The Nanking authorities are contemplating a benevolence of one month's rent to be levied on each large shop-keeper, in support of the Yellow River Fund, the landlord and tenant each paying half. The gentry of Sungkiang are endeavouring to organise a somewhat similar benevolence of 1 or 2 per cent on all rice collected as rent by. Iand-owners in the prefecture.
The Kiangsu merchants are establishing a fine new guild at Tientsin, The new Chekiang guild there is partly supported by a percentage of one in a hundred levied upon the freights paid to Ningpo grain junks. The Marine Master of the Kiangsu grain junks has been officially requested by the Shanghai authorities at the instance of the Kiangsu gentry in the North to agree for five years to the payment of 4, of one per cent on grain freights paid to the sha el'uan, or Kiangsu junk-masters, The correspondence is published in full by the Shen Pao. The Muster Mariner replies What with charities and benevolences, our freights are already heavily taxed: moro-over, the steamers have only been called upon to pay 4 of one por cent on grain freights and on}y for three yenrs; and the Master Mariner does not see why junks should pay 48, for five. However, the junkmen will consent to pay the same us steamers provided that they are not called upon to yy any percentage towards the Yellow iver Fund, or towards any other urgent fund during the next three years.
The An-hui merchants have decided to establish a new general guild at Shanghai, where at present the Hwei-chou guild is only available to the Hwei-chou Fu and Ning-kwoh Fu traders, At the request of the German Consul, the Tientsin authorities have issued a proclamation calling upon the Chinese dealers in pigs' bristles to be more careful in packing, and to cease adulterating that commodity in future. Measures have also been taken to prevent the decline of the straw braid industry through similar frauds.
The Shi Pao says that it is proposed to call upon the pawnshops throughout. the Empire for payment of several year's annual licence fees and quarterly renewal fees in advance, in support of the Yellow River Fund. The latest news from the breach is that the blocking up work is progressing, and efforts are being made to lead off the water into its natural channel. The Hungtséh Lake north of Yangchow now marks Sit. 3in.
The Board has sanctioned the erection of several new District and Department city jurisdictions in Formosa, amongst others that of An-pring Hien.
The Shi Pao says that the Emperor has negatived the proposal to open out to cultivation the vest area of good frontier land at Hulan and T'ung-k'én on the Amur, and has ordered that it be kept a strictly close country as before.
An Imperial Decree appoints Shanch'ing to be Tartar-General at Foochow in the place of Mutushan deceased. yin pu, Martar-Genernl of Hangchow, who The present acting incumbent is Kuni-
has been at Foochow during futushan's absence in Manchuria.
Sixteen criminals are under arrest in connection with the murder of the prefect Hwang in Fukien last spring, but the chief criminals are still at large.
The Hu Pao gives an account of the public cremation of a nun at Wuhu, and thinks a stop should be put to such barbara ous proceedings.
The annual licence tax on pawnshop throughout the Empire (apart from the quarterly fees, ete.,) seems to be Tls. 5. The Governor of Shantung Ins arranged for a similar annual fee payable by dis. tillers (shao kure), as has always been the case in Chihl An article in the Shen Pao, written by some one who appears to understand the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.