The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22

A hitch has occurred in the arrangements
for the reception OF the foreign ministers at
Peking. The Tsung-li- amen, to whom the
matter was intrusted, recommended that
the ministers be received in hall outside
the Forbidden City, where the audience of
1878 was held and where the ENJOYS of trib-
utary states are received. The ministers
naturally refuse to be received on such con-
ditions.
Anti-Christian riots are reported from dis
tricts around Chungking, but they are not
of very serious character.
1t is said that Mr.. n. j. Hammer, Judge
of the British Court in Japan, has been
offered the post of Judge and Consul-Gen-
eral at Shanghai, and that MIR. George
Jameson, Assistant Judge of the Court In
japan. has been offered the post of Assist
ant Judge and Consul at Shanghai.
Fire broke out in the main hold OF the p.
and 0. steamer Bengal while she was lying
alongside the Associated Wharves at Shang-
hal. L; was distinguished in about two
hours. Considerable damage was done to
the cargo. Fire on board foreign vessels in
Shanghai have been very common of late,
and in one case incendiariSm was distinctly
traced.
The Foochow Echo says; Thanks to the
energies and vigilance of the authorities the
old China yeal has ended without any seri-
Gus mishap as was freely predicted by the
natives themselves, anticipating that fail
ures of some Importance would happen.
Gloomy was, no doubt, the aspect of all af-
fairs during the 18th moon, especially among
bankers who, we understand, had much dit
fculty in collecting their loans. However,
they all have managed TO make stand
against the ruling hard pressed times. In
regard to native merchants, We understand
that about score OF them will not be able
to continue business this year, owing to
their inability to settle last years ac-
count. Their credit is suspended, and they
are cosdered by traders as bankrupt.
Misery is fast spreading all over the
country; still our celestial friend believes
that the present year is worth hoping
through and that trade in general will be
greatly revived We sincerely hope that
such will prove substantial fact and no
myth, and that our worst fears that miSfor-
tune has got already too firm hold in the
country, brought on undoubtedly by neg
ligence and dishonest dealings, will not be
realized. Whatever may be the prospect of
the iresPnt year, the one Just ended was I'M
questiOnabiy the worst yet recorded, and
thanks are due to the authorities for the
wise step they took in placing watchmen
all over the city and suburbs, thereby eff
feclually preventing the usual destructive
fires.
The North China Daily News says: The
agreement for the opening of Chungking
has, we understand, been duly completed,
and formal notice that the port is open to
foreign trade is now daily expected.
We have received, says the North China
Daily News, the report of the Shanghai
Municipal Council for 1890, and the budget
for 1891, most respectable volume. We
note that the actual net receipts in 1890,
less cash balance, etc, were It's 42S, $40 SO,
and the net expenditure It's. AS, 473 90; while
the estimated net receipts for 1891 are It's.
Az, 545, which includes a loan of tbs. 20
against loan of It's. 90. 900 in 1890, and the
estimated net expenditure is tbs. 100000.