Some time ago, the National Ber. can of Irrigation was established in Peking in view of the importance of irrigation of the land and the official status of the Bureau was shown by its inclusion in the official system promulgated last year, as on record. As the area of our country is very large and extensive, interspersed with waterways of very great lengths, branch irrigation offices are provided for establishment in various districts. These offices are os-! sentially the branches of the National Bureau of Irrigation; hence in the appointment or discharge of officials from such offices, the Governors of the provinces concerned should consult the Head Office as a matter of course for the purpos= of; Chiangchiinfu.
Let the Ministries concerned communicate with the National Bureau of Irrigation for mutual consultation and assistance, so as to prevent) misunderstanding.
The chief object is to have all the waterways, large and small, well irrighted.
Tet the Chengshitang instruct the Legislative Office to fix the official status of the directors of branch irrigation offices in the provinces as that of officials who are appointed by the President upon recommenda tion, the next time when the list of civil officials is being revised. Thus, when a vacancy in this directorship should occur, the Governor of the province must select a fitting official and propose him to fill it by consulting the National Bureau of I rigation; and when the consent of the Bureau is obtained, a joint recommendation of that official for the vacancy shall be presented to the President by the Governor and the Bureau, thereby emphasizing the "rear importance of this office and duty.
Peking, Jan. 15.
By order of the President:—
(1) Major-General #4 171 Chief of the General Staff of Japan, is hereby given the Chiaho Decoration of the 2nd class.
(2) Lieutenant-General Vice -Minister of War of Japa hereby given the Wenhu Decoration of the ud class.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.