May 19, 1902.1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
INTERNATIONALAND LOCAL CORRESPONDENCE. | in 1901 amounted to £6,918.1281d. and $8,693,06 A statement of the International and Local respectively, and exceeded the sales of the previous Correspondence received and despatched during year-the former by £768.14.11d. and the latter the year shows a satisfactory increase on the by $1,691.56. The selling rate of the Imperial business of the previous year, the totals being-Postal Notes ruled high for the greater part Received: Letters and Postcards (including 107 of the year owing to the uncertain and frequent Insured and 258,720 Registered) 2,453,297; other fluctuations in the rate of exchange. articles 1,563,590, and-Despatched: Le: tersand Postcards (including 153 Insured and 193,190 Registered) 2,659,013: other articles, 789.100. The number of bags, &, received and de- spatched also shows an increase on that of 1900, the total number actually dealt with at this Office being-Bags 81,269, Packets 8,678, Parcel Post Boxes 4,926, and Loose Letter Boxes 2,258. I have this year been able to give the number of steamers conveying these Mails, viz., 5,914 inwards and 6,626 ontwards. Included in the former are 44 United States Mail Packets, 27 English P. & O. Contrast Packets, 27 Mes- sagories Maritimes Co.'s Packets, 26. German Mail Packets, and 14 Canadian.
It may be of interest also to mention that during the year the English mails were received at this Office on 2 occasions in 26 days, ou 7 occasions in 27 days, on 11 occasions in 28 days, on 18 occasions in 29 days, and on other ocoa- sions in 30 to 35 days. On the two occasions referred to, once was by the P. &. O. Contract Packet and the other by a German Mail Packet. Twice during the year the mail by the Messageries Maritimes Co. had to be transfer- red, owing to accidents to their ships,-on one occasion the transfer was made to a steamer of the Japanese Entopean line, at Colombo, and on another to the P. & O. Mail steamer at Singapore. In the last mentioned case the Marine Officer, I am pleased to say, brought both mails sorted to Hongkong.
With the exception of the loss of the P. & O. Mail Steamer Sobraon on her way from Shang- hai to Hongkong in April (on which occasion the mails were fortunately saved and reached Hongkong in time to to despatched by the next German Mail Packet leaving 5 days later) and also on two or three other occasions when
there was a delay of a few hours, the Mail Pickets left Hongkong at their regular and appointed time. These mails all reached London in good time with the exception of the mail despatched on the 3rd June by the Mess- agerics Maritimes Co.'s steamer Laos, when owing to plague on board on her arrival at Marseilles and her being quarantined, the maile were some days late in arriving in London.
POSTAGE STAMPS.
The total sales for the year amounted to $239,377.49, au advance on" the sales of the previous year of no less a sum than $21,765.25, For comparison I may mention that the sales for the ten years previous to this were as follows, and go to prove that with the adop- tion of the Penny Postage the loss sustained in 1899 is being quickly made up -
1891...$ 92,275.87 1896., $191,983,46 1892...$ 99,895.42 1897 $181,459,50 1893. $108,198.09 1898...$239,195.77 1894...$121,755.27 1899...8216,791.45. 1895 $151,166:48 1900...$217,612.24 The sale of stamps at the British Post Office at Shanghai and at the British Postal Agencies in China amounted to $84,105.28, an increase of $6,599.12 on the previous year's receipts; the Shanghai Post Office receipts under this head be ing $58,749.64 in 1901 against $32,027.90 in 1900.
PARCEL POST.
Again this year the Parcel Post business shows a steady advance on the previous one. The total number of those received (including 3,607 insured) amonnted to 43,161 and of those despatched (including 4,424 insured) amounted to 38,679.
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BEVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.
The Revenue received from all sources was $355,912.74.exceeding that of 1900 by $30,309,41, and the Expenditure was $273,685 51, an in- crease of $98,422.43 on that of the previous year, The net balance to the credit of Hongkong Post Office on the year's transactions amounted to $82.227.23.
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M NEY ORDERS.
The Money Order business done during the year 1901 was again a large one and exceeded that of the previous year by the sum of $79,762.03. The total amount of Orders issued and paid amounted to $691,381.26 and $560,521,39 respectively.
The
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les of Imperial and Local Postal Notes
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As already mentioned, a Deputy Superinten- dent of the Money Order Office was appointed owing to the increasing work, in this Branch, This Officer's principal duties consisted of Indian Orders, and the Offico was fortunate in being able to transfer an old and experienced employee in the person of Mr. Moosa to this work. As will be seen, the Orders drawn on India in 1901 exceeded those of the previous year by the large sum of Rs. 101,524. The additional help so much needed had hardly been giren before the Superintendent, Mr. Dixon, one of the most capable and efficient officers in the Service, was removed by being transferred temporarily to Shanghai, thereby handicapping the Office in a most serious manner.
GENERAL.
I think I can fairly claim that the mails were delivered in as short a time after arriving at this Office as could reasonably be expected. I may mention the following averages-delivery to Boxholders by the French Packet was effect- ed in 1 hour and 25 minutes after receipt, by the English Mail in 20 minutes after receipt, by the American Mail in 35 minutes after re- ceipt, and by the German Mail in 1 hour and a quarter.
During the year many improvements were made to the Shanghai Office, and I am pleased to be able to state that this Offie is much more used than formerly by the public. In the past it was reported they did not receive the courtesy and attention to which they were entitled and consequetly went elsewhere.
Many Foreign Post Offices were established in China during the year at places where none formerly existed. At some places this Office had Agencies, but, unfortunately where we had not any, no Office or Agencies have been opened. It is necessary, I think, that Postal Agencies should be established at Chefoo, Tientsin and Peking, as the large and increasing number of British residents at these places renders it only a national right that, providing no appreciable loss be anticipated, they should be given the facuity to post in their own offices.
PRESENTATION TO MR. J. W. GRAHAM.
On the 10th inst. Mr. Jas W. Graham, Manager, Shipwright Department, was pre- sented in the Reading Room with a handsome silver tea-services, also a diamond and pearl pendant for Mrs. Graham, subscribed for by the Kowloon Docks staff, on the occasion of his leaving Kowloon Docks. Mr. Wm. Stewart in a few words made the presentation, remark- ing on behalf of the staff the general regret that was felt on Mr. Graham severing his connection with his colleagues and wishing him a safe voyage, long life and prosperity in the old country. Mr. Graham in replying referred to the good relations that had always existed be- tween himself andthe staff génerally and assured them that they would receive a cordial welcome from him should they at any time come home.
Mr. Graham, who has been some, time Lieutenant in the Engineer Company, Hong- kong Volunteers, was at the same time presented by Lieut. Mitchell on behalf of the members with a piece of plate suitably inscribed. Lieut. Mitchell referred to Lieut Graham's good qualities as a Volunteer officer and also to his exceptional ability in the electrical engineering branch of the Engineer Company. ir. J. Logan then proposed the health of Mr. Graham, which was drunk with much enthusiasm and suitably acknowledged.
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AMATEUR THEATRICALS AT
CANTON.
The Canton Amateur Theatrical Society played Mr. A. W. Pinero's farce The Magistrate at the Club Theatre, Shameen, on the 10th inst. It was very unfortunate that the incle- mency of the weather (it rained practically all night) kept away many who would otherwise have been present. Still, the rather sparse audience made up in enthusiasm what it lacked in Num. bers. Of those taking part, Mrs. Appleby as the Magistrate's wife. and Mrs. Sutton, as her sister, were both far above the average, and their acting was really excellent. Mrs. Bond as the music-mistress, and Mrs. Byworth as the maid-servant, both rendered. their paris fault- lessly. Of the men, Mr. E. T. Bond in the title- role was irresistibly funny, and his curious adventures in the hotel evoked long and sustained applause. Mr. L. H. Gilman as his nader-aged son-in-law, who leads the staid Magistrate sadly astray, played the part to the life, and was warmly applanded. Messrs. R. Hancock and F. H. Bell, as two Anglo-Indian soldiers, were exceptionally good, their stormy interview with the police in the hotel being very fine. Mr. J. W. Loureiro and Mr. E. S. Sutton, in the parts of the proprietor and waiter of the Hotel des Princes, respectively, were delightfully French in their manner and Mr. Sutton appearance, and acted so, too. also took the part of the Magistrate's clerk, and his prim manner and official bearing formed a clever and striking contrast to bis Isidore (the waiter) in te preceding The three members of the Metro- act. politan Police, Messrs. L A. Byworth, G. W. Appleby, and T. C. Gray, all affected the stern austerity so necessary to the"" limbs of the law." The Magistrate's butler, played by Mr. A. V. Hogg, was screamingly funny, and was greeted with applause every time he appeared.
It only remains to add that the oans of the entire production rested on Mr. F. H. Fell's shoulders, and be, ably assisted by Mr. B. Twy- man, excelled himself in the stage-management of a piece that will always stand out in the anuals of the Canton Amateur Theatrical Society.
CAPTAIN SCOTT AND HIS
DOTTER."
A DENIAL.
With reference to a statement published by the London Press "on official information," that Captain Percy Scott, of H.M.S. Terrible, had been permitted by the Admira'ty to sell his patent of the "Dotter" to the United States, we wrote and questioned Captain Scott on the subject, and the following is his reply :-
"There is no truth in the statement. never patented the apparatus but gave it to the British Admiralty in 1898, and since then have had nothing to do with it-PERCY SCOTT.”
Many will be glad to see the gallant Captain's denial, though he deserved something for a valuable patent, and it would be very interesting to learn if the "Dotter," with the use of which the Terrible has been able to accomplish saob magnificent_shooting results, has escaped from the British Navy, and if so, how?
MANCHURIA AND MONGOLIA.
The Russian Minister at Peking, it is said, pro- posed that all the guns mounted by Russia in Manchuria should be left intact for three years, urging that while the time for the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Manchuris is specified in the Manchurian Convention, nothing is said about the disposal of the guns The Chinese Government has refused the proposal, as it is considered unjust. A telegram to the Osuka Asahi says that it has become known
the that when
Manchurian Convention In the evening Mr. Graham was entertained,
signed, the Russian Minister at to diner in the Kowl on Hotel, Mr. W was Stewart being in the chair, and the duties of Peking demanded that Mongolia should be croupier being in the hands of Mr. R. W. Rutter-placed under the joint rule of Russia and After an excellent dinner supplied in Mr. China. Osborne's good style, the usual loyal toasts were duly honoured. The Toast of "Our Guest" was proposed by Mr. Ewing. Songs were contri- buted by Messrs. Henderson, Kinross, Ratter, Deas, and Stewart. The company broke up after singing "God Save the King.”
Prince Ching strongly opposed the demand, but Wang Wenshao thought that if Mongolis was made a neutral sone, the other Powers would not protest. After negotiations with the Russian Minister, Wang drow up an agreement and obtained the approval of Yung Lu, but owing to the opposition of Prince
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