At ordinary times, the shops dealing in foreign merchandise in the Chinese territory have never been as prosperous as those in the foreign settlements. Since the report about the introduction of a new imposition called the Destination Tax on foreign goods became known, most of the shops which are well-off had thought of transferring their b ness to the Settlements, whilst vent shops could only put up their shutters as a last resort. There is also that class of shops which have been struggling hard, or in v ugh to cover expense they seized this opportunity as xt for attempting to return the unsold and unsaleable goods, and to repudiate or cancel orders and contracts, and to refuse to take delivery of goods already arrived. A great storm was hovering over the market. Fortunately the levy was postponed by order of the Government, and the storm has sub sided.
Preliminary Election, With regard to the holding of the preliminary election for the Lifayuan, Mr. Shen Pao-chang, the Supervisor, held a conference in hi yamen with the Headmen of the four towns and eighteen villages of the Shanghai district, to discuss the mode of procedure to be adopted. at 3 p.m, on January 18, After some discussion, it was unanimoi ly decided first to make investiga tions as to the eligibility of voters, that the Headmen of the towns and villages should each be responsible for doing this task to cover their respective regions, and that no investigetors need be appointed, in order to save expenses.
Jan, 92.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.