'A large number of the leading Furopean and Chinese residents of the Colony, including. several ladies attended 'a reception given by! Messrs. Lane, Crawford, Ld., at their] shop_on March 8 in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the firm, In the section the house furnishing department in which the function took place. were hung several views of old Hong-one, the Firm and group ph the staff taken from time in the Fitm's history. Conspicuon in the room was a large and beauti ful Chinese scroll—gold and black lettering on a crimson ground—conveying the congratulations - of number of Chinese friends. The! szuests were welcomed as they arrived by Mr, W. A. Eustace and
directors.
Mr. P.M, Crawford, managing The Hon, Mr. P, H. Holyoak proposed the toast in a felicitous speech in which he said that he felt ighly honoured in being asked to propose: the torist to the future prosperity of the firm as there were many in the room whose acquaintance with' the firm extended farther back than hhis own and who could perhaps do more ably, but as a business who claimed to be one first and st esteemed very highly privilege of proposing the toast of prosperity to a firm which had survived and prospered for 75 years in Hongkong, which, for business purposes, might be "called an in" tegal part of China, Messrs. Lane, Crawford had a record of which any British firm might well. be proud, They were part of the his ory of the development of Hongkong because, from its earliest days, the firm had catered for shipping and it was because of wise foresight that they occupied the high po additional tion which they did
Lane, Crawford have prospered was that the policy of the firm, from first. to last, has been one of tegrity. 'Th always endes "youred to give service for money, and had maintained continuity of service in the same form and quality. 'Those in trade in China knew wel' the need for the maintenance of quality, Tt was bound up in the history of chops and the like. Tt was his pleasure some 25 years ago to meet! Mr. Crawford, the father of one] of the present directors of the firm, and he was forcibly struck with the integrity of his business principles. He stood for the best ideals in business, In the succeeding' years the various partners and directors had played their part in commerce and service in. the community, and throughout that pene, Whether in community life or in eases of emergency. avising from unforeseen occurrences, they had Played no small part in meeting the needs of the Colony. They hat maintained that spirit and had grovea a firm to what they were to-day, The firm were fortunate in. having 4 staff second to none in the de-Yelopment of business and he could!
no reason why the firm should not oon from records which were seroot in the past to. greater records in the future. (Applause.)
The toust was duly honoured.
Mr. W. B. L. Shenton, Chairman of the Company, replying tothe toast, said: The Hon. Mr. Holyoak, Undies and Gentlemen,—We rear the present occasion as one of the! landmarks in the career of our their foundations in the earliest da v: KUEILIN ONCE AGAIN of this Colony and who may weill describe themselves as
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.