An annual event of great interest to those who have dwelt in the Exst, took place this week at the Whitehall rooms under the presidency of Sir Thomas Sutherland. "It was in no sense a ladies' function and of course I was not present, but from one who was I heard that was said to be a record gathering and that the Chairman in proposing " Prosperity to the China Association" spoke with his accustomed vigour and terseness, He touched upon the Anglo-German—convention, also upon the missionary question, and expressed a doubt as to the wisdom of allowing many hundreds of young unmarried women to go and live in the interior of China in the way they have been doing. One of the best speeches of the evening was made by Mr. David Reid, to whose lot it fell to propose a vote of thanks to the Chairman. Ho spoke of all he had done for the East during the many years he had been connected with it and specially eulogised him as one of the started that magnificent nown as the " Hongkong an hai Bank" to whom we all "owe" so much. (This remark I am told was greeted with much laughter and applause. Among the other speakers were Mr. Yerburgh, MLP., proposed "The Imperial Forces," Admiral Fremantle and Sit J. J. H. Gordon, who responded, and Mr. Gundry, the Hon, Sec, who replied to the toast of the even
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.