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visitors to Manila, the capital of the beautiful Philippine Islands, can hardly do better than book by one of the steamers run by the China and Manila Steamship Company, Ltd., the general managers of which are Messrs. Shewan, Tomes &amp; Co. The service is maintained by two steamers, the Zafiro and the Rubi, each of 3,000 tons, and with first-class accommodation for fifty saloon passengers. The table is excellent, and the sleeping and other appointments are most comfortable. The vessels, which are officered by Europeans and carry a doctor, make weekly sailings, carrying cargo as well as passengers.





history of the formation of the Douglas Steamship Company, is very interesting. The foundations of what is now a large and important undertaking were laid by Mr. Douglas Lapraik, who carried on business in the Colony as a watchmaker and jeweller. He conceived the idea that there was profit to be made in trading along the China coast, and, consequently, in conjunction with a few friends he purchased several small steamers and started upon the venture. Upon his death he left his interest in the seven vessels which had been employed in the trade to his nephew, Mr. John Stewart Lapraik, and he, on July 28, 1883, floated the Douglas Steamship Company. Since then the general trade of the Company with the coast ports and Formosa, has largely increased, for, although the vessels employed have diminished in number, they have been replaced by several of far greater carrying capacity. For ten years Mr. J. S. Lapraik took an active interest in the management of affairs, and, after his death, his partner, Mr. Davis, assumed control. He was succeeded by Mr. Lewis, who, in 1900, was joined by Mr. H. P. White, the present manager at Hongkong. Formerly the headquarters of the Company were situated on the Praya, or Connaught Road as it is now called, but they have since been removed to Douglas Street.







organisation of the "Messageries Cantonaises" shows that the French are far from being disinterested spectators of the commercial life and development of the Chinese provinces around their beautiful Colony of Tonkin, The Company which was floated in 1907 by the Compagnie Française des Indes et de l'Extreme-Orient is subsidised by the Government of Indo-China, and retains the French postal service between Hongkong, Canton, and Wuchow (Kwangsi). Under supervision from the Paris headquarters it operates the steamships Paul Beau and Charles Hardouin, both of which are speedy and comfortable. The Paul Beau is named after the Governor-General of Indo-China, and the Charles Hardouin after the late Consul-General for France at Canton, who actively occupied himself in the foundation of the line. The two steamers are of 1,900 tons each. They were built at Nantes in 1904. and have a speed of 14 knots. The registered office of the "Messageries Cantonaises" is at Canton, and the agents in