have been very lively this week. Twenty-six steamers were there simultaneously, and the demand for lightering assistance og unprecedented. A big tide on Monday allowed some vessels to get over the Bir with ense, but on Tuesday a North-West gale blew the water out into the Gulf and Aneight feet high water mark was the result. Three lighters were blown out to sea and were picked up at distances varying from 20 to 35 miles. One of them, the Zeng. shan, was missing for 30 hours, and had a bad time of it: the crew and stevedores no chow, but fortunately the cargo consisted largely of pea-nuts, They perforce had to do till help came.
THE PEUIO, The ascent of the river has not yet been attempted, on account of the narrowness of the fairway and the lack of tur facilities at Tientsin, but all agree there is a great improvement since November; and this although the two greater canals have yet to be closed. The current is now very strong and. is rapidly abrading the bank accretions of the last four yours, The Chamber of Commerce here is taking strong action on continuing the improve: ment works—which will probably take the new form of cuttings through the maine bends: in some cases a half-mile cut would obviate a detour of five or miles, oftering indefinite improvement to the tide, and therefore to the scour and navigation.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.