To the Editor of the Norra-Catxa Dary News.
Sir,—The pertinent remarks of your Correspondent "Observer" in_ to-day's issue, on the ' Wheelbarrow traffic abuse lead me to offer few remoras on the subject, a well-worn ove I fear, of a ally as serious and which appears daily increasing in_growth.
Trefer to the jinricsha brigades which invade our already oter crowded streets and thoroughfares, and the unfortunate, emaciated wretches, who do duty in the shafts of our substitutes for cabs, can, in most instances, I think, in the matter of iguorance of the commonest rules of the roads and thole singular disposition to entirely lose all command of Uvir senses in the presence of a trap, or mau, ura fellow riesha approaching in the opposite direction, give points to the average sturdy wheelbarrow coolie, In yur narrow streets, it is almost impossible to avoid collis [with a trap, a wheelbarrow staggering under the loads of huge packing cases or large bales of native produce, sv arranged as to entirely shut out the vision of the coolly steering the unwieldy mass, or with jiurieshas to the right, ricshas to the left, jinricsha in front, in fact jiuricshas everywhere, charging about in the most reckless confusion Former Correspondents on this subject hive suggested that the Municipal Council should be more exacting when granting Viceuses; only accepting such riesha evoliea as are physically qualified for their task, The suggestion was an admirable one, but nufortuuately the recipient of the license can easily pass it on to his feeble con-Fréve and the police are helpless, smtarually, to counteract the abuse, I'would add as a "rider" to the above that the applicants for licenses be also examined a4 to their knowledge of the ral of the road in the streets, and I think would be quite feasible and a boon to all frequenters ut our busy thorn ifa ble were told off, un license days" to impart a little simple rule of the rol dill to the candidates for licenses, The other day I was so scared by a succession of hairbrealth escapes, while trusting myself dor mercies of frantic demo: ha coolie, on my way to office, that 1 got out and walked in preference, and I think many others have the same experience.
Trusting wy remarks may be productive of some good towards remedying, even in a slight measure, " growing evil, Lam, Yours faithfully, A Trap Viator.
Shanghai, Loch October, 1885, 'THE ASSOCIATED WHARVES, To the Editor of the Nonrn-Cutsa Darty N:
Sim,—As a shareholder i the Shanghai and Hongkew Wharf Ca. I cannot help in " few particulars concerning terms on which the present ami gamation took plac, which a friend's letter has brought to my. notice, and I should feel obliged if any other shareholder would, through the columns of yue paper, ¢ *trect my information, if wrong, o, if correct, express his opinion on the desirability of looking @ little more closely into our own interests.
'Amalgamation took place, I believe, some ten years ago, and Limagine most of present shareholders' are either ignorant of, oF indifferent to, the circumstances under which it was brought about, object of amalgamation withadjuining Wharves was, Iam told, to put an end existing competition, and to secure a monopoly, which possible. Such a monopoly of b is no longer possible, as we have spirited competition uow to contend with in the shape of the China Merchants and Pootuoy Wharves, both under able management, and perhaps not 80 heavily handicapped as we are.
Is it not time therefore to see if we cannot improve our position in some way? T think our busi lit be conducted in remuneration seems excessive if my Syures are correct, I believe they receive 5 per cent, on the gross earnings, and their por;
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.