The Chinese Eastern Railway administration and Board of Directors have finished the drafiing of the new railway budget which will shortly be submitted for ratification to the meeting of shareholders which, it is expected, will take place at Peking some time in May.
Reuter is officially informed that thanks to strict economy and the drastic measures taken to increase the carrying capacity of the railway, as well as the lowering of the freight rate on flour and grain, the Administration of the Chinese Eastern Railway has succeeded sin paying off a portion of tha railway's old debts, namely: 700,000 gold roubles during the month of February, and 1,400,000 during March, and' expects to pay. off approximately 2,000,000 during April. Many large payments fall due in May, which, however, the railway is not likely to be able to pay as the season for exporting grain has passed and exporting business in the coming months is bound to slacken, Consequently the—railway still remains sorely in need of a loan. mice Tae Frencn Desr as Secvrity.
It is understood that the Board has applied to the French Minister at Peking asking him to apply to Paris for confirmation of the re ecegnition of France's debt to the railway and is also prepared to ask the Chinese Government to instruct Chinese Ministers abroad to make representations in the same sense to the interested Powers. The recognition of the debts would serve as a guarantee for the contemplated loan.
The Administration shortly contemplates the reduction of freight rates on coal and timber and believes that when the new budget of the railway is ratified by the shareholders the financial situation will become a great deal A most unusual fish of the "Ray" species, weighing about a ton and a half, was caught by two small fishing boats close to Gap_ Rock, Hongkong, on April 25. It was towed to the rock and with the assistance of the light house derticks they were able to land it. It measured 12 ft. 6 in. from head to the end of its tail and 14 ft. 6 in. across the '"'wings.""
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.