(From the Foochow Echo ut 10th inst.)
A plague, we hear, is destroying a lot of native cows and pigs. With the nice weather we are now enjoying such an occurrence is astonishing; but we know for u fact that the report is correct, A proclamation giving the people free permission to plant the poppy las had touch effect, as we learn the natives are making great preparations t" begin in the Springesn a large scale," Many rice folds will soon be planted with poppy, for the labour entailed in cultivating the former far exceeds that of the latter.
The ruinous lottery called Huah-hui, we regret to learn, is again in full swing all over the country and natives are madly fuying their luck'at it, This will no doubt place many thousands of peuple in distress, and we sincerely hope that the authorities will take vigorous steps to put an immediate stop to it.
We believe we are not wrong in thinking that the placard agaist Christianity is not the work of Foochow men, as they are the auine as those posted in the north, Cannot a search be mide of those Honan soldiers and followers that came recently with the Imperial Commissioner? We fancy that the bearer of the placard is to be found amongst them.
Some arrangements we believe have been come to between native teamen to make the prices of the new leaf next season as luw as possible, in order to be able to lay it down in the market at the lowest prices ruling during the past season. It is a step in the right direction, and we hope they will be successful, as' they have no other goose that lays the proverbial golden eggs. The authorities will greatly assist the: meu if some means can be adopted where: by none but the legal taxes be collectable from them, Though during the last three years hardship, and misery, and the failure of many long-standing tradesmen have been reported, yet according to news from the city, this year's troubles are equal to those of the three years put together! Judging from what we have been told, a teemed: ous crash must be the result by the end of the year, The cause of this is us clear to foreign merchants as to native. A country accustomed to a yearly revenue of five millions of dollars from her own industries, and which now only receives about a third of that amount, is, we believe, a sufficient fact to place the country in the alarming state that she is now, with no hope of recovering, but of going from bad to worse, Tu" couple of youre! time, this state affairs will undoubtedly bring an end to the trade in toto! The government, and no one alto, is to be blamed for ti utter negligence has brought irre misery to the count (From the Foochow Daily Echo of 17th inst.)
The influenza is very prevalent atthisport and several cases have recurred during the week. Both our medical men, here and at Pagoda, are said'to be sufferers, while a great many cases are also reported amongst the children.
We are enjoying a period of beautifully fine weather, crisp bright clear days and blue sky, which remind us of Southern Italy at its best. But notwithstanding a good deal of sickness is said to exist among the natives.
The Imperial Commissioners we understand will soon leave, not direct to For-moss but to some other country first; the name of the place is not known, being kept secret as all their doings at this during their stay. We understand that all trials are carried on under sealed doors.
Unless by accident, no more incendiary fires will happen, for we believe the means adopted by authorities are not only most effective, but rigorously carried out to the jint of usefulness. A regular tax is now imposed on each family house and shop, cash to the former and 100 10 the lotte The amounts so collected are to be used in prying several. watchmen for each lane and street; these men are to be overlooked by disguised soldiers, who hold power to punish them if found asleep or absent from duty, It is, we believe, fair to expect that with such strict orders some good will result, There is generally a difference in the value of bank notes issued by Chinese bankers in the city, and those by bankers at Nantai; the former are higher than the latter, by some one hundred and fifty cash, but we understand that the authorities have now issued a proclamation arden that the value of these notes must be and that all exchange of such notes must be half in ten cent coins and the balance in cash, or other small notes; and strict! "us cash in all transactions, unexpected, and to natives absurd change, will cause great trouble to traders of all classes, and a dead blow to bankers, whose loans and transactions for years have been based on the old custom, "Though it may be for general good that the orders have been given, we are of opinion that such a radical change should not on, any account be put into practice just at the end of the year, when, as usual, all annual accounts are settled, and a good result cannot reasonably be pected at this particular time.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.