The rain of the past fow days has doubtless been responsible for a slight reduction in the price of rice, which chad risen this summer to abnormal proportions; but prices still ave very high. On Sunday, the dest grades were quoted at about $19 compared with $20 five days ago and the inferior quality at $14 in comparison with $16 at the end of last week The Shanghai District Magistrate, Mr. Wai Tao-fung, has just issued a proclamation threatening hoarders and smugglers of rice with immediate arrest and severe punishment if they are detected, Similar action will also be taken against merchants who attempt to corner the market and force prices higher than $19. Such offenders will be handed over to the Allied military court at Lung. hua for trial. Mr. Wai has instruct ed the members of the Shanghai and Woosung Police to sce that the words of this proclamation are car-10 effect, by supervising and checking the transactions of the rice merchants each day, With a view to regulating prices, Mr. Wai has sent. representatives to the surrounding districts to investigate the next crop. Farmers who have sustained losses as result of the typhoon, the heavy rains and insect pests; will be given every assistance in order that they may produce an especially good crop for the next season.
In the course of a proclamation, Dr. V. K. Ting says that many rumours are being spread with a view to causing alarm among. the public. The rumour mongers are saying that stocks are nearly exhausted and that no new stocks are ig 80 that a rice famine may expected. These rumours are entirely false, says Dr. Ting, for, though the rice situation is serious, it is not so bad as it has been painted. AN rumour mongers will be severely punished if arrested. so all are warned against sprew@- ing false reports.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.