To the Editor of the Sm,—Althiough from the evidence produced; fire could be no possible doubt that it was from the first arranged that the ground in the interior of the ace Course should be kept free from buildings, it is yet unfortunate in the public interest that some reasonable arrangement should not Pi have been come to between the contending parties, The space within the Race Cow as it-at present stands, and as I fear in the present temper of the parties having control over it, it is likely to remain, is simply disgrace to Shanghai. That'an uncared for swamp, breeding fever and mosquitos, should be dubbed: as the " Recreation Ground " of Sh: shai, aslur on the public spi dubbed model " settlement. very difficult to understand how, if all improv ments have to be forbidden, the Recreation Furd money ever came to-be invested in such a hopeless piece of land. It: was scarcely as a piece of charity towards the Race Club that some twelve thousand taols should have been sunk in the purchase, yet unless it is to be supposed that this was the real reason, the outside pul who care: little for. the details of racing, will find that they ate to be deprived of all the advantages -present or prospective of the Fund. Elaborate as was the judgment of the Chief Judge, it left untouched this, the most important, in a public point of view, matter, connected withthe dispute, and wandered off into secondary issues which, however interesting in themselves, were in no sort or manner before the Court. Who Trustees of the Fund, may for the present be willing to accept the dictum of the Judge, that they are Trustees merely of apiece of ground, which neither they or any: one else will be permitted to do anything with; but this dictuin_ was hardly in consonance with the facts of the case. In fact, the Recreation Fund Trustees, as their mame implies, hold in trust far more than the ill-favoured piece of Iand in question, It was but a small portion of the Fund, comparatively, that was devoted to the pure chase of the duterior of the Course, the greater portion remaining in the hands of the Trustees for future investment. That the balance, instead of being devoted to uses of recreation, was sunk ina loan to an institution then bankrupt, is a matter in which the present Trustees are not con-) cerned, The fact remained, that, at the time they were appointed, not only was the Fund in possession of the interior of the Rage Course, but that it had a sum of upwards of thirty thousand taels invested in a loan to the Shanghai Club. That that Joan has been saved, and that the connection of the Fund with the Shanghai Club has been made so far profitable that there seems a way to eventually recovering for public recreation purposes the thirty odd thousand tals, or.at least its equivalent in rents and interest, is owing entirely to the energy and aptitude displayed by the present trustees of the Fund; and I hold that, apart, from the stand which they have lately taken up, and which I cannot believe to have been a wise or reasonable one, the Trustees are entitled to the thanks of the community for the.work they have done.
With regard to the land in the interior of the Course, I consider that the recent conduct of the Trustees has been indefensible. Notwithstanding all they have done to secure the Fund from annihilation, I do not consider that it would be in the public interest, any more than in accord with the spirit of the Trust, that its Trustees should be allowed to tell out or buy Property as seemed at the: moment advisable. It would have been by no means a public benefit if they had established their right to do what they pleased with the interior of the Course, provided only they paid a sum of Taels 125 mow extra. The community of Shanghai, though not perhaps so much addicted to racing as in days gone by, is not prepared to have its Race Course, like the former one, rendered useless. Racing is a per fectly justifiable recreation, and really affords healthful exercise as well as amusement to a large section of the community. Tt was an unfortunate circumstance that one method of recreation should be found itted in a Court of Justice against.another, and I fear that the display of feeling, how: ever amusing to outsiders, may not be likely to prove a matter' of recreation to residents in Shanghai. I venture, there= fore, without disrespect to the presiding Fudge, to express-regret that what was intended to be a formal decision should have.gone out.of its way to comment on matters not before the Court. Iam glad that the s) so near the Settlement, scraggy though it be, is to be preserved intact; but I trust that the energy. of the Trustees of the Fund, which has enabled them to nearly extricate it from ite appar ently hopeless dilemma, will not be deferred by the result of the late action; from persevering in a course of gradual improvement, Yours truly, Shanghai, 23rd June.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.