March 29, 1902.]
to you for the honour you have dobe me in electing me a member of the Committee, and I am very grateful to Sir Thomas Jackson and to Mr. Slade for the flattering terms in which they referred to my services as Secretary. I only regret that I am not able to continue my services as Secretary. It has give me very great pleasure during the past six years to fulfil those duties, which have always been very pleasurable and satisfactory, especially with the help that has been giver me by all the members of the Committee, with whem I have always worked with very great harmony. (Applause)
The proceedings then terminated.
THE HEALTH OF HONGKONG.
During last week eleven cases of cholera were reported in Hongkong, seven of them within the City limits. One victim was au European from the French gunboat Décidée (who has now nearly recovered), while one of the Chinese cases was known to be imported from Canton. Ten of the cases ended fatally. Two more Chinese deaths occurred on Monday.
Apart from cholera, the only cases of communicable disease reported in the Colony last week were three of small-pox, all Chinese and all ending in death,
†
We were
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
firm named, or his name would in another be as famed as a Napier, a Denny, an Elder, a Kirk, or a Brock. (Applause.) Memory, then, takes fight to the early seventies, when he was manager of the Whampoa Docks, where often I was amazed at his res:urce and power of in- domitable perseverance is overcoming difficul ties, and often under very depressing circum. stances. I remember, too. I remember his house. on the hill, with its hospitable door ever open alike to the constituents of the Dook Company as to his own friends I recall many of his assistants, all with one exception, I think now safely across the dark valley. Memory too, calls up the sweet and regular Sunday evening services held in his house by the late venerable Archdeacon Gray of Canton. younger then, and the buds and leaves of our lives had not yet been hardened into wood. (Applause.) In 1873 or 74, I recall him winding up his affairs here, his traps packed and homeward bound, but fate, knowing we had need of him, willed otherwise, and what was undoubtedly his loss, has been our gain. Then I recall the year 1875 and the dark days of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, when their shares stood at some 40 per cent, discount, and when they were in sad plight, that Mr. William Keswick, the then Chairman of the Company, begged Mr. Gillies to undertake the position of Manager and Secretary of the Company, and this appointment by Mr. Keswick, is, I believe, the greatest and best service that any director has ever done for the Dock Company. To his work day by day through a long cycle of years, building up the prosperity of the Company, to his tenacity of purpose, to his industry and capacity for work, to his ability as an engineer and administrator, to his linguistic accomplishments, to his un. failing courtesy and hospitality to the Deck Company's patrons of whatever nation or tongue, the Company and its present establishment as they hammer to right and to left of us, are abiding monuments-monuments which should retain, for generations to come, the name and fame of our guest of to-night. And here, even if a corporation has no soul, should my words reach the present directors of the Mr. David Gillies, late Chief Manager of the Company, I would suggest as a small, yes, a Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co., was very small, yet not ungraceful tribute to his entertained to a farewell dinner in the Hong- long and noble services rendered to the Com- kong Hotel on the 22nd inst. by the pany-services that have never been surpassed engineers and shipbuilders of the Colony on and never equalled in this Colony to any the occasion of his departure for home Mr. corporation or public company, by more than William Parlane presided, Mr. W. Ramsay perhaps one other Chief Manager or Secretary was vice-chairman, and Messrs. D. MacDonald-I would suggest, I repeat, that they change and R. Mitchell officiated as croupiers. The guest of the evening, Mr. D. Gillies, sat оп the chairman's right and Mr. R. Shewan on his left. Others present were: -Messrs. A. Ritchie, H. F. Carmichael, J. Wilkie, J. R. Mudie, W. C. Jack, Capt. R. Innes, Capt. G. C. Anderson, Messrs. Wm. Allen, D. E. Brown, W. B. Dixon, Captain Tillett, Messrs. N. Mumford, A. Rodger, W. T. Robertson, W. A. Crake, J. I. Andrew, Geo. A. Caldwell, E. C. Wilks, W. S. Bailey, A. H. Hewitt, W. G. Winterburn, Capt. J. Douglas, Messrs, H. Smith, J. Black, A. Sinclair, W. Wilson, T. Skinner, A. Shaw, Alex, Gordon, and Geo. Grimble.
The Manila Times says:—It will be a god- send if the rainy season begins early this year in Hongkong, for that city at present is suffering from a drought, and the outbreak of the Asiatic cholera there is attributel to that. If the rains hold off until June, all mortality records will probably to broken. The unfortunate residents of Hongkong have our sympathy. We hope their stricken island community will shortly be deluged by tropical downpours and the usual conditions of health prevail' In the same paper it is announced that seven whites died here from cholera on the 18th instan t. So much for the alarmist and the unveracious correspondent!
FAREWELL DINNER TO
MR. DAVID GILLIES.
After an excellent dinner, served in Mr. Haines's best style, the toast-list was entered upon, and
The King" pledged with due honour.
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the name of their Kowloon establishment to that of the Gillies Docks. (Applause.) This would have the advantage, that it would cost nothing-(laughter)—and that even if he would he could not decline the compliment. (Applause.) But, gentlemen, while we think of him as the wizard who has changed the Dock Company from A puny, sickly nursling, to the strongest and most robust graving dock, shipbuilding and en- gineering establishment east of Sues we must not forget his share in thus building up the prosperity of Hongkong, and I unhesitatingly assert, that no man has done more to advance the interests of this Colony than he has, for, with the man who, say, founds a hospital, endows a sobool, aye, or causes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before, so is he a benefactor of his colony, his country and The CHAIRMAN then proposed “Our Guest.” his kind, who so uses his talents and opportuni- He said-Gentlemen, In rising to propose ties as to create industrial employment for five the toast of the evening, our revered and thousand men, where but five hundred were honoured guest, Mr. David Gillies, I feel before required; and we need fear no rival in that an abler speaker should have been industry, in trade or in commerce while our selected to do justice to the theme, and country produces such men 88 our guest. can only attribute being asked to do so to (Applause.) Then we are proud of his admirable our very long friendship, and to my white character as a man. As a captain of industry head. In proposing the toast, my memory and as a superior, he has always shown sympathy carries me back some forty years, to the days of with the rights of labour, of which honour my youth, when learning to handle chisel and able fraternity you and I are knights. We file in the famous establishment of Messrs. speak that we do know, and testify that Denny of Dumbarton. Mr. Gillies was then we have seen," for I served him ten years, occupying a leading position with that firm, and and while I trnst served well, I testify no name in the Clyde engineering world was he paid well. (Applause.) Then as a friend better known, or respected, and even now re- tains its greenness, while admiring fathers still tell their sons of Lis doing in those long past days, and it requires no "mystical lore to know that had he remained there, instead of coming to the East, his talent and energy had long years ago made him a partner in the
he has occupied a unique position in all our hearts; his band, his heart, and his purse have been ever open to help the less fortunate, and to further every good work, wh-ther in education, engineering, science, social advance ment, or religion. These and kindred virtues have elevated him to the highest pedestal in
our admiration and esteem, and have deeply graven in our hearts the man David Gillies, (Applause.) Gentlemen, I might go on recount ing his virtues, until you might be tempted to ory-What of his vices, hath he none? Well, all I say is that the man without a vice or failing is too good for this world, and that the greatest and best have invariably at least one redeeming vice; but of him, I know of none, unless it be an electric temper which flashes and is gone-(laughter)—the almost invariable com- panion of ener.etic, forceful natures and warm hearta, natures impatient of mediocrity and indolence; and which of you would not prefer such a "boss," to one with the cold, cruel smile who never threatens till he strikes; and the true man is he who with strong self-control can subdue the devil that is in us all and such is our friend and guest. And now in his venerable youth, when he feels justified in transferring the burden of his work here-work which has for to long engrossed him and retiring to the homeland to enjoy a well-earned competence, gathered during all years
Not for to hide in in a hedge, Or for a train attendant, But for the glorious privilege Of being independent,- that condition we are all striving to attain—we, a few of his professional and personal friends, have invited him here to-night, to express our united esteem, and to tender him our sincere admiration and respect, and what more, what And thus better, can we offer? (Applause.) I am brought back to the point from which I started. I have been requested to invite you to fill your glasses, and to drink to the health and happiness of our revered and honoured guest, Mr. David Gillies.
The toast was plodged with all the honours. Mr. DAVID GILLIES, on rising to reply was warmly received. He said,-Mr. Chairman aud Gentlemen, I thank you most sincerely the toast of my for having proposed health in such kind and cordial terms, and likewise for the hearty manner in which you have responded to it. Truly I am deeply sen- sible of the distinguished honour you have conferred in inviting me to be your guest this evening, but must confess that I am very much at a loss to find words that will adequately give expression to my feelings. Really I am most happy when I look around and see so many familiar faces, being those of friends with whom I have been associated in business for many years, and for whom I entertain the highest regard and esteem; and I am pleased to say our kindly relations of the past but intensify the pleasure and interest I experience in meeting with you to-night; inasmuch as the proceedings of this evening will constitute a felicitons climax to my long career in the Far East, the pleasing recollection of which will never fade from my memory. (Applause.) Mr. Chairman, your most eloquent and graphic speech has come as a pleas- ing surprise; at the same time I must say I have a little delicacy in sccepting even from you such a large meed of praise and adulation. I feel, however, that the difficulty does not lie so much in the matter of acceptance as in obtain. ing a vocabulary sufficiently comprehensive to enable me to express my grateful acknowledg. ment of all the good and kind remarks you have made this evening respecting my life and charac ter both at home and in the Far East. For the very kind and agreeable manner in which you have referred to my connection with the well-known works of Messrs. Wm. Denny Brothers, I thank you with all my heart; and also assure you that I quite appreciate the friendly motives which prompted you to refer in such glowing terms of rhetoric to my services during the five years of my early life in Dum barton, where my ability as an engineer was apparently well-known and appreciated by having been placed in charge of one of the largest engineering establishments on the Clyde. | Pre- vions to going to Dumbarton I served my apprenticeship in the firm of Messrs. Smith and Rodger, Glasgow, now known as the London and Glasgow, Limited, where, before my five years had expired, I was promoted to the post of Manager, succeeding the much respected Mr. Ben Conner, who became Engi- neer-in-Chief to the Caledonian Railway. When in Dumbarton I met with Captain White, at that time the senior Commander in the
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