Since last writing the business hongs in the City have been put into " futter business man irom Hohk'iuhsien, representing a firm there, had purchased a foreiga Customs pass at Chinkiang for a large amount of native oil, and having failed to procure the require! amount came into the neighbouring district, but still in the same prefecture, to buy so 30,000 catties, the balance still required. Having completed his purchase at one of the hongs, he took his Customs permit to the local mandarin to get it stamped, but this official refused to affix his seal to allow it to go down by water free of duty, on the ground that though he held a Customs permit for the adjoining district and still In this prefecture, yet it was not for this district, and so it nad nothing to do with him. Having failed in this he decided that he would his oil by land, as in this district (opium excepted) there. are no land Castoms duties. Carts were hired and the oil was taken away. A day or no after runners from the Custom house officer appeared at the hong " to after the oil, On being told that it had been sold te a customer who had taken.it sooth, these runners said there was duty due upon it. The "hong" denied this, but anyhow Promised to send after his customer and ring him back; this done, a demand was made for customs duty and refused, on the plea of a foreign customs permit, and that no duty was ever levied on oil being taken by land im this district. The customer then came to see me and asked my advice. I did not lay claim to know much about imereantile affairs, but advised him as he could not fight the official, to quietly pay the demand under protest and ask for a receipt and present the same at Chinkiang at the place where the permit had been purchased an evidence of an illegal charge. This satisfied him, and he went away and asked for a reevipt, whereupon he was told that it did not matter, but as the "hong" Ind sold him the oil, the "hong" must pay duty. Of cause' they objected, and the Customs official took the matter to. the city magistrate, where it was decided in' his favour." Very well, the hong would make no further objection, but pay what every one considered "a squeeze," which according to the Customs permit should at their calculation be 18,000 cash. But no, the official demands duty at the rate of an additional 24,000 cash. Very well, we'll pay it. But wait a minute; you did' not pay on first demand, so you must pay a fine of 30,000 cash, be: sides of course your own expenses." Of course all the business people are indiytant, and say it is most unfair, but, who can fight officialdom and live 3ist October.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.