From the early part of September done in the circumstances, and he expressed the hope that we would all realize that fact and do what lay in our power to assist.matters by making the best of a bad job. should like to add here that we were fortunate in having Mr. Perry, the Council's solicitor, who had are rived that day, with us at the meeting. Mr. Perry was raise several points interest to the ratepayers and holders in general. It was decided at that meeting that we should study the agreement and a rough draft sion it-no longer became desirable Zor possible—for the Volunteers to Jonetion as a Corps in the previous Jy. accepted sense of the term. The arms and equipment of the Corps were therefore removed from Volun-Yer Headquarters to HM.S. Bee where they remain at present in barge of the Admiral.
Fire Brigade. On returning: from home leave Mr, Hugh Middleton resumed control of the Brigade tut in April intimated that he de-fired to be relieved owing to his} Smpending departure for Shanghai.
Council could not agree and after further correspondence had been dropped.
The Hospital at the moment is fa very difficult position and I feel Council and the Chinese officials may mention that an agreement was signed at the end of June for the demolition of the Boundary Wall at the rear of the Concession. The removal of this wall had been' for purposes of record I must, at] under discussion for some consider-all events in part, repeat what 1 able time and its demolition removed said you at the informal meeting what always must have been an of ratepayers on the 8th instant. eyesore and a useless barricade, and As. you it was hoped that with the improved Hospital o¥ access to the area behind the Con voluntary subscriptions from for-cession that area would have con-eigners assisted grants from the tamed to develop on modern lines British, Russi rreneh, and Ger-to the mutual benefit of that area until the end of the year there were almost daily incidents arising from breaches of cur Regulations by the new comers. Naturally these- were] excused on the score of ignorance but it quickly became apparent that the constant non-observance of Reculations were intent al. Con-th inued protests to H. M. Consul] Ge general, at first reasonably effective, soon became utterly useless, Chinese Authority being prepared to deal with the various matters We persevered, however, hoping.against hope. that of the regulations which Mr. O'Mal~ ley handed us, and prepare a memorandum on the various items of especial interest on which we considered we should like a little more explanation.
These items wore dealt with ede lee tively under the headings 1. Properties, of the British Municipal Council, 2. The Council's liability to Dee venture Holders.
3. Its Contraetual liabilities and the memorandum, was prepared and placed before " meeting of the (0. Nicholson then assumed
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.