To the Editor of the "Norta-Carxa Datty News."
Sm,—A Notification appears in your yesterday's issue to the effect that all the foreign-owned house-boats are to cleared away from their present places in the Soochow Creek on a certain date next month, on the unreasonable, 1 think, supposition that there is no longer any room for them where they are now lying moored, and have been so for many years past, and the reason for this arbitrary proceeding by the harbour office is supposed to be the "congestion of trafic."
I would like to point out, however, to anyone not clearly understanding the question, that this supposition of congestion of the traffic" is an entire fa with regard to the trae sense of its Let anyone go into the Chinese Public Garden and look at the creek during low tides and he will sce a very narrow and shallow stream hardly more than sufficient in width to allow of two boats passing each other at that state of the tide, where some years ago there was quite sulticient room for several boats to go abreast at any one time in this particular part of the creek opposite the garden, and the cause of all this, as we know, being the silting up year after year and termi high and dry banks; in fact, one half of the creek has now become nearly useless for much traffic, and who is to blame for this condition Surely the Customs authorities, who claim to be the representatives of the conservancy board, and to their failing in taking the necessary steps dredged, and put in jon as found years ago. It is quite clear if this work was uow taken in hand as it ought to be, there would no longer be any " congestion of traffic but plenty of room, and a good deal to spare. for all foreign-owned house-Hhoats to remain where they are now.
suld be moored, every one of them, Jalong the slope of the Chinese Garden if that high mud bank was done away with that is now remaining an eye-sore where it exists at present. This bank could ily be removed at only small and ay fine mooring place then b ade for all the house-boats in the creek if restored to its usual condition for trottie." Perhaps: cost could he defrayed equally between the Customs authorities and the boatowners. think the time has come when something might be done in the way of ing funds, and consulting with the harbour office without any further delay.
There appears to me to ho the legal also, as to whether the harbour office has the power of forcibly removing the boats from their present positions. Ave foreigners of this International Settlement not to be granted the same right and privileges as the natives in claiming peaceful possession and ownership of their property whether on land or water-ays within the Municipal Settlements The so-called congestion of trottie is a very la.ae excuse for the removal of the boats, and what are we to say then about our main thoroughfares and the con-fave the custodians of our roads the gestion of traffic as now seen daily?
power in their own hands to order away all enormously bulky loads cartied by wheelbarrows, much to the inconvenience of "foreigners generally? I would advise fighting this question out, whether our boats can be removed without our consent. The congestion of trafic is not a proper plea for the harbour office so long as the crock remains in its present bad state, and supposing the boats to be removed to the place indicated in the Notification, would it not be more than likely that, in the absence of any in that far dista boats would suen he cleared, by thieves, of all gaur and interior fittings or perhaps by the low themselves or their friends "The question, however, seriously considered is, by what right can the harbour office demand removal of our boats either legally or morally in the way they are now seeking to do this without the owners' consent? I should be glad to hear your views, Mr. Editor, on this important question to those concerned.
Under the Land Regulations are we not entitled to the same privileges as the native-owned boats in being allowed to have our boats lying in the same creek and at the same place as they are?
Apologising for the large space taken up with this matter, and thanking you in anticipation.
Tam, ote., Rareraven, 24th February.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.