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were to project 96 feet into the harbour, had Botually been commenced and the foundations laid. The accommodation these piers would have afforded was considered by the committes inadequate for the needs of the rapidly growing traffic, while the experience gained of the effects of a high sea on solid structures, such as Murray Pier, had shown conclusively the superiority of open piers on iron piles during rough weather. The committee, therefore, recommended that a pier such as has been erected, 200 feet in length and 40 feet wide, with eight flights of steps, should be constructed here. It was then decided to entrust the designing and ordering of the pier to the eminent harbour engineers, Messrs. Coode, Son, and Matthews, who had been consulted in regard to the Reclamation Works, and who were well acquainted with Hongkong Harbour. The contract for the iron-work was secured by the Horseley Iron Work Company and the first shipment arrived here in Oot. 1899. Tenders for the erection of the pier were called for locally, and a contract was entered into with Messrs. Kinghorn and Mao- donald, who have carried out the work under the direct supervision of Messrs. J. F. Boulton, and J. M. Mudie, Executive Engineers, in a very satisfactory manner. Difficulties were encountered, such as are inseparable from a work of a nature in deep water, but were suo cessfully surmounted. We now see only some sight feet of the superstructure, while 60 feet are hidden from view under the water and mud of the harbour. The base of the pier, which is 126 feet wide and projects 40 feet from the Prays Wall, is of solid granite, and was designed to carry the new Clock Tower which will some day take the place of that in Pedder Street when the latter is removed. The total cost of the completed pier has been $122,774.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE SOLDIERS' CLUB.
His Excellency the GOVERNOR said-Your Highnesses, Mr. Ormsby, ladies and gentlemen: I accept with great pleasure the duty of open ing this public work, the progress of which I have observed from month to month with great interest, and which reflects credit upon the designer and upon the contractors who have carried out the work. It is absolutely neces- sary for the great traffic of this great port, over whose waters 17 millions of tons or thereabouts come annually, that there should be ample accommodation, especially when we consider the rapidly-increasing population of Kowloon. I am glad to hear from the Director of Public Works that the timely precaution has been taken to so arrange the foundations that in time to come the Clock Tower may be erected at the base of the pier. I hope that by next year I shall be able to in- olude in the Estimates a sum to provide for the removal of the Clock Tower from its present position, where it is a serious obstruction to traffic, and its replacement at the base of this pier-and not alone a Clock Tower, but greater sccommodation for the people who use the pier. (Applause.) I think it will be well for pier to the have a roof, because in wet weather a pier like this is but poor accommodation. With a Clock Tower and a good roof I think the pier will be worthy of the sea- front of this great city of Victoria. This pier is now completed, but it is only one of a number of piers which have been declared to be necessary. I take it that in a few years there will be at least two or three piers built along the eastern extension of the Praya, which will in a very short time be commenced. I am gratefu for the proposal which has been made to me to associate my name with a public work of such utility as this. It is a pleasure to me that a work so well designed, so ably carried out, and so useful to the public of this wealthy and growing colony should be associated with my name, and I have, therefore, great pleasure in declaring the Blake Pier now open for traffic to the public. (Applause.)
His Excellency then out a green ribbon stretching across the central arch and led the way on to the pier. In doing this he used a pair of silver scissors, which carried the inscription "Presented to Sir Henry Blake, G.C.M.G., at the opening of Blake Pier, Hongkong, 29th November, 1900, by Kinghorn and Macdonald,
contractors."
The company having promenaded for a short time, the health of Her Majesty the Queen was drunk, and afterwards that of His Excellency the Governor, and the proceedings terminated.
H.E. MAJOR-GENERAL GascoigNE SATISFIED
WITH THE WORKING.
some
ΤΟ
(December 1, 1906. have been a great number of watchful eyes looking at you, and apart from my own obser- vation I should have been very soon informed if the club had not been doing that which it was On Monday evening, 26th ult. a general meet-opened for. Instead of that, there have prac- ing in connection with the Soldiers' Club was tically been no troubles, no disturbances in any the club, and held under the presidency of H.E. Major-Gen-way at all reflecting on eral Gascoigne, C.M.G. (President of the General that is a source of the very greatest satisfaction Committee), supported by Col. The O'Gorman, to me and to the committee working with me. Captain the Hon. H. W. Trefusis (Hon. Knowing that, weall feel very grateful, as the off- cers and myself determined that this should be a Secretary) and others.
His EXCELLENCY said--Members of the thoroughly Soldiers' Club, started by the Soldiers' Club: I have called this meeting in officers as soldiers, kept by the soldiers. We accordance with the promise which I made have had no occasion to go outside for pecuniary on the day when we opened the club, that assistance. The people of Hongkong are most in course of time you should have liberal. Had I appealed to them and held up a little statement of the results of the running anger I know perfectly well they would have of the club. Well, the club has been open come forward most liberally. I have been told now for six months, but for convenience's that by many people. Many people have said to sake the statement which been handed round me," Why have you not come to me and asked me to some of you and which you can study after- to subscribe ?" and I have replied that we prefer- wards has been made out to the end of Septem-ed not to seek outside help. The only thing we ber, four and half months from the opening of had any real doubt about was as to whether the the club on the 14th of April. This state- want of a club was a real one. One of the senior ment shows that financially the club is in officers of my staff told me the other day that a very good state indeed. The balance may he had come from another garrison where a not look a very large one, but it must be club something on these lines had been started borne in mind that during these four and and it turned out a dead failure. I suppose a half months there have been some very that that garrison was not broken up in the heavy demands-for furniture and improve way this is. There were not the number of ments, $2,432; stage, 8191; safe, $99. These detachments. The men at Lyemun, Stone- three items will not occur again, or at any cutters, Kowloon, and elsewhere like to come rate in anything like the same proportion, over sometimes. They do not always like to go in the following half year. Therefore, if you to their barracks. Possibly they might be glance your eye down the statement the bottom separated from their barracks. And so part will more or less tell you the liabilities thought that in this garrison a club of this on one side-the outstanding bills, the wages nature would meet a great want. Certainly wo for September not paid until the first of the feel that our views have been thoroughly justi. following month, and the cheques not presen-fied by what we have seen. I hope that the ed-and then on the other side you will see the next time I meet you the statement of accounts assets the cash in the safe, the cash in the to be presented will be even better than I want to one before us to-day. bank, the value of the balance of the stock, and the the furniture less depreciation. You will see that emphasise the fact that the club solely exists by really the result of this four and a half month's its being a credit and a source of good pleasure working is that supposing I came down here to the members. If at any time, owing to new to tell you that the olub was going to be stopped, comers who do not know the principles on that I was dissatisfied with it and that I was which it was started, there are complaints in going to turn you out of it and that everything connection with the olub, I shall be found was to be sold, by a peculiar coincidence you to be as good as my word. It all lies would be able to pay back the money which was in the hollow of one hand, and I should given by the officers, amounting to $1,937, and close it. I shall not detain you very much the thing would be swept clear away. There- longer, but there are one or two little matters fore, in four and a half months the club which I want to speak to you about. I think has paid a very large sum of money in the thanks of the club are greatly, due to A great number of people. expenses which will not occur again and we several people. have still a balance in hand. Well, I confess have helped at the entertainments. that financially this is a very good state of things these is Mr. Marsh. (Applause.) He is not indeed. It is beyond my expectations. As I told here, but I say it in his absence, that you when we opened the club the committee, he has given his services on many occasions at of which I am president, never thought of concerts in connection with the club and no this club in connection with money-making. doubt has helped materially to make them What we were anxious to do was to give the successful, and I think we owe him a great European soldiers of this Garrison a club which debt of gratitude. (Applause). There is an we thought was wanted, and if any money was other who has rendered us great assistance, made by it such money was to go into the club and that is Mr. Moir, the bandmaster of or to be spent in such a way as the members the Welch Fusiliers. He has taken an immense thought desirable. Of course the opening of a club interest in the entertainments at the club, and I of this kind is always the first difficulty. There beg to express my thanks and those of the are a great number of expenses to be paid which, committee to him." (Applause.) While I am on as I say, we hope will not occur again as largely this subject I should very much like to put it as they did in the first four or five months; to you whether concerts and other things for but I think we may fairly assume that the the good of the garrison could not be arranged. olub is in a sound financial condition, and I am I throw it out as a suggestion that it might more than satisfied with it. Now we come be well if you could, among yourselves, form an to another matter with which I am very entertainment committee, getting somebody greatly pleased indeed. If you remember like Mr. Moir to serve upon it, and get up a rightly, when we opened the club I said that I and series of entertainments or something of that the senior officers of the garrison had discussed kind in the winter. You will remenber that the matter, and had made up our minds that when I came here first I said I hoped to have a we would make the experiment of letting this boat club in connection with the club. Believe club be entirely without military surveillance me, I have not forgotten it, but the real that there should be no non-commissioned fact is that we have had such a pressure of officers on duty to see that order was kept. In work thrown upon us, the staff has had so much fact we throw the club open to you on the to do in connection with the North Chins ex- understanding that you would conduct the club pedition, and then there were difficulties con- on lines of good breeding and good feeling and nected with getting a place for the boats, and consideration for others, and I said that if one thing or another, that I really have not I found it was conducted on these lines I had time to attend to the matter up to the present. should certainly never dream of closing it. In fact could I have foreseen that we should have Well, one of the things which it has been a had this North China trouble and that so large great satisfaction to me to watch during the more a number of the European Garrison would be than six months which the club has been open going away, I doubt if I should have had the has been-as I and the officers anticipated-the pluck to open the club when I did. That is fact that you have thoroughly taken us at our another factor which you must remember. word and that you have looked after the in- During these four and a half months quite terests of the club entirely by yourselves, half a battalion of regular troops, besides a There have been no complaints brought to great number of engineers and artillery, mý knowledge, and I may say that there have been away. But I want to tell you
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