'Tao Mu, Viceroy of Shen-Kan, reports that certain sub-prefectures and districts belonging to Kansu province have hid their crops destroyed' by hail and rain 80 that the summer and autumn of last year produced very scanty harvests. Relief has been organised to be distributed in the districts suffering from scarcity of food, while those districts which have suffered only partial loss will be to pay their taxes at a later date, According to Tseng Ho, Provincial Treasurer, some twenty-two districts have suff-red loss in one way or the other, while the district, of Chanpéhsien, and the sub-prefectures of Haiinhua and Hochow, which have alas suffered, have been specially exempted from paying taxes for 1896 owing to the rebellion having been active in those places, The other districts will be allowed a delay to pay taxes in proportion to the extent of their losses.—Rescript: Let the Bourd of Revenue take note.
9th February.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.