April 28, 1897.
when thus mutilated ! It seems useless to look for women like the mother of Mencius among these deformed ones, and equally in vain to look for men like Mencius or Confucius among their offspring. Probably many well-educated Chinese read your columns, and I hope that some Chinese newspaper editors may note these remarks from one who wishes well to their country
Hongkong, 20th April, 1897.
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE MEMORIAL:
DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE. On Monday afternoon the Diamond Jubilee Permanent Memorial Committee met in the Council Chamber for the first time since the Sub-Committee issued its report. Hon. C. P. Chater presided and there were also present
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
of there being any deficiency in the public revenue it will be made good by increased taxa tion, as indicated in his Despatch No. 64 of the 17th March, published in the local papers of the 23rd inst.
I should be glad if you would submit the matter as soon as possible to the Committee, with the expression of a hope on my part that they will arrive at an early and unanimous decision as to what schemes for the adequate celebration of this unusual event should be adopted and proceeded with.--I am, sir, yours faithfully,
WILLIAM ROBINSON. Gentlemen, from this letter you will observe that his Excellency, with the concurrence of the unofficial members of the Council, is pre- pared to bring forward a vote of $50,000, or a sam equal to that which might be raised from the community by the Jubilee Com- mittee. The Government is further pre-
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auspicious occasion and do what will not only commemorate to future generations this memor able and great historical event, but something which will be worthy of Hongkong and the City of Victoria named, by her gracious permission, after Her Majesty. The three resolutions which are now submitted for your favourable consideration have been carefully drafted and I sincerely hope they will practically meet the wishes of all sections. They read :---
"(1) That the most useful and most befitting manner of permanently commemorating the completion of the sixtieth year of the reign
of Her Majesty Queen Victoria will be to erect a Hospital for women and children and the training of nurses, to be handed over to the Colonial Government, who have undertaken to maintain it in conjunction with and on the same footing as the Government Civil Hospital, and to subscribe towards the completion of the carriage road round the island, the former to
Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Hon. Seore. pared to take charge of the hospital and be galled The Victoria Jubilee Hospital das
tary), Hons. F. A. Cooper, F. H. May, to carry it on in conjunction with the Civil and the latter The Victoria Jubilee Road,
T. H. Whitehead, J. J. Bell Irving, Wei Yuk, Messrs. A. Coxon, D. R. Crawford, N. J. Ede, J. J. Francis. Q.C., D. Gillies, R. M. Gray, Ho Amei, Ho Tung, T. Jackson, Li Sing, A. P. McEwen, H. M. Mehta, H. N. Mody, R. N. Moses, A. J. Raymond, H. A. Ritchie, Herbert Smith, and J. Thurburn.
The HON. SECRETARY read the minutes of the previous meeting and they were confirmed.
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Hospital and on the same terms, and far thermore to finish the road projected by Mr. Stewart in course of time. The Committee, gentlemen, have made no recommendation; in fact from the resolution that was passed we were of opinion that we were not asked to make any recommendation, and even if we were I do not think. for a moment that we conld have been in a position to make a recommenda- tion without the information which I have just placed before you. This information was received by me only on Friday last and with this information in your possession, gentlemen, I have not the least doubt that you can easily arrive at a conclusion-a conclusion which, I trust, will not only be pleasing to Her Most Gracious Majesty, whom we have all met here to honour, but also satisfactory to the com- munity and a credit to the colony. (Applause.) Mr. CRAWFORD-May I take it that the expression of the opinion given by the Sub- Committee was such that you did not consider! it necessary to bring forward the scheme for the establishment of a College of Medicine?
The CHAIRMAN-Mr. Crawford, as far as the College of Medicine in concerned I may say that having carefully considered the report and ascertained, as far as practicable, the feeling of the community, we thought it better not to bring that scheme forward at the present moment; perhaps, on another occasion it might be brought forward. That was my feel
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, the Sub-Com- mittee appointed by you to inquire as to certain projects with a view of ascertaining their suit- ability as a permanent memorial of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign have made their re- port and that report has been in your hands for some days. Having considered the report very carefully and having ascertained, as far as practicable, the general feelings of the com- munity, it was evident that nothing could be definitely settled without in the first instance ascertaining from the Government what they were prepared to do in this matter. I con- sulted the hon. Secretary and the hon. Treasurer and in company with them waited upon his Excellency the Governor. We pointed ont to his Excellency that the general feeling, 80 far as the selection of any one project was concerned, was very much divided indeed and that whatever project was. carried, or rather whatever project was re- commended by this Committee, it could not be carried without the aid of the Government, and we therefore asked his Excellency whethering on the subject. he would be prepared to vote a sum towards our funds equal to that which might be raised from public subscriptions, and this sum, we hoped, might amount to $50,000. We further asked his Excellency that if half the sum thus collected were devoted to the erection of a hospital for women and children and the training of nurses and the other half were given to the commencement of the road round the island, as projected by Mr. Stewart, the Government should take charge of the hospital and carry it on in conjunction with and indeed in the same manner as the present Civil Hospital and should also, in course of time, complete the road round the island. His Excellency received us most courteously, and promised that he would give the matter his most favourable consideration, and that he would give his answer in a few days. I am now, gentlemen, in possession of his Excel- lency's reply, and it gives me very great pleasure to read it to you.
Government House, Hongkong, 24th April, 1897. Sir-Understanding that there has been a nearly general concensus of opinion in regard to the celebration of Her Majesty's Jubilee, and that the majority of the taxpayers are in favour of the erection, at once, of a Hospital for Women and Children, an Institute for the Training of Nurses, and the making of a road, by degrees, round the island, I have consulted the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject.
Mr. Chamberlain has agreed to my proposing a yote to the Legislative Council equal in amount to that subscribed by the general public, say about $50,000 (fifty thousand dollars), the total amounts to be devoted towards the general celebrations and the three schemes mentioned above, on the understanding that in the event
such other names as may be thought more ap- propriate by the Committee;
"(2). That this Committee take immediate steps to raise funds from all sections of the community of Hongkong for the purposes mentioned in the preceding resolution, and for local celebrations:
(3). That the money so colleeted, together with an equal amount promised by the Colonial Government, be deposited at interest in the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in the name of the Jubilee Committee, and be disbursed by them after paying for the local celebrations-one half towards the erection of the Hospital for women and children and the¬ training of nurses and the other half towards the construction of the first section of the carriage road from Kennedytown to Aberdeen. which the Government undertakes to commence forthwith and to carry on the remaining portion of the road until completed." The erection of a hospital for women and children of all ranks, classes, creeds, and races, managed on the same lines as the Government Civil Hospital, and an institute attached for the training of nurses, will, I think, appeal to Her Majesty's sympathies, inasmuch as they will tend to alleviate the sufferings of all subjects of whatever nationality resident în this her far distant colony. The construction and the completion of a carriage road round the island will undoubtedly be of great utility, and will assuredly confer the greatest good and There are benefit upon the greatest number. comparatively few who can afford to-live on the. higher roads in the City or at the Peak, and the overwhelming, majority of the people are compelled to reside on the lower levels through. out the year situated on the north side of the island. During six or seven months out of every twelve the hot and stifling atmosphere of the lower levels of Victoria is extremely Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-May I ask if yon trying, and often well nigh unbearable, have a promise from His Excellency the Gov-as the breeze during the summer comes ernor that the Government will continue the from the south. In his letter to this maintenance of the proposed hospital ?
Committee of 31st March General Black writes-"I need hardly urge the appropriate- ness of a road to mark a great occasion; roads are the precursors of progress and civilization they distinguish a rising from a barbarous state. Roads for recreation and health are one of the great wants in this island, &c." I feel sure you all heartily concur with General Black. The present road to the south owing to its steep gradient, is practically prohibitive, but with a good level carriage road private enter prise would speedily provide a tramway running round to Aberdeen as a beginning at prices which would enable all classes to avail of the southern breezes and the cooler temperature on the south side during the hot months of the year. A really
30 feet
wide
Mr. FRANCIS-May I ask for His Excel lency's letter to be read again. I certainly did not hear any pledge that the Government would take over the hospital and continue it, or that they would carry out the construction of the road. I may have heard the letter im- perfectly.
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The CHAIRMAN again read His Excellency the Governor's letter.
The CHAIRMAN-I certainly understand His Excellency's letter to mean that. In case there is a deficit it will have to be met by increased taxation.
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The Hon. SECRETARY-His Excellency the Governor has communicated with the Secretary of State for the Colonies stating that the cost of the road will be 24 lakhs, and it is proposed to complete the road; the same rark applies to the hospital.. If it is decided by the Com mittee that one of the memorials is to take the form of a hospital for women and children and the establishing of a nursing institute the Government will take over the management of these institutions and see that they are maintained. (Applause.)
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-In the various with an easy good id be an inėsti.
sections of this community different ideas are held as to the most appropriate way of per manently commemorating the completion of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's, reign. It is the longest and the most glorious reign in the history of the British Empire, and the one sentiment which dominates over all others is that of loyalty and devotion to our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria. (Applause.) It is most essential that all sections of this community should pull together on this unique and
mable boon and would materially advance the welfare of the colonists in addition to develop- ing the resources of the colony on the south side of the island. (Applause.) |
Mr. GILLIES-Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, it gives me very great pleasure to second the three resolution nst proposed by the Hon. Mr. Whitehead, I am sure that they require nothing further in the way of commendation to recommend them for your approv
• approval, Mr. Whitehead has given us a very able and a very
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