The Viceroy of Chihli submits a memorial reporting the steps which had been of belonging to the Banner organi-taken in connection with the registrati
sation, and of unoccupied land in general throughout the province. He remarks that the amount of land in the hands of official or private persons which has been allowed to go out of cultivation, and consequently pay no land tax, is inconsiderable, Dut that there is a very large area of what is known as lao ch'iian ti, which through lapse of time has been so neglected og to escape payment of either rent or tax. A worse case still is the property originally held by the members of the Banner force. The Manchus in many instances effected secret sales of this to Chinese, and the latter have cultivated it for so many years that it is now impossible to discoverthecircumstances under which it came into their possession. After the withdrawal on two occasions of the restrictions against the sale of land by Manchus to Chinese, orders have been-frequently issued for having land of this kind duly registered, but. the malpractices of the government underlings have hitherto prevented much progress in this direction. Of late years a class of local harpies has arisen who prey upon the neighbouring farmers. by levying blackmail upon the cultivators of this kind of land, the abuses connected with which are well known to the Board of Revenue. Four years ago measure was introduced framing new rules for the levy of rent and land-tax in the province, and it was then stated that unless a' policy was adopted in accordance with the actual cir: cumstances of the case, several thousands of ching of public and private land in the neighbourhood of the capital, would yi no revenue either in the shape of tax. This proposal, having received the Imperial sanction, was enforced from the beginning of the 5th moon of the 15th Inter Decree was issued forbidding the ear of the present reign. A few months alienation of all land held by Imperial clansmen and Bannermen, whether acquired by purchase or by allotment at the time of the conquest of China by the Manchus. At the same ti Chinese who had bought land from Manchu owners previous to the issue of this decree were allowed a limit of six months within which they were to have the property registered in their own names and receive title deeds from the Board of Revenue. These instructions, the Viceroy remarks, while duly safeguarding the foundation on which the dynasty is based, showed a sympathetic crest in the welfare of the rural proprietor, and commanded the respectful admiration of all classes in the commit The limit of time was subsequently extende to eighteen months, so as to enable a thorough investigation being made in the interests of the public revenue, and this period having now expired, the Viceroy submits a statement of what has been done in the matter. From the beginning of the 5th moon of the 15th year of Kuang Hsii to the end of that year, altogether over 3,000 ch*ing of ind were registered, and during the following eighteen months ending with the fifth moon of the present year the area added to the land register rose to a total of 4,300 ching liable to a taxation of Tls. 16,488. The comparative smallness of the amount registered during the latter of the above Flem which the province suffered last year. periods is attributed to the inundations
In consideration of the difficulties attending registration under such circumstances, the Viceroy suggests that all property which is clearly shown to have passed from Manchu into Chinese hands before the date of the last prohibition on the subject shall continue to be enrolled in the land register, wherever it is proved that there was good cause for its not hi earlier. "He concludes by that the otticials who conduct otod the worl of registration should be rewarded, but the proposal is disapproved by the Emperor on the ground that it ell within their province as district officers.
20th September.
COLLECTION OF OCTROI DUTIES AT THE HATA
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.