A boat similar to these two has been in commission for about two months; she was built by Messrs. Jno. Riach & Co. of West Point, and is called the Marie. The machinery and boilers of this vessel were entirely constructed in this Colony, by Chinese, under European supervision. Another similar vessel which was built by the Union Dock Company (at Kowloon) is also running, and the Camoes, built by Messrs. Logan & Co., predecessors to Messrs. Riach, for the Portuguese Government, lay often to be seen in this port and appears to be a complete success.
The above gives a valuable insight into the early shipbuilding of the Colony; as well as the type of navy possessed by China seventy years ago, with its polyglot personnel.
A fuller summary of early shipbuilding in Hongkong and Kowloon is reserved for a subsequent article.
(To be Continued).
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