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The Governor and Committee then crossed the i square to the shrouded status of the Princess of Wales, which was next to be revealed. All round the enclosed statue were squads of the Buffs, and in close vicinity were the Hongkong Volunteers, who were in charge of Captains Andrews, Wolfe and Craik.
透
Gan
The enclosed square from which the unveiling ceremony was conducted was occupied by His Excellency the Governor, Major General Broadwood and Commodore Lyon, and by Mr. H. N. Mody, the generous donor of the statue. Mr. H. N. Mony said:-Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen,~~It is with the greatest pleasure that I now call upon your Excellency to unveil, and take over for the community, the statue of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales. The embellishment of the very few open spaces we possess in this Colony is, I think, an object worthy of the attention of those who have the good fortune to be able to take hand in doing so, nor
this object be better attained than by the erection of statues of those to whom we owe allegiance, devotion and love. It was, there- fore, with the greatest pleasure that, on the opportunity being afforded me to do something in this line, I offered, subject to the sanotion of His Majesty Our King and to the consent of the Royal Personage immediately concerned, to present to the Colony the statue you are now about to unveil. His Majesty's sanction was readily granted, and Her Royal Highness very graciously consented to give the necessary sittings to Mr Wade, the sculptor selected whose works of art are numerous and well known, and I am given to understand he has produced a very speaking likeness, which it is now my proud pleasure to present to this Colony. We may well be proud
of the fact that we hold the honour of possessing the very first statue of our Gracious Princess that has as yet been erected, though one is now being prepared for India. Like our present Gracious Queen, the Princess of Wales has always shown a keen interest in all works of mercy and charity. Long may she be spared to do so. With these few remarks I now ask your Excellency to unveil the statue.
HIS EXCELLENCY said Mr. Mody, Ladies and Gentlemen,-The addition of this statue of H.R.H. the Princess of Wales completes the group which forms our "Royal Square," and so soon as the building sheds, which I regret will still for some time disfigure
it, are removed, this Square will form a worthy and dignified approach to the Colony from the sea. The statue has been presented by Mr. H. N. Mody, who is ever ready to come forward to promote the welfare and add to the beauty and utility of the Colony, in which he has spent the greater part of his life. In the name of the Colony I thank him for his generous gift. Of Her Royal Highness and of the Prince of Wales it may be said that no prospective King and Queen of England have ever travelled so largely and seen so much of the
Britisk
Empire as they have. It is significant of the increased importance with which the British Colonies are now regarded by the Mother country that their Royal Highnessos should thus have made themselves personally familiar with the sister nations those destinies are linked with those of the British Isles, and with the Colonies, which, like Hongkong, are 80 important to the trade and to the naval supremacy of Great Britain. We are also proud that our future Queen will be the first for many centaries to be British-boru. May Their Royal Highnesses be rouchsafod by Providence long liras, so that in due course they may reign over a united and loyal and patriotic Empire!, At the request of the generous donor I now unveil the status, and present it in his name to the Colony to which in so many ways he has been a benefactor.
A bugle then sounded, the shroud enclosing the status fell, and four Union Jacks were run up to the corner poles of the scaffolding which had enclosed the Princess. The band then played, a royal salute was given and all hats were doffed to the revivified Princess.
THE MARCH PAST.
His Excellency the Governor, the General Officer Commanding, the Commodore and the General Staff then mounted the steps of the Queen's Status to view the march past,
The Union
Jack Was unfurled on the
flagstaff, and naval gunners near Queen's Statue Pier fired a salute. The booming of the gans and the cheers of the spectators proved s
unto heart-whole "Health
Ilis Majesty," and the troops started on the march past.
The Bluejackets, with their machine-like evolutions, well filled the premier post in the pageant, while the marines took second place with no less distinction. Then followed the Royal Artillery, the H.K.S.B.R.G.A., the Royal Engineers, the Buffs with their historical colours, the Volunteers, the Mahrattas andthe Rajputs, the two latter displaying banners which have earned the adoration of all Britous.
THE NAVAL REVIEW.
of
The end of the march past concluded the proceedings in Statue Square, and the spectators then wended their way to the Naval Yard. The impassible gates this usually secluded quarter were thrown open, and a large orowd of spectators filled the com. pound to witness the evolutions of the first defence of the Empire. Those in charge of the parade wore Commodore Lyon, Commander J. Nicholas, H. M. 8. Flora, Commander Suith H.M.S. Monmouth, Commander Actou, H.M.8. Tamur, Commander Pyke, H. M. S. Mon. mouth, Lieut. Chilcott and Lieut. Dukes Hughes.
A bugle call sunounced the arrival of IF, E. the Governor at the Naval Yard, simultaneous with which the big Union Jack at the saluting base and the two White Eusigns were unfurled. A royal salute followed, and then his Excellency inspected the bluejackets and marines.
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