July 1, 1897.]
whole of the vast assembly, including the soldiers and sailors, joined in singing the last verse of "God save the Queen" was intense. In the evening there were illumina tions ashore and afloat and a steam-laurch and fish-boat procession. Words fail to do justice to the beauty of the fairy-like scene presented by the harbour, with its myriad points of light, the frequent displays of coloured fire, and the incessant ascent of rockets. It was a scene the like of which few had seen before or will ever see again. Those who were in Hong. kong at the Jubilee of 1887 will remember the brilliant scene presented by the harbour on that occasion, but the present one far transcended it. The shore illuminations were also magnificent along the Praya Central and Queen's Road Central, and striking effects were produced by the various illuminations higher up the hill, especially at Government House, Kingsclere, St. Joseph's College, Queen's Gardens, and the Spanish Procuration. The display, however, though perhaps superior in the Central district to the very fine display made in 1887, was much more circumscribed, the Chinese in the Western district having for the most part confined themselves to erecting triumphal arches at various points, in the sides of which entertainments were provided for the populace in the form of musical performances, puppet shows, and story-tellers. The cost of these arches and of the services of the performers were defrayed from special subscriptions raised amongst the householders of the respective streets. Probably the uncertainty of the wea- ther at this season of the year had influenced the Chinese in selecting this kind of display in preference to general illuminations which might have been destroyed by a single shower of rain. As it happened, the weather was favourable, the overhanging clouds rather heightening the effect of the display made in the harbour and the Central District, but the Chinese had evi- dently thought the risk too great, and their selection of an alternative form of demonstra- tion was no doubt a matter of prudence.
Wednesday, the second day of the rejoicings, opened with perfect Queen's weather, which continued throughout the day. The morning was devoted to the ceremonies in connection with the laying of the memorial stones of the Hospital for Women and Children and the Diamond Jubilee Road. In order to reach the site of the latter the steamer Heungshan was kindly placed at the service of the Committee for the accommodation of the subscribers, and the outing made a pleasant morning's picnic, a short crnise after the conclusion of the cere mony filling up the time until one o'clock. The afternoon was unfortunately a blank. It had been intended to hold a Gymkhana, but having regard to the state of the course the previous day and the uncertainty of the weather it was deemed advisable to postpone this event, a decision to that effect being arrived at by the Committee on Tuesday night. In view of the glorious weather on Wednesday, bright sun- shine with a cool and drying breeze, some hope was entertained that the decision might be reversed and very great disappointment was expressed when it was found that this could not be done, for, 80 far as the weather was concerned, a more perfect day for a gymkhana in the summer could not have been desired. By many it was believed that with the sun and wind and the excellent
drainage system that exists at Happy Valley the course would be in a fit condition for use by the time fixed for the gymkhana, but as a matter of fact it remained greasy and slippery and would have been unsafe for some of the events. Had the character of the weather been fore- seen on Tuesday, however, it is probable the decision to postpone the meeting would not have been arrived at, for although it might have been necessary to omit some of the items on the programme and the course might not have been favourable for the remain. der, the providing of an entertainment for the thousands of people out on a public holiday was a matter of more importance under the cir. cumstances than considerations of a purely sport- ing character. However, the event did not come off and the sightseers had to content themselves with wandering about the streets or paying return visits to the exhibition of curios at the Choy Hall or the flower show at West Point,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. -
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL
OFFICER COMMANDING,
Commodore Holland,
R.N..
His Honour Mr. Jus.
tice Wise
both of which were open throughout the two days and were thronged with Chinese the whole time. In the evening the illuminations were re- peated, or, to be more exact, a portion of them, Lieut. King for here again there was a disappointment. Illuminations had been announced in the official programme for both nights, but the Govern ment abstained almost completely from par- ticipation in the display and the Navy entirely so, the only Government illuminations being at the Praya Reclamation Office, and the Harbour Office. This was due to an unfortunate misunder standing, which will be found explained in a letter from the Colonial Secretary pub- lished below. The disappointment was great as on Tuesday evening attention was mainly concentrated on the harbour and Wednes day evening had been looked forward to for the more complete inspection and enjoy ment of the display on shore. However, the illuminations at the various hongs and offices were again as brilliant and effective as on the first night and well repaid the sightseers for their walk through the streets.
We give below detailed accounts of the various events and lit only remains for us here to congratulate the General Committee and the various sub-Committees on the way in which they worked and on the success achieved, except in the unfortunate particulars above mentioned.
The General Committee was constituted as follows:-
The Hon. C. P. CHATER. Chairman. The Hon. J. H. STEWART-LOCKHART, Hon, Secretary.
Mr. T. JACKSON. Hon; Treasurer. Mr. Li Sirg Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G.
Hon. E. R. Belilios Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving
Hon. W. Chatham Mr. A. Coxon Mr. D. R. Crawford
Dr. W. Danby
Mr. N. J. Ede Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C. Mr. Fung Wa Chun Mr. D. Gillies Mr. R. M. Gray Mr. Ho Amei Hon. Ho Kai Mr. Ho Tung
Mr. A. P. McEwen Mr. H. M. Mehta Mr. H. N. Mody Mr. R. M. Moses Mr. J. Raymond Mr. H. A. Ritchie Mr. Herbert Smith Mr. J. Thorburn Hon. Wei Yuk
Hon. T. H. Whitehead Hon. H. E. Wodehouse,
U.M.G.
THE THANKSGIVING SERVICE. On Sunday morning a large congregation at- tended at St. John's Cathedral for the Thanks- giving Service in commemoration of the com- pletion of the sixtieth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Special seats had been provided in the Chancel for H.E. the Governor, .E. the General Officer Commanding, the principal officials, and the Jubilee Committee. In the body of the church the ordinary sitting accommodation had been supplemented by the placing of chairs in every available space, but notwithstanding the afforts made to prove it for as many as possible large numbers had to stand in the doorways.
Those taking part in the Governor's pro- cession assembled at the Government Offices and marched to the west door of the Cathedral, where they were met by the choir and clergy. The
route from the Government Offices was lined by the Police, and the central passage of the nave of the Cathedral was lined by a detach-
ment of the Volunteers under comrl of Lieut. Machell (Field Battery) and Lieut. Fullerton (Maxim Gun Co). The order of the procession
was as follows:-
CHOIR.
CLERGY.
Mr. Danby Mr. Jackson Mr. Gillies
Mr. Crawford Mr. Ritchie Mr. Gray Mr. Ho Tung Mr. Mody Hon. E. R. Belilios,
C.M.G.
H. May, Hon. F. C.M.G. Hon. H.E. Wodehouse,
C.M.G. Hon. W. M. Goodman His Hon. Sir John W. Carrington, C.M.G.
Mr. Fung Wa Chuen Mr. Mehta Hon. W. Chatham
Hon. C. P. Chater
Hon. T. Sercombe
Smith
Captain Phillips Mr. C. C. Platt Mr. Buckle
Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving Hon. Ho Kai Mr. MacEwen Capt. Clarke, R.N. Mr. Raymond Col. Elsdale, R.E. Commander Cochran,
R. N.
Mr. Moses
Lt. Col. Faithfull
5
Lt. Col. -The O'Gor-
man ·
Hon. J. H. Stewart
Lockhart
Hon, R. Murray Rum-
Hon. T H. Whitehead
sey, R.N.
Hon. Wei Yuk Mr. J. Thorburn Mr. H. Smith Col. Gorges Col. Gordon Mr. Lawford
Surgeon-Ccl. Evatt Commander Grans-
more, R.N. The naval, military, and civil officers were in uniform, the Chief Justice and Puisne Judge wearing their wigs and gowns,
Cobbold, the Chaplain of the Cathedral, The clergy present were the Rev. R. F.
R. Vallings, who intoned the Service, and who preached the sermon, the Rev. G. the Rev. W. Banister, of Foochow, who read the lessons. Mr. A. G. Ward presided at the organ, and there was a strong choir, speci- ally augmented for the occasion.
The only decorations of the church, but very striking and effective ones, were the Royal Stan- dard and St. George's flag above the altar. and a trophy of flags hanging from the roof of the nave.
The Service was drawn up in accordance with the authorised form. The special hymn, how- ever, in the place of the Venite, and Psalm xxi. in place of ci. and cxxi., were retained as in the Accession Service in the Prayer Book. The Order of the Service was as follows:-
Voluntary, "The War March of the Mendelssohn.
Priests,"
Hymn.
Responsess (Ferial).
Hymn, instead of the Venite Proper Psalms, xx.xxi,.
The National Anthem.
.Monk
.....Aldrich & Woodward.
Te Deum,
..Smart!
| Jubilate Deo,...
Smart.
Anthem, "O Lord our Governor,”.
Gadsby
...Barnby.
.....Cruger.
....Smart
With special Bolo, composed by Mr. A. G. Ward. Hymn before the Serinon,. Hymn after the Sermon, Voluntary, Postlude in D
The whole service was most impressive and will long dwell in the memory of the large congrega tion. The special tenor solo composed by Mr. A. G. Ward was sung by Mr. D. K. Sliman. The composition is a very beautiful one, and it was a fortunate circumstance that Mr. Sliman was present in the colony to give his assistance in rendering it. The words were as follows:- Behold, O God our defender, and look upon the face of Thine Annointed. Ó hold Thou up her goings in Thy paths, that her footsteps slip not. Let her dwell before Thee for ever. prepare Thy loving mercy and faithfulness, that they may preserve her."
"
The following special hymn was sung before the sermon :-
QUEEN of our homes and hearts,
Her realms rejoice to-day: Great cities hush their marts, The village greens are gay:
Her people kneel to bless His hand Who made her ruler of the land.
Thro' sun, thro' storm and stress-
Our Queen for sixty years...... Her soul no littleness
Has known, her heart no fears,
Therefore we thank our God whose will Empower'd her and upholds her still.
For more than wealth's increase
And bounds set far and wide,
For her just love of Peace
With Honour at its side,
We sing our praises to the Lord
Who gave her wisdom with the sword.
For more than in strife For queenly grace of good, The pattern of pure life
¡ower
To maid and motherhood,
For this her gracious dower we praise The Giver of her lengthened days.
Y
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