The guests were received on board by a Danish Naval Officer, who kindly did his best to make every one comfortable and explain the complicated machinery. Just as we arrived, the landing commenced and was conducted rapidly and successfully, the Governor and guests all "lending a hand." Then the party returned on board and partook of a collation, interspersed with the usual toasts, from "The Queen" to "The Ladies," every one receiving his due share of speechifying, including the Captain of the Frigate and the other Officers, as well as the Chief Engineer - nothing neglected.
"We noticed as one of the most remarkable events of the day that, amongst this large gathering of scientific gentlemen who assisted in this first inauguration in "Eastern Asia" of a noble project, that the only Representative of Eastern Asia present at the table, or in fact at the landing as a guest was a young Japanese gentleman of noble birth, dressed in European costume (this was Mutzu Tonoske Sama Waka Tema Hun, with his friend, as interpreter, Captain Proundes of Japan) and who, although in a quiet way, yet showed that he felt he was undoubtedly one of the most interested spectators there, and there is no doubt his presence there will be of great benefit indirectly to the spirited projectors of the "Great Northern Line" in their future intercourse with Japan and the establishment of their extensions there.
"Beyond the entire success of the day both as a party of pleasure and as the commencement of the last act of a great enterprise, there is little more to particularize. All returned well pleased and landed about 7.30 p.m.
And so commenced the work of the present Great Northern and Telegraph Company, and its later associate, the Eastern Extension, A. and G. Telegraph Co., in this Colony. The actual cable service between Hongkong and Shanghai was inaugurated on May 26, 1871,