HARKING BACK TO THE TEA CLIPPER DAYS is worth reproducing and is as The Story of Sir Lancelot's Record Voyage Home; Loaded at Shanghai by Mr. Brodie Clarke At 4 ofelock each and every morning during the training season, arrives at the Shanghai Race Course the oldest member. The fact that he is the oldest member and the oldest continuous resident of Shanghai, reminds the writer of a remark. passed by Judge Peter Grain some months ago while he was presiding: at the annual general meeting of the Shantung Road Hospital. The earned judge in the course of his address to those assembled said: "i think Cam right in saying that the houpitat is the oldest institution in Shanghai, with, perhaps, the ex ception of Mr. Brodie Clarke."
Although the' British community in Shanghai was and is well aware thit Mr, Brodie Clarke has resided in Shanghai for many years, members of the Race Club were startled the other morning who: that respected resident was casually looking through the latest issue arrive here of the "Tatler." Turning to a page on which was a reproduction of a China tea clipper which was launched in the year 1865, Mr. Clarke said:—"E loaded that barque with tea in 1868. I remember her} skipper well, his name war Edmunds: £ was shipping clerk at the time foe Jardine'
£3.10 and £5 per yon and there was the greatest competition between the clippers to be the first away. The first to leave always took a double crew, and when she arrived in London, a premium of £1 per ton was paid by shippers in addition to the freight arranged here.
Ab Sing as Stevedore "It was a great event," continued Mr. Brodie Clarke, "when the first ship left. I -remember when the Sir Launce i: she passage home of 80 di never been beaten. Ah grandfather of the present Ah Sing Broadway, was the stevedore aad her in record time. had bout 1400 tons of teu that All the clippers were about 1400 to 1450 tons. Freight was) the tea clippers at 60 cubic fect to the ton, not 40 cubic fect as in the ease' of steamers.
The ships were built of oak with copper fastenings and copper sheet~ ing. There was only one iron ship in the tea trade which shippers would utilize and that was the Tamerlane. The tea people were] afraid of the tea sweating in i ips and they always shipped the wooden vessels.
There were the 'The appended table shows at lance' the actual hent, experienced in Shanghai on the dates given and Will be interesting to preserve ay a Tecord, This table has been compiled From, the daily returns Ue"onoreiethina Dally New bes a sve, fy esi ible Sver" the lone pene
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.