Directory_and_Chronicle_1890 — Page 557

SHANGHAI.

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Many foreign houses, nearly all of them with several mow of garden ground, have been erected near the outside roads, especially on that leading to the Bubbling Well, which is the main outlet from the settlement, and from which most of the other roads branch off. This road and its extension to Sicawei is planted with trees on both sides, forming a fine avenue of over five miles in length. A small but well laid out and admirably kept Public Garden was formed about 1868 on land recovered from the river in front of the British Consulate. It is now proposed to considerably extend its area by reclaiming the foreshore.

Immense sums have been wasted in various attempts to drain the settlements, principally from the want of skilled direction; but the great difficulties in this matter, arising from the low lying and level nature of the ground, have now been fairly overcome. The settlements are well provided with telegraphic fire alarms. The desire of the Municipal Councils to keep the monopoly in their own hands retarded for many years the inauguration of water works, but a public company has now been established, which furnishes a continuous supply of filtered water at mode- rate rates. The Electric light was introduced in 1882, and lamps have been erected at the wharves and on the principal thoroughfares.

Shanghai can boast of several fine buildings of various and varied styles of architecture. Trinity Cathedral, erected from a design by Sir Gilbert Scott, is one of the finest specimens of modern ecclesiastical architecture to be found out of Europe, but, from want of funds, the tower and spire, which is an essential part of the design, has not yet been built. There is a Roman Catholic Church in the French Concession and another in Hongkew, the Union Church on the Soochow Creek, also a Chapel belonging to the London Mission and one to the American Episcopalians, and a very pretty and prettily situated Seamen's Church at Pootung, besides several Mis- sion Chapels for natives. The Jesuit Fathers have an extensive Mission establishment and orphanages at Sicawei, to which is attached a museum of natural history, etc., and a valuable scientific observatory, in connection with which there is a time-ball on the French Bund. Under the direction of this institution, a complete system of meteoro- logical observations, embracing the whole of the China Seas, has been inaugurated. The Shanghai Club occupies a large and elaborate building at one end of the English Bund. It cost Tls. 120,000, and at that is said to have ruined three contractors. It has passed through a varied and peculiar history. There is a really fine Masonic Hall at the other end of the Bund. Amongst the other conspicuous buildings may be mentioned those occupied by the Oriental and Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporations. There is a very fair Theatre, seating 600 persons. The members of the German (Concordia) Club have also a handsome little Theatre attached to their premises in the Canton Road. A monument to the memory of Mr. A. R. Margary, of the British Consular service, who was murdered by Chinese in Yunnan, was unveiled in June, 1880. The principal buildings on the French Concession are the Municipal Hall and the Consulate.

Among the institutions of the place may be mentioned the Volunteer Defence Force, consisting of Field Artillery, Light Horse, and Rifle Brigade, the latter com- prising a battalion of three companies. Originally formed in 1861 it gradually went to decay, until the fear of attack after the Massacre at Tientsin in 1870 caused its revival with considerable vigour. It again dwindled in numbers, but the last re-organisation under Major Holliday proved successful, there being now two hundred and fifty members, almost all of whom are effective. The Fire Brigade, which is entirely volunteer, consists of seven Engine and two Hook and Ladder Companies. It is pronounced to be the most efficient Brigade out of the United States. There is a Hospital for foreigners, the building for which, although only completed in 1877, is already found inadequate and so badly situated that a new one is proposed. There are also several Hospitals for natives. The Temperance Society has a good hall and well furnished library, The other public institutions may be enumerated as, a Subscription Library containing about 12,000 volumes, a branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, with the nucleus of a Museum, a Masonic Club, a Sailors' Home,