Lo the Eiitor of the "Nonra-Carsa Daty News."
Sm,—Will you kindly give me space in your valuable paper to ventilate a grief vance I refer to the absence of waiting rooms on the hulks at the n ports.
As a constant traveller between the ports I have frequently to get off and on steamers at all hours of the night. sometimes @ steamer that is due at ten o'clock at night doesn't arrive till three in the morning. All that time I spend on the hulk either in the inside breathing the varied smells of opium fumes and other Chinese perfumery, or outside where if ther ill some of the opium fumes there is less of the "ther perfumery." On a cold night it isa problem to know which of the two is the worse—the smells of the Chinese or the cold winds.
Why in the name of humanity cannot there be a little room fitted up where foreigners can go in avd shat out the cold and the odours? It would cost the different companies only a trifle and would prevent many an attack of bronchitis "and rheumatism, and: in some cases save lives. The rates charged foreigners are, I think, high enough to warrant such a small expeniliture to prevent such a discomfort. Perhaps the subject has never been suggested to those 'FE there were Astor Houses or Kalees at the different ports on the Bunds near the hulks, there would be jess occasion for complaint. But the man is considered lucky who has some friend ashore who will put him up" and keep a look out for the steamer. The average man hasn't this, But not only have visitors to put up with these inconveniences. I have seen residents of port in just as bad fix as the traveller. It is no uncommon occurrence to seo a, family—father, mother, and children—having to huddle together in some unswept room which the Chinese hulk-keeper out of pity has improvised for their shelter. Why'cannot the companies provide a clean waiting-room with a few chairs and heating arrangements for saloon passer, Lam, ete,, 27th November.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.