25th May. Tax Returns for the first quarter of 1898 were courteously sent us yesterday by the Statistical Department, and at the first glance it is unsatisfactory to find that the total revenue collected by the Foreign Customs was nearly 'I's 150,000 less than in the corresponding quatter of 1897, although for the first Paunt time the four ports on the West River and Szemao come into the tables this ear, But the collection is still fully Us. 100,000 larger than in 1896. Again, it is noticeable that it is mainly to a decline of imports at Shanghai that the falling-off is due. At Shanghai the collection was a full quarter of a million of taels less than Inst year, and Tls. 100,000 of this was made up at the other ports, Asa rule, at half of the ports there is a loss and at half again, but this year out of the thirty ports from which returns are now received, seventeen show an improvement and only eight a decline, while five appear for the first time, The fortunate ports are Lientsin, Chefoo, Chungking, Ichang, Shasi, Hankow, Kiukinng, Soochow, Ningpo, Hangchow, Wenchow, Foochow, Swatow, ton, Kiungchow, Lungchow, and Méngtze the unfortunate are Newchwang—where nothing was collected—because the port opened Inter this year—Wuhu, Chinkiang, Shanghai, Amoy, Pakhoi, Kowloon, and Lappa; and the five new ports, which altogether contributed nearly "Tls. 60,000, are Wuchou, Samshui, Kongmoon, Kumchuk, and Szemao. The returns from these new ports are certainly an encouragement to the Government to go on opening ports. It will be noticed that Soochow too, which seemed as if it would never help the revenue much, has come up from a total of some 'I's. 8,500 in 1897 to Ins. 25,000 in 1898, It is decidedly satisfactory to see that the opening of the West River, and the collection at its four ports of some 'I'ls, 55,000, is necompanied by a sensible improvement at Canton, Méngtze continues to prove its importance, the collection there being 'I's. 41,600 this year, against 'I's. 27,500 last year. For similar details, however, it is simpler to refer our renders to the following list, where the comparison is made, as on former occasions, for three years Report of Dues and Duties, January-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.