7
February 18, 1907.]
a piece of fine bronze statuary presented to the Club by the officers of the troops stationed in Shanghai in 1900 and 1901. On the opposite side of the corridor from these rooms is the fine library, chastely furnished in dark green wood, and containing about 20,000 volumes, beyond this again are eard rooms.
Again ascending we come to the residential quarters, and these are veritable homes of chastened luxury. Beautifully lighted, with siry balconies, each suite comprises either two or three rooms, solidly and elegantly furnished. There are already fully occupied On the floor above this is the culinary department, replate with every modern Convenience,
and com- municating with all dining rooms by means of lifts, speaking tubes, and staircases reserved for Chinese staff.
The whole building is a model of comfort, luxury, ease and elegance, and every modern appliance in the way of belle, lighte, lifts, staircases and means of communication is to be found. The building is undoubtedly without a rival in China, and a credit alike to the architects, Messrs.
Becker and Baedecker, to the
lub Committee, and to the German community.
MINING PROSPECTS IN SHANSI.
A correspondent of the Shanghai Mercury writes from Huvg-tung, Shansi, on Jan. 21st:
'That the Province of Shansi is rich in coal, irou, and other minerals, is well known to most of your readers.
The officials and people are becoming increasingly alive to the advantages of foreign methods of mining and the benefits of introduc ing foreigu machinery.
I
Shansi thus promises to offer a large market for foreign machinery of all kinds, and it is of importance to those interested in the develop ment of the Province that nothing be done to prevent the opening up of these mines. would therefore suggest that those concerned in the mining and engineering industries take immediate steps to ascertain the terms of the Pekin Syndicate Concessions in Shansi and North Honan, and the claime of the yndicate based upon these concession. In order to make clear the bearing of the concession on the development of the Province, and also indicate the deliberate attempt that is being made to prevent the introduction of foreign machinery, I will quote two paragraphs from the Ageut General's recent letter to the Chinese Provincial Authorities. After slating the byndicate's claim to sole control of mining in the Province, he goes on as follows:
"Nevertheless the Syndicate bas no desire to stand upon the strict letter of its right, and is ready to concede to natives mining in the old way with native methods and native capital the privilege of working their mines, so long as they do not invade the Syndicate's permit area, or hamper the Syndicate's operatious, or auter into competition with the Syndicate's cutside the district."
"Finally the Ageut General hopes that their claims to sole mining rights will be recognised and that outside the permit area, apart from existing mines for the supply of purely local needs the opening of new miues in other parts of the Province, and the introduc- tion of foreign capital and foreign machine 3 will be prohibited." From the above extracts it will be seen that they require,—
181.-That all existing native mines in the permit are shall cease working.
2nd-That all wines in other parts of the Province be only worked to supply purely local her da.
3rd.—Tbat no new mines be opened. 4tb.----That no foreign machinery be used in any native mines.
5th.-That natives shall not enter into com- petition with the Syndicate outside the permit ares. This practically gives the Syndicate the power of fixing the price of coal throughout the Province as well as in other parts, i
canbol
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
the East. It will be patent to all that a deliberate attempt is being made to prevent the natives from developing their own mines, and the introducing of foreign machinery, and pressure is being brought to bear upon the Chinese Authorities to sanolion the formation
of a great Trust, under conditions which will
enable the Syndicate to corner the whole coal industry of the Province, a great injury and injustice will thus be done, both to Chinese and foreigners alike.
L'ENTENTE CORDIALE
AT SAIGON.
Admiral Moore, before leaving Saigon, where the British squadron was so warmly welcomed and hospitably entertained by the French, wrote the following letter of thanks to Governor General Benu:
64
'King Alfred et Saigou,
Votre Excellence.
29th January, 1907.
Avant de quitter ce port, je désire vous exprimer à nouveau ainsi qu'à tous à Saigon, les remerciements sincéres et cordieux, fant de; ma part que de celle des officiers et hommes de l'escadre sour mon commandement, pour in chaleureuse réception et la généreuse hospita lité qui nous ont é é accordées pendant notre séjour ivi,
Les splendides décorations et illuminat ons, “i. les nombreuses et agréables réjouissances qui out eté organisés pour nou, ont contribué a laisser en nous que de ces agréables impressions qui ne pourra jamais s'effacer de nos mémoires, Mais, en dehors du plaisir qui nous a été fait ce rapport, il nous est extremement agréable de penser que cette hospitalité si cordiale ne peut deriver que des sentiments d'une vraie smit è el que ces sentiments ne sont pas confinès à la Colonie de l'Indo-Chine seulement, mais 's'i-tendent de Nation à Nation,
BOUB
Je pais assurer Votre Excellence que ces sentiments seut pariagė‹ par nous de tout avour, et que c'est notre ardent désir que l'ealente cordiale qui sotuellement lie oos deur nations l'une à lautro puisas toujours durer.
Jai l'honneur d'être, Monsieur le Gouverneur Général, le serviteur obéisssut de Votre Ex.
cailence.
MOORE, VICe Admiral
SHANGHAI HOTEL KEEPER SENTENCED.
TO A YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT.
A Daily Press telegram dated Shanghai, February 1tb, said :
Metropole Co., Ld., not offering to retura the C. A. Biddle, managing director of the Hotel
money received from Chinese, has been sentenced by Judge Wildey of the American Court to a year's imprisonmeut, on the obarge of fraud.
|
|
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Shangbai Municipal Council would not stop (Mr. Biddle beli-ving, as he says, that the the gambling in Chinese booths that has been llowed at every race mesting for years past, leased to some Chinese certain premiss over- looking the racecourse, The Chinese paid the rent in advance, and finding that no gambling was allowed, sued for its return. It is alleged that at first Mr. Biddle offered to return hält. Judge Wildey described it as a clear case of frand, and ordered Mr. Biddle's prosecution. The evidence showed that Mr. Biddle had been informed at the date of the lease that gambling would not be allowed, but he said he did not think the Council were serious. The Chinese
cecupied the premises, technically, but did not carry on the lucrative baxiness they had hoped to do. Evidence further showed that the amount paid by the Chinese passed through the books of the company. The result of the trial must have caused another of the sensations to which the new Judge seems partial].
HON. MR. F. H. MAY,
ABIDES WITH HONGKONG.
COMMERCIAL.
113
The Yokohama Prices Current and Market Report, published by the Yokohama Foreign Board of Trade, and dated Yokohama, January 30th, 1907, has the following
IMPORTS.
Shirtings-A few forward contracts_have "bésze Yarns-No fresh business has transpired.
made at unchanged prices. Fancy Cottona nudi Woollens.-There is not much business passing, but prospects are favourable for the current yeni Metals.—Interest seems to centre in 1. 8. Baru and Pig Iron, negotiations for considerable quantities of which have been going on over the have been returned as too low. wires, but the greater portion of the enquiries
Still, actual bookings have been suficiently below market quotations to cause a feeling of uncertainty and to stop further baying pending developmenta. Kerosene.-The market is steady. Sugar.-The tone of the market for Refined Sugar is a little better owing to the slight improvement in de. mand. Since last Report there have been two auctions of the Tokyo Refinery and 18,500. bags of various grades sold, prices showing an all-round advance of 10 sen on those of the pre- vion, auction. The market for Brown Sagar is rather dull. Indigo (Natural).—The market in dead at present, no stocks being available, and new crop peicea am too high t› admit of business
SILK REPORT.
issue, dated the 18th January, continued until the The downward movement reported in our last 24th idem, when Extra Filatures "Hirata Class” fell to Y.1,250, and 1-11 Shinshiu Filatures to Y. 1,175. On that day, however, a sudden remotion set in, owing partly to "short sellers" beginning to buy to cover, and partly to large speculativə purchases on the local Silk Exchange, with the result that prices advanced to Y.1,245 for 1-14
Shinshiu Filatures within four days. Since then our market has again become quiet, and at the close practically all quotations are nominal owing - to absence of any legitimate demand. Stocks of Filatures, fine sizes, Rereels, and Kakedas are almost exhausted for the time being.
The period of the concession covers 60 years, and during that time the natives
A Daily Preis telegram dated Singapore, introduce suy improvements in their mining announced,
February 16th. said :—The Ceylon Observer has semi-authoritatively,
that the methods. All bupe therefore of developing appointment of the Hon. Mr. F. H. May as mining ontside the narrow limits of the Syndi. Į Lieutenant-Governor cate's operations is made impossible during the cancelled, and that the position has been of Ceylon has been lifetime of any at present engaged in business in conferred upon Mr. Hugh Clifford,
WANTH KILK.
A steady business doing at unchanged prios for good and medium grades, and at slightly lower prices for inferior material. The stock in the better qualities is very badly assorted.
OPIUM
HONGKONG, February 15th. Quotations are:-Allowance net to 1 catky.
Malwa New
Malwa Old
Malwa Older
Malwa Very Old ..$940 Persian Fine Quality ..$600 Persian Extra Fine
...$875
Patna New
Patna Old Benares New Benares Old
to
.8810 to per picul. $860 to $900
www.
do.
do.
to
do.
to
do.
to
do.
$890
to
per chest.
to
do.
.$830
to
to.
do, do.
PIECE GOODS. Shanghai Piece Goods Trade, dated Shanghai, Messrs. Noel, Murray & Co.'s Report on the
7th February, 1907, states:We are now within few days of the close of the Chinese New Year and the dealers have been chiefly engaged during the interval in squaring up, or arranging to carry over, their accounts. Thanks to the much more cheering prospect for the future trade the ordeal has been greatly simplified, and it appears that very few, if any, will not be able to arrange matters. We find that even the one Piece Goods Hong we mentioned last week as being in difficulties over Fancy Goods was not a Place Goods Hong at all, but literally dealers in Fancy articles. It was the misnomer that caused the mistake and we regret it oocmaioned not a little withough even the largest of the operators this anxiety in some quarters. We are assured that
last season have not managed to make than a very small percentage on their turn no very serious losses have been susta the average, by the majority who conf attention to Manchester goods. With makes it has not been nearly so and the profits of the two seasons must have been more than There has again been A fair reselling amongst the natives delivery after the holidays, though than could have been expected was clearance, which Importers look upon cidedly ustinfactory feature. Money is and helps the situation very much