Tsingtao, Dec. 29.
At the moment Tsingtao ie rench beeer with ramours of some impending calamity to the Chinese Government and people. It is impossible to locate the source of the ramours, bat they wre very rife and are having more or less effect on business transactions, a considerable portion of the merehante, particularly the retail desiers on whom the importers depend, being afraid to linyest in foreign goods. The latest warning as to trouble impeadiog par-ports to come from Shanghai, and takes the usual form of prophecy that the country is to be. divided. It is impossible, of course, to understand what. the purpose of these reports is, but seems more than probable: that ib is scheme of come of the meny agitetore who hope to take advantage of a disturbed erate to forward their desired ends. Whatever the cause it is most unfortunate in ite effeota, The paralyxing effect on business and: activities falls where it can most ill be borme, It will probably not affect the expert basines, Peanuts are being exported now in large quantities, The total will probably exceed that of last year, the ares devoted to these wae much larger. They are, however, of an inferior quality owing to the very unfavourable season. This industry seems capable of almost unlimited develop. ment, as large areas of the Province are specially adapted to their cultivation.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.