1002
NANNING
The net value of the trade of the port advanced from Hk. Tls. 1,544,000 in 1907 to Hk. Tls. 5,385,478 in 1910, but dropped to Hk. Tls. 4.700,517 in 1911. The trade of the port for 1915 was Hk. Tls. 7,798,661 as compared with Hk. Tls. 6,890,010 in 1914 and Hk. Tls. 7,600,752 in 1913, the previous record years; 1915 witnessed a perit d of reviving trade in most branches. In the staple exports the year was the most prosperous ever experienced. War conditions gave a stimulus to exports, and without doubt the most interesting development during the year in the export trade was the revival of shipments of antimony. The last few months of the year afforded antimony dealers great opportunities for money-making, and the keynote was a steadily rising market from the commencement of the third quarter. The only untoward circumstance about trade during 1915 lies in the fact that much of the prosperity is traccable to the European war. The shipping companies shared in the general prosperity and there was an active demand for tonnage In July a considerable amount of damage was done in the district as a result of storm and flood. It was not such a calamity as overtook the district in 1913, but distress amongst the Chinese population was real.
The bulk of the carrying trade is now done by motor boats, of which there is a fleet of 22 plying regularly throughout the year between Wuchow and Nanning, but rates of freight are low, and increasing competition caused by the building of new boats and the resultant cutting of prices have tended to operate to the disadvantage of the various shipping companies. The round trip can be made by motor boat from Wuchow in five to six days as against the journey by junk which takes about twenty days on the upward trip only. The only Europeans residing there at present are missionaries and the Customs staff, and one foreign firm.
Nanning is, next to Wuchow, the most important port on the West River. The site selected for the foreign settlement covers a very extensive arca and is situated where the old city formerly stood, about a mile distant from the present walled city. Whether the area set apart for international residence and trade is ever likely to be fully occupied it is perhaps early yet to say.
It is only to be expected that enhanced prosperity together with an influx of officials and well-to-do merchants consequent on the transfer of the capital from Kueilin, and a general spread of civilisation, should engender a desire to adopt a state of life similar to that enjoyed in other parts of the republic in closer touch with western ideas. The establishment of a number of new shops and the enlargement of others may be held to indicate that the city population is more eager than ever to supply itself with various imported articles which it has learned to recognise as rendering existence more comfortable.
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO Co.
J. H. Crocker
CONSULATES
FRANCE
府事頜國法大
DIRECTORY
Vice-Con.-M. P.J. Crepin (Lungchow)
GERMANY
Consul-Dr. W. Rössler (Res. at C'ton.)
官事領總利大義大
Tai-I-tai-li Cheung-ling-sz-kún
ITALY
Consul General-Cominendatore Z.
Volpicelli (residing in Canton)
CUSTOMS, MARITIME
Asst. in Charge R. F. C. Hedgeland
Medical Officer-Dr. H. Lechmere Clif Asst. Examiner-F. Campbell
MISSIONS
MISSIONS ETRANGERES
Monseigneur Ducœur, evèque Rev. Père Labully, Kouihien Rev. Père Barrière, Lungchow Rev. Père Albouy, Ouminfon Rev. Père Bibollet, Pingma Rev. F. Poulat, Kouihien
Rev. C. Pélamourgues, Sieoujen Rev. J. M. Epalle, Kiuchow Rev. A. Dalle, Nanning
Rev. H. Costenoble, Nanning Rev. L. Crocq, Taiping Rev. Auguin, Wuchow Rev. Barrés, Sanly Rev. Tessier, Lung-niu Rev. Humbert, Poseh