Saturday was a red-letter day in the history of M.S.N. Company, being the day app for the trial trip' of the new river steamer Kiang Kwan, a voss built in Glasgow expressly for and own by that Company, and the first of the Kind aalling under the Chinese flag. She in intended for trafic on the Yangtsze, and ina paddle-boat, 250 fect in length over all, 45 feot beam, and 75 fect over the Her depth of hold is 12 feet engines, compound, of 250 horse power nominal, working up to about 1,500, and on the trial trip she believed that, upon a con
will average from 11} to 12 17 tous of cond per, 24 hours, Her cargo capacity is 2,400 measurement ton, or 1,000 tons deadweight, and will carry this burden on a dray, feot. In order to make the trial as fair us possible in all respects, the boat was loaded with a miscellaneous cargo down to 7 foot 8 inches; and, under Cap Morse' careful management, the ful." Phere was ceptible, even of Customs; G. H. Noetzli and 0. L. Simpson, Deputy Commissi Cameron, W. H. Tapp, A. M. Bisbee, E. Major, C. P. Blethen, McIver (Hongkong), LIS. Morris, D, Jones, Morrison, J. Goodfellow, Daniel, Irving, E. J. Caldbeck, Little, J. H.'Cheverton, Kent, Barton, J. P. Roberts, E. W. Tisdall, Dowdall, J, Jacques, Towell, Lowder, There wore also numerous Chinese on board, including the Chehsien of Shanghai, several Directorsof the Company, and representatives of native banks; while Ik, tea, and piece goods merchants were also present in force. The Taotai, and other officials of the native city called at the offices of the Company during the forenoon, and offered congratulations on the event of the day. The Taotai would have joined in the excursion but for pressure of busi ness. Many of the Chinese on board were attired in their gayest apparel, and the number of Mandarin's buttons and feathers displayed was surprising.
The weather was delightful, and the arrangements for the breakfast bein, carried out under Captain Bolton's per tonal. supervision, were all that. could wished. The trip was prolonged to about two miles North of Bus a, being about forty-four miles altogether, and occupying about four hours and a half.
At about twelve o'clock, the guests were invited to breafaat, the chair being tak by Mr. Tong Mow-cheo. The chief Chinese guests were grouped at the head and foot of the principal table, the foreign guests occupying the intermediate pace and several smaller tables improvised for the nonce. At the termination of the "The Cuarmatax, who spoke in good Engli i—An occasion like this should assed over without something common observation. who had he been presen addressed you much more eloquently than Lean; and as my other friend is not able to speak in English, it falls upon me to say a fow words. The toast about to be proposed, is that of "The Guests"—a
kini ery proper toast on occasions of this Tam not going to propose it but will call upon Mr. Sit ig-cook to say a fow sentences, which ho has thought proper to be read at this time. (Applause.
Mr, Sit Muxo Coox then rose an:—Ladies and Gentlemen, in propo health of the guests on board to-day, representative of the 0.MLS, N. Ca., during the absence of Mr. Tong King Sing, cannot find words with which to express the gratitude that T feel in distinguished friends of the Shanghai community. It is a great honour to the your foreign countries, this trial trip of steamer buile expressly for and omned fourth, 9 sistorin dock and undergoing the usual cleaning and painting, and will join the line shortly. It is generally entertained by foreigners that Chinese progress in civilisation is very slow; that We must admit, but what we gain we hold. The infant Company to which this steamer belongs, I hope will strive to prove an exception, and that in some future days whic honor to invite solely built by the hands of Chinese conclusion, Ihave to thank you, Ladi Gentlemen, for your kind presence, and beg you to join me in wishing success to all the steamers of the Yangtsze Kiang. Applause.)
Mevuursr, in responding, it was with some diffidence that he rose to respond to the toast just given in so eloquent @ manner—a toast which was in itself @ novelty and a sign of progress, inasmuch as it was the first toast he had heard given in English by a Chinaman. He had much pleasure in thanking lemon who had just come offered to that present to-day, wishing success to the little craft they on board of, (Hear Hear.) Hor name was significant—the Kiang Khwan, which might be rendered the " river's expanse," and he hoped she might long float upon the expanse of the broad Yangtsze, and successfully hold her own there, The Chinese were alowly giving up their conservative and exclusive policy but as their friend Mr, Sit Ming-cook had told them, "what they gain they hold," That was both a sign of progress and of ard to the O.3LS, it must be acknowledged th instituted under Governmental at to a foreign But this had aris the necessity of the occasion, and need not necessarily prove a permanent objection, The Company had thus far made good progress. It had only been three years in existence, and yet the entries and clearances of swelled those under the Chi in this port Chin i fag, that 1876, taken the to those under the Bi flags. In conclusion, he hoped th go on.as they had begun, and he felt sure that there was no foreigner who would begrudge the successful competition of the ©.M.S. N. Company with other steam Mr. Grover next rose, and said he hoped they would all join with him in drinking the "Health of the General Manager, Mr. Tong King Sing,"
Benetal Manager might long b rity to the Company.
carry out the policy of the Company which had been adopted from its commencement, 80 th starting saloon, which is on the for the spar deck, will accommodate about twenty passengers. tis prettily decorated, and has a light and cheerful appearance, The state-rooms open into the saloon as usual, and are spacious and well-appointed, which indeed may be said of the vessel generally, All the other fittings are as usual in the steamers, She was built and engi by rs, Inglis of Glasgow, engine-room telegraphs being by Messrs, Chadburn and Son.
The occasion was further marked by a champagne breakfast, to which the agen in charge of the Company issued nearly 100 invitations, over fifty being accepted, the guests including several ladies. Among there present wore Messrs. W. H. Medhurat, H.B.M.'s Consul; J. C. Myers, U.S. Cousul-General; G. B, Glover, Commissioner the Chinese history of commerce in the days to come, by our children, About 15 years ago the trade of the great River Yangteze, in which thi intended to participate, was carried on wholely in Chinese crafts; but by the gradual increase of steam traffic subsequently, the former are nearly dono away with now. It was only 8 years since that the Chinese ran steamers owned by themselves and under thei In this short third steamer (the first and second Pautah and Fungshun in the Tients and exclusi been bought either on stock or as second hand vessels) which they have ordered from Great Britain, from the handset the builders, and constructed in such a manner as they thought moat suitable for the trade. There he undertook to respond in his own way to the toast that had just been uttered by his distinguished friend Mr. Glover. In wishing success to this great undertaking, the words expressed more than they appeared to do on the surface. They all had an interest in the welfare and development of commerce in China, and though knew but little of China as yet, he could assure them that there were none who took more interest in the progress, the welfare, and the power of China, than the Americans, and he was happy in sir mouth-piece to-day. Ithad been while before, that "what the Chi-they held."" He was glad to hear nntiment expressed by the lips of a Chinaman, and he hoped that ulti the Yangtsze would do asmuch for China as the Mississippi had done for the United States. He was sure the United States
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.