To the Editor of the "Nonra-Cutva Dany News."
Sm,—From the Municipal Council Minutes of the 27th Jaly, it appears the Chou Fang Chi Tax Office (which should not exist) has been illegally levying taxes within the foreign Settlements ever since 1866, with the full knowledge and consent of successive Shanghai Taotais and their superiors. If this be so, surely the foreign Consuls, through their Ministers at Peking, can reclaim the amount from the Chinese Government and enforce its payment, and confiscate it as is customary with any money similarly obtained, and this should be done promptly.
This money could then be devoted to the carrying out of the most approved scheme for the Conservation of the Huangpu, from its mouth to the Arsenal, and for its upkeep afterward, which would benefit alike both foreigners and Chinese.
It would not be necessary to ombarrass the Chinese Government by demanding its immediate payment, as all the money required for the present would be to cover the works as they proceed, and the expenses of the Conservancy Board generally.
The balance, under suitable security, could remain at say 7 per cent interest, until fully paid up in a sories of years as agreed upon. The money necessary for the current expenses of the works being drawn as required.
This would be an easy way of solving the difficulty of finding the money for the complete scheme of preserving this valuable river, which is go essential now railways are on the programme, for the shipment of thousands of tons of cargo they will bring to this port, and for the shipping bringing imports they will carry ack.
The Chinese generally will benefit infinitely more than foreigners from this useful appropriation of a disgraceful squeeze, and therefore they will raise no valid objection to it.
Tam, ete., Frepx, J, Buror.
8th August.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.