Our latest advices from private sources are to the following effect Things are still in a very unsatisfactory condition in the south of the Island. Bri-bandage is assuming large proportions, and it is absolutely unsafe to send valuable goods, still less money, to places even a short distance from the port, Having lost $12,000 to $15,000 at the hands ut highway-robbers, the foreign merchants, finding it utterly impossible to get any redress from the local officials, have petitioned the British Consul, who also represents nee every other nationality, to move Peking in the matter, and meanwhile trade, though not absolutely brought toa standstill, is, as may be supposed, most seriously hampered. The officials seem neatly powerless, or unwilling, to take action. A robbery of upwards of $5,000 was committed in broad daylight by a band of brigands, in full view of one of the gates of Kaghi. It is said the city guard were assembled on the wall gazing at the nefarious proceedings. The gates were shut, being only opened after the robbers had made off with their booty! An official with his escort then sallied forth, making a great pretence of examining the debris. Nothing further, however, was done, nor has any attempt since been made, (though a great part of the treasure was foreign-owned), towards either obtaining the property or giving redress. discontented state, sympathise mor The people, in their present highly
or less with the marauders, as they (the former) are ready to do with anyone opposed tu the Government, and so we hear of conflicts with the authorities on all sides. Another very serious sign of The immediate cause of the demonstra~ tions so rapidly becoming general among, the people is, principally, the attempt to: levy land tax. In justice, it must be ad~ mitted that the Governor seems, primd facie at least, to have right on his side, for hho has not, it appears even on the people's: imposed any heavier cess: than was previously levied.
BLE. now only asks for the old rate, but: he insists on this being based on the'true measurements, to secure which he has ordered a new and strict survey of all lands, in lieu of the returns practically made' by the proprietors themselves and undoubtedly falsified by them, but on which the former calculations were founded, Asa result of this investigation, the amount of tax actually due is shown to be siderably more than was previously paid, While openly avowing the fraud originally practised, the people still resent bitterly its detection and amendment; and, save in districts immediately adjoining military camps, absolutely decline to pay anything.
If this were the only ground for popular discontent, the Governor would be entitled to sympathy, for clearly he must have money, and if it is legitimately used, the people ought to cheerfully supply it.
Some vf the Weiyuens sent to make the re-surveys have had a bad time of it, eve tually being forced to flee, leaving their work but half-done, or in many cases unbegun, Land is classed under four grades, according to its proximity or access to constant water supply.
Thus the first class includes all ground close to perpetual supply of water and so-comparatively independent of rainfall.
No. 2.—Where the land is only inferior to No, Lin so far as the water has to be directed to its destination with some little trouble or labour.
No. é.—Where the irrigation may be partially supplied by standing sources of water, involving, however, a good deal of labour, and for the rest dependent on rainfall.
No. 4.—Is entirely dependent on rainfall, and this class is again divided into two sub: classes; (") where the rainfall is sufficient, or its storage sufficiently practicable to allow of a crop of rice being grown, and (b) where the irrigation, though never teaching a point permitting of rice cultivation, stil allows of such crops as potatoes, peanuts, being raised.
The following is the rate charged for each class per chia:—(FA)
No.1= 308) A chia' is 100 "koa,"
258 square. It appears thata 208 }koa" is purely a local No. 4 (a) 168 [standard used for land.
Measurement in Formosa is in reality two feet larger than in China, a king, being equal to seven Chinese feet.
H.E. Liu Ming-chuan's voluntary or enforced neglect of this part of the island has no doubt contributed largely to the state indicated. The rumour that he was going to dredge Takow lagoon and run a railway between that place and Taiwanfu had a yood effect for a time, but seeing nothing done, and hearing nothing further about the project, popular report has it that the survey and professions made were only pretexts to favour or cover increased
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.