Pros Shaohsing, Oct. 28.
Just a week ago we had a very: large fire at one of the principal vegetable cil hongs outside the West Gate, Although the premises were situated on the side of a canal the place was completely gutted, It appears the employees had just retired for the night, but soon after the-fire alarm was raised and attempt was made to rescue the buffalo which were kept there for rinding purposes; eighteen were and of that number a dozen were rescued, Tt is estimated that the owners' losses amount to $30,000, Now that the city has purchased modern fire engine for $5,000, it is, hoped such fires will be less' common in future, The street widening is still taki place in the main part of the city; Many fine shops have been erected which would do credit to a larger The proprietors are realizing the value of massive buildings as bait to good business. One struck with the appeal that Engl makes to them as an additional adornment and attraction on their signboards, The Reconstruction Bureau and the Public Property Trustees have had joint meetings lately, and have agreed to demolish the south wall of the city. A new bridge of local cut stone has been completed out-the South Gate and an entrance for it cut through the city. wall. Once a breach was made in it, op-Position to further inroads could not well be made; so now the authorities have decided to sc'l suitable sections of the wall to the On every side one hears how food the rice crop has been and also falling prices as the later crops are been reaped. Some varieties are a3 low as $850 a load. Yet good crops do not mean contentment everywhere. Our local press almost daily tells of the ravages of 6 which are terrorizing the country people. o-lay's paper mentions the trail of misery left by these bands in the county of Hsin T'sang.' Well known Leaders have come forward and raised their standards and are calling for recruits. Lavish promises are made and so the movoment spreads with its appeal to all low in man, Last month the writer mentioned the ease of a Chuki country farmer who had fallen into the hands one of these bandit parties. The man was kept in captivity for, twenty five days Messengers were sent to the home and told where to go in order to discuss terms of release. They soon found out that over $3,000 were demanded. Such Jargo'sum could not be provided by the family; so alter many go-betweens had done their best the jctim was released on payment of. a third of the amount, He was told to consider himself Tucky as many, others had to pay large sums than those first agreed upon for their release. The prisoner was kept for the whole period in a locked rice bin, with the eyes blind folded end wax filling his ears lest ha should recognize the voices of his guard. This is said not to be an isolated act. but something that is most common over larger areas in the province,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.