Telegrams reached Kobe papers yeater-day announcing the total loss of the Club Hotel annexe, No. 41, Settlement, by fie, early yesterday morning, The manager, Mr. Peebles, a Canadian who has been in business in Yokohama during recent years but without achieving success, fell a' prey to the flames. Tt is supposed that he was overcome by the smoke, as it is reported that an inmate of the Hotel was careful to wake him up and warn him of the danger mediately the place was found to be on'
Nothing more was soon of him, until his charred remains were discovered in the early part of the afternoon, The fire appears to have broken out in one of the guests' rooms—in a room occupied by an Awerican naval officer—and it will pro-
coal falling from the grate on to the hearth bably be found thet it arose from burning rug. No particulars of the inquest arekuown, here yet. Wright's Hotel, joining building, was in Was of burnt being in great measure ed by water. The losses are anid to be covered by insurance. The loss, I understand, will not affect the Club Hotel Ca, La., the annexe having been regarded for some time past as a source of weakness rather than assistance to the main establish. ment.
OPENING OF THE DULK OIL BUSINESS, The "Shell" line steamship Conch arrived here here the night before last nuder the command of Captain Arnold, erly and for several years master of ateamer Flintshire. She is a queer. looking craft, with three pole rusts ands huge smokestack aft, Her cargo consists of 4,500 tons of refined potrolenin. I must reserve a description of the vesse}, the pioneer of her class in these waters, until my next. The business was inaugurated here to-day by n luncheon on board and a banquet and entertainment to hundreds of Japanese on shore, Amongst others present were His Excellency the Governor of the Prefecture; Judge Mowat, Mr, Enslie and Mr. Wileman of H.B.M.''s Consular Service, BIN. P. de Lucy Fos-saries, French Consul, Mr. Ellerton, Lloyd's Surveyor, and Mr, Woolley of the 0. 8. N.Co., and a largo number of Japanese and foreigners. Covers were laid for seventy in the "tween decks. Mr. Mitchell, head of the firm of Samuel Ca. at Yokohama, presided. Letters were from the American and Russixn- Consuls expressing their regret at being unable to be present owing to ill-health and the cold; Mr. de Wenudrich, the Russixn Vice-Consul here, remarking that he viewed the introduction of Batoum oil in bulk with the keener pleasure because it gives a lift"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.