Constantinople, 22nd March.
The Russian troops have completely evacuated Adrianople..
The Turks are refusing the proposed extension of the Greek frontier.
'A Greek circular note invokes the mediation of the great Powers.
London, 23rd March.
Lord Chelmsford, in a despatch dated 9th February, requests to be superseded, in which the Governor and High Commissioner at the Cape concurs.
The Secretary of State for the Colonies censures the policy of the Governor, but states that the British Government have no desire to withdraw confidence at the present crisis.
Moinrosi, the Chief of Basutoland, is in open rebellion.
A meeting of the members of No. 1 Company, Mih-ho-loong, 8.V.C., was held on Monday in the Board room at the Municipal Offices. There was large attendance, nearly forty members being present; and Mr. R. W. Little was chosen to preside.
The first business was the election of officers. Mr. Sim proposed, and Mr. Corner seconded, Mr. J. F. Holliday, as Captain of the Company; and Mr. Low proposed, and Mr. White seconded, the nomination of Mr. E. W. Rice, The voting was by ballot, and resulted in the election of Mr. Holliday, Messrs. R. Mackenzie and A. Sim were nominated as Lieutenants, and as Ist and 2nd Lieutenants had to be elected, it was decided that the one who obtained the greater number of votes should have the premier position, and the other be chosen 2nd Lieutenant without a further ballot. Mr. R, Mackenzie obtained the greater number of votes and was therefore elected Ist Lieutenant, and Mr. Sim 2nd Lieutenant, Mr. Rice was proposed for the position of Lieutenant, but he refused to stand. A Committee of three were next balloted for, and the voting resulted in the election of Messrs. E. W.
Rice, J. C. Bois and E. G. Moberly, who will act with the officers who are ex: officio members. The rules and regulations, which had been printed and circulated among the members for some days, were next considered, and after one or two alterations had been made they were unanimously adopted. As regards the new uniform for the Corps, it was decided that recommendation be made in favour of a white helmet in preference to a black one. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.
We are glad to seo that the French Municipal Council, have decided to increase the tax on jinrikshas and wheelbarrows, from the Ist April, to seventy-five cents for each of the former and to 400 cash for each of the latter, and that from the Ist May licenses will not be granted for jinrikshas constructed to carry more than one passenger.—At the same meeting, the Council also agreed, in response to the request of the Honorary Conservator of the Shanghai Museum, to make a grant in aid of that deserving institution of Ps. 100.—It is gratifying to find the two Mnunieipal Councils working together in these matters with such unmistakeable wnanimity.
The annual meeting of shareholders in the Agra Bank (Limited) has been held in London. The report presented showed a net profit for the year of £80,628. A dividend was recommended to be declared at the rate of 5% per annum, and £30,636 were carried forward.
Some further subscriptions to the China Famine Relief Fund are published on another page, amounting to Tls. 1,868.72, and bringing up the total collected to date to Tls. 203,702.65, of which a balance of Tls. 2,587.95 remains in the hands of the treasurer.
His Excellency Kuo, the late Chinese Ambassador to London, with Lady Kuo and suite, arrived on Wednesday by the BIM. str. Anadyr, He was met by several high Chinese officials and escorted to the Canton Guild, where rooms had been prepared for him during his stay in Shanghai, and where His Excellency has since received numerous official and complimentary visits from high and inferior Mandarins.
Saturday last, being the Emperor of Germany's 82nd birthday, the various men-of-war of different nationalities dressed ship, and we hear there was much rejoicing among the members of the German portion of the community.
Shortly after five o'clock on Wednesday morning a fire broke out in a native house in the Rue Durun, in the French Concession. The alarm bells at the different Police Stations were rung, and the brigades were. soon on. the. spot, but fortunately their task proved a very easy one. The flames wore extinguished before they made much progress and the destruction of the house in which the fire originated, and the adjoining one, was the only damage done.
About a quarter-past ten o'clock yes day forenoon flames were-seen issuing from the upper story of a small Joss-house in the Hupeh Road, near the Quangsi Road. Messengers were at once despatched to the Louza and Central Police Stations, andthe alarm bells were sounded, The Fire Brigades and the Hook and Ladder Com-, pany promptly obeyed the call, but on their arrival at the place the Joss-house and the shops adjoining were ablaze, while numerous Josses were gazing on the destruction of their temple from the vacant land opposite, where they had been indiscrimately placed with very undignified surroundings. The Hook and Ladder Company did excellent service by pulling down the barrier gate of the Joss-house, while from the Torrent engine a stream of water was played on the flames which reduced their chance of progress to a minimum. The French Gas Work's engine played alongside the Torrent, while the Deluge and Victoria took up a position in the lane at the back, and prevented the flames spreading in that direotion, With this vigorous application of water on all sides the fire was confined toa small area, and by eleven o'clock the flames vere well-nigh extinguished. 'The Joss-house, two coffin makers' shops, one on cither side of it, and seven private houses were gutted. The property was bequeathed to a woman who is a native of Soochow, and, it is said, she is well insured, The fire resulted from the action of a' boy, seron years of aye, who thovghtlessly threw a lighted match in a basket containing Joss paper and cotton in the upper room of the Joss-house.
Training for the forthcoming Spring Race Meeting is proceeding rapidly, and the grass course having been thrown open, and the weather being beautifully fine,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.