Tux Minute of the Viceroy of the Liangkiang, a translation of which' we publish in another column, is satisfactory enough so far as it goes. It tells the official in charge of the Likin Office at Hsiakuan that he has no right to levy loti likin on goods passing his station, and that this charge can only be made when the goods have reached their destination, and the certificate for half duty, that is likin, has been given up and cancelled. When the bonds have reached their destination, and the pass has been given up they are to be warehoused and the /oti or warehouse charge levied on their consignee. Loti reached their distination under transit is an imposition on goods which have or likin passes and is & sort of octroi as likin also is. Foreigners have always contended that beyond half-duty their goods should not be subject to any other tax, but for a long time past loti has been levied at the destination of foreign goods, and will probably continue to be charged for many years to come. 'The Viceroy tells his subordinate to conduct his office in accordance with the Regulations jointly submitted to him by the two likin Boards of Soochow and Shanghai. His duties would seem to be the inspection of the goods under a half duty' certificate which pass his barrier, to retain' the s and forward it to the Head Office, he official at Hsiakuan, and probably at all other places cannot levy duty, and an attempt to do so which ended. in the detention: of some parcels of goods at the barrier, brought on him a reprimand from the Viceroy. There is no reason to believe that the action of the officials of theléAin office at Hsiakuan in attempting to levy loti was anything. more than a blunder on their part, into which the hope of increasing; their receipts may have helped to len th The Times has called the attention of the Chambers of Commerce: to the abuses of the likin in China, with hate cular reference to the doin; Viceroy of Kuangtung and Kuangsi in Canton and Pakhoi.. The quotations from the reports of Mr, Alabaster and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.