The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-04-15
CHINA COMPANY NO. s,
LAYING OF THE CORNER STONE OF
TREIR NEW ENGINE HOUSE.

iOt hiSN NliO SNlNhhOiiN VI OhN
corner stone of their new engine
house, corner of Maunakea and Pau
ahi streets, in the presence of a very
large assemhlagc last Saturday after
noon. The hour designated for the
ceremony was two O'CLOCK and few
minutes after that time, the China
Engine Company in full uniform
and numbering at least 30, APP
preached the spot to the lively airs
of the Royal Hawaiian Band. They
were escorted by Hawaii Engine Co.
No. 4. His Elk. l.. A. Thurston,
the Minister of the Interior, who
had been selected to lay the corner
stone, being already on the spot, no
time was lost in getting under way.
AS soon as the firemen had ar
ranged themselves about the build
ing, Mr.. Lau Chong, the China
Company's delegate to the Depart
ment, stepped to the front, and
after calling attention, introduced
Mr.. Hang Sam, the foreman of the
company, who spoke few minutes
explaining the objects of the cere-
monies. Mr.. Lau Chong then read
in Chinese an address appropriate
to the occasion, after which Akana,
the engineer of the company, read
the following English translation of
the foreman's address -
Gentlemen and Brother Firemen:
1t is with satisfaction and pride we
hail you all here assembled to-day
to witness the laying of our founda-
ton stone. The superstructure
which shall shortly rise above this
stone, will be the rallying point of
one company of that volunteer band,
who are pledged ever to be ready
at moments notice to fight the fire
tiend, and to protect the lives and
property of our citizens from its
ravages. China Engine Company
No. was organized in 1879, with
an original roll call of 60 members.
rhe funds which purchased our fine
steam engine were subscribed by
the Chlne>e merchants of this city,
and Its present membership of ~ is
enrolled chiefly from the merchant
class of our community. From the
date of our organization a spirit of
kindly fellowship has existed in our
ranks, and | am proud to say that
to-day we are prosperous beyond
our expectations. Wherever the
alarm bell has rung out, calling US
10 duty, we have ever promptly
obeyed the call, and labored in uni
son with our fellow firemen, TO save
the property of our citizens. How
valuable our services have been, it
is for our Chief Engineer and cur
fellow-citizens to decide. That our
services are valued is evidenced by
the fact, that on this spot is to be
raised a fine fire proof building for
our accommodation This occasion
is one which we shall not soon for
get and it will nerve us to increased
zeal whenever the alarm shall ring
| out our call to duty. This occasion
is one Of great interest to all the
members of our Fire Department,
for it marks the change from the
days of rickety wooden engine
houses and sheds, to those of fine
brick and other fire proof structures
for the accommodation of the De-
partment. We are the fortunate
first company in this respect, and
in congratulating ourselves we feel
assured that no pang of envy will be
| felt by our brother tiremen, for it is
an open secret that plans are in pre-
paration by the Government, to
erect houses for other companies of
the Department. Structures that
will loom up grandly in comparison
with our own modest but pretty
home.
Brother Firemen, may our call to
duty be seldom heard, but when the
bells ring out may we always be
found prompt TO the call, and may
great fires in Honolulu only be
known as things of the past.
In the name of China Engine
Company No. thank you all for
your presence.
The delegate then announced that
His Elk. the Minister of the Interior
would lay the corner stone of the
new building. Amid three rousing
cheers Mr.. Thurston stepped to the
front and said:-
Gentlemen: There can always be
something good said about the Ho'
nolulu Fire Department. 1t ha;
strved to do its duty under all cir
cumstances, although there was s
time when it was very poorly equip
ped. This is the second building
belonging to the Department-No
l having been the only company il
its own buildng-and it is the frs
firrproof engine house to be con-
structed. 1t is fitting that it should
be built on the site of the great fire
where Chinese capitalists have main
tanned an engine purchased by their
contributions. | am glad to be abb,
to participate in this event, and t,
place in this receptacle the box con
tanning the record of your company
with various other matters, and
hope il will be Il long time befor,
anybody can get at it to find on
what it contains. daughter anC