The provincial map issued by the club will be replaced in the course of the next few weeks by a new one which will be considerably more accurate, besides embodying _addi-tonal information. The Club Hand. book for 1998 contains a good deal of valuable information, particularly connection with logs of new ronds opened to motorists, The Chapoo Club House T now come to a matter whiely has proved a source of considerable anxiety 0 your committee during the past year, I refer to the proposed hew Club House at Chapoo in whicn 8 fairly important proportion of the club's surplus funds has been invested. "Our President, General Wu Te-chen, has lent his powerful support to the representations which your committee have submitted on the subject to the various interested authorities; we have even gone s0 far as to address Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek direct on the matter; the club's petition was placed in the hands of General Chiang Kal-shek by one of the club's officials, and your committee received an autographed ceply, but we have been Informed that until lucky time as the Your committee have presented 3 claim through the club's lawyer 0 the Chekiang. provincial authorities, bout s0 far no reply has been received, and 1 might mention here that the amounts outsiahding in connec-lon with the construction of the club buildings and fencing have been in-eluded in the claim which has been submitted. The amount outstanding for fencing is $2,100, which your committee contracted for but which has net been erected up 10 the present. There is a further claim for $1.246 for steel windows and doors, also not erected, Both the fencing and the windows and doors remain in Shanghai and have not been taken to the site The contractors for the building have submitted a claim for $9276, but this sum includes profit due on completion of the job amounting to $1,950 and all materials at present on the site in addition to the buildings so fae completed, and the mount submitted Is, therefore, subject to very considerable amendment. Your com: mittee are frequently asked what they intend to de in the matter and it Would seem that patience is their only course We are satisfied that the hills will eventually be thrown open to the public and that we shall be able to enjoy the use of our property, but for the time being @ deadlock exists. Your committee is using every endeavour in the matter and no channel left untried to bring about a solution of the impasse.
As regards the trafic problem in Shanghai much could be said by me on this point, bu, it appears an al most entirely' hopeless proposition. Two years ago we delegated our secretary to the Shanghai Municipal Council, "Trafic Committee, but it would ' seem that red tape and Dureaucratiem militate considerably against any important constructive ideas being put into force. The same applies 0 the French Concession.
The chairman's references to Chapoo provoked some discussion and members put forward various ssu gestions for dealing with the matter. One of the suggestions, was that the club should have a club room and service station in Shanghai. This was referred {0 the in-coming committee for consideration.
The following were then elected to serve on the committee for the com bert, L. Kadoorie, K. Kuroda, F.
MeBain, Yui Ming, Tsuyee Pei, Mtis A. Viola Smith, Mr. H. Tlefenbacher, Dr. Chengting 'T. Wang, Dr. Man Wong, Messrs. Y. C. Woo, 8. ¥. Yeh, and 0. K. Yul.
The thanks of the club to the [chairman, the retiring committee, and the secretaries were expressed by Mr. C. C. Newson and unanimously Jendorsed before the meeting adjourned, fortifications at Chapoo have been completed the club will not be permitted to resume building operations, nor will it be possible for members to make use of the club property in any way.
We have been informed from time to time that certain portions of the hillls are about to be opened to the public, but 40 for T can only slate that the military authorities occupy-Ing the hills have recently become more strict, and whilst we were for time able to visit our property for the purpose of inspection we are now not permitted into the hills at all, though the contractors' two water men are still on the premises.
Many reasons, official and unofficial, have been given for the action of the authorities in closing this area to the public, but no object can be gained by my going into details. "Suffice it to say that whilst no fortifications have been construct-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.