Some time ago the then Governor-Gener: of the Two Kuang provinces, Char Chih-tung, applied for suction of the reinstatement of an official named Wang Tra-shao, formerly in charge of the Arsenal at Canton, who had been de-hounced and cashiered in the early part of 1885, at the instance of the Vicervy himself, for gross frauds in connection with the management of the Arsenal, The application was refused by the Bowd of Civil Office, who declined to reopen the ease on he ground that. the Viceroy had pre-ussly reported it as finally closed, and had Yoquested that no further action should Lo taken in regard to the matter, The present Viceroy, Li Han-chang, now renews his predecessor's application bolulf of Wang Telvslio, and'gives explanation of the apparent. discrepancy, the gist of which is as follows:—Some months after had been ered on ti m of the Vinoruy, the latter was ordered to investigate certain further accusations brought against the officers in charge of the Arsenal by one of the members of the censorate. The Viceroy did so, in reporting his finding mentioned that the case had been finally closed, and might now be allowed to drop. his of course referred only to. the second investigation, viz., that held to inquire into the charges brought by the Censor, and was never intended to preclude Wang Tai shao from all hope of eventual reinstate. ment, as soon as his defalcations had been made good. In fact three other officers similarly implicated have since been instated at the instance of the Viceroy, and the reason why Wang Tzit-shao was then omitted, was that he had not yet fully complied with all the demands made upon him. Not till he had done so could the Viceroy properly apply for his reinstatement, and the course followed was therefore perfectly in_ order. Tt would be both inconsistent and unfair to leave Wang Taii-shao alone out in. the cold, whilst others equally guilty have had their offences condoned, and as he has now made good the full extent of his de-Jeations memorialist submits that he hould be restored to his former position and again employed on probation in the province of Kiangsu.—Referred tu the lourd ut Cicil Office.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.