Pakhoi, March 31.
The Commissioner of Customs, Mr. D. Percebois, has retired under the age limit, after 44 years in the service, He was the recipient of presentations from the merchants and staff, and was given a well-attended "cracker" send off on Monday last. Mr. H. Logan Russell, from Kowloon, is his successor.
Tt appears as if the reign of the two Wongs is drawing to a close so far as this district is concerned. They have been appointed to different centres on the Kuangsi border, Rumours of an invasion from Kuangsi continue current, but, so far, without anything substantial behind them. We have also been assured for some time past that Chan King-kwong, the younger brother of Chan King-ming, Civil Governor of Canton, to take charge of this district with the title of "Reorganizer." He is to be supported by five ving of soldiers.
'Two days ago 1,000 well-equipped men under Wong Ming-tong marched through the town to visit the graves of eleven of their "brothers" who were ''barbarously murdered' by Kuangsi: troops last year. This is the second of such visits to keep the dead in memory. When the Kuangsi men do come they will receive a warm welcome from these troops at least. be agreed in believing that the national receipts in the Budget are altogether overestimated. The business depression, they say, is showing no sign of improvement and it is feared that little improvement can be expected during the veir. In these circumstances the only course open to the Government will be to postpone naval building, which is the largest item of expenditure in the Budget. Even in railway administration, which is productive, a considerable curtailment in expenditure is understood to be already under contemplation, which might result in reduction of the staff. ful. Chefoo was beaten by an eleven from H.M.S. Magnolia but in the contests with Weihaiwei, the local eleven secured the honours, In the matches between the Settlement and the School the latter have not as many victories to their credit. as their opponents have, but alt the games have been excellently contested and despite the fact that the two teams have turned out most of the Saturday afternoons, there have always been a good number of spectators present to see them play. Thus it would appear that interest in these matches still keeps up. This last season the Settlement played an eleven of the "Old Boys" of the English speak. ing school at Temple Hill for Chinese. "The latter were completely outplayed and in the one match which took place, the Chiness were beaten by six clear goals.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.