It is noteworthy on the eve of New Year in China that there are no indications in the Colony that the Chinese are desperately put to it to close their isccounts, Only ove small ire been heard of, piece goods firm having failed a few weeks ago for about three lakhs of dollars, And not " single fire has been reported during the past few weeks.
There is a quist confidence in Chinese business circles that trade is improving. generally,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.