Governor of Chekling Province, passed through here, a day or so ago, by private motor. "It is understood that he has been changed or has re~ i and is now on his way to Germany—also that Mr. Wong, his Immediate predecessor has been re= appointed Governor, The writer has just returned from a. trip down stream, as for as Lishul. The populace in that section seem much more apprehensive than the people this way. In fact the greater majority fled from the city fearing fan attack from the Japanese planes, fand preparations were being made in the city to quarter many. soldiers, presumably retreating before the ad= vance of the Japanese along the Hangchow-Kingwha Railway. With such rainy, cloudy weather there' is rot much to be feared from th specially in such a mountaino fof the country. 'The authorities bent on making the people alr~ minded, at least in a defensive way, walls have been blackened, dugouts built, bridges camouflaged, and by-passes' built along the motor road. near the larger bridges. The temple bells are also silent being rung only as a warning of an alt Preparations for China New Year The Now Year approaches and the people are in the midst of their preparations, many pigs are making the supreme sacrifice, the cake, candy land fire cracker merchant the briskest business of the Jeach family is busy preparing the equivalent of our Christmas cake, of pudding, Kou, as it Is called here, 12 preparation of a species of very gvtinous rice. But it would seem that Now Year will be rather quiet this year owing to the poor business conditions prevailing.
The prosperity of this portion of the province depends on the export of lumber, tung all, dried edible bamboo and mushroomé, Naturally the blockade of the Chinese coast by the Japanese, has put an almost complete stop fo all shipping, with a subsequent, falling off of prices and business. Tung of, for example which was bringing " price of more than $50 per 100 1b,, dropped to round $16, and to date has recovered to about $30, The lumber business has been at a complete standstill for several months. The cessation of hostilities at Shanghai produced a market for the bamboo, but with only one boat 9 week from Wenchow shipping conditions were far from
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.