A correspondent sends us the following extract from the Honglung Serezcher of the 9th inst., which, he says, seems curiously to have escaped the attention of the Shanghai dailies.
"The ceremony of hoisting the Municipal Flag over the extended Shanghai Settlement has at length come off although the utmost secrecy was observed in the matter. The Hongl: ong Screecher is not, however, to be cajoled by bribes nor intimidated' by threats and, in spite of all concealment, the intense natural modesty of i authorities, Iam in a position to give your readers a full account.
al date, April the Ist had to be abandoned owing to the sudden discovery by Tsai Tnotai the Governor of Shanghai, after two years' protracted negotiations, that he was not in a position to deal with the matter at all. A later date was chosen and the spot for the ceremony was fixed as the bandstand near the Cricket Club, where certain posts were available for hoisting purposes. For some days previously the manner of the natives on the West side of the Race Course had_ been threatening and a disturbance was feared. Incendiarisur was rampant although the natives alleged they were only burning joss-paper in large quantities th: Every step taken to prevent a surprise and the Chai man of the Council called in state on th: head runner of the Mixed Court at his elegantly appointed mansion in Pig Creek and implored his ce-operation. "Tt was understood that the assurances given on this head were quite satisfactory. However, when a detachment of police arrived at 11.30a.m, on the chosen day to ocenp the ground, it was found that a dense riv of the enemy was congregated all along the road that hounds the Race Course on the side of the old Settlement, and commanding the scene of the ceremony. 'Thei attitude made it clear that' they meant to stop the proceedings. Many of them were in uniform which showed that the auth: ties connived at their action. I have the highest authority for saying that the uni. forms were not, as alleged, simply, thos of ricsha coolies. The general alarm was sounded and at 11.45 the entire volunteer force was on the spot. The enemy at once opened fire with fierce cries, The crackling of their maxims could be heard 5 mil off, and I have the same authority for saying that the noise was not caused by the explo sion of crackers. At 12 o'clock it decided-by the Colonel that they must dislodged, but it was pointed out that the hour was absolutely sacred to the perform-other duties, namely, the consump-the mid-day cocktail. The whole incident was referred to " committee, who reported that the troops being a strictly volunteer force, their welfare and constitution would he' imperilled by a disregard of their just rights. An adjournment was therefore made to the Cricket Club where ality was dispensed by the genial captain. Fighting was resumed at 12.15 and the enemy' made very good pmetice. None of the municipal volunteers were hit. 'The fire brigade did great execution with a hose and TLMLS. Woollark ce-operating from an adjoining creek (ogg)shelled the ion. Judging from the numbers of Chinese soon found to be missing, the enemies' losses must: have been very heavy. The enemy were also hampered by the fact that owing to un unfortunate misunderstanding with the Commissioner of Customs at Canton, most of their arms and ammunition had gone to Luzon, or somewhere in the Philippin As the fight showed no sign of abatit was decided to advance over the creek, but at the last moment it was observed that a strong corps of amahs with the old-fashioned per-ambulator or scythed chariot had out-flanked the enemy. The amahs, always a formidable fighting force, charged with loud cries and mowed them down. As there was not one of the enemy left in sight it was decided that it would he unsafe to continue the ceremony, which was accordingly abandoned. I understand, however, that the flag was hoisted quite quietly on the P. & O. flag staff on the bund at 3.a.m. the next morning, in the presence of a constable and two coolies, the ceremony reflecting great credit on all concerned."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.