A large fire broke out in southern Pootung on Wednesday night—seon by the Central station watch tower—and burned fiercely for more than two hours. According to the reports the area burned over covered several acres, but whether there was any loss of life or not is unknown, The vicinity destroyed was" villages " composed of straw Waust Capt. E. 1. M. Barrett and several senior officers of the Police, and Capt. J. Gordon Dyson, and other officers of the Fire Brigade, stopped their ears, Chinese la the neighbourhood of the Central Fire Station on Monday afternoon went into raptures over the terrific noise created by a diminutive syren, which, in corshination with coloured lights, it has been suggested might be installed in shops and houses as fire and burglar alarm. A hidden switch easily could be operated and the nearest policeman thus informed of trouble, always provided, of course, burglars had not taken the precaution beforehand of cutting the wires. ited without permission.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.