May 28, 1898.]
was going to send a small squadron to Shasi to exact reparation from China for the destruc- | tion of the Japanese | Consulate there. Later news, from Sbasi, points to aú early and peaceable conclusion to the recent disturbances there, the details of which can easily be settled by the present acting Viceroy and Governor of Hupeh. H.E. T'an Chi-hsun. To this end H.E. Viceroy Chang has telegraphed to Pek- ing asking for further instructions whether he should return to Wachang, or proceed to Pek ing as originally planned.
21st May,
H.E. Clang Chih-tung started yesterday. morning on his return to his post at-Wachang, where he will have to settle the recent Shasi trouble, and it is very doubtful now whether he will go to Peking at all.-N. C. Daily News,
STEAMERS ON THE INLAND WATERS.
Circular dispatches have recently been re- ceived by the Tantais of all Treaty ports from Tsungli Yamen. notifying the promulgation of an Imperial edict dated the 24th day of the 3rd moon (13th April) granting permission to üse steamers in all inland waters, without restriction, in order to extend business facilities to the mercantile community of the Empire. The Imperial edict above noted is now being disseminated amongst the local authorities throughout the Empire and an impetus to inland trade will doubtless be the result.-N. C. Daily News.
THE STRANDING OF THE
AMARAPOORA,”
CE
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The steamer ashore on the S.E. Promontory is, as we have previously stated. the Amara- poora, an iron screw steamer of 1,619 tons net register, and 300 horse-power. She was for merly owned by the British and Burmese Steam Navigation Company, and was for years engaged in the trade between Glasgow and Rangoon. The Amarapoara was on a voyage from British Columbia to Taku, with a cargo of railway ties and timber. She left Moji on the 3rd May, and more or less foggy weather was encountered until. on the morning of the 7th, the master and second officer being on the bridge, she stranded shortly before 1 a.m. on the Pinnacle Rocks, about 24 miles from the S.E. Promontory light: The crew fre- mained by the ship until the morning of the 8th, when they landed and were taken in by the light-keepers Messrs. Eccles and Johnson, by whom they were treated with every kind- ness. In fact, all the crew, officers and men, say that they cannot sufficiently express their appreciation of the great kindness shown during their week's sojourn in this isolated spot. The wreck was visited on the 10th by H.M.S. Algerine, which had been sent down from Chefoo by the Admiral to render any assist ance, but none being required she returned to Chefoo. H.M.S. Phoenix also looked in on
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
soned, leaving 5,000 in the ship, tegether with about 100 large balks of timber. The captain and owner are expected in Shanghai in the course of a day or two, as soon as Lloyds' agent in Che
oo has visited the wreck, when an official enquiry into the cause of the stranding will probably be held. The officers and crew particularly wish to convey their thanks to the keeper of the S.F. | Promontory lighthouse, and to Captain Tam- plin and his officers for the kindness these gen- tlemen extended to them.-N. C. Daily News.
the morning of the 14th on her way south. The Indo-China Company's steamer Eldorado left Chefoo on the morning of the 14th with instructions to take the crew off and convey them to Shanghai. She arrived there just before dark and her signals were fortunately made out by the people in the lighthouse, and she proceeded as close as possible to the wreck and anchored. One of the Amarapoora's boats, with the chief officer and several men, came alongside and it was arranged that the whole of the crew, with the exception of the master and second engineer, who with the managing owner and his wife, remain by the wreck, should be transferred to the Eldorado, which was effected before mid- night and the ship proceeded on her voyage to Shanghai. At the time of leaving the wreck, she had about fourteen feet of water in the holds, but it is thought that her bottom is not badly damaged. She lies in a very good position, with about 24 fathoms of water under her stern, and if the weather keeps fine and prompt measures for her salvage are taken, very little difficulty should be experienced in floating her, especially when the nature of her cargo is taken into considera- tion. About 1,000 ties had already been jettis-
THE SUGAR TRADE AT KOBE.
COMPETITION OF GERMAN BEET.
The following is an extract from the "Report upon the trade of Kobe" for 1897 issued by the Hiogo and Osaka General Chamber of Commerce --
HONGKONG REFINED.
زيمة
Sugar. A considerable increase is shown in the sales of Hongkong Refined Sugars, which amounted to 622,341 piculs during 1897 against 378,456 piculs in 1896. Price taken all round, remained very steady throughout the year though for some qualities very low prices had to be accepted to meet the competition of German Beet Sugars, imports of which shewed a large increase over the quantity imported in 1896.
GERMAN BEET SUGAR.
Imports during the year amounted to about 202,000 piculs against 108,000 piculs in 1896.
Prices for granulated fluctuated between yen 7.50 and yen 8.00 per picul, the bigher values being to some extent the result of enhanced rates of freight from Home, consequent upon scarcity of tonnage.
This state of things, coupled with cheap offers of Hongkong Sugars may be said to have greatly interfered with business in German "Beet" during the greater part of the period under review.
The year closed with stocks sufficient for some months to come.
BROWN SUGAR.
Imports during 1897 amount to 194,500 piculs against 136,000 in 1896. The market opened strong at the beginning of the season, but, owing to somewhat heavy arrivals, speedily fell away to below Mauila values, which were well maintained throughout the season. The demand usually arising in the autumn WAS comparatively slight this year owing to the general scarcity of money and it was only towards the end of the year that the local market shewed activity and firmuess. Stocks
on hand are small.
TIENTSIN.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
431
as unequivocal evidence that the tension of diplomatic affairs has relaxed. Some put his absence down to the formal taking over of Weibaiwai!
Prince Henry's visit is the next metropolitan excitement; but these continued postponements of the function show that grit has somewhere got in ainong the wheels. As a working hypo- thesis oue might safely put the difficulty down to the personal prejudices of the Son of Heaven. His Majesty cannot and does not like this sudden reversion of the traditional axioms of Imperial education and etiquette-that he is and must receive Prince Henry as an equal. As a matter of fact it is a very big break with the traditions and conventions under which he before we condemn off-hand the outburst of has grown up, and some indulgence is due
rage with which he received the suggestions of the Grand Council of an etiquette suitable to the occasion. Mark Twain's Yankee at the Court of King Arthur was insignificance itself in comparison to a European Prince at the Court of Peking. The Chinese up here have fixed their attention on the gorgeous yellow chair which His Royal Highuess the German Admiral has had made in Cauton; and if one may judge of their real sentiments by their gibes and flouts, they really don't like the in Peking is about as great an anomaly A foreigner in a yellow chair
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innovation.
as the celestial mind can conceive. The officials here all maintain that Prince
be met.
Henry's continued absence is due to the fact that Germany has made still more exacting demands on China; and that he won't come until assurance is given that these demands will I may add that in this matter our Tientsin officials are probably not well informed. His Highness is to make a very brief stay with us, so short indeed that he will be unable to accept the joint festivity with which German and British residents meant to honour him.
The new port of Ching Wang is exciting considerable speculation up here. It seems to be by no means settled that Tang-ho, which marine hydrography seemed to point out as the only possible place, will be the barbour. At whose initiative it is going on I can't say, but an attempt is being made to hark back to Pei Tai Ho, our new summer resort. Mr. Harding, one of the hydrographic experts in the Customs Service, has been up there taking soundings and tidal surveys, and it is overtly advocated that, even if the treaty port cannot be made at Pei Tai Ho, it might be found ex- pedient to include the latter within its limits and so coufer on the foreign population the privileges we enjoy herc-the right to hold land, sanitary and police control, &c., &c. It is quite possible that some explanation could be given by a wealthy syndicate of Chinese with which one or two influential foreigners are associated. This syndicate has bought up land and foreshore by hundreds of acres, and is keen to profit by its supposed prescience. One thing is pretty certain, if Pei Tai Ho is to advance as a seaport it will recede as a summer sanatorium. The chief objection
Last week a conference was held on Pei Tai Ho affairs, and arrangements were made by which the greater comfort of the visitors will be secured and the fiscal combination of natives against foreigners be met.
Tientsin, 7th May. The welcome political lull continues, and as far as outsiders can gange the situation, the Tsungli Yamen is having a little rest. The evidence of the recently published Blue-book is eagerly awaited, since Reuter told us it showed to Chefoo is the filthy native city and the pol- clearly the acuteness of the struggle in Peking.lation of the water by many craft. It is In Tientsin, where Li's friends are plentiful as devoutly to be wished in the interest of the whole autumnal leaves in Vallombrossa, the conviction coast of China that the curse of the land- is wide spread that that astute timeserver has grabber will not settle down on the new Tien- wholly gone over to Russia; he is held by the tsin departure. The local wag suggests the Chinese chiefly responsible for everything that importation of a few Irishmen as a remedy. has happened since the recession of Liautung by the Japanese. Even his former followers deplore his Russophil tendencies now, though six months ago they indignantly denied he had them. It is a curious fact, considering the big place he has so long occupied in the foreign policy of China, that so little attention has been given to his foreign environment: a more steady examination of his private foreign friendships would easily account for his auti-British bias. British official folk pay little attention to these matters; it is nobody's special business and is, so to speak, beyond the ken of the F. O.; but other diplomatists are more wary, they stand by to take advantage of the private influence of their fellow countrymen, and do so to our detriment. Chang Chih-tung illustrates the same state of affairs.
Sir Clando Macdonald passed through Tien- tsin en route for Korea this week. No special interest is attached to his visit, indeed the fact that he can leave Poking at all is regarded
We have to chronicle a welcome development in the social amenities between Peking and Tientsin. Formerly a journey to the capital was either a wearisome boat affair of five days or an equine feat lasting two days and involving breakfast at the mantelpiece; under these cir cumstances the communities saw very little of each other. The gilded youth and old pachy- dermatous sports would occasionally visit each other's Olympiads, but, thanks to Mr. Claude Kinder and his staff, the Railway has changed all this. We can now tiffin at the seaboard and dine in the capital. Ladies can go to dances and all bat interchange afternoon tea visits. The days are coming when even children's parties will be common to both cities. The first formal recognition of the new state of affairs