June 17th,—(I) A Decree withholding tne leave to retire from the service applied for by Wang K'ai-tai, the Governor of Fukien, and granting (we months' further congo for the benefit of his health.
(2) A similar Deoree in reply to the apication for leave to retire made by Pao ian-shen, Governor of Shansi.
(8) the Governor-General of the Two Hu and the Governor of Hupeh memori-ang applies for marks of approbation to be bestowed on the District Magistrates and other local officials who have exerted themselves under his orders in introducing the cultivation of cotton in the provines of Kansuh, as a substitute for the poppy, and as a much needed source of supply for the production of textile fabrics. Owing to the chilly climate and the elevated situation of the province of Kansuh, its natural productions are extremely limited, and the cotton goods required by the people for their clothing are imported from Sze-chuan and Hupeh, at a great expense. The soils, however, which from their southern exposure and rich quality are adapted to the growth of the poppy are equally suitable to the cultivation of cotton; and orders have heretofore been given to all the district authorities to enalizo representing thi in so settled a condition as to warrant a affairs are not yet' snd to. establish committees for the pur courage the people to plant this staple,
return to the old system of trials in criminal pose of affording instruction in the art of cases of a serious nature, such as brigand-spinning and weaving the fibre. The fage and local insurrectionary movenients, names of several officials are now brought The Board of Punishments having moved forward who have distinguished them-His Majesty to enquire by Decree whether selves in carrying this system into effect, the time has not now arrived, in the by distributing seed, engaging women as opinion of the provincial Governments, for instructors in the art of manufacture, ete.
tablishiug the ancient course of pro-The success of the cotton industry is dwelt cedure, the authorities of Hupeh now upon as a material element in the crusade declare that, in view of the disturbances against the cultivation of the poppy, and that are atill'to be apprehended from local it is mentioned that reports have come brigands, disbanded braves, and the like, pouring in from all sides of late announcing the power of summary' execution of the destruction of the crops of this plant, criminals after a careful trial should not ~-Rescript: Let the Board of Civil Ofice be taken as yet out of the hands of the examine and report upon this matte Taotais and Protects, June 20th.—(1) The Censor Yii P'ei-hien Tuno 18th,—Tso Tsung-tang, Governor-memorializes suggesting a source of supply General, of Kansuh, ete, memorializes for the funds required for the rebuilding equosting that an official stationed beyond of the Summer Palace. Referring to a the frontier near Ninghia may be stripped memorial lately presented by the Housoof hia rank, asa punishment for disgrace-hold Court, urging that the nobility and fal conduct, Siang-sheng, the functionary officials of the capital be called upon to in question, having provoked the people subscribe toward this end, the Cen under his control to a state of indignation, serves that the sum required is enormous through the exactions carried on under in amount, and that, inasmuch as the prohis authority by underlings in his employ, vinces are unable to'provide for its supply, was attacked some months ago in his and the treasury of the Board of Revenue jenco by a body of the aggrieved inis entirely exhausted, it is of course indis-who penetrated en masse into pensable that an appeal should be made to ence, and having laid the gratitude of the official class, From ud his retainers bound their small salaries, however, the contribu-them with cords, and announced their tions that could be made by the officials of intention of sending them as prisoners to the capital would form but a small amount Ninghia. An enquiry having been in-in the aggregate, and the Censor proposes stituted, it has been found that groat cause to lay hands upon two portions of the of complaint had undoubtedly been given annual revenue heretofore accruing to Boards of Revenue and Works. W: by the acts committed in the name of the in question,—He lias been stripped regard to the first-named of these, it office by Rescript. hitherto been the rule in the provinces, when issuing certificates of rank to pur-June 19th,—(1) Tso Taung-tang memo-chasers, that two payments under the i ting the punishment of certain Distelots in Kansuh who names of "office expenses" and "feo for ificate" should be made by the reciled to carry into effect the prohibipient, the total income from which source tious against the cultivation of the poppy. amounts annually to an aggregate of Referring to a Decree heretofore received, more than Tls. 200,000. In making in reply to one of his Memorials, ordaining remittances to the Board of Works, more= that the growth of the poppy be stringently over, the provinces have hitherto sent forbidden, on the grounds that its cultiva-forward an amount of some Tis, 40 or tion interferes with the production of the 50,000, in connection with the impost food-crops s0 urgently needed in the pre-levied' on behalf of the Yellow River sent condition of the province, the Go-administration. This sum is known by vernor-General proceeds to state that the district authorities in general have dis-the name of shui-ti JK Fil) (water system, played groat laxity in dealing with this or water interest) money. The two sources question. In some eases the poppy has of revenue above mentioned make up a been allowed to develope the capsules total of about Taels 300,000 per annum before any enquiry has been instituted, over and above the regulation revenue, and then the despatch of officials to the which has heretofore been divided among spot has merely been made the pretext for the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Secret-receiving illegal fees in return for mendaaries, and Clerks of the two' Boards. cious reports of the destruction of the crop.
Although nominally applied to public Others, again, have thought their respon-purposes, not more than 10 or 20 per cent. sibility covered by reporting that as the of the amount is really expended on public poppy as grown between the crops of account, The Censor proposes, therefore, grain, the plant could not be destroyed in view of the paramount claims of the without. injuring the food-crops, and works in progress at Yuan-ming Yuan, forth. The names of several District Ma-that these two funds be appropriated to gistrate are submitted, with recommenda the use of the Household Court, for extions for their dismissal from the public penditure on the Summer Palace. service, or their degradation.—Rescript (2) In a further memorial the same already: published.
Censor adverts to the charge under the head of "office expenses" which the Board of Revenue collects through the Provinces on the issue of certificates of rank to purchasers. This was originally fixed at Tls. 3 per cent., but afterwards reduced to one half that amount, He now apprehends that on being deprived of the "office expenses" referred to in the pre-coding memorial, the Board will seck to increase the percentage charge, thus discouraging intending purchasers of office, to the detriment of the revenue; and he begs that stringent orders be given forbidding any such increase. Ho suggests at the same time that a few thousand toda be allowed amually to the Board of Revenue for actual office expenditure, which he declares is extremely limited in amount, from the revenue accruing from the purchase of office. Rescript: Let the Board of Revenue and the Board of Works consider and report upon Yit Pei'-hien's proposals, (8) The Governor of Chekiang memoria lizes, applying for rewards on behalf of the officials and notables who have rendered distinguished services in the transport by sea of the grain tribute from the Hangchow, Kia-hing, and Hu-chow prefectures for the year 1873. The delivery effected Pung Chow last year was cartied out with marked efficiency and economy, the limit of 8 mace for transhipment expenses) per picul not being exceeded, and the functionaries employed, including the por-ons connected with the G. M. 8-1, Com-riy, are deserving of some token of the imperial favour. Rescript:-Referred to the Board of Civil Office.
June 2ist.—(1) The Acting Governor General of Yunnan and Kweichow memorializos, reporting his action in weeding the Civil Service in Yunnan of incompetent members, in pursuance of a Decroo received by him on the 12th February Inst, enjoining carefulness in the selection of capable and worthy administrative officials and the elimination of those who are unfit to serve. After a long dissortation on the necessity of enlightenment, probity, and education among functionaries to whom the Government of the people is entrusted, the Governor-General pruceeds to report that, independently of measures to be later for scrutinizing the conduct and abi of the provincial officials from the rank of Prefect downward, in both actual and expectant employ, who have entered service in the regular manner through the literary examinations, those who have obtained their rank' and positions by purchase have been subjected to a special examination held on throo days in the month of March last, under the presidency of an accomplished scholar, in conseqenco of which a number of District Magistrates and other officials have been classified in four divisions of literary merit, It is propered that the advancement of th placed in the lowest classes be stopped for one or two years, in order to allow them time to perfect themselves in further study, and that those who have taken no place at all be, in the case of the higher grades, compelled to return to their native places and devote themselves to study for four or five years before obtaining employment, and in the lower grades, required tu send in their resignation altogether. The ox-amination papers are forwarded in original for inspection; the subject is referred by Rescript for the consideration of the Board of Civil Office.
(2). The same high official memorializes on behalf of several military officers, from the rank of General downwards, solicit ting their exemption from the duty exhibiting their proficiency in archery on horseback, on the score of wounds they have received in the course of the late igus. A regulation is in existence such a proceeding, and by Rescript the application is allowed,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.