Wo have just had another big local election—that for the School Board. Tt has resulted in a modified victory for the Progressive, who will have a majority of three to five. This is a considerably reduced majority, making it clear that the Moderates would have won on the cry of "economy" had it not been for the' ill-advised ardour of the party represented by Mr. Athelstan Riley, which desires to upset the religious compromise and to introduce Church teaching into the Board School. Mr. Joseph Diggle, who was for nine years chairman of the Board, and for a still longer period leader of the Moderate purty, actually withdrew from the contest because he foresaw that the ill-regulated zeal of the extreme Church party was wrecking the chances of " Moderate victory. The fact is that while a considerable proportion of the ratepayers are I have therefore forwarded your letter to H. E. the Major-General Commanding at Hongkong, and requested him to take the necessary action.
Thave the honour to be, Your most obedient servant, Major-General, Commanding 2nd Brigade, British Street CET. The Chairman, Municipal Council, Shanghai.
Semaphore Seivice.—The annual account for the upkeep of the semaphore and merid ian ball is received from the French Council as follows Etat des Dépenses clu semaphore pendant Yannée 1900.
Observatoire
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.