 87, 88, & 83, Abbey street,

The Queen's Printing Ofttee.

I have the honour to be,

sir,

Major-General Wilsone Black, C. B.

Your Excellency's most

obedient Servant,

Dercombes lauett

Officer Administering the Government.

} Secretaries.

His Excellency

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