December 12, 1904.)
A Wachang despatch states that Viceroy Chang Chih-tung is so very much taken up with Pinghsiang, in Kiangsi province, where are Shêng Kung-pao's coal mines and a short railway to the banks of the Yangtze, as an ideal spot for an arsenal, that, in the event of Tish Liang, the Special Commissioner from Peking, reporting that it is unfit to replace the Kiang nan Arsenal in Shanghai, the Viceroy will himself construct a small arms and ammunition
factory and fi-ld-gan foundry there with funds from the treasury of the Hükuang provinces.
The King has been pleased to give and grant unto Mr. Frederick Mayers. of the Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs Service, his Majesty's Royal licence and authority that he may accept and wear the Insignia of the First Class of the Third Division of the Imperial Chinese Order of the Double Dragon, conferred upon him by his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China. The King has also been pleased to give authority to Mr. Hermann Dawson Gröne, of the Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs Service, to accept and wear the Insignia of the Third Class of the same order.
A Peking despatch reports that the Grand Council received on November 24th a long telegram from Lu Yuan-ting, Governor of
Hunan, to the effect that he has discovered a conspiracy amongst the students of the newly- established Provincial College of Hunan, at Changsha, whose object is to overturn the Manchu dynasty, and that the students arrested have also confessed the names of certain Chinese students now studying in Japan, as fellow-con- spirators. In reply to the Governor of Hunan's telegram, the Empress Dowager issued a Ra- script commanding the summary execution of two of the chief conspirators and releasing the others who had been arrested.
A Chinese ex-policeman at Shanghai made a practice of going to a native woman who sold lottery tickets, and telling her to take out tickets in his name. If the ticket happened to
draw a prize, the defendant claimed the prize money and paid her for the cost of the ticket, but if his ticket lost then he paid the com- plainant nothing. He imposed upon the woman in this way by threatening to charge her with some offence should she not comply
with his demands. The defendant had been in
the Police Force eight years and had a very bad record. He was laid by the heels on Nov. 30th, and got 300 blows and three months imprisonment.
The Shanghai Sinwenpao says:- We have already reported that the Russian Consul General here asked Taotao Yuan to allow Rear- Admiral Reitzenstein (who came here on board the Askold) to go home to get proper medical attendance. The other day Taotai Yuan wrole the Russian Consul-General here to the effect that he has been instructed by the Peking Government by wire saying that the admiral cannot be allowed to go home as at the banquet given by the Italian Consul-General in Shanghai in honour of the birthday of the Queen Dowager of Italy Rear-Admiral Reitzenstein was soon by Mr. Odagiri, the Japanese Consul-General to be in robust health and without any sign of sickness.
Before the German Vice Consul at Shanghai, on November 30, Friedrich Wesemeyer was
charged with obtaining goods from Messrs. Liebe, Wulff & Co. by false pretences. It came out in course of the hearing that prisoner, who
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
TRADE ITEMS.
Mr. Sassoon J. David, senior partner in the firm of Sassoon J. David & Co., of Bombay, and of 8. J. David & Co., of China and Japan, has been appointed Sheriff of Bombay for the ensuing year.
Cav. R. Pescio is appointed by the Italian
Government as its Commercial Delegate in Hongkong, and is prepared to answer inquiries with regard to Italian produce. His address is c.o: Messrs Gregor & Co.
The two tugboats Hawk and Petrel, which were recently constructed by Messrs W. S. Bailey & Co. for Messrs J. G. White & Co., contractors to the Philippine Government, having undergone a successful trial trip under the inspection of the owners' representatives left yesterday (Monday) for Manila, each vessel being under her own steam.
Some South China merchants have obtained permission to work the coal mines at Ichow in the Western Hills, where the coal is said to be just as good as the Tongshan coal. The head office will be at Paotingfu, and the working capital is Tls. 100,000.
The average amount of Bank-notes in cir- culation and of specie in reserve at Hongkong during November was as follows:--
Total
Average. Reserve.
Banks, Chartered Bank... $ 3,673,435 $2,300,000 H. K. & S. Bank... 12,397,557 7,100,000 National Bank
354,816 150,000
$16,425,808 $9,450,000 - One of the few remaining private gardens in the Settlement of Shanghai will probably soon disappear, it being reported that the Kung ping property at the corner of the Nanking and Szechuen Roads, opposite the rising store of Hall & Holtz, Ld., has been bought by Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co., the well-known general storekeepers of Rangoon, who propose to open a store there. The price reported by the N.-C. Daily News is Tis. 400,000.
to instructions from Viceroy Hsi Liang, the A Chêngtu despatch states that in response
Director of the Szechuan Railway Bureau, a Taotai named Chao invited a large and influential body of gentry, notables, and wealthy merchants of Chêngti to a meeting to consider ways and means for the raising of funds to construct a railway in Szechuan province, with native money alone, and avoid the necessity of making a foreign loan. No
fewer than seven hundred gentlemen attended the meeting, and the general consensus of opinion was that the require funds could easily be raised by landholders apportioning a certain percentage of the rentals each year for a stated period.-N.-C. Daily News.
The French Minister as informed the Waiwapu that Viceroy Hsi Liang promised the French Consul at Chengta that the concession of the railway between Szechuan and Hankow would be given to a Fr-uch concern, but now the concession is reported to be given to some other foreign concern, which is not in accordance with the promise made to the French Consul at Chengtu by the Viceroy, However, the Waiwupu bas answered the French Minister to the effect that the concession has never been given to any foreign concern, and that there is no project of the line of railway mentioned, and that it is necessary to be understood clearly that there has been no concession of the railway
given to any party-Sinwanpao.
In the course of his report on the trade and commerce of the Consular District of Chieng.
be
had lately arrived from Hongkong. had been mai, Siam, for the last year, Consul C. E. staying at the Sailors' Home, Broadway, at the Stringer calls attention to the decrease in the expense of his Consulate. By representing quantity of teak exported, and says it may himself to be chosen by Mr. Spitzel to command attributed to stricter conservancy of the forests a blockade-runner, he persuaded Mrs. Masche. by the Siamese Forest Department and the who keeps a restaurant on Broadway, to give persistent stealing of elephants employed in him refreshment on credit and to accompany
working teak. Such thefts appear to be rather him to Mesars Liebe, Wulff & Co.'s store. increasing than otherwise, and from one of the There he repeated his story and placed an order forests in the neighbourhood of Raheng so for clothing to the value of $400, the goods to many elephants have been stolen that one be delivered against a cash order on Messrs. British firm working it says that it will be com Fuhrmeister, Klose and Co. He took away goodspelled to give up operations there if these thefts to the value of $20, and the remainder were to continue. The value of a timber-working follow, but in consequence of inquiries made by elephant is roughly £200. The stolen Mr. Wulff they were not delivered; instead a elephants, it appears, are in some cases taken report was lodged at the Consulate. Prisoner was found guilty, and a previous conviction having been recorded at Hongkong, he Was entenced to three months' imprisonment.
over the frontier into Burma or the Shan States, and in others concealed in or near the jungle villages in Siamese territory near the frontier.-Siam Observer.
|
COMMERCIAL.
TEA.
441
Messrs. Welch, Lewis & Co. of Shanghai, in their Circular, dated 28th November, state-Blac Teas Settlements since the 14th instant :--2,27 half-cheats. Total settlements to date 50,881 half-chests against 61,912 half-chests last year, Green Teas.-Pingsneys.-A good business has been done during the interval at Tis, 24/29. Country Teas.-The demand for medium quality Teas still continues, and fair sales have been made at Tls. 19/23. Settlements since 14th November ---- 16,718 half-ohesta. Total settlements since open- ing of market to date:-898,659 half-chests; Stock 42,223 half-chest. Last year's figures were :—— 426,001 half-chasts; Stock 10,199 half-chests. Settlements of Hyson and Young Hyson since opening of market to date-Arrivals 139,820,
settlements 186,769 half-chests, stock 8,061 half- chests.
From commencement of Season the export of Tea to Great Britain has been :~
Black, lbs. Dust, lbs. Green, lbs. Total to date, 1904..25,473,878 574,027 2,830,186
1903.. 7,651,018
1902.. 6,155,583
3,949,272 8,558,999
From commencement of Season the export of Tea to the United States and Canada has been:-
Black, lbs. Green, lhs. Total to date, 1904... 6,799,781 15,179,402
1903 ...
6,236,040 18,584,115 1902 10,082,758 16,506,631
12
#F
From commencement of Season the export of Tea to other European ports —
Black, lbs. Brick, lbs. Green, lbs Total to date, 1904..20,389,027 4,422,532 1,580,802
"
1903.. 2,683,700 1903.. 1,827,019
1,623,669 1,100,280
From commencement of Season the erport of Black 'T'ea direct to Russia has been :- Total to date, 1904...... 854,667 1,049,467 lbs.
1903......
12,388,860 1902...... 18,862,521
"
#
22
From commencement of Season the export of Tea to Bombay and other ports has been :-
Black, lbs. Green, lbs. 77,067 643,067 .162,936 1,186,601 67,766 938,695
Total to date, 1904
1
1903
1902
From commencement of Season the export of Green Tea to Batoum and Novorossisk, &o., has been- Tatal to date, 1901
1903 1902
Green. 7,191,198 lbs. 12,259,866,
9,053,974
The Export of Tea to Russian Manchuria via Port Arthur, Newchwang and Tientsin has been:
Black, lbs. Brick, lbs. Green, lbs. Dust, lbs. 1904... 3,323,469 27,525,212 176,184 224,034 1903...32,514,500 33,988,667 2,031,188 136,666 1902...37,925,970 5,496,670 2,405,387 954,201 -
SILK.
Messrs. A. B. Burkill and Son's Silk Circular, dated Shanghai 26th November, states:-The home markets are firm. Gold Kiling is quoted in London at 12/14 and in Lyons at Fes. 34. Raw silk.-Busi- ness has been on a fair scale during the interval in spite of high Exchange, and an advance in Tael rates. Coarse silks also continue in fair demand. Yellow Silk.-We only hear of a few transactions. Hand Filatures. A considerable business has been
done in Medium and Low Grade Filatures both for the Continent and America; the latter market also taking 400 B Crae. Chops, and about 150 B. New Style Filatures. Steam Filatures.— Sales are confined to about 630 B mostly in coarse sizes för America. Waste Silk.-The market keeps very quiet, and we have not heard of any business.
SUGAR.
HONGKONG, 9th Dec.-The prices are the same as when last reported Shekloong, No. 1, White......$8.55 to $3.65 pcls.
Do.
19
Do. Do.
Swatow,
39
6.10
"
8.50
**
7.60
J
2, White. 7.75 to 7.85 1, Brown...... 6.25 to 6.80 2, Brown...... 5.95 to No. 1, White...... 8.45 to 2, White...... 7.55 to ∙1, Brown...... 5.80 to 6.85
2. Brown................ 4.90 to
Do. Do. Do.
14
6.40
Foochow Sugar Candy.........12.80 to 12 BO Shekloong
.........10.85 to 11.00
#
JJ
RICE.
ket is nearly the same as when last reported.
HONGKONG, 9th Dec.-The position of the mari Saigon, Ordinary......
"
น
............................................$2.45 to $2.50
Round, good quality Long...
Siam, Field mill cleaned, No. 2
Garden,
No. 1
4.05 to 4.10 4.80 to 4.85
2.60 to 2.65
2.85 to 2.95
White,............................................................................ 4.10 to 4.15
SU
#
23
Fine Cargo
4.40 to 4.45