The Telegraph Administration is a standing joke for those who are not immediately concerned, and affected by their pranks, but for those affected it is more than a joke. An urgent telegram was presented at the office between the hours of 9 and 10 a.m., but it was handed back to the person presenting it with the explanation, The receiving clerk has not yet come to the office." It was presented later and the receipt reads 11 a.m., but the same urgent telegram was not delivered at Anshun, 80 miles away, until late in the afternoon. The sender of the telegram is laid up by severe illness, or he would ask for an explanation, especially as he had the privilege of paying $0.48 per word for an urgent telegram that went at a snail's pace in comparison with ordinary telegrams in other provinees. The whole working of the Administration needs to be investigated and reformed.
The people are rejoicing in the fact that the postal tariff has again been revised, fo the advantage of the senders of letters, etc., but they long for a return to former days, when it was possible to send parcels and fro without such prolonged delays en route, and the still greater ipooaibility of not receiving them at The Commissioner of Finance has informed all and sundry that all deeds must be re-stamped. Those stamped under the Manchu regime, and re-stamped after the inauguration of the Republic are not exempt. In order to manifest their leniency this matter the authorities are willing to take Kueichow Bank notes. These notes wil] soon be out of circulation, for they have been recalled, but in the meantime they are current coin for the stamping of deeds, ete. The question is being asked, "If the authorities intend opening two more banks, wh do they desire to recall these Kueichow Bank notes?" and echo answers "Why?"
During the last few days, several meetings have been held in the city for the purpose of protesting against the appointment of Gen. Liu Ju-yuan to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the border forces of Yunnan and Kueichow. Some little time ago, Gen. Yuan removed. Gen. Liu from office and now Marshal Tang of Yunnan has advanced Gen. Liu to this higher position without even consulting Gen. Yuan, or saying, "By your leave." It is feared that Gen. Liu may take any opportunity that ces itself for getting even with en. Yuan, and the latter is working things so that the protest will come from the different parties in Kueichow, and not from the government. Rumour has it that relations are somewhat strained between Kueichow and Yunnan.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.