May 3ist.—The only document of. in-torest in this day's issue is a report from Chang K'si-sung, Governor of Kueichow, announcing the complete destruction of. a formidable band of rebels who had long established themselves on the frontier of that province at a place called Tien Ching Shan, the Mountain of the Heavenly Well, in the Wu-chuan District of the Ssu-nan Prefecture, This gang, which had beet the terror of the surrounding country for some time past and lived by depredations upon the people of both Szechuen and Kueichow, their stronghold being situated on the border of the two provinees, had defied the troops which -had been sent against them on several occasions, even going so far as to rescue forcibly one of their gang who had been taken prisoner. On the accession -of the Memorialist to the chow, he d must'be annihilated, and gave peremptory orders to that effect to a certain Colonel, by name Chang. This officer responded gallantly to the Memorialist's call, and although his force was numerically inferior, ho succeeded after a desperate engagement in taking the rebel stronghold, which ho destroyed, and putting ils occupants to fu Some two hundred or so were led during the encounter, and a number of arrests of fugitives were afterwards mongst others that of the leader of t.—(1) A Joint Memorial from en Yii-ying, Governor-General of and Kueichow, Governor of an, declaring their inability to contribute anything towards augmenting the salaries of Metropolitan officials in' the manner sngyested by Chang Chih-tung, Governor of Shansi.
The sources from which these contribu tions were to come were the salt, and other miscellaneous raven On reference to the Financial Commissioner, the Salt Comptroller and the head of the Li Collectorate, who were told to consider what could he done to meet the call that had been made, these officers have declared their utter inability to comply with the demand, as the revenue of Yunnan shows a great falling off in every partlet On salt, the ammal revenue-used to be over Tls. 160,000, reynlar assessment, exclusive of over Tls. 110,000 which used to pay the anti-extortion allowances, and other miscellaneous items. Of late years the whole annual collection has been under Tls. 158,000, and the anti-extortion allowances and other payments have had to be made, with a reduction of some forty per out of the "regular" collection, which is Tls. 20,000 short of the proper amount.
The province of Yunnan bein; ible by boat, imports are inconsiderable, while metals form the chief article of export. Even when trade between Burma and Tonquin was brisk, the annual likin receipts did not exceed Tls. 240,000, and now that there are troubles in Tonquin, and Burma is unquiet, trade is hampered and the revenue receipts are less tha The: customs..duties;; which, prefectures aud...sub-prefectures are. an-unally called on to. collect, ate: put down at Tls. 58,290,, but since the rebellion not half this sam has been collected...
The tax. upon mining, products: has long been abandoned, and though attempts have recently. been made to resuscitate this branch of industry, no results have-as. yet shown themselves. Under these cotiditions the aid called for cannot. possibly be rendered.. In.endorsing the statements above dotal M undertake, int scheme for developing enterpt turning out a. success, to contribute a I ual sum to the object in question.—Rescript: Let the Board of Revenue take note.
Tune 2ud.—(1) Cheng Tsao-ju: is appointed Director of, the Court. of State Ceremonial.
(2) A Decree ordering a further series of supplicatory services for.rain to be held sat the various State Temples upon-the 5th inst, in which His Majesty will take part.
June 3rd.—(1) A. Decree. Some time since the. Censon Cheong-hsin nounced Chou Haing-vii, Salt Commissio of Kuangtung, on a charge of extreme greed and covetousness. Ho declared: that while heidi at of T'sv Vhiang Taotai in Kiangsi his peculations amoithted large aggregate, and.that on coming: to his new post he, brought withihim a quantity of smuggled goods.: Chang Shu-sheng and Ni Wen-wei having been ordered to ascertain whether. these, charges were true or not, haye: now-reported that the accusations against Chou Hsing-yi are. in same cases utterly, without foundation, and in others unsupported by. proper. proof. 'Choy con jer nevertheless thatihe shows evidence of a gradual: deoay of strength and vitality to an extent that renders it dificult for him to perform the duties of his' Chou Haing-yii, has altondy vacated. his post; Let him at once retire from the public service. a (2) A Memorial from the Superintendent of Imperial Manufactories at Nanking re: porting that he is.about to select an'au cious date forthe commencement of a large order for silks and satins for the usevof the Court, On. taking over charge. of -the establishment, the Memorialist found in the records of his office an order broidered coote, robes, under-yat and silk and satin stuffs for the 1 palace, and as presents to Princes and others, to the.amowut of 23,055 pivot, As no remittances. had been gent in it was i Huriog the present year in anewer 40 possible to put the order in hand, and twice
presentations. on the subject the Daun factory Department, of the Office of the Tmperial Household wrote to say that the order had been reduced on the last occa-by eighty por-cent. making a total of pieces, which were ordered to be leted and handed over by the 6th of the present year. Lie Meni esser then set to work to 4 money together, and in due course obtained promises of the following sums of money through the instrumentality of. the Governor-General From the Provincial Treasurer. long Huai Salt Fund Grain Commissioner Maritime Customs 20,000 Sung Kiang and Shanghai takin Collectorates. 20,000 Soochow and Nz torates 200,000 Tls. 20,000 of the above amount hiss low boon forwarded, with which certain proportion of the necessary materials will be Dought, and when skilled workmen have been engaged, an auspicious day will be selected for. commencing. operations, the work proceeding as further funds come in.
conclusion the Memorialist ventures to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.