Although we have had, and are having, plenty of rain, the price of rice continues to rise and as there is very little wheat to steady the price we cannot conjecture how 'd high it will go.
Four months must elapse before the autumn harvest, and the outlook is decidedly ominous The Central Relief Association folk are very busy planning relief methods and it is expected that they will commence distributing relief in the most needy places' at an early date. Permission has been granted to send free telegrams if the message contains the word relief.
It is reported that the magistrate of the Hsihfeng is being detained until it is decided what is to be done regarding his case. A soldier was caught looting and robbing near Hsihfeng and the magistrate had sufficient courage to execute him for his crimes. The crowd objected to the action on the grounds that the soldier was a military man and should have been handed over to the military authorities for punishment. Thinking to appease the colane the civil authorities decided to record two black marks against the magistrate, but the colonel regards their yielding that. much as an indication of weakness and is consequently a'king that the magistrate be punished for interfering with the soldier.
A Canon or Mixp.
Some weeks ago General Lu and others wired to Shanghai inviting Brig-General Chw to return to Kueichow. This gentleman was chief of the general staff in'Chungking and acting commander of the Kueichow forces during the absence of General Wang Wen-hua. When Mr. Chu arrived at Tungjen ko wired to General Lu announcing his arrival, but something appears to have caused him to change his plans for another wire has come stating he has found that health reasons compel him to return to the coast. There are those who whisper that Mr. Chu was not welcomed by some of the leaders as he would have to fill one of the leading positions in Kueiyang. Brig-General Chang, a Chihli man, and Chu were intimate friends, so many are wondering whether the former will remain in Kueichow or not. As he is stationed near the Szechuan border he will have no difficulty in retiring and may also advance health reasons, as the cause of his resigning his post.
Last week General Lu invited representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and gentry to an evening dinner. During the proceedings the Commander-in-chief produced several telegrams he had received from Hunan and Szechuan stating that no relief expedition will allowed to pass through those two provinces en route for Kueichow. After reading and commenting on the telegraphic messages General Lu called on all present to exert their influence in preventing rumours etc. The soldiers who were guarding the city gates have all been removed and the people are inclined to believe that there is no trouble to be feared from the outside world:
The new opium is on the market but business is not very brisk The merchants are not keen on risking their capital when it takes $800. to escort a load of opium (about 60 catties) from here te Changsha.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.