Hongkong, Apr. 28, Rumours prevalent recently to the effect that he was engaged in discussions aimed at securing peace between China and Japan, were scotched by the British Ambassador, Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, following his arrival here this morning from Hankow. The Ambassador told newspapermen that such aports were completely without foundation, nor, he said, was there any proposal for peace discussions in the fulure so far as he was concerned. Sir Archibald completed his return journey from Hankow at 8.30 this. morning. The coach in which he and his party travelled was unhooked and hitched onto another train at the junction of the-Canton~ Hankow and Canton-Kowloon Railways. This meant that they came here direct from Hankow instead of passing through ly cut off, the people would not be lott in darkness, Some enterprising tinsmiths have been making and selling vegetable ai Iamps, which give fair ly good light, though they have no Jchimneys. "This part of the country produces' an almost unlimited quantity of bean all and peanut all.
'Telegrams are sent from Sutsien to JShanghal, vin Hongkong, the time of delivery being altogether uncertain. 'Sometimes unexpected speed developed. 'A few weeks since, a telegram was sent from Kuling' /Sutoien, and the reply reached Kuling, within eight hours for the round trip, On the other hand, some telegrams Feqitire ten days to make the journey Jone way.
Mail is slowly coming through from Shanghai. Letters are said to come via Nantungchow and Twingkiangp, in ton to 20 days. Other classes of mail from Shanghai come via Hongkong, Wankow, Chengchow, ete Jone to two months. Of course this There is no rock surface between this place and Tsinkiangpu, Prices on bus and launch lines are higher now than formerly, it costs $8.90 to ide 160 miles. The buses are always crowded to suffocation, and frequent some of those who wish to ride fail to get on, Many of the pas sengers are soldiers or emeers. On frosty mornings, very fow of the buses will start without being towed oF pushed. Tt seems to be customary for each terminal station to keep on hand one machine which can be slarted by man power, then it takes the other machines in tow, one by tone, and starts. them, Sometimes, when a bus stops along the way, must wait for a military truck' to come along and start it, by pushing towing. "This plan of operation is reasonably satisfactory, unless some of the passengers should happen to be in a hurry,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.