Ningpo Railway to the south of the bridge crossing the Soochow Creeknear Jessfield， should be removed， thus hindering the traffic on thatline. After some further negotiations， matters were amicably arranged，the missing wings were returned， and the line was restored.
Opening of Public Parks to ChineseDuring the year 1927， owing to the seriousness of the politicalsituation， it was impossible for the Municipal Council to do more thanconserve its position. Mr. Stirling Fessenden in a manifesto reiteratedthe offer of putting three Chinese representatives on the Council.
At the Ratepayers‘ meeting held on April 13th the followingresolution was proposed， “That Jessfield and Hongkew Parks， thePublic Gardens， the Bund Lawns and Foreshore， Quinsan Gardensand Brenan Piece be opened to the Chinese On the same terms asforeigners.“Opposition to Increased RatesThe Council experienced considerable difficulty when it attemptedto collect the Municipal rates which had been increased from 14 to16 per cent， and the same arguments were advanced as formerly inregard to the illegality of taxation without representation and withoutconsultation with the Chinese authorities. Much bad feeling wasaroused， and for a time it was feared that serious trouble might arise.
After a few months the agitation ceased， and the Local commercialFederation issued a statement advising that in the interests of peace andorder， the increased rates should be paid， under protest.
Crime in Shanghai
At this period of Shanghai"s history， armed robberies andkidnapping increased at an alarming rate. It became evident thatwell-organized criminal gangs were operating in the InternationalSettlement and the outlying districts， and that they were under thedirection of men of considerable ability. In order to assist the CouncilAction was postponed until the following year， and at the Ratepayers‘ meeting onApril 18th， 1928， a similar resolution was proposed and passed. A small entrancefee was charged both to Chinese and foreigners. The Chinese resort to the parks inlarge numbers. By opening them to the general public on the same terms， anothersource of grievance has been removed.
in combating the danger， a secret fund was established， to which manyof the Chinese residents subscribed. Determined efforts， which haveonly been partially successful， nave be to cope with the evil.
H. B. M."s Birthday
By the presence of the British Defence Force in Shanghai on thebirthday of H. B. M. King George V.， June 3rd， the opportunity wasgiven for a spectacle of a unique nature. This was the Trooping of theColour at the Race Course by the Second Battalion of the ColdstreamGuards. The precision with which the various movements of thiselaborate ceremony were carried out elicited great enthusiasm from thespectators. In the evening there was another large gathering to witnessthe Torchlight Tattoo.
Earthquake in ShanghaiAmong other matters of interest to the community in 1927 wasan earthquake which occurred on February 3rd. It was the sharpestshock felt in Shanghai for many years. The fact that Shanghai is builton a mud flat has prevented these earth tremors from doing seriousdamage.
New Synagogue
The erection of the beautiful new Synagogue， Beth Aharon， onMuseum Road， and its opening on June 30th attracted a large numberof interested spectators. This building of Moorish and Byzantinearchitecture is one of the most striking in Shanghai， and furnishes theJewish community with a worthy house of worship.
Consecration of Chinese BishopAnother Chinese Bishop of the Anglican communion， the Rt.
Rev. Ding Ing-ong， was consecrated in Shanghai on November 1st inAll Saints Church， to be Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Fukien.
The service was impressive， and the large congregation witnessed to thegrowth of the Church in China， and gave hope for the future， at a timewhen the anti-Christian movement was so much in evidence.
Trade in 1926–1927