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It is true that the peculiar exigencies of the time rendered the task of providing the ac cessories for an entertainment of this magni- tude one of unusual difficulty, and it must be said that the quick and effective manner in which these obstacles were got over reflect the greatest credit on all concerned, in the attempt to convert a barren Chinese building into the elegant banquetting hall that was presented to our admiring gaze!
When the Chamber was filled with the guests in their variegated uniforms, as they stood four or five deep all round the walls and listened to H.E.'s speeches, the view was picturesque and interesting in the extreme. It is supposed that there were upwards of 1,000 people present, and almost all seemed to us to be officers of ranks varying from the highest to the most junior.
The foreigners were invited for 1 p.m., but H.E. did not arrive until nearly 2.30 and it was quite 3.30 before the events of the day took place. At that hour the Governor-General took his place in the middle of the table, at top of the compartment, and surrounded by all his Generals at once rose and proposed the toast of the day in the following speech.
Having made a few prefatory remarks con- gratulating the army and navy on the final ac. complishment of their great labours, H.E. went on to say as follows:--
"On this day falls the auspicious birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. I look on it as an honour of the highest and most valued kind that the first commemoration of this great day, in this the newly acquired Im perial land, should fall to my lot."
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Peace is now restored over the whole island. Henceforth I shall endeavour to maintain order and to promote the welfare of the people. I have now only to express my gratitude for your presence here to-day, as well as my best wishes for the health and prosperity of you all." The above was received with the greatest enthusiasm, which culminated into a perfect frenzy, as his Excellency called on all present to join him in drinking the health of his Majesty the Emperor. This was done with vivas (or rather its Japanese equivalent bun- sais), again and again renewed, while the band played the national hymn.
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H.E. then oalled on all his compatriots to join him in drinking the health of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Em-¡ press of India, whose representative and subjects he was glad to welcome there to-day. H.E. said some other kindly words as to the cordial relations existing between the British and Japanese, and trusted that such would for ever continue. Of course, your correspondent was unable to follow all H.E. said, spoken as it was in Japanese, but H.F. evidently said something which seemed to rouse his audience to a high pitoh of friendly excitement, for the cheers and hand wavings with which the toast was received seemed scarcely less than those which had been previously rendered in honour of the Japanese Emperor.
H.E. often turned towards H.M.'s Consul and the small group of foreigners round him, and smiling very cordially emptied more than one glass of wine in honour of the toast he had just proposed.
THE HONGKONG, WEEKLY PRESS AND
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gracious Sovereign, and very sincerely do we reciprocate the kindly sentiments of international cordiality which have not only been expressed but, better still, been practically demonstrated. "I must congratulate you on possession of this beautiful and most valuable island. The longer you are here the more you will appreciate the high value of the prize which has now finally passed into your grasp.
"We British can most heartily congratulate you on this acquisition, as, from the very fact of the island being in the hands of so valiant and friendly a nation as yours is to ours, all suspicion of envy on our part towards you in this the hour of your good fortune must be entirely dissipated.
"No doubt that which has for so long been hoped for Formosa will now be carried out. and the island will proceed to a development which will as it progresses show more and more the splendid capacities the territory possesses.
“Again let me say how honoured we all feel at being privileged to be here to-day, and at meeting face to face so many brave and distinguished persons-warriors who have passed through the dangers of battle and clime in their ceaseless and successful efforts to carry the flag of their country to victory and to honour! In thus promoting her best interests, you have also pro- cured for her that highest of all attainments, the peace and harmony so essential for the full enjoyment of the fruits of your patriotic sacri- fices and devotion. In conclusion I beg you my fellow countrymen and our friends of other Western nationalities here present, to join me in drinking health, long life, and prosperity to H.E. Admiral the Count Kabayama, Governor- General of Formosa.
To this appeal from the Cousul all the foreigners responded with zest and cordiality and on the cheers ceasing HE. the Governor once more rose, and in most felicitous and hearty terms proposed the health of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, whose representativo. Mr. Allan W. Bain, of Messrs. Bain and Co., was present.
This toast was very heartily and enthusiasti- cally taken up and drunk.jthe band playing the Dutch national air. Mr. Bain in a few graceful words thanked the Governor and all present for the kindly way in which they had toasted Her Majesty and concluded his remarks by asking all present to join in drinking much prosperity and progress to the island of Formosa under Japanese rule.
A deputation of Chinese merchants then ad vanced, and in an elaborate and highly ornate speech Mr. Chang Ching-kee, their elected spokesman, alldressed his Excellency, welcom- ing the Japanese, and declaring their loyal submission to Japanese rule and hoped that under the new régime trade would go on and improve, and the welfare of all the Emperor's now sub- jects be secured.
There can be no doubt that most of the lead- ing merchants were present, but this fact only demonstrated the wonderful power the Japanese have in rapidly searching out and utilising all influences and means of securing whatever is likely to favour the attainment of their objects, political and economical. To judge from their courtesy and attention to their Chinese guests, for whose beneft a special Chinese- speaking attaché was told off. it would seem that they are now as determined to in gratiate themselves with the people b
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The band played the British national authem in its entirety, and not merely the few bars often thought sufficient for such occasions. In a word, everything was done to show good feel-suaviter in modo, as they recently showed them. ing towards the nationality of those who hap pened, for the time, to form the majority of the foreign guests present.
After the cheers had subsided, Mr. Hurst, H.B.M.'s Consul, came forward and spoke as follows
"Your Excellencies, the Governor-General, the Commander-in-Chief, Generals, officers, and gentlemen, my compatriots and myself feel a most lively sense of gratification at being pre- sent here to-day, and on such an auspicious occasion to welcome and congratulate you on being at last in complete possession of Formoss. We have all heard of your trials and exertions and have admired the bravery and pertinacity with which these have been overcome.
Most heartily do we thank you for the kind and cordial way in which you have received the toast so eloquently proposed by H.E. the Governor-General in honour of our most
[November 18, 1895.
with his accomplished son, a graduate of Berlin; HE. Viscount Takoshima, Commander- in-Chief; H.E. Baron Nogi, commanding the southern army; H.E. Lieut-General Tamaguchi, second in command of second division; Lieut.- General Oshima, Chief of Governor-General's Staff; Colonel Okubo, Chief of Staff to General Nogi; Councillor Dr. Okubo, Ph.D. (Berlin); Chief of Foreign Section Dr. Kabayama D.C.L. (Tale); Attachés to Foreign = Bec- tion, Mr Matsumoto, LL.B. (Yale), Chief Commissioner of Customs Namura, Surgeon- General S. Ishizak, a Principal Medical Officer to the army in Formosa; the Governor-General's Chief Secretary Muzini, late Chief Secretary to Japanese House of Representatives, and a Min- ister Plenipotentiary in the Diplomatic Service; Mr. sub-Prefect Saigo, son of the late great General Saigo; Captain Zuzuk, IN, Chief Aide-de-Camp to H.E. the Governor, and several other heads and members of depart ments whose names we were unable to get in the short time at disposal.
selves capable of conquering by the craverse. H.E. Major-General Nogi. a gentlem who instantly attracts everyone by his indescribable, charm of manner and appearance, then rose and called on all present to drink to the health of the Commander-in-Chief H.E. Tokoshima. This toast, it need scarcely be said, was most heartily responded to, whereupon HE. Tako- shima rose and called on the army to drink to the health and long life of Governor-General Kabayama, which was most enthusiastically taken up and responded to.
This concluded the formal part of the pro- ceedings, and general conversation, accompanied by unlimited exchange of good wishes, in which their Excellencies the Governor and the Generals freely joined, became the order of the day. Amongst the distinguished Japanese present we noticed H.E. Admiral the Count Kabayama; Prefect and Governor of Tainan H.E. Furusho,
Invitations were issued to and accepted by the following foreigners:-Mr. R. W. Hurst, H.B.M.'s Consul; Dr. W. Wykeham Myers; Mr. Allan W. Bain, of Messrs. Bain & Co. and Consul H.N. Majesty; Mr. J. Peterson, of Messrs. Julius Mannich & Co.; Mr. A. Mao- gowan, of Messrs. Tait & Co.; Mr. B. N. Per- kins, H.B.M.'s Consular Service. The mission- aries were also invited, but as the day happened to be Sunday they were naturally prevented from attending.
Thus was concluded a most memorable and
enjoyable day, the ultimate influences of which it is to be sincerely hoped will long be felt work- ing for that godd and cordial understanding which we are convinced our genial hosts most ardently desire and are striving for.
There seems to be some doubt as to when H.E. the Governor returns to Taipeh, but he will most likely do so in a few days. It is said that he will visit Takow before leaving this part of the island, as, by all accounts, this is to be made an important place. A railway (on des- canville's system) from Anping to Takow has been commenced already by the corps of rail./ ́ way engineers, and they state positively that it will be open for passengers and general traffic in two months from this date!
At present. very little general organization can go on, as the island is still strictly under military rule, and the date for handing over to the civil authori ties appears not to be known, and it is certainly not fixed. The Customs have been opened; but as yet there seems to be some confusion, though this has in no way been allowed to interfere with trade. We understand that so long as the Chinese Customs regulations are followed in the island all foreign built vessels coming here will have to pay tonnage dues at four misce per ton; but any coming here at present whose Chinese certificates have been granted before the occupation will be allowed to run on these certificates until they expire. After that date vessels must also take out a Japanese certificate at the old Chinese rate.
This may not injuriously on outside steamers inclined to call in to fill up or take an odd freight, but does not seem to be objected to by the regular traders.
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The authorities appear to have resigned them- selves to the fact that Liu has finally escaped and so all searching of outgoing steamers by
he men-of-war has ceased.
It is reported that the Imperial Guards Division will very shortly be embarked from inping for Japan direct, and that only the econd Division will eventually be left to garrison the island.
The foreign merchants are doing a brisk wholesale trade in provisions and stores and several Japanese tradesmen have opened shops in the city. It is not thought likely that free immigration from Japan will be allowed until the civil regime has been established, but after that a great influx is looked for.
The Hakkas are reported to be robbing and otherwise molesting the people in districts near the hills, but the natives themselves are all quiet and most anxious for peaceful rule to be once more, established amongst them. With the occupation of Hien-chung, the most southern district city, which took place peacefully two or three days ago, the whole of the plain of Formosa are now in the hands of the Japa
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