The decided change in temperature of the past few days has led to rapid mobilization of winter vocal bularies, overcoats and scarves. Tae cold northern winds came down with somewhat unusual suddenness and force, and have done a useful service in sweeping away that unhappy drizzle which hung over the place on Christmas eve. The week's weather record has been favourable compared with that of last year, chiefly by reason of a decreased rainfall, the figures bf the latter being.10 for this week and.69 for the corresponding week of last year. The consequence has been sunnier days, though the nights have been colder.
For the week ending last Monday the average minimum temperature was 33.8, whilst the average for the same week last year was 34.7. The maximum figures Were 46.8 and 42.7 respectively, this difference being due, as has been pointed out, to absence of rain and consequently a Towest point, 22.9, was registered reater amount of sunshine. The
on Sunday night, while the lowest temperature in December of last year was 24.8 (on the There are sorite who enjoy, the kind of weather we have been having for the past two days. There are probably still more who do not. It is a commonplace that heat and cold are both more severely felt in Shanghai than in many regions of far lower temperature. But at least we may console ourselves that these dusty days and piercing winds are conimonly reputed healthy.
The appearance of sheeted ice on the pavements and in the gutters will suffice to warn householders to watch the water supply, and take the precaution to cover all exposed pipes and turn off the supply at the main at night. The rush of callers on the plumber has not yet begun, but with a continuance of the present frost we may expect to find the town office telephone of the Waterworks Company very busy and already yesterday there were nian frozen pipes.
Awone the passengers who left by the Empress of Russia on was Inspector John Burnside, who is going home on long leave. He received a hearty send off from his colleagues in the C.LD., and was presented with a gold. cigarette case, Sub-Inspector Peck making the presentation, with the best' wishes of the staff at Central Station. ce
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.