Ifthe function of hoisting the fag had been fixed for the ist of April, we could hardly have been made to look greater fools than was the case on Monday Last. The elaborate arrangements made, the vessels chartered, the picnics prepared, the holiday so widely' announced all came to naught, save the last, for that remained, a sort of Sabbath, the calm of which was broken by aloud and general grumble. Ihave already recounted what was to have I vill now state what really happened. Owing to the massing of several thousand Chinese on the hills above Taipohu and the burning of the matsheds on Saturday, His Excellency the Governor very prudently declared the invitations for Monday all off, and gave orders for the flag to be hoisted at Tripoln on Sunday. This was done at one o'clock pam. and salutes fired simultaneously there and in Victoria Herbour. On Monday afternoon, in the presence of only a few spectators (the decision having apparently been arrived at very suddenly) the flag was also hoisted on Kowloon just outside the city, when the Governor delivered a speech, which was translated into Chinese, informing the people that their rights would be fully respected and none would be allowed to molest them, but that in future they would be required' to obey the laws of Queen Victoria. I do not know whether proclamations in Chinese have also been issued in the New Territory, but they certainly should hiavo been posted over its length and breadth as there is no doubt malicious tongues and pens have been busy misleading, the ignorant villagers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.