(From the Foochow Echo of 7th inst.)
A fortnight ago we reported " scarcity of new and stated that the price lad advanced in consequence of the government granaries having been replenished by large purchases on the spot, The supplies since chen from the northern ports have been considerable and the price has receded 20 cents per picul, Wo are informed by the Hon. Secretary of the Foochow Native Hospital that $699 were subscribed in the concert room on ight, It has been said that the way to an Euglishman's pecket is through his—well, by giving him plenty to eat and drink; but itis evident that the pocket of the cosmopolitan Foochow resident has been reached by the charms of music on hig benevolent heart.
A mandarin specially appointed to lock into the much complained of spurious-cash nuisance has been employing detectives to find out persons passing these coins which has resulted in eight proprietors of money-changer' stalls being arrested and their possessions confiscated.
The respectable exchange-shops, knowing the matter was being closely looked into, have been careful not to be caught.
We hear that the well-to-do amongst. the competitors at the late examinations have returned to the prefect the money allowed them by the government for their mai tain ance, begging him to hand it to the Viceroy with x respectful request that the sum nay be remitted to Peking by his Excellency for distribution amongst the sufferers by the late floods in the neighbourhood of the capital. The sum is said ty amount to 900 taels.
Some of the competitors in the late examinations from the south of the province who intended to return to thei homes by sea have found some difficulty getting away. 'The accommodation in' th steamers which have left since the examina-tiens concluded has been insufficient to take so great a number and many still remain, The Viceroy has come to the rescue of the Formosa competitors by arranging for two of the Imperial cruisers to convey them across, one of which is to goto North and the other to South Formosa. His Excellency has made this known by placarded notices.
'A not uncommon fraud is being practised on the people by a sharp native who has" pernianent home in Foochow, or if he has it cannot be discovered. Ho represents himself as a relative of the Provincial Treasurer and by way of enforcing a squeeze threatens ta denounce innocent people as rogues,. His Excellency has heard of this and has had proclamations extensively posted about informing the people that he hano relations in oochow and that he had given orders to have the man representing himself as one to be arrested. Unfortunately the man cannot be found. The game is played out, and he is probably busy elsewhere for a time.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.