The Casket and Scroll that are to be Presented to H. R. H. at Hongkong The address and casket for presentation by Mr. E. C. Pearce and Mr. E. F. Mackay to H'R.H. the Prince of Wales at Hongkong, on behalf of Shanghai and the outports generally, are extremely handsome. The casket at least shows a distinct departure from the conventional, being neither of gold, silver nor ivory, as is usual, but of Chinese wood and it is really a very fine piece of work. The matter was in the hands of Messrs. Kelly & Walsh. The scroll was designed and executed by Mr, W. J. Roberts, a.R.1.8.4., of H. M. Office the casket, stand and vere made and carved in the Siccawei schools and the whole was assembled by Messrs. Kelly Walsh, Mr. StrehIneck presented some antique brocade, which has been used.
The address is on a scroll of white silk of the familiar Chinese type, mounted on a roller with beautifully carved ivory ends. The border design is a conventional Chinese pailou, guarded below by two grotesque lions. Within the: borders, in Old English type, is the following address:—"May it please Your Royal Highness,—We, the undersigned loyal subjects of His Majesty King George, representing the undermentioned national societies and associations of China, beg most respectfully to approach Your Royal Highness with an address of welcome and to offer Your Royal Highness our heartfelt. congratulations on your safe arrival in this distant outpost.
of the British Empire.
"In asking Your Royal Highness to accept this address, we desire to express our keen ap. preciation of the gracious intevest Your Royal Highness has always taken in all that concerns the welfare and happiness of the subjects of Your Royal Father, whether, as here in Hongkong, they be'resident within the Brit. ish Dominions, or dwell beyond its Timits, as in the case of the British communities in China and we feel that we are expressing the feeling of our fellow countrymen throughout the vast Republic of China when we say that your visit will knit together more firmly than ever the ties that bind us to our King and our Mother Country.
"It is a matter of sincere regret to all Britons in China and to the British community in Shang hai in particular that it has been found impossible for Your Royal Highness to pay a-visit to one or other of the Treaty Ports on your way to Japan, but we are in some measure compensated for our loss by the fact that, through the courtesy of the British community of Hongkong, the British communities in China have been permitted in the person of their Tepresentatives here to take part in your welcome to the Far (Signed) Cuina Assocration Associatep British Cuam-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.