From Our Own Correspondent, Chinkiang, Jan. 26.
There is quite a little public spirit being manifested in Chinkiang at this time. A conservancy board known as the "Shang fuh shui li icw chin wei nen hiei™ (REGKAPAAA ®—has been formed; with an office opened in the Chinese Chamber of Commerce building. The object of the new board is to seek ways and means of dealing with the situation arising from the sand bank left in front of the bund, due to the ceding river. There is a creek running right through the bank which is navigable for Chinese craft, and this could be dredged and kept open, Another new movement is the formation of a citizen force of volunteers known as the "Shang ten" 7 (J) The force is formed with employees from the large business firms in the city. The men look very smart in their palla-blue cloth uniform, trimmed with gold braid. Lately there have been quite a number of calls upon the local fire brigade, and they have done some good work in dealing with fires.
Golden Island, which at one time was.surrounded by deep water, so that large ships could another near by, is now a high solitary mound far removed from the river.
Welcome rain and snow have now fallen, and the ground is covered several inches deep with snow. The farmers are pk, as this will give good prospects for the wheat harvest.
H.M.S. Gnat has just paid a visit to our port, and quite a number of social functions were arranged for the entertainment of the men.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.