Tue somewhat peremptory reply of the for the onses lately Barued in the Nanking Road to the Municipal Council "reminds us again how much we lose by the delay of our Ministers to get our new Land Regulations confirmed. The houses in question abutted each succeeding Council has been anxvery inconveniently on the road, and
ious to acquire a small strip of the ground so as to complete the widening of the road at that point. Ihe land is unfortunately owned at home, and as absentee owners care little for the general convenience, and are only concerned sons were lately killed in fights, and the about the rents which our efforts enable Gazette relates how two powerful claus, them to secure, the endeavours of the fought together and lost twenty-seven Council have been fruitless, The agents men. Thequarrel arose about ahillwhich do not even leave open a loop-hole the claus Hu and Hsien had divided for farther negotiation; they write between them and from which each tersely and clearly enough: "We have wanted to oust the other. The Hsiens received a telegram prohibiting the pro-cut down the forests and trees of their posed surrender. We regret, therefore, rivals, and though the conduct of the that negotiations on the subject must aggressors was submitted to the arbi- now be finally closed." The property tration of some notables of a neighbour- is, we believe in the hands of trustees, ing district, whose decision was accepted who, we may presume, have no personal by both the clans—except one hsien who interest in the matter any more than appear so have been a chief man in his the agents here, and they relieve them-clam, as he instigated it to further selves of trouble in the matter by a outrages on the Hus and commanded simple non possumus, regardless of the its forces in the action which ensued. fact that by so doing, they are per-The whole Hsien clan, numbering 38 petuating an inconvenience to a whole able-bodied men well armed, marched, community. This is one of the cases shouting, on one of the villages of their in which the proposed new Land Regu rivals. The Hus hearing the noise lations would have been of the greatest rushed to their villages, armed themselves value. 'I'he new Article XV provides and gave battle, but being out-numbered that after the Municipal Body in public were obliged to retreat to their other meeting has determined on the improve-villa, Then the Hsien who had re-ment of a road, and the Council has fused to accept the award of the arbitra-notified the owner of the land required, tors, commanding his forces from an if the owner and the Council cannot elevated position, shouted to them to come to terms, "the Municipal Council hem their adversaries in. The Hus may, after the expiration of four months were accordingly hemmed into a field and' within one year from the issue where we should say, judging from the of such notice, apply to the Court of account given in the Gazette, they had Consuls, and the said Court shall in' conto stand and be shot at by the Hsiens. cert with the Consul of each person In the end 24 of the attacked Hus and concerned.... and after hearing the 3 of the Hsiens were killed, and others parties, determine whether such land is on both sides were wounded. As at required for public use, and if it shall be least one Hu, the one who fired the so determined that such land is so first shot and who is therefore to lose required and ought to be surrendered, [his head, survives, we should say the compensation to be paid or given that this clan, if considerably out-num-for the same and for the buildings bered, lost almost all its fighting men in the action.
The leader of the Hsiens who directed his forces from an eminence was promptly decapitated, and fourteen others of the combatants have received the same sentence. No doubt those sentences were richly deserved, and we hope they will put an end to clan thereon (if any).... shall be determined by the award of two arbitrators, one to be appointed by the Municipal Council and the other by the person or persons entitled to the interest to be surrendered." Then follow the usual provisions for the appointment of an umpire, and for the appointment of ay
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.