Ir was the first duty of a Roman citizen never to despair of the fortunes of his country, however depressing the circumstances of the time might be. The same dut, laid on the residents of Shanghai, and facts shew that it is wise as well as patriotic. Two years ago our manivipul finances were at the lowest ebb, Reckless expenditure on a new police scheme, with n falling of ravonuo ounvequent on the Chinese war, hud led to a heavy deficit, but the heroic measure was taken of re-imposing the WharfageDaer, and last year we were uble to congratulate our-aoives that there was "not a surplus, but the deficiency is so small that, with one improved prospects, no anxiety weed be onused by it, and on the Budget for the ourrent year a surplus, minute, but better than nothing, is expected." The outgoing Council Inst your took such a moderate view of these improved prospects, that instead of a minute surplus only just better than nothing, Mr. Wood and his colleagues are in the pleasant pos of being able to nnnounce an actual excess of receipts over the estimates of Tis, 26,000, or, with the outstandings of previous years, interest, etc., is. 33,000; which reduced by sundry expenditure above the estimates to un nctunl surplus of over Tls. 23,000. Of all the heads ander which the income is collected is. 10,500), Jinriosha licenses (is. 4,800), and General Municipal Rate, Foreign, (Tls. 8,000). The time hag evidently not yet come to despair of the fortunes of Shanghai.
Defence matters occupy the first section of the Annual Report and though most of the details in it have already appeared, all who take an interest in Volunteering here will be glad to have them collected for pre-'The most important matter la the presentation of a hattery of guns to the community by the British Government, and the promise of an annual free issue of 30,000 rounds of ball amwanition, It is difficult to say too mach of the graciousness and opportuneness of this present, and we trust that the Corps will always retain the strength and effigiouoy to deserve Nothing better proves the returning prosperity of the Settlements than tha general increase in licences issued, Foreign owners of earringes are apt to grumble at the constantly increasing umber of native carriages, jinricsha and wheel barrows in our now too unrrow streets, but they are an andoubtod conveni to both foreigners and nal justify themselves far dating together the splendid sum of Tle, 44,750 for the yenr to our revenue, while the total expenditare on rondo, in and outside the Settlements, was: only Tia, 43,800. It is gratifying to sev that the nal waters carts are gradually dienppoaring, and we hope soon to see them abolished altogether, The CuptainsSa, jendent of Police appears to be fairly well entisfied with the force under his command, though he makes the gentle complaint that the native members of it "did not show out well on the night of the attack on the Chartered Mercantile Bank," and we cannot wonder at their bei) what demoralised by the fo looking, but utterly ineffective, fire acme carried by the robbers, It will be news to many of our readere that private enterprise hus established "a very convenient little market" in the 'Tientain rond, and intends erecting another very near to it. In concluding is report, Cuptain M'Euen may well be proud to aunonnoe that the total property stolen in the Settles 8 under $53,000 for the year, nearly $40,000 in value' was recovered by the police, It is not 60 pleasant to find that it is proposed to spend, Ils, 81,000 on the police in 1887, against an actual expenditure of Tis, 71,600 in 1886, Under the head of street trafic we find reproduced the remarkable notification issued last March, ordering conveyances bringing "visitors to public buildings, stores and private residences" to wait for rheic owners at somebody else's door a visit to the Hongkong Bank in the morning or to the Club at noon will show that this regulation has been allowed to fall into "ivnocnous de sue. tude." In the Health Oficer's report we find that the average death-rate for the previous sixteen yenrs was og nears ly as possible 24 por 1,000, the rate in 1886 having been 23.5, @ very high rate considering how much has been done in the way of sanitation, includ. ing the completion of the water-worke, of late years, and that the population was undoubtedly under-estimated in the fow years before 1885. Housekeepers may be recommended to study Dr, Macleod's remarks on page 70 aa to the causation of cholera in the settles ments; from which much-dreaded dis. ease however only three foreign rosie dents actually died, We are glad to see that the Council decided not to suppress the Lock Hospital and the steps that have been taken since 1876 for the prevention of Contagious Diseases, incomplete as they are. The Local Postmaster's report slows an
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.