shown by the Northern Railways, and to which I have just referred. To permit of these new enterprises being rapidly and economically built, China must find a means of buying land required for construction purposes on cheap and easy terms, and a still more knotty problem to be solved by her Statesmen is the question of Lekin obstruction, an obstruction which at this very moment is hampering the progress of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway, and causing it to be a burden in place of a paying and profitable investment. Finally, and perhaps the hardest task of all, China must realize that efficient maintenance of her railways is the only sound policy, and that to allow a well-constructed line to go to rot and ruin for lack of efficent maintenance or supervi- sion is a suicidal policy, which must react to the great detriment of the Empire. All the world knows that China has conceived and carried out great enterprises,--some of them perhaps on a greater scale than any hitherto attempted by other nations,--but alas, which of her many great works has been efficiently maintained? As an instance, witness that magnificent conception the Tangchow Road. Gentlemen, China's greatest noed is now being cared for, and to that ond great Trunk lines are being built strotching from North to South and from East to West, and further great schemes are in active preparation. Should no unforeseen delays or difficulties occur, in a few years from now, you will be able to travel by rail not only from Canton to Hankow, but should your fancy lead you in the direction of Szechuen, a road will be open, and from the comparative security of a Pullman Car, you will be able to feast your eyes on the far-famed gorges of the Yangtze, and possibly even on the sandstone walls of Chengta! Or should you desire to risit the Great Wall of Chiva, the splendid railway engineered by Tautai Jeme Tien Yal is available, while the silk coms of Seochow, the famous porcelain kiles of the Poyang Lake or the coal mines of Sbansican in turn may be visited by Chinese railways. That this opening up of the country will benefit China's teeming millions, by the eradic ation of prejudice and by incalculable increase in trade, I myself have no doubt, and therefore heartily congratulate her to-day on the com- pletion of this small link in that great chain of communications which is now being forged. 1
wish her all success in the enterprises now being undertaken and I ask you gentlemen to rise, and drink with me to " Success to Railway Enterprise in China", coupled with the came of Tuotai Cheng Wang Cheng. (Applause).
Taotai CHENG YUNG, Director of the Police Department in the Chinese Section of the Canton-Kowloon Railway, spoke as follows-1 feel highly honoured to be able to participate with the Chinese and British Officials and Gentry in the celebration of this historical
ceremony which officially opens the whole line! of the Canton-Kowloon Railway to traffic. It is my belief that such valuable means of communication as this. having once been established, will henceforth facilitate the com- merial intercourse and substantially promote the interest of the two friendly nations con- cerved. The opening of this Railway so far as the Chinese Section is concerned, particularly interests me, as it is the duty of my department to see peace and order always maintained throughout this Section and that nothing with in my control should be overlooked which will impede business progress on this line. There fore I sincerely hope that the opening of this line, Lo-day, to traffic, will be an act of benefic. once to the general public. (Applause )
HE. LUNG CHIEN CHANG, Conncillor, Board of Communications, said-Your Ex- cellencies and Gentlemen-For the last ten years the Peking-Mukden, the Peking-Hankow, the Tobeng-Tai, the Kai-Fong, the Tao-Ching, the Shanghai-Nanking, the Ping-Chu, the Hangchow Shanghai, the Tioutsin-Pukow, the Kalgan-Chanchun railways have all shown very satisfactory results. The Canton-Hankow, the Szechuan-Hankow, the Szechuan and the Kwang-Si railways are successively in course of construction. These afford through and easy communications to all the provinces of China, The which in olden days China had not. Peking-Mukden railway which connects with the Siberian railway forms a principal connect- ing line between the two great continents of Asia and Furope and now we have the Canton- Kowloon railway, the completion and opening of which we are here to-day witnessing and which will be of no less importance as it will be the means of communication between the five great continents of the world. I say that in the near future the products of the four great continents of Europe, America, Africa and Aus tralia will be assembled at Hongkong and by this railway connected with the Canton-Hankow railway, the products will be distributed among the provinces of China. Railways form the princi- pal means of communication and wherever a rail- way passes commerce will greatly develope and people be benefitted. The completion of this railway has been brought about through the kind assistance of our friendly neighbour and I earnestly hope that not only the merchants of foreign natione coming to China to trade will increase, but the existing friendship between China and England will be strengthened. (Applause).
Mr. J. W. JAMIESON, H. B. M's. Consul- General at Canton, briefly thanked the Chinese, on behalf of the guests present for the reception accorded them, and the proceedings ended.
The party then returned to the station where good-byes were said, and the Hongkong guests were soon speeding back to the Colony." It was a glorious day for a railway trip, and the journey through picturesque country was immensely en- joyed by all on the train, Great care bad been taken by Loco. Superintendent Lambert and Mr. G. Walker in decorating the engine which drew the train from Hongkong, and their work was decidedly artistic. Worked in vari- coloured flowers on the front and rear of the boiler were the letters K. B., while drooping shove the foremost display were the British and Chinese flags. The foot plates, bandrails and tanks of the engine were also garlanded with flowers and greenery, and above the latter ran a row of small flags.
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