Tt was Napler's dissatisfaction with the size of the proposed vessels for the Atlantic service that led to the formation of the Cunard Company. Cunard would not hear of any more expense being incurred, and the outcome was a meeting between the two at Napier's residence. Soon afterwards, Napier approached a number of his friends with a view to starting company. Among those to. whom whom he propounded this scheme was a Mr. George Burns, agent for a line of ships trading to Liverpool, who, as prospective agent of the company, put the suggestions before Napier's friends and his own shareholders.
'The result, simply, was the Cunard company—which consisted at first of Samuel Cunard, who subscribed' £55,- 000, and 22 other subscribers of sums varying between £700 and £16,000—known as the British and North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company. The new company adopted Mr. Cunard's contract as 3 first measure, the number of the vessels was increased to four, and they' were made larger and more One of the Favourite Summer Resorts of Japan To-day In olden times they called it "The Other Side Mountain" because it was visible to the inhabitants of both Kobe and Osaka. To-day it is known as Rokkosan, "Mountain of the Six Helmets," from the number of its peaks and it is a constantly visited pleasure resort.
Rokkusan boasts of two hotels, a golf links, a main road round, the' summit and a few scattered Japanese coltexes and stores. Tucked away under the pines are villas and bungalcws, already a goodly number and steadily increasing, for the residents of Kobe, foreign and Japanese, realise the value of Rokko's healthy, invigorating air. Early morning sees business men "commuting" to town and the sight of them reminds one of summer nights in Shanghai and makes one wish that we had an asylum as near to us as Rokko is to Kobe, The temperature at Int Rokko has been for sometime 70 degrees Fan renheit in the early mornings and
fay.
degrees "Fahrenheit during the A Buddhist Festival This week is the climax of the Rokko season with the occurence of the Ura Bon, a Buddhist festival which is being observed throughout Japan. On this occasion the souls of the departed are supposed to re-tur to their former abodes, The Shanghai resident, who happens act~ nully to be the great-nephew of Robert Napier, Published privately In 1004, it was written by Napier' nephew, James Napier. Tt would certainly be very hard to obtain another copy of the original contract entered into by' the Cunard Company for the building of their first ships, which forms an appendix to the book.
Robert Napier was born on June 18, 1701, and his father was a master smith practising in Dumbarton, owning a foundry in which were two team engin few of which then existed in the part of Seot-He was apprenticed to his father at the age of 18, and afterwards worked as a journeyman in Edinburgh and Glasgow, where he sclater set up his own business, being] engaged in. smith-work and' other smaller jobs such as the manufacture of cog-wheel Through his marriage to his cou in 181 lose contact with her' brother, David Nopler, who had by this time started "a foundry at Camlachie for the) manufacture of sonne engines. David Napier at that time was considered one of the most prominent men In the shipping world.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.