The interest taken in the 8, V. C., an interest which has grown considerably of late owing very largely to the laudable efforts of Major Watson and Major Keswick, was well indicated by the fact that, large as the Town Hall is, it was filled last night by the Volunteers and their friends on the occasion of the anonol Prize Distribution and Concert. The hall was very handsomely decorated with bamboos and flags and trophies of arms, and at the west end a platform was erected with a sounding-board over it, and a piano on it, and defences in the ape of two Maxim guns, lest the public should be uncontrollably tempted by the gorgeous display of silverware on the The Town Band having played admirably a selection of national airs in the east gallery, Mrs, Keswick, who bad kindly undertaken to double the value of the prizes by personally presenting them tothe well-deserving winners, came on the platform attended by Major Watson, the Chief, with Mrs, Landal '8 selection of: member of the Municipal Council, with the Chairman and Civil Commandant, Mr. Anderson, and the Volunteer staff. The prizes themselves consisted of trophies of the art of the Chinese silversmith, from an enormous loving-cup, through kettles and tan-hards, to models of jioricshas with moveable wheels, and napkin rings. As the adjutant, Captain Collyer, read out the names, each winner came up to the platform, saluted (nearly always), and roceived his prize or prizes with a fow graceful and cherished words from Mrs, Keswick, Mr. Anderson having open the procoedinzs with a long and for oration in which he pointed out how ti Corps bad increased in numbers since Inst year, but how it was atill far below the strength which the present popula-ion of Shanghai should provide. Wh the precious gifts had all been distri-
Ienightarrast ends in simply added misery of. and grosser injustice. If he succeeds in The Empress Dowager's Proposed buted, Major Watson in a neat speech thanked Mra. Keawisk for her great kind-rescuing an appre-8.d man, he finds to his horror and lisgus: that he has succeeded in turning him into an oppressor.
Professor Jenks says most truthfully in his closing paragraph: The question is one of very great complexity, and, owing to the treaties with the Powers, of very great difficalty." could wish from the bottom of my heart that the t-oaties had never mentioned religious matters. Twould willingly face all the disabilities that would come from the enmity of the Chinese officials, if only we could be freed from the disabilities that have come from the friend lin-s of those who made the trouties, We may have been swivel from many of the 1 diffical'ies that have een experienced by our fellow-missinntries la Jabin; we have been equally saved from achieving a success in China comparable to that which they seem to be ming in J Nothing more fatal to the spirit in which the apostles started and carried on their Sionary work could be imagined than poisoned atmosphere of Chinese law-courts. Te would have been " blessing in disgui if the entree to those Courts had Mausoleum.
Work on the proposed - mausoleum, west of Peking, designated "the Happy Land of a Myriad Years," which had been stopped on account of the Boxer War of '1900, is to be resumed with the beginning of the Chinese New Year. It is stated that no less a sum than five million taels has already been expended and that only the "finishing touches" are needed, for which something like Tls. 100,000 will have to be apportioned by the Board of Revenue. - It is further stated that the: Empress Dowager is feeling the weight of bor years, and is therefore anxious to have her last resting-place made ready for her before she is "invited to become guest of Heaven." i ramour in the Palaces, which our native correspondent in Peking considers to be more than likely of fulfilment, that his Imperial Majesty Kuang Hsii is to be allowed once more to hold the reins of
Aunt secks rest and leisure at Eho Park Government, next Spring, while hi aged ness in undertaking the duty she had so ably and courteously fulfilled, and then jor Keswick, in vigorous and soldi rly speech, returned thanks for his and impressed upon the Indies of Shanghai that it rested with them to ensure that the men of Shanghai did not rust inglorious. With three cheers and tiger proposed by Major Watson and most enthusiastically given to Mrs. Kos-wick by the Volunteers present, this part of the proceedings terminated.
The platform was then rapidly cleared, the Maxims wheeled down the steps, the table removed to one side, the bamboos uprooted that masked iano; and after a well-played selection by the Town Band from the Geisha," the audience settled itself down to the enjoyment of the following programme 1. Tae Cauenoon. Guarp Ge 2. Sose—The Bandoler"
Lieut. Hay, Maxim Company
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.