204
(2)
Complaint has recently been made in the daily papers of the Postmaster's inadmission to include in his notices information of the despatch of mails to Foochow. As a matter of fact the fault rests with the shipping companies failing to advise the Postmaster of the despatch of steamers, and it only requires the exercise of a little common sense to see that that official cannot be expected to be posted as to the dates of sailing of every vessel to that port. In connection with ports like Chefoo, there is no British postal agency there, combined with which the Chinese rates are cheaper. It is therefore an easy matter to exonerate Mr. Dixon from the charges made by these thoughtless writers. In every community will be found people who seem to make it an aim in life to oppose reforms by a pernicious application of cold water, but water at times has a way of splashing and making the "man with the bucket" look ridiculous.