Shanghai, 10th August, 1899.
Dear Sir,—The resolution as to the reduction of cost of cable rates, contained in your letter of 2ist June, the receipt of which I acknowledged on the 17th ultimo, vas laid before my Committee at their meeting on the 8th instant. They are entirely in sympathy with your Chamber as to the necessity for a reduction in the cost of cable messages, and are further of opinion that no time should be lost in endeavouring to bring about a lower scale of charges for telegrams from Great Britain to ports in the East; but though your Chamber's resolution refers to combined action" there is no information as to what combination is intended or possible.
If the Colombo Chamber ts joining with other Chambers in proceedings having for their object a reduction of cable rates, they can count on the hearty support of this Chamber, and I shall therefore be glad to receive fuller advice from you on this point.
Lam, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully, Drvusxosy Hay, To the Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Colombo.
"Total number of persons coming under the notice of Police 1,242 Chinese dead bodies fou Stray dogs captured Puneet B, Partissox, Captain Superintendent of Police.
Water Supply.—Correspondence with the Waterworks Company is submitted, and, in reference thereto, it ix decided to accept the offer of the Company to renew the agreement for the supply of water for Municipal purposes in all its terms for further period of three years.
The China Guzette.—Reply is rend from the Editor of this paper to the Council's demand for the names of employees accused by him of speculative dealings in land: in the Settlement. The members note that the paragraph in question did not refer, as was implied, to the European members of the stall and, in view of the shallowness of the accusation, as well as for the protection of the employees from attacks of this nature, the correspondence is ordered for publication Council Room, Shanghai, 19th August, 1899.
Sin,—I am directed to draw your attention to the following extract from a paragraph which was published in the China Gazette of the 15th instant "Ju our humble opinion the Council, would be better employed in restraining its serin the Settlement where they have knowvants from, indulging in land speculation Tedge of projected roads long before the Ratepayers."
In. this connection, I am to point out that Municipal employees are prohibited by the standing orders of the Council from speculating in land within the limits of the Settlement. As the paragraph above-quoted plies that certain public servants fare violating their agreements and abusing SESis offeial position, Tam to request that you will communicate to the Council the 3.0. P. Braxo, Esq., Secretary Municipal Cou Police Recrnits.—Vhe difficulty experienced in recruiting for the Foreign Section of the Polien Force locally is discussed, and the unsatisfactory character of recent enrolments has formed the subject of a report by the Captain Superintendent. Tt is decided that applica ion be made to the Inspector-General, Royal Irish Constabu-Inry, for a draft of ten men from his re-fruit list, who, it is hoped, will be permitted to undergo a four months' course of training at the Dublin depot previous to their departure for Shanghai.
The meeting then adjourns.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.