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Some trouble occurred at the end of December in connection with the opening of a gospel hall by the Church Missionary Society at Ch'uanchou, which roused the opposition of the local gentry. The matter was brought to the notice of His Majesty's Minister by Bishop Bannister, who was at Peking at the time, and who had received a report on the subject from the Rev. P. Stevens, the Church Missionary Society's agent at Yungchou-fu, Hunan. Sir John Jordan has requested the Wai-chiao Pu to direct the Tutu to issue a proclamation removing any doubts of the people of Ch'uanchou as to the right of the mission to carry on work in that town; and has instructed the acting British consul at Wuchow, who is cognisant of the facts of the case, to endeavour to effect an amicable settlement on the spot.
Pakhoi
Owing to the severity of the martial law and the ruthless execution of any robbers apprehended, the country round Pakhoi has remained quiet. The number of executions in that district since the establishment of the republican administration is estimated at at least 3,000, and the people are thoroughly overawed thereby. The law courts are not held in high esteen, and have recently suffered further in prestige by the dismissal of the judge for being concerned in selling Government rifles to the villagers, ostensibly for their protection against robbers.
The trade route to Kwangsi, through Lingshan, is now secure and inland trade ia reviving. A series of roads are projected, which should prove of great advantage to the district if properly maintained, but so far little headway has been made, owing to lack of funds. Two municipal roads are being surveyed to Yamchow and Kaochow respectively, some 7 miles of the latter having been commenced.
A good deal of petty outlawry has been reported from Kaochow and Leichow, and a company of soldiers has been sent from Limehow to reinforce the military at Leichow. In the middle of October band of outlaws ambushed the Kaochow troops, captured a field-gun, and killed fifty or sixty men. This incident was much exaggerated and led to a panic in the country-side, which happily was ended by the arrival of 1,000 fresh troops from Canton. Since then an excellent rice crop has been gathered and the district has been fairly quiet, to such an extent that 182 delegates to a bible- workers' conference at the American mission at Kaochow went up and returned to their homes unmolested.
The elections are rousing very little enthusiasm. The Teng Meng Hui is being organised as the official successor to the Kuo Ming Tang, with the object of assisting the Government in countermining the efforts of the Triad Society.
Kiungchow.
The district of Kiungchow has been subjected to the usual disturbances and piracies from which it never appears to be entirely free. The most serious trouble is in the neighbourhood of Dingan, near Kiungchow, and in the district of Ling-sui, in the south-east of Hainan.
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