The following items of news and comment are from Indian exchanges The average price of the first sale of now season's tov in Calcutta was Sas, Ip., or about 8hd., per Ib., against Sas. 5p., or about 9d., per Ib. realised in the corres ponding sale of last season, The Calcutta Turf Club Stewards have decided that the totalisator shall be given a fair trial as against the bookmaker, and eight machines are to be added to. the three or four which have hitherto been used at the Calcutta meetin; The distraction and annoyance caused by dogs being permitted to accompany their owners into St. Patrick's Cathedral isa matter that has frequently been brought. to the notice of the priests attached to the church.—Bungalore Daily Post.
News from Kashgar states that owing to the Tungani disturbances no Chinese black tea is arriving in Urumtsi and the price has risen to nine rupees a brick (about Ib.) Kangra tea is consuently in great demand and is selling at a rupee per pound.
Phere seems tu be good reason to believe that the Russians have determined to build a railway not only from Mery into the Kushk Valley, bue also to begin a bunch from Chharjut along the southern bank of the Oxus to Kashi, the most advanced out-
Sharif. Each of these extensions will be on the line of advance against Mazar-i-of high strategic value. As regards the Samarkand-Tashkent Railway, which is an extension of the Transcaspian main line Asia, it is reported that the earthwork is practically finished and a train service will be opened this summer. This may account for the Merv and Chharjui extensions being undertaken, as the railway battalions will shortly be available for work in new directions.
The Tibetan Mission Band, who originally came out with Miss Annie R. Taylor and afterwards separated from her, is to be known in future as the China Inland Mission Tibetan Band. While in consultation with Mr. Hudson Taylor it was arranged that the missionaries should bees of the China Inland Mission, and while retaining distinctive aim and character should learn Chinese and act under the direction of the Director and Sub-Director of the G.I-M. Six of the missionaries have left for Shanghai, Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie remain at Ghoom,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.