London, 4th May.
The Marquis of Hartington has consented to preside over the sitting of the Royal Commission on the Naval and Military resources of the Empire.
the House of Commons, last night, Mr. Smith, in reply to a question, said the Government hoped to place on the table of the House, during the present session, the report of the Royal Commission which has been appointed to enquire into the administration of the Naval and Military services.
Observer:
Senhor. de Souza Roza, Portugese Envoy Extraordinary to China, left Shanghai for Europe, vid America,' on Friday, 18th inst.
Mr. J. ©. Hall, the newly appointed Acting Assistant Judge at Shanghai, arrived here on the 18th inst. by the Djemnah from Japan, and took his seat on Wednesday morning and adjudicated in 'a small civil H.E. Viceroy Li returned to Tientsin last week from his cruise with the Pei-yang juadron.
shanghai loses an old resident by the departure of Captain R. McQueen who was for many years in command of Dent Co.'s, the Union Co.'s and the C. N. Co.'s steamers. Captain McQueen came out to China in 1857 and has commanded steamers since 1861.
We congratulate Mr. H. E, Hobson, Commissioner of Customs, on having received his leave, though he will be a great He has not only been poy in his official capacity, but his assistance has been readily given to every good work, in which it could be useful. We understand that he proposes, his ay home, to make a tour of ti Australasian Colonies. Mr. M. Boyd Bredon, Deputy-Commissioner, will be in charge of the office from the Ist of June, pending a definitive appointment.
The floods in Germany have. recently increased to extensive proportions, and much suffering and privation have been the result. The Germans in Shanghai have asked the following gentlemen to form a Committee to collect funds:—Dr. Focke, Messrs, A. Wasserfall, Ph, Arnhold, A. Krauss, Th. Bieber and 0. Jantzen. There isno doubt that Shanghai will not be behindhand with contributions.
The first tea steamer to leav Hankow this season has been the Mayne. She left at 8.46 a.m, on Sunday and anchored off the Red Buoy at 4.20 p.m. on Monday (2ist), having been at anchor for three hours above Nanking owing to a fog, and having slowed down several times from a similar reason, This makes her steaming time 33 hours 34 minutes which is equal to a speed of 16.81 knots an hour. he Moyune left the Red Buoy at 5.25 p.m. Captain Hogg expected to arrive at Singapore at daylight on Monday. We have been requested to state that the report relate to the Moyune's freight being only 30s. a ton is incorrect, as she obtained 40s. according to a telegram from Hankow dated Monday afternoon, Telegrams were received here on Monday afternoon to the effect that the weather was then so stormy at Hankow that the Glengyle could not proceed with her loading, and
get away till Tuesday night. She may be that she would not consequently be able to ex at the Red Buoy on Thursday morning. The Ningchow, Benrenwe ani Prometheus were to load at 30/ per ton. The Ocean Tea Steamer race Lottery at Hankow resulted as follows:—Moyune $280 drawn by Captain Hogg; Glengyle $110; Field $70, and Prometheus $10. The Glengyle left Hankow at 9.25 p.m. on Tuesday, and passed Kiukiang at 6 a.m. and Chinkiang at midnight on Wednesday. She left the Red Buoy at 10 a.m. on Thursday (24th.)
From Messrs. Evans, Pugh & Co.'s Hankow Report of the 19th instant we learn that, it being evident that the supply of good medium to fine tea is tift cent. less than last year's, an active business had been done, settlements to that date being 231,000 half-chests against 222,000 at same date last year. ''In total contrast to previous fours" they say, "arrivals ave failed to cep pace with requirements and not only have o] ning rice *n sustained in Kiukiang Teas, but early purchases of Hankow Teas could not to-day be replaced under one to two taels advance." From other sources we hear that several chops were damaged in boats in the recent gale, but teamen are so strong in face of the short supply and strong demand, that they will not entertain the idea of 'a "'cut" for a moment. They have too made such han: some profits that it is almost certain that there will soon be large quantity of leaf feoniy temporary. Of the settlements-to ed, so that the present deficiency will date mentioned above, Russian buyers have taken about 120,000' half-chests, against 135,000 half-chests last year. At the date of the report the stock on offer was only 56,000 half-chests against 393,000 in 1887, and of this stock the lower-priced teas are of very indifferent quality.
'There was a difference of 32" Fahrenheit between the maximum on Thursday, 17th, and on Bandy, 2st. We have not had so cold a day in May as Monday (except the 4th of May this year) since 1884, and we have not had so hot a day in May' as Thursday was, in the last seven years. The atmosphere has been remarkably dry the last two or three days for the time of year, the difference between the wot and dry bulbs 7 p.m, on the 24th being 14° Fahr.
All the men-of-war and some of the merchant steamers and yachts in port were dressed with flags on Thursday in honour of the Queen's birthday. There was no special celebration on shore.
Within the last few days the fertile imagination -of some people exercised in connection with rumours of mishaps to steamers, but fortunately none of the reported accidents have had foundation in fact. Only recently it was stated that a boiler explosion had occurred on board a Northern steamer, while a well known coaster was said to have been piled up on the Shantung Promontory. Then on Friday evening there was the report of a most terrible disaster to the Kiangteen, it being stated that she had been lost and that "out of 600 people on board only a baker's dozen had been saved. This report spread like wildfire and early on Saturday morning it was circulated in the markets, and there was great consternation among. people who had relatives on board the steamer, the wives of some of them erying in the streets and bemoaning their fate. By 7 o'clock, knots of people had congre-ted on the Bund and in front of the.M, S.N. Co.'s Offices, alli anxiously wait ing for the latest news. There was none for no steamer had come in nor was there any telegraphic information from Nin on the subject. The Directors of the C.M. S.N. Ca. telegraphed to Ningpo, and received a reply to the effect that the Kiangteen had left on the previous evening, and that the Ichang had not yet arrived. Of course, this did not do much to allay the popular excitement; in fact it rather tended to strengthen the rumour, because it was argued that the Ichang had come upon the wreck and had stayed by it to render assistance to the survivors. People continued to watch the Pootung Signal Station all day, and to the great relief of everybody, the number 21, the Kiangteen's number, was hoisted late in the afternoon, and the steamer soon afterwards appeared. Her detention is explained in her report which reads as follows:—Left Ningpo on Friday afternoon, after which thick fog sot in, clearing at intervals; we had to anchor several times in consequence and did not, arrive Shanghai till 5 p.m. on Saturday.—The Kiangteen left again on Sunday for Ningpo.
In the letter which Major Churchill, Acting Assistant Military Secretary, writes to the Chairman of the Council, covering the report of Major Churchill, Inspecting Officer, on our Volunteers, attention is drawn' by Major-General Cameron, who inspected our Volunteers himself two years to the want of discipline shown by those Volunteers who were absent from the Inspection without leave. The General. compelled by business to absent himself very fairly 893 at any man who is from the Parade, could easily ask for leave of al and it should be considered a point of honour with every Volunteer to turn out for Inspection, yr if it is not: possible for him to come, to'point out the impossibility to his Captain and obtain leave. He owes this duty also to his comrades and the high spit of discipline which' should govern Volunteers as well as Regulars cannot be maintained, if the lax
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.