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on the 13th, the wind began gradually to decrease, and by noon the gale seemed to have spent itself out. The lowest reading of the barometer during the storm was 29.45. The wind began to blow from the north- easterly direction which continued throughout the night, and early in the morning it veered to the south-east. The damage caused by the gale was not of much importance. A few less substantially built native houses fell down, and the destruction of a great number of trees was observed. Several telegraph-poles were pulled down, rendering communication with the Limehow station, and consequently with the world at large, to be interrupted. Afloat, how ever, the damage was more severe and accom. pained by loss of lives. A passage-boat from Limehow is reported to have foundered with all hands on board. Some half a dozen fishing junks are also reported to have been lost outside the harbour during the gale.
STORM-SIGNALS NEEDED.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
though desiring to live stated they were not afraid to go. The deaths now total 13. Classes are being continued as well as possible. A memorial service will most probably be held on Sunday next.
SEA BATHING POPULAR.
FOOCHOW.
(July 28, 1902,
The following items are from the Foochow Echo of the 12th July:—
The Commissioner of Customs issued the following notification on Saturday, the 5th inst, at 4.45 p.m.-"I have received telegraphic information from the Inspector General et Customs to the effect that a specific duty on tea has been fixed at the rate of Hk. The. 4.2.5.0 per pical. The new rate will be put in force from Monday, 7th July."
With a 5 per cent. ad valorem duty there was a glimmering of hope that we might see a resuscitati n of the Foochow tea trade; now, there is nothing in view to stay its continned downward tendency.
We are informed that there is a French doctor in the city who undertakes the cure of plague cases. He is a Monsieur Rofiandis, and having been introduced to the Viceroy, his Excellency, too glad to give him the chance of staying the disorder, has given him premises close to the White Pagoda to use as a hospital. His diffi culty so far we understand is to get infected people to go to him, but that will no doubt be overcome in time, particularly if his success continues. Out of ten cases treated by him he has cured even; with the other three he had little chance as they were sent to him too late. This is a sufficient:y good advertisement and should lead to a gradual increase of his practice.
The weather continues bright and warm and bathing is freely taken advantage of by the male sex under the glorious summer sun's rays. It is apparent, however, that the sterner sex has the cream of all things aquatic. The Boating Club has erected a comfortable and useful mat- shed on the main beach just off the Beach Hotel, which serves as a dresing room for the men. and where every convenience from a "tonic" from the club close by to a fresh-water tub is procurable. The only place where ladies can bathe is by the Point, where amid the rocks more often than not cuts and bruises repay the sought-for quiet; or by use of the Beach Hotel's little dressing rooms in the most crowded part between Club and Hotel, and which are more or Considering the great number of junks less intended for the use of the hotel guests; or which belong to this port engaged again by a trudge of a mile or so to the mat. mostly in fishery, and the lives of the sheds of the C. I. M. Girl's School where, by crews placed in jeopardy in stormy kind permis-ion invariably given by the School weather, it would not be over-humane if a authorities, a good swim can be obtained. The system of storm-signals could be inaugurated by extensive beach near the settlement is now the Imperial Maritime Customs for the benefit more peopled by Chinese than before, which of the poor sea-faring section of the inhabit-prohibits an impromptu, informal and summary ants, whose only knowledge of the approach of dip. It should surely be possible for bathing foul weather in most cases consists in their machines to be placed midway up the heach, and long expérience, cr acuteness in observing the rafts, etc, etc., placed in proximity like those There must have been a pretty considerable sudden charge of hue of the seawater or of the used by the men. A small charge could be storage of electricity in the neighbourhood tøj sky, or some such illusory means.
made, or a machine rented for a stated term, have enabled nature to work off five such thereby ensuring ladies staying in private thunderstorms as burst upon us on the after- boarding-houses an enjoyable use of exception-noons of the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th instant. The first four may be described as terrific; the crashes of thunder were appalling, and in each case they lasted between two and three hours. There were the usual squalls and accompanying torrents of rain. It is owing to this latter no doubt that we hear of so little damage having been done. On Sunday, the 6th, a cargo-boat was struck; the electric fluid ran down the - galvanised iron stays of the mast and attracted by the nail heads outside the boat forced itself into the house or hold carrying with it large splinters of wood which surrounded the nails, and then not finding a ready exit made one for itself in the boat's side forward, close to the water's edge. The mast was uninjured. Durin the storm on the following afternoon, the 7th, the lightning entered Mr. Phillips's house and tore away the bell touches in every room, wrenching away at the same time the encircling brick work. This of course was dreadfully alarming to Mrs Phillips, who was alone in the house.
DESTRUCTION OF TREES.
that by next season something will be done to remedy this noticeable defect.
ENLARGEMENT OF THE CLUB.
As the typhoon has destroyed a great number of trees, the loong-gan trees in the neigh-ally good water and beach. It is to be hoped Louring villages have suffered more or less with tle rest; and as the fruit was just about to be gathered when the typhoon came and destroyed them, there will be little or nothing of long- ngan pulp available for export this year, which in former years represented one of the priu- cipal products of this country, to export to Hong kong and the northern ports of China, where its value, both as medicine and 1.8 delicacy, is well known.
DEATH OF FRENCH CONSUL'S LON.
а
Monsieur L. Flagelle. French Consul Lore, 'had the misfortune of losing his youngest son -a boy of scarcely fourteen months old-on the morning of the 10th instaut. The funeral which took place on the same afternoon, was attended by nearly the whole of the European community, including most of the ladies,
CUSTOMS STAFF CHANGES,
Mr. W. Noyes Morehouse, Commissioner of 1.M. Customs, who came only a few months ago to relieve Acting Commissioner Moule 18 cow to le transferred again to Chefoo to occupy the post of Commissioner there, left vacant by the demise of Mr. James Wilcox Carrall. Mr. E. O. Reis, Assistant Commissioner of Customs at Kiaochow, will succeed Mr. Morehou e at this port.
CHEFOO.
The Club is being enlarged, parts of the present building not being of sufficient dimen- sions to cater for the growing male population. We understand that the bar is to be enlarged, the present one leing on a very small scale, and there will be one or two extra rooms for purposes allotted by the Committee. Occupying as it does one of the best sites, if not the best site, in the East, there is no reason Lut to believe that iu time this will become one of the most popular clubs this side of Suez. Everybody knows every body and there is a general feeling of good fellowship.
HOTEL IMPROVEMENT.
The Beach Hotel is improving by leaps and bounds in every respect, and ffers a good stopping place for visitors, as also do other well-known boarding places.
ABSINCE OF JINRICKSHAS.
The tired visitor misses with deep regret the much-abused but useful ricksha. This noble institution is not in vogue here save by very few residents. Chairs may be obtained if one knows where to look for them. Though there are not many suitable or lengthy roads for them, a few rickshas would not be harmful, especially in consideration of the speed probably obtainable by medium of the very tall natives one meeta,
The following is from the N-C. Daily News when compared with the wrecks of humanity of the luth inst. :-
TE POLEONING FATALITIE..
Still another v.etim has succumbed to ptoms ine Poisoning, Cyril Molloy, aged 10 years, who was taken ill early on Wednesday morning and died at 10 minutes past 10 o'clock the same night.
He was in thoroughly good health apparently, and had eaten the ordinary course of food since he partook of the fatal pie on
Sunday, and as late as Tuesday was bathing with his companions. At a time when it was thought the effects of the catastrophe had ceased this comes as a sad and most unexpected blow. Frank Parry and the other little fellows sick are doing excellently. Furtier particulars received confirm the great care and attention bestowed during the illness of the boys by Mr. and Mrs. Murray, Mr. Lindsay, Dr. King, and others of the school. Great praise is also due to the Doctors and willing assistants from American gunboats and cruisers. As soon as a boy. omplained of cramp, massage was imme- diately employed by experienced nurses, and any suggestion was listened to by Mr. Murray, and where advisable acted upon. It appears that the pain was not great, the boys all dying peacefully, most of them in unconsciousness. Many of them knew they were dying, and
visible pulling or attempting to pull in the Shanghai thoroughfares and other ports. Recognising walking as a most beneficial exercise, in the heat of the day it would be a welcome sight to see these lig men on the look- out for ricksba fares, though their livelihood most probably would not amount to much.
" THE "HANSA BAND CONCERTS. "The trivial round, the common task" of
Chefoo, is to have a treat The well-known band of the German ship Hansa is to play selections this afternoon on the Club terrace, and tc- morrow night (Friday) at a musical dinner at Beach Hotel. No doubt most of the residents and visitors will avail opportunity of hearing this fine band.
themselves of the
TENNIS AND THE HEAT.
In addition to bathing, tennis is very popu lar, and excellent games result despite the heat, though this last has not been experienced with the same intensity as in Taku on Tuesday where it was 116 deg. in the shade.
The Foochow Daily Echo states that the reaping of the first rice crop commenced in the large plain between the city and Kushan last week, and the report of the crop is that it is a full yield of good quality.
Beyond this we only bear of the telephones in two or three of the offices having teen attacked and injured to the accompani- ment of an uncanny buzzing and cracking. The best that can be said of these storms after depriving us of our outdoor recreation for five consecutive evenings, is that they have cleared the air ad left behind them fine bright seasonable weather.
NORTHERN NOTES,
The following items are from the P. and T: Times of the 12th instant:-
The Russian Co.sul yesterday had letters from Et. Petersburg overland 19 days after date, and the Chartered Bank had a London mail date day journey from West to East. Weareinformed June 13th by the same route, This means a 28
that the mail leaves the Russian capital twice a week, on Mondays (? Tuesdays) and Fridays. A private note from Paotingfa on Monday last states that the thermometer registered 107 in the shade all day, and was 97 at 9 p.m. The heat ware seems to have been general all over the p ovince; at Peitaiho on Tuesday it was 95; this, though a very high register for our watering place, is still 18 degrees less than torrid Tientsin on the same day.
been travelling in Western Shantung tells us An esteemed correspondent who has recent y that the Government has put a very heavy tax on the opium growing this year, and a tax moreover, which is to be annually collected for five years, whether the victim continues to grow the poppy or not. This may be a mere fiscal severity or a deterrent inspired by moral considerations, but we should think in either case it would tend to repress the expansion of cpium farming.
The survey of the Bar at Taku by H.M.§.
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