:
74
A propositio is on foot to opeu a vand-ville circuit p the Far East, Manila. re qris. Honolulu, Yokohama, Shanghai, Hongkong.
and Manila will be included in the new venture if it is carried through.
The N-C. Daily News says that it can con- tradict on good anthority the China Mail correspondent's story that operations on the Canton Hankow railwar have been susp nded under orders from New Yort.
Mr. & Mrs. Taft left Yokohama for Ban Francisco on the Korea on the 7th inst. On the evening of the 4th instant a reception was given at the United States Legation at Tokyo to Mr. Taft. Prince Kanin was present, as were the Japanese Prime Minister, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Marquis Oyama, the Minis- ter of State for War, Marquis aid Marchioness Nabeshima, Marquis Ifachisuks, and many others. Nearly the whole Americ community of Tokyo and Yokohama attended.
Though Manila has a deal to learn from Hongkong, Hongkong people would profit also by a wide-awake visit to Manila. One industry, for instance, which might very well be applied to the Kowloon Peninsula is that of rearing fish. Near Manila are ponds into which the sea is allowed to flow in and out through gratings, Fish are caught from canals and sea-pools at low water, and deposited into the ponds, where they grow fat on seaweed In about a year they are ready for market. The industry is a very profitable one, yielding many thousand dollars per annum to owners of the ponds.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PREŠS AND
According to reports emanating from Peking, 8 ya the N.-C. Daily News, it is stated that the Central Government intends to hold the western banks of the Lino river in force, should war break out between Japan and Russia, a d will not permit any of the belligerents to cross over, ther by apparently allowing all the cmntry of th other side of the Lisoho (Southern Manchuria) to be made into a battle-ground for Japan and Russia. This, of course, in the event of China becoming neutral. If China should be forced to fight she will certainly join Japan. while the Chinese troops in the neighbourhood. of Southern Ma- churia will be placed under the leadership, it is rumoured, of Japanese officers. On the whole, says the Japan Mail, we can not but think it wise on the part of the authori- | ties to interdict at this juncture the publication of all newspaper items about the movements of ships and troops. It is better that the public should n t be kept in a fever of excitment by stories of which the vast m jority have no grain of truth. Be that as it may, however, we desire to correct a misapprehension into which a loc 1 contemporary has fallen in saying that the same veto does not extend to the correspondants in Japan of foreign journal. It does extend to them, and we have knowledge of a telegram addressed to a London newspaper being "stop- ped" in Tokyo. [We may compare the delay m a Daily Press message from Kobe ou the 8th inst.-ED. D. P.] The telegraphic head office 'through which all telegrams for over-sea conn- tries pass has orders, we believe, to hold lack any message which violates the terms of the recently issued order.
COMMERCIAL.
TEA.
Messrs. Welch, Lewis & Co. in their circular of the 11th inst. state :-Black tea.—Market closed. Green tea.-Market olosed.
SILK.
|
Messrs. A. E. Burkill & Sons, in their circular of 11th January, state:-The home markets are quiet. Raw Silk.—The feature of the week has been the smart decline in tael prices, but the rapid rise in exchange has to a large extent countèracted the decline as regards sterling costs. The market closes steadier at the decline, whilst exchange is strong and looks like continuing so until after Chinese New Year, owing to the scarcity of money-seldom before has the stringency of money been so acute as at present. Yellow Silk.-Very little business doing; prices have declined. Hand Filatures.--Only a few small settlements to re- port. Steam Filatures.-The rapid rise in ex- change has prevented business to any extent. Waste Silk. No business doing, supplies practi- cally nil.
SUGAR. HONGKONG 22nd January. The prices are going downward, market being dull. Shekloong, No. 1, White..
.$8.60 to $8.65 país.
Do.
Do. Swatow,
Do.
2, White..
#
Do.
"
1, Brown....
2, Brown...
7.55 to 7.60 0.0% to 6.10 5.85 to
No. 1, White...... 8.50 to
6.90 8.55
"
J
Do. Do.
12
#
2. White 1, Brown...... 5.90 to 2, Brown...... 5.75 to Foochow Sugar Candy Shekloong
7:55 to
7.60
"
5.95
"
#3
•
5.80 ...12.85 to 12.90 .........10.85 to 10.70
In the Kobe Market Report for the first half of the month it is reported that there to a little demand for Hongkong Refined Sugar and only small sales profit. Beet Stocks have dwindled down consider- are reported at rates which leave no margin of ably, and the market is almost bare of German improved in consequence, and were quoted about 20 sen higher. Orata Refnod.-On the 5th inst, | 3,500 bags were sold at auction at a reduction of 10 to 20 sen from previous values. On the 13th however, 11,300 bags were disposed of at prices showing an advance of 16 to 2e0 sn over the former sale.
either in first or second hands. Prices have
RICE.
Hongkong 22nd January.-The downward ten- dancy continues, market being weak. Saigon, Ordinary
Round, Good quality Long
**
**
+
.$2.95 to $8.00
4.45 to 4.50 4.80 to 4.65
No. 1
13
3.55 to 3.60 4.35 to 4.40 4.65 to 4.70
5.05 to 5.10
Siam, Field mill cleaned, No. 2
**
Garden,
White,
25
1.
Fine Cargo
OPIUM.
23rd January.—
[January 25, 1904:
WOOLLENS--
per yarl Spanish Stripes-Sundry chops 0.771 to 2.25 German
to 1,25 to 8.50 per piece Long Ella-Scarlet, 7-10 lbs. 6.95 to 9.80
Habit, Med., and Broad Cloths
Assorted
Camlets-Assorted..
7.10 to 9,45,
12.50 to 38.00
Lastings-30 yds., 81 inches 12.50 to 22.50
Assorted
to
per pair
to 0.80
1.25 to 1,85
Orleans-Plain, 31 in.
10.00
Blankets-8 to 12 lbą.
... 0.60
Fine quality
METALS
Tron-Nail Rod
per picul
4.25 to
to
4.80 to
4.50 to
Square, FlatRound Bar(Eng.)4.25
Swedish Bar
Small Round Rod
Boop to 11/2 in. ................................ 6.60 to Wire, 18/25 02. ................................................... 9.50 to Wire Rope, Old
METALS—
3.00 to
per picul Lead, L.B. & Co, and Hole Chop 9.00 to
Australian
9.00
to
Yellow M'tal-Muntz 14/20 oz.39.50
to
Vivian's 14/20 oz.39.50
to.
Elliot'a 14/20 oz.89.50
to
Composition Nails.. Japan Copper, Slabs....in.. Tin..
.81.00 to
.88.50 to
.85.00 · to
'Tin-Plates
Steel + to 1 Sundries
Quicksilver
Window Glass
per box.
6.80 to per owt. cass
8:30
to
per picul
.170.00
to
per box
4.20 to
Messrs. Noël, Murry & Co. in their Piece Goods Trade Report of 14th inst., state --- There is at present a temporary lull in the political atmos➡ to $930 per picul.phere, but it is looked upon as merely the precur- to $970 do.
Quotations are:-Allowance net, to i catty.
Malwa New Malwa Old Malwa Older. Malwa V. Old ...... Persian fine quality. Persian extra fine Patna New Patna Old.. Benares New
Benares Old
.$910
$950
$990
to $1,010 do.
.$1,030
to $1,050 do.
$910 | $920 ..$1,300
to
do.
to
do.
to
per chest.
to
do.
.$1,297} to to
do.
COTTON YARNS.
do.
The Hiogo and Osaka Chamber of Commerce fortnightly Market Report dated 14th inst. re- marks:-Prices of Japanese Yarns have steadily declined, and are now, under the influence of a stagnant market, 1.50 below last quotations. The export for the fortnight is 14,076 piculs against
for same period last year. piculs
15,771
MISCELLANEOUS IMPORTS. HONGKONG, 15th Jan.-The prices ruling are as follows:
OTTON YARN—
Bombay Nos. 10 to 20, ...$ 90.00 to $128,00 English-Nos. 16 to 24, 114.00 to 120.00 22 to 24, 120.00 to 128.00 28 to 32;'. 38 to 42,
دو
"
>>
136.00 to 155.00 to
142.00
170.00
Reported sales 1,500 bale?. COTTON PIECE GOODS~~~
per piece Grey Shirtings-6 lbs.
2.30 to 2.40 7 lbs.
2.50 to 2,80 8.4 lbs.
3.50 to 4.25 9 to lu lbs. ... 4.30 to 5.50 -54 to 56 rd. 2.90 to 3.25 58 to 60 3.50 to 4.00 64 to 66 4.25 to 5.76 Fine
6.00 to 8.50 Book-folds 5.00 to 8.00
White Shirtin
Shirtings—
7lbs. (32,, 6lbs. (32,. 7lbs. (32,, ),
#t
23
"
Victoria Lawns-12 yards 0.85 tio 1.75 T-Cloths-6lbs. (32 in.), Ord'y. 2.30 to 2.80 2,50 to 3,00 Mexs. 2.50 to 3.00 3.10 to 3.30 8 to 8.4 oz., (36 in.) 3.30 to 4.05 Drills, English-40 yds., 13
4.75 to 7.30 to 14 lbs.
FANCY COTTONS-
Turkey Red Shirtings-1 to 1.75 to
8 lbs.
Brocades-Dyed.............
DAMASKS
Chintzes--Assorted Velvets-Black, 22 in. Velveteens-18 in.
-
to
4.00
per yard 0.9 to
0.28 to 0,471 0.25 to u.26
per dozen Handkerchiefs-Imitation Silk 0.35 to 3.50!
sor of the coming storm. Bussia has gone entirely too far to climb down sufficiently to satisfy the nation she has been goading on for the past six or eight months, and the delay now is probably only for the latter to complete the arrangements that are already far advanced, if not practically finished. The result of the contest, which ever way it goes, will be of momentous significance to trade in this country, as it is already seriously impairing what little credit was left, and obstruct- ing progress towards the much needed reforms. The outlook is certainly about as dismal as it can be. The place has been drained of all its available founds at a most inopportune time, when the natives are about to square up their annual accounts, consequently money is at a heavy pre- mium and credit is a thing of the past! Then, too, sterling rates continue advancing at the rate of a penny per week for immediate, forward, however, showing more than the usual difference. Added to all this the home markets are unap- proachable, manufacturers evidently having put no faith in the famine prices that cotton has reached and are now only able to work on that basis. A reaction is bound to take place soon, as consumers must curtail their requirements in the absence of an export demand, but the position is so much in the hands of speculators, prices are likely to fluctate very considerably throughout the season. The one gleam of sunlight that comes to our market is from Szechuen, whence fresh orders, and the wherewithal to fill them, are com- ing in with some briskness. Other outlets are at an absolute standstill, as far as fresh purchases go, and clearances are naturally poor in consequence of the straitened condition of the money market. Manchester, after showing a slightly easier feeling, is now reported strong and advancing, with Cotton up to 7.40d. for Mid American, and 9,'d for Egyptian. A few orders have gone through from this for Fast Black Cotton Italians for the Autumn, but beyond these nothing seems possible. There is no particular news from the States, where this market is evidently looked upon as quite hope- less for the present. To illustrate the position, an offer was made from this for some drills at about what was considered the current rates here; the reply came back quoting the price 18. 4.d over that offered! The auctions this week have gone lower almost without exception, both for cottons and woollens. A forced sale of a fairly large quantity of prints went off. better than was ex- pected. The demand from Szechuen mentioned ; above appears to be largely for Indian spinnings, a fair quantity of which have been settled during the interval at about last quotations on the aver- age, but these prices are much below replacing cost, the Bombay market being reported up again.