26th April. Wire noticing last week the Report of the China Association, we mentioned the Nanking Viceroy's' reply to the suggestion that Sir Charles Hartley should be engaged to report on the Woosung Bar; a very discouraging reply but not altogether a fatal one, as lis Excellency wound up by instructing the Tuotai to make thorough enquiries concerning Sir Charles Hartley's standing, and reply. In the minutes of the general meeting of the Chamber of Commerce: poised this morning will be found the reply of the Chairman of the Chamber to the Viceroy, in: the form of a. letter to the Senior Consul. The Chairman points out that there was no proposal that Sir Charles should be employed to open the Bar, but to "thoroughly examine all the various features and details, and by the aid of his experience in solving: similar problems elsewhere and his undoubted technical knowledge, elaborate a plan for the improvement of the port, which would be submitted for the consideration of the Chinese authorities." The Chairman points out that "where such important interests are at stake, it surely behoves every one interested to obtain the very best advice as to whether it is not perfectly possible to remedy the present evil, which if not
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.