About two years ago, the Kaiming Company undertook the development of the old execution ground, or "Kiumowli," the "Land of the Nine Mow" and a Chinese theatre, designed on the most modern and improved times and blocks of fine, well ventilated shops were bui Unfortunately, not many days after the China New Year holidays of last year, ire broke out at a restaurant adjoining the theatre, resulting in the total destruction of the theatre and many of the new shops, The Company, however, decided not to be baulked of its original enterprise with its double purpose of developing the dreary and waste piece of ground into a business centre, and of improving the general welfare of Chinese residents in the city. It has succeeded splendidly thanks to ite energetic and resourceful manager, Mr. Yao Tseng-hsiang. The theatre has been rebuilt, as well as the shops that were gutted. The opening ceremonies took place on China New Year Day when a large number of guests attended, The house was packed, many late arrivals having to turn back for want of even standing room. The programme was very simple. The presentation of two or three plays of the usual Chinese type was followed by three addresses delivered by Mr. Yao, the Manager, Mr. Moh Shu-tsai and Mr. Mow Tse-chien of the gentry, and wound up by the performance of more Chinese plays. Everything in the theatre is brand new. The capital of the Company is said to amount to a lakh and a half; and its ambition is to be recognized by posterity as the pioneer reformer of the city. Among the guests were Admiral Tseng Ju-cheng and Taoyin Yang-cheng. fron
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.