We hope much from the recent completion of the Canton-Hankow Railway, and congratulate our Government for its share in assisting the Chinese Government in this enter= rise. We hope that the line will soon be in good condition; that It will bbe a success, and that the operation of its tari will be fair to all in-
{erests. But we hope in particular that our centre of Wuhan will be allowed 0 benefit from this imorlant development. say this advisedly because there isa manifest risk nf present of trade being diverted away from us.
There is a tendency to forget and Indeed to abandon the great advantages with which nature has endowed this centre, iis wonderful location as the very hub of China. There Is an idea that its central posi tion makes it fit for Industry rather than trade. We do not. wish the realities of the'present fo be sacrificed a dream of the fulure. Your Ex~ cellency's predecessors have usually been fated to listen to a recital of our calamities, "You are very fortunate, Sir, in meeting us after a brief spell of relative prosperity, but we must not delude oursd that for that reas with us:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.