The Secretary was instructed to inform Mr. Bisset that the French Municipal Council had already been addressed in the matter, and that the Council were waiting their reply.
Considered petition from proprietors of jinrickshas, praying that the Regulations enforced against vehicles with regard to loitering and carrying of lights, should be applied to wheelbarrows, as otherwise the rickshas were placed ata disadvantage in plying for hire. Referred to Watch Committee.
Arrest by Shanghai Municipal Police at ypo.—Read following letter from H.B.
Consul, forwarding enclosures from B.M.'s Consul at Ningpo, and B. E. the Taotai of that place, lodging complaint lative to. the arrest of © Ghiness subjee: named Wu, in the neighbourhood of Ningpo, by two of the Shanghai Municipal Police.
British Consulate, Shanghai, 19th Dec., 1874.
Sm,—I have the honour to enclose copy of a leteer, with ite enclosure, from Her Majesty's Consul at Ningpo, complaining of an arrest without warrants, and within Chinese territory, by detectly authority; and I shall in being the means of conveying an expanse tion that will satisfy the Taotai of Ningpo that there has been no intention to set his authority at defiance, or to ignore Treaty stipulations.
have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, W. H. Mepnvxsr, Consul.
J. G, Porvow, Es Chairman, Municipal Council.
British Consulate, Ningpo, 17th Dec., 1874.
Sin,—I have the honour to inform you that Jast Friday, about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, a party of Shanghai Municipal Police dragged ye named Wu from his mule, as he was riding near the West Gate, and took him in custody. 'The arrest was witnessed by one Colonel Cooke's sentries, who wisely insisted on the man being' taken to the Foreign Police Station, where an investigation could be held. On arrival at the Station, Mr. Golding, the Superintendent of Police, asked the Shanghai detectives by whose authority they had made the arrest, upon which one of them produced a paper as his warrant which ran thus:—"'My dear Golding,—A man whom the bearer will be able to point out to No. 44 Woohoo Road, Shanghai. Two of his you is charged with kidnapping a girl from accomplices are in custody on remand, as the Magistrate wishes this man to be brought before the Court. If you can render them any assistance, and yet the fellow sent back to Shanghai, you will greatly oblige yours faithfully, A. SrateiiNo. to admit the validity ed all Meanwhile, the seizure of Wu,—who asa kind of foster-brother to the Intendant's Taotai, but the explain: arrested by some Shanghai the knowledge of Colonel Cooke or any one also in authority here, excited the Taotai'
ignatian to such a degree that he talked of at once'abolishing the entire establishment under forei the fire department and foreign'police. He wrote mo an indignant despateh, and I assured him in reply that a mistake had been made which was not likely to occur again; and having promised to place the matter officially before you, the detention of the detectives who m the sted on. I enclose translation of the Taotai's despatch, for your information.
The affair is very unfortunate just now, because Iam well aware that opportunities ar being eagerly sought to get ud of the entire foreign establishment here, which has worked so well hitherto under the control of Colonel Cooke. The small officials, who have a keen dislike to everything foreign, will not fail to make capital out of Mr. Stripling's indisere. tion, by pointing out this occurrence as the inevitable result of the employment of foreigners. The immediate result will be, I fancy, the escape of Wu, and the certain arrest and punishment of any detectives whom Mr. Stripling may see fit hereafter to send down here, without the consent of the local offi to arrest a culprit. I hope you may see fit to bring the subject of this despatch to the notice ited without permission.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.