The number of Russian employees in the former Chinese Eastern Railway is growing larger and, it is rumoured, a special Russian department may even be formed. Russian specialists are'not only being once more taken on, but those who were employed by the company in the past are being promoted to higher posts.
Mr. A. F. Katzienko, former manager of the Ussury Railway in Vladivostok, has been recently appointed adviser to the Administrative Board of all railways in Manchoukuo, thus placing him in the highest post occupied by a Russian in that country.
A union of civic engineers, builders and architects has been organized by the city's Municipality, entrance into which is open. to all nationalities. The union must by mutual exchange of information raise the standard of Harbin's buildings and generally ce-operate in upholding the city's well-being.
Local authorities are taking part in lowering the price of wheat. At the beginning of March wheat cost 1040 gobi per picul but towards the erd of the month fell to 9.40 gobi per picul. Prices for büilding material, however, rose altogether by 15 per cent, constituting a rise of 40 to 50 per cent. on prices of last year.
A limited company with Japanese capital which will supply local residents with artificial ice was formed. here a short time ago. The factory will be built between the Sungari Wharf and the 8th District, and will cost 600,000 to build, promising to be the last word in technical achievement. Whereas Shanghai has for long made use of cheap artificial ice, for Harbin this will be a distinct innovation.
In succession to Mr. R. Guillaume, who has been appointed Belgian Consul-General in Tientsin, Mr. A.
Houyet arrived some time ago to take up his position as head of the Belgian Vice-Consulate in Harbim. Mr. Houyet is no new comer to this city, as in 1935 he was in charge of the local Consulate during the eight months' furlough of the then Consul-General, Mr. A. von Cutsem.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.