The Bureau of Rites has under its consideration the difficult task of drawing up a set of regulations with regard to five different kinds of ceremonies or etiquette to be observed on five different occasions. The work of drafting must be completed within thie year. The most difficult part of this work is that in reference to the ceremonies between host and guest, especially where the ex-Emperor Hesuan Tung is concerned. There is no prece dent discoverable in the hie tory of this country to fall back upon, while inquiries abroad at present are out of the question wher the European struggle is raging with unabated fury. The ceremonies observed at interviews between feudal lords in ancient times may be adopted on such occasions as a last resort. The Ministry of Communications.
A circular order has been issued by the above Ministry to all the always under its contro) authorizing reductions in transport charges on all kinds of native produce, such as silk, silk piece goods, rice, wheat, cloth, paper, ete, from date to end of February next year. The reductions will be effected by charging only 95, 90 and 85 per cent. of the fixed tariff.
The Peking-Hankow Railway has asked for permission to borrow the rails and other materials from those railways on which work is n0¥ suspended, for use in the construc: tion of two branch lines, namely, Chowchiakow-Yencheng and Ts huich'ang-Ch'angsingtien. The Ministry has just sanctioned this quest.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.