'A Chengtu, capital of Szechuan province, dispatch states that the other day, owing to an order promulgated by Viceroy Hsi Liang to the sub-prefects and district magistrates of his province to report to him about the mineral resources, if any, within the j diction of each official, the district magistrate of Shuanglivhsien, named Chang Chin-fu, sent up to the Viceroy a petition declaring that as minerals were reposited in the by Heaven, meddling therewith would bring down Heaven's wrath upon the offenders. "The petitioner would therefore pray his Excellency, the Viceroy, to cancel at once his order, for fear of incurring the punishment of the gods." Instead of Viceroy Hsi Liang bringing the wrath of Heaven and the gods upon his own head, the petitioning district magistrate of Shuangliuhsien got it fall" upon his own devoted capt at the hands of his superior officer, the conservative petition being cast upon the floor by the enraged Viceroy as soon as read. This has put a stop to any further meditated obstruction by conservative mandarins to Viceroy Hsi Liang's scheme of developing the mineral resources of Szechuan, 30th June, The Lu-Han Railway in Honan Province, A Kaifeng, capital of Honan, corres. pondent reports that the Ninth Section of the Hankow-Peking Railway has been completed toa spot eighteen li, or six miles, south of the city of Chéngchou. The Railway people are now busy preparing the construction of a bridge near that city to cross the Yellow River, and between that city and a murker town called Hsinchéngpu two trains run daily carrying materials; and also any of the inhabitants who care to take free rides between the two points. It is stated that the trains are fully patronised by the inhabitants of the vicinity, who seem to be vastly pleased with the innovation and the rapid transit within their country brought by this railway.
The Defence of the North-western Provinces.
A Poking letter states that the Ministers of the Army Reorganisation Depart-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.