Without making any undue fuss, the Committee of the recently formed Shanghai branch of the Navy League have been working steadily towards the accomplishment of their first undertaking, the provision, namely, in the port of a recroation ground which can be used by our bluejackets while they are stationed here. A fund has been open for some time and, last night, subscribers were invited to attend, at the Supreme Court, 'a mooting to learn something of the progress of the scheme and more pal bulatly of saito which the Committee have the option of acquiring. A plan of the site was pinned for inspection on the front of the huge Union Jack which Mr. Macdonald, the Court Usher, had hung in front of the Bench. H.B.M.'s Consul-General (Sir Pelham Warren) presided, and several of the principal subscribers were present, Mr. Bland, who in. the Chairman's words "has worked like a horse over the scheme" told the meeting what has peon done. He reminded them that the Committee had been authorised to collect subscriptions with a view to the purchase of ground for recreation purposes for the sailors, At first it was thought that about 1,000 or 12,000 taels would be sufficient, Dut on going into the matter more fully the Committee found that to give accommodation for cricket, football, and sports, they would require at least 20 mow of Jand, and unless tramways made their ai pearance, it would be impossible, for the bum named, to get a piece of land large enough, yet sufficiently near the Settlement, as tobe of uso to the sailors. There wore suggestions to buy land at Hongkew or in the; Bubbling Well district. He (the speaker) interviewed " number of sailors and the captains of British ships and all expressed the opinion that the ground should be in the Bubbling Well district, where they had some chance of seeing people and being seen. Turning their attention therefore to the Bubbling Well locality, the Committee received several offers, but the present was the first which they considered suitable. The ground was contained in two lots and had an area roughly of 26 mow. Sixteen mow was offered for 900 taels per mow; the other ton mow belonging to Mrs. Burkill was offered for 750 taels a mow on the understanding that the difference in price per mow between that and the other lot should be considered as Mrs. Burkill's contribution to the fund. The difference represented about 1,500 taels, avery handsome contribution. The committee considered the price of the land very reasonable; the fund would go some way towards paying for it and the contributions would likely be increased by another "thousand dollars or so yet. The land was a little larger than required and if necessary four or five; mow could presently he sold. There would have to be a mortgage for about 5,000 or 6,000 taels, the interest on which. would be payable by the subscriptions of. the Shanghai branch of the League. Some doubt had been expressed whether the men would make use of the ground after it had been provided; but the British officers were all of opinion that their men would uso it and would make the canteen self-supporting. If, however, the purpose intended was not fulfilled, the trustees, who would probably be appointed, would be able to deal with the land in some other way.
Mr. J. L. Scott asked) if the trams, when they come, would go near the ground, 'Mr. Bland said the trams would go to the Bubbling Well, which was within five minutes' walk. ('The proposed site is off the Sicawei road).
Mr. Bredon asked as to the access to the land.
Mr. Bland said there were two ways of approach and the access was good.
Mr. Bredon also asked if the ground lay high or low.
Mr. Bland replied that the land was high and would require no raising to speak of.
Mr. E. S. Little thought it difficult for the meeting to form an opinion with such small knowledge. He therefore moved: "That it be left to the Committee to acquire a site for a recreation ground and do what is necessary."
Mr. J. L. Scott seconded and the motion was carried.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.