294
COMMERCIAL.
The Yokohama Prices Current and Market Report, published by the Yokohama Foreign Board of Trade, and dated Yokohama, April 15th, 1905, has the following IMPORTS.
HONGKONG WEEKLÝ PRESS AND
RICE. HONGKONG, 5th May.-There is not much change; the prices as when last reported. Saigon, Ordinary
13
Round, good quality Long...
Siam, Field mill cleaned, No. 2
Yarn
Garden.
19
་་
White,
Fine Cargo
Yarn.-A few small lots of 'gassed were booked a fortnight ago; since then nothing has been done. Shirtings-Some contracts were booked for future delivery both in Grey and White. The market closes dull, and buyers appear to have filled their requirements for some time to
come.
די
No. 1
......
•
COAL.
$2.16 to $2.20
3.00 to 3.95
4.05 to 4.10 2.85 to 2.90 3.20 to 3.30
4.25 to 4.30 4.40 to 4.4
(May 6, 1905.
It is hardly credible that some of the Members of the House of Commons, who have important com. mercial interests in this country, should have allowed such a statement, to pass unchallenged. It was felt at the time Sir James Mackay was appointed as the Treaty Commissioner a great mistake has been made in not entrusting the task to some one better acquainted with China and its people. Too much was taken for granted, and there in no question about it the British Govern- ment has been completely hoodwinked. Although nearly five years have passed since the Protocol
Messrs. Hughes and Hough, in their Coal Report was signed, not a single important clause in it has
16
state that May 5th
steamers ATO expected at Hongkong with a total of 68,100 tons of Japan coal and 8,900 tons of Cardiff. Since 21st April 47,100 tons of Japan coal, 11,480 tons of Cardiff coal, and 7,000 tons of New- port coal have arrived. The market has some- what improved. Quotations:-
of Fancy Coltons and Woollens. Cotton Woollens Goods: no change since last Report. and Mixtures: no change in the market here. At home prices are fully maintained. Metals. fair business has been transacted in Bars, but the market generally is quiet. Kerosene.-Market stronger, with upward tendency. Sugar.-No business has been put through in imported Sugars, and the market continues to be anything but active.
Contracted stocks are reported to have been considerably reduced, but the present poor consumption is apparently in the way of fresh transactions, The rumour that the Government intends shortly to inaugurate a Sugar Monopoly is again circulated, but this is not yet confirmed. Indigo.--Nothing doing.
EXPORTS.
Raw Silk.-Holders having been free sellers at slightly lower prices, business during the past fortnight has been rather more active, but prices remain in favour of buyers. Arrivals of spring- reeled Filatures have remained, so far, below expectations, a certain quantity of cocoons still available being reported to be reeled for home consumption.
Waste Silk and Cocoons.-Market very quiet. Settlements 720 piculs, viz:-Noshi, 120 piculs: Kibiso, 600 piculs; Sundries,piculs; Pierced Cocoons,-piculs. Present stock is estimated at 4,980 pícula, viz:-Noshi, 1,500 piculs; Kibiso, 8,000 picule; Sundries, 230 piculs; Pierced Co- coons, 250 piculs.
Tea. With the exception of one or two very small parcels of forced leaf, only amounting to a pound or two each, no new Tea has yet been shown. The unusually cold spring will probably delay the opening of the market for a week or ten days beyond the date corresponding with last
year's opening. Total settlements from May 1st to April 15th amount to 178,800 piculs, against 194,600 piculs at the corresponding date last year.
GENERAL EXPORTS.
Copper-No change. Fish Oil-The result of the catch, still going on, has been very satisfac- tory so far; but, neverthless, sellers are quoting above yen 5 per picul, whilst there are scarcely any buyers at present.
OPIUM.
HONGKONG 4th May, 1903.- The movements in our various Opium markets, since the 19th ult., have been as follows:-
Malwa, Putna. Benares. Persian.
Stocks as per circular of 19th April, 1908... April 29th Imports per Chusa N
25th
1,597 2,479
101
085 2,178 1000) 40
56
"
12
"
Lightning
400 346
28th
"
"
Woo Sung
GU
May 1st
"
2nd
Ernest Simons 8xi Sang
150
50
360 300
Less Exports to Shanghai Less Exports to East and West Coast Ports including Local Consumption for the fortnight..
1,898 3,479 1,540 2,282
52
71 562 692 830
1,575 2,917 Estimated Stocks this day
848 1,602 Bengal. The market is unsettled and has declined to $1,140 for Patna and $1,112 for Benares.
Malwa.-The demand is still on the smallest possible scale, and quotations are about as follows:-
New
2
years old
8
"
"
4/5
*
**
$1,100
$1,150
$1,180
$1,230 Oldest
$1,830 Persian Market is firm for good qualities; medium and inferior are neglected
SUGAR.
HONGKONG 6th May. The position of the market is nearly the same as when last reported. Shekloong, No. 1, White.....$9.15 to $9.20 pcls.
2, White...... 8.10 to 8.15
6.96
Do.
"
Do. Do. Swatow,
JJ
1, Brown...... 6.95 to
2, Brown...... 6.80 to
6.85
"
No. 1, White...... 8.90 to
8.95
59
Do.
2, White...... 7.90 to
7.95
*1
Do. Do.
13
"
1, Brown...... 6.70 to 6.65 to 2, Brown
6.80 6.70
Foochow Sugar Candy.........13.40 to 13.45 ..12.60 to 12.85
Shakloong
JF
fi
Cardiff... Australin Yubari Lamp. Miiki Lump Voji Lump..... $8.50
..$17.00 $19.00 ex-ship. .§:1.00 $12.00 ex-ship.
$12.00 ex-ship, nominal $11.00 ex-ship, nominal to $11 00 ex-ship, steady.
YARN.
Mr. Eduljee in his Report, dated Hongkong 5th May, says: No signs of improvement in demand are yet visible, but with the close of the grave-worshipping festival, and a change in the weather for the better, a resumption of busi- ness should not be far off. Meanwhile holders have been pressing sales at irregular prices to make room for their cheap purchases which are now coming in freely. Nos. 10s and 128, being in large supplies, have suffered a decline of 50 cents to a Dollar, whilst with small stocks and a sustained enquiry No. 20s have apreciated $1 to 2 p r bale, No. 16s c ntinuing steady at quota tions. Supplies during the interval have been heavy, and with a smaller off-take our estimate of stocks shows a larger increase on last figures. The market closes unsteady.
Local Manufacture:-The only business of the fortnight is the sale of about 200 bales No. 128 at $108.
No. 203 are exhausted, and a small sale of 100 Japanese Yarn:- Supplies of No. 16s and bales No 426 at $178 is reported. Close strong.
Raw Cotton:-There is nothing doing in China cotton, but Indian descriptions continue to move steadily, and about 1.000 bales Bengal are reported to have changed hands at from $20 to $23 † according to quality, exports amounting to about 1,200 bales, leaving a stock of 8,000 bales on the market. The stock of China Cotton is estimated at 300 bales. Quotations are Indian $19 to $231, and China $22 to $25.
Exchange on India, after slight fluctuations, closes strong to-day at Rs. 139 for T/T and
On Shanghai 71 and
Rs. 140 for Post.
on
Yokohama 914.
The undernoted business in imported and local spinnings is reported from Shanghai during the fortnight ended the 23rd ultimo, viz:--
►
Indian :-Demand has somewhat subsided, total les aggregating 4,912 bales at unaltered prices, market closing unsteady. Estimated unsold stock 48,000 bales.
Japanese:-Continue to ₤nd ready sales, market closing strong. Sales reported amount to about 3,500 bales on the basis of Tls. 94 to 109 for No. 168, and Tis. 102 to 109 for No. 20s, prices remaining with little alteration as those last given.
Local:-Market very steady with most of the mills sold well forward, and some again starting night work. Sales reported amount to close upon
10,000 bales on the basis of Tls. 86 to 87 for No. 10s, Tls. 861 to 88} for No. 12a, Tls. 881 to 901 for No. 148, and Tls 901 to 92 for No. 168.
PIECE GOODS.
Messrs. Noel, Murray & Co., in their Report on the Shanghai Piece Goods Trade, dated Shanghai, 28th April, 1906, state:-The remarks we had occasion to make a week or two ago on the recent
action of the British Government with regard to certain vital changes that were being made through the apparent ignorance of the Home Authorities, anent the state of affairs out here, have received confirmation as astounding as un- expected, from an utt rance made by a high Government Official in the British House of "Commons. The statement that "no information has reached the Government as to "China having ignored the terms of the Mackay Treaty" shows precisely how complaints and recommendations alike are pigeon-holed in the Foreign Office in Downing Street, and will, it is hoped, raise such a storm of righteous indignation that there shall be no possible chance of such a thing occurring again,
been carried out. Foreigners have had meekly to submit to extra on their trade-and not only that, but on everything they use now that is im- ported, and the Likin Taxes, which were to have been abolished in consideration of this direct taxation, are now more irksome than ever, even going to the length of practically interdicting the necessary supplies of fresh provisions from the The interval since our last has been country. taken up almost entirely with the Easter Holidays and business which was nearly at a standstill be- fore has not been resumed yet. There is no political news, nor any information concerning the move- ments of the armies in the North, or of the fleets in the South, so a state of anxious suspense is over the market at the moment, and though buyers are willing enough to take anything offer- ing at reasonable prices from stock, they are chary about entering into new business for distant de- livery. Clearances during the last two days have somewhat made up for the stoppage during the holidays, but stocks in some lines are rapidly accumulating. News from the Outports show no change to speak of since last week. The home markets have also been affected by the holidays, and nothing of any moment has taken place. Latest quotations from Manchester make prices for forward business stronger than ever, so that it seems manufacturers are determined to be on the safe side in case of any future rise in Cotton. Meanwhile the latest quotations for the staples in Liverpool are 4.13d. for Mid. American and 611d. for Egyptian. The New York market is even higher than Manchester and manufacturers are urging the necessity of booking orders as once, even for delivery well into next year. There has been less interruption in the yard trade, though the business done is not large, but prices are steady to firm. Raw Cotton likewise weaker if anything. shows no change in quotations, but the market in
Piece Goods. From first hands scarcely any- thing has been done privately-the most important transactions mentioned being in new chops of White Shirtings at about Tla. 4.50, but for anything over that price there is no enquiry. A fair num. ber of re-sales of American Sheetings have been made amongst the natives, and there is a little more enquiry for Drills; but prices offered, although slightly higher, are intrinsically much lower than Sheetings. The Auction to-day dragged consider- ably, and the prospect is not very favourable for the sales to-morrow.
HONGKONG QUOTATIONS. HONGKONG, 5th May, 1905.
Beans
Borax
Camphor (China)
"
(Formosa)
Cassia (First quality)
JJ
(Second
21
Oil
Cloves.
Fennel Seed Oil Galangle Glue Grapes Ivory Kismiss
Olibanum Rosa Oil Saltpetre..... Sandal wood
Sonna Leaves Sugar Candy Vermilion Wax.
.$3/31
$141/164
$118/120
$125 .$17/20
.$13/15 $154/158
$28
8310
$
$234
$124/13
.$650/700
.$15/16
$5/20
..$60/175
.$10/11
.$7/28
Oil..
$300/400 $2/9 .$134
..$72/76
.$30/33
MISCELLANEOUS EXPORTS. Per steamer Kaisow, sailed on 25th April. For London: - 36 packages private effects, &c., 30 cases essential oil, 55 cases chinaware, 11 cases black- woodware, 100 bales split bamboos, 8 cases cigars, 42 bales trawbraid, 103 casks soy, 1285 rolls matting, 100 cases ginger, 164 bales canes, 89 bales feathers, 10 cases bristles. For London or Con- tinent:-162 bales duok feathers. For Antwerp:-- 38 bales canes.