(From the Foochow Echo of 22nd August.)
We are glad to hear that prospects for a coming Race-Meeting are very fair. Though the list for subscription griffins has not yet been placed on the table we hear already of eight intending subscribers, We are glad to learn that the missionary in the Kiongning district who was lately threatened with expulsion and only retired Foochow on the solicitation of his friends, has returned to his post. The parting words of a friend to kim on his starting to resume his work again were, pas trap de which we are given to understand means " go slow very excellent advice.
We hear this week of some few native tea hongs over the bridge closing their doors for the season, On enquiring as to the reason of their doing so so early, they say that they find so little demand, and that with the reported depressed state of the London and Australian markets they do not look fur improvement. All natives engaged in the trade are better informed than they used to be, and none are so speculative after late experiences, The following statement of Congou Settlements to date shows that about 80 per cent, of the total has been laid down at and under 10}4. per Ib.
Settlements Fxch. 8:3 £? freight, 45 1/53 to 1/9
205,550
Complaints reach us from all sides of the increase of squeezing in the country, both on articles of export and imp Any man too muchee fear do pidgin" is the expression used to us. Applications have been made to foreign hongs for. transit passes by their merest acquain amongs the natives, and for marchand in which they have not the slightest interest. These helpless traders ask whether foreigners cannot interfere on their behalf, but we do not see how this is to be done.
(From the Foochow Echo of 20h August.)
Several thousands of students have already arrived from different points within this Viceroyalty for the triennial examination to take place on the 10th proximo Upwards of ten thousand are expecta altogether. Let us hope that they will not create any disturbances as they generally do.
Some eight disbanded Hunan soldiers were seen calli at all the native bankers ud opium shops on Monday last, demiandig contributions of cash to meet the expenses of their return home. At the bank at the head of the road leading to Messrs. Schonfeld & Co,'s hong they were noticed by a passing foreigner to be exchanging igh words with the master banker, Surely there ought to be a stop put upon this sort of begging.
Yesterday afternoon a party of disbanded Honan soldiers, seven in number, paid us a visit at our offices, and declined to go when ordered to do ssu. Their determined mien made us feel very uncomfortable and it was a long time befure we could get rid of them. We can only ask ourselves at the moment, are these annoyances to continue? We shall not be surprised to hear j of these loafers visiting some of the foreign hongs, We understand that the present Salt Commissioner is to be appointed to the post of Provincial Judge. This is a most popular appointment with all the respect able natives in the city and suburbs, but not quite so much liked by the idle and good for nothing, a class unfortunately on the increase in numbers in consequence of the decay of the tea trade. It is known that His Excellency will. be particularly severe with ruffians, vagabonds and gamblers. It is said of him that he will be the right man in the right place.
Last Saturday night (22nd) a strong northerly wind sprang up and lasted until 4 o'clock on Saturday morning, when rain fell in torrents and continued off and on for some hours, On Sunday night there was a repetition of the blow, though not in the same force as on the preceding night, succeeded as before by heavy rain and a falling barometer. 'The weather on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday was squally and' showery, moderating however each day. On Thursday it was more settled in the morning but turned to rain in the afternoon, Yesterday was fine witl D p.m. when a thunderstorm broke over the place accompanied with very heavy rain which did not cease until nearly midnight, completing the record of an unusually unsettled week,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.