The presentation was made by Captain H. E. Hillman, Harbour Master who, speaking on behalf of the foreign stof, suid the gifts were representative of every department from the revenue cruisers to the shore staff. They desived Captain Eldridge to accept them as tokens of the very high esteem in which he was held and in recognition of the kindness with which he ug his career of 85. years in the service. From officer on a cruiser he work-way up to a command, then to the position of assistant Harbour ter at Shanghai, deputy Const Inspector, and finally Coast In~ spector. In all these offices he had fulfilled his duties with the highest ability, and a feature of his administration had been that without exception he treated the people under him with the utmost eon-sideration and kindness. Tt was with very real regret on the part of the staff that they had now to bid him farewell, the time having come for Captain Eldridge to resign, and all joined in wishing him a happy time in his retirement and that he might long be spared to enjoy it.
The Chinese Presentation, Mr. % ¥. Chen, representing the Chinese staff, read a tre isolation of the reroll" prevented sto.
the which reads "The tat! of the Marine Department, Chinese Afarithne "Eu tome, presenta the accompanying tet of' embroldered.etriainy 13.7 Eldridge, Esq, Order of Chia Ho, Wen Hu, ete Const Inspector, on the oees his retirement from the Customs Service, after having. served the: Chinese tent for well over 40" token of thole deep admiration of Mr Eldridge's gend character and "Ate, Eldridge has spent the best port of his life for Chinn, and itis framly due to is cntiting forte trid enterprise that navigation Along the China Coast and the reade ing vera ofthe euuntry ithoed ies present degree of safety, trid in Sisking. hima slong and Denceful test in his ome country, Tre"cntize "Chinese Star feels tense of been regret that he fs leave me indicative of the deep regard fea" which rs Bldsige has always Been
Captain Eldridge, who was given 0 igrent_reception, brie and fmodestiy replied, thanking all the members of the' aft for the Fistance they had Siways 20 cheer-Tally and willingly tendered him:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.