A very interesting ceremony took place on Monday at the Marine Engineers' Institute in the shape of the presentation to Mr. Peeles, late superintendent engineer of the China Navigation Ca., of a magnificent silver tea and coffee service by the engineers in the employ of the company.
There was a large company present, the fair sex being well represented.
Mz. Malcolm, who presided, thanked the large audience for being present on that occasion. He said that nothing gave him greater pleasure than to be present on such an occasion. He then called upon Mr. W. Campbell' to make the presentation. proud and happy at having been exacted Mr. Campbell said—Mr. Peebles, T am by the Engineers of the China Navigation Ca. to present you with this silver tea and cofeo service, ass testimonial of their sincere regard and appreciation of your many courtesies, while acting for Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, as their Superintendent Engineer. I can assure you, Mr. Peebles without flattery, that while you have been our superintendent, the honest, straightforward, and manly way you have always carried out the duties pertaining to the post, has gone our hearts, and left among. us a respect for you that can never be effaced. Ab times when it was your necessary duty to give advice, it was always given with conscientious honesty, and we all today look with pride to the advice you have given us, even if it were in the form of a reprimand, because, the longer we knew you, the more thoroughly we realised that what you said was always for our good and for the benefit of our employers. You have left many friends in the company, and although you have now joined the Gid Dock, we hope you will' not forget us. We also trust that, in your new occupati you will find as many friends who will: appreciate your sterling qualities as the friends you have left behind. And now, Mr. Peebles, kindly accept this small testimonial, and when your wife, yourself, and family drink the beverage Which is brewed in these pots, the be-vorago which invigorates but never inebriates, you will feel that the draught is commended to your lips by friends whose best wishes you have, and who only hope for your suetes, happiness, and prosperity in ull the undertakings of your life. Ladies and gentlemen, I will ask you to drink the health of Mr.'and Mrs. Peebles and the little Peebles. (Applause.
The toast was drank with great enthusiasm, after which Mr. Peebles said Mr. Campbell, ladies and gentlemen, I hive to thank you and the other members of the engineering staff, both absent and present, of the China Navigation Ca., for this most handsome testimonial. It having come with such surprise Iam afraid I cannot express in adequate terms my feeling upon this occasion, because of its magnitude and for the very kind expressions used towards myself. "When I had the honour of being appointed superintending engineer of the China Navigation Ca., (the great Takao firm) T can assure you I' felt very proud; to-day that feeling has been much inten-sifed by the magnificent gift of the engineers, and still more so by their assurance that 'I have earned their and esteem. I have used the word "great" regarding the Company, for I am_sure you will all agree with me, when I say that their fleet, for the trade in which they are engaged, is second to none in point of numbers' and efficiency. I shall always look back with pleasure to my connection, with the Company, because of the kindness and the readiness of the engineers to comply with my wishes. I take the opportunity of thanking the managers for their kindness, and—the engineers for the great assistance they have given me in carrying on the work of the department during my term of office. The engineers of the service, as a body, are men worthy of their calling, are like the fleet which carries them across the seas—second to none.
Br. Gibson then proposed success to the China Navigation Ca., coupled with the name of Mr. J. C. Bois.
Mr. Bois made a few well-chosen remarks in response, and paid avery high tribute to the sterling qualities Mr. Peebles had shown during the time of his service with the company. The usual toasts were then honoured and the guests separated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.