We have been so long accustomed to the transaction of the great volume of British postal business in Shanghai through a dingy-looking office, the interior of which probably not one in 500 of the residents of the Settlement have seen, that the erection by the German Government of a building of the thoroughly western type, with all the interior arrangements that would be found in a post office at home, comes almost as a shock of architectural extravagance. However, now that the way has been splendidly shown, and putting out of the question any political motive there may be in the background, we may expect perhaps jame other Governments rising to ties of postal work in the Far The opening of the new building omer of Foochow and Szechuen Monday would seem to mark the beginning of a new epoch in Shanghai as far us postal work is concerned, and may be regarded as dealing the first and vice versa. This, which is the most noricable feature of the arrangements, is not a trace of the bridge, and with th ception of the fannel and the engine and to facilitate sorting, done at the rear of boiler ing the only upper works the screens of boxes, and directly into the loft are four very much scorched ventilaboxes. Also at the rear, ample space is tors and the shell of the cabins on the given for the receiving or making up of port side. The steel stanchions support-mails, while the chief officials and their ing the deck have collapsed, and con-assistants have handsomely furnished, certi letting the deck structure private offices. An adjunct, which oom-hang loosely from the bulwark supports. pletes the resemblance to home post offices erning aft, one finds the donkey-engi is the telegraph office for dispatch of on its side, suspended, and at any momoaaages by the German cable to Tsingment likely to fall from the thin girders on which it is resting.
The private apartments upstairs are on The main deck plating is crumpled and a ingly generous scale, the twisted as if it were so much brown paper. finishing details, in the case not only of Forward it has down seven or the principals but of the clerks who are eight feet, so that there are but few feet to be accommodated in the promises, from the hatch to the bottom of the. being almost Inxurious. There are ample hold. The after portion of the deck has and spacious bedrooms and fine verandahs. not sagged down 80 much, but both for-The whole building is electric-lighted ward and aft many plates have sprung from ite own dynamos, which are placed their rivets, leaving long narrow fissures on the further aide of the yard. There where the plates have come apart. So are electric fans everywhere, and far as can be seen not a vestige of wood-system of steam heating is installed. work has escaped destruction.
Nearly all the wood work is teak, and Coolies were at work carrying away what much of it is elaborately carved, Mr. remained of the cargo of rice, beans, and, Wutsler came out specially from Berlin gr: rain, from the after hold. It to superintend the erection of the build-was all charred and sodden, and emitted a ing, the contract for which was placed most unpleasant odour. The less damaged with his firm, Mosers. Selberg and Schlucportions of the deck were strewn with ter. scraps of iron, cinders and crockery. od attendance at the "Spening ceremony, There was a very large and distinguish-Needless to say there was hardly " trace of paint to be seen in' the interior of the which took place in the open yard. The vessel, though of the Flagship Faret Bismarck and boilers appear to hat was present to give selections while the damage than those of the Tahu company was assembling and afterwards. being scorched, or covered with rust, while Among those who apcopted invitations he 8 are covered with ashes, Curiously were nearly all the members of the Consular Body, Customs officials, enough, the coal bunkers have hardly been touched by the flames and, although the blow at the chit-book and coolie system Pos post office officials, Municipal Council, fire started forward and wan blown right officers of the German id] along the ship of conveying correspondence to and from the m 'o send a coolie to purchase: stamps or fetch letters from the palatial offices, approached through the stately porch at the junction of the roads named, would jseom an incongruity, and on Monday afternoon, long after the departure of the festive crowds who streamed through the whole building in the morn-as quite an air of public and interest on the part of foreign residents ¢ the long semicircular counter of teak, behind which (and not through a series of peepholes into a verandah) business will be done.
The new building, which has been erected from designs by Mr. H. Becker, as architect working in conjunction with Mr. Puche, the Superintendent of German postal business for the whole of China, will serve not only as the Shang-i office, but as the headquarters of the tendent. It is in the which soams 80 suited to the Shanghai climate, is three stories high, with attics above, and has excellent frontages both to Foochow and Szechuen roads. The business entrance, as already mentioned, is at the corner. At the Foochow Road end, another imposing doorway gives admittance to the private apartments on the first and second floors respectively of the China superintendent and the Shanghai post director. At the Szechuen Road end there is a paved archway through which the mail vans can be driven into the spacious courtyard behind.
To complete our description of the general office itself, behind the teak counter already mentioned are series of sorting boxes, each labelled with the name of well-known Shanghai firms. The boxes are opened and closed by a series of sliding shutters, so arranged that when the boxes are open to the front of the office, they are closed debit Austrian vessels in port, besides ladies, and a very representative ing of Germans. The programme was simple but effective. First M. Puche welcomed the visitors, sketched the growth of postal activity between Germany and China, and entered into an account of the steps by which the building of the new office has been brought about and completed. Mr. A, Korff as representing the business community added a few words, and finally Mr, von der Hoyd (Vice-Consul) in the absence of Dr. Knappe, directed attention to the larger imperial issues. Three cheers were given for his Majesty the Kaiser, and then the company adjourned to inspect the Premises and receive the hospitable attentions of Mr. Puche, Mr. Walker, and their respective staffs.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.