June 16, 1906.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
time that there would be a brisk business on the latter part of the year soon paralysed all tran- cessation of hostilities, but this was not borne sactions in Silk, and it may be said that for out by results; the dealers, however, helped by nine-tenths of the Shanghai Silk filatares the the advance in exchange, and later on by the years has been an unprofitable one. In Straw steadiness of rates, seem to be quite satisfied with Braid the receipts at Shanghai of transhipment their profits. The business done in Kerosene cargo and that intended for the local market Oil falls very far below that of the year 1904, show an increase of 4,264 bales over the total which was the largest on record, the deliveries of the previous year--not an unsatisfactory showing a shortage of 2,312,623 cases. In result, considering that the reduction o American Oil a very large business was done in homeward freights from Tsingtau enabled the early part of the year, but in the latter pat steamers to take cargo from that port direct transactions were limited, and the stocks ret- to Europe at lower rates than those demanded maining are unusually heavy. As regards prices, from Shanghai to the same destination. importers did fairly well, but an absence of There was a falling off in all descriptions of demand in the country entailed heavy losses for the Mottled plaits, Tuscans, Pearls, and Faucies dealers during the latter months of the year. and a decided increase in Plain White, Plain Refined Sugars, owing to the moderate crop of Splits, aud Cords. The American market cane Sugar and the partial failure of the best took the most expensive Fine Splits, Plain crop, were quoted at fairly high figures when the White, and Fine Mottled Braids, the value of year began, and continued to be in good demand which is much greater than the ordinary coarse until about the end of September, when favour-cargo shipped to Great Britain and the Contin- able report of the new crops caused prices to fall outal ports. Taking the violent fluctuations of suddenly and rapidly; from this time on the exchange during the year into consideration, trade was depressed and prices gradually de- prices have been remarkably steady, and may be clined. To a certain extent prices were also said to have advanced largely when reduced to affected by the fact that large quantities of a sterling basis. A comparison of the special Japanese Sugar were put on the Shanghai and tables giving the Tea exported during the years northern markets. On the whole, the year was 19.4 and 1905 shows considerable deceases in an unprofitable one for the Chinese Sugar mer. the export of Black Tea to Great Britain and chants, the majority of whom have lost heavily the United States. The Hankow market opened on forward purchases. There was a fairly good late in the season; the protricted wet weather business done in Cardiff Coal; but prices gradu- had retarded the preparation of the leaf, and ally fell from Tis.15 to Tls. 12 per ton, and are Foreign buyers were not auxions to operate bardly likely to advance, dealers being afraid until better acquainted with the dama ro done. that the large strock still in the hands of the In Green Teas, business on the whole bas been Russian Government may at any time come atisfactory, especially to those interested in into the market. The reverse occurred as the English market, and this despite the larger regards Japan Coal, in which important traus. quantity shipped there during the year. The actions took place. The higher cost of labour lower grades were mostly favoured, and in good in Japan and the much greater amount of Coal demand at very full rates, much against the used by the Japanese mercantile marine caused generally expressed opinion. All experts seem a rise in the price of Tls. 3 to Tls. 4 per ton. to agree as to the inferiority this season of both the Black and Green Tea leaf, but nevertheless both staples appreciated in the consuming markets to an extent little anticipated by shippers.
COAST TRADE.- (a.) Origival Shipments Coastwise. This trade represents a value of 31 million taels-an increase of 4 milliou taals over the figures for 1904. Shipments to Now- chwang alone advanced from Hk. Tls. 5,924,000 to Hk. Tls. 9,677,000. Local industries seem to have done well, and important increase are recorded in the export to coast ports of Native made Cigarettes and milled Flour and Paper. There is a falling off in the departures of Shaughai-made Sheetings and Drills, but from a money-making point of view 1905 is said to have been the most satisfactory year since the Cotton mills employing Foreigu machinery started.
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Silver to the value of Hk. Tla. 8,908,000. As ̈ was the case in 1914, there were, important arrivals from Japan of Gold Coins, valued at 101 million tsels, and no indication is given in the statistical table as régards their fürther destina- tion; we have, however, good reasons to suppose that the bulk were melted down here into Gold Bars and eventually forwarded to Europe, chiefly through the medium of Union post offices. Daring 1905 silver reached its highest level since 1896, and the price almost touched 32d. There was a large demand for the East and an increase in the shipments to China Exchange, which at the beginning of the was nominally 28. Od. for the Shanghai tas, touched its lowest, 2s. 6d., in March and April, and then steadily rose to 28. 04d. at the close.
Opiam. (a.) Foreign.-Malwa shows a de- eline of nearly 5,00 picula, the high rates which obtained during the first part of the year having evidently tended to reduce the consump- tion. The highest prices, Tls. 840 to Tls. 1,060 according to age and quality, were quoted during June and July; prices then commenced to recede, until by the end of the year they stood at Tls. 749 to Tls, 890, or at lower figures than when the year began. In Bengal the heavy stocks carried over from the previous season, and a very successful crop of China Opium, kept prices down and depressed the markets. The arrivals exceeded by some 1,20 piculs those of 1,204. (b) Natire.-A full orop, as in the preceding year. The arrivals of Szechwan and Yunnan Opium show increases of 3,025 piculs and 715 piculs resp ctively.
CANTON.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
June 13th.
THE YUET-HAN RAILWAY. Owing to the disagreement that still continues between Viceroy Shum and the gentry and merchants the present situation of the Canton- Haukow Railway scheme is far from satis- factory, and is causing great anxiety both to the people and to Viceroy Chang Chi-tung, who is very anxious to see the line started at once. It is reported that H. E. Chang Chi- tung has secretly deputed Taotai Chan Sui- kwai to make enquiries regarding the causes of the misunderstanding so as to devise means to straighten matters and proceed forthwith with the construction of the line.
KILLED BY LIGHTNING
(b.) Exports and (c.) Re-exports. A decrease of 22 million taals, or 17 per cent., in the value of this trade, compared with that of 19, is disclosed by the Returns. To this large decline Raw Cotton contributed the largest share. The export of Cotton shows a large falling off from the high figures of the preceding year-about 485,000 piculs, of which 279,000 piculs are re- exports and 206,000 piculs exports. The area planted locally was reported as very large, and the orop promised extremely well until the foods in September, which did considerable damage in some districts and in many others stopped the steady development of the plants. with a consequent lessening of production and deterioration of quality. In spite of these drawbacks the crop was probably as large as that of 1904. The decreased export is due to high exchange, more cautions buying on the part of exporters, and efforts on the part of (c) Coastwise Arrivals. As compared with producers to maintain prices, the stock remain. the total in the preceeding year, the decrease in ing on hand at the end of the year being the value of this trade amounts to 15 million much larger than at the beginning. The abuor-taels, more than half of which is accounted for mal prices of 1904 have not been maintained, the general trend having been to lower and steadier values. Other important decreases are also shown under Hides (34 per cent.), White Raw Silk (30 per cent.), Wild Raw Silk (3) per cent.), and Black Tea 50 per cent.). Among the goods that show marked improvements will be found Fresh and Preserved Eggs (75 per cent.), Sesamum Seed (270 per cout.), and Waste Silk (37 per cent). Japan alone took 10,265 vessels and 14,344,162 tons-an increase General, who claimed the return of the house.
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under Raw Cotton. The port chiefly con- corned in this result is Hankow, and among the other goods mostly affected are Cow and Buffalo Hides, Sesamum Seed, White Raw Silk, Wild Sik, and Black Tea.
Inland Transit.—(a) Iuwards—The value of the trade was Hk. Tls. 1,548,978 or Hk. Tls. 323,000 less than in 1904.
Shipping. Entries and clearances represent
10 million taels worth of goods less than in the of 831 vessels and 2,162,364 tons on the figures previous year. The business done in Silk was
of the preceding year. On the Shanghai- very limited. For the fourth year in succession Soochow Hangchow lines the number of steam. the White Silk crop was only a small one, and launches, passenger-boats, and trading juuks is the increased Native consumption tends to yearly incre sing, and the tonnage employed in accentuate the deficiency caused by indifferent that traffic amounted to o er 1,100,000 tomus. crops. In the export of Raw Silk to Foreign There is also a fair improvement in the trade countries there was a decrease of 5,002 piculs, carried on nuder Inland Steam Navigation and Re-reeled fell from 12,964 to 8,856 piouls. Rules. The year was not a good one for The shipments to France alone show shortages freight, and certainly unprofitable for many of of 3,704 bales in White Raw and 2,832 bales in the outside boats, with the exception of those Re-reeled. On the other hand, the departures which had big charters with the Russian of Re-reeled for Americs continued steady | Government. The great expectations in the throughout the season. In Steam Filatures freight market of a boom on the cessation of the export figures differ but slightly hostilities were not realised, and though the from those of the `previous year. A partial rates for Vladivostook were in certain instances failure of the cocoon crop in Chebkiang! very high, a large part of the profit was esten and heavy speculative purchases brought the up by the delay in loading and discharging, prices to a level which the losses incurred in 1904 Passenger Traffic is yearly increasing hardly justified. Enbeequently, with an advance Treasure-The recorded movements of Gold in the Silk marketduring July, August, and and Silver Bullion between Shanghai and Zeptember, prospects brightened up; but the ¦ Foreign countries show a net import of Gold spie in sterling exchange which characterised the worth Hk. Tls. 7,164,000, and a net import of
During the heavy thunderstorm that swept across Cantou a couple of days ago several houses are reported to have collapsed and two men were struck by lighting and killed out. right. The victims were a barber and his client.
A. MISTAKEN SEIZURE..
Last year at the request of Viceroy Shum all the so-called Japanese coffee shops were ordered to close their business by the Japanese Consul General at Hongkong. Some of the shops were subsequently seized by the Viceroy as they were owned by Chinese subjects. One of the houses seized belonged, however, tó a Hongkong shipping firm and représentations were recently made through H. B. M; Cónsul-
The Viceroy being satisfied that the titles were in order has instructed the Nam-Hoi to release
the house.
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A BORED GOVERNMENT.
Viceroy Shem has again sent a very strong m-morial to the Throne against ex-Viceroy Hai Yiug-kwai and the mercha.ts and gentry of Csaton. The memorial is said to be very strongly worded, but its contents have not been divulged so far. The gentry and the Viceroy are accusing each other with obstructing the prompt construction of the line. It is said thắt the Central Government is "bored " by these ~ continuons complaints from both sides. *
THE SINKING SHIP? At least four Taotsis, protegees of the Viceroy, bave resigned and returned to their native places.
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ALLEGED POLICE DISHONESTY. The Canton Superintendent of Police now shifts his mou about, a general change of posts avery fortnight. This is în consequence of numerous complaints of 'squeess.”