Queer Church meeting that, again, the other day—regular game of cross questions and crooked answers—one half of the people trying to get information, and the other half evading questions. Something more definite however will be stated at the Rate-payers' meeting; or, better still, the Municipal Report should explain the matter, show the accounts, and" exhibit the chief items of debt—either to or by—the Seamens' Church account, The Church is a very estimable institution, and should be kept up, but it is hardly a fair charge on the Municipal revenue.
'There are two or three things which foreshadow rather a lively Rate-payers' meeting, this year. These Seamen's Ghurch accounts are one; before voting " sum to make up the deficit, people will certainly ask to have a statement of the accounts which they are going to square, and to know very fully how the debt arose. That the subscriptions were let run into arrear is one thing, and explains the blank on one side of the account; but the other side is evidently not a blank, and the items on it will practically be a history.
Then there is the Soochow Creek Bridge. There will not be much row about that, probably, because every one is unanimous in voting it an intolerable nuisance. The only question will be, how to act. Shall we raise debentures and order out another bridge; or start a free ferry as they have done at Ningpo; or run up a cheap bridge alongside, that will accommodate all the foot traffic? There has been a great deal of coquetting with the question hitherto; but people do seem to have made up their minds about it, at last. It is unfortunate 46 have to go against the Taotai's charter first to ask him to grant a charter, and then to say it is illegal. But there isno doubt this is the fact. The Taotai could not grant a charter affecting roads and bridges within the Foreign Settlement, ex-copt with the assent of the Municipal Council as party to it. As regards Foreigners, it is averred that there was an understanding that they should not pay at all, after 1869, Anyhow, why should they pay more than Chinese 2 The present Taotai seems to be doing his utmost to bring to punishment thornen concerned in the Kintoan Beacon affair and deserves every credit. The last man would not have done half so well. But that idea of flogging on the mouth is bar-Darous, and no foreign assessor should assent to such a punishment, Just like Chinese theory—the mouth utters the lie, and the mouth must suffer, as if the mouth were a responsible organ. It would be as reasonable to take out the heart, and bum it, of a man who does a bad action. It is an offshoot of the principle of torture, and should be condemned. Only necessary to see the effect, to be convinced.
Talking of Taotais, that proclamation by the new Chinkiang Taotai is a good omen, But why kad we to wait for him to an-neuric officially, a concession which has been working practically for many months! All that we have heard from Foreign Ministers, as yet, has been declarations of impossibility; and even now that the impossibility is exploded, we are left without official information of the fact by our own Representatives. Chinkeang seems to be lucky in its Taotais. The present incumbent at Shanghai inaugurated the "Transit Puss Extension" there; and the ner one will evidently not be outshone, Why is not a similar notification put forth at Shanghai? The principle is allowed practically, but there is nothing like having itin black and white. Still talking of Taotais, however, they are only subordinates, after all, though very powerful for good or ill; Tseng Kwo-fan is the man who had the say, on such matters, within his viceroyalty.
Plenty of amusements in prospect. Rifle Shooting only just finished, and Racket Handicap being played from day to day; another Yacht Race shortly; Races begin on the 29th; and Snipe Shooting going on generally. Everybody going to the Snowy Valley next week, as usual; and every: body else going to Kioto, Wonder who ther that attempt to assassinate the Mikado implies any new irritation at the promised irruption of Foreigners into Kioto. Fancy the precautions taken, however, will suffice to check any hostile designs Avfully interesting trip, but the idea of getting cut down—less agreeable.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.