The old Chinese New Year is still the real new year with the They look forward to it as earnestly as they did 13 or 2 years ago before the Republic was formed and the calendar changed. 'The custom of pai nien' seems passing to be way, but there much is just as feasting and vil and probably the past few years as the country is quieter and people are able to return to their old homes. This several years.
The latest report from all parts of this county is that opium is not being grown this year. Some was planted in the southern part of the county but the official went personally and had it all rooted out. To the north of the river where I have travelled there none being grown along the main roads and everyone reports the country clear of it. Large quantities are being brought in from Kueichow by the military and sold here. I was informed the other day that there were very few shops in the city which did not have a supply of opium. the smoking habit is much more common than it was two or three years ago. Society ladies are taking to it and ab their feasts it is a common thing for them to persuade guests to have a smoke. Lhe evil efforts of the growing of opium last year are very wide spread.
This week we have had a change of bot!
civil and military officials. The civil official leit in the night. He had some difficulty with the military official over money and slipped away. The military official sent some soldiers after him but they failed to intercept him. This man had a geod name as an official, but it is very difficult to meet all che demands of the military. This is the second official in succession who has left During the past few days we have had light rains which have greatly delighted the farmers. The vegetable which they pickle for the Shanghai market is already cut and is now drying on the racks. There is not nearly so much this year as last, as the price last year was not high and no out cares to go into the enterprise.
Tue rumour that the Nippon Yusen Kaisha and other shipping companies will shortly amalgamate is denied. It is suggested, however, that possibly various steamship companies outside the subsidized Stesmship Companies' Union will amalgamate in order to compete with foreign shipping companies which are now making preparations to renew their activities in the Pacific and other waters where Japanese shipping held sway during the war.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.