The Coronation festivities at our little outport were of necessity not extensive, but we all did our best. "The programme drawn up by our Committee embraced a mid-day reception at the Customs Club, an afternoon service at Christ Charch, and ight garden party at the Consulate. The reception came "tf at noon, when close on fifty residents avd visitors met at the Club har, and in response to a speech from our Consul, drank enthusiastically to the health of His Majesty the King, and the prosperity of his Empire. "The Queen" was preprsed by the youngest bachelor, and toasts followed to the British Flag and the Consul. The afternoon service was on the lines of yours at the Cathedral, but alas, without your organist and choir. Tt _was, for all that, well attended, and Mr. Walker's fine voice and earnest delivery made it most impressive, even if the Zadok anthem and Hallelujah chorus had to be foregone.
The garden party at the Coasulate perforce resulved itself into a sort of smoking concert. The grounds had been tastefully Aecorated with red, white, and blue lanterns, and we hive reason to believe that there was a moon somewhere about infortunately the rain falling with a steady drizzle, kept everybody within doors, don't mean within their own duers, for everybody came to the Consulate; everybody, that is, except the Catholic Missionaries, who to our regret have elected to themselves from thi nts and to_seb their pri interest abore that of the community: The Chit ould perhaps have savlier said, paid their calls in the morning, when for nearly two hours the Consul received them in succession, Colonel Cuow, however, sent a guard to keep the Constilate bund free for Europeans to view the fireworks that were to have been let off from the Paoting, anchored hard by. The guard was superfluous as things turned out, for though the rain kept the Chinese crowd away, it also effectually damped the firework:
When once this melancholy fact was realised, we all proceeded ¢> amuse our-Majesties' health the hu dies now able to assist.
Then we settled down to singing, dwel there isn't such a yet, there will be soon) and, not least nor altogether last, to supping. The proceedings at the Consulste did. not terminate till wel! after mini and th re is a rumour tha itits kept ea coronating the departure of the Pekin at 4 ain. Residents in the neighbour ho def the Customs Club tell me that "rumour" is hardly the word; but let it pass. as you will have seen, little N its duty, and on the whole enjoyed it.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.