HE. Li Hung-chang anxiously enquired in Canada about the proposal which has been mooted to increase the -poll-tax..on Chinese.from fifty.to five and the same cleared, in 1895. ~The import of opiam was 'Pls, 125, against Ple. 109 last year. 'There was a {general increase in cottons; ~woollens, and metals, while sundries' also showed 8 general "improvement... In exports there was a very marked. advance in eggs,. and an advance in sugar, while fowls and pigs. were: stationary, Of transit passes, 27 were. surrendered, against 24 in 1895 and 36 in 1894. Silver was imported to the value of Tls: 4,067 and exported to the value of Tle. 73,771.
At Pakhoi' the collection showed a considerable falling-off, mainly under import duty, 'I'he tonnage entered and cleared was nearly tryice: as much as in 1895. Of opium, Pls. 33 were imported against Pls. 87 lust year. There was a marked decline in the import of cotton goods, including yarn, and woollens. while metals.were: up to last year.: Sundries were on the whole well maintained, with a considerable increase in'keroséne oil and rice. Exports on the whole showed a decline,. Of transit; passes, 68 were issued against 52 in 1895 and 60 in 1894. The treasure table shows an export of gold to the value of Tls. 481,-and of silver. to. the value of Tls. 147,976.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.