The movements of warships, during the past week, have been of little interest; the arrivals and departures (if those of vessels going out for a cruise in colonial waters be excepted) have been exceptionally few. The only arrivals have been: on the 29th ult. the German gunboat Itis from Canton; on the 30th ult. the British battle ship Ocean from Amoy, and the German flagship First Bismarck from Tsingtao and on the lst the German gunboat arrived from Pakhoi. The only departures have been on the 27th ult. the British cruiser Blenheim for Amoy; and on the Bist the German gunboat Iltis for Shanghai.
7th February.
The Week has been dull_and uneventful, and the Chinese New Year holidays, which practically commence 7, Will cause a complete suspension of the little business that has been current lately. It is to be hoped that an improvement will set in when the holidays are over.
A cold snap set in last Sunday, which has lasted throughout the week and served to brace us up somewhat. At one time there were appearances of rain, but the signs were illusory, for only a mero drop fell.
The Sanitary Board, At the annual meeting of the Sanitary Board on the 6th inst. the question of the crusade against the rodents was again brought up. A suggestion has been referred to the Board by the Colonial Secretary to the effect that the Chinese might be encouraged to keep cats with a view to the further destruction of rats. The idea was debated, but the balance of opinion ras against the suggestion, on the ground that the cats might become infected from the rats, and being household pets, might in turn spread the infection to the human occupants of the houses.
The Postmaster-General.
benefit of Mrs. Hastings and children, A subscription is being raised for the family of the late muchrlemented Post master-General, and is finding a ready response, although another list for the widow of the late eminent K.C. is also being circulated.
Mr. G. Cornewall Lewis, the Assistant Postmaster-General, who has shown himself a zealous and obliging official, has been appointed Acting Postmast General. OG aero Queen's College, The annual distribution of prizes won by the boys at Queen's College, took place on the 8rd inst. H. E. the acting Governor, Major-General Sir Gascoigne, handed the prizes the winners, and addressed them in an interesting manner, congratulating them on their success. H. HW, was accompanied by Lady. Gascoigne, Capt. Private Secretary. Sehnatiny is, A.D.C., and Mr.
Charitable Concerts, Two promenade concerts were given this week on the 3rd and 4th inst., on bebait of the widow of the late Colour-Sergeant Kirby. The weather having turned very cold militated against a large attendance, but on the whole this was very fair. The Programme was of a varied nature, many of the local amateurs giving their services. The bands of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, and H.M.SS. Albion, Orlando, and. Terrible also gare selections, each band being conducted by its own bandmaster. The bands of the Sth Hyderabad Contingent and the 22nd Bombay Light Infantry Played outside the City Hall immediately before the concert and during the interval. Meetings of Public Companies, The half-yearly meeting of the sharon holders of the Hongkong, Canton, and Macao Steamboat Ca., Ld., was held on the 4th inst. The Chairman in his speech said, after congratulating the shareholders on the maintenance of the position gained, that the trade on the West River was still unremunerative, but they, hoped the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.