Shaohsing, Feb. 21.
The luna new year holidays sre now over for the majority, although number of idle folk are to be seen about the open stalls on the street examining the gaudy articles sull on sale. Many of tne shops had great duifcuities at the end of the year balancing their accounts jand sought out their debtors unt) late hows. A number of the shops have not yet opened; others have changed "management or found new owners. Two of the largest snops in the city have been organized and overhead expenses cut cown to the lowest ugure an order Wo make a fight for business in tne new year.
Debis outstanding and other losses haVe amounted to some tens Mcusands of dollars. It is sad. that Flee, On and some general snops are aport a good All the efforts made to stimulate trade failed to attract doliats 10 te as the farmers were unable to buy large quantities of anything. rose wno hive come recently som the country districts report tat te 4ot of many is very bitter indeed, as Woey are reduced to earing Tons certain grasses and herbs which are pulverized and then cooked, Relief in very meagre proportions has come frum the government, but 4 is 20 inadequate' that In cases where 100 people are reported vary needy only' twenty relief tickets given to them and then for not more than a ten catty measure of maize, One Feporting this condition said that he trusted some outside philan agency would come to thelt aid.
No wonder eases of highway robbery are found taking place, Yesterday a young fellow returned late to school' because his home had een robbed a week ago by an armed party with thirteen" shot guns, Five hundred dollars just received as rent for the new year ico land were carried off, a servant killed and the owner wounded in the leg.
Owing to the mild season vegetables have been remarkably cheap.
ore who Kept produce like tea, Silk, and paper to" the end of the year hoping for higher prices were disappointed. In some paris" the scarcity of money meant that pork was offered for sale at seven cuttles for a dollar only halt the usual price.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.