Paymaster.
Captain Richard Wallach, U.S.M.C., Fleet-Marine-Officer.
All squadron orders and regulations now in force will sv continue until otherwise directed.
A new series of Squadron General Orders, Circulars, Notices to Mariners and General Court Martial Orders for 1892, will commence with this date beginning with No. 1, excepting the Squadron Roster of Officers which will continue in the same sequence, the Inst issued being No. 22.
D. B. Harwony, Rear Aduiral, U.S. Navy, Commanding U.S, Naval Force on Asiatic Station.
From the Foochow Echo of the 20th ult. we learn that all the teamen in the Fokosn district had held a meeting to discuss the state of the trade, in which the 180 houses engaged have lost in the last four years two million dollars. _If this is not an exaggeration, cays the Echo, it shows what enormous profits they must have made in former years, Despundency asto the future appears to have prevailed, and two-thirds of the houses represented declared their intention of giving up the trade altogether. This, says the Echo, is not to be wondered at, and itis hoped that the result will be that as the number of buyers will be s0 much smaller, and the quantity of leaf grown will remain the same, prices will be very much reduced. Then, if foreign merchants are only patient when.the teas come to market, and are not tempted to pay higher prices than is absolutely neoessary, the fortunes of the Fuuchow tea trade inay'yet recover.
The Natal brought us Hongkong news to the 25th ultimo.—The Off-day of the Races, which was fixed for Monday last, was postponed to Wednesday on account of the death of Mr. P. 'T. Ryrie, which occurred ently on the 22nd from syncope, Mr. Ryrie was 63 years ut age. seat on the Legislative Council has been offered to and accepted by Mr. E. R. Belili The Report of the Hongkong and Whampoa Duck Ca., Ld., for the past half-year 8 published." 'The net profit, including balance brought forward, and less directors' and auditors' fee: 680, and. the directors recommend a dividend for the half-year of 7 per cent.
In the Legislative Council, Hongkong, on the 25th ult,, the Hou. '0. P. Chater made the following remarks on the Into Mr. P.'T. Ryrie:—** As probably the oldest resident in this colony who sits-on the Council, I rise to supplement the remarks made by your Excellency regarding the lamented death of our friend and colleague, the Into Mr. Ryrie, which will be felt as loss by every section of the community, Speaking of him more especially asa monia ber of Council, we all know Mr, Ryrie first took his seat itn 1867, and from that time eat continuously untilhisdeath, during the whole of which lengthy period he held the proud record of having always commanded the fullest confidence and respect of his fellow-citi Ever to the fore in every movom ho ought might result in the Colony's good and ever ready to champion what he thought was the right, Mr, Ryrie was a colonial of whom Hongkong might indeed feel proud. Continued long residence here and consequent ill health had of late greatly enfeebled him and he was no longer able to give such practical manifestation of his keen interest' in our local politics, but when we look back upon his long record of faithful service, and when we contemplate the benefits that have accrued to the colony therefrom, we may well deplore the loss of of our oldest and most prominent citizens and ssu upright and honourable man."
Wereceived on Tuesday Hongkong papers tothe 26th ult,—The China-Burneo Ca Ld, bad held another meeting to confirm the resolution annulling previous resolutions for the winding-up of the company.—The meeting of the Jockey Club on the 25th ult. to confirm the resolution with reference to the erection of a new grand stand, was adjourned owing to the scanty attendance of members.—The scheme for an_ electric railway from Singapore to Ichore has now come within meusurab'e distance of accomplishment.
The Daily Press says:—We have received a letter signed Amiens humani genesis" in which the writer endorses the opinion expressed by His Excellency the Governor at the distribution of prizes at the Victoria College to the effect that the educational efforts of the Government to promote the spread of the English language have so far resulted in " complete failure." remarks, the correspondent save, do not apply to the Victoria College alone, but to all the schools wherein the English language is taught, No justification for this opinion expressed, the remainder of the letter ing devoted to a protest against boys leaving school at too early an age.
The Bank of Japan (Nippon Ginko) has declared a dividend for the latter half of 1891 at the rate of 16 per cent per annum,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.