To the Kditor of the "Nonra-Carya Datty News."
Sin,—Referring to the report of Dr. Moore, Acting Health Officer to the Shanghai Muni il, " copy of which appeared in your issue of 10th instant, we authorised by that gentleman to state he has ascertained from the Deputy Health Ofiicer of the Port that his remarks the ex filthy state in which he found the ice-chests" had no reference tu the vessels of our fleet, as on none of them had he found the state of things, to which he objected, existing. Dr. Moore further authorises us to state that the vessel on which they found native ice, on their inspection of 9th instant, was not one of our steamer We ar Agents, Chin 11th September To the Editor of the "Noxru-Catxa Dany News."
R,—The correspondence on the subject Me 1g on Coasters." I am glad to see, is becoming practical, and I hope that the very pertinent suggestions offered by Old salt," in your issue of the th will lead other Salts, and slent travellers, on this coast to put their ideas before the public.
It_ is certainly time that those best qualified expresse themselves fur the public good.
Being myself a traveller, I have often questioned those in command as to the supervision exercised over the stewards' department, and have nearly always been formed that little could be done because, ifdisinfectants were used, the food would be ruined. this is a vital question, T do not being accused of 3.1 are non-poisonous and udourless disinfects circulars which have been left at office show, and if these can bear out what is claimed for them, they should be just the thing for ice boxes.
at least worth investigation.
ing you for the space allowed Lam, ete.
A Frequest TRAVELLER. 12th Septemb To the Editor of the Dany —As Trap' "letter on the above subject has called down a, storm of abuse from all quatters upon his unlucky head. I find myself called upon, being a friend of his, to take up the cudgels in his defence, he being absent from Shanghai the present time.
OF the three letters written in answer to his, the last two only are sensible; the first being an exhibition of rancour which Will do much to fan the flame which flickers up now and again between engine-room and deck. supposition that "Trap lis son fresh from the fore-dying to rush into print rong. "Trap holds a cate, has 19 years' sea ex-never been ina forecastle in his life.
It transpired in a certain company of officers that the writer of the letter signed "Rats" was an engineer hailing from Dumbarton. One of this company (Trp) was deputed to answer it; hence the reference to Dumbarton men, which, us, any risible man could see, was only intended for raillery.
The mean retort in ' Rat-Trap's" letter, that the firm employing "Trap," should take steps to find out who he is, is certainly unworthy of one who quotes the "bull-dog" breed, and who wishes to injure Trap" outside the columns of this paper.
"Trap" has many friends amongst the engineers, and I can vouch for the fact that, in his ship, complete harmony prevails between deck and engine-room.
Comparisons between the duties of deck and engine-room oticers, are xt all times odious; but thrse who award the palm to the former, should remember that the engineer gets eight hours off duty, to the oticer's four, and that the temperature of the upper: bridge on a summer's day is not many degrees diferent from the stoke-hold, also that there is a winter us well as a summer a winter when the officer will freeze on the bridge while his companion down below sits, cosily warm, and watches his engines rotate
point, and probat Wy does not know half ningpo" vale raise from a local stand-the difficulues to be met with in some of the other coast ports.
For instance; a few months ago a certain steamer, with several hundred sheep on days at Swatow. The weather wus bad boned for Hongkong, was detained many and the animals commenced to dic at the rate of dozen a day The captain asked permission from the authorities to land his flock on a piece of waste ground and was refused. The sheep which died through daylight were mostly picked up by fsherthe night and were thrown overboard at
men, taken to the market and sold us fresh mutton.
Ex-Mariner " offers some very senviblo suggestions which all officers would do well to take advantage of. For his information I may mention that the coasting companies are taking rigid measures to prevent further sickness on board their ships, and I am sure that both officers and engineers will ce-operate in gartying them out and so prevent future deaths from cholera amongst their loved messmates.
In conclusion I may remark that I am extremely sorry a discussion which might have proved of great benefit tu all concerned of should depart from the main point so much as this one has done.
Tam, etc., Fain Puay.
16th September.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.