Hangchow, April 6.
The Student Famine Relief Drive Was not after all as successful as I thought it would be: only $2,400 was sent North. Every little helps I suppose.
The Fire Brigade is to meet on the 20th of the 3rd moon to do three things:—clect a chairman, discuss the erection of another fire alarm signal station at the North Gate and to amend the rules and regulations.
The Gentry from the 11 counties who refused to elect a member for the Peking parliament propose to form a "Provincial manage their own affairs Society'? with membership open to all! Li Tszechin has been appointed to draw up rules and regulations.
The Chief Magistrate. realizing the importance of the silk industry, has had a large supply of posters printed in simple mandarin that all can understand sent throughout the silkworm and mulberry cultivation districts to impress upon the farmers and others the great importance to China of increasing her silk trade.
On the with instant there is be an examination held at the Law Courts for all official superintendents of prisons throughout the Province. This, I suppose, is one of the first steps toward the abolition of extraterritoriality.
The Chamber of Commerce has been instructed by the Minister of the Board of Trade to make known the importance of traders sending exhibits to the Holland Exhibition this year, either direct or through the Peking Holland Ca. The opportunity is not to be lost.
April 8.
The Commissioner of Finance had a meeting on the 6th instant with the principal representatives of trade, education, and police regarding the budget, and the result was that expenses must be cut down very considerably. Local Government expenses must be reduced $200,000, Government industries $100,000, and educational institutions $70,000.
To-day the Educational Association is to discuss ways and means of carrying on the big Normal School which is to be transferred from Nanking to Hangchow.
On Wednesday evening at the boundary between Yuhang and Fuyang at a place called Suntsonglin the thunder storm is said to have done much harm: the earth opened up with a tremendous road and volumes of water poured out flooding the surrounding dis trict and causing great distress.
April 9.
The President _has sent a military official, Chang Yah-yien, for some important business in connexion with the Tuchun. He arrived yes terday and is staying in the Woo Ping Hotel.
Kang Vu-wei in company with a Mr. Van has also arrived and is living in his country cottage at Tinchashan near the West Lake.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.