The residents of 110 Chinese houses in two lanes facing Vu Yuen Road, but actually situated in "Ta Tao" territory, were taken aback when Japanese gendarmes placed posters in both alleyways on Saturday afternoon prohibiting anyone from moving in or out. The terraces in question are the Chung Shi New village and the Sih Min Villa, situated opposite each other 100 yards west of the Public School for Girls on Vu Yuen Road and, as far as could be ascertained, the Sih Min Villa belongs to the Sih Min Banking Corporation whilst the other block of houses is the property of the Chinese National Industrial Bank.
Yesterday morning, Japanese gendarmes again appeared on the two properties, presumably with a view to ascertaining that their order of the previous day had not been disobeyed. As usual, a number of C.P. C.s were on duty outside the alleyways on Vu Yuen Road.
Whilst officially nothing could be learned regarding the purpose of the posters, one theory has it that the Japanese authorities, considering the property of a Chinese bank as that of the Chinese National Government, have the intention either of collecting the rents or of confiscating the properties "altogether, whilst another version, which was given more credence yesterday evening, has it that the "Ta Tao" authorities intend to collect taxes from the tenants of these buildings notwithstanding the fact that the latter are already paying municipal rates as they are enjoying the convenience of the Settlement's public utilities.
Various official quarters questioned late yesterday evening, were unable to throw any light on the situation, but tenants of the buildings in question did not seem unduly worried about the posters "because we couldn't find another place to live in anyway" as one of them put it io a "North-China Daily News" reporter.
Concerto on one side and the Second Symphony on the other. Pleasant music, which might have come out better had another instrument been used of the same range but of different timbre. The one that obviously springs to mind is the cello. I couldn't hear Mr. Fortina very well.
Wolf-Ferrari's "Idillio-Concertino" is agreeable and facile music, and that is about all that can be said. Mr, Girardello, with the backing of the Orchestra, said it.
Rumour has it that Mr. Winkler learned his part (the cello) of the Triple Concerto in five days. There was little evidence of this astonishing fact, if true, in his performance. Mr. Foa and Biriulin were their usual adroit selves.—&. 3
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.