The great event vf 1897 has come and gone, and the Colony of Hongkong is, and justly, of opinion that it has done itself proud and honoured the Queen in right loyal fashion; and, xt a time when the weather promised to be most unpropitious, it happily turned out so far favoucab's mame, with the single exception of the Gymkhana, fixed for Wednesday afternoon, was carried out in its entirety. The proceed tings really commence! on Sunday, when sp-ci-l Services were he'd in St. John's *ud the Roman Cathol'e Cathedrals, as well as in Union Church, the Wesleyan Church, and the Parsee Meeting House. That in St. John's was attended by H.E. the Governor, the Chief Ju-tice, General Black, Commodore Hollaxd, the members of the Legislative Council, the members of the Permanent Memorial Committe, and the principal civil, military, and naval officers, where a very eloquent sermon was preached by the Rey. R. F, Cobbold, xt.a.
Mend y the boarders at the Mount Austin Hotel took advantage of the wusous occasion, to give a ball in the new ballroom in that building, which was largely " trended.
Tuesday opened most unfavourably, rain falling all through the morning in torrents, and only partially clearing up in the after noon. HE. the Governor held alerde at Government House in the forenoon, and during the morning received several ad-dre-sex, rifter first despatching " congratula-tay. me-sage by telegram from the Council to the Queen. The first atdro s was from the Colony, anit was presented by the Hon, P. Chater; the next by the Chine o, who accompanied it by a tablet to be placed in Government House, presented by Dr, Ho Kai; ans the thied by the Freemasons, alo -prewntel by Mr, Chater in his capacity of District Grand Muster, The Governor made appropriate replies in each case, and the functi-us passed off very pleasantly, in spite of the wet weather Outside and the unexpected drow h within, Ar three p.m, there was still an une comfortable drizzle, and the geonnd was sodden with wet, bat this drawback fortunately deterred few from turning out, and between that time and 5 pin, ceaseless stream of chairs, rioshas, and gharries se! eastwards for the review of the troops in Happy Valley. Punctually to time various regiments and corps ay ived the ground, and when formed up stretched right from ove end of the Rios course tv the o her, The Field Battery of the Volunteers were stationed at the northern, and a battery of thy Hongkon, Royal Artillery at the southern end o the line. At 5.15 p.m. H.E. the Governor arrived, the royal standard was unfurled on the Grand Stand, and the massed binds of the two Rusiments played the general salute. A royal salute and a few de join were then fird in a very smart manner, the Bands playing the National Anthem in the intervals. Tue troops then formed into companies and marched past, keeping in spite of the drawbacks of ternate mud and water.
was very small, there being only 2,247 of all ranks in the field, including 361 sailors and morines. Considerins that the normal strength of the G -rvison is 3,047 this cannot be "aid to be very satisfactory as it indicates cither that the different corps are under s length or that a Jarge proportion of the m-n arein hospital', The troops assembled, however, cut a highly creditable figure and deserve every credit for goo! drill and efficiency. At the conclusion th: bogle sounded the order to disperse, avi th-n to reform in front of the Gran! Stind where the Bind of the West Yorkshire Regiment took up its position, with the chorus of Indies and gentlemen who had un dertaken to sing the © Hallelajs" Chorus, the Hymn "Praise the Lord," and the Natio-al Anthem. This programme was performed with g eat effect on the whole, tough somewhat marred by the weakness of the trebles, whose numbers could not atone for
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.