ie Specially translated for the Herald.)
16th March.
RELIEF OF DISTRESS NOOK CHINKIANG, The high authorities of the province of Kiangsu report what they have done in th way of relieving the distress prevalent near Chinkiang, that is to say in Tant'u, Tanyang and portions of the districts adjoining. As was recorded in the Gusefte some t yo, the Emperor devoted to this object {ty thousand piculs of tribute rice to-wether with the mon been paid for the east of conveying it to Peking. Int the sane time the Viceroy and the Governor instituted a relief fund, 10 which they and their sub-ordin atributed sums from their ficial pay chants were also st aly urged tosubseribe, under the promise of marks of distinction i return fur the do were carefully conducted by special officers, who ascertained that in Tant'u the adults in need of relief numbered 141,700 souls, and the children 80,300. Auong the former were 7,300 persons whose destitution was stich a8 to require exceptional treatment. At Tanyang the adults in need were 70,200. children 43.000, As a first step a distribution of money was made at about the end of December, 400 cash to the extremely poor, and 300 cash to the rest, To the children one half the above was given. In addition to the direct gifts of money further measures hare been adopted. The two districts are traversed by many water-courses, which need to be cleared out, Eighty thousand men have Leen told off to this work fur which they will receive regular wages. They will commence upon the Grand Canal, as soon as ever a.survey has been ande, and afterwards will go on to the smaller creeks, as funds allow. Also twenty-tive thousand strings of cash wre being spent in keeping alive draught cattle, which the owners would otherwise be forced to kill because of their inability at the moment to feed them, though they will be urgently wanted for ploughing as suen as the spring FUNDS SENT TO SHANST FOR TOOK WeLtEE.
A Decree of the Emperor refers tu the distress occasioned by the failure of the harvest last yenr in parts of central Shansi and still mare in the northern portion of the province outside the Great Wall. His Majesty is aware that the poor people have suffered terribly, and he fears that they will have even greater difficulty in supporting themselves during the long period Which must elapse before next summer's harvest can be ripe. He therefore desires the Board of Revenue to send a sum of Tls. 100,000 to the Governor of the Pro-nee, who will cause it to be expended in relief wherever he finds it is must required.
REMITTANCE FROM SZECHUAN 10 KUEILMOW, The Governor-General of Szechuan states that he has sent to Kueichow the sum of Ths. 150,000, whi the subvention that [he is annually required to furnish to the vernment of the latter province. Thy oniey was taken from the likin ow salt 18th March.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.