A meeting of British residents took place on Monday at the Supreme Court for the purpose of considering the steps to be taken in connection with the reception of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess Shanghai. Mr. P. J. Hughes, 1BM. of Connaught on their approaching visit to
Consul-General, presided, and there was fairly large attendance.
The Cuarnway, in opening the proceedings, said—I am glad to see so numerous and representative an assembly on this occasion I have no doubt the meeting would have been still more numerously attended but for the very inconvenient hour for which it was unavoidably called. It may be well that I should mention as shortly as possible the proceedings taken preliminary to the present meeting. You are aware that it was some time ago publicly announced that their Royal Highnesses the Dukeand Duchess of Connaught would visit Shanghai on Easter Monday, the 7th of April. It was also understood that the steamer with the Royal party would arrive at Singapore on the 25th-instant: It seemed necessary that something should be done without delay in the way of preparation for the reception of our illustrious visitors, especially if it was desired to communicate with them before their arrival in China, for, if this was to be done by letter, the mail of to-morrow evening would be the latest opportunity, and it seemed desirable not only to acquaint his Royal Highness with what we intended to ask him to do, but to learn from him how far he was able to meet our views. I therefore decided to consult with some of our prominent residents. Many who should have been invited, and among them several personal friends, were omitted in the hurry of the moment. About thirty gentlemen in all were invited, either by circular or verbally, for the purpose, as the circular f considering what preliminary nts should be made by the British in view of the expected The notice was very short, and several gentlemen were unfortunately unable to attend. Eighteen however met, and among them were representatives of the learned professions, bankers, merchants, Masons, volunteers and government officials. The meeting, on the motion of Mr. Thorne, seconded by Dr. Henderson, elected in the usual way a Committee, seven of whom, including myself, were present. Power was given to add to the number, and four mote were added. On the fullowing day the Committee, in deference to what seemed to be a general wish, decided that a public meeting of the British com munity should be called, and that, in the; their functions as a Committee come pro-meantime, an attempt should be made to perly to an end, and it will therefore be draw up a satisfactory programme for sub- for the meeting to take into consideration mission to that meeting. This, however, the programme—modifying it or adding to has proved somewhat difficult task, for it where it may be thought desirable—and it appeared that so many arrangements then to appoint, out of the entire British had been previously contemplated that community, a Committee to carry the pro-it became a question how they could gramme into effect." crowded into one day,—and it seemed Mr. Jenny Maccrecor—The statement that little remained to be done by the which has just been made will I am sure British community as such. It had for convince every one, if conviction were instance been understood that the Com-j{ needed, that Mr. Hughes in taking the mittee of the Sir Harry Parkes Memorial initial steps, as it is his prerogative to do, Fund would invite the Duke of Connaught to make arrangements for the suitable to unveil the statue of that eminent reception of the Duke and Duchess of Con-diplomatist. It was believed that the naught, had no desire other than to work Volunteers would parade on the occasion of it athetic accord with British residents the Royal visit. It was also rumoured that generally, and I have much pleasure in the Masonic body intended to invite his Proposing that the programme sketched a Highness to a banquet, and that the out and now submitted to you be accepted gallant Mih-ho-loong hoped to be honoured by this meeting, and I presume that a Comby the presence of the Duke and Duchess at mittee will be appointed to make the their annual ball. There was little of the day necessary arrangements for carrying it out. left to spare for a purely British demon-I think there can be no doubt that it is stration, and we must remember that the the duty as it is the privilege of British visit is only for the day. I need hardly residents to take the lead in this matter say that nothing was further from the.d, if need be, to be wholly responsible for minds of the Committee than to interfere its success. But there is another aspect in with any welcome which might be given to which the visit is to be viewed, I think, and the Royal visitors by the community in that is that the Duke and Duchess con-its cosmopolitan capacity, and one of the template visiting not only Englishmen chief objects of the Committee has been resident in Shanghai but Shanghai itself, to harmonise the various proposals so as to and I consider that the Municipal Council prevent one function from clashing with should in some appropriate way mark their the other. The programme is drawn up sense of the honour of the of per with these objects in view. It is neces-son ages illustrious not only from the accident, sarily incomplete, but so far as it goes, I of their birth but also by the high charac-trust it will meet with your approval, teristics special to themselves, During the I have referred to the probability of the limited time army disposal, since my return, community, as represented by the Munici-Ihave been able only to confer with the pal Council, taking part in the reception, Anything of the Kind will of course be highly Vice-Chairman of the Council, and I know that his sentiments agree with my own, appreciated, but it could scarcely be ex-but until I have an opportunity, to-morrow, pected that we as British subjects should of consulting the rest of our colleagues, 1 be satisfied, on such an occasion, with cannot with authority declare their will merging ourselves in the general mass of have, however, no doubt of their hearty residents of all nation: accord. When in Hongkong ascertained by politan settlement we are ang-telegraph through the courtesy of General ai. As citizens of Shanghai we may, when Edwards that the Duke and Duchess would occasion offers, entertain distinguished arrive here on Easter Monday, the 7th strangers or illustrious visitors. As citizens April, and remain for the day only. The of the British Empit eqlad to have opportunity therefore that is permitted to an opportunity of giving a hearty welcome the Council is very limited. From the to members of our own Royal Family and programme just laid before you, you will of showing our loyalty to the Queen Em-see that the Volunteers are to be invited press in the person of her Majesty's soldier to turn out, and I have no doubt that son. it will give them pleasure to do so in T will now read the programme which presence of a soldier so distinguished has been drafted by the Committee for sub-as the Command Chief of the Bom-mission to you. It is as follows bay Army, and it is proposed that the "By the consent of the Volunteer Council should present the Duke and ities, a guard of honour, consisting Duchess with a short address of welcome. of the whole Volunteer forces, shall be As this is a public occasion and there ma; drawn up at a place where their Royal not be another, I may say that I shall Highnesses land, anda salute fired by the probably propose to my colleagues to-mor-"Artillery. row that the Council, representative as it "Their Royal Highnesses will then pro-is of the cosmopolitan community, should ceed to the British Consulate, and shortly form itself into a Committee to confer with afterwards a public address from the British residents be presented to his Royal the Committee to be appointed by this meeting for the purpose of Permoniovaly oarryin, Highness in the Supreme Court-room. out the arrangements for the latter part of Afterwards his Royal Highness will be the day. The visitors may not unnaturally invited to proceed to the site of the "Sir wish to be left alone for an hour or two to Harry Parkes" statue, where, it is be-drive about and see our city; and there lieved, he will be requested by the Chair-has been mention made of an hour's racing. man of the Executive Committee to unveil The Masonic body, with that fervour the statue, and an address of welcome on which is characteristic of the craft, is deter-behalf of the Community will be made to mined if possible to secure the Duke him by the Chairman of the Municipal for a banquet, and the Mih-ho-loong had Council. already fixed upon that evening for their "Their Royal Highnesses, and such annual ball. You will see therefore foreign guests as may be invited to meet that the room for display is limited. I them, will then be entertained at a luncheon have in my own mind something which offered by British residents. would harmonise with all these things, but "The Chairman of the Council having intimated that the community would like it without consulting my coll ines. It would not be prceee for me t= mention to celebrate in some appropriate manner will be very little, but I hope chat if we the visit of their Royal Highnesses to the are favoured with the weather which would Settlement, the remainder of the day is left froe to be filled up in any manner that may be appropriate to the joyous day on which our Royal visitors arrive, we may, make a be decided upon by the Council or community for that, purpose. few hours pass in such a way as will cause their Royal Highnesses to carry pleasant
preparation of this draft programme for "*The Committee conceive that with zecollestons of Shanghai back to their own country. (Applause.) The speaker con-submission to the present general meeting, cluded by moving "That the programme,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.