and are as reluctant to admit foreign capital, as they are unable to handle large co-operative concerns themselves. The gradual enlightenment and education of the people will, we must hope, remove these drawbacks. In the end there seems no reason why Amoy should not rise from its ashes to higher things ; but in the light of to-day it would seem that before such a consummation is reached, a generation or two must yet pass away.
MR. P. E. O'BRIEN-BUTLER. Mr. Pierce Essex O'Brien-Butler, who has been British Consul at Amoy since May, 1906, was born on November 15, 1858, at Twickenham, and was educated in Leipzig, in Germany. He entered the Consular service in 1880, and since 1895 has acted as Consul successively at Chinkiang, Kiungchow, Foochow, and Chefoo. Mr. O'Brien-Butler has also studied law, and was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple, in June, 1895. ME. W. H. WALLACE. Mr. Wallace has taken the greatest interest in public affairs during his residence in Amoy, and now holds the position of chairman of the Municipal Council. Born in London in 1861, he was educated at Dedham Grammar School, Essex, and at the early age of seventeeti accompanied an orchid- hunting expedition to South America. On his return he devoted some time to the study of botany, and one of his chief hobbies novv is the cultivation of flowers. In 1882 Mr. Wallace entered the service of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank in London, and two years later was sent to the Hongkong ol'lice. In 1890 he resigned his appointment, and for two years engaged in business in the Colony as a stock and share broker. Rejoining the bank's service in 1902, he came to Amoy, at which port and Koochow he has been since that time. Mr. Wallace is an enthusiastic sportsman, and in his younger days was a well-known figure on the football and hockey fields. He won the tennis championship of Hongkong in 1901. and even now devotes as much of his spare lime to that game as to his flowers. The garden adjoining his private residence is one of the sights of Amoy, and is recognised as being one of the finest in China.
MR. C. A. V. BOWRA.
Mr. C. a. V. BowKA, Commissioner of Customs, Amoy, is the eldest son of the late Mr. E. C. Bowra, Commissioner of Customs at Ningpo and Canton. He was born at Ningpo, in 1869, and was educated at St. Paul's School, London, returning to China in 1886 upon appointment to the Customs service. He was a Student Interpreter at Peking, and has been stationed at various ports during his career. He became Acting Commissioner in Newchwang in 1899, and while in office there defended the Customs and commanded the Newchwang Volunteers during the Boxer troubles of 1900. Four years later he was promoted full Commissioner after having been in charge of the Customs for three years during the Russian occupation of the port. In 1905 he was appointed to Amoy. Mr. Bowra is ^ barrister-at-law of the Inner Temple, and has written several articles on Chinese subjects besides contributing officially to the various Customs publications. He is fond of riding and tennis. Among his decorations are the British China Medal, 1900, and the French Colonial Order of Cambodge. He also holds the Chinese Third Civil Rank and the Order of the Double Dragon.
BRANCH OF THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK AT AMOY. (.Actint; .i,'eiit, W. H, Wallace.)
C. A. V. BOWRA.
Commissioner of Customs, Amov.
MR. C. B. MITCHELL.
Mr. C. Berkeley Mitchell, Capt.-Superintendent of the Kulangsu Police and Secretary to the Kulangsu Municipal Council, has had an active and distinguished career. Born on February 12, 1864, he was educated at St. Olave's Grammar School, Southwark, London, S.E. He served with the Second Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment in Egypt, South Africa, Ceylon, and Hongkong, and had a full share of fighting. He was mentioned in Lord Kitchener's despatches, and among his decorations are the Queen's South Africa medal with three clasps, and the King's South Africa medal with two clasps. After twenty-two years' service he retired from the Army, having then also won the long service and good conduct medals.
MR. H. McDOUGALL.
Mr. H. McDougall, M.B., CM., of Ku- langsu, Amoy, was born in Scotland in 1858, and was educated at Glasgow High School and University. After qualifying, he worked for some time at the Great Western In- firmary. In 1882 he came to Amoy as assistant to Dr. (now Sir) Patrick Manson and Dr. Ringer, and has been practising in the town ever since.
MR. A. F. GARDINER. Mr. a. F. Gardiner, of Amoyv was born in Ireland in 1865 and was educated at the International College, Isleworth. For some time he was connected with a prominent London tea house in Mincing Lane and Fenchurch Street. In 1889 he came to China for t!ie firm of Bovd & Co., whom
