Rain ing the last six weeks has beet nil. This has been detrimental to both fruit avd vegetables. Apricots, peaches, and plums are poor and scarce. The baa Marrows and melons which by this respect for market gardeners is decidedly
time should be coming into market, are finding it bard to survive the heat and drought. The Honan experts in this industry are complaining. The partial dearth has raised price. of most things. Heavy rains just now would suva the situation and be as gold to the turmers. Much longer delay Will mean. poor crops of rice. 'I'he only rains filled all ponds, and gave abundance of water far transplanting the rice and several itrigntions Among the hills stored rains may be sufficient, but in the lowlands rice is dry and will soon be dead. Now only do crops suffer. We, too, are dried up. The south wind blows blows. blows, making it intensely hot, and unpleasantly sunny. You wish the south wind were any other, or else rain, Little Excitement: have been several little excite-and around the city.
—Two runners coucerneidin getting 'a murder cise settled worked (2) tov slowly to satisfy several of their not less rapacious comrades. Fees needed by the latter were not forthcoming when expected. The excuses of the two runners were unsatisfactory. The result has been two thousand blows each, a spell in prison, disgorging of the fees, and the settlement of the case.
'Secondly:—There is a small rising thirty miles from towards Hankow. The local officials, acting under the chihsien's orders, have been trying to convert the chuin' on military farms, as per edicts, into ming or civil farmsteads. 'This has meant mosuring farms, issuing deeds, and selling that which w.s illegally held.' A thousand men surrounded. the registry office, and the r to flee, The chihsien has gone down and is detained there, some say forcibly. A battalion from Hsiongyoungfu has been sent for. As usual "li disses of travellers from fear of danger are leaving the district severely alone, feeling it to be discreet to travel another route. comed the large raven-like birds which are Another excitement more especially con-
a pest here. Fruit of trees and young chicks were the objects of their ceaseless raids. A neighbour, who because of the abundance of his fruits and the number of his chicks suffered most, determined to be equal with as well as rid of them. The! attack was made from all sides of their residental tree. Five large nests were destroyed. The birds seemed to wonder what was coming next. We are much quieter for the raid, and chicken much safer in their walks abroad.
White Herons. heavier than boat transit would be, the saving of taxes is such, that it can be put on the market at a cheaper rate, Capable, Fearless, and Ho est.
The capable chuchou of Chinmenchou has been summoned again to Wuchang. He passed through a day or two sit Rumour says some nonsuited rich has charged hin with malpractice. "The best and most cap ble of men are not safe from such chi Alas that some suffer through such unjust charyes and are dismissed from office. Capable, fearless, und honest, this chuchou deserves well of his superiors. This praise is in the mouth of the common folk and the oppressed.
The Cholera.
There is deal of sickness in both villages aud.town. Cholera is becoming prevalent. There were four deaths from this disease in one household of five week ago.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.