March 1, 1909.]
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question of inadequate playgrounds in the past. I am very glad to be able to congratulate you on the fact that we have in a certain way, by the kindness of the Church Body, not that difficulty for the present. It is one to which I have, since I have been here, continually given attention, but the configuration of the ground surrounding this school is such that it seemed practically impossible to provide a play- ground until, on the suggestion of the Inspector of Schools, we were able to secure a plot of ground belonging to the adjoining church. The Inspector of Schools told us just now that he was somewhat disappointed that more patron age was not given to this school by British residents here. I confess that I, too, have been surprised at this. The fees of this school are very low, so much so that each pupil costs $11, and the total expense of the school to the Colony is $5,432 a year. Every facility in buildings and so forth has been given, and I should like to see amongst British residents in this Colony greater appreciation of what has been done. More over I especially would like to say that they should pay attention to those two points which have been dwelt upon so strongly by the both Headmaster and the Inspector of Schools, that is to say that they should use their efforts to see that the children go punctually to school every day, and that they do not take unauthorised holidays owing to the excuses of many birthays and so forth. The report of the Inspector of Schools, I think we may consider to be highly satisfactory. There is hardly one subject on which he has not been able to bestow unstinted
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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which have won as this great empire were born Mr. MITCHELL, with whose name the toast was of the courage and the devotion to duty which coupled, made a happy reply in which he remark- have been learned in English homes from Eng-ed that they were all aware that shipbuilding lish mothers. You girls some day perhaps had been for many years one of the principal will be mothers of English families, industries of the colony. It had grown consider. but in the meantime you can help to ably within his recollection and he had been make happy homes by teaching your almost 25 years in the colony. He remembered younger brothers and sisters what English girls that among the first engines built here the and boys should be, and by setting them an indicated horse power was 300. Now it was nearer example, and by helping your parents to make 4000. That illustrated the progress that had happy homes, and by bearing in mind those been made. He thought however it would be different points I have spoken of, loyalty and some time yet before they built Pacific liners patriotism to the Empire. I shall have much here. In Hongkong there was no paternal pleasure in distributing the prizes to those who government as in Japan, which had wisely have carned them, and hope those who have not stimulated its engineering and shipbuilding by been successful this year will be successful means of subsidies, enabling them to compete next year.
I wish you all very happy holidays with those on the Clyde and elsewhere. We until we meet again on Empire Day for either did not want paternal government. We were a picnic or whatever other form of pleasure or able to do the work ourselves. He believed amusement may be suggested. (Applause). that we had the capabilites for building Pacifio HIS EXCELLENCY then distributed prizes to greyhounds, but the establishments here were the successful pupils.
more concerned with returns. They could build and engine ships but they could not show the returns which were desired and that was the main thing. He trusted that in the years to come a John Elder would arise in Hongkong and endow the prospective university with a chair for engineering and shipbuilding (applause). The British and especially the Scottish were great colonisers and he thought the native races whom they had taught would one day thank them for what they had done in teaching them so much of what the West had to give to the East.
One of the senior pupils then presented the Governor with a handsome bouquet of flowers, and the proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem.
INSTITUTION OF SHIPBUILDERS
AND ENGINEERS.
ANNUAL DINNER.
The members of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders of Hongkong, to the number of over seventy sat down to dinner in the Hong- kong Hotel on Feb. 26. The gathering was of a most enjoyable nature and its importance was reflected in the interesting speeches which were made in the course of the evening.
Mr. '. W. ROBERTSON made genial chair- man, the vice chairs being occupied by Messrs. T. Skinner and W. .C. Jack respectively. Among those who supported the Chairinan were Messrs Gray Scot, R. Mitchell, A. Bain, J. F. Miller, R. M. Dyer, etc..
of
Dinner over, the CHAIRMAN proposed the toast The King," which having been loyally honoured,
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praise. I offer you, Sir, my congratulations on the result of the past year, also to Mrs. Main who has been is charge of the school during the absence of the Headmaster, on leave. I think you will both be very proud of the results achieved. Allusion was made by the Headmaster in his speech of the observance of Empire Day, or, as we call it in this Colony, Victoria Day. I share with Lord Meath, a strong desire that this day should be celebrated universally throughout the Empire, and should be made the occasion of teaching the children of the Empire the greatness of that Empire, the objects with which it has been founded, and the ideals which should inspire each member of it. The CHAIRMAN submitted the toast of En I think we should endeavour to adapt that gineering and Shipbuilding in Hongkong." In teaching to every child whatever its age might doing so he briefly indicated the scope of the be. Last year we had a water picnic and I Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders of will be delighted to have the same this year Hongkong, pointing out that it was incorporated unless someone can suggest to me another eighteen years ago by a small but zealous body scheme that will give greater satisfaction. of engineers and shipbuilders, its objects being Empire Day is proclaimed by one of the the improvement of the scientific knowledge of Ordinances of this Colony to be a public its members and the furthering of the interests holiday, and therefore I do not wish to of engineers and shipbuilders, and at the same devote it unduly to instruction, even time to provide social pleasures for its members. though that instruction may be on matters At that time its membership consisted of about concerning the Empire. I wish, therefore, that a dozen to-day it numbered about 300. The there should be some instruction in matters institution WLS in a flourishing condition concerning the Empire during the term, so that financially, their position having been greatly when Empire Day comes round the children will improved through the exertions of their be able to recall what it means and understand vice-President Mr. Skinner in getting the its signficance. I see among the subjects which rental of their premises and taxes reduced have been reported on by the Inspector of Schools by about $150 per month Prior to that that one is called "general knowledge," and their condition gave cause for anxiety and I think that at periodical intervals, say once a
there were fears entertained that they might week or once a fortnight, special instruction have to close the institution, but happily that might be given on the subject of the empire. contingency had been averted, and they might I do not mean by this merely the geography anticipate a career of continued usefulness. He and size of the empire; I do not appealed to local engineers to show a little of the mean merely the glorious history by which
zeal of the founders, two of whom were present it has been built up, nor yet the in the persons of Mr. A. Bain and Mr. D. ethnology of the different peoples who com Macdonald, and went on to speak of the progress pose it, their languages, their customs and which engineering and shipbuilding had their religions, but I mean also-what the Empire made in the colony during the last two decades, means to each one of us, to each British subject in proof of which they had only to look at the who calls himself a citizen of the Empire, the vast establishments guided chiefly by Europeans duties of citizenship, and above all the duties of and equipped with the latest and most modern loyalty and patriotism which should animate appliances. This placed Hongkong in a posi- every citizen of this great empire. If, Sir, you tion to cope with anything in the way of repairs concur with me, and see your way to give this and he hoped the day was not far distant when special instruction that I speak of occasionally
we should see our excellently equipped yards under the head of general knowledge subjects, building Pacific greyhounds as well as our I shall be delighted to give a special prize friends on the Clyde or on the North East coast next year to the girl or boy who does What our enterprising neighours in the islands best in this subject (applause).
The in the North could do, so might wo in Hong- Headmaster told us that when this school was kong. To do so in this age of competition founded a special ideal that was prominent to engineers and shipbuilders must be up-to-date the founders was the training of the character and employ methods which were conducive to of the pupils, that girls and boys who had been economy. The speaker then proceeded to indi- taught here should grow up to be English cate the advantages of internal combustion ladies and gentlemen. That is the root of engines over the old steam engine, and concluded Empire. The Empire begins at horne in the by asking the company to drink to the prosper. education of its children. The heroic deedsity of engineering and shipbuilding. (applause.)
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The next toast was that of The Press," pro posed by Mr. Bridger and responded to. The Vice Chairman Mr. T. Skinner then invited the company to drink to "Kindred Societies and Visitors."
Mr GRAY SCOrt replied. In doing so he said that as an engineer he hoped that in future the Institution would occupy a position in the colony more befitting the profession to which they belonged and the importance of the colony itself. They resided 'in one of the most important outposts of the British Empire, indeed it was the second shipping port in the world, at least he had the authority of his friend the Harbour Master for that statement (laughter). In conclusion he advocated a resumption of the reading of technical papers and said that thereby the institution would return to its original prosperity and would con- fer everlasting benefit upon all members of the profession in the East.
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Mr. RICHARDSON proposed the health of the Chairman in complimentary terms and Mr. ROBERTSON suitably replied.
Songs were rendered in the course of the evening by Messrs Chapple, Hill, Bridger, and Nye.
THE GOVERNOR OF MACAO,
OFFICIAL VISIT TO HONGKONG,
On Friday afternoon, in bleak, uninvit, ing weather, His Excellency the Governor of Macao and his suite arrived in port in the Portuguese gunboat Rio Lima. Senhor visit of Rocadas is returning the recent His Excellency Sir Frederick Lugard to Macao, and although the weather conditions yesterday were unfavourable, there can be no doubt of the heartiness of the reception accorded our visitors. When the Rio Lima came to an anchor a salute from H.M.S. Tamar welcomed the distinguished guest, who was met by Captain Mitchell-Taylor, A.D.C. Mr. J. J. Leiria, Lieut. Beckwith, Consul for Portugal, and Assistant Harbour Master. His Excellency called upon Admiral Sir Hedworth Lambton on H.M.S. King Alfred and also on Commodore Lyon on the Tamar. A guard of honour from the Rajputs was drawn up at the landing stage, and the bands of two regiments struck up the Portuguese National Anthem as His Excellency and suite landed at the wharf steps. After inspect ing the guard of honour Senhor Rocadas and his suite took chairs for Government House, where they tiffined with His Excellency the Governor and many prominent residents of the Colony who had been invited to meet the guests. His Excellency the Governor of Macao after- wards attended a reception given in his honour at Duart by Mr. Leiria, the Consul, and later a reception at the Lusitano Club and returned to Macao by the gunboat in the evening.
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