I am very pleased to have this opportunity to express my high appreciation of the work done by the Chinese staff, some of whom have been with the company since its inception and others for many years. They have carried out their various duties very satisfactorily and fully confirmed what Admiral Long, who was a fellow passenger of mine in 1885, then returning to China as Advisor to the Chinese Navy, said: That give a Chinese a geod training, regular pay and fair treatment, he is verv_ good material to work with," and with this I entirely agree.
In expressing his regret at severing his connevien Mr. Wood remarked that w1 in Eneland the company would have first cal] on his services. He valued the souvenir very much as bearing the well-known signatures of his directors.
"Tt will always he to my wife. my family and myself, he coneluded. a remembrance of your kindn: and of inv lone and hanna association with the Company" (Loud applause).
Mr. Wood is not leaving Shanehai until the middle of Tune. He first proposes to visit Peking and other places of interest in China. starting next week.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.