One point in favour of Nanchang as against Nanking—and a not umim= portant one for Chinese governments these days—would be that itis situat away. from the Yangtze, and 80 hot directly accessible to threats from foreign warships. Otherwise, 1 gather that those concerned. that is, 10 say, those who will have to reside there, regard it'ay an even tess desirable Place of residence than Nanking, specially as regards the climate 'This, however, leaves out of account the delightful" hill resort of Kuling which is close by, and to which tired diplomats could retire from the sum: mer heat "and recoup from' their arduous labour Anyhow, whether it is 10 po Nan king. Nanchang or even far-off Sianfu, or the moment it looks as it poor old Peking was to be granted a' further short lease of fife which, after all, 1s vvery much more important 'The building, when completed, will be a fitting background to Statue 'Square, its tower standing out clear to the' view of ships of all nations entering the harbour as a dignified memorial to the world of the importance of the banking corporation to be housed therein.
The first to the seventh floors of the building have been designed as offices for letting. The banking portion of the premises will be the last word in bank design and equipment, being the result of study of the most modern bank. buildings in Canada, America, London, and the Continent of Europe. The whole building will bbe ventilated by a "conditioned air installation", providing ideal conditions of temperature and humidity all the year round, irrespective of external conditions.
The building is being designed by the Shanghai office of Messrs. Palmer and Turner, Mr. G. L. Wilson, FRIBA, Tsi, architect for the Shanghai premises, being responsible for the design of this building also. The organization and direction of the construction programme is in the hands of Messrs. M. H. Logan and Amps, Mat iNst. ce, Chartered Civil Engineers, who have brought out from England a staff of expert Supervisors and special machinery for the purpose.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.