The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-04-16
THE CHINESE FIRBMEN.

port of the Interesting Ceremonies.
Two O'Clock on Saturday afternoon was
appointed for the ceremony OF LAYING the
corner stone of fireproof brick house for
the accommodation OF China Engine
Company, No. 3, Honolulu Fire Depart
ment At that hour large crowd as
sembled at Maunakea and Pauahi streets,
the site wherein the building is we'll
under progress of construction. His Ex-
cellency L. \. Thurston, Minister OF the
Interior, and Hon. w. w. Hall were on
the spot some minutes before the fire.
mems procession arrived. Chief En-
gineer Wilson and Fire Marshal White
soon arrived in carriage, with span
OF horses driven by Mr.. J. ]. Sullivan of
the Pantheon Stables.
Shortly the music OF a lively march
was heard in the near distance, and
China Engine Company marched up
Maupakea street, about thirty strong
and in full uniform, preceded by the
Royal Hawaiian Band and followed by
the uniformed Hawaii Engine Company
No. I. The bright blue of the China's
and the red of the Hawaii's blouses made
a pleasing combination as the procession
halted in ranks at the front and side of
the building. Hundreds OF spectators
viewed the ceremonies, and Mr.. SEVERN,
from an overlooking veranda, photo
graphed the group OF leading actors in
the scene. Besides the latter there were
noticed in attendance Mr.. Fred. Harri
son, contractor for the building; Mr..
George Lucas, eX-chief engineer; MIR.
George Norton, second assistant engineer
OF the department; Mr.. +. r. Ryan,
foreman, and Mr.. G. Clark, assistant
foreman OF Mechanic Engine Company
No. >, Mr.. &. Ordenstein, assistant fore
man Of Honolulu Engine Company No.
l, and Mr. keawe, assistant foreman of
Hawaii Company. When all was ready
the band, under direction OF Prof. Berger,
played the immortal strains of cold
Hundred" The literary exercises fol-
lowed.
Mr. Lau. Chong, delegate OF China
Company to the department, called his
company to attention with few intro
ductory words. Mr.. Hang Sam, foreman
OF the company, delivered brief speech |
in Chinese, being rewarded with three |
rousing cheers. Mr.. Lau Chong then !
read in Chinese the address, OF which !
the translation appears below. The |
manuscript fastened with bright red |
ribbon he placed in the tin box for de-
post in the wall.
Mr.. Thurston came forward to perform |
the main ceremony, and said: Gentle
men: 1 did not come here to make a
speech, but if had, the gentlemen who
have gone before me have expressed |
my sentiments thoroughly. (LaIghter.l
As cannot say any more in Chinese | |
shall speak in English. There can al
ways be something good said about the
Honolulu Fire Department. 1t has
strived to do its duty under all circum-
stances, although there was a time when
it was very poorly equipped. You re-
the old fire engine at which you
had to strain your backs to get drop OF
water. This is the second building be-
longing to the Departmental hav-
l
it is the first fireproof
engine house to be constructed. 1t is
fitting that it should be built on the site
Of the great fire, where Chinese capital
lists have maintained an engine pur-
chased by their contributions. | am
glad to be able to participate in this
event, and to place in this receptacle the
BOX containing the record OF your COM
Dany, with various other matters, and
nope it will be long time before any
body can get at it to find out what it
contains. Laughter and three cheers.j
The Minister, on concluding his speech,
deposited the tin box in the cavity pre-
pared for it, in the middle of the plaster
1t the northeast corner of the building. |
The contents of the box are as follows:
Chinese Almanac for 1889, Thrum's An
lual for 1889, Hawaiian Chinese News
PAPER latest issue, Constitution of the
honolulu Fire Department, Constitu- I
ions and bylaws of Engine Companies
D., 2 and 3, and OF Hook d Ladder Com
,any and the Fire Police Hawaiian
GAZETTE of April 9Th, DAILY PACIFIC
ADVERTISER OF April 18th, :
Planters Monthly for March, Daily Bull
etin OF April 18th, Bulletin extra,
Weekly Bulletin of April 9th, list of
members OF China Engine Company, the
ddress OF the same company just de-
ivered, a Chinese flag; Chinese, Ha-
7aiian and American coins, and a short
history OF Honolulu and the Honolulu
lire Department, dating back to 1860,
" Fire Marshal j c. White.
Mr.. W. Akana, engineer of No. ) fire !
ngine, followed the Minister of the IN !
erior on the platform He read the fol- /
owing translation OF the address read in 1
,hinese by Mr.. Lau Chong: .
Gentlemen and Brother Firemen: 1t =
) with satisfaction and pride we hail you J
II here assembled to-day, to witness the G
aging of our foundation stone. The Z
uperstructure which shall shortly rise I
bove this stone will be the railying d
ONT OF one company of that volunteer S
and, who are pledged ever to be ready o.
moments notice to fight the Fire
iend' and to protect the lives and pro- -
erty OF our citizens from its ravages.
China Engine Company No. ) was
rganized in 1879, with an original roll
all OF sixty members. The funds which
our fine steam engine were
described by the Chinese merchants of ]
lis city, and its present membership of
twenty-five is enrolled chiefly from the
erchant class of our community From T
he date OF our organization a spirit of /
indy fellowship has existed in our d,
INKS and | am proud to say that to-day -