80.
HONGKONG BENEVOLENT
SOCIETY.
ANNUAL MEETING.
The annual general meeting of the Hong- kong Benevolent Society was held in the City Hall on the 29th ult. There was a good attendance of the ladies connected with the Society, and Sir Thomas Jackson presided. Others present were Dr. Atkinson, Captain G.
C. Anderson, and the Rev J. H. France.
In submitting the annual report, the CHAIR- MAN said-The ladies of the Committee of the Hongkong Benevolent Society desire again to thank menibers and friends who through another year have given them the means of carrying out the objects of the Society, and have the pleasure of submitting to them their annual report of the work done, also statement of accounts.
In the
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
of doing good, that can be done by a society such as this. I really trust the subscription for this incoming year will be largely in excess of what they have been, for I notice that they have been decreasing, whilst there is no doubt the wealth of this place has increased very largely during recent years. I earnestly hope they will improve and that the Society will be supported in its good work.
Dr. ATKINSON-I have much pleasure in proposing the adoption of the report and the passing of the accounts, Mr. Chairman, and I feel it is a privilege that I have been requested to do so, for no one knows better than myself the amount of charity, in the real meaning of the word, accomplished by this Sociely. Attached to an hospital as I am, I am naturally brought into contact with, amongst othe ̈", some of the saddest phases of human life, and I
to which I have been able to refer many cases I should not have felt justified in asking the Government to help. I have much pleasure in proposing the adoption of the report and the passing of the accounts.
[February 1, 1902.
MUSIC FOR THE FUBLIC.
It is notified for general information thắt by the kind permission of the Officers Com- manding Regiments, a military band will play once a week, till further orders, on We ̋ne days, weather permitting, commencing on Wednez day, 29th inst., between 4.3) p.m and 531 p.m. in the Military Parade Ground west of and adjoining to Murray Barracks, for the benefit
of all soldiers of the Garrison and of all Euro........
peans and other foreigners, who will be admitted within the enclosure, passing in at the entrance opposite Murray Bracks.
The hour of playing will vary according to the season, and any changes made will be notified
from time to time.
The first band performance in connection with the scheme was given on the Military Parade
course of the year 27 cases. came under the have been very thankful there is such a society Ground on the 29th alt., commencing at
consideration of the Committee. Assistance was given in 16 instances and several
per- sons had been helped previously were again aided. There were 72 applications for relief at the Star" Coffee House, where Mr. France the Seaman's Chaplain, very kindly investigates cases on behalf of the Society and gives help to those deserving it. Employment was found in the Colony for several of the applicants and passages paid for others to various places where they had friends or promise of employment. The Society is paying for the maintenance and education of 7 orphan children, and monthly allowances have been made to poor and deserv- ing people. A good deal of clothing has also been given away at different times to those requiring it. Should subscribers wish for more particulars the Hon. Sec. will be pleased to give further details. The thanks of the Committee are due to the various Steam ship companies for the kind way in which they have responded to appeals for free or reduced passages, also to the local Press for their kind- ness in inserting advertisements free of charge. During the year Mrs. May, Mrs. Swan and Mrs. Thomson left the Colony. Mrs. Master, Mis. Hawkins, Mrs. Atkinson and Mrs. Poate joined the Committee. It is with extreme regret the Committee has to place on record the loss the Society sustained in August last by the death of Mrs. Gibbs. The following ladies retire in rotation from the Committee, but offer themselves for re-election-Miss Anderson, Mrs. Forbes, Mrs. Hoare, Mrs. Dickson, Mrs, Atkinson, and Mrs. Poate. The statement of accounts is as follows:-
1901.
THE HON, TREAS. IN ACCOUNT WITH THE BOCIETY.
Dr.
To Balance from 1900
$1,471.07 Subscriptions and donations 1901 1,485.62 Interest on current, a/o
16.48
$2,973.17
144
Cr. By Donations and relief of cases 1901 $1,879.82
Printing and sundries
63.90 1,030.45
"
13
Balance to 1902
$2,973.17 Before asking you to pass the accounts I will read you a memorandum I have prepared. Referring to the accounts, it will be noticed that the balance carried forward to the present year is only $1,030,45 against $1,471,07 in 1901 and $2,336,95 in 1900, the fact being that the amount expended during the three years was in excess of the income. When the accounts for 1901 were made up, the Committee realised the unsatisfactory position the Society was drifting into, and they at once set themselves to devise means to increase their income. Happily they thought of giving a subscription dance, and the same came off most successfully on the 24th inst. The thanks of the Society are specially dues to Mrs. Hawkins and to the other ladies who assisted her in the arrangements, and also to the public, who supported the dance so liberally. I am glad to say that the funds of the Society have benefited to the extent of $1,800 by the entertainment. It is urgently requested that increased subscriptions be obtained, extending the sphere of usefulness of this most excellent Society. It is all very well to have a subscrip- tion dance now and again, but I really think the people of Hongkong do not thoroughly realise the immense good, and the immense possibilities
motion was carried unanimously.
Mr. G. C. ANDERS N seconded, and the
Miss ANDERSON-Ladies, I ask
chair for us.
you to
accord a hearty vote of thanks to Sir Thomas Jackson for having so kindly presided in the We are all very sensible of the great sevices of our Chairman in every work affecting the interests of the people of this Colony, and on the eve of his departure from among us we desire to record our appreciation of his work and to wish him long life and hap- piness in the old country. Needless to say, his name will always remain a household word for large-hearted sympathy and benevolence. (Applause.)
Mrs. SIEBS seconded the motion, which was enthusiastically carried.
Sir THOMAS JACKSON returned thanks in a
few words, and the meeting thereafter proceeded to the election of a Committee. The following ladies were appointed:-Mrs. Atkinson, Miss Anderson, Mrs. Poate, Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Master, Mrs. Goodman, Mrs. Dickson, Mrs. France, Mrs. Forbes, Mrs. Siebs, Mrs. Swan, and Mrs. Harling.
Miss ANDERSON-I beg to propose a vote of thank to Mrs. Robertson, our retiring Treasurer and also to the retiring members of Committee who are leaving the Colony.
Mrs. POATE seconded, and the vote of thanks was heartily accorded,
This was all the business.
TRAGEDY IN THE HONGKONG HOTEL.
"
F. D. Thompson, an engineer in the Royal Navy (H.M.S. Tamar) was found dead in a room in the Hongkong Hotel at twenty minutes past seven on the 25th ult. A short time previously Thompson had called at the clerk's counter in the hotel and asked for a room. He was assigned to No. 86, and proceeded upstairs presumably to prepare for dinner. About the time stated one of the boys" in the corridor heard the sound of a shot, and ran for Mr. H. Haynes, the manager. On entering the room Mr. Haynes saw Thompson lying on the floor, quite dead, with a large bullet wound in his right temple. Beside the body lay a six- chambered revolver, one of the chambers of which was found on examination to be dis- charged, It was also discovered that the point had been cut off each cartridge, and this is supposed to have been done by Thompson in order to obviate the possibility of the bullet glancing. As it was, a great hole was made in the unhappy man's right temple, and the bullet had traversed the forehead and lodged behind the skin of the left temple. Mr. Haynes at once telephoned for the police, who on arrival had the body removed to the Government Mortuary; yesterday it was taken to the Naval Mortuary at Wanchai, whence the funeral will take place.
As to the reasons which prompted Thompson to take his own life, from enquiries we learn that he had given way to intemperance. He was court-martialled for this offence on Saturday and sentenced to be dismissed his ship and to lose three years' seniority. His position had evidently preyed upon his mind to such an extent as to lead him to commit the rash act.
half-past four and lasting an hour. The band in attendance was that of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, under Bandmaster Moir, and its excellent music was listened to by a crowd of several hundred people; H.E. Major-General and Lady Gascoigne were also present. If the attendance at yesterday's performance may be taken as a criterion of public feeling in the matter, these weekly entertainments may looked forward to as an established and a very pleasant feature in the social life of a Colony whose main characteristic is its dulne s.
be
THE SCOTCH CON ERT.
The concert given under the auspices of the local S. Andrew's Society on Saturday night, the 25th ult., was much looked forward to by the community, Scots and others, and it was not surprising therefore that a full house assembled to hear the music provided for them. The President of the S. Andrew's Society him. self had a number of guests for the occasion, including H.E. General Sir W. J. Gascoigne, K.C.M.G., Acting Governor, Lady Gascoigne, the Hou, Sir John Hall, K.C.M.G., at one time Premier of New Zealand, Mrs. and Miss
Hartigan, Captain Labertouche, Captain Cadogan, and Captain Hewett. Most of the leading residents were to be seen in various parts of the house when the entertainment com- menced,
ten
For some reason it was minutes after the advertised time when the band of H.M.S. Endymion opened with the Overture from Hartmann's Fair Maid of Perth. From this point oward the programme was carried ont with thoroughness and success, and vocalists and instrumentalists alike evideatly delighted their hearers. Mrs. Mudié, after an unfortu- nately long absence from the concert platform owing to throat trouble, we believe, received a hearty welcome, and both her "Ae Fond Kiss'
Whistle and I'll come
tae ye and " encored. Mrs. Gordon also had to sing four songs, including "Lochnagar," "Waly, waly, up the Bank,” and “Lizzie Lindsey," her deep contralto stirring the audience to prolonged applause. Mrs. Wood, a debutante, rendered
were
Gala Water" and an encore song very well, and her duet with Mrs. Mudie was another success, The Hon. H. W. F. Treusis, though a little rough at the start, put great pathos into the mournful "Culloden Moor" a d again in "Bonnie Stratbyre" proved himself an effec- tive singer. Mr. C. H. Dale's violin solo, Chopin's" Nocturne in E flat," was the best item on the programme. His touch is surpris
Mr. Pelella showed no little ingly good.
of his instrument. The Male mastery
B Scot- Voice Choir, though obviously tish accent was a difficulty for some of them, gave general satisfaction, and Scots who hae was quite stirring. Mr. Worces- ter's two songs (for he g ve" I happened to be there," in response to a prolonged call), though very different from the remainder of the pro- gramme, were really excellent; the topical verse added to 'I'm the Plumber!" brought the house down-if this may be fitly said of a
55
plumber." Finally, we must mention the energetic accompanists, to whom, and especially to Mr. A. G. Ward, much of the success of the programme was due; and Mr. David Wood, organiser of the whole affair, whose work was unobstrusive bul the most important of all. The audience showed its appreciation of the labours of all in no unstinted way,
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