Hangchow, March 22.
It's an ijl wind that blows no body good. On account of the big fire in Shanghai the silk industry here has had a great stimulus and prices have gone up 2 per 100 oz. for raw silk.
The Board of Industry sends a command to the Commissioner ef} Agriculture to make strenuous efforts this year to get the people} all over the province to plant trees at Chingming, pointing out that many of China's sarrows—floods and famine—would be avoided by proper and efficient afforestation.
Our popular tidesurveyor, Mr. Fuber, has been promoted to Canton and leaves today. Mr. A. Oliver becomes acting Tidesurveyor.
Bishop Molony is paying a short visit to Hangchow and arrives today. The Rev. T. Gaunt, the C. M. S. Secretary, and Mrs. Gaunt have just arrived from Ningpo to take up permanent work in Hangchow.
Rain ig falling fast and heavy and clearing the air for Easter visitors of whom there are many coming to Hangchow this week.
March 28.
The visitors to Hangchow this Easter are very many—2 great increase on previous years. The hotels are crowded and many could not find accommodation. Some of} the trains from Shanghai were very crowded and we hear the travelling was anything but pleasant. It is time the 8.H.N.R. were putting on a few new carriages worthy of the name first class, and getting a few new engines with "puff" enough to pull them.
On Easter Day the Lecture Hall was filled with worshippers. The choir of 100 voices trained by Dr. Fitch sang several Easter anthems and hymns with great feeling and effort.
The English service in the hospital chapel was very well attended and the Rev. T. Gaunt preached an appropriate and helpful sermon..
On Saturday afternoon Dr. and Mrs. Duncan Main were "at home" to meet the Rev. and Mrs.
T. Gaunt, who have been transferred from Ningpo to work in the} capital, their original station. Dr. and Mrs. Strange have returned to the Hangchow Hospital after six years war service, and Dr. and Mrs. Watson have joined the staff of the hospital.
The Governor has a min-lin from} Peking saying, as the fall of snow last year was too little and the winter mild, epidemics may be ex-} pected and preventive methods must be made without delay. Those concerned are asked to take note.
The chief assistant from the Japanese Legation in Peking is shortly to visit Hangchow and instructions have been sent ahead for his special protection.
The Industrial College here is forging ahead and yesterday it! goes."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.