Authorities Effect Striking Hankow Intent on Suppression:
Transformation Licences Issued Fro A Conassrosvenr Frost Ov Ows Connesronoest Macao, Sept. 30.
Almost'a year has elapsed since a disastrous tige took place among the matshed homes of thousands of the poorest classes at Macao, and) where the burnt-out homes of these} miserable people stood there may now be seen hundreds of respectable, clean homes of bricks and stone. The transformation has been brought about by the solicitude displayed by the Portuguese authorities at Maeno. The Portuguese Government handed over the sites for the new homes, raised the level: of the land by several feet, provided for suitable drainage, and contributed the sum of $40,000 to a fund raised for the purpose of building, the new homes. Other contributions were received mainly through the efforts of Mme. Tamagnini Barbosa and a number of willing helpers among the Chinese residents of the colony.
The shacks that occupied the site before the conflagration took place had been put up mainly by Chinese refugees from districts close to Macao, victims of bandits and Red persecution for some years. To their numbers were added many more who had lost their homes in Hankow, Oct. 3.
The Bureau of Social Affairs has issued another notice with regard to soothsayers, fortune-tellers, and' soon, It finds that, despite all previous warnings, there are still 3000 persons pursuing these avocations. "They disappeared for a tinie, but recently they have set out the tables and interviewed their clients as of old. The bureau fulminates against the credulity of the people and the fraudulence of the sooth-avers, and it declares that drastic! steps must now be taken to save tke people from such deceit.
So, within this current month, sil who wish to practise these arts must apply for licences. If approved by the police, they will be badge which must be worn and a licence which must be shown on dewand by the police.. These licences will only be valid for one year and will not be renewed. All apprentices! must be dismissed within three! months. Blind men and those over 50 years of age without adult sons will be provided for in some way Fefore the licences expire, but the xest_must make arrangements to pursue some other business. fire which had broken out some years previously on the slopes of a hill behind the ruins of St.
Paul's Church, and others who had to be removed when it became
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.