Hankow, Sept. 8.
The Shanghai Cinema Theatre situated in the S.A.D. No. 2. and Chinese owned, was closed for several days by order of the local Authorities on account of a fracas which occurred there on the evening lof August 30, when three minor loficials of the local Gendarmerie Headquarters were roughly handled lby the ticket collectors of the theatre. It appears that these three gentlemen arrived at the theatre for ithe 7 o'clock show, and according to the ticket collectors, tried to gain entrance without paying, and refri jed to show their badges which ap-[parently would have been sufficient to give them admission, As they tried to force their way the collectors, assisted by some lof the ushers, forcibly ejected them, and a free fight started, With police interference, they were all taken to the police station, where the three loficials told an entirely different They said that while one of their Jnumber was purchasing the tickets fat the box office, they attempted to make their way into the theatre, bat were stopped in a very abrupt manner by the collectors, The one who purchased the tickets "then walked over and showed his ticket but instead of allowing them pass, he was seized and. badly beaten, before being thrown out into the street with his two companion: }AS a result of this rough handling two of them were Laid up for several As this latter story was accepted the authorities, the collectors and other employees of the theatre were Jodged in jail, and to the present
volved in the first' scrimmage are time, the salleters who were in still there, the others being allowed to go free, From a neutral point of view, the [Shanghai Theatre and staff have this, isthe any unpleasant risen, and it would appear hat if the local offciais are allowed free entrance, the story of buying tickets seems on the face of it rather contrary to facts, especially is @ common eceurrance for patrons to be allowed to proceed into the theatre, while one of the party purchases the tickets, It can mo doubt put down to that little feeling of self importance that overwhelms some of the officials in small places, Lightaing Postal Strike For some months past, the loc postal employees have beer ting to have. their request. for. recognition of the Union they wish to will be fourteen storeys high. One that will vise ight storeys above the street is lveady in process. of cone struction, though 1 felon the north Bund, close to the corner where building lot cot a great arm sanctioned but Nanking, have always turned them down. On Tuesday afternoon a lightning strike was lealled, and lasted for nearly' two fours, Ail' doors were closed and Hecked, "and nobody was allowed either to enter or leave the building. [Wien news of the strike reached the authorities, armed police from the $.A.D. 2, and some soldiers from the "local garrison' headquarters, were sent to the scene, and posted on lenard outside the building. Meanwhile. the Postal. Commissioner in fan interview with the leaders in-{formed them that he could do. nothing without sanction from Nankings sent, asking. for this" recognition, An urgent telegram was then
fand" pending the reply, the ployees were persuaded to return their work, as it was pointed out that they were interfering with the public, and that this would not do hem any good. ince been received that the Union T understand that a reply has is not to. be. sanctioned, and thet every precaution is to be taken avoid "undue disturbances on' acfount of this decision.
'The water question is still a very sore point here, the pressure getting more and more inadequate, and the colour on & par with the' Yangtze with no signs of filtration evident. The Waterworks ever ready with excuses, blame' the "continuous freshets down the Han which have brought "down an "extraordinary amount of silt, which has over= helmed "their sedimentation "and filtering plants, They also blame the non-delivery of two new pumps for the low pressure, but after many promises they have at last informed the public that these pumps are now being. installed, and in a few days all will be well, It is certainly to be will be, as the water ques been serious one for sev years, and not months, as the Waterworks' would tead one to belove.
It has been many times suggested that the Ratepayers of the S: A.D3- fne that body: for breach of con: tract, so that if the case were won, this "body in turn could" sue Waterworks with a certainty of successful issue.
'The last few days have been very warm again, and the people who have been simmering im the. Hills feeling it very much, However there is one thing' to comfort them, fand that is they have reasonably coat nights, with the consolation that it cannot last, long at the pre-fent temperature during the day.
Tennis at the Club is getting into stride, and competitions are in, full swing' again, Already Hong Chartered Bank pair beating Ewo. Doubles n decided, the Jone time anticipated, it looks as though we shall have it the other jway round, and a very low level,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.