Someone down river seems to have been giving the censors work, if reports are to be believed, for a number of printed pages have come addressed to different people. 1t is said these printed pages contain some ten reasons for doing away with opium in Kueichow. I have tried hard to procure a copy, but there are very few about, for the censors did their work well.
In this connexion it is well to mention that some important news has come to hand about a large quantity of opium exported from Kueichow during November or December. It was confidently expected that, having the drug packed in sealed ting in_ the soldiers' knapsacks, that there would be nothing to fear from the Maritime Customs. The officer in charge has written to say he has received information that leads him ito believe the Customs folk are ready to seize the opium, so he can only go as far as Changteh What a pity measures cannot be taken to destroy the opium crop this season, for, with so much opium exported from the province last year, the stock in hand would soon give out if there were no returns from the opium now under cultivation. Offices are to be opened in all the opium. producing centres for the purchase of opium, and are called Chiao-yi-so. The head office in the capital is called Chiao-yi-ch'u. These offices are under government supervision, and consequently people say the opium is purchased by the government. The nigger at the guessing competition said, "When I sees shells, then I guesses eggs," and he was right every time. The common folk think, if they do not say, When I see government supervision then I guess government interest."
PexING, Jan. 28.—The Government is despatching tha Chinese Red Cross to Manchuria to _cooperate with the American Red Cross in the relief of Russian refugees.—Reuter. able to appoint a Civil Governor here who can gain the support of the larger body_of militarists and the leaders of the great parties. Chaos will reign. The railways will have many managings directors, a civil office many heads and a dozen hands will be outstretched to collect the proceeds when one person pays the tax.—Reuter. s*. The above letter provides an interesting commentary on events leading up to the Cheng Hsueh Hui coup @'état and expulsion of the and Hu Han-ming recorded on Monday.—Ed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.