The Customs station at Wuch'ang for the levy of tonnage dues on junks was originally assessed to yield an annual revenue of Tis, 33,000, "to which was subsequently added & supplementary estimate of Tis, 12,000, making a total of fis. 45,000. The station was closed during the rebellion, and on its being re-opened in 1865, permission was granted to the authorities to disregard the old assessment and simply make a return of whatever duties they received, As recently a8" 1884 the annual revenue amounted to only Tls. 18,000. In 1886 the Board made inquiries respecting the want of elasticity in the receipts, and new Prefect named Li Vu-fen was installed at Wuch'ang, who has succeeded in raising a much larger revenue than any of his predecessors, as will be seen from the following figures. In 1885 the receipts amounted to Tis, 30,298, in 1886 they rose to Tls. 40,909, in 1887 they were Tls. 41,490 and last year they again rose to Tis 45,728, which shows a considerable margin over and above the original assessment, The Protect is considered to be deserving of great praise for his success in resuscitate ing the revenue, especially when it la ro-membered that steamers and Ningpo lorchas are daily monopolizing a greater share of the traffic on the Yangtze. Whether, having regard to this fact, it will be possi: dle to maintain the present high standard, it is impossible to forecast, but it is asked that the Prefect's services so far should be recognised by the bestowal of some fitting reward.—Gravited a. d referred to the Boa-d.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.