We have had a month of sunshine by day and cold by night, almost ideal conditions for the journeys involved in settling accounts, and in getting ready to pass the lunar year, oF spring festival. Now, workers and apprentices with bedding on their shoulders can be seen pouring Into the town from all directions to prepare for opening of business on the Bth of the moon. However. much hit by the depression, a brave show will be made and a cheerful demeanour exhibited, The reports of the Foster Hospital in Chowtsun, and of the Branch Hospital at Tsingchowfu have been published, showing higher figures both for out-patients and in-patients, than have ever been previously recorded. Some progress has been made with the project for the Leper Hospital in Teingchowtu.
Having had one good fall of snow, the prospects are encouraging for the spring wheat, but your correspondent must reserve news of the country districts li there has been time to go out and gather the same.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.