We have to thank M. Bonabeau, the Secretary of the French ipal Council, for a copy of the French Municipal Report ud Accounts for 1885, and the Budget for 1886. The Keport and Budget are issued this year in English as well as in French. We may fairly congratulate our neighbours on the excellent figures shown: it would be dificult for anyone not well acquainted with China to believe that a French concession could show such a prosperous state of things, considering that a state of war existed between France and China during a considerable part of the year. The estimated receipts for 1885 were Ils. 106,522 and the actual income was Tls. 110,884, so that the actual income, instead of showing a decline, was Tls. 4,361 more than was expected. As the Council began
an the year with a balance of Tls. 22,034, the total expenditure was only 103,510, they are in the proud position of being able to show a balance in hand on New Year's day 1886, of just 30,000. When we add that the Land and Buildings are valued 142,000, and the portable property at Tls. 16,000, making " total of nearly Tls. 190,000 in assets, with no public debt, must naturally excite the envy of the re: lents on the north of the Yang-king-pang. circumstances of the two Municipalities ace ay difforei clos i their budgets, that it is almost impossible to unal
on the French ily four oar per per pectively on the other-side. On other laud, the French Settlement is very much more compact than ours, and the cost of policing, lighting, dral ig ete, very much less, Phu accounts themselves are a model of clearness and fullu The Budget for 1886 is as follows Balance on Slat Dec., 1885..is, 30,008.18 Revenue estimated at, riy 118,422°00
48,430.18 ed expenditure. 127,503.00 Reserve Fuud 20,927.18
Total amount 148,430.18 the accounts that free water, for the cupply of which some fountains are provided, only costs the Council Tis, 9,000 a year. The following extract from the Police Report will be cresting to those who feared that a star of war between Franco and China would French concession unsafe for state of war which prevailed during the first half of the year, the population has remained, and the general tranquility has only occasionally been interrupted by bands of loafers, for the most part Chinese soldiers bent on plauder, and with whom we have frequently had to deal."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.