A very enjoyable smoking concert was given at the offices of the Mercantile 'Marine Officers' Association on Tharsday evening the 24th instant to do honour to Commander MacNab, who for the past The thirty years acted as Board of Trade Examiner at Liverpool and who has now retired and is taking " pleasure trip around the world. The concert was held in the library of the Association, which was beautifully decorated for the cession with flags and bunting. Capt. G. B. Rea, President of the Association, was in the chair, and there was a very large attendance of members and guests.
The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that it was their privilege that night to assemble and greet one whose name among the shipping community of Great Britain was a household word. Their honoured guest was Captain MacNab, who had for many years held the honourable and onerous position of Board of Trade Examiner at Liverpool and who had for thirty-one years performed the duties attached to that position in a manner which had won him the respect of a large body of seafaring men. Captain MacNab had also been for many years connected with the Royal Naval Reserve, in which he hel the rank of Commander, and had been associated with and took the greatest interest in the training-ships Conway and Worcester. Into these and all other matters pertaining to the Mer cantile Marine, he had put that energy and force of character which had made him so well known and so wel appreciated by all seafaring men. None knew better than they that Captain Mao-'Nab had always used his best endeavours to further the interests of the seafaring community at home and his efforts, they were glad to think, had ever been crowned with the greatest success, Captain MacNab had now come to Shanghai on a visit and nothing could be more fitting ti it the members of the Mercantile Marine Officers' Association should take this opportunity of extending to him " hearty welcome, Many members of the Association had passed through his hands when he was examiner to the Board of Trade, and not only were they delighted to see him now, bat hoped that he might be able to pay another visit to this port. Their guest had finished his watch at the Board of Trade and the duties which he had relinquished had falles into other hands, along with the responsibilities. It had been his lot to have on his shoulders for many years the barden of precious lives and untold wealth which had been carried by the ships of the British Mercantile me, and all depended on the capabilities of the one man who had the passing or rejecting of those who sought the command of vessels sailing over the high seas. That Captain MacNab had accomplished task with credit was the reason why the members of that Association felt highly honoured in entertaining him and adding their small tribute to his well-won laurels. followed by an excellent concert of The Chairman's opening speech was
vocal and instrumental music, in which several of our best known local musicians took part and were assisted by friends from the P. & O. 8. Devanha, programme included songs by Messrs. A. Williams, Fenus, F. Black, Tippin snd Lloyd, all of which wore well rendered and heartily applauded comic songs by those popular comedians, Messrs, Sherman and Stormes: lever parody on as old plantation melody
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.