The "Hongkew Hook and Ladder Ao." had its annual meeting at 4.30 p.m, Friday, at the Truck House, on Broadway. Me. Vail was re-elected Foreman, Mr. Bowman was re-elected Assistant-Foreman, and Mr, Galles 2nd Asst.-Foreman, Mr. Clifton Secretary, and Messrs. Seward, Langhorne, and Bradford, the Committee for the ing year. The truck, lately repaired and decorated, was taken out for practice. They Grst ran down to the Ningpo Wharf Godowns, where the order was given to "unship the ladders," which was done great alacrity. In 32 seconds, twelve men armed with hooks and axes were found on top of the largest godown, randy for acti The ladders were replaced with a rapidity which augurs well for the efficiency of the Company. The truck was then run up Broadway to the P, M. 8.8. Wharf, and here the order was given to place the against the steamer Oregonian, lying at the wharf. In less than no time" the brilliant uniforms of the members were seen on the exposed places of the steamer. At this moment a "fire alarm" was given on board the Oregonian, and in 66 seconds six atreama baptized the grand pontoon with the pure water of the Hwangpoo. All this was gazed upon by a large and deeply-interested number of spectators, amongst whom were several Indies. The ladders were again shipped, and the truck ran at double quick " past the Austrian Consulate to the pontoon eral natives barely escaping lives; and a pony in a brougham belonging to a prominent member of the Consular corps was seen to go through various evolutions, much to the danger of the occupants of the vehicle, After crossing the bridge, the truck was rolled to the Peking Road! and the Bund, and thence to the Truck House, near the Garden Bridge. Altogether, the parade and display were most satisfactory, and a reasonable hope may be entertained that when duty calls, the Company may not prove false to its motto, and that it will be all there."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.