Another improvement recently made is in the electric light, ° The local company serves a large district, Dut it has always been in dimculties, and has passed from the control of tone private company to another, each of whom has in turn failed, and none of whom have been able to pay any Gividend to their shareholders. This was because very few of the consumers paid their bills, For instance, fon presenting a bill for $200 at the yamen, the collector was given $20, and told that was all' that was forthcoming. Now. the government has taken over the electric system. 'The charge Is 32 cents a unit, but to those who pay their monthly' account before the Sth, it is reduced to 30 cents. For consumers of more than 1,000 units per month, a reduction of 50 per cent. is made. "With the authori-of the government behind the com-any, the bills are being paid prompt ly even by the Municipal and military authorities, and instead of a deficit, the company is able to show pronts which should run into $20,000 a year.
The motor road from Foochow is now In good condition in, spite of much rain, The worst section, that which passes through the market town of Hanchiang is now being resurfaced, and a new stone road Is being made, Unfortunately it has not been thought possible to broaden the road, which is only about 20 feet in width and winds. frequently. Tt is a busy. street, with shops on either side; rickshaws and stationary lorries often block the way, pede nans and load-bearers throng the road; sometimes an open-air theatre plays at a corner' and the crowd extends into the main road, As may be Imagined, motorists find it dimeult to get along.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.