The following correspondence is or. dered for publication:
Council Room, Shanghai, 12th April, 1906.
Siz,—With reference to the Counci lotter of the 20th November last, on the subject of the concession granted Chinese Government to the Italian Tekin imported into Shang-hant, Mr. M, Denogri, for farming honour to enquire whether the Consular Body has be:
effect any amelioration of the conditions which have arisen as a result of the concession, It will be within the knowledge of the Consular Body that the high price of beef, to: which the Council's letter referred, remains undiminished, venture to point out that no reply has been received to the lotter in question and to request that, if floria have passed Conmular Body and the Chinese Authorities in the matter, you may be good enough to furnish the Council with copies thereof, a course of prooeduro which has been heretofore in vogue in relation to similar dispatches of public concern. have the honour to be, Your obedient servant, Horny Dr Gray, Vice-Chairman, eral for Belgium and Senior Consul, Shanghai, 17th April, 1906.
Si—1 beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant with reference to the concession granted by the Chinese Government to the Italian merchant, Mr. Denogri, for farming the lekin on cattle brought into Shanghai from the interior, This question was referred by the Consular Body to a select committee who reported that the arrangement made with Mr, Dendgri in effect constituted a monopoly and was therefore contrary to Treaty. This view was adopted by the Consular Body snd the Taotai was duly informed accordingly.
The\"question is still under discus-soon as an arrangement is it will be communicated to the Municipal Council without delay. T remain, Your obedient servant, D. Street, Consul-General for Belgium and Senior Consul.
Road Extensions and Widenings.
Nanking and Shanse Roads—Referring to the widening of the Maloo ex Cadastral lot 375 detailed on page 273 of the Annual Report for last year, a further expropriation on the street cor-nor has been arranged at the same rate of compensation, bagment being autho-ised for both strips, The aggregate aros_is Mow 0.0965, the price is Tle, 35,000 por mow, and the registered owner is Mr. G. J. W. Cor North Szechuen Road—The following lotter with reply as <lireoted indicates the Council's policy with regard to the olicing, completion, and driving of this important thoroughfare beyond Settlement limite Shanghai, Ist March, 1906, S1m,—Wo bog to call your attention to the fact that in the new North Szechuen Road on the north of the Old Range Road many new houses have deen Lately built and occupied. Since the place is becoming thickly populated it also becomes a very good field for highwaymen because under cover of darkness in the night and without fear of interference from the Police they are usually successful in their depredajons. Many cases have been reported to us and one of the most notable casco is that in which a Mr, Hea who lives in the house No. 36 in Ju Road became the victim. Some three weeks ago when ho was on his way home one night " little after 10 p.m. he was atopped somewhere near the small creek by several men armed with daggers, oto., who stripped him of everything he had on hima that time. Now to lose one's clothing and other valuables all at once bad enough but to lose them besides has to stand the rough handling and threats of those de Joos to say nothing of the piercing cold which is to do mischief to those who are suddenly stripped of their warm clothing is most deplorable, Wo have aleo heard that oven poor ricsha coolies cannot escape molestations "from those men, in fact the residente there live in terror.
We understand that taxes have been paid by the residents in the neighbour. hood but they do not enjoy the. privily ligas of Police protection. fore venture to make this ai you on behalf of those horror-stricken Tesidents and to ask you to be good enough to have that place—say feom the Old Range Road to the place where the Hou Te Li (ji {i 2) are, a matter of only a fow hundred yards or so—lighted and patrolled by Police, so that those poor residents may enjoy a litle peace while without as well as within doors.
Wo are, Your most obedient servants, Lox Hor & Ca.
Owners of I Lok Li, Yar Row & Ao.
Tax Cantonzsx Bos Tax Cuaxo, Land Investment Syndicate, Tax Cxo Hina.
C. Houupar, Esq, Obsirman, Municipal Council.
The Cuarnwan, Municipal Council,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.