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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
and Mrs Danison, Mrs J. M. Armstrong, Mr W. rmstrong and Miss Armstrong, Campbell. Moore and Co., Mr and Mrs Douglas Graham, Mr and Mrs Seth and family, Sir Paul Chater. Mr H. N. Mody, The Chinese Mail, Chinese servants of deceased, Mr C. H. Lee, Mr A. Forbes, Mr A. J. Coppin, Mr F. Lammert, Victoria Recreation Club, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Mr T. 1. Rose. Mr P. W. Goldring, Mr F. C. Barlow, Mr and Mrs Bryson, Mr and Mrs G. P. Lammert, Mr and Mrs E. Jones Hughes, Mr and Mrs W. H. Donald, Mr and Mrs D. Clark, Mr J. Lambert, Rev. T. W. and Mrs Pearce, Mr and Mrs Bellamy Brown, Mrs G. R. Lammert, Mr and Mrs W. Nicholson, Miss Wallace, Mr and Mrs J. A. Jupp, Mr Leung Shin-kong, Mr L. E. Lammert, Mr F. M. Crawford, Mr and Mrs H. A. Lammert, Miss Massey, Mr P. Loureiro, Mr and Mrs A. Chapman, and family, Mr and Mrs E. H. Hinds, Mr and Mrs G. Piercy, and Mr G. Herbst.
PRESENTATIONS TO MR. J. GRAY SCOTT.
Mr. J. Gray Scott, who is retiring from the position of manager of the Electric Tram- way Co., was the recipient of interesting farewell presents last week from the Traffic and Engineering Staffs of the Tramway Service. During his stay in Hongkong Mr. Scott has made a host of friends, but none who appreciate his worth more than the men who have worked with him here. The initative in the presentation movement was taken by the
Chinese staff, who were anxious that their old Chief should take away some memento of his stay in the Colony. Needless to say, there was hearty co-operation by the Europeans in the Service.
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Mr. A. COURSE, on behalf of the Traffic Staff, presented to Mr. Scott an album with handsomely carved blackwood covers and silver mountings. On the front cover of the book two dragons were carved in the shape of a circle, within this being a tramcar in silver. The book contained an illuminated address and the signatures of the men employed on the Traffic Staff; as well as some forty photographs of the Tramway system. Also with a gold fob chain with his name inscribed on one side, and lucky Chinese characters on the other. In making the presentation Mr. Course asked Mr. Scott to accept the gifts from the Traffic Staff 88 a mark of the appreciation and esteem in which they held him. The gifts would form mementos of his residence in Hong kong as Chief Engineer and General Manager of the Tramway Company, and the speaker had no doubt that Mr. Scott would be all the more pleased to accept them when he learned that subscriptions to defray the cost were started entirely on the initiative of the Chinese Staff. Mr. Course then read the address, which was afterwards interpreted to the Chinese employees. In conclusion, on behalf of the Traffic Staff, Mr. Course wished the departing chief a pleasant voyage home and future prosperity.
Mr. Scorr, in reply, said he accepted the gifts with the greatest of pleasure. He had always had every assistance from the staff, which made his work much easier. He was sorry to leave Hongkong, but trusted that the staff would extend the same assistance to his successor as they had to him.
Mr. MALDEN, assistant engineer, on behalf of the Engineering Staff, then presented Mr. Scott with a large model of a tram car and over head wires, in silver, in a large glass case, and a morocco bound album containing an address and photographs of the engineers in the Tramway Service.
Mr. SCOTT returned thanks for the present, and then, on behalf of the engineers presented Mr. Malden, who is also leaving the Colony,
with a similar book to the one he had received.
FAREWELL DINNER TO MR. GRAY SCOTT.
Mr.
J. Gray Scott, was entertained at a dinner on Tuesday night at the Hongkong Hotel The Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, C.M.G., (Director of Public Works) presided and Mr. W. A. Dowley occupied the Vice-Chair. The other hosts included Messrs. D. Wood, H. R. Phelips, C. D. Melbourne, J. R. Wood, EG Calthrop, D. Macdonald, A. G.
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[April 26, 1909..
from the Captain Superintendent of Police downwards. In conclusion he said he could assure those present that it was with a sense of very genuine and deep regret that he was about to take his departure from Hong- kong, but those feelings were mitigated by a sense of gratification at the honour done him that night: He appreciated the good. followship shown that night and hoped that the friendships might not be severed But renewed at no distant date in the mother country.— (Applause.)
Gordon, E. H. Hewett, W. Murray Scott, D. the inception of that night's gathering. Dame V. Steavenson, W. H. Wickham, F. Graham. Nature had bountifully endowed Mr. Dowley as E. A. Williams, A. R. Lowe, A. H. Ough, N. regards bulk and he (the speaker) could assure F. Blanch, H. F. Chard. J. D. Auld, F. J. them that in alloting his heart she had had Badeley, D. W. Craddock. Dr. Marriott, A. regard to the laws of proportion. Mr. Wood as Forbes, Evan Jones. A. H. Hollingsworth, G. they know was a born organiser and he regarded H. Wakeman, 0). Nielsen, H. Philbey, J. H. | it as a personal compliment that he should have Nellis, and T. L. Perkius. Besides Mr. J. directed his energies to the attainment of hon- Gray-Scott, the following guests wore present: ours on his behalf. (Mr. Gray Scott paid a Captain Mitchell Taylor, Messrs. Stodart very high compliment to the efficiency Kennedy (Mr.cott's successor), G. T. Lloyd, of the local police, and said he could B. A. Hale, G. F. Malden, C. B. Buyers, G. say from his experience that that Grimble, A. Course, C. C. Hill, W. Glendinning. | standard of efficiency pervaded the whole staff A. Keating, R. D. Atkinson and B. Elwes.
The CHAIRMAN in proposing the health of Mr. Gray Scott said he had had occasion to meet him in various capacities during his stay in the colony. In his official capacity he could never wish to work with a better man in a similar capacity. As they know, Mr. Scott had other interests to serve besides those which he (the Chairman) had specially to look after, and to do what he could to get the biggest possible dividend for his company. Naturally that conflicted somewhat with some of the matters that he (the Chairman) would have liked him to carry through, but whilst they had not been able to see eye it was not the fault of his friend Mr. Gray Scott who had met his views whenever it was possible for him to so The other capacity in which he had come into
contact with him was BS an ordinary member of to public and those present were in as good a position to judge of Mr. Scott's qualities as he He had run the tramway service of this colony in a manner that would reflect credit in any community in the wide world. The service had been carried on practically without inter- ruption, though they had had to contend with two of the biggest typhoons experienced in the colony for many years During one of those typhoons he thought Mr. Gray Scott displayed some animus against the Building Authority (laughter) because he ran three of his cars into a building down near Kennedy Town. It might surprise them to learn that those build. ings stood (laughter). He would ask whether there was any one present who had attempted to forcibly stop one of those cars (laughter). In conclusion he proposed the health of Mr. Scott and wished him health, sperity and success in his future career. They all regretted his departure from Hongkong and would be pleased were he remaining here.
was.
Mr. W. H. WICKHAM proposed the toast of other departing friends, coupling with the toast the name of Mr. Robert Mitchell, Chief Manager of the Hongkong and Whampoa Docks, and Mr. Malden, who had been Mr. Scott's chief assistant. Mr. Robert Mitchell, he said, might be considered a veteran in the Colony, because his residence had extended over a quarter of a century. He had worked his way up from a very subordinate position by hard work and engineering ability to the highest position in the Dock Company's service. He spoke of Mr. Mitchell's engineer- ing ability not only from the opinions he him- self had formed, but from the universal testimony of Mr. Mitchell's brother engineers in the Colony. Passing from his professional position Robert Mitchell as a man was a sterling follow. He was well known to most of them as a friend and a citizen. He had seen it stated that Mr Mitchell hoped to revisit the Colony in the future for the purpose of collecting dividends laughter. They were glad to know that he was. in a position to collect dividends and they | would hope that they would be of increasing size so that he might the more often be tempt- ed to visit the Colony pro-
(Applause). With regard to Mr. Malden he had been Mr. Gray Scott's chief lieutenant, and Mr. Scott, he was sure, would not grudge to Mr. Malden the credit he deserved in helping to make the tram- way system a success. Socially Mr. Malden was a genial friend who always saw the bright side of things, and they could not look on his face without feeling the better for it, added Mr. Wickham. Mr. Scott had borne testimony that Mr. alden had done his duty well during the years he had been with him, and that was a testimonial that should win him promotion in the future.
Mr. SCOTT in acknowledging the toast said he found it exceedingly difficult to fittingly express his feelings of appreciation of the flattering remarks which had fallen from the Chair man. His sojourn in Hongkong had not been a very extended one, but he felt he was in a very fortunate position after five years' residence among them to be treated to such a display of cordiality and good fellow- ship as they had shown that night. He felt that Mr. Chatham had done him a very high honour in presiding over that gathering, for he might say that he was one of those who shared the very high respect and esteem in which M. Chatham was held by the people of this colony. It had been his privilege to be associated with him professionally and he had al- ways had a very great respect for his unasuming manner and business like attitude. Mr. Chat- ham had been good enough to pay him the compliment of saying that the Hougkong tram ways would be creditable to any town in the world. Though he had admittedly exercised his efforts to the full during the time he had been in the colony, he thought those efforts would have been in vain had he not received staff. He had been fortunate in having with him the cordial and sympathetic support of his four excellent assi tants who had put personal considerations entirely in the secondary position and devoted themselves primarily to the work of the company by whom they were employed, Mr. Scott expressed regret at the absence of Mr. Robert Shewan who was wisely guard ing his health. Mr. Shewan could not do that too well because they would all agree that he was one of the most capable custodians of the commerce of this colony. Many present had known Mr. Shewan for a longer period than he had, but no one had a greater regard than he had for his wonderful personality He expressed his thanks to Mr. Dowley and M. Wood to whom he believed he was indebted for
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Mr. MALDEN briefly responded and mentioned that he had the privilege of working under Mr. Gray Scott in former years and could assure those present that Mr. Scott was as popular at Home as he had been in Hongkong.
The remainder of the evening was harmony.
devoted to
Mr. J. Gray Scott, who has just relinquished the post of general manager of the electric tram service, had a great send-off on Saturday when he left the Colony by the Nippon Maru for Home via San Frandisco., He had taken his farewell of the staff at Bowrington early in the morning, and had subsequently bid good bye to a host of friends assembled at the Club and the Queen's Statue Wharf. Standing in the stream off the wharf was one of the old. ferry boats, now belonging to the Green Island Cement Co. The craft, decorated with scores. of little flags and crowded with the Chinese and other members of the Tramway Company's staff who could be spared from duty, held itself in readiness to pilot the launch in which Mr. Gray Scott put off to the liner moored at the western end of the harbour. All the way down the harbour there was a deafening fusilade of ten thousand Chinese crackers let off from the old ferry boat, by way of wishing the departing chief good luck, and on either side of the boat were the words “Bon voyage. Gray Scott" in conspicuous letters on a white back ground.
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