The relieving force for' Ekowe has started. On 30th March Colonel Pearson signalled that he saw the vanguard. He had previously signalled on the 27th that 200 of the garrison were disabled, and that only 500 men were effective.
20,000 Zulus attacked Colonel Wood's camp near Luneburg, but were repulsed after four hours' fighting. The British Joss was seven officers and seventy men.
'A despatch from Capetown, of 8th April, brings intelligence that Lord Chelmsford's camp at Ghingolova was repeatedly attacked by the Zulus, numbering some 11,000, The assault began at daybreak, but the enemy were repulsed with heavy loss.
Lord Chelmsford relieved Ekowe on the night of the 4th April. The total British loss was 220.
Ekowe has been evacuated and Colonel Pearson is returning to Tugola.
London, 23rd April.
The Oriental Bank intend to close their Foochow Branch and reduce their business at Hongkong and Shanghai.
27th April.
The nows of 12th Aprilas to the surrender of Kuldja by the Russians is enrively unconfirmed. The negotiations have been broken off in consequence of Russia refusing te surrender the place.
The British Government has re-called Mr. Rivers Wilson from Egypt, and both the British and French Governments have sent identical notes to the Khedive, demanding the appointment of one French and one English Minister, with the threat of the employment of stringent measures in the event of non-compliance.
The minutes of the Municipal Council meeting held on the 16th instant are given on another page.—It is pleasant to sce that the Judge of the Mixed Court, Chen, has acted promptly in response to a despatch he had received from Liu, Taotai of the Ssu-sung-tai district, respecting certain dishonest practices of native money shops in the Settlements, and has asked the Municipal Council to permit the posting in the Settlements of a proclamation on the subject. The Council granted the required permission.—A more important matter follows, in the shape of a report from the Superintendent of Police, to the effect that not possessing the power to examine the books kept at the pawnshops in the city and suburbs outside the foreign Settlements, the Police are frequently unable to trace and recover articles stolen from the Settlements, which thereby tends to encourage thieving. No doubt of it, especially by the house and outdoor servants of foreigners, as well as by wandering thieves. The question is why the permission of the native authorities to examine the books in question has not been sought before? A good many years haya rolled by since the necessity existed, and the Police have been in existence all the time. "Better late than never," however, is a good motto—though "Better early than late" would be preferable. The Council, through their Chairman, have addressed a letter to the Senior Consul on the subject.—Certainly, some people have a knack of looking after the main chance in peculiar fashion. Mr. Poitevin, of Sweetmeat Castle," applied to the Council for permission to erect a pavilion in the Public Garden for the sale of ices, cakes, and non-intoxicating liquors! Luckily, the Ratepayers having decided that no building of any kind can be erected in the Garden, the application could not be granted, even if the Council had been willing to sanction such an intrusion on its privacy, which we do not believe they were.—The last entry in the minutes is by no means the least important; it is that two, extra policemen shall be stationed on the Bubbling Well road, one at the Skew Bridge and the other at the "double bend," so as to effect some control over native carriages and to compel the drivers to go slowly and carefully. 'The Council are to be commended for this step, for the great increase in native pleasure carriage traffic, along the Bubbling Well' road especially, has lately become a great nuisance, particularly to ladies, and i is time all possible check should be put upon its further increase.
It is satisfactory to see that the resolution passed at the last Ratepayers' meeting, requesting all sheds and material to be removed from the foreshore of the Bund, is being carried into effect. The sheds have already disappeared, and as time goes on it may be expected that otherunsightly objects will be removed—and we might suggest a free application of disinfectants.
It is gratifying to know that residents will not be deprived of the time-honoured and excellent services of the amateur members of the late Wind Instrument Society, atthe Wednesday evening Garden Concerts.
Ata meeting held yesterday, it was resolved that they would give their assistance at those concerts, whereby the orchestra will be raised to about twenty-five instruments, and a much more varied programme than heretofore will be possible.
The final dividends of Tls. 38 per share, and 13% on contributory premia for the term 1875-1877, will be paid to Shareholders in the North-China Insurance Company on and after the 28th instant.
A meeting of members of the Shanghai Tugboat Association was held on Thursday, at Messrs. Morris &Co.'soffices. A dividend of Tls. 4 per share, making a total of Tis 16 per share for the year, was declared, a result regarded as satisfactory. Messrs. R.W. Little, C. P. Blethen, and G. Murray, the retiring Directors, were reelected.
On Friday, was held the annual general meeting of the Yang-tsze Insurance ciation Mr. F, B, Forbes presiding. The Association is in a flourishing condition, the Underwriting Account showing the satisfactory result that the net premia, lo: reinsurances, amounted to Tls. 327,622.07 5 while the claims and losses paid were only Tls. 66,425.18. After making due allowance for pending claims, Tls. 107,000 remain for distribution among policy holders, equal to 33% on contributory premia, In accordance with Section 43 of the Articles of Agreement, the Directors have appropriated Taels 21,000 as extra dividend to Shareholders, at the rate of 5% on the capital, payable on the 28th instant. The balance remaining at the credit of Special Reserve Fund is Tls. 206,369.88. The following were elected Directors:—Mr. B. Forbes, chairman; Messrs. W. Boyd, C. Lucas, W. Meyerink, and 8. D. Webb.—In accordance with the Articles of Agreoment, the Directors of the Yangtsze Insurance Association have declared dividend to policy-holders for the fifteen months ending 31st December last, of 33% on the not premia contributed, payable at Messrs, Russell and Co.'s offices on and after the ath prox.
The Governor-General at Nanking, Shen Pao-chen, on his way to Peking to have audience of the Emperor, will shortly pass through Shanghai. As it is to the action of this high functionary that the much needed extension of our roads in the vicinity of ti Settlement has never been carried out, it would be well for the Municipal Council to take advantage of the presence of the Governor-General in our midst to press on His Excellency a reconsideration of his attitude in respect to this much needed improvement.
His Excellency Kuo, ex-Minister to England and France, with Madame Kuo and suite, took their departure at noon on Tuesday, for Hankow, in the C.MLS.N. Co,'s steamer Kiangkwcan, en route to Honan, his native province, before going to Peking.
Several foreign officials paid a parting visit to His Excellency during the forenoon, and farewell calls were also made by H.E. the Taotai; Mr. Yeh, the Rice Commissioner
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.