A Mzsrixoof Residents on the French Concession was held on the 15th instant, to consider the budget for the ensuing year. The estimated receipts for 1869-70 are Tls. 82,256, including a balance of Tls. 6,066 from the past year; and the expenditure is estimated at Tls. 77,774, leaving an estimated balance of Tls. 4,452 on the 31st March 1870. The estimated receipta are thus Tls. 10,000 Loas than last year—from the following causes. Only Tls. 7,600 are expected from Wharfage dues, instead of Tls. 15,000; and the commutation of Tls. 4,000 a year from the Taotai, on account of gambling tax, has lapsed. On the other hand, Tls. 2,000 more will be derived from " quay and contribute jetty-duty the S, S..N- new wharf being the surplus Mr. Boxsrviiix rosd the detailed statement, and about Tls. 5,000 less than was anticipated, because explained that the receipts for the past year hid been the Wharfage Dues had produced about Tls. 7,000 less than had been estimated; but setting these aside, the revenue had exceeded the estimate. Si congratulated the Land Renters on the satisfactory state of the fi ances. Two years ago, they were indebted in Ti 15,000; this bad been paid off; the revenue had in-increased, and was now stable.
Mr. Yares wished to make a few remarks in regard to the tax on Sampaus. He wished to ask whether it included a tax on Sampans plying on the Yang-king-ug and on the city moat, as he thought a tax on ate plying on these creeks wasa suicidal one, He, unfortunately, lived in the West part of the settle: mont, and lo could get nothing taken to his house, without first writing out a pass, and eventually paying $1 tax. The result was that the Chinese refused to occupy houses in this partof the settlement. The Municipal Police stood there to collect the tax—a guard as it were between the residents and their interests, If the of these creeks were freed, double the house tax would, he thought, be collected, as Chinese would go to live where now they will not. Only a little time since he had noticed a policeman chasing some boats which wore trying to escape beyond the Ningpo joss house. He caught one, which had to pay $1, and as it happened to contain bricks for his own (the speaker's) use, he had, of course, eventually, to pay it. The tax on boats in the Yang-king-pang was less important than that in the Moat, because was evaded by boats landing their goods on the English Bund and carrying them over the bridge.
M, Bonxevitiz bogged Mr. Yates to send in his remarks in writing to the Council, and assured him hey would meet with every consideration.
Mr. Yates wished also to call attention to a tax le-Chinese authorities. Every Boat sith i now vied on boats passing through the ci oat th actually to pay four taxes. They had nominally instituted for protective purposes; but there was Bow no protection nor need for it. The Colonel commanding the troops at the West gate levied one squeeze; another was for the benefit of some old family which used to collect it on consideration of provi ant ie was time the tar wan stopped Bvety best it was time the was stopped. tin had to pay 100, 200 or 300 cash for nothing. The Taotai knew nothing of these taxes:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.