}
August 20, 1898.)
The maximum temperature last month was 88.7, on the 18th, and the minimum 76.3, on the 30th, the mean for the month being 81.7. The
rainfall amounted to 7.055 inches.
H.M.S. Hermione arrived on 14th Aug. from Singapore via Bangkok. She reports having encountered a typhoon, in which the ship behaved splendidly. H.M.S. Peacock also arrived on the same day from Labuan.
Mr. F. J. Haver Droeze, Consul-General for the Netherlands, informs us that the quarantine regulations in Netherlands Endia against ar- rivals from Hongkong and the prohibition of importation of certain articles have been repealed.
H.M.S. Blenheim aurived from England on Thursday afternoon. While entering the harbour, almost at low water, she took the ground on the four fathom patch off North Point, but floated off with the rising tide shortly before seven o'clock, having sustained no damage.
A few weeks ago some commotion was caused by the appearance of a shark near the Canton Wharf and its snapping up a fish which had fallen from the Canton steamer into the water. On Saturday the shark was seen again in the same locality. An attempt was made to catch it, but owing to the bait being improperly set it was unsuccessful.
Captain Eldridge, of the Chinese revenue cruiser Kai Pan, informs us that he left the Wingfoo in Yuliakan Harbour (South Coast of Hainau Island) on the 7th August at 5 am Captain Eldridge thinks she was to start again that morning for Manila, but as the Kai Pan left before daylight he could not tell for certain. All on board of her were well. She had gone in to Yulinkan for shelter during the bad weather, having made two or three attempts to get across.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
We hear that intimation has been received ou H.M.S. Barfleur that the paying off has been postponed. Orders have also been received that the Blenheim, which has on board the crew that was to be transferred to the Barfleur, is to be held in readiness for service. This is in connection with the disturbed state of affairs in
the North.
On 17th August a couple of lots of Crown land were sold by public auction. One of the lots contains 8.896 square feet and is situated in Kennedy Road north of the Union Church. The annual rent is $68 and the upset price was $1,334. The other lot is in the same locality and comprises 15.234 square feet; annual rent were $1,769 and $8,828, Mr. A. C. Gutierrez $114, upset price $2,295. The sums fetched being the purchaser in each case. afternoon a lot measuring 23,100 square feet On Monday and west of the market at Hung Hom was sold for $5,800, being $25 above the upset price. The annual rent is $162.
H. A. Pape and H. Anderson, chief officer and chief engineer of the Norwegian steamer Frejr. appeared before Commander Hastings at the Magistracy on 17th August to answer a charge of being drunk and disorderly and refusing to pay 10 cents vehicle fare. P.C. Laycock said that at eleven o'clock the previous night he was on duty at Pedder's Wharf when defendants came up in rickshas. They were both drunk and refused to pay their ricksha hire and made a disturbance. Witness arrested them both. On the way to the station first de- fendant berame very violent, and witness had to get assistance to lock him up. The ricksha coolie also gave evidence, and defendants were each fined $12 and ordered to pay 83 compeusa. tion to each ricksha coolie.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The German men-of-war Deutschland, with Prince Henry on board, left Fusan on the 5th August for Vladivostock.
The son of Mr. H. C. Manning, Mrs. Scott, and P. C. Richardson, all of whom were re. cently bitten by a dog in Hongkew, left Shang- hai for the Pasteur Institute at Nagasaki on the 6th August.
Tuesday was one of the most sultry days ex- perienced this summer, and the heat continued well into the night, but in the early morning a
The Russian cruiser Rossia, with Prince heavy thunderstorm broke over the colony, ac-
Cyril Vladimir on board, left Nagasaki on the companied by a considerable fall in the tempervening of the 6th August for Port Arthur. ature, and afterwards the wind continued gusty. At twenty-minutes to seven on Wednes. day morning the black South cone was hoisted. The weather report dated 10.25 stated that the typhoon appeared to be situated about two hundred miles to the S.S.E. of Hong- kong, moving W.N.W. Another notice issued at 3 p.m. stated that the typhoon appeared to be moving north-east and that the gale would probably be severe from the east. The weather all day on Wednesday was squally and a high sea was running in the harbour, which brought a few of the small craft to grief. The Kowloon ferry launches ran to East Point instead of Pedder's Wharf and about sundown the service was suspended.
An agitation is under weigh among the deck officers of the local steamers for an increase of pay, the petition to their employers being that they shall be paid entirely in sterling, instead of partly as at present, also that the rate of pay be increased. If the companies grant the petition, chief officers will apparently receive about forty dollars a month more than they do at present.-Union,
Among the domestic improvements which the hanghai Municipal Council is making is a laundry. This consists of a number of build-
men who are willing to obey certain regulations may use the houses, rent and water free. The Shanghai community, desirous of having their clothing kept from Chinese abominatious, should patronise those washermen who will use the Municipal washhouses.-Union.
The late Mr A. P. Happer, of Newchwang, who died of hydrophobia, wished the particulars of his case published, and they are accordingly given in the Customs Medical Report of Dr. De Burgh Daly. Mr. Happer was on the 17th December, 1896, bitten in the finger by his own dog. At Dr. Daly's request the patient im- mediately started for Saigon. Communication in winter is slow and the distance long and 23 days had elapsed before he could be put under treatment. 18 inoculations were made and the patient returned, apparently in good health, on the 24th February. On the 2nd July, 1897, 217 days after the bite, the first pre- monitory symptoms were experienced, and these continued with increased violence till the 27th
Mr. Carl Georg, the manager of the Great Eastern and Caledonian Gold Mines, Mountings on the Old Rifle Range and any washer. Macdonald, New South Wales, writes us that he met the other day an American metallurgist of the name of Middleton, whose father was formerly in business in Shanghai. Mr. Geog says they fell of course to talking of the Far East, and Mr. Middleton asked him whether he ever held an interest in the famous Sheridan Mines, which he knew had been sold as no good.
Mr. Middleton had been in Denver often and had been all over the mines, and his information was
as follows:-The Tomboy Mine, part of the property, was sold for $35,000 to the Exploration Co., London (Rothschild's enterprise) and yielded in 1895, the year that Mr. Middleton was there, at the rate of $75,000 to $78,000 (gold) profit per month. The Sheridan Mine was bought by the Smugglers Union Co. and when Mr. Middleton saw the mine they were driving & tunuel on a vein from 8 feet to 16 feet wide, taking it out 8 feet high, and it yielded 1 oz of gold per tou in the Huntingdon mill, besides large concen. trates. They were treating the old dump over again and had built a special tramway for this purpose, and it paid them well. The foregoing, adds Mr. Georg," is probably one of the many chapters in the book of companies floated and owned in the East and a proof of what splendid properties have been held in China, but it beats me how shareholders let everything go to the dogs before they interfere, and then only when all belief in the show has gone."
H
when he died. Dr. Daly describes the case as a "wonderful example to all, inasmuch as he met this dread disease, knowing fall well what it en- tailed, with marvellous courage and calmness.' He the more particularly wished it brought to notice, in order, if possible, to sare others from a like fate by the establishment of a Pasteur Institute at Shanghai, as it was to the unavoid- able delay, and the long period of incubation afforded that he attributed his illness.
*169
The N. C. Daily News of the 8th August says:-Director Shèng having received urgent. instructions from Viceroy Jung Lu at Tientsin to bring with him all the documents relating to the so-called Belgian loan, was unable to start for the North at the time he expected last week, but will probably be able to do so some time this week. We hear that II.E. Shêng will take a large portion of his personal staff with him, especially those who have had a foreign educa tion, and this appears to foreshadow a rather prolonged stay at Tientsin.
Investigations made by the Bank of Japan into the prices of forty of the chief staples of Japan (not including rice) show distinctly that Taking 10 as the average in 1887, the returns prices during last mouth declined considerably. show that the average price of the forty staples was in June 1897, 159; in June this year, 174; 168. This is the lowest average for the present but last month the average price declined to
returns, in April, when the average was 179, year. Prices were highest, according to the since when there has been a gradual decline.-- Higo News.
COMMERCIAL.
TEA.
Me era.
SHANGHAI, 13th August.-(From Welch, Lewis & Co.'s Circular.)-From Han- kow reports are to the effect that a sten ly Russian deniand continues at firm prices. The lowest quotation for who'e leaf Tea was Tls. 94 a picul, second crop Oanfas 1s. 4 to 16 a picul. The second crop is expected to reach 14,000 half- chests, and the third according to native estimates will probably be 40,000 t 59,000 half-chests. Black Tea.-Business here has been confined to a few parels of Keemun, Ningehow, and Hohow dis- trict Teas which how no change in prices. Very little Hankow Tea is on offer here, and it would be impossible to buy any weight of Tea under Tls, 18 a picul.
Settlements reported are:- Ningehow .3,290 -clits, at Tls. 18 to 27} picul.
Keemun. 1,113 Wenchow 1.135
"
>1
31
18 to 26 17% to 20
+
*
5,63 -chests. Stock, 17,494 1-chests. Green Teas.-This is the third consecutive season in which the Export to the United States and Canada for the first two months has been abnormally small, and in none of those years has the sall Export enhanced the prices in the consuming countries.
It
It is fair to argue from this that the trade in Pingsueys, which are the only Teas shipped in quantity in June and July, has been virtually lost. It was doubtless killed by the "trash," which was shipped as Tea for
any years and it richly deserved its fate. is to be regretted, however, that the more whole- some descriptions of Green Tea did not take its place. As it is, many years will probably be wanted to recover lost ground, even if it is ever recovered, and The only ebance is to continue sending only Teas of such sterling quality as this season's yield. Our market is dead, except for a few lines which are required for special orders. Country Teas.-For some days after the date of our last respects there was an apparent stea liness in our market and l'eamen began to refuse fair offers anticipating a demand; this was strengthened by the unusual delay in the arrival of Teas from the Country, owing to the want of water in the waterways. On the 8th, however, Teas began to arrive freely, especially from the Moyune districts, and the hollowness of the demand showed itself. Very few chops were placed on the first day, and the policy of buyers since baa ben very conservative. Prices are fairly stendy, and the great difference between alleged cost and buyers' ideas of value will probably mako Teamen uniling sellers for some time to come. Moyunés.-We consider the quality of the crop as fully average, and it compares better with the Tienkais than was the case list season. Although most of the liquors durken quickly the Teas are for the most part well burnt and of good flavour, which he sign, of good condition." Tienkais- No change of importance has taken place in these, though the inferior chops now on the market are much better value than carly settlements of Fy- ch ws.
Tychows.—Many late arrivals are soine- what coarse in water,but no very rank drawing Teas doing ant very few desirable l'ea, loft on offer. have yet come to band. Local Packs.-Very little Hysons, &c. The eccentricities of one buyer have upset the market for "choice" lysons and prices ale most irregular. Prices for Moyuno "have reached Tls. 65/67 a picul and Tienkais up to Tls.