As announced in my last, HE. Sir William Robinson laid the foundation stone of this institution on the morning of jthe 29th ult, and it proved his Last public function, Iwas mistaken in the estimated cost of the building. It is $12,000 not $10,000 I thought it was. The. Reformatory will be ready for use next winter probably.
DEPARTURE OF SIR WILLIAM ROBINSON, The great event of the week has been duty, you have-felt compelled to negative and reject them.
'The stages through which your past has led you have endowed you, in many parts of Her Majesty's Dominions, with varied experiences of human life. In 1854 you joined the Colonial Service, and gradually' rose, step by ste]
to the position which you now hold. Private Secretary at various intervals to such statesmen as Mr. Herman Merivale, Lord Blachford, and Lord Cardwell; in 186! Representative of the Colonial Office on the East African Slave Trade Commission; in 1873Superintendent of theColonialCourtat the Vienna. Universal Exhibition; in 1875 Governor of the Bahamas; in 1881 of the Windward Islands; in 1885 of Trinidad, aad in 1891 of this Colony. Recipient of the: Board of Trade's thanks on one occasion, and of those of the Imperial Government on another, you have passed from grade to grade with energy and credit, and Hongkong might well feel confidence when its Government was entrasted to your-keeping. The result has justified those who were responsible for your appointment, and this Community tenders You its sincere congratulations on e career Which has recently: been" worthily honoured by the bestowal upon you by the Queen of the Grand. Gross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.
Daring your Governorship—a record Govemnorship we believe in point of length of residence in the Colony—you have again and again shown by your outspoken sympathy the interest which you feel in the cause of education, a. cause the beneficent aims and princi. les. of which are the common, wolfare of Nor, whilst living amongst us, have you forgotten the rites of hospitality. "These you have exercised in a generous and court eons way, and your British partiality for the departure of ELE. the Governor, Sir 9 ts of all Kinds has been fully attested by William Robinson, G.C.MLG. On the Sist the encouragement and assistance which you ult. the members of the Civil Service waited have given to the pastimes of the Colony. upon ELE. at Government House and pre-Regretfully we have now to realise that sented him with a farewell address, Hi the time has come to, bid you farewell, and in Honour the Chief Justice acting as spokes-doing so we beg to assure you of our heartfelt wishes for your: wellbeing, and our earnest man. The address dwelt on the kindly hope: that, wherever your future path may relations which had always existed between lic, prosperity and happiness may always be the Governor and the Service and referred y our. to H: E's impartiality, and conside for Wo are, Sir, all members of it." Sir John. Carrington Your obedient. sorvants—made a neat little speech, and.the Governor [Here follow numerous signatures.] returned a feeling reply.
On Tuesday morning at 10.80 a.m. a great gathering assembled at the City Halite make some length expressing the general regret Sir John then address the Governor at
the building, a company of the Hongkon; the: (err pageant 'Excellency. Outside behalf of his friends present and absent,' in Parting and ended by withing bin Regiment was drawn up with their Banc the truest senso of the word, farewell. Sir and colours, and on the arrival of the Governor they presented arms, and the Band saying he was unable adequately to express William who was visibly afooted, responded played. Sir William Robinson was received his thanks for the address presented, but he at the entrance by the Address Committee should always prize both it and the album and conducted to St. Andrew's Hall, which of photographs to accompany it. Dr. Ho was nearly half filled with ladies for whom Kat then, on behalf of the Chinese com-seats had been provided; the men standing munity, presented a flowery address beau-behind. Sir John Carrington then read the ti fully got up on satin: and, following following address after, Mr. Mody, on behalf of' the Pareee community, handed to Sir William a Hongkong, January, 1898. copy in an elegant plush and silver To His Excellency Stm W usaaxt Rontsso: casket of the commemoration prayer offered Knight Grand Cross of the Most Dis by the Parsees on the occasion of the Diaguished Order of St. Michael and St. mond Jubilee. He at the same time en-George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and ite trusted to the Governor's care for presenta-Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the tion to Her Majesty a copy of th prayer in same. a splendid silver casket. Sir W'sliam Robinson, returned thanks for both presenta-Sir,—Before you. finally sever your official connection with Hongkong and leave the tions, and then, on the call of the Chict place-with which you have been so closely Justice, three cheers and tiger were given associated for upwards of the last six years, for the Governor. its Residents would ask you to accept this From the City Hall, Sir William Robin-brief tribute of their regard for the cordial son accompanied by the General, Chief sentiments which you have ever entertained Justice, and numerous officials and friends towards them, and the kindly thoughts proceeded to Wardley Street Wharf, and which you have always expressed for the there embarked for the 'N.D.L. steamer prosperity of the Colony.
To the Autumn of 1891, Hongkong wel-'Prewsen lying alongside the wharf at Kowloon. A company of the King's Own comed you as its new Governor, and from (Lancaster Regiment) with the Band and that time down to the present hour you have shaped the destinies of the Island, and the colours were drawn up at the wharf, watched over its interests, its liberties, and and by a mistake presented arms first to its rights. In the administration of its affaire the Chief Justice, who was a little shead wwe invariably acted under a sense of of the Governor. "This arose zh both, impartial Justice, if sometimes doubts dignitaries wearing white hats, the signal difficulties have intervened and differences who are not'yet familiar with the persons apparently looked for by the Lancastrians have arisen, you have ever readily listened to and weighed the views and sugges tions -of of our bigwigs. The Governor. then.em-others even though, in the exercise of your barked under a salute, and soon aiter the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.