Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 920

[ XLV ]

At about 1.30 the Hollywood Road along which it was known His Excellency would pass was crowded by a dense throng of natives who completely lined either side, the crowd increasing as one went westward. Sikh and Indian police kept the route (most creditably be it observed) and the Captain Superintendent with some of his Inspectors stationed themselves at the outer door of the Hospital. Several officials and other residents in the Colony were also present to witness the inauguration. It was quite evident that the Chinese looked upon it as a great day, every prominent merchant and compradore in the Colony being present. A double row of these, dressed in official uniforms, was drawn up on either side of the court-yard leading to the reception room while a little in the background a native bag-pipe band discoursed tuneful strains (á la chinoise). At 2.30 Sir RICHARD accompanied by the Honourables J. G. AUSTIN and C. C. SMITH with Mr. RUSSELL reached the entrance door, and, crossing the court-yard amid the respectful salutes of the Chinese present, took up his position in the centre of the Reception Hall. Messrs. LEONG ON, CHUN KUM, Ho A-SIK, and other prominent members of the Hospital Committee were then introduced to His Excellency by Mr. SMITH. Sir RICHARD having intimated his readiness to view the building was shewn round it by the Committee, the others present following; and he expressed his gratification at the creditable way in which the intention of the promoters of the Hospital had been carried out. Returning to the Reception Hall His Excellency then addressed the Committee to the following effect.

Extract from the "Daily Press."

His Excellency said this was a day of extreme interest, not only to the Chinese community, but to the community generally. They were now finishing a work which was begun nearly two years ago, before he went to England, when he had laid the foundation stone of this building. It was not often given to one, amid the uncertainties attending official life, and the uncertainties attending life itself-which were remarkable in his own case--it was not often given to one to complete a work which one had begun; and it added to his satisfaction that having begun it, he should have been allowed to come here and finish this work. Long before they were aware of it, he had commenced this movement as early as 1867, the year after his arrival. In 1869 circumstances occurred which strengthened his hands and strengthened theirs to induce their countrymen to assist the Government in this undertaking. They all remembered the former hospital, called the "I-Ts'z," where moribund people were left utterly neglected at the time when they most needed assistance. This state of things was discovered by the then Registrar General and Inspector PETERSEN, and the case was so hard that it stirred the whole community, and led to an effect which had not ceased till it culminated in the work which they were now completing. He was thankful to say there was a prospect that there should no longer be those occurrences, which were a great disgrace to any community, and which consisted in the leaving the dying just at the moment when human nature most needed assistance from relatives and friends in a deserted condition. Such a state of things was a disgrace to all concerned in it. It was a dis- grace to all who practise it in whatever part of China they may be. The Chinese had many virtues, but they had a certain fear, a superstitious feeling, with regard to dying persons which led them to neglect the duties they owed to the sickly and feeble in their last moments, and this showed great inhumanity. Now, however, there would be no excuse for anything of the kind. The destitute had a right now to be admitted to this Hospital, and the feeling of the Chinese on the subject was so strong that he could leave the Colony persuaded that they were just as resolved as the Government to put down this kind of abuse. He could not avoid saying that the community was very much indebted to the present Committee, who had laboured hard to raise the necessary funds, and had succeeded in obtaining subscriptions for $7,000 a year, as they said for ever,