July 21, 1897.]
The appointment of Mr. A. Seth to be Act- ing Assistant Registrar-General and Deputy Registrar of Marriages is gazetted.
The death rate last month was, for the British and Foreign Community civil population, 25.5, and for the Chinese population 20.9
A proclamation is published in the Gazette revoking the proclamation of the 1st May de. olaring Swatow to be infected with plague.
Wuchow, we hear, is infected with public gambling houses, and the prevalence of gam- bling is said to be a great hindrance to the prosperity of that important trade centre.
The maximum temperature last month was 89.8, on the 5th, and the minimum 72, on the 29th, the mean for the mouth being 81.5. The rainfall amounted to 23.355 inches.
It is notified in the Gazette that Mr. N. J. Ede has been appointed a member of the Sanitary Bard for a further period of three years from the 17th June last.
On the 16th inst. the Douglas steamer Haitan (Captain Roach) was gaily decorated in honour of the 300th trip she has made from Hongkong to coast parts. The Huitan was built in 1887.
We understand that most of the Foochow machine made tea of which trial was to be made on the London market was shipped by the unfortunate steamer Alen, so that it will not be until further shipments go forward that it will be seen how this class of leaf is received. At the second annual general meeting of Bell's Asbestos Eastern Agency. Limited (carrying on business in Hongkong, Shanghai, and Singapore), which was held at the Company's offices. 18, Queen Victoria Street, London, EC.. on the 18th June, the report and accounts for the year ending 31st December, 1896, were adopted.
About ten o'clock on Friday night the firing of bombs and the discharge of rockets in Telegraph Bay caused considerable commotion amongst naval and police circles. A telephone message of the occurrence was received from Pokfulam at the Central Police Station and Inspector Duncan at once communicated with the water police. The rockets were also observed from the Peak by Commodore Holland and he telephoned to the Naval Yard giving instruc- tions for a launch to be despatched to Telegraph Bay with all haste. This launch and a police pinnace reached the spot in a short time, but they had to return with no sure information of the origin of the bombs and rockets. A certain hired launch, however, is suspected.
Mr. Master,· beat
An interesting match was brought off on the 15th inst. at the Happy Valley between Mr. Gray's Rockhall and Mr. Master's Codfish. Mr. Crane rode Rockhall and Mr. Master rode his own pony. The match was
a non-speculative one and was It will really a trial of the two ponies. be remembered that at the Diamond Jubilee Gymkhama last Saturday Rockhall, ridden by Codfish, ridden by Mr. Gedge, in the race for the Champion cup, and it was thought that if Mr. Master bad been mounted on his own pony that animal would have won the race. The result of the match proved Codfish to be the better pouy. Both jockies were weighed out at 10st. 12lbs. and Mr. T. F. Hough acted as starter. The distance was, a mile and a capital race resulted in Codfish getting home by a neck in the very good time of 2 mins. 9 7-16 secs.
The Singapore Secretary of the Raub Austra- lian Gold Mining Co., Limited, has received the following telegram from Raub, dated 8th July:" Crushing finished, 2,438 tons stone realized 2,120 ounces smelted gold." The Free Press says: It will be seen from the above that the value of stone put through the mill keeps well up, and indeed a long way over the half ounce standard that was formerly deemed a very decent payable quality for Raub. We would again point out, what the general public cannot be expected to understand or keep in mind, that the great bulk of the stone now going through the battery is stone that has to be removed, no matter what its valne, to make those horizontal tunnels or "drives," and those vertical shafts between level and level called "winzes" that are needed to give access and ventilation to the reef. The value of the out-turu at £3 18s. per ounce (possibly more as Raub Gold is of specially fine quality) would be £8,268 for the two months; or, say, at a two-shilling dollar $82,680.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
דיר :
the Registrar General's
On Saturday Mr. C. Osmund, first clerk in | EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO GREAT
department, was into the present scandal. interdicted from office, pending further inquiry
MISCELLANEOUS,
F
At Haiphong on the 6th July an explosion of gunpowder took place in a fireworks factory, in which work was actively proceeding in pre paration for the fetes of the 14th July. The factory itself was almost completely destroyed and the neighbouring houses much shaken, but no one was hurt except a native workman through whose carelessuass the accident occurred, and he was only slightly burnt.
A terrible danger, says the Batavia Neuws- blad, threatens sugar planters in Java, from a widespread disease which attacks the roots of the cane. The roots rot and the canes die. The cause of the disease is not known, nor has any remedy for it been found. The planters stand helpless before the disease, which may ere long bring on a failure of the sugar crop. It has already struck four provinces, and has broken ont even on well kept estates.
The Japan Advertiser's Hakodate correspon. dent, writing on June 26th, said:-Captain Melville F. Cutler and twenty-four of the crow of the British schooner Agnes McDonald arrived here to-day on board of the Japanese steamer Jinyu Maru. On the 20th, while the schooner was running for Akeshi during a dense fog, the roar of the surf was heard close by. The schooner was immediately brought to the wind and both anchors were let go in 18 fathoms of water. The wind, however, increased to a
·BRITAIN.
1897-98
1896-07
1b3.
Canton and Macao Shanghai and Hankow Foochow
1,827,448
7,559,606
lbs. 1,778,140 11,198,431
5 454,174
6,650,828.
14,811,228
19,627,399
EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
Shangbai Ainoy Focchow
1897-98
1896.97
lbs.
18.
2,489.194
1,721,012
3,883,984
2,506,945
1,328,68
2,634,556
7,701,246
6,862,513
EXPORT OF TEA FROM JAPAN TO-UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
1896-97 Jbs.
Yokohama
1897-98
lbs.
11,716,105 8,571,491
5,758,740 3,180,870
SILK.
17,471,845 11,752,304
SHANGHAI, 16th July. - (From Messrs. A. E. Burkill & Sons Circular).-London advices to 13th current quote a firm market, Gold Kilin 8/10, Blue Elephant 9/6. Raw Silk-Business during the week has ben confined to very small transactions. The market closes quiet with sellers of Gold Kilins at Tls. 405. Tsatlees.- 150/200 bales are settled at quotations. Tayanms. -about 50 bal-s Woozie have changed bands at Yellow Silks.-150/200 last week's quotations rivals, as per Customs Returns, 8th to 14th July: bales are reported settled at quotations.—Ar-
gale with a tremendous sea during the night of the 20th, and although all chain was paid out the schooner began to drag her anchors.
1,390 bales White, 191 piculs Yellow, and 81 She finally struck on the 21st at 4.30 a.m.
piculs Wild Silks. Filatures and Re-reels.--- Immediately on striking, the boats were got Steam Filatures have changed hands, probably out and the skins (189 in number) and various
for New York, at Tls 670 to 680 for 13/15 deniers, stores were landed. By 6 a.m. the schooner in hand Filatures and Re-reels there is nothing began to break up and she was then abandoned doing. The Export of Steam Filatures to date and the crew proceeded to Akeshi, about five riis: to Continent 415 bales, to America 718 bales. distant. The schooner, one of the finest in the sealing fleet, was built in 1891 in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. She was 107 tons register and one of the most successful sealers in the business.
But
Waste Silk.-We hear of no transaction on this market in New Waste. Pongees--Shantung. -1,000 pieces have bean settled on the following basis:-
25
ور
J
J
"
+3
11
JI
13
33/34 in. by 19/19 yds. by 37;39 oz. at Tls. 7.00 25/24),
3.50 14/143
23/24 14/14/
2.95 22/23 Prices calcu a ed by Maerten's Tables at 11 per ceat. Exchange 24. Freight Tls. 6.50 per bale:-
"
1
3
>
3}
37
Gold Kiling
Blue Double Elephant
Three Pagodas
Taysaam.-9 by 12 Moss Green Stork 3
Tls. Stig. per per pcl.
Ib.
535 12/4
6:0 109
485
11/2
405
9:51
397) 9:34
3874
390 811
90
Fellow Silk.--Meeyang Nos 1 & 2 320 a 340 7.6) a 8/0 20.30
Mienchew 1
340 80 Wongchow... .230 a 235 6,8 a 6:9) 17.75
"
+
EXPORT OF SILK FROM CHINA AND
In its translations from Netherlands-Indian papers the Straits Times has the following: People in Java wonder at the petroleum fever There the catching so readily in Holland. much stir, that Java oil ventures quickly took success of oil-boring in Langkat had made so with the public for a time. It is pointed out that, of the many oil-borings put down in Java, Teatles-Black Lion 2 only a few have proved remunerative. thousands of guilders have been spent by pro- spectors in seeking, but never finding oil. Oue company, which works with British capital, has been boring fruitlessly in that island dur- ing the last two years, and a large portion Holland, investors for a while went eagerly into of its money has gone without result. Yet, în oil companies without inquiring closely into their prospects. Many of the oil grounds proposed to be worked in Java have never been tested, and it remains to be seen whether they are worth anything. In Jara, itself, there is no such
investment. eagerness for oil Holland, a reaction set in at the of May, when quotations for petroleum shares began to droop. The shares had, by that time, mostly fallen into the hands of speculators. Hence, a crash is looked forward to, the moment misfortune befalls the holders. Speculation is also fanned by the success of the Dordt Petroleum Company in Java The company makes such headway that oil meets with a constantly increasing demand. This company has great things in view. It hopes to convey oil from a distance of about one hundred miles to Sonrabaya, through piping, and intends to connect all its selling stations there by telephone.
COMMERCIAL.
TEA.
In end
*hangbai Canton.....
JAPAN TO EUROPE.
1807-08
1896-07
biles.
bales
6.539
2,995
-1.200
2,000
7,739
4,995
EXPORT OF SILK FROM CHINA AND JAPAN TO AMERICA.
1897-98
Shanr' ai Canton
1896-97
bates.
bales.
1,076
230
6:0
100
1,675
330
CAMPUOR
FONGKONG, 20th July.-Th market continues steady. quotations for Fermosa are nominally
$46.50 to $17.00. Sales, 150 pieuls.
HONGKONG.
SUGAR
20th July.The market has
EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO ODESSA, stendi da little and prices are firmer Quota
1897-98
lbs..
Shanghai and Hankow...14,229,691
1896-97
lbs. 16,581,567
tions are:-
Shekleong, No. 1, White...37.20 to: 7.22 per pet
do.
2, White... 0.67 to 6.70
"