The Assembly in Session From Our Own Correspondent, Hangchow, Oct. 29.
Previous meetings of the Prov-u. cial Assembly, not showing a sufficient number of members, the Governor deferred his formal opening visit to yesterday. At 10 a.m. a goodly array of the higher officials put in an appearance. These included the two Governot Treasurer, Educational Commis: sioner, the City Magistrate and representative of the Local Govern. ment Board. The usual ceremonies of bell-ringing, conduct by ushers of the guests to their seats and the time-honoured "three kow-tows'" having been observed the Assembly settled down to business. In his official introductory "few remarks" the Civil Governor paid a tribute to the usefulness of such an Assembly. A very amicable tone pervaded the place throughout the three hours' session. Both President and Governor being Chekiang men one member was bold enough to prophesy a season of unbroken amity. He looked for measures calculated to. prosper their province to be discussed and passed in a spirit of altruism such as the President in his opening speech had invoked.
It augurs well that the relationship between Governor and_President is of the best kind. Indeed, if we were justified through past experience in relying on first day prognostications the coming session will reform the province in every direction! The measures, however, to be brought forward at least show that the minds of men are working along right lines. The first of these is the abolition of the lottery system for raising public funds. This ought to give great encouragement to the members, Chinese and foreign, of the Union Evangelistic Committee who so energetically conducted a campaign of inquiry, resulting in such figures as to startle the legal authorities into action during the earlier part of the year. The question of the abolition of the Tuchun ate also finds a place, the Kiangsu tragedy being brought forward as indicating a strong argument for its worse. than uselessness. Provincial military must be reduced if the squabbles of the South are to be kept from our doors. The one must go with the other. The question of Shanmunwan was laid on the table for another meeting when more time could be given to such an important matter.
The appearance of a "mandarin" given office last year nearly caused a fracas; the offending member being asked to withdraw; this being a People's gathering.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.