The following gentlemen were appointed by the General Committee on the 24th March Messrs. Kalb, Fitz, Nissen, Hart, Hogg, Maclean, Wetmore, Paterson, Canny and Bell.
The three latter retired in May. Mr. Pardon was invited to join the Committee as Chairman on the 24th Apri The questions which the Committee proposed to investigate were—1, Questions of General Interest.—Illegal taxation. Transit Dues. &c. Residence in ing of New Porte... Reviwualization of Duties. Repayment of Drawbacks in Legal Jurisdiction, '2. Questions of Local Interest.—Bonded Wareliouses. Woosung Bar. Amalgamation of the Settlements, ferential Duties two Settlements, Revision of Land Regulations.
Lottora were forwarded to the Chambers of Hongkong, Amoy, Hankow, and wud to thirty firms at various ports of China, asking for information and suggestions on the questions of general interest nawed and full replies have been received or two of the firms addressed, The Chambers of Commerce of Foochow, Away and Hongkovg have the subject still under consideration.
The Hankow Chamber has made certain suggestions regarding half-duty certificates and residence in the Interior. report and the correspondence is entered in The replies referred to acconipany this the Chamber's letter book.
The Committee has been favoured by the Municipal Council with details of "axes levied in the Foreign Settlements (subaequoutly published by the Council in the North-China Herald, 17th June); but the Committee is without the means of verifying the statements.
The Chamber is alto in possession of a tariff of these taxes in Chinese, for a tranalation of which the Committee is also indebted to the Council.
The questions that were to be treated in the Memorial on trade grievances which the Committes was instructed by the general meeting to prepare, will, it is evident, be materially modified by the Convention made between Sir Thomas Wade and Li Hung. chang; and, in the opinion of the Committee, further action should be suspended until the precise terms of that Convention are know The members of the Special Committe believe that the business would be more conveniently and effectively carried on by the General Committee of the Chamber; there appearing to be no advantage in the existence of a separate body for the special purpose for which this Committee was appointed. And in handing this report to the Chamber they beg to tender their resignations, feeling ce fident that such of the questions proposed in this report for investigation, which may not be adjusted by the new Convention, will receive the Committee's careful attention and practical treatment as opportunities may The proceedings of the Special Committee been recorded in the Chamber's minute Waurer Pzanson, Secretary.
[Presented at a Meeting of the General Committee, held on the 3rd October, 1876.]
Hankow General Chamber of Commerce, Hankow, 5th May, 1876.
Srr,—I am in receipt of your 20th ult., and in reply, I beg 'a Meeting of the Members of the Chamber was called to discuss the various subjects referred to in your letter; and that of their deliberation Half-Duty Certificates. barrassing to Trade, and og the Treaty, that a collected half-duty which has become an unpaid duty by re-exportation of the good Drawback ment, ince in the Interior,—That inasmuch as Russian hange have for #0 long past exercised an unchallenged right of opening hange in their own names, and residing up-country, a similar privilege should, under the Favoured Nation" clause, be demanded for all other nationalities, Under circumstances, although no acti might be taken agaiuet the opening up-country, the legal right to claim og injustice would probably be questioned on the ground that.the claimant was infringing on Treaty rights, The Chamber confines ita remarks to the Above subjects, as being the pri ints of interest to the trading community of thi port, coming within the acope of the treaty, and requiring redress, transit pass system is now in working order, as far as Szechuen, and no ground for complaint, (Signed) Auxx. Price, Secretary.
Hankow, 5th May, 1876, Waxren Peansox, Esq.
Secretary Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, Shang!
DEAR Ste,—We are in receipt of your favour dated 26th ulto., and in reply beg to state that our grievance against the Chinese Presented nothing particular of very case and likin collected on goods Chungking aunounted to about ae much as the half-duty. The rineipal daty and Jikin station on th -wei-chow Foo; and as the authori found that, unless a stand was mad jame dan; the knowledge that full redress would be obtained for us, continued our shipments, Our claim fcr losses by detention has snd will be paid in days.
f goods to Szechuen under may therefore be considered as working satisfactorily to those who wish to avail of it, (Signed)—Mason & Sours, P.S.—We may state that the barrier dues have recently been reduced, with " view to beck the use of the Transit Pass, Newchwang, 8th May, 1876, Ware Peansox, Eeq., Secretary, Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, Sim,—We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your circular Jetter of 22ad April, and in reply thereto we have to place before you the following trade grievances; viz 5 Ist—Daty.—Repayment of drawbacks in sycee is not obtainable.
Drawback on coals re-exported, or for steamers' use, isnot granted at all.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.