Two communications which we publish to-day will leave no doubt. in the mind of the reader as to the seriousness of the floods which have brought ruin to countless people in our neighbouring province of Chekiang. It would almost appear as if every other typhoon which misses Shanghai strikes the Ché- kiang coast with its full force, and then there is havoc. In the past Wenchow has suffered very severely, and now here is the country in the vicinity of Taichow reduced to a deplorable state. The elders of the region have compiled a peculiarly graphic description of the have wrought, and it is not difficult to conjure up a picture of sandbanks thrown up actually within +h~ Chinese houses there. In comparison with many other provinces of Chiao Chekiang is especially well governed, and her rulers take a real and sincere interest in the prosperity of her people. No doubt a great deal has still to be carried out as regards conservancy measures and the like which would minimize the effects of these floods, in fact only the other day General Lu Yung-hsiang protested against the closing of the lotteries because so much remained to be done and they were 2 means of bringing in much needed money. When, however, the works of man are pitted against the ruth-Jess forces of Nature in her wildest moods, as exemplified in typhoons and the like, little can be hoped for. This seems to have been very much the case in eastern Chekiang. and the only thing remaining to be done is to see that whatever funds can be gathered or diverted for the purpose should be used in relief of the unfortunate sufferers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.