great demands that are likely to be made upon it in the future. Messrs Shewan, Tomes & Co. also operate the ferry boats running between Canton and the railway stations at Wongsha and Shekwei-tong. The branch is managed by Mr. W. R. Robertson, who has control of a large staff of Europeans and Chinese.
THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY.
Before doing business with Eastern peoples it has often been necessary to educate them to appreciate the uses of that which the vendors sought to supply. The Chinese, for example, did not receive the electric light at all favourably at first, and the China Light and Power Company had much difficulty to contend with on that account when, in 1901, they acquired the original Canton Electric Supply undertaking. Another adverse circumstance was the fact that the plant was far from satisfactory. During the last six years, however, the local prejudice has been overcome, and a more modern plant has been installed. As a result, the output of electricity has grown rapidly, and now amounts to 2,250,000 units per annum. The number of 10 candle-power lights in use has increased from 2,000 in 1903 to the equivalent of 20,000. The plant consists of four steam alternator sets of 125 kilowatts each, and one of 30 kilowatts—the engines by Belliss, and the alternators by Johnson Phillips; a Diesel engine alternator set of 140 kilowatts, with engine by Sulzer, and alternator by A. E. G.; and two sets of similar power with engines by Willans & Robinson, and alternators by Dick, Kerr & Co. Steam is generated in four Babcock & Wilcox boilers of the water-tube type. The current is distributed at high pressure, and reduced to 100 volts at consumers' houses. A high tension armoured submarine cable feeds the island of Honam, facing the Canton side. In 1903 the Company extended the scope of their operations by establishing a branch at Kowloon. The plant, mostly American,
