The annual meeting of the shareholders in, and subscribers to, this institution was held on the 23rd inst., under the presidency of the Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving. 'The Chairman, in proposing the adoption of the report' and accounts (which were passed nem. con.) stated that the year had been a fairly satisfactory one from a financial point of view, although the mented death of Queen Victoria and conse: jtient mourning had interfered yreatiy with the gaiety of the season. The substantial balance ay ble has been utilised for re-decorating and repairing the halls, ete., and electric light has been installed in all the rooms and will be used for lighting the stage of the theatre. They had sustained a great loss ly the retirement of the Hon. WH. E. Pollock, K.C., from the Committee, on his leaving the Colony. He was the originator of the scheme for opening the Library in the evenings and founded the Free Lending Collection, to which he contributed 300. Gifts' of books are urgently needed for this institution. Upwards of 25,000 persons availed themselves of the Library and 110,000 visited the Museum during the year. The Museum suffers from lack of space and absence of scientific supervision. Mr- Bowley, the secretary and librarian, had done much to secure the improvements made in both institutions.
T quite endorse the remarks of the Chairman with regard to the Museum It wants both space and better lighting, although in the latter respect a great imdoors on the south si ft rare ment has been effected by glazing solid wood. But this is a mere improvement of a place badly adapted for the purpose of exhibition. What is wanted isa new building for the purpose lighted from the top and hi ty of room to expand. In this m re is far in advance of Hongkong; it has its Rafies Museum, in which is housed a large collection of stuffed animals and of the products indigenous to the Malay Peninsula, Hong-Kong's Museum would do little credit to a_ small provincial town in England. Wanted, a local millionaire to present a new Museum to the colony.
Garrison News, The C. P. R. Co.'s steamer Empress of ins, which arrived here on tae 25th inst., brought 200_ran!
Western Dit the Hongkong on.
T thought the whole of the Hongkorg Regiment had returned to the Colony, but the steamer Nancharg, which ed here yesterday, brought Lieut. Bingham and 150 rank and file of this regiment from Tientsio. This makes ep the balance of it, I presume. Cojonel and Mrs. Retallick leave here on the Sist the Tnd mer Laisang Payne) for Calcutta, The oncers Colonel Retailick a farewell dinner at the Hongkong Hotel.
Naval Inteliigence.
The man-of-war anchorage presents a lively appearance, and is likely to do so for sometime. The arrivals during the week were:—On the 22nd inst., the British erwser Pique from Shanghai h gunboat Redpole from Canto, and the cruiser Endymion from Manila ith inst., the Russian battleship like, from Nagasaki. This is the first Russian warship we have had for some time. The departures have been:—On the 24th inst., the French cruiser Des-artes for Saigon; on the 26th, the German boat Iltis and the French gunboat x, both for Canton. The British cruisers Cressy and Pique left the harbour for Mirs Bay on the 26th inst.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.