CHURCHES (Continuation)
The Cheero Club have all done splendid work.
To-day there is no club or recreation room on the Kowloon side of the harbour. But it was not always so. On April 2, 1895, the Kowloon Institute for Sailors and Soldiers was opened by His Excellency the Governor, Sir William Robinson.
151
The Governor was supported on the platform by Lieutenant-General Digby Barker, Colonel Barrow, H.K.R. Commodore Boyes, R.N., Colonel O'Gorman, Captain McLeod (H.M.S. Gibraltar) the Right Rev. Bishop Burdon and the Rev. A. G. Goldsmith and by the time the opening ceremony commenced with a hymn and prayer, the room was crowded with ladies and gentlemen including His Royal Highness Prince Bldyalabh and Princess Bldyalabh, Princesses Sumonmalya and Pravaswastl, Captain and Mrs. Burnie, Mr. and Mrs. Piercy, Rev. Mr. Hartley (H.M.S. Gibraltar) Mrs. May, Mrs. and Miss Barker, Mrs. and Miss Boyes, Mrs. Barrow, Mrs. Hastings, Mrs. Burdon, Mrs. Retallick, Mrs. Goldsmith, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Mulloy and many other ladies and gentlemen interested in the proceedings.
The Institute was situated on the corner of Elgin (Now Haiphong Road) and Canton Road and was housed in a substantial building.
Addressing the gathering, the Rev. Mr. Goldsmith, Seamen's Chaplain, who was primarily responsible for the erection of the Institute Building briefly recounted the events that had led to that day's ceremony.
In 1891, he said a friend had asked him to erect a place in Kowloon as a recreation room, institute and refreshment room, to be conducted in conjunction with St. Peter's Seamen's Church.
In September of that year the Government granted a squatter's licence, and they accordingly "squatted" in the mat shed adjoining the Institute. It was due to Lieut-General Barker, who was then acting as Governor, that the matshed was erected and it had proved a great success. A further advance was made, the result being that they had a lease granted by the Government from January 1, 1893 for 73 years at a nominal rent, and the present building was erected.
Now
In opening the building, Sir William Robinson paid tribute to the work of Mr. Goldsmith. The manner in which the work of the Institute had expanded was remarkable, he said. Its first home was in a simple, unpretentious matshed. It had shifted into a large and commodious building sufficient to accommodate a large number of people and eminently suitable for the requirements for which it was intended.
His Excellency said he was well within the mark when he said that if it had not been for Mr. Goldsmith, the Institute would probably not have been commenced, and certainly would never have been completed.
"I very much regret," added Sir William, "that I have not been asked to open the Goldsmith Institute instead of the Kowloon Institute, for the Goldsmith Institute would have been a much more appropriate term.
It was announced that there was still a debt of $1,200 on the building, but it was hoped to clear that debt within a very short time. The Government headed the subscription list with $100 from the Benevolent Fund.
CHURCHES ( Continuation )
the Cheero Club have all done splendid work.
To-day there is no club or recreation room on the Kowloon side of the harbour. But it was not always go. On April 2, 1895, the Kowloon Institute for Sailors and Soldiers was opened by His Excellency the Governor, Sir William Robinson.
151
The Governor was supported on the platform by Lieute- nant-General Digby Barker, Colonel Barrow, H.K.R. Commodore Boyes, R.N., Colonel O'Gorman, Captain McLeod ( H.M.S. Gibral- tar) the Right Rev. Bishop Burdon and the Rev. A. G. Goldsmith and by the time the opening ceremony commenced with a hymn and prayer, the room was crowded with ladies and gentlemen including His Royal Highness Prince Bldyalabh and Princess Bldyalabh, Princesses Sumonmalya and Pravaswastl, Captain and Mrs. Burnie, Mr. and Mrs. Piercy, Rev. Mr. Hartley ( H.M.S. Gibraltar) Mrs. May, Mrs. and Miss Barker, Mrs. and Miss Boyes, Mrs. Barrow, Mrs. Hastings, Mrs. Burdon, Mrs. Retallick, Mrs. Goldsmith, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Mulloy and many other ladies and gentlemen interested in the proceedings.
The Institute was situated on the corner of Elgin ( Now Haiphong Road and Cant on Road and was housed in a substantial building.
Addressing the gathering, the Rev. Mr. Goldsmith Seamen's Chaplain, who was primarily responsible for the erection of the Institute Building briefly recounted the events when had led to that day's ceremony.
In 1891, he said a friend had asked him to erect a place in Kowloon as a recreation room, institute and refresh- ment room, to be conducted in conjunction with St. Peter's Seamen's Church.
In September of that year the Government granted a squatter's licence, and they accordingly " squatted " in the mat shed adjoining the Institute. It was due to Lieut-General Barker, who was then acting as Governor, that the matshed was erecteda and it had proved a great success. A further advance was mde, the result being that they had a lease granted by the Government from January 1, 1893 for 73 years at a nominal rent, and the present building, was erected.
Now
In opening the building, Sir William Robinson paid tribute to the work of Mr. Goldsmith. The manner in which the work of the Institute had expanded was remarkable, he said. Its first home was in a simple, unpretentious matshed. it had shifted into a large and commodious building sufficient to accomodate a large number of people and eminently suitable for the requirements for which it was intended.
His Excellency said he was well within the mark when he said that if it had not been for Mr. Goldsmith, the Ins- titute would probably not have been commenced, and certainly would never have been completed.
" I very much regret
added Sir William " that I have not been asked to open the Goldsmith Institute instead of the Kowloon Institute, for the Goldsmith Institute would have
been a much more appropriate term.
れ
It was announced that there was still a debt of $1,200 on the building, but it was hoped to clear that debt within a very short time. The Government headed the subscription list with $100 from the Benevolent Fund..
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