(Shénpao.)
An Imperial Edict from the Empress Dowager states that the first regular sacrifice to be offered to Prince Ch'un will be on the 10th of the 12th moon, and the grand sacrifice on the 16th, and that the remains will be taken to their last resting-place on the 20th. On all these occasions the Emperor is to be present.
H.E. Wu, the Grand Examiner for the province, died while on his annual tour for examining the students.
The winter in Anhui has been unusually warm, and padded clothing cannot be worn, Lately a heavy thunderstorm occurred with wuch rain. The people say that a thunderstorm in winter means much sickness in the coming year. From Hupeh come reports of a severe snowstorm lasting all night, but the weather on the next day was very warm and every trace of the snow melted. The water in the river has risen a little Business at Hankow has been for some time past in a most depressed condition and money has been so tight that notes have largely taken the place of silver and ceah,; Blush evil has neosssacily.remulbed. When the telegram announcing the burning of the Shanghai arrived there was great excitement among the consignees. Many were the messages sent to Shanghai by wire making inquiries, Now it is rumoured that several banks, big and small, silk firms. and' géheral stores have closed, or failed, or suspended payment for the time being: Many are holding of bravely and there is no means of ing their ment at the end of the Chinese year.
The City Magistrate with patrolman and the city police are making nightly rounds throughout the city. Everything has been unusually quiet, as no thefts, robberies or fires have occurred.
The Board of Ceremonies has issued a proclamation stating that the aged people who were present to offer congratulations to the Emperor on His Majesty's 20th Birthday, or whose names had been preig sented to His Majesty's notice will receive the following rewards. Those, who sre ninety years old, "will receive a silver medal each of one tael in weight; over eighty a silver medal of half of a tael in weight; and over sixty or seventy a silver medal of four mace in weight. These medals have been forwarded to the Board by the Palace Board and are waiting to Ve delivered.
At 2 o'clock on the afternoon of the 28th of the 10th moon the Eastern portion of the Arsenal of the Shin-che camps in Peking was burnt to the ground, The building of this part of the Arsenal was constructed in foreign style and was two stories in height. It contained over thirty new carriages for ti machine guns, " large quantity of wad nery, moulds for bullets, and three heavy gun-carriages stowed there for repairs. The fire bumed rapidly as most of the things were very inflammable, and though fire engines assembled in time no amount of water could check the progress of the flames. A portion of the walls had to be pulled down before the fire was brought under control. Late in the evening every spark was extinguished and the losses aggregated to several lacs of taels. matter will be memorialised to the Thron The eastern portion was connected wit the main building which is sort of warehouse for storing ammunition; it was fortunate that the fire did not reach it otherwise severe loss of live and property would have attended the explosion and the entire arsenal would have been destroyed. As it was, only its outer works were scorched. (Hupao.)
Three fires occurred in one night lately in Ningpo. As the weather has been very dry the people are warned by the authorities to take great precautions in handling res.
In former times only spears, swords, arrows, and clubs were used in clan fights and there was but little loss of life. Since the extension of the use of fire arms, guns, rifles, and revolvers have taken the place of the old fashioned weapons. Even then, the sacrifice of life was not very great in any of the engagements. Recently, however, heavy cannon are being used, each discharge of which carries down ranks of men, walls and houses. A stray shot kills women and children who have taken refuge at places away from the acone of action. Such is the state of affairs in the suburban villages round about Canton. The Magistrate of the Canton city has issued a proclamation setting forth the innumerable of clan fights in general and offering rewards for the capture of gunners at one thousand taels each. As these gunners charge and train the cannon with ease and precision itis probable that they have served in the army. Communications have oom tore to fe} patch should 1 ie Sept Or the men in the ious camps request it ta special gunnery department.
The villagers in the suburbs of Sungkiang Fu are suffering from the depredations of crowds of wandering people who come from the famine districts. They help themselves to whatever they can lay their hai on sed thew Sesh Lngyomd with. A few dai patience of the farmers became exhausted, as the deeds of violence were too frequent and too highhanded, and twenty-four of the wretched marauders were seized and imprisoned in a temple. The matter will be brought to the notice of the Magistrate.
The Tientsin authorities have been building more sheds for accommodating the male adults and children who are homeless and suffering from starvation. The sheds were to open and the distribution of rice to begin on the 13th day of the 11th moon. The rowdies in the City of Tientsin are divided into factions commanded by headmen. Whenever one faction falls out with another a written agreement is made for a pitched battle to settle the dispute. On the day appointed the headmen bring forth their men armed with weapons of every description and the engagements are generally of @ long duration until the police come upon the scene and interfere. The Joss of life as a rule is always great but as the families of the dead, injuredaud wound everything is stipulated in the agreement,
ed very seldom have recourse to a suit in court. " One of the former magistrates took very stringent measures to put a stop to such fights and the rowdies have since been keeping very quiet. Lately, however, they are stirring again and not very long ago one faction sent a challenge to another faction, but up to the present no fight has taken place.
LO. Kang, Governor of this province, arrived on the 9th inst. He landed at Jessfield and proceeded to the Temple, where be offered incense, Having inspected the river work machinery he returned to his boat and steamed to Woosung. All the city officials and the two Mixed Court Magistrates went to receive The weather has been very cold in Tientsin and the Peiho'is now frozen over with layers of thick ice, Native wooden sleighs travel on it nearly as far as Taku.
A merchant of good standing in Tientsin has left that port and concealed himself in some unknown place, on account of financial difficulties.
The son of an expectant Taotai, Mr. Chu, in Hangchow, accidentally rode over a Manchu child some time ago and trampled it to death. The case was brought to the notice of the Throne by the Tartar General, and the young man has now been sentenced to be transported to a distance of four thousand li.
In the Sansui district of Kuangtung a dye-shop was attacked by a band of robbers, who carried flaming torches and were armed with guns and other weapons. They first attempted to break open the doors and batter down the walls, but found the obstruction was insurmountable. They then climbed up the roof, but still they could not descend, as a row of sharp bamboo points separated the roof from the lower portions of the house. In the meanwhile the besieged made a stout resistance, shooting at the bandits with rifles and turning boiling hot alkali water from a hose anthem. This strange skirmish lasted all night. Towards dawn the besiegers withdrew when it was reported that the soldiers from the guard houses were coming. The robbers lost two men, who were killed outright, and had several of their number severely wounded. The dead bodies and the wounded were taken away when the robbers retreated. The business of the dye-shop is at a standstill and all hands re on the watch day and night, as the marauders are sure to return and have their revenge.
BLE. Kang, Governor of this province, after completing his inspection of the river works hag returned to Soochow. He did not land on his way back while passing Shanghai.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.