Hongkong, 3rd May.
The questions of the hour here are the water supply and the price of the white metal. The water supply is an ever diminishing quantity, and it has got to such a pass that a good bath is impossible and just a dip to sponge down with is luxury to be duly appreciated. As for exchange, the subject will hardly "bear discussion our dollars melting into rupees and will presently dwindle to shillings if the present appalling drop continues and [hardly see itis going to stop. Meantime it is ing trade in imports.
We had a brief break in the dry weather on Wednesday last, when about n quarter of an inch fell. A'little more fell in the-ether, 0.34 inch, Two showers, lasted a few seconds this morning, but were merely tantalising, mocking our hopes and deluding our expectations, and we are still waiting and hoping for the rain that constantly seems imminent and then passes away. Some industries will soon have to stop, ifthe drought does nob come to an end. It is the longest on record.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.