Peking, June 19.
It is reported that the farm crops. in the district of Pactaochen, Sui yuan. Province, have—sustained heavy damage owing to the severe cold" accompanied by the heavy snow, about six inches which has swept over the district intermittently since the beginning f this month, Coupled the famine the sudden of cold, weather has placed the inhabitants. in extreme difficulties, and rumours are current among" old-fashioned Chinese to the effect that ti present summer snow foreshadows a great disturbance in the country.—Rengo. week, but as there was enough cash to meet all the depositors, the is now over. These two banks have benefited by the run because the terests on deposits are confiscated payment before due date.
Hongkerg, June 19.
The Government's proposal that the duties on all unmanafactured tobacco be increased by 60 per cent. and the duties on manufactured tobacco by 33 per cent. was approved by the Legislative Council today.
The first reading of the Ordinance providing for a taxation of 15 cents a gallon. on light hydro-carbon oils, including gasoline, was also passed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.