Jof the Chinese newspapers have been giving prominence during the past few days to the demand made by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Relies for the expulsion {from China of Sir Aurel Stein, the well-known. archaeologist, who has jearried out a number of important [geographical ang archaeological explorations in Central Asia and West China, Sin Aurel Jot an expedi Sinkiang. is now in charge in the Province of The Society for the Preservation of Ancient Relics has _yetitioned both. the. Nanking Government and the British Legation on the subject. It is reported that the, etition to the Government alleges that Sir Aurel Stein is not only guilty of valuable relies ching Institute of Massachusetts," attacking Young China and the Kuomintang and announced that he could bribe the Sinkiang officials to allow him to carry out his purposes.
It 4, algo alleged that the meeting, after hearing this speech, voted {$1,000,000 for the expenses of the expedition and $25,000 for the bribe ing of the officials.
Tt is understood that the petition Jaent by the Society to the British Legation does not make these charges but deals chiefly with the prevention of the removal of treasures from the country.
It is learned that Sir Aurel Stein, who has made some wonderful discoveries in Sinkiang during the past 30 years, including the famous rock paintings and other most important selentifie treasures formerly lying disregarded in the desert, had much diiculty this year in obtaining permission for his expedition, He, went personally' to Nanking in the Spring and finally obtained the necessary passport. He offered to give an un-[dertaking not to remove any objects. from China without first obtaining the consent of the Government but the Government did not insist upon this Sir Aurel then, went to India entered Sinkiang through Kash-'Owing to the attitude of the Society for the Prose jon of Ancient Relies and other organizations, the British Authorities were urged to stop the expedition. Finally however, all difficulties were removed and the expedition started upon its work in September.
The main object of the expedition this year is to discover the old route of the famous Buddhist monk Hsuan Tsang who, during the Tang Dynasty, penetrated from China as far as North India and the Caspian Sea, although a search is also to be made for more relics, Before leaving India Sir Stein again gave assurances to the Indian Government that ko vould not remove objects from China without the consent of the Chinese Government. He is interested in science for its own sake and has always emphasized that the actual place or Jeountry in which his finds are deposited is a subordinate matter as Tong as the best scientific use can be made of them and genuine discoveries are regarded as all important.
There xcoms to be a possibility now however, in view of the recent agitation that the expedition may have to cease work with consequent loss to the scientific world—Reuter. an orchard at Tumut, N.S.W. a large brown snake was recently seen to mosmerise a mouse on the red soil, near an orange tree. The reptile made a queer hissing noise, with eyes fixed on the mouse, which quivered helplessly. When the snake opened its mouth wide, the mouse ran forward and dived right in, The snake was thereupon killed with a stick, attach wires to this one bulb and carry the current to many others. They estimate that there are one thousand bulbs not being paid for.
The company have appealed for aid but it is a dificult proposition, As a result every one is getting poor light.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.