Kiukiang, Feb, 28.
The taxes collected in Kiangsi Province for the 14th year of the Republic are as. follows:—Kiangsi Native Customs $97,234: tax on tobacco and wine $830,735; toll on transportation $1.255,021; stamp duties $163,639." 'Thus the total sum received' by the Kiang: Treasury is $2,317,229, wien is only three-fifths of the total received in the 23th year of the Republi It i generally believed that the reason of the great falling off of to the famine conditions prevailing through this conditions in this province for the last year (Chinese) in general were very bad and panicky. Business everywhere was dull, except for the limited few. Poor people and beggars are seen in groups here and there, erying and begging for alms. 'Rice is going up terribly in some places, from $7 or $8 to $15 or $16 per' picul. Prices of meat and vogel tables are also going up this year. Almost everything this year is much more expensive than last, anything from 25 to 100 per cent. higher. Poor popple, the great majority in any find it very hard to ime. Besides, bandits appear everywhere, sometimes in city and sometimes in the country, Kiukiang is practically a gate of Kiangsi. Goods, both imported and exported, have to pass here. Many poor people from inland come here to seek their living. Moved by the poverty-stricken condition of the city, Gen. Teng Ju-tso has given out about $1,000 from his own Pocket and some $1,000 from other officials to establish a "Work Place for the Poor." Chang Shio-sung, a famous member of the local gentry, is elected head of this pi Experts in handicraft are en; to teach these people all industries, such as making rattan chairs, woodwork, furniture, bamboo work, ete. Several hundred people have come in order to learn a way of earning their living.
Just a few days before the China New Year, the Famine Relief Committee received some money from other places through the Committee at Nanchang, and a sum of $500 from Gen. Teng's mother, given out by her who gave out the last year's birthday presents. Quantities of rice and 10-copper notes were distributed to the beggars. One of the distributors is said to have had his clothes nearly torn of him by these beggars, in their eagerness to get the money and food.
The Shanghai-Wusih long distance telephone service will not be thrown open to the public yet, owing to the fact that, in order to provide efficient service, the company hag decided to change the wires. Further, the Ministry of Communications' has ordered postponement of the opening of the service until April.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.