London, 17th March, Tenders have been invited for the construction of an African telegraphic cable.
The wedding of the Duke of Connaught with Princess Louise of Prussia took place at Windsor on the 13th March. The Queen was present.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply to a question, said that it was not the intention of the Government to supersede Lord Chelmsford, the Commander of the forces at the Cape.
The British Government are disposed to recommend to the Sultan the employment of Englishmen to administer finances, if asked for.
(The last paragraph is mutilated and the meaning doubtful.) 19th March.
The last reports from the Cape state that the Zulus remain inactive. Mandalay is quiet, and the King has assured the Resident that he did not anticipate any further disturbance.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, replying to a question, said that there was no immediate prospect of a dissolution of Parliament.
The debate on the Zulu question has been fixed for 27th March.
The minutes of the Municipal Council meeting, held on the Srd instant, will be found on another page. It is gratifying to find the Council still pursuing their crusade against ill-favoured and inconvenient jinrikshas, and it is to be hoped that in process of time it will be found possible to reduce the number of these peripatetic nuisances. The vehicles are useful and convenient, but their number is alarming and dangerous to street traffic. Their very mumber shows it is a paying game, although probably not more than a fifth are ever actually running at one time—the other four-fifths crawling about and obstructing the public thoroughfares while in search of fares. If it is a question of revenue—the licensing of a less number at still increased rates would make both ends meet. However, it is to be hoped that the increase of the license fee from fifty cents to a dollar will have some good effect—but, as said above, the trafic isundoubtedlya paying one.—Another source of annoyance and danger will be removed by the Council's order to the Police to see that the drivers of licensed carriages occupy the proper driving seat instead of standing behind and driving in the careless and indifferent manner too many of them do at present. It is to be hoped the Police will strictly carry out the Council's ins'ruetions. The force cannot complain of overwork, and it will not hart them to show a little energy in properly controlling street trafic. Their confreres at Home do it as part of their regular duty, as witness, especially, the neighbourhood adjacent to London Bridge.—The Taotai has at length been brought to his senses regarding the deposit of coffins containing dead natives along the Cemetery Road. The Tepao appears to have thought he was correct in disregarding the application of the Superintendent of Police in this matter, but the Council gave the required extra turn to the screw, and his Excellency has made the necessary order. It is to be hoped the District Magistrate has carried out the instructions given him in the letter from the Taotai, which forms part of the correspondence on this subject given elsewhere.
The new Municipal Council assumed office on Monday last.
The annual inspection of the Municipal Police Force by members of the Council, was made on Monday at the Central Station, where the men were paraded in the forenoon. Much satisfaction was expressed at the excellent appearance of the force, and also with the way in which the peace of the Settlements had been preserved by them during the past year—the charge-sheets showing a notable diminution of crimes and offences.
On Monday, M.M. A. Aymeri and H, Vinay were elected Trustees for the Gene-val Hospital by the electors of the French Concession.
Yesterday was the day fixed for the further examination, at the Mixed Court, of Shun Che-sze, the native teashop man, who instigated the abduction of Sun-cheong, store-keeper, in Hongkew, under circumstances fully detailed on another page. Shun Che-sze, however, was not brought to the Court, for the reason, we understand, that the case is being investigated by the native authorities, who have sent men to obtain information of the treatment Sun-cheong received while in confinement, and to bring the necessary witnesses to Shanghai.
The following notification has been issued by the Postmaster-General, and forwarded, to us for publication:—* Persons who send musters of Tea through the Post in tins are requested to have them made flat or square instead of round, as it is impossible to pack round tins securely in the mail bags, It is believed that the tea will travel more safely in flat tins, which are not so liable as round ones to be bulged in. 4 by 3 by 1} inches is suggested as. good size. The tins should not have sharp corners."
The double-screw steamer Wuhu, building by Messrs. Scott and Ca., Greenock, for the China Navigation Company, was to be launched the first week in February, and would probably leave for Shanghai, under the command of Captain Tapp, during the present month.
The China Mail says Sir Thos. Wade, IL.M.'s Minister at the Court of Peking, accompanied by Lady Wade, arrived in Hongkong by the s.s. Hindostan on the 10th inst. Sir Thoms received a salute on his arrival, or shortly after he had come on shore. The Plenipotentiary is a guest of the Governor at Government House.
The same paper says that Mr. F, H. Balfour, late editor of the Shanghai Courier and Celestial Empire, has been appointed
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.