December 31, 1898.j
MAJOR-GENERAL BLACK'S
DEPALTURE,
PRESENTATION BY THE CHINESE COMMUNITY,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
history of this colony, and show that our Chinese fellow citizens can and de appreciate a vigorous, just, and benign Government. (Ap. plause.) During the ten months that have Just passed away your Excellency admin- istered the Government with⠀⠀ great en orgy, kindness, and wisdom, and that ad- ministration, short though it be, has given rise to universal satisfaction and admiration amongst all classes of this mixed community. (Applause.) To express their admiration and gratitude, therefore, the Chinese residents have requested me to present this address for your kind acceptance, and in addition to present two acceptance of Mrs. Black. The embroidery has no great intrinsic value, but simply serves as a token of respect and esteem on the part of the Chinese for a lady who has by her kindliness and gentleness attracted so much affection and admiration to herself. (Applause.) We hope you will have a pleasant voyage home, and that your distinguished ability will get yon further promotion, and that you will be entrusted by your Government with a higher administrative post in one of the important possessions of Her Majesty's dominions. (Applause.) I will now call upon Mr. Fung Wa Chuen, one of the ablest and most public-spirited among the lead ing Chinese, to read the address in English.
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often uses the word "feel"—and I have done so myself-without absolutely feeling as l because it is only those who depart who can the true ring of sorrow. I feel deeply this, because after forty-five years' service I am now to lay by my uniform for ever. I have been very fortunate and been rewarded beyond my merits. but I still have a lingering desire to continue to serve, but that is impossible. Therefore, I leave Hongkong with some degree of sadness, and the sadness been increased by the very kindly farewe offered to me. You have appreciated what have done far too highly, but there is one thing hold an honest man, a trustworthy man, be his colour or nationality what it may, he is as worthy as one sprung from my own race. But this is not a time for speaking; sometimes one's heart is too full for speech. I feel so now, and I thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart.
Dr. Ho KAI called for three cheers for Major-General and Mrs. Black, which were heartily given.
Major-General BLACK-I forgot to thank you on behalf of my wife for your kind remem- brance of her. We did not need this to recall your kind remembrance of us, but when we see it on our table it will always remind us of the kind farewell you have given us.
Mr. FUNG WA CHUEN read the address; which was in the following terms:- "The Respectful Address of the Chinese Com-
munity of Hongkong, presented to His Ex- HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVEL NOR cellency, Major-General WILSONE BLACK,
AT THE V.R.C. C.B., in recognition of His Able Admini- stration.
C
C+
Hongkong, 24th December, 1898. YOUR EXCELLENCY,
1
When on the 25th day of last November, Your Excellency vacated the office of Acting Governor of Hongkong you had held the post for barely ten months, but even in that short time measures have been taken entitled by their importance and their merit to be placed on per- manent record.
"!
PRESENTATION OF THE REGATTA PRIZES.
His Excellency the Governor (Sir Henry Blake) visited the premises of the Victoria Recreation Club on Saturday afternoon for the purpose of presenting the prizes to the success- ful competitors at the Regatta, together with a silver tea set to Captain Borland, of the Brit ish ship. Kensington, who so kindly placed his vessel at the disposal of the promoters of the Regatta as flag-ship. Commander Hastings acted as chairman, and he was supported by Mr. W. Hutton Potts, Captain Rogers, Mr. E. D. Sanders, Mr. Denison, and Mr. W. S. Bailey (hon, sec.) ---
H.E. the late Acting Governor, Major General Black, C.B.. and Ms. Black bade adien to the colony of Hongkong on Saturday last. going homewards in the P. and O. mail steamer Coromandel. They will not arrive in England, | however, until next May, their purpose being to visit Burmah and other places in the meantime. The gallant General and his
e are not likely to forget their soud-off. pieces of Chinese embroidery for the gracious that is true-1 am no repecter of persons,
scene which they witnessed on Murray Pier on Saturday at noon was one which will often recur to them, and must cause their hearts to warm towards this rocky island in the Far East. The Government launch Victoria was moored alongside Murry Pier at about a quarter-past eleven, at which time representatives of all classes of the community began to assemble. His Excel- lency the Governor, accompanied by Lieuten- ant Lee-Norman, A.D.C., appeared in good time, and was saluted by the Band and the Colour Company of the King's Own, which had taken up a position on the Praya. After exchanging greetings with a few ladies and gentlemen Sir Henry entered a man-of-war gig, which took him aboard the Coromandel, where many friends of General and Mrs. Black were already. Among the company on the pier, in addition to ladies, we noticed Admiral Seymour, Sir John Carrington (Chief Justice) the Hon. T. Sercombe Smith (Acting Colonial Secretary), the Hon. R. Marray Ramsey (Har- bour Master), the Hon. F. H. May (Captain Superintendent of Police), the Hon. R. D. Orms. by (Director of Public Works). Hon. Ho Kai, Hon. Wei Yak; Colonel the O'Gorman, Colonel Retallick and officers of the Hongkong Regiment; Lieut.-Colonel Rowlandson and officers of the King's Own Regiment; Colonel Evatt, Colonel Gorges, Mr. Justice Wise, Major Bower, Dr. Rieloff (German Consul), Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C., Mr. C. S. Sharp, Mr. Hillier, Mr. R. M. Gray, Mr. Ho Tang, Mr. Ho Fook, and Mr. Fung Wa Chuon. The General and his wife arrived at about a quarter to twelve, being received with a general salute by the Colour Company and a salute from the shore battery. Having inspected the troops, His Excellency addressed a few complimentary words to them and then bade then farewell, after which both he and Mrs. Black were kept busily engaged for some time shaking hands with the ladies and gentlemen who had come to bid them God-speed. This was interrupted for a few minutes, while an address was presented to His Excellency and some specimens of Chinese embroidery to Mrs. Black on behalf of the Chinese community of Hongkong The address, which is the work of Messrs. Kelly and Walsh, is bound in blue plush with silver corner pieces of dragon design, and on a centre plate is the following inscrip- tion" Farewell address of the Chinese com- munity of Hongkong to H.E. Major-General Wilsone Black, C.B., on his departure from the colony. Hongkong, December, 1898." After the presentation of the address there was more hand-shaking and then General and Mrs. Black went on board the Victoria. As the launch steamed away the Band played Auld Lang Syne," hats and handkerchiefs were waved, and, as we have said before, the scene was one which the gallant General and his wife are not likely to forget. The General himself was evidently deeply touched,
**
Reverting to the presentation, it was handed to the General by
“In the supervision of the various branches of the Government, in the promotion of the people's welfare, in the advancement of trade and commerce, and in the encouragement of local industries Your Excellency's diligence and tact have been conspicuous, and no words of ours can adequately express our admiration and our gratitude for the tranquil prosperity which we thereby obtained during your administration.
The impartial consideration extended by you to all classes has been particularly marked in the case of the Chinese and more especially during the recent epidemic. This you met with calmness and judgment, and the measures which you took with the approbation of the whole community were, under the blessing of Heaven, finally successful and the means of saving countless lives. Had it not been for Your Excellency's sympathy and energy such good results could not have been obtained, and that is why up to this day your praises have not ceased to be sung.
Your Excellency has been too broadminded, to affect to despise public opinion, and you have always been ready to consult it when you were desir as of effecting improvements in the ad- ministration or in the condition of the people.
AL
Without fear of adverse oriticism Your Excellency might have confined yourself to the routine work of Government, but you were not content to rest satisfied as long as improvement was possible.
"The perpetual preservation of the historical spot known as "The Watch Tower of the King of Sung" will recall to the mind of future visitors that wherever Your Excellency's sway has extended you have left some mark of your benevolence.
"
Commander HASTINGS, in opening the pro- ceedings, said-Your Excellency, on behalf of the members of the Victoria Recreation Club permit me to offer youa hearty welcome to the Club, and to thank you publicly for having accepted the Presidentship. You have seen from the pro- gramme this is the 42nd Regatta held under the auspices of the Victoria Recreation Club. As things go therefore in the colony we may be considered a venerable institution, and doubt- less you have observed, Sir, that our style of - architecture is more that of the early settlers with an admixture of the yet more ancient Chinese or bamboo order, rather than that of the adjacent buildings the Hongkong Club and Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's premises. We have, however, consistently been the promoters of all branches of sport, athletics and aquatics without distinction, and as a cosmopolitan olub untrammelled by any considerations of class, olique, creed, or condition. (Hear, hear.) We bold three meetings annually-in the spring athletic sports; at midsummer aquatic sports; and in December a regatta. As the colony has grown other clubs have sprung up de- voted to special sports. Cricket, the great English game, has of course always flour- ished, and football is more played of recent years. Kowloon is now a great suburb, so it is only natural they should have their own rowing club. Quarry Bay is a small town and com- munity in itself, and they have their own athletic c
ours.
hear). The V. R C. is, however,
Ne sespaciŝally present this address to the very cordial relations. with
.
Hon. Ho KAI, who said—Sir, I have the hon- our, on behalf of the Chinese community of Hongkong, to present to you an address which Your Excellency in token of our gratitude and I hope you will kindly accept. The address, admiration. We trust that all good fortune drafted first in Chinese by the Chinese them- may attend you in the future, and that in the selves, and afterwards translated into English, enjoyment of every blessing that heart can is the spontaneous outcome of an intense feel-wish and with increased honours you may ing of respect and admiration for your Excel-attain a happy old age. lency on their part, and supports in a marked "These are our earnest prayers and we hope manner what I stated in Council the other day, that Your Excellency will grauiously con that the Chinese fully appreciated your Excel-descend to accept our address.” lency's able and wise rdministration of the government and that the only regret they hud was that it was all too short. This presentation will, I believe, form an interesting event in the
Major-General BLACK said-Dr. Ho Kai, Mr. Wei Yuk, and members of the Chinese com munity, I deeply feel your kindness in bidding me farewell in this public manner. I think one
of them all, and we welcome each and all to our varied competitions. For some 40 odd years the club has been located on this spot. It has passed through many vicissi tudes. As a boating and bathing club we take quite as lively an interest in typhoons as the shipping community. In 1874 H M 8. gunboat Opossum came through the bath and drop- ped in socially into the Boat House, (Laughter). We represented it to the then Commodore as breaking and entering delicately hinting compensation. (Laughter.) It was, however decided that we had decoyed and enticed and, then harboured and concealed the Opossum,
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